IT’S IN THE CARDS:
TAROT FOR OBAMA
fundraising event
Friday, October 17, 6-9 pm

My friend (and Catherine of Aragon model) Diane Saarinen recently wrote a nice post on her tarot blog about her experience modeling for Doomed Queens. Diane is a fellow Brooklynite as well as a woman of many talents: tarot reader, editor, writer, photographer, and more.

Diane’s post touches on the symbolism of the crown — interesting, since I used a winged crown quite a bit in my Lover’s Path Tarot. She also reveals the reference photo which inspired her queen portrait. You can see the rather ragtag headdress I constructed for her from cardboard and foam core. It’s an interesting bit of before-and-after.

So go take a peek!

During this time I’ve:

~ Finished the cover for Doomed Queens and hand delivered it to Broadway Doubleday. Fortunately, they were all very pleased with it! Once I have a scan, I’ll post it. Oh, and on a related note, there’s now an Amazon.com page for it, over nine months before the pub date — sort of like being pregnant, only with a book at the end instead of a baby.

~ Got Doomed Queens edits back from my editor. Final revised manuscript is due March 1st.

~ Along with those edits, I was asked to revamp the manuscript into a 32-page blad (book laid out and design). Doubleday plans to send the blad out to various publicity outlets in advance of my October 2008 publication — a very good sign that the-powers-that-be are excited and supportive of my book.

~ On top of this, I’ve been hard at work on the art for Nicki Scully and Linda Star Wolf’s The Anubis Oracle. This 35 card oracle deck and book set will be published by Inner Traditions/Bear & Co. this winter. I’ve finished just about everything save for the cover (below), which is still under development.

I also illustrated Nicki and Star Wolf’s Shamanic Mysteries of Egypt, which came out last year. The art for The Anubis Oracle is adapted from this book, using both digital and traditional watercolor techniques. It’s been a very intense process, since the deadline for it was hot on the heels of finishing the manuscript.

~ Am still moving stuff into the new-and-expanded Kris Waldherr Art and Words storefront. Everything is coming together nicely, though it’s a slow process! A friend will be helping me with my window signage later this month, as soon as I design my logo. I have a few ideas, but need to spend some time focusing. Which I will do as soon as I finish the queens’ edits and the oracle cover.

Toward that end, I love the idea of a somewhat arts and crafts-themed design, maybe a bit fin de siecle Vienna meets William Morris in the type treatment. But what’s giving me pause is the thought of branding: Whatever I ultimately choose to do will reflect on my business, my work as an author, and my art. So I need to plan carefully. I’m also planning a relaunch of this site sometime this spring, so I’d like to tie in my studio design with that for consistency’s sake. Anyway, lots to think of here!

And that’s the latest here. I did manage to take an afternoon off to see Persepolis, which I highly recommend. It’s wonderful — it gave me hope that we author-illustrators can make a difference in this world through our art and words, if we create powerful enough products that make it out there. I was simultaneously devastated and enthralled by it.

KEYWORDS:
the soul
knowledge
purity

The goddess Sophia is considered the divine embodiment of feminine wisdom; her name translates literally as “wisdom” in Greek. In the ancient Near East, Sophia provided humans with the knowledge needed to create literature and the arts. Sophia symbolized the soul in its purest manifestation, often represented in art as having the form of a dove.

Later history associated Sophia with the Holy Spirit in Gnosticism. Gnosticism—derived from gnosis, the Greek word for knowledge—grew alongside early Christianity. Some gnostic traditions even claimed Sophia as the mother of Christ. An important tenet of gnosticism held that knowledge could free humanity from the shackles of limitation; it enabled the divine spirit every person possessed to return to the unknowable source of creation.

Text and art adapted from the Goddess Inspiration Oracle, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. All content © Kris Waldherr 2007. All rights reserved.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Draw strength from Diana, the beloved Roman huntress. Channel your anger wisely with help from the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele. Consult Anuket for prosperity. The Goddess Inspiration Oracle makes it easy for women to tap into the sacred wisdom of these powerful deities.

