In conversation recently with Patrick Valenza, creator of the Deviant Moon Tarot, I was astonished to discover that of all the 78 cards in his deck, there had only been one ‘out take’ during the whole creative process. Kay and I certainly can’t say the same for the Quantum Tarot!

In many instances, we hit the target instantly. Cards such as the Hierophant, the Hermit and the Eight of Cups just seemed to slot into place and both of us were happy with the first versions created. By contrast, we spent days working on seven different versions of the Magician, who steadfastly refused to reveal himself until the bulk of the deck was complete.

The Three of Wands wasn’t the most difficult card to perfect but I’d definitely say it was the most elusive. Kay and I didn’t settle on a version that both of us were satisfied with until a few days before we sent the artwork to Kam Wai Yu at Kunati.

Despite the frustration of the creative process, you’re often far happier with the finished result than you would have been had you got it right first time. When the pieces finally fitted into place, I can remember standing back from my computer screen, staring at the completed image and getting a tangible sense of magic that just hadn’t been there previously. Such magic is apt when you consider the awe inspiring concept behind the card.

Traditionally, the Three of Wands symbolises setting the wheels in motion. It’s about sending your ships out to the far corners of the Earth and anticipating their return, laden with riches. It’s also about broadening your horizons and aiming high. In the Quantum Tarot, the Three of Wands depicts the almost unimaginable scale of galaxy clusters. Each cluster can contain thousands of galaxies, each in turn containing billions of stars.

Seeing oneself in the context of such a vast universe is well nigh impossible to the human mind. We may rationally understand the existence of such vastness but we can rarely comprehend it. To do this requires an act of faith.

Similarly, when you’re setting out on a new endeavour, be it creative, work related or even the onset of a relationship, it’s imperative to set your sights high and have confidence in your own ability. On the Quantum card, a man waves goodbye to his ship as he sends it out, not only to the furthest edges of the ocean but to the stars themselves. Beyond the ocean is a vast galaxy field and this is the real journey’s end.

Have confidence in yourself and your abilities. As human beings, we may not be able to achieve everything but we can try our hands at anything we choose. That’s what matters the most. In our situation, Kay and I had the boldness to cold call a sharp and progressive publishing house who had never heard of us previously and against all the odds. Were we successful? For my part I can say beyond our wildest dreams. For your part - pick up a copy of the Quantum Tarot and judge for yourself.

Fair Fortune and may your ship come in!

Chris.

Chris Butler.

Illustrator for the Quantum Tarot. Published by Kunati Books.

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My fascination with the Tarot has often been a source of unspoken bemusement amongst my friends. In some cases, they really don’t know how to take me. Without exception, they are incredibly encouraging of my work and career but I know for certain that several of them would be much more comfortable if I wasn’t ‘dealing in divination’!

There’s nothing uncommon with this attitude of mind. After all, most people tend to view the Tarot with a moderate amount of suspicion. It’s viewed as the preserve of ‘evil occultists’ or fake seaside fortune tellers and although my friends know full well that I fall into neither category, it’s a shame that many of them still don’t realise the real reasons for my fascination with the whole Tarot phenomenon.

I first discovered the Tarot through watching the James Bond movie ‘Live and Let Die’. the deck featured in the film was designed by the Scottish surrealist artist, Fergus Hall and I was immediately captivated by the beauty of his paintings and the mysterious symbols contained within the cards. It wasn’t long before I managed to obtain a copy of the deck and it remains one of my firm favourites to this day.

That was almost thirty years ago now, so why has my fascination persisted for so long? The appeal for me lies with the tarot images themselves portraying a virtual map of human experience, from mundane concerns, through to the highest moral principles. The tarot contains hopes and fears, triumphs and disappointments, the great and the small and perhaps most importantly of all, the tarot contains templates for vices and virtues. Whoever doubted the applicability of these images to our modern concerns should look to card number 14 from the Tarot’s Major Arcana, the card of Temperance, and ponder its message for our current financial climate.

Traditional designs for the Temperance card depict the virtue as an angel or winged spirit who continuously pours water back and forth from one cup to another. In some cards, the angel bears the sign of the Sun on her forehead whilst her feet are partially immersed in water. Other cards show one of the cups to be gold and the second to be silver. It’s all about the balance of opposites. Temperance is the virtue of moderation and this is achieved through dynamic equilibrium. It’s about give and take, waxing and waning; it’s about ebb and flow.

Part of my Sunday morning relaxation ritual usually involves watching the BBC current affairs programme ‘Dateline London’ where a mixture English journalists and foreign correspondents based in London meet to discuss the week’s events in the news. Two interesting points were raised for me by this weeks commentators.

Firstly, the need for balance was mentioned. Our respective governments are frantically legislating left right and centre, constraining the financial markets to try to ensure that what happened over the last week or so never happens again. However, it was also pointed out that a certain amount of freedom and dynamism has to be present for financial markets to function and grow. In effect, things work at their best when the angel is allowed to pour the water backwards and forwards. If she goes so far to empty one of the cups, she soon begins to refill it from the other but if the contents are left to stand, they will eventually stagnate.

