Any Hexen 2.0 and Hexen 5.0 to be users around?

[JoyousGirl]

I see that the Hexen 5.0 is about to come out and it appears to be right down my alley, but so does the Hexen 2.0, which was reprinted last year.

 

What I want to know is how those who have the 2.0 have found using the deck?

 

It's suggested for group readings, and I think this would be a great way to discuss what's going on in the world and the machinations behind what we see (as opposed to what they're doing that we don't and their motivations - or whose motivations).

 

Any feedback on deck use or anything, really, is welcome. They're quite expensive and I'd like to get both as I'm into political economy and political ecology, but that hasn't helped me get a job! By that I mean is it worth spending on them? They might be good for inspiring public education activities. A-la "don't believe the hype" and sleight of hand.

[gregory]

I have the 2.0. I can't read with it. And I DO think you need the book to make sense of it. But it is absolutely fascinating - and yes, U can see using it ion groups for discussion - but I don't get into that kind of thing, so...

 

I plan to get the 5.0, as they REALLY are interesting (I saw some of the images in the Warburg, and the changes are exciting !)

 

 

Edited September 30 by gregory

[DanielJUK]

A member uploaded Hexen 2 to the deck library recently and it totally enabled me and I was researching into it.

The original 2.0 became really out of print and very expensive to get it. It has a all new publisher. Reading up on the 5.0, it has much more to say about AI in this world.

The first publisher was Black Dog Publishing, they used to publish quite a few UK based independent artist type decks. That London Lore Tarot was published with them as well. It now seems to be called Black Dog Press and has no tarot decks in it's range. Wonder what happened there. The new publisher for the Hexen decks is called cosmogenisis.

 

I am considering both decks as I really like the commentary Suzanne Treister makes but not sure if they are not readable for divination.

[JoyousGirl]

4 hours ago, gregory said:

I can't read with it. And I DO think you need the book

Yes, @gregory it is a shame it doesn't come with the book because there's potential for some real eye-opening things to come out of them.  The 5.0 comes with some drawings but I'm not sure what I'd do with those?  I do really like the idea of doing group work with them even if it gets a bit conspiracy nutterish. 

 

1 hour ago, DanielJUK said:

I am considering both decks as I really like the commentary Suzanne Treister makes but not sure if they are not readable for divination.

 

Yes, me too. They are not really Tarot as we know it if they're not useful for divination. Her process seems to have been to apply Tarot as an afterthought. She talks about the process and explains a bit here https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRW7MJuLZO4  (but I stopped listening after about 15 minutes)

 

 

 

I do like them but.... I think I just de-enabled myself 😄. 

[gregory]

5.0 has no book. I just asked 

[JoyousGirl]

3 hours ago, gregory said:

5.0 has no book

@gregory thanks for inquiring into that. Was there a LWB or info with the 2.0? 

 

I know there's an essay, which is part of the 2.0 book that appears to be little more than an art book that doesn't explain anything to guide use. 

 

My concern is that the artist has a powerful opportunity here: she has researched how what is going on came to be. Yet, she is also part of the problem because she is, in a way, withholding the information that she conveys in a card and could distil for the user - ideally in plain English.  Perhaps there'd be a cry of "it's about thinking for yourself." 

 

A lot of academic work uses language which excludes those who need to be educated (and who are most affected) in order to do anything about the issues raised.  Perhaps this is part of the issue with some artists, too. I'm thinking of those ridiculously pompous long-winded explanations that describe the art but just make you roll your eyes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RunningWild]

I bought the rereleased Hexen 2.0 last year and while I don't read with it, delving into the concepts is interesting.  It's a trip down the rabbit hole, so to speak. 

[DanielJUK]

There was a Hexen 2.0 hardback book released alongside the first version (Black Dog) deck. It has not been republished and I saw it on a rare book website, which Suzanne links, for £475 😱 It is signed.

It seems like it is drawing and artwork of making the cards, it doesn't seem to be a book of interpretations. The book also has the Lars essay, which she republished on her site.

I wonder if the purpose of the deck is art, she doesn't provide interpretations.

 

Each card from 2.0 is on her site here....

https://www.suzannetreister.net/HEXEN2/TAROT_COL/HEXEN_2_TAROT.html

 

 

 

[JoyousGirl]

34 minutes ago, DanielJUK said:

I wonder if the purpose of the deck is art, she doesn't provide interpretations.

 

Yes, my thinking is it's a way of getting her art out to a wider/different audience. It's a marketing ploy that sells more units. Or she seeks renown. Or both. 

 

I saw the book and ... see my comment above 😄  And with 5.0 there's some drawings provided. Like, what are we going to do with them? She'll make money regardless. Not from me though, I'm going to stick with being environmentally sustainable in this case. 

 

If it's not Tarot, please don't call it Tarot. 

[DanielJUK]

It still is tarot though, there is art on cards for the tarot structure, each card is represented.

It's just really hard to read for divination. An art deck of cards. following tarot structure, is still a tarot deck.

 

I think I am going to get both decks, 2.0 first and 5 sometime later. I want them. I will then try reading with them sometime 🙂 .

I am interested that artists choose tarot as one medium for their creativity and it doesn't necessarily have to be readable, just to fulfil the tarot structure.

[gregory]

I just got 5.0. I like it a LOT more than 2.0. But the cards are MASSIVE. Almost twice the size of the large Thoth. As it's supposed for group use that's probably good.

 

They are much better targeted than 2.0, I think - and Climate Change as Death really appeals to me. I like.

[JoyousGirl]

Thanks for the update @gregory

 

 

10 hours ago, gregory said:

the cards are MASSIVE. Almost twice the size of the large Thoth.

The same as the Isha Lerner Inner Child cards size? And thickness?

 

10 hours ago, gregory said:

much better targeted than 2.0

 

What is the guide for group work like?

 

 

Don't suppose you want to pull a card/do a reading answering the following overarching question...?:

 

What actions can be taken to resolve the problems capitalism has created?

 

As a guide 

Card 1 answering: What sort of education needs to be provided to local communities that they will engage with?

 

Card 2 answering: How should those seeking to improve peace, equality and environmental health mobilise for best effect?

 

Card 3 answering: Which personal behaviour will have the most effect on driving positive change in world affairs?  

 

Card 4: who or what is the major driver of the global environmental problem that is threatening all life on Earth?

 

You don't have to do it, or explain the cards you pull. But it is what I envisage the deck would be used for. What do you reckon?

Edited Monday at 09:25 PM by JoyousGirl
extra question

[gregory]

 

I don't know about the reading - I MIGHT.

 

Much better quality card than Inner Child if I remember that one correctly, but about that size, I guess (I am too lazy to get that out to compare just now !)

 

"Guide for group work.There is is a description of how the deck came to be and a review; on on the reverse a spread that is supposed to be used for groups - but as far as I'm concerned it's - just a spread with the words£reflect together". There is the instruction to "Begin by formulating a question about the planet of humanity's future". 

More later; I have to go out.

[gregory]

 

OK. NOT doing interpretations right now, but this is the spread:

 

 

[gregory]

And these are the cards I drew (MAN they are slippery !!! VERY hard to handle.

Cards 1 and 2:

 

Cards 3 and 4:

 

Cards 5 and 6:

 

Card 7:

I LIKE that as the seed card. There is no way I can lay those out in a way that makes all the stuff legible so you'll just have to imagine.

 

[JoyousGirl]

@gregory You're my hero !!! 

 

@DanielJUK I'm not sure whether I should start a new thread for this, because I'm going to comment on / delve into Gregory's pull. It's making me want the deck again.  

 

Here's the spread and cards all put together for 'at-a-glance' summary:

 

Position 1: Present. The current global condition or dominant force. OMNICIDE (Tower)  No surprises there.
Position 2: Challenge. What aggravates the conditions or force of Card 1. EXTRACTIVISM (Knight of Swords) No surprises there, either. And rate at which it's occurring without awareness of implications and thought to the future is of concern. 
Position 3. Past. Historical or ancestral influence shaping the now. ETHICS OF TERRAFORMING (Queen of Swords) Ethics is a key word here for me. Feudal origins and modern 'aristocrats' in the form of corporate billionaires. There's an increasing number of plebs.  
Position 4: Future. Emerging developments or potentials. THE DARK FOREST (5 of Chalices) The dark web (and where is its brother, AI?). Ha, you couldn't make that sh!+ up.
Position 5: Conscious. Collective ideas, hopes or known forces. PSYCHEDELIC SPACESHIPS and INTERPLANETARY BIOSPHERE ISLANDS (4 of Cups) I don't know about the psychedelic spaceships, but interplanetary biosphere islands instead of doing something to remedy this beautiful planet is questionable.
Position 6: Subconscious. Unseen forces, fears or unknown unknowns. POST TRUTH (Wheel of  Fortune) What are the implications of not knowing a lie is a lie? Particularly when someone is telling the truth and knows something is a lie? What do those who believe the lie or seek to perpetuate it do to those who know the truth? 
Optional Position 7: Seed card. Representing what can be cultivated or tended to today to support future transformation. REWILDING (Knave of Chalices). We take from Earth but don't offer much back like the typical KoC.  This rewilding is essential and yet the issue is that population growth won't allow it. Yet population control discussions are anathema to people who believe in Human Rights over the rights of life itself, and those who need humans to profit - and governments who won't explore alternative economic systems. This is the Wicked Problem. The answer is easy. Everyone knows it. The ancient wisdom of the 7 deadly sins that control us still has clout.

 

Thanks again Gregory!