Preview: Tarot of the Elves

Exciting news! Yesterday, I received a ZIP file containing the final artwork for my upcoming deck, the Lo Scarabeo Tarot of the Elves.

Back when Riccardo first invited me to script the deck, I admit I hesitated. In the end, though, he overcame my resistance by asking, "What kind of elves deck would you design if you had the freedom to do something really different and really exciting? How can you 'push the envelope' of the elves?"

So: I set myself some ground rules.

First: I wanted the deck to feature images that would be recognizable and useful as Tarot images. Luminous, beautiful artwork wasn't enough; I also wanted the cards to be functional and easy to read.

Second: I wanted to take elves where Lord of the Rings and similar works hadn't taken them. I wanted my elves to have an edge, a history, a spirituality, a sexuality ... and even, when appropriate, a darker side.

Third: Instead of having the Tarot of the Elves be a "Tarot with elves," I wanted it to literally be the tarot deck that elves, if they had one, would use. The result is a deck that expresses traditional themes and meanings ... but that interprets these through the lens of the faith and mythology of the elven people.

Ultimately, I was inspired to use the deck to tell five different, inter-connected stories:

Each of the suits (Wands, Swords, Cups, Coins) tells the story of how each of four holy implements were discovered by the elves ... and how these impacted the lives of the elves who first encountered them.

The Majors tell the story of Alberich, a young elven prince. His idyllic life is disrupted when Dokkalfar, an evil Dark Elf, murders the King and Queen and steals the four holy implements. The trumps follow the story of Alberich's quest to retrieve the stolen implements, revive his parents, and restore peace to the kingdom.

In what I believe is a "Tarot first," Lo Scarabeo plans to package the deck with a novelization of the epic story behind the Majors ... written by yours truly, of course! Reading the story will give Tarot users a unique insight into the cards, and make them feel even closer to its magic and message.

The release of the deck is still months away. As a special treat for TarotTools.com readers, though, I'm providing links to two high-resolultion images of the amazing, cinematic artwork that's been created for these cards. These two cards can be seen nowhere else (though links to other cards are scattered around the web, for those who want to look for them ... heh heh!).

It's just my small way of saying "Thank you!" for reading posts here at TarotTools.com! Enjoy the images ... and please leave a comment to let me know what you think!

Six of Wands

Three of Swords

Comments

[Patrick Swinkels]

Hi Mark,

This project of yours sounds fascinating!

As a Richard Wagner fan, I know Alberich from The Ring of the Niebelung. In that epic story, he's a dwarf.

You really must tell me how you came to choose hime as the elven prince...

I looked at some of the cards (Trumps 1 and 5, Ace of cups, 6 of wands and 3 of swords). Although I very much like the scenes they depict, the too perfect computer art is a downer for me.

But count me in on wanting to find out more about the cards and their background story!

By the way, I'm very impressed in how you manage so many tasks at once (several decks, lucid dreaming stuff, etc.)

Keep up the good (empowering) work,
Patrick (Belgium)

[Janet Boyer]

Hi Mark!

When I try to go to the links showing pics of the Elves Tarot, it says "This account has been suspended". What gives?

Blessings,
Janet

[Marie-Helene Meunier]

Hi Mark!
Your project is the most outsanding tarot coming up! Just can't wait.
Let us know when other pics or preview are avalaible.

[Calantirniel]

Hello Mark! I have been aware of your work for a little while, and upon receiving the 2006 Tarot Reader, the articles by you and others really made me feel "connected" to the "vibe" of you collectively.

I have been a professional tarot reader as well as astrologer and dowser (how about intuitive consultant!) and involved in metaphysics, magick and basically practitioner of the olde ways since my journey started in 1993. At Beltane 2005, my life
took a CRAZY turn!

There were events that happened way before Beltane but I didn't realize the significance of them until I put it all together. I was heavily "drawn" by my heart to
find what would be the Spiritual Path of the Quendi, or the Elves of Tolkien, using Tolkien's Legendarium, or his collective Middle-Earth works. I ended up
finding other like minds (lucky for the internet!) and together, we have created and actively practice Tie eldalieva, meaning the Elven Path.

We will likely have a manuscript ready to turn into Llewellyn some time during 2007 (hopefully Summer or early Fall), and we have many reputable pagan authors who support our work "getting out there" and most of them are Llewellyn authors (thus, why we will try Llewellyn first). If our work is accepted, I would love to suggest Llewellyn provide you with a galley copy, but this will be quite a bit into the future.

In any event, I think it is VERY important that you are helping "pave the way" of conciousness in this area for not only the publishers but the public in general. Even though our material is different, it is definitely along the lines of what needs to be done! And I took a peek at the pictures and REALLY like the artwork!

Again, thank you so much for what you are doing, it really is terrific and I can hardly wait to see the cards, and your story!