A Thursday Newsletter (Day 20, 2022)

Vetrofuso Glass meets Visconti Modrone + an overview my new Tarot project . . .

Update: I’m continuing to work on sound quality for my intended podcast. But must say . . . practice runs still sound awful! (Have ordered pop filter. :)

So I’m taking advantage of today’s slot to preview my other new project:
Tarot | In Four Dimensions.

First, though, I wanted to share a lovely piece of serendipity that occurred while I was researching Peter Ra for the latest Time Capsule story. Can’t recall how I ended up in the “Tableware/Dinner Plates” section of the luxury home goods site Artemest, but that’s where I found these gorgeous Murano glass replicas of the Visconti trumps, made for Vetrofuso-Daniela Poletti’s line of Italian art glass.

The 3.5 x 8 inch “plates” come in pairs (two of the same card) for $140 USD the set at Artemest, but can also be had singly for $65 at HushHush.

I’m not sure how well they would function as plates, but Artemest also suggests another use:

Hung on a wall or set on a side table in a private study, these exquisite Murano glass replicas of the medieval tarot cards of Visconti di Modrone are the perfect gift for a lover of Medieval history.

Only about half of the trumps have been replicated, but each of those available has been given a sumptuous description. Here’s The World:

A powerful card indicating a timeless state of grace where all is well. It is represented by the serene figure of a woman, depicted on a golden background floating above a verdant blue-and-green Earth, featuring exquisitely detailed medieval architecture in a lush landscape.

Worth noting: Every card description has an uplifting spin. Death, for example, is a merely symbolic suggestion to “shed the old to make room for the new,” while Judgement is “a reminder of the power we hold to make the changes we want for ourselves.” The Chariot “encourages using freedom as an empowering force in future endeavors.”

So it appears that even in the luxury market, personal growth is a value-add.

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Tarot | In Four Dimensions.

I’ve been wanting to share my personal approach to reading Tarot. But I was reluctant to present myself as an “instructor,” or label my offering as a “course.” 

So I’m calling it instead:

A four-month series, describing my approach to Tarot divination, and sharing some useful tools 

I was also concerned about changing or complicating Tarot | An Exploration Project, so I decided on a separate newsletter.

More below about what will be in 4D.  But beforehand, I want to talk about how it will differ from EP.

First of all, a paid subscription will be required.  I’ve written a long explanation of my thinking about this, and will post it for those who are curious!  But the bottom line is that I’ve designed this series to be both substantive and useful—so I want to have an exchange of value.

I believe the series will be worthwhile for practitioners at all levels of experience. That includes beginners who want to start their Tarot journey in a serious way, as well as anyone who wants to enrich a current practice by exploring alternative approaches.

As I thought about how to structure the series, I came to the conclusion that a four-dimensional approach to Tarot can’t be explained/described in a “this is how you do it” way.  I see it more as an unfolding over time. So the 4D series will be four months long, and each month will have its own area of emphasis.

February:  The Personal Dimension

March:  The Theory Dimension

April:   The Method Dimension

May:  The Practice dimension

Every month there will be four weekly newsletters, each offering concepts, stories, connections, and suggested exercises. There will also be downloadable tools for each month, and occasional Daily Notes.  Month 4 will include live readings.

When 4D launches on February 2, you’ll see much more detail about what’s planned for each month, along with an explanation of the subscription options. There will also be some free introductory posts, to help visitors decide whether the series would be right for them.

Although the 4D series is designed to unfold in real time, anyone can join at any point. All the newsletters will be archived as posts, and a content guide will offer different ways of going through the material.  

I’ll end this brief sketch with a couple of clarifications . . . .

Focus:  The 4D series will not go into detail about individual cards.  For folks who need or want more information about symbolism and interpretation of individual cards, I’ll recommend some resources that do a good job in that area. But my approach focuses on the spread as a space/time matrix, in which individual cards are defined by multiple interconnections.

Approach:  The 4D approach works toward an integration of styles and skills. In her exceptional book, Tarot Mirrors, Mary Greer described four types of readers:

Analytic, Psychic, Therapeutic, and Magical 

At the time I wrote History, Mystery, and Lore, I thought of myself as an “Analytic” reader, in Mary’s terms—but in retrospect, I see how all those styles were woven into my reading practice.  So I’ve tried to create a similar tapestry in 4D, along with a multi-layered model of Tarot skills.

Beyond that quick overview, my Tarot manifesto may provide some insight into the foundational ideas underlying 4D. But I should add that the series won’t be grimly serious! I’m looking forward to plenty of humor, color, and (of course) serendipity.

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By the way—I’ve updated Tarot in Literature, Media, and Visual Arts, which lists EP stories that fall into those categories. Hope you’ll visit, or revisit.

As always . . . thanks so much for reading. C