Phantasmaphile

Alchemical Tarot: Renewed, 3rd Edition

My favorite tarot deck is Robert Place's gorgeous and glorious Alchemical Tarot.  It uses - you guessed it - alchemical symbolism, and is lovingly rendered in Place's signature graphic style.  Colorful, unusual, image dense, it's truly the stuff of dreams.

It was an honor to be able to show some of his fine art in my recent show, ALCHEMICALLY YOURS (the promo pic is a detail of his work as well).  I wish I could have bought every piece of his.  But now there's a great way to own some of his work, and support the 3rd edition reprint of the Alchemical Tarot: just donate to his Indie GoGo fundraising campaign.  By doing so, you'll be supporting an artistic and magical project, and receiving all kinds of goodies to boot:

"Donate $30 and you'll get an 8.5” by 11” signed archival gyclee print of your choice of one of The Alchemical Tarot illustrations.

Donate $40 and you'll receive a signed copy of The Alchemical Tarot.

Donate $65 and you'll receive both the print and the signed copy of the deck.

Donate $120 and you'll receive the print, the deck, and a signed copy of the companion book when it is complete.

Donate $200 and you will receive the print, the deck, and a signed copy of the companion book, plus I will give you a one-hour Tarot reading with the deck over the phone or in person in Saugerties.

Donate $700 and you will receive the print, the deck, and a signed copy of the companion book, plus you can come to my house for a five-hour personal class on using The Alchemical Tarot."

 

Sounds like a great deal to me.  More info here.

Ann McCoy show!

Ann McCoy  2009

Ann McCoy is one of my favorite living artists, which is an impressive feat considering I have yet to see any of her work in person.  And oh how I long to!  She creates massive drawings that riff on alchemical symbols in flowing phantasmagorias.  Wish I could get myself to Vermont to see her current show, "ANN MCCOY: ALCHEMICAL WORKS" which is up through November 30th.  Here's more information on that:

ANN MCCOY: ALCHEMICAL WORKS

Michael S. Currier Center

The Putney School

418 Houghton Brook Road

Putney,VT 05346

September 28 through Nov. 30, 2009

Statement:  For me, alchemical model is not antiquated and is much needed in our time.  In alchemy, the shadow, our dark partner we project onto others, must be acknowledged and integrated. The pairs of opposites are brought together and transformed into a new third element.  In our age of black and white thinking, with the shadow projected onto the Arab and others,  this model provides a welcome change. Alchemy has to do with transformation, transmutation, and changes in the inner life which become manifest in the outer world.  Without the transformation of the individual, there can be no transformation in the collective. Alchemy connects the inner transformation process through fantasy to the outer world.

Just marvelous.  Hmmm, maybe I need to arrange a leaf peeping, alchemical Vermont excursion.

Alchemy Conference

Oh my goodness.  Can it be true?  The first ever International Alchemy Conference in Vegas!!!

"Largest Gathering of Alchemists in 500 Years!

• Practicing Alchemists from 12 Countries

• Reunion of Frater Albertus Graduates

• Famous Authors, Consultants and Researchers

• Lectures on All Aspects of Alchemy

• Alchemy Students and Guild Members

• Certification Workshop in Spagyrics

• Reception and Lunches with Speakers

• Free Entertainment and Prizes

• Scores of Unique Vendors

• . . . and much more!"

Alchemy Certification

Those of you that know me know that I am obsessed with alchemy.  I love it from an aesthic standpoint for its gorgeous language of images and symbols, and from a spiritual standpoint for its emphasis on transformation and elevation.  So you can imagine my delight (and extreme surprise) when I recently came across this home-study course, wherein one can become a certified alchemist.  I must say, I am intrigued...