What 'out there' inspires me : Muse-ically, film-wise, literature-wise. My favourite Tarot Decks, Books, Songs, Albums, Video Clips, Movies, Works of Art, etc. Uplifting, motivating, exciting, proFound, entertaining, GODsmacked. In a world of muses, these are a few of my favourite things. Another Point of You : OM...
About Me
Name: Another Point of You...
Location: Simulation Earth
We'll-Come to ONEderland. I AM yOUR reflection - Your Parallel Self from another point/perspective within the space/time YOUniverse. I AM a part of You - not apart from You. You are living through me as WE are through you. There is no separation. There's only The ONE...Being...many. More than a mirror, I AM another You...Another Point of You.
"To awaken within a Dream, one must firstly 'real-eyes' that all of it is ONE".
How do you embrace a thousand butterflies without harming a single one? - BECOME the Sky...
Filipino 'Dancing Inmates' from Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC) - a maximum security prison in the Philippines - were treated to a visit by Michael Jackson's long-time choreographer Travis Payne and dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid to learn dance performances from "THIS IS IT".
Watching this powerfully brilliant clip, I found it both moving & beautifully inspiring. What a dynamic & impressive display of focus & talent. Bravo!
Both of these beautiful songs are from Deepak Chopra's 'A Gift Of Love' album. He's assembled many of Hollywood's most well-known celebrities to recite poetry by Rumi over the most delicious music. The above track is Deepak Chopra featuring Demi Moore : 'Desire'.
And this is Deepak Chopra featuring Madonna on 'Bittersweet' (both tracks are from the album : "A Gift of Love : Deepak & Friends - present Music inspired by the Love Poems of Rumi"):
"Start Wearing Purple" is a song by gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello, written by frontman Eugene Hütz. The song was released as the band's second single in February 2006. It belongs to their third album "Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike".
Start wearing purple wearing purple Start wearing purple for me now All your sanity and wits they will all vanish I promise, it's just a matter of time...
Purple (and all shades thereof) is my favourite colour. Whenever I see purple...I could just melt into it. It's like 'Home' to me. I wish you guys could see my apartment...it's like a Purple Paradise!
So of course, this is my theme song...
Dance like EVERYONE is watching!
Blessed Be ONE'in'All. Another (purple) Point of You : OM...
ps(st) - Oh and just in case any of you thought Gogol Bordello was some obscure, little Romany band...here they are with The Queen of Pop herself : Madonna - performing an amazing version of 'La Isla Bonita' at Live Earth in 2007.
Truly a powerhouse performance! Layla Layla Layla!
The following are my fave films, TV shows (or books) inspired by or featuring all things Witchy/Pagan/Wiccan/& Magickal...
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Here's a fan-made trailer for 'Practical Magic':
'Practical Magic' is a 1998 family fantasy film directed by Griffin Dunne and starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witches who carry on a family legacy of witchcraft and tragedy. The film is based on a book of the same name by Alice Hoffman.
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Another personal fave of mine, 'The Craft':
'The Craft' is a 1996 supernatural teen horror film directed by Andrew Fleming and starring Robin Tunney, Rachel True, Fairuza Balk and Neve Campbell. The film's plot centers on a group of four teenage girls who pursue witchcraft and use it for their own gain, and how this changes their friendship.
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'Harry Potter':
'Harry Potter' is a series of seven fantasy novels written by British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter, together with Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, his friends from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The central story arc concerns Harry's struggle against the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents in his quest to conquer the wizarding world and subjugate non-magical people (Muggles) to his rule. Several successful derivative films, video games and other themed merchandise have been based upon the series. Since the 1997 release of the first novel 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', which was retitled 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone' in the United States, the books have gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide. As of June 2008, the book series has sold more than 400 million copies and has been translated into 67 languages, and the last four books have consecutively set records as the fastest-selling books in history.
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'The Witches Of Eastwick':
'The Witches of Eastwick' (1987) is a comic horror fantasy film based on John Updike's novel of the same name. It was directed by George Miller, and starred Jack Nicholson as Daryl Van Horne, alongside Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer as the eponymous witches.
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'The Covenant':
'The Covenant' is a 2006 supernatural thriller film directed by Renny Harlin and written by J. S. Cardone. In 1692, in the Ipswich Colony of Massachusetts, five families with magical abilities, referred to as "the Power", form a covenant of silence to protect themselves from persecution. Four of the five bloodlines survive to this day; one family, lusting for more power, was banished, their bloodline disappearing without a trace...until now.
