EmpyreanKnight Posted January 1, 2018 Posted January 1, 2018 I've heard of the Tarot of the Orishas, but this deck by Andrew MacGregor boasts a truly fascinating artistic style. It's currently in production so there's not much buzz about it yet, but it's bound to be released by Llewellyn. As a sneak peek, here's the Judgement card: A vulture with peacock feathers ascending towards the sun? I wonder what the story is behind it.
EmpyreanKnight Posted January 22, 2018 Author Posted January 22, 2018 From the Amazon page: Feel the powerful energy and wisdom of the Orishas in this profound and approachable deck. When you ask The Orisha Tarot for divinatory guidance, you are accessing the knowledge of countless generations, from the spiritual tradition as well as the training of practitioners throughout thousands of years. The cards hold deep meaning in both the foreground scenes and background textiles, telling the stories of people and spirits through symbols. With its bright, dynamic, and captivating artwork, this deck enhances your readings and encourages you to live boldly. Scheduled release date is September 8 2018.
RavenOfSummer Posted June 20, 2018 Posted June 20, 2018 A bit confusing that this is the Orisha Tarot and there is already a Tarot of the Orishas! The art in this one looks wonderful though: http://llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738753522
OmUkn Posted July 12, 2018 Posted July 12, 2018 A vulture with peacock feathers ascending towards the sun? I wonder what the story is behind it. Longish, sorry, but you did ask... The story behind that card: There was a time when the Orisha, here on earth, forgot their gratitude to Olodumare (God, the source of divinity). They believed they had all the power in the world, so what need had they for Olodumare? This saddened Olodumare, who quietly withdrew from the world, and with Olodumare went the rains. Many days and weeks went by, and without rain the earth was dry and hot. The plants and animals began to die. The people starved. The Orisha were sorry for their thoughtlessness, and knew they needed to reach Olodumare and ask them (him/her) to return. But Olodumare had withdrawn far into Orun (heaven, the spirit world), the gates of which were high, high up beyond the clouds. The Orisha sent birds to speak to Olodumare - the pigeon, the dove, the eagle - but Orun was so high that their strength failed them, and each one fluttered back down to earth without ever crossing the threshold. The Orisha each tried to reach Orun, using all of their powers, but no one could do it. They had finally given up, when the youngest of the Orisha spoke up. This was Oshun, who took the form of a beautiful peacock. "Let me try," she said. But the other Orisha laughed and scorned her. "You? You're the youngest of us all! How could you reach Orun when all of us have failed?" But Oshun looked around herself at the cracked earth and the wilting plants and she wouldn't be dissuaded. "I will carry our prayers to Olodumare." She flew high up into the air, above the clouds. She flew as far as the pigeon, as far as the dove, as far as the eagle, and her wings began to ache from the strain. But down below her the earth was dying, and she forced herself to fly on. She flew higher and higher, up towards the sun. She came so close to the sun that her beautiful blue-green plumage caught fire, and she screamed as the heat blackened and burned her skin. With one last push she tumbled over the threshold into the cool air of Orun - but she was no longer the beautiful peacock. Her beauty was lost, her feathers were charred black and her head was bare; she had become Oshun Ibu Kole, the vulture. But she had made it, and there in Orun she brought the prayers of the world to Olodumare. Oshun's perseverence and her heart, imparting not only her own prayers but the prayers of those who had scorned her, so impressed Olodumare that they turned their face back to the earth, and returned the rains. Oshun, the youngest of the Orisha, saved the whole world that day, and this is why we must never take her for granted. So there you go. Not a bad choice for judgment, IMO! Sent from my SM-A300FU using Tapatalk
EmpyreanKnight Posted July 14, 2018 Author Posted July 14, 2018 That's such a beautiful tale, OmUkn. I love reading stories and myths like these. Thanks! :)
EmpyreanKnight Posted July 14, 2018 Author Posted July 14, 2018 And btw, welcome to the forums, OmUkn. ^-^
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