Black Women’s History month * Pamela Colman Smith * fortune

Chromatic Fantasy after Bach

Just like (collage) artist Ken Knutson is/was to James Wanless, creator of the Voyager Tarot, ‘twas a young Corinne Pamela “Pixie” Colman Smith that was the illustrator who worked with the creator of the now Rider Waite (Smith) Tarot, perhaps the most popular Tarot deck ever published. And given that we have just finished celebrating Black Women’s History Month, am going to belatedly pay tribute and our respects to our rather unsung, Jamaican American artist friend, who was one of the first to illustrate the pip cards (save for the 1491 deck, Sola Busca).

Overture * "Egmont," Beethoven 1907

Transatlantic crossing with Bram Stoker

Born in London, she spent time in Manchester, Brooklyn and Kingston, and joined the Isis Urania Temple of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn at the turn of the century, an occult group that included the likes of Bram Stoker (Dracula), along with Tarot notables Alexander Crowley (Thoth Tarot) and Arthur Edward Waite (Rider Waite Smith Tarot). Inspired by nineteenth century symbolists and art nouveau, she made art from “what she saw when she heard musical thoughts, loosened and set free from the spell of sound.” She took history (A. E. Waite’s) and turned it into herstory. Besides illustrating the pip cards, she took Waite’s Tarot with its origins in Judeo Christian mysticism, and employed her actor friends (she was a set designer by trade at that time) to help bring the court card figures to life. She was tiny (Pixie), but she was the faery Godmuva of her day and age, an occultist, creatrix, mystic and intuitive creative for the all of us.

Fortune * ten * Voyager Tarot by James Wanless * Way of the Great Oracle

Our purpose in life is to discover our gifts, the meaning of life is to share of them.

Make your gifts and talents evident. To follow your passions and strive for the Big Apple is risky biz. Only by risking misfortune do we grow (indecision breeds misfortune/missed fortunes). Your strongest feeling is where your talent lies. Fortune is the gamble on which we place our hopes and dreams, and is the manifestation of your talents so that you are rewarded in return.

Extend yourself. Work hard to real eyes your passions/visions. Go with fate and do not strive against it. Turn with the unexpected. Be receptive/opportunistic. Turn gifts into realities. And do so with optimistic mind, fearless heart and a sense of egoless service to the planet. This good karma brings success and reward on all levels of life. Take the gamble. Be a risk taker.

Our feelgood senses of wholeness comes with the completion of one’s work. Recognize what thoughts and actions create success. Refrain from any American excess and (down 2) earth your visions. Create and let go. Give and receive. Revolutionize and transform. Feel the right time/place. As the flygirl be sunny and live in positivity. As the blackamoor do not be afraid to be colorful/expansive. As the immaterial girl, trust in her and make believe. Trust in (your) life.

Be low key and stay on the down low. Offer your (inner) riches to the world. Real eyes that our inner stillness is the hub of the wheel (of fortune). It is the quiescent center of your being. Real eyes again that to find that inner core is to tap your inner resources from which you create your external worldly fortune. Have the courage to wait things out. Ride this thing called life for all it’s worth. Clarity within, movement without. Hold out and hold on (for all you’re worth).