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And of course, the Grand Dame of them all...'The Wizard Of Oz':
'The Wizard of Oz' is a 1939 American musical/fantasy film directed mainly by Victor Fleming from a script by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, Edgar Allan Woolf, and others and based on the 1900 children's novel 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' by L. Frank Baum. The film stars Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Frank Morgan, with Billie Burke, Margaret Hamilton, Charles Grapewin, Clara Blandick and the Singer Midgets as the Munchkins. It was filmed and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
The film follows 12-year-old farmgirl Dorothy Gale (Judy Garland) who lives on a Kansas farm with her Aunt Em and Uncle Henry, but dreams of a better place "somewhere over the rainbow." After being struck unconscious during a tornado by a window which has come loose from its frame, Dorothy dreams that she, her dog Toto and the farmhouse are transported to the magical Land of Oz. There, the Good Witch of the North, Glinda (Billie Burke), advises Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City and meet the Wizard of Oz, who can return her to Kansas. During her journey, she meets a Scarecrow (Ray Bolger), a Tin Man (Jack Haley) and a Cowardly Lion (Bert Lahr), who join her, hoping to receive what they lack themselves (a brain, a heart and courage, respectively). All of this is done while also trying to avoid the Wicked Witch of the West (Margaret Hamilton) and her attempt to get her sister's ruby slippers from Dorothy, who received them from Glinda.
☆☆☆
From Bewitched to Charmed: Witches on TV - Past & Present.
'Bewitched' (TV : 1964-1972):
'A Tribute to Elizabeth Montgomery':
'Bewitched' is an American situation comedy originally broadcast for eight seasons on ABC from 1964 to 1972, starring Elizabeth Montgomery, Dick York (1964–1969), Dick Sargent (1969–1972), Agnes Moorehead and David White. It is about a witch who marries a mortal and tries to lead the life of a typical suburban housewife. Bewitched continues to be seen throughout the world in syndication and on DVD and was the longest running supernatural themed sitcom of the 1960s–1970s era.
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'Sabrina the Teenage Witch' (TV : 1996):
The unofficial pilot of the TV series was the 1996 TV movie 'Sabrina the Teenage Witch'. The show chronicles the adventures of Sabrina Spellman (played by Melissa Joan Hart), a girl who discovers on her sixteenth birthday that she is a witch. As a novice witch, her spells often go awry. Hilda and Zelda Spellman (played by both Caroline Rhea and Beth Broderick, respectively until 2002), her aunts, counsel her on the proper use of her magic and give her moral advice. Additionally, Hilda and Zelda must take care of Salem Saberhagen (voiced by Nick Bakay), a warlock turned into a cat for trying to take over the world. Sabrina's basic premise and "genial loopiness" earned the show comparisons to the 1960s television series 'Bewitched'.
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'The Good Witch' (TV : 2008):
A mysterious woman named Cassandra Nightingale moves into an old, abandoned house which is reputed to be haunted by its original owner, "The Grey Lady." The small community is divided in their opinion of her: some want her to stay (especially widowed police chief Jake Russell and his two children), while others want her to leave. Through the course of the story, seemingly magical things happen, and the community attributes these occurrences to her. Everyone begins to wonder if she's really a witch.
'The Good Witch' is a made-for-tv movie that was filmed on location in Hamilton, Ontario. It aired on the Hallmark Channel on January 19, 2008. It starred Catherine Bell as Cassandra Nightingale and Chris Potter as Sheriff Jake Russell.
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'Charmed' (TV : 1998-2006):
'Charmed' is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M. Burge and was produced by Aaron Spelling and his Spelling Television company, with the show runner being writer-director Brad Kern. The series narrative follows the four Halliwell sisters, Prue, Piper, Phoebe and, later, Paige, the culmination of the long Warren line of powerful, good witches. The sisters, despite being perceived as normal by the non-supernatural community, are known as The Charmed Ones in the magical community, whose prophesied destiny is to battle against evil beings, such as demons and warlocks, in order to protect innocent lives from being endangered. Each sister possesses unique magical powers that grow and evolve, while they attempt to hold normal working lives in San Francisco. Keeping their paranormal identities separate and secret from their ordinary lives forms part of the series' tension and challenges, with the exposure of magic having far-reaching consequences on relationships, and having resulted in a number of police and FBI investigations throughout the series.
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One thing's for sure...TV & film Witches sure are sexy as hell! I totally LOVED all these programs & movies! More witches in entertainment I say (and let's have some more male ones next time 'round shall we!)
Merry Part & Blessed Be, A Wicca'dly Magickal Point of You : OM...
Wendy Rule is one of my favourite all-time singers...and she just so happens to be a witch!