Another interesting point was raised by a prominent Italian journalist. She pointed out that whilst our governments have been injecting tax payers’ money into our financial institutions, it can’t change the fact that the pockets of city high flyers have already been lined with obscene profits. City debt, she observed, has been nationalised whilst city profit remains firmly privatised. Returning to our angel of Temperance, if she hypothetically chose to drain one of the cups for her own avaricious intentions, both would automatically dry up and external intervention would be needed to refill the cups and restore the dynamic.

I love current affairs programmes on a Sunday morning, particularly when accompanied by a cup of Earl Grey and the Sunday papers. They are almost as compelling as the Tarot itself. Having read this comparison you may now be realising why the cards have fascinated me for almost thirty years. Next time you chance across a Tarot deck, pick out a card, study the picture and ask yourself what it says about our culture, our politics and the world we live in. You may find that those deceptive, slightly fairy tale images hold more contemporary wisdom than you realise.

Fair fortune and a fair economy until next time!

Chris.

Chris Butler.

Illustrator for the Quantum Tarot. Published by Kunati Books.

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The Quantum Tarot, although employing many aspects of traditional Tarot structure is far from being a traditional deck. The same has to be said for my new project, The Son Tarot. Although once again, it follows much of the traditional Rider Waite Smith pattern, that’s where the orthodoxy stops. The Son Tarot is designed by a gay man with the lives of gay men in mind and nowhere can this be seen more clearly than in my designs for the Court Cards.

In a standard Tarot deck, the Court of each suit normally consists of four characters. These may vary, depending on the type of deck but a majority of decks following the Rider Waite Smith pattern show a Page, a Knight, a Queen and a King. In the Son Tarot, I have followed this basic template but I’ve replaced the Queens with Princes. The deck has Pages but I adopt the alternative term ‘Herald’.

Like the Queen of a traditional deck, the Price is both the partner and consort of the King. ‘Queen’ is a term frequently associated with the gay community and it’s one I was very keen to avoid when I designed the Son Tarot. There is a rich heritage of drag and cross dressing associated with gay humour and entertainment but the term ‘Queen’ also has darker connotations. More often than not, it’s used in a homophobic context by hostile parties wishing to emasculate gay men’s sense of identity.

I often think many gay men don’t realise their own usage of the term for themselves and towards other gay men says a lot about their internalised homophobia and their lack of male identity and confidence. Why do we have a problem with just being male like every other man on the planet? Why must we also employ female adjectives to describe ourselves to others? We pay no respect to ourselves doing this, nor do we pay respect to women by using female symbology for terms of derision.

Many people might disagree with me on this or even suggest my attitude is an over-reaction. Whatever the case, my intention for this deck was that it be a collection of symbols designed to celebrate the fact that when all else is stripped away, gay men are essentially men like any others. Let’s celebrate our maleness and let’s doubly celebrate that if the King wants to marry his Prince then he has every right to do so.

The Prince of Swords is perhaps the most complex of the four Princes. His element is air, denoting the domain of analytical and rational thought. His suit emblem is the sword; the tool of battle and victory but also of self defence. Princes represent the traditionally feminine virtues as manifested in men and a ‘feminine’ affinity with their element. In this case, the Prince of Swords has a deep appreciation for not only clear headed objectivity but also the pain of conflict.

If you meet this Prince in everyday life, he’s quite likely to be someone who bears the scars of a broken relationship. He knows all about loss, either through the death of his previous partner or through the conflict of a divorce or separation. If you’re involved romantically with a man like this, he will be an incredibly loyal and affectionate lover once you’ve won his trust but prior to this you will find he holds a part of himself back and enters into intimacy with great caution. Having been hurt in the past, he knows all to well the consequences of over hasty commitment and this is why I chose to depict him hiding behind a mask. You have to earn his trust and respect before you see his real face.

The condition of his loyalty depends upon honesty and transparency. Past experience has given him a keen eye for the dynamics of deception and he doesn’t suffer fools or cheats gladly. On a more positive note, this man has gone through the experience of losing love and intimacy so he’s never likely to take it for granted again. Having been left alone through circumstances beyond his choice, he cherishes the opportunity for a second chance and will never allow you, his new partner to take for granted the joys of your union. Having been given a new beginning, it’s likely that this Prince’s hard earned maturity gives him all the tools and awareness needed to forge a deep, close and lasting bond. He’s aware of potential pitfalls but he’s also deeply aware of his own limitations and accepts them with humility.

The reverse aspect of such a character is to remain in bitterness and cling to grief. Unless this man’s pain is channelled towards making a new beginning he can become sour, destructive and jealous, begrudging those around him the happiness he perceives he’s lost. Furthermore, such bitterness leads to the need to blame everyone else. The reversed Prince of Swords cannot accept that he may be at fault where his present loneliness is concerned.

On an abstract level, his appearance in a reading can denote the need for clear, analytical vision and the courage to say it how it is. This man cuts straight to the point where necessary, naming pretension and dishonesty for what it is. Maybe there’s a situation or relationship in your life where you need to do the same.

Chris.

Chris Butler.
Illustrator for the Quantum Tarot. Published by Kunati Books.

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I rarely discuss politics, economics or religion but the events of the last few days have held an almost morbid fascination for me as I’ve watched the news. Lehmann Brothers collapses in the States and a rescue package is put together for AIG. Meanwhile, in the UK, we’ve been watching the rescue of HBOS through a merger deal with Lloyds TSB. Had the financial climate been different, the monopolies commission would never have allowed anything of the sort but desperate measures require desperate remedies as they say.

I don’t know why I’m so shocked. After all, we’ve already witnessed the humiliating dé bacle of Freddy Mac and Fanny Mae being rescued by Uncle Sam from a storm at sea. Our equivalent humiliation in the UK was the demise and subsequent nationalisation of that little banking treasure known as the Northern Rock, beloved for its impossibly cheap mortgages and its large social conscience. We have a fundamental problem with the dynamics of our society and our economy. We built up too high, too fast and we’ve built on shaky foundations. There’s a card in the Tarot that describes such foolishness and it’s called the Tower.

Traditional Tower cards show a medieval battlement being stuck by lightning. As the Tower collapses, its inhabitants plunge to their deaths. When designing the Quantum Tarot and all but one of my other decks, I opted to follow the pattern set by Hermann Haindl in his inspiring Tarot. Haindl chose to portray the Tarot as a modern skyscraper in a state of collapse. The inspiration behind this image has nothing to do with September 11^th ; the deck was created in the 80’s, long before such catastrophic events. By contrast, Haindl was using the skyscraper as a metaphor for modern capitalism and how prophetic his card seems in the current economic climate.

A BBC news reporter said yesterday that America had become ‘gorged on debt’. I would agree with this whilst adding the UK has gone down the same route. Is it any wonder we’re facing recession? We’ve built up this massive economic skyscraper without paying attention to the philosophically shaky foundations beneath it. We’ve developed a culture and a way of life where debt is the norm rather than the exception and over recent years, attitudes towards debt have become so blasé that banks have been prepared to lend disproportionately large amounts to anyone, regardless of their abilities to re-pay.

We’ve lost sight of the more realistic ways of viewing life. Most importantly, we’ve lost sight of a golden rule: If I can’t afford it then I can’t have it. Nowadays, If I can’t afford it I’ll take out a loan or better still a credit agreement that’s interest free for the first three years. If I put my holiday on my credit card I can have added insurance if the tour operator goes bust. No worries over whether I can afford the holiday, you have to live while you’re young and pay later. Getting old? I’ll never get old therefore I won’t have to pay.

This holiday was great - I went to Mexico. Then again, I’ll be due another one in a few months and I’ll probably go to Goa or Bali. After all, my life is incredibly stressful and I need the sunshine to relax. Can I afford it? Don’t ask, just go into denial. What happens if I lose my job? Go into denial. What about not having anything put by for an emergency? Don’t just go into denial, go on another holiday and you’ll feel wonderful afterwards.

Am I being cynical? Yes, I probably am. It’s fair to say I’m also being quite realistic about the mindset behind much of our modern way of living. The Tower is about the collapse of pride, vanity and foolishness. As a symbol, the Tower represents any human construct that’s built on unstable or unhealthy foundations. When we build too high, it will inevitably collapse, particularly if it isn’t designed to withstand an unforeseen lightning strike.

I may be naïve and I’m definitely not as politically informed as I should be but my simple opinion is this: Our economy is suffering its present downturn because we’ve collectively become too greedy for what we can’t really afford. It seems the foundation for our present Tower was confidence in lending capacity. With that confidence swept from under our skyscraper and a few well placed lightning strikes from the financial markets, the great bastions of our financial institutions are toppling like dominos. The indestructible has in fact proved itself to be as fleeting as dust.

Boom and Bust is such a depressing scenario, particularly when like now we’re beginning to experience the ‘bust’. What makes it so depressing is the fact that no-one seems to be learning from the smug and unrealistic arrogance of the boom times. In the UK, we’ve spent more than ten years listening to politicians talking about the ‘golden economic legacy’ of our government. What is that legacy after all? Rapidly inflating house prices, putting the average home way beyond the reach of the average family’s earning capacity is one symptom of the economic ‘golden age’. Credit consumerism and a flagrant lack of respect for environmental issues would seem to be other symptoms. A long haul flight can double your yearly carbon emissions but do we really think too hard about that when we book our second or third holiday of the year?

Call me a grumpy old man by all means. Several of our economic ‘skyscrapers’ have just collapsed over the last few days. It may not do any harm to get the surveyors in to check over the foundations of some other ‘pillars’ of our society. When it comes to Boom and Bust, surely there must be a more temperate middle way?

Chris Butler.

Illustrator for the Quantum Tarot. Published by Kunati Books.

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