I use tarot and oracle cards as tools for reflection and contemplation. Rather than divining the future, they are a way for me to look more deeply at the "now."
"The goal isn't to arrive, but to meander, to saunter, to make your life a holy wandering." ~ Rami Shapiro

Monday, November 3, 2014

Pass the Baton

From Hadar's Le Veritable Tarot de Marseille, the Valet of Batons (Page of Wands); from the Greek Alphabet Runes, "Theta:"
       Bursten assigns the Valet the keyword "learning" and the suit of Batons "creating." This kid has some skills, but he still has a ways to go before he refines them. If he can continue to study, practice his art, and listen to those who've traveled this path before him, his competence will soon match his enthusiasm. I feel like this Valet today, because I had the first inquiry yesterday about the lojong deck I recently self-published. But when I went online yesterday to figure out international shipping, I was astounded at the rates they were charging. I think this Valet is going to have to temporarily exchange his baton for a pentacle.
       Theta was a symbol written on ballots in ancient Greece to indicate a sentence of death (thanatos). Its archaic letter form was drawn as a cross within a circle, signifying a wheel. Is this the end of the Valet's excitement and creativity? I think it probably is just a natural progression from art to business. I'm going to head down to the post office today and ask them what is the cheapest way to send my deck internationally, because I sure as heck don't want people to pay as much for postage as they do for the deck! Hopefully when I get organized on the marketing end of things, I can pick that baton back up again.
     
   

8 comments:

  1. I congratulate you with this beautiful deck. This is truly amazing; To have blended these slogans with your creativity. You've done an awesome job!
    Shipping costs is what makes it impossible for me to buy self published decks. I wanted to buy the Wild Unknown but the shipping was as costly as the deck it self

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    1. It sucks. Self-publishing is really expensive (unless you order 1000s of decks which is not in my budget), but then to add on ridiculous shipping prices seems a travesty!

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  2. Charge twice as much for the deck, it makes the shipping look like a piece of cake...

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  3. PS: when I ship overseas, and I do quite often, I use international First Class. It replaced surface mail some years ago. It seldom takes more than a week, as long as you don't do it in November or December when it sits and waits for space. Everything goes air now, no more via slow ship. Small box, stuffed well.

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    1. I think the slow speed would be worth not having to pay so much!

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  4. Ridiculous how much is it to post items now. Congratulations on your beautiful deck That's real exciting! I hope you can find a way to get around the cost!

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    1. I agree, it is ridiculous. The cheapest international price I was quoted is $18 - that's more than half the cost of the deck!

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