'Creator Destroyer' is a dark, powerfully evocative song from Wendy Rule's 2006 album release "The Wolf Sky". Wendy Rule is one of Australia's most unique musical artists; inspired by Nature and Witchcraft, her musical magick will take you to the realm beyond... The live parts of the following music video were shot on locations in NYC, Connecticut and Massachusetts during Wendy's 2005 U.S.Tour:
Wendy Rule is an Australian musical artist. She was born in Sydney, but now lives in Melbourne. She performs regularly, and has also toured the USA and Europe. She is a practicing witch and her lyrics typically address pagan and mythological themes. She has publicly spoken about her belief in Polytheism, and her lyrics have been influential in Wiccan ritual.
'Circle Song' - Wendy Rule (from "The Wolf Sky"):
Discography:
'Zero' (1996) - Her first solo album, which took 9 months to record. 'Live' (1997) [Limited Release] 'Deity' (1998) - Established her "lush Gothic sound." 'World Between Worlds' (2000) 'The Lotus Eaters' (2003) 'The Wolf Sky' (2006) - Produced in a style described as "wild, epic, dark and beautiful."
The music video for 'Half Life' from Wendy Rule's "The Wolf Sky" album:
I've had the pleasure of seeing Wendy Rule perform several times, and have had the honour of meeting her. She's an incredibly talented woman, an inspiring human being and a ONEderful witch. I love her! Wendy Rules!
The "Legacy of the Divine Tarot" is the newest deck from Ciro Marchetti, talented artist and creator of the "Gilded Tarot" and "Tarot of Dreams". This deck is roughly based on the Rider-Waite-Smith model, and "a story by the artist that connects Tarot's origins to an ancient race that was destroyed, but who left us with the images and message of tarot as a legacy". It's available as a special edition from Ciro, and also as a mass-market edition from Llewellyn.
The must-see, short-film/trailer for the "Legacy of the Divine Tarot":
Review of The "Legacy of the Divine Tarot" by Bonnie Cehovet.
The "Legacy of the Divine Tarot" was first published as a Special Edition deck, prior to being mass published by Llewellyn Worldwide. It comes as a set, with the traditional 78 cards, the companion book “Gateway to the Divine Tarot”, and a black organdy bag to hold the cards. The box is a cigar type box that opens lengthwise. The cover shows the imagery from the Queen of Wands (which many of you will recognize from Leisa ReFalo’s “Tarot Connection” site). On the back is printed the following:
Step into a lost world from long ago …
A world veiled in darkness after a cataclysmic collision that stilled the earth. Millennia have passed and only humankind has survived – through the divine gifts of dreams.
“Imagine a civilization long before our own which also called this planet home. Imagine that foreseeing their own demise, they wished to leave us a message. This is who we were, what we achieved, what we loved, feared and believed in. This is our legacy. Remember us.”
Exquisitely rich and magical, this new Rider-Waite-Smith based tarot deck by digital artist Ciro Marchetti takes you into the heart of fantasy. You can use this legacy from ages past to discover what you need for your own life as it guides you toward hope, wisdom, and inspiration.
The 295 page companion book, “Gateway to the Divine Tarot”, is a story onto itself – that also tells the story that is Tarot. The beginning of the story is all about a dream – a dream that it seems must be a reality, as there are physical manifestations of the dream in Ciro’s real environment. From there, we go far back into history, where the third planet from the sun collides with an asteroid. This is catastrophic, but some flora and fauna did survive. One species survived above all others, because it had one distinct advantage over other species – it had the advantage of forewarning.
We learn about the Blind Ones, an elite class with great knowledge. They revealed to humankind, to the hour, the time of their passing. A council was called, and the Kings and their courts of the four elements were summoned. The goal was to determine the directions and actions to be taken in the remaining twelve solar orbits.
The Four Kingdoms flourished, and were in balance with their environment. However, they were not always in balance with each other. One realm shared in their activities, but also ruled over them. They were the people that looked beyond the physical to the mind and the universe. The Blind Ones were part of this group of people. They were blessed from birth, and possessed great powers. (Another group came to my mind when I read this – the Bene Gesserit from the Dune Trilogy.) With their guidance, the civilizations that developed after the cataclysm paid homage to their common memories and heritage.
The story now moves back to the present, and to correspondence Ciro is having with a gentleman by the name of Gianluca Colombo de Savoy. De Savoy comments on the “Limited Edition Tarot” that Ciro did, and then he sends him prints, along with a handwritten note. The imagery in the “Gilded Tarot” – is it possibly not unique to Ciro? Could he have seen it before, and not remembered it? Ciro is invited to Italy – in fact, it is more of a command performance than an invitation.
Once he gets there, he hears a fantastic tale about knowledge shared between de Savoy and a small group of colleagues, and now being shared with Ciro. For various reasons, the time was not right, and this information has been suppressed. Part of this story is about gateways – gateways that are very similar to images in the “Tarot of Dreams”.
