how art & language compel the insights
Greetings,
One of my intentions for this year is to share more of what I love. To create more spaces that I love to be in.
This past Monday was Collective Illuminations, a group space for tarot and oracle readings, done by me. There were a lot of poignant moments, and I wanted to share a few, as well as show how they can apply to your own readings as well.
First, here's the pull from the group:
Decks:
Luminous Void Tarot (watercolors)
Wanderer's Tarot (black & white)
Earthbound Oracle (middle)
Lisa Frank Major Arcana (Seriously. Because divination doesn't have to be serious. Especially given the times we're in, the more fun and silliness the better.)
Half these cards are archetypes that are traditionally/typically depicted as men or cis masculine. If you want to see examples, image search "hierophant tarot" or "hermit tarot" or "magician tarot."
I don't really go for typical; most of my decks are subversive. So it's no surprise that what you see in my readings doesn't match the usual.
But that's not even the point here. The point is: what happens when these archetypes are not so gendered.
During Collective Illuminations, we barely got into these archetypes as masculine. We simply dropped into the qualities and connotations of them. Things which are *not* gendered.
If these archetypes had all been men, I would have spent some time addressing that these archetypes can apply to anyone. Instead, we went directly to the actual significance, which transcends gender.
The language example comes from "voice" (middle left). Use your voice, right? Speak up, even if your voice shakes. Advocate for what you believe in.
Yes, absolutely. Had this card been "language" or depicted a person, the reading might have skewed more towards words. But the card is "voice," and it's a wolf.
This is about using your VOICE in all the ways it can express. Not just in sentences. Laugh. Weep. Cackle. Guffaw. HOWL. Express yourself beyond language.
So, in your own readings, with your own decks, I encourage you to consider how artistic depictions and language choices affect your readings. Dig into the details. Notice the nuances.
If you're not used to reading this way, this is innate to everything in Siderealchemy:
~ 1:1 readings – As mentioned, I have a lot of subversive decks. There aren't always a lot of those options in a bookstore's selection, but there are in my library of decks. Choose a deck that specifically disrupts gender norms, or one that focuses on the wisdom of plants, or one that dances with death.
~ Collective Illuminations (again THIS Monday) – I'm super excited to do this all over again. I've selected 1-2 decks; the rest will be determined by your preferences.
~ Divine Your Deck – Upcoming workshop about navigating deck options and seeing the impact of art on your readings.
~ Dive Into Your Deck – Noticing all the details, considering the cultural influences, engaging more deeply with your deck than you ever have before.
~ Light Your Lantern – Noticing the patterns and energetics unique to your deck.
Thanks for reading, as you consider the ways that visuals and language influence our insights. If you keep seeing the same ol' things, you miss the opportunities to see and shift reality in new ways. Representation MATTERS.
Hope to see you in a workshop or class soon! All the details here.
In-sight,
S.
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Siderealchemy
she / they