I’ve been watching the new Rosetta Tarot for a while now, following the artist’s progress. She describes it as the “Love Child of Thoth and RWS,” with Thoth ending up dominant. That doesn’t surprise me. Thoth is kind of like that, from what I can tell.
I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on it, because…well, it solves a problem for me.
I’ve always felt I “should” become better-versed in the Thoth and really, all things Golden Dawn–it’s the foundation of so much of today’s Tarot–but I never really had my heart in it. I have a Thoth deck, but it sits in a drawer. I like less abstract artwork. So much Tarot occult material feels heavy and dense, like I should set aside a few years to sort it out. It just didn’t call to me. So I’ve been waiting, for when it speaks to me a little louder, with a more appealing tone, I suppose.
The Rosetta Tarot provides the same arcane wisdom I’ve felt important to explore, but with that “more appealing tone.” The color scale and correspondences are Thoth and Golden Dawn, but the artwork provides some of what made RWS so enduring. And with so many mediocre decks out there, it’s always refreshing to see the work of an artist who is also truly a student of Tarot. I relish the education that lies within, hidden between well-formed lines. The deck will have a companion book, Book of Seshet, explaining the symbolism in detail.
One notable feature is choice of artistic mediums–the Major Arcana and each suit were created in mediums appropriate for that suit’s qualities. Details like this serve to further infuse the suit’s energy in the cards. From the Rosetta Tarot site:
“The Major Arcana as the element of spirit, with their plasticity and elastic nature, were done as original acrylic paintings. The suit of Wands as the element of Fire and thus wood, were done in a combination of colored pencils and acrylic. The suit of Swords as Air were done in a dry-point etching technique…The Cups as Water were done in a mixed media technique of watercolor, water-based ink and acrylic. The Disks as Earth were done in oil pigments (which come from earth) and acrylic. The acrylic in all suits ties together the look and the spirit element of the cards.” –artist, M.M. Meleen
I’m very much looking forward to working with this deck, and will no doubt be featuring it in Everyday Tarot when it’s available. The deck is finished, and will probably have a limited edition release from the artist before it’s picked up by a publisher for mass distribution. Keep informed by signing up for the email list on the Rosetta Tarot website.
How does this Fool strike you?
(Artwork and excerpts used with permission.)
Very much a “zero” card, with all it’s symbols!
I really like it – love the bright colors. It really pops out at you.
If you go to her website, she has more cards up – http://www.rosettatarot.com/
And yeah, the colors are just wonderful. I love the deep, rich feel. And with each suit being done in different mediums, it seems to give each one a unique flavor while still remaining part of the whole.
I’ve seen the whole deck, it’s fantastic!
I’m jealous. I haven’t gotten to see the whole thing yet! 🙂 But I’ll get over it. When I get my mitts on it, that is. Ha! I am really looking forward to making friends with this deck.
If I had only seen the Majors, I probably would’ve just passed because the artwork isn’t at all my style. Then I looked at the suits … wow. I can totally deal with the slightly garish feel I get from the majors, especially since they’ll probably be stunning in person without screen glare, if just to work with the suits. That 2 of Disks is stuck in my mind and not letting go.
I too used to have a Toth Tarot deck and experienced that same heavy feeling you mentioned. I originally bought it because I found the artwork so beautiful, but then it was too overbearing or something. I gave it away. Sometimes I wonder if I should’ve kept it.