Ciro had been “encouraged” to visit Italy at a specific time because one of the gateways would be opening, and de Savoy wanted him to experience the museum that it opened into for himself. This is an absolutely wonderful section, showing a great gift for vision and insight into journey work. From this experience Ciro walked away with formative ideas for his next Tarot deck – The "Legacy of the Divine Tarot".
Ciro Marchetti comes to us as a Professional Graphic Designer with relatively little Tarot experience in his background. His thoughts and design ideas bring forward a fresh perspective of standard images. For example, he has taken the liberty of changing the title of the Hierophant to Faith to encompass a wider religious theme. He also has changed the bird of prey in the 9 of Coins to a Bird of Paradise.
A common theme added to this Rider-Waite-Smith based deck are Victorian brass survey devices, theodolytes and kaleidoscopes, which he collects and has taken some artistic liberty with. Ciro explains his thoughts of the origin behind the devices in the “story.”
This deck is filled with vibrant, richly colored images. The artwork in this deck is truly captivating. Even though much of the RWS symbolism is not included in the images, it will prove to be a brilliant working deck, that is quite capable of packing a punch!
On course with Ciro’s other decks, the "Legacy of the Divine Tarot" carry's the same tradition of the use of vivid color and plays in light and shadow. The images fade to a black border.
The traditional names for the Major Arcana are used, with the following exceptions: The Hierophant becomes Faith, The Wheel of Fortune becomes the Wheel, and the Hanged Man becomes the Hanging Man. Strength is VIII, Justice is XI. The suits are entitled Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles; the Court Cards are entitled King, Queen, Knight and Page.
The presentation of the cards in the companion book is text only. Ciro has presented his own thoughts on the cards, as have contributors Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone, James Ricklef, and Leisa ReFalo. Ciro talks about the reasoning behind his choices of imagery for the card, while the Amberstones talk about the basic card energy. James Ricklef provides in depth commentary, while Leisa ReFalo covers each card using the following categories: keywords, reversed keywords, description, meanings, elemental attribution, planetary attribution, gifts and advice. At the end of the presentation on each card Ciro has included an applicable quote.
In a precursor to the Court Cards, Ciro talks about the Court Cards as templates for royal families. In other words, the Court Cards are flexible! In this deck, they all look directly at the reader, making a strong connection. Ciro gives a general description of each card, and the intent behind the card.
Leisa wrote a very comprehensive chapter on how to read the cards. Brief instruction for doing a one to three card daily spread is given, along with a three card Legacy Spread, a seven card Pages (or What is Needed) Spread, a nine card Knights Spread, a five card Queens Spread, and an eight card Kings Spread.
There is an appendix with attributions for elements, numbers, planets, and zodiac signs, along with an in-depth bibliography.
The cards themselves are approximately 2 ¾” by 4 ½”, of good quality card stock. The backs are reversible, with a dark border surrounding a gold and silver mechanical web (the same back as the Special Edition deck). The card faces carry the same dark border, with the Major Arcana showing the card title at the top of the card, and the card number, in Roman numerals, at the bottom of the card. The numbering and lettering is color coded by element.
The Minor Arcana Pips show the suit at the top of the card, and the card number at the bottom of the card. The Court Cards carry the card title and suit at the top of the card, with the lettering color coded to the elemental associations.
The artwork is digital, very much in the fantasy tradition. Some of the imagery carries through the Major Arcana – for instance, the same figure appears on The Fool, The Wheel, The Hanging Man, and The World. The hourglass that The Fool balances on, and its colored sand, also appears in The Hanging Man and The World.
We see The Fool balanced in space, with the Major Arcana cards arching around him. The High Priestess has eyes so pale as to almost not be there. The Emperor, standng under the sign of the Ram, evokes a sense of great power. The Chariot is a winged chariot, while the Hermit carries with him a sense of the hidden (as does the High Priestess). I love that The Wheel shows the same figure (that of The Fool) in all four of its phases. The Hanging Man is suspended horizontally over a horizontal hourglass (indicating that time is standing still). Judgment shows a larger than life Archangel, while The World shows the figure of The Fool, standing balanced on the hourglass of time, with the twelve Zodiac signs circling around him.
This is a deck that could be used by any Tarot student that had a basic understanding of the cards. It is a deck for collectors, for those that are interested in the theme of fantasy, as well as for those that want to offer their clients a choice of decks that will open up their experience of the cards.
This deck will make an excellent addition to any collection. It can be picked and used almost immediately by the novice reader or the professional. It will be appreciated by anyone who owns one or both of Ciro’s other decks.
I anticipate that "Legacy of the Divine Tarot" will surely make it to the Top 10 of the new decks for 2009 and quickly take its place in the Top 10 of All Time.
(Bonnie Cehovet is Certified Tarot Grand Master, a professional Tