Babalon Jones Posted January 7, 2020 Posted January 7, 2020 Hey thank you for posting this. Here is a little info on the versions and the deck. It's a Majors deck in an extra large size (4x6.25 inches). The art is done in watercolors on A3 paper (11.69x16.53 inches). I could not decide on which version to do, borderless or bordered, because I am the most indecisive person ever, so I decided to do both - and a third option. One has borders. That one has both titles: Thoth based titles and titles that are inherent to the motif of Pharos as subtitles in a smaller font. (more on that below). It also has the attribution symbols. There is a borderless one too, with only the Pharos titles, which are one word only (not including "The"). This one is completely borderless, so the titles are meant to be unobtrusive for that spacious and boundless borderless feeling. Then there is a compromise between the two versions, that has a plain black bottom border. This one has the Roman numeral of the card (for those who fear not having standard titles) followed by the Pharos title. The thing I like about that version is the black allows me to place nearly any color against it. So the text is in the specific Golden Dawn King Scale color for each card, which is the scale most associated with the paths/Major Arcana. So if you are curious about the Pharos titles I can tell you a little about them. They aren't trying to reinvent Tarot titles. They reference the different parts that make up a Lighthouse system. The Lighthouse pillar represents the One, that all of the Majors are different facets of. The muse spoke to me one evening and said that every part of a lighthouse could correspond to a Major card and it's Hebrew letter. Sometimes it is so simple it's obvious, like in the case of The Empress, who is the Gate of Heaven. Her letter Dalet means Door - so her Pharos title is "The Door", and she corresponds to the door of the Lighthouse. Other times it is more complex. The Death card has a Pharos title of "The Walk". It fits because Death is a transition, a journey to a new reality. But it also corresponds to a part of the Lighthouse called "The Widow's Walk", a walkway around the Lighthouse that was used as an observation deck, sometimes by women waiting for the ship of their mate to return from sea. The skeleton in the card is female - Isis the widow of Osiris, god of death, the afterlife, and rebirth. Osiris was killed by his brother Set, and his corpse was cut into fourteen pieces and thrown into the Nile. Isis searched out all the pieces except one. Thirteen pieces of Osiris were found, but there was one unfortunate loss: the phallus had been swallowed by a fish. The all important organ for life and procreation was missing. Isis, with her sister Nepthys and with the help of Anubis, embalmed the parts remaining. Isis fashioned a new phallus from clay, and through magic, they breathed new life into him long enough for Isis and Osiris to conceive the child Horus, avenger of his father. The Hebrew letter for Death is Nun, meaning fish. You can see it in the card in her glowing glass lantern, and perhaps carried by Scorpio's eagle in the distance. Anyway, the Pharos titles are not meant to change or soften the meanings of any title, they are meant to enhance and illustrate the Lighthouse correspondence. Because the Majors are divine guidance from the One. The Death card is shown below in all three versions. I hope it comes out large enough for here. I don't think I've posted images yet. But I hope you like it. It's taken 3 years to get these this far!
Rose Lalonde Posted January 7, 2020 Author Posted January 7, 2020 This is awesome, thanks @Babalon Jones. I can't tell you how excited I was to see that this lovely watercolor deck could be ordered now, and that there were even different options, so that we could pick. Thanks also for the details... If I understood correctly there's some explanatory text from you that comes along with the deck too? The lighthouse metaphor works remarkably well and adds to my understanding. Especially for me so far the Light, the House, the Ship, the Stanchion, the Spiral, and the Foghorn... well, probably all of the cards once I have them in hand and spend more time with them, but the Stanchion in particular does a great job of clarifying the Hierophant for me. Reading your post I'd have to include The Walk in that list now. I love the way you combined the Widow's Walk with Isis and Osiris's story including the fish and the XIII pieces of his body that were found out of a total of XIV, which goes along with the skull at the base of the Arc card. Through the metaphor itself you've managed to pack a lot of knowledge in the deck. Thanks for another labor of love.
katrinka Posted January 7, 2020 Posted January 7, 2020 It's an exceptionally well-thought-out deck. And the Lighthouse motif is brilliant.