From Abeona to Zhinu, eighty goddesses from across the globe are represented in this deck. Each card features a striking portrait of a deity, her attributes, and a message inspired by her unique story. It’s an ideal instrument for creating affirmations, sparking creativity, gaining fresh perspectives, and uncovering insights related to health, love, creativity, motherhood, and other issues specific to women. The guidebook offers in-depth descriptions of each goddess, keywords associated with her, and practical suggestions for working with the cards.

Purchase now.
Learn more or try a free reading.

I’ve long wanted to feature some of the talented people whom I’ve linked to on the sidebar of this blog. If all goes as planned (thank you, Wordpress!), you’ll be reading some wonderfully inspiring posts from writers Elizabeth Genco and Ellen Dreyer, and artists Lisa Hunt and Karen Zuegner during my absence.

I’ll be back from my travels on August 27th.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

KEYWORDS:
destruction
construction
renewal

Kali Ma, a powerful Hindu goddess, is widely worshiped in India. She is considered the personification of time that destroys everything. Though often feared, Kali Ma is necessary to life. Acceptance of Kali Ma recognizes that life cannot exist without death; death affords an opportunity for new growth to rise from the old. She is often invoked for protection against disease and other destructive phenomenon.

Kali Ma is terrifying of appearance. She is black of form and wears a necklace of human skulls and a belt of human arms. Her frightening presentation suggests the fears humans displace onto others when they resist change. When embraced, Kali offers the opportunity for great expansion.

Text and art adapted from the Goddess Inspiration Oracle, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. All content © Kris Waldherr 2007. All rights reserved.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Draw strength from Diana, the beloved Roman huntress. Channel your anger wisely with help from the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele. Consult Anuket for prosperity. The Goddess Inspiration Oracle makes it easy for women to tap into the sacred wisdom of these powerful deities.

From Abeona to Zhinu, eighty goddesses from across the globe are represented in this deck. Each card features a striking portrait of a deity, her attributes, and a message inspired by her unique story. It’s an ideal instrument for creating affirmations, sparking creativity, gaining fresh perspectives, and uncovering insights related to health, love, creativity, motherhood, and other issues specific to women. The guidebook offers in-depth descriptions of each goddess, keywords associated with her, and practical suggestions for working with the cards.

Purchase now.
Learn more or try a free reading.

I’ve long wanted to feature some of the talented people whom I’ve linked to on the sidebar of this blog. If all goes as planned (thank you, Wordpress!), you’ll be reading some wonderfully inspiring posts from writers Elizabeth Genco and Ellen Dreyer, and artists Lisa Hunt and Karen Zuegner during my absence.

I’ll be back from my travels on August 27th. This year, we’re visiting New England and Montreal -  not as exciting as last year’s trip to Greece, Turkey and Italy, but probably less stressful for a toddler and her parents.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

KEYWORDS:
the arts
science
creativity

Invoked by poets, artists, and musicians, these nine nymph-like goddesses presided over the arts and sciences in the world of the ancient Greeks. The Muses offered their supplicants the purest form of inspiration—literally infusing spirit into creative works to animate them.

Though their parentage is uncertain, most stories hold that the Muses were the daughters of Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, and Zeus. Originally there was only one Muse. Over time, they grew to number nine goddesses, suggesting the expansion of their powers. Each of the nine Muses concerned herself with an area of art. The power of the Muses still exists today, though mainly in our language. When we are amused, we are reminded of the charms wielded by these graceful goddesses.

Text and art adapted from the Goddess Inspiration Oracle, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. All content © Kris Waldherr 2007. All rights reserved.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Draw strength from Diana, the beloved Roman huntress. Channel your anger wisely with help from the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele. Consult Anuket for prosperity. The Goddess Inspiration Oracle makes it easy for women to tap into the sacred wisdom of these powerful deities.

From Abeona to Zhinu, eighty goddesses from across the globe are represented in this deck. Each card features a striking portrait of a deity, her attributes, and a message inspired by her unique story. It’s an ideal instrument for creating affirmations, sparking creativity, gaining fresh perspectives, and uncovering insights related to health, love, creativity, motherhood, and other issues specific to women. The guidebook offers in-depth descriptions of each goddess, keywords associated with her, and practical suggestions for working with the cards.

Purchase now.
Learn more or try a free reading.

