Every tarot deck has to start somewhere, and it always starts with the fool. Not because he is foolish in the way we usually mean that word (careless, silly, not paying attention) but because he's willing to do the one thing most of us spend our whole lives avoiding: step off the edge without knowing what's underneath.
That's the card. New beginnings. Innocence. Spontaneity. A leap of faith taken before logic has finished arguing against it.
The Fool: He dances on a loop of rope in the sky with a little white kitty along side him and Denali is far below. That's the Alaska in Alaska Major Arcana. The Fool is at the start of the journey, which means he's also pure potential - nothing has happened to him yet. He hasn't succeeded or failed. He hasn't been humbled or proven right. He's standing at the very beginning of his story and every version of the story is still possible.
I've been thinking about this card a lot as I start this project: A Major Arcana inspired by the Alaska I love, twenty-two paintings, each one built out of the landscape, creatures and the people in it. Starting anything creative is it's own leap of faith. There is no guarantee the deck gets finished, no guarantee anyone connects with it, no guarantee any of this "works". Logic would probably tell you not to start a twenty-two card painting project.
Logic is not always right.
I moved to Alaska about 30 years ago with my own Fool's daydream: a good man, a cabin, some dogs and painting to my hearts content. I am fortunate to have lived it.
Now all 22 cards are finished and my Kickstarter launched on November 11th, one year since the day it all started. Will you take the leap with me? Back the deck, and come along with me on the Fool's journey across Alaska.
Contact me if you are interested in supporting this project and I'll make sure you get the information.
Text, "I'm interested" to Judy Vars 907-355-2219 and I'll make sure you get the link.
Fool Image inspired by and painted with written permission from Michael Parkes.
No comments:
Post a Comment