Babalon Jones Posted January 7, 2020 Posted January 7, 2020 Thanks @katrinkafor looking and commenting. I appreciate it, especially from discerning temperaments! I know it is a bit different. I'm really happy that some people get it! It's probably not for everyone especially as it is both Thothy and Majors only. But different is what I needed to do. Had to get it out of my system, it was sticky and wouldn't let me rest. Plus this project was how I taught myself to use watercolor, which I'd never really done much with and I really wanted to learn. That and reading books and watching watercolor videos. I just wanted something to practice painting on. You have no idea how many paintings I threw away. Watercolor is tougher than it looks! I think I threw away something like 7-8 Fools alone, and several more of the next few trumps til I figured it out. Sort of anyway! I'm probably still not doing it "right". Maybe next project will do something more traditional. Probably not though :) To answer @Rose Lalonde yes there will be an accompanying explanatory text, with explanatory info on the Pharos motif, and other stuff too. And each version will have a surprise extra card or two, different one included in each version. I had some cards that I ended up revising, so I have some "rejected" (by me) versions that are still hopefully interesting as extras. By the way, I misspoke in my last post. It only (hah) took two years to do the art. The first year after Tabula Mundi I was messing around with some other tarot works in progress, and other stuff. They got dropped as the muse just had to have this deck done for whatever reason. Maybe some of those will be resurrected in 2020. Still though it's a long enough time! I put up some more examples of different cards with the three versions, if anyone wants to see more. I'll be putting up the rest eventually. Thanks to everyone who has a look, and especially to Rose for starting the thread, and to everyone who takes a moment to give feedback or ask a question. I appreciate hearing what people are thinking. So far of the three versions the bordered version is the most popular, with the borderless close behind. Happy New Year to all here!
Flaxen Posted January 8, 2020 Posted January 8, 2020 These cards are just stunning. The lighthouse metaphor is brilliant - such inspired work. I actually can’t decide which version I prefer - leaning towards the one with the black border at the bottom.
katrinka Posted January 14, 2020 Posted January 14, 2020 On 1/7/2020 at 3:07 PM, Babalon Jones said: I know it is a bit different. I'm really happy that some people get it! It's probably not for everyone especially as it is both Thothy and Majors only. Thothy is an asset, as far as I'm concerned. Waite narrowed the lens overmuch, I think. On 1/7/2020 at 3:07 PM, Babalon Jones said: But different is what I needed to do. Had to get it out of my system, it was sticky and wouldn't let me rest. Plus this project was how I taught myself to use watercolor, which I'd never really done much with and I really wanted to learn. That and reading books and watching watercolor videos. I just wanted something to practice painting on. You have no idea how many paintings I threw away. Watercolor is tougher than it looks! I think I threw away something like 7-8 Fools alone, and several more of the next few trumps til I figured it out. Sort of anyway! I'm probably still not doing it "right". That might actually be part of the appeal of it, to me. A lot of things these days are digitized, refined and perfected overmuch. This art has a bit of a vintage look, it could have been done 20, 50, or 100 years ago. And you did well. Watercolors are tough, much more difficult than other mediums, IMHO. I've never managed to make anything but a mess with them. On 1/7/2020 at 3:07 PM, Babalon Jones said: Maybe next project will do something more traditional. Probably not though 🙂 I think you stay within the bounds of tradition, as far as card essences go. It's the expression that's different. I like that.
Rose Lalonde Posted January 14, 2020 Author Posted January 14, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, katrinka said: I think you stay within the bounds of tradition, as far as card essences go. It's the expression that's different. I like that. Yes, this. It's a feat to create wholly original images that are both true to the Thoth meanings and which express something unique that helps round out and deepen my understanding. Edited January 14, 2020 by Rose Lalonde
Rose Lalonde Posted January 19, 2020 Author Posted January 19, 2020 While this deck is still available to order I thought I'd throw out this short page on the deck creator's TM site about using majors only decks. (It's from back when Tabula Mundi was still only the major arcana.) It mentions pathworking, altar cards, meditation, and more.
