In his essential book, Pagan Mysteries in the Renaissance, Edgar Wind describes ‘mystical imagery’ as belonging to ‘an intermediate state’: They are never final in the sense of a literal statement, which would fix the mind to a given point; nor are they final in the sense of the mystical Absolute in which all images … The post La Force – Tarot de Marseille’s Enigmatic Strongwoman of the Threshold appeared first on ROXANNA BIKADOROFF ..read more

  ‘Fortune Cookie’ packet Back in 1994, when I made decent money as an editorial illustrator and had extra for personal projects and crazy promotional material…in the days before digital files, websites and steampunk, I created this little ‘deck’ of illustrated Fortune Cookie cards. It was indeed meant to evoke Victorian Orientalism, but was also inspired by Max Ernst collages and Edward Gorey, mixed with my own, somewhat goth-infused sensibility, for which I was then recognized. I had at my disposal only J. G. Heck’s ‘Complete Encyclopedia of Illustration’, some 1960s Letraset stock ima ..read more

Prudence/Wisdom, 17th c needlework book cover, British (Met Museum, NY) Theory has it that the 4th Cardinal Virtue, Prudence, is ‘missing’ from Tarot de Marseille. Many have tried to figure out which, if any, of the other trumps could possibly be her (Star, Popess, Hanged Man, Hermit and World have been proposed). My own speculation is that, if she is indeed present and hiding, a conglomerate of Popess and Pope could share the role of Prudence, on account of the Janus face, as well as making sense numerically – each Virtue falls into the ‘2’ placement, as do the Pope and Popess. Prudence was s ..read more

“There is no danger of lowering God.” “…a time comes, especially when the play of gods and heroes develops to gigantic proportions, when the spectator must feel the need for relief from the high concerns of great immortal themes; and a pathetic consciousness begins to form of little man confronted by these things – seeming by contrast comic in his limitations, yet peculiarly valiant in his one invincible power to take knocks; the Eternal Butt. His only weapon of offence to raise up against it all is the phallus, or a need to be undone and seduced when life becomes too much of an obstacle to ..read more

. Beauty is life when life unveils her holy face. But you are life and you are the veil. Beauty is eternity gazing at itself in the mirror, but you are eternity and you are the mirror. ~ Khalil Gibran . The post Tarot for Venus Neptune Conjunction at 27-28 degrees Pisces appeared first on ROXANNA BIKADOROFF ..read more

From joy springs all creation, by joy it is sustained,towards joy it proceeds, and to joy it returns. – Mundaka Upanishad Tarot de Marseille is a funny creature. Just when you think you’ve ‘figured it all out’, like a chimera it changes into something else. Fortunately I en-joy a mystery and seeking that which has no end. If I’ve learned one thing from TdM, it’s that the same pattern exists in whatever particular wisdom path you choose to follow. “All roads lead to Alexandria.” (wink) The enigma is perhaps most apparent in the triad sequence, beginning with the Empress. To re-cap TdM’s inhere ..read more

From joy springs all creation, by joy it is sustained,towards joy it proceeds, and to joy it returns. – Mundaka Upanishad Tarot de Marseille is a funny creature. Just when you think you’ve ‘figured it all out’, like a chimera it changes into something else. Fortunately I en-joy a mystery and seeking that which has no end. If I’ve learned one thing from TdM, it’s that the same pattern exists in whatever particular wisdom path you choose to follow. “All roads lead to Alexandria.” (wink) The enigma is perhaps most apparent in the triad sequence, beginning with the Empress. To re-cap TdM’s inhere ..read more

Take your rib and … This iconic image was created for The Progressive Magazine’s calendar in 1992 (beautifully designed each year by Patrick JB Flynn). It illustrated this quote by Marge Piercy: I will choose what enters me, what becomes flesh of my flesh. Without choice, no politics, no ethics lives. I am not your cornfield, not your uranium mine, not your calf for fattening, not your cow for milking. You may not use me as your factory. Priests and legislators do not hold shares in my womb or my mind. This is my body. If I give it to you I want it back. My life is a non-negotiable demand. Ori ..read more

Allegory of Prudence with Janus face, 16th c, Nantes, France Previously we looked at the masculine/solar cards in the 1/4 placement, beginning with the Juggler (1). Now let’s turn our attention to the feminine/ lunar cards in the 2 placement, beginning with The Popess (2) and The Pope (5). These two flank Empress (3) and Emperor (4), like the spiritual component or parent of each. The book on the Popess’ lap, whatever its mystery content, illustrates this concept; two covers (‘hidden’) and two facing pages (‘spread eagle’) inside. Various Conver cards, 18th c To Pythagoreans, and others throug ..read more

“Do not meddle with Dragons, for you are crunchy and good.”New Dragons are being conceived…here are some oldies, for now. Monster with Girl who is bringing him home (ca 1968)   Express Yourself   Poster art for opera-cabaret (1990s)   Bedtime Story (The Progressive, ca late 1990s)   Dragon Soup (SF Mag, late 1990s-early 2000s)   Dragon Arts (Western Living, ca 1999)   Caduceus Bouquet (Swerve Mag, 2009)   The Dragon (art ca 2016, poem from 1990s)   Bedlam Voices 2 poster (detail) Stay tuned for more DRAGONS…! All images herein are copyright ©Roxanna Bika ..read more