KEYWORDS:
creation
universe
nurturance

In India, Aditi is honored as the creator of life. For it was Aditi who gave birth to the gods and goddesses; they in turn brought everything into consciousness, thus creating what we consider reality.

This benign goddess is addressed as Mother Space because she gave birth to the planets and stars. Some associate her with the endless sky—appropriately, her name translates as “limitless.” Her children, known collectively as the Adityas, were connected with the twelve months of the year. They also symbolized the twelve signs of the zodiac, whom some believe control fate.

Text and art adapted from the Goddess Inspiration Oracle, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. All content © Kris Waldherr 2007. All rights reserved.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Draw strength from Diana, the beloved Roman huntress. Channel your anger wisely with help from the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele. Consult Anuket for prosperity. The Goddess Inspiration Oracle makes it easy for women to tap into the sacred wisdom of these powerful deities.

From Abeona to Zhinu, eighty goddesses from across the globe are represented in this deck. Each card features a striking portrait of a deity, her attributes, and a message inspired by her unique story. It’s an ideal instrument for creating affirmations, sparking creativity, gaining fresh perspectives, and uncovering insights related to health, love, creativity, motherhood, and other issues specific to women. The guidebook offers in-depth descriptions of each goddess, keywords associated with her, and practical suggestions for working with the cards.

Purchase now.
Learn more or try a free reading.

What: Goddess Inspiration Oracle signing

When: Wednesday, October 24, 7 pm

Where: East West Living
(formerly East West Books)
78 Fifth Avenue @ 14th Street
New York, New York 10011
Phone: 212-243-5994.
Email: bookpos@eastwestnyc.com

Also, a very nice review of the Goddess Inspiration Oracle is up on Julie Cuccia-Watts’ blog; Julie is the creator of the Maat Tarot and The Ancestral Path Tarot as well as a co-sponsor of WATTS (Wisconsin Area TriState Tarot Symposium), which recently took place and was very successful. Her succinct verdict:

“I give the Goddess Inspiration Oracle a thumbs up for content, multicultural, the feminine divine and art.”

Read the entire review here.

Learn more about the Goddess Inspiration Oracle here.

KEYWORDS:
wisdom
fate
divination

The Norse earth goddess, Erda, lived in a cave within the earth’s deepest recesses, which was set next to the roots of Yggdrasil, the vast World Tree. Yggdrasil was watered by Erda’s plentiful fountain of wisdom. Erda’s powers were as encompassing as Yggdrasil’s leafy span—the goddess and her magical fountain were often invoked by those in need of her far-reaching wisdom. Others believed Erda could bend the inexorable powers of fate over which she ruled.

Because of Erda’s association with fate, the Norse thought there was a clear correlation between the goddess and the art of divination. They often turned to the earth itself for guidance, using many aspects of it as oracles—animals, birds, the sky, even the ocean. They believed observation of these phenomena could offer divine answers.

Text and art adapted from the Goddess Inspiration Oracle, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. All content © Kris Waldherr 2007. All rights reserved.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Draw strength from Diana, the beloved Roman huntress. Channel your anger wisely with help from the Hawaiian fire goddess Pele. Consult Anuket for prosperity. The Goddess Inspiration Oracle makes it easy for women to tap into the sacred wisdom of these powerful deities.

From Abeona to Zhinu, eighty goddesses from across the globe are represented in this deck. Each card features a striking portrait of a deity, her attributes, and a message inspired by her unique story. It’s an ideal instrument for creating affirmations, sparking creativity, gaining fresh perspectives, and uncovering insights related to health, love, creativity, motherhood, and other issues specific to women. The guidebook offers in-depth descriptions of each goddess, keywords associated with her, and practical suggestions for working with the cards.

Purchase now.
Learn more or try a free reading.

There’s a tarot reading with the Lover’s Path at about half-way through. If the embedded video doesn’t work, the direct YouTube link is here.

It’s shocking — though cool — to see my cards on television. Some years back, I was told that the Goddess Tarot made an appearance on Queer Eye for the Straight Girl (a series that disappeared as quickly as Snakes on a Plane in pop phenomena). I never did find the episode, since I was without cable then.