Babalon Jones Posted January 20, 2020 Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) I wrote a very long post this morning here, but it somehow disappeared. Magic! Funny thing about that post Rose linked above appearing (thanks @Rose Lalonde)- I'd completely forgotten about it existing. I'm one of those people with no long term memory of things - even significant events from my own life! It's true - other people remember my own life more than I do. I joke that I have the mind of a dog, always in the present moment. Except for when I'm projecting into the future! Update on the decks: I got the proofs last week and they look great. I also finished writing the book. Yes, behold! A book. I'd expected it to be a "little white book" type of deal. But it turned out to be 150 pages written. Blame a whole lot of planets in hard-working Capricorn in the sky now. So everyone who pre-ordered will get either a copy of a print-ready pdf, or *IF* I can figure out how to convert it, an e-book file for both types of e-reader. I'm also going to print a small run of hard copies of perfect bound books and have them available on the site for those who like a real book you can hold in the material world. 😉 The books are going to be the same size as the deck packaging (5x7) so they will make a nice tight bundle. The book has all the stuff one normally wants in an esoteric tarot book, plus the parts specific to Pharos and to the art symbolism. This book also decodes the philosophies behind the Golden Dawn color scales of each card. Something I've been meaning to write for a while - and this deck, since it is an exploration of color and light - was the perfect place for it. Things are on track for getting these out on time in February, as long as the decks arrive when I'm told they will be here, with no curve balls! *knocks wood* The next major task is making all the hand made packaging I can't seem to help but do and always say I'll never do again! 😂 I expect to keep preordering open until the end of the month, or when decks start shipping, whichever comes first. They will disappear until all the pre-orders have shipped, at which point the remaining decks will be available on the website www.tarotcart.com again. Thanks to everyone who helped make these manifest! Edited January 20, 2020 by Babalon Jones
Rose Lalonde Posted January 20, 2020 Author Posted January 20, 2020 (edited) You've been busy @Babalon Jones! And the book sounds great. Is the hard copy going to be ready at the same time the deck ships? As in... if I already pre-ordered the deck but would like to order the physical book as well, is there a way to add that on so they come together? Or should I wait and get the book later? (Though Pharos will arrive after the day, your labors are all working out well for my Feb. birthday 🙂 ) Edited January 20, 2020 by Rose Lalonde
Babalon Jones Posted January 20, 2020 Posted January 20, 2020 @Rose Lalonde Ah, I really like Aquarian energy. I have it as an AC, and Mars, (decan I) and Moon (decan II). You must be an early Feb birthday then. Maybe elves will get it to you in time :) I am *hoping* that the hard copy books and decks arrive at close to the same time, so people can add them if they want them and they can ship together for no extra shipping in some cases (depending what shipping option people chose). If I'd known it was going to turn into such a "real" book, I would have accommodated that option to begin with. As it is I undercharged on the shipping for those who ordered more than one version, due to setting up the software wrong it counted the weight as one - doh! It's my fault so will just eat that. Along with something more tasty. 🍕
Rose Lalonde Posted January 20, 2020 Author Posted January 20, 2020 Hah, those elves would likely need to know how to go backwards in time, with me being in NZ. 😛 Thanks for the info!
Rose Lalonde Posted February 2, 2020 Author Posted February 2, 2020 Just a heads up - the newsletter said pre-orders for Pharos will close this week.
katrinka Posted February 3, 2020 Posted February 3, 2020 And if you pre-order, you get something hand painted. 🖌️
Babalon Jones Posted February 3, 2020 Posted February 3, 2020 I've been painting like crazy. I would show a picture because it looks pretty amazing to see them all lined up, but I want it to be a surprise. A hint though. The items are useful, meaning you can actually use them. Or you can frame them and have a small work of signed art. No it's not a scarf. 🙂
Babalon Jones Posted February 5, 2020 Posted February 5, 2020 Just an update: Pre-orders for Pharos will close tomorrow and the shipping process will begin. The book pre-order will be left up a couple more days so that those who ordered the deck and decide they want to add the book to ship together still can - at least until they get a shipping notice. Because the pre-orders have handmade elements, they will ship in batches and not all at once, so don't be distressed if you don't get a shipping notice and someone else does. I'll be shipping some every day, in the order that they were received. When you get your package you will see why it just isn't possible for me to ship all at once! Every pre-order package not only includes the handpainted item but also some intricate hand cut and assembled paper artistry. The amount of labor I'm doing is flat out ridiculous, so it's only done as a big thank you to those of you who took a chance on a pre-order and trusted me to get it right. The remaining decks will be put back up for sale on the website, but the subsequent packages won't have the same extras included free. If they are offered at all it will be as an optional upgrade. Thanks to all who signed up for another ride on the wheel!
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