CURRENTLY ON HIATUS
That I would illustrate the Tarot is a given, though the reasons why cannot be easily explained. My deck – as yet unnamed – is being created with a keen awareness of the historical pedigree of the symbolism on each card. It ought to be completely compatible with the rituals of Θελημα, as described by Aleister Crowley. It is conjured in my own voice, which by necessity comports perfectly to my place in time, that is to say, the 2nd century of the Aeon of Horus, as revealed by the Book Of The Law in 1904. Relax, it’s also funny.
As near as I can tell, the Tarot deck appeared for purposes of gaming during the 15th century in Italy, featuring hand-painted images of popular medieval allegory. Over the ensuing centuries, as crude wood-cut copies dealt their way across Europe, the imagery of the Tarot became relatively standardized. Cartomancy, in vogue during the late the 18th century, lead to the adaptation of Tarot for divination. Masonic lodges of the 19th century – notably the G.·.D.·. – incorporated these divinatory decks into their occult rituals. Early in the 20th century, several influential occult decks were created by G.·.D.·. initiates, including the ubiquitous Rider deck.
The vast majority of tarot decks available today, (of which I have examined hundreds), fit into one of three categories. The first category is reserved for decks based on historical patterns, the second and largest category includes the Rider deck and all of it’s variants (Hello Kitty Tarot included), and the third category is The Book of Thoth, no substitutions.
This last was created during WWII, under the direction of The Beast and painted by Lady Frieda Harris. The Book of Thoth is considered the gold standard by occult orders the world over! I envision my deck as a sort of Thoth.1.