Dwina Murphy-Gibb’s Vedic Tarot is a daring and impressive try and combine two wealthy traditions: the esoteric symbolism of the tarot and the non secular depth of the Vedic mysteries. With its tagline, “East Meets West,” the deck guarantees a cross-cultural exploration that bridges divides and celebrates parallels between Japanese spirituality and Western occult knowledge. The result’s a visually putting and thought-provoking instrument for divination and self-reflection.
The artist and creator Dwina Murphy-Gibb attracts parallels between tarot archetypes and Vedic teachings, incorporating Sanskrit, the Irish Ogham Tree alphabet, and Hebrew into the symbolic framework. The inclusion of musical notes and devices tied to chakras provides a holistic dimension, encouraging customers to interact a number of senses of their journey with the deck.
Nonetheless, the deck opts to go along with the Western musical scale system fairly than the Indian classical scale, i.e., the Saptak (scale of seven notes) that are available three major registers or octaves (which may then be linked to the three septenaries). Or work with the 12 swaras in an octave and discover a approach to correspond them with the 12 zodiac indicators and astrological attributions within the Majors. Provided that that is referred to as the Vedic Tarot and music is being tied to the idea of chakras, this oversight appears to be a missed alternative.
However, the visible language of this deck is gorgeous, evocative, and there’s one thing intuitively therapeutic from the vibrancy of coloration. The surrealist imagery rendered in daring and deliberate strains is mesmerizing. Additionally, it’s a really effectively thought out deck structure and design.
The Idiot card is the First Traveller, a personification of the Alpha state, and signifying the immortal one. The facility of the First Traveller is the Arbor Vitae (the Tree of Life), a bonus card to the deck. A 3rd bonus card is Oogenesis, showing earlier than the Third Septenary, which is the Cosmic Embryo. The left-most column of the above picture reveals the First Traveller, Arbor Vitae, and Oogenesis playing cards.
Within the Minor Arcana, the go well with of Cups expresses the emotional discipline and radial consciousness, corresponding with water that’s pulled gravitationally by the solar and moon. Notably, the 4 courtroom playing cards of the Cups on this deck are the messengers between the fabric world of the Minors and the etheric world of the Majors. That is as a result of go well with’s theme of the Soul thirsting for increased data (the Majors).
Simply to tug up one card for word, check out the 5 of Cups, which the guidebook attributes to the key phrase Shout. That is the Sramana’s or Shaman’s Shout, which parallels the Hebrew correspondence of Shin (Sheen), for Tooth or Fang — “the letter resembles three tongues of flame, three worlds, and three gross sales,” notes Murphy-Gibb.
Wands categorical the directive pressure, which is “Hearth by means of Air,” notes the guidebook. The Vedic correspondence to Wands, per Murphy-Gibb, is the Vajra, thought of essentially the most highly effective weapon within the universe. The Wands pips denote varied points of Willpower. The Ace of Wands denotes Primal Willpower; Two of Wands to Binding Willpower; Three of Wands to Established Will, and so forth.
The 8 of Wands on this deck is “The Seer’s card.” That is “touring with goal by means of all of the highs and lows fueled by accuracy and urgency. The elevated thoughts sees a starting, center, and finish of a path.” The 9 of Wands options Kali as a nature goddess who nurtures but in addition devours. The Queen of Wands card brings the facility of Magnetism, and she or he is the Ruler of Speech. She is Kundalini, the Serpent Energy and Astral Mild.
Swords designate the mental discipline and directive consciousness (in distinction to the Cups, for the emotional discipline and radial consciousness). That is the piercing by means of Air with Steel pressured with Hearth.
There’s quite a bit to like about how the guidebook is written. As an example, the Six of Swords divinatory message is: Shedding karma from troublesome conditions and going towards profitable resolutions. When this card comes up, it signifies the necessity to discover sacred area to get better (that has a little bit of a 4 of Swords vibe to it doesn’t it?). The Sanskrit correspondence to the Six of Swords is the Holy River, the Crossing Place to a Sacred Web site.
And at last the Shields, akin to the standard go well with of Cash or Pentacles, for the fabric world and matter. Shields symbolizes the weather of wooden and metallic being long-established for defense. It’s additionally the go well with designating non secular shielding towards damaging forces. The Ace of Shields is the mandala and Srivatsa, or Defend of Vishnu.
I like what the guidebook says concerning the 10 of Shields: that is Mastery of Lineage. “The kid inside seems to be again to the long run throughout the cycle. . . . True wealth comes from the Mastery of all situations and circumstances that might create obstacles.”
The guidebook provides a wealth of data. Card entries for the Majors embody an in depth description of what’s pictured on the cardboard, the facility that card designates, non secular path it represents, divinatory that means, after which Sanskrit, Hebrew, Ogham, and musical word correspondences. Entries for the Minors cowl key phrases that lean into the non secular and mystical, divinatory message, after which the Sanskrit, Hebrew, Ogham, and instrumental correspondences. There are a number of glossaries of phrases categorized by cultural custom. And general it was an exquisite learn.
There’s a bonus card on this tarot deck for Silence, noting that “Silence is the key Science of the Soul.” This card depicts the Incorporeal Ancestral Supreme Seed Soul of the Human World Tree, and can be utilized as a mirror throughout open-eyed meditation. It’s a cool idea, although for me personally, crimson doesn’t invoke silence. This specific crimson card feels invigorating and energizing.
I ought to in some unspecified time in the future handle the deck’s tagline, “East Meets West.” Right here’s my considering on it. If it’s a part of your private lived expertise so you realize, all too effectively, how reductive that phrase is, thus you’re utilizing it in a tongue-in-cheek tone, you then’re utilizing the phrase understanding it’s essentializing. So there’s virtually a go for utilizing the time period glibly. However when it’s not your lived expertise, and also you’re going to be utilizing that tagline, it might be useful to dedicate a piece within the guidebook to clarify what you imply by “East Meets West.” And aside from repeated use of that tagline unironically, I didn’t see something anyplace that indicated important reflection.
Furthermore, the act of integrating these programs raises questions on cultural context and appropriation. Is the fusion one which honors the integrity of each traditions, or does it threat flattening their nuances for the sake of thematic syncretism? In equity to Murphy-Gibb, her work demonstrates real respect and admiration for the traditions she attracts from. I actually respect how a lot thought and analysis went into this deck.
The Vedic Tarot provides huge potential for each divination and meditation. This deck will seemingly attraction to practitioners who take pleasure in digging deeply into correspondences and layered programs, in addition to those that are drawn to Expressionist and Fauvist artwork type.
The creator, Dwina Murphy-Gibb, is a Patroness of the Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids, and in her Druid scholarship, focuses on the intersection of Druidry and the traditional religions of India. Finally, Vedic Tarot is a vibrant and impressive deck that invitations us to right into a layered exploration of numerous non secular programs.
This deck will undoubtedly discover its place amongst collectors, seasoned tarot practitioners, and people drawn to syncretic non secular practices. For these able to immerse themselves in its layers, the Vedic Tarot provides a transformative and enlightening expertise.
FTC Disclosure: In accordance with Title 16 of the U.S. Code of Federal Laws Half 255, “Guides Regarding Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Promoting,” I acquired the deck and guidebook set from the writer for potential assessment. Every thing I’ve stated right here is honest and precisely displays my opinion of the deck.
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