It all started last Christmas, when I picked up Joanna's Christmas from my local Michael's craft store.
I love Christmas, and I love Joanna Basford's drawings. Here's the first image I'd colored from this book (pencils and gel pens):
I then went on to Joanna's Lost Oceanbook (gosh, do I love glitter pens!):
Perhaps because of the chaos in the world (not in my house, thankfully--that's a haven), I'm working on images from Jess Volinksi's Peace, Love and Musiccoloring book:
In case you're wondering what gel pens I used for this, most were from LolliZ (pack of 100). Others were old gel pens I had on hand, but hadn't used.
So what about you? Do you like to color? What are your favorite images/books? Tools to color with? (I had to abandoned pencils; they hurt my hands too much. Despite having chronic tendonitis, I'm not giving up! Besides, I like the feel and look of gel pens better, anyway...)
If you haven't yet snagged a copy of Witches&Pagans Magazine latest issue (#33 Tarot and Divination), you really must. I hear it's one of the most popular issues ever, and it really is great reading. My pal Judika Illes is interviewed in this issue (YAY!). Plus, you can get a taste of what this fab mag has to offer to those of alternative/pagan spiritual paths. My article "78 Shades of Tarot" is in there, where I address that there is no "good" or "bad" cards in the deck. Here's some snaps:
And there was even a lovely black and white ad for our Snowland Deck in this issue!
Yeah, you could say I'm a bit proud. ;o) I've been published in other magazines before, but am really honored to be in W&P; I love what Publisher/Editor Anne Newkirk Niven brings to the table via her magazines and the PaganSquare.com website.
I'm hard at work on Naked Tarot(only 19 cards to go!) and recently finished the 8 of Coins. Here's my Personal Stamp Spread for that chapter (I'm creating a layout for each card). It not only addresses procrastination, but also how we each have a particular, distinctive hallmark to our work (and how to find/enhance it).
Card used is from the fab MidCenturian Tarot by Madam Clara. Do let me know if you try it and how it works for you!
1. What’s your favorite breakfast food? I eat multi-grain toast with avocado probably five mornings a week –delicious and healthy.
2. Book you’d like to give everyone (or wish they would read)?The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz is a simple little book with life- changing ideas. Be impeccable with your word. Don’t take anything personally. Don’t make assumptions. Always do your best.
3. What makes you laugh? Other people laughing always gets me going – it is contagious!
4. Song that never gets old: "Changes" by David Bowie was the first song that made a huge impression on me as a tween. It still has magic for me.
5. Drink of choice: Earl Grey tea with milk four times a day and I do like a hot toddy by the fire in winter.
6. Would you rather be hot or cold? Hot. I love summer.
7. Mountain, beach, desert, or forest? I live in the high desert of New Mexico at the foot of the Sangre de Christo mountains in Santa Fe and love it here.
8. Favorite color? Violet
9. Best movie line: I am not a “Trekkie”, but “May the Force be with you”.
10. Last thing you splurged on? Cut velvet top – it is very Tarot...
11. Bonus Qs:What is your favorite card in the Tarot? The High Priestess always draws my attention and I almost always love Her in any deck. From your Tarot de St. Croixdeck? I have a few, well actually a lot – it’s kind of like being asked who your favorite child is. The Sun is my birth card and is on my box and I love the meaning. I painted the Goddess Isis as my High Priestess – she is my Spiritual Guide and the inspiration for my deck The Hermit in my deck is a curendera (a wise woman healer from New Mexico) – I like the painting – a bit Georgia O’Keeffe (one of my favorite artists).
Lisa de St. Croix was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Lisa’s award winningTarot de St. Croix, hand painted in oils, was years in the making. The first edition was published in 2014 with the assistance of Devera Publishing. Lisa self published the second edition in 2017. Lisa has presented lectures and workshops at the International Tarot Conference in Portugal, at TarotCon in Dallas and Denver, at the Living Tarot Oracle in Durango, twice on the Spiritual Path of Tarot Telesummit and at the North West Tarot Symposium (NWTS). Lisa teaches Tarot Visual Journaling workshops in her studio as well as on line to a global audience. Lisa co- hosts the Tarot Meetup Group in Santa Fe. Her deck and writing was featured in The Magician; an Australian publication (Winter 2014), in the Tarot Lovers’ Calendar 2015 and three times in The Cartomancer.Tarot de St. Croixwon an award from The Academy of Cartomancy, Arts and Sciences and is one of the 50 essential decks of the Tarot Professionals. Lisa has kept a blog since the conception of her deck:http://lisadestcroix.blogspot.com
When you're angry, make art. When you're frustrated, make art. When times seem dark, make art. When joy overflows, make art. When words fail, make art. When words abound, make art.
In keeping with my one New Year Resolution that I mentioned in a previous blog post, I've decided to create an informal indie Tarot, Lenormand and Oracle deck database. That is, decks that are self-published or produced by small art studios.
This is just a little side project for me since I'm quite busy finishing writing Naked Tarot and collaborating with hubby on our Coffee Tarot: Grande Edition. I wanted to put together a list of independently published decks that I either own, have backed on Kickstarter/IndieGoGo, are on my Wish List or have been recommended to me by enthusiasts. Why? So others can find them, of course! (I know, I know...I'm such an enabler).
It won't be anything fancy (again, time prohibits making pretty graphics for each and every deck), but I'll add to the list when a new find crosses my desk and I get a chance to update this database. Below are 60+ decks and where to find them. Not a bad start, right? (Don't see your deck or a favorite? I'm only listing decks that are in-print--as well as ones that I find attractive and/or innovative. As in, ones I'd be likely to plunk down my hard-earned money on...or already have. Nothing personal, OK?). Feel free to email me at synerjay (at) atlanticbb (dot) net with any suggestions...especially if you're an artist!
As the years go by, I'm realizing more and more that the most innovative and attractive Tarot decks out there are self-published ones. From my experience, the card stock tends to be superior, not to mention the customer service (above and beyond!)--as well as the imagery, theme and execution. In fact, after supporting almost two dozen decks on either Kickstarter or IndieGoGo, I feel we're in the Golden Age of Tarot...and this era is being fueled by independent artists and wordsmiths.
Indie artists are go-getters, often creating their own website, formatting decks, fulfilling orders, performing accounting, doing their own social media--all on top of creating original art.
I want to acknowledge and honor that.
While I have little time to do reviews anymore (because of how thorough I am when evaluating a deck), what I CAN do is list indie Tarot and Oracle decks here as a database. This will include crowdfunding campaigns from Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, too.
So many gorgeous decks are coming out every month that it's hard to keep up with them--so I want to help you (and, more importantly, the artists/creators) with that by creating (as far as a I know) the first Independently Produced Tarot and Oracle Decks database. Woohoo!
Please note, however: I will not list every deck I come across. Although I'm not actively reviewing much these days, I still have high standards ::wink::. If I think it's an attractive deck, beautifully rendered OR highly original (even if not to my personal tastes)...I'll list it.
So let's get started, shall we? Please list your favorite independently produced Tarot and Oracle decks in the comments section--including any YOU have created! I'll begin to compile a database and update it regularly.
Tarot can be used for so much more than just divination. In fact, my favorite use of the cards is for focused intention and manifestation. Want to expand a particular energy in your life? Enhance an area? Invite more? Then consciously choose the card/s that represent whatever it is you want to attract; don’t rely on randomness or blind “Card of the Day” pulls to guess what it is you really want. (That’s a bit like wanting to make a specific recipe, going into a grocery store blindfolded and then pulling things off the shelves for your order!).
As we start a New Year, many of us are thinking of what has passed away—and what is to come. If you’d like to jumpstart a new beginning, the Major Arcana of Tarot provides twenty-two cards to help initiate your journey. You can place the card/s on your altar, stick on your fridge with a magnet, keep it in your wallet, create a desktop wallpaper or screensaver with it—whatever helps with your specific focus and intentions. Selected cards can also be used for spellwork and rituals.
You can read the rest of my post on using Tarot for intentions at my Sacred Symbols blog on PaganSquare here.
Addicted to Adult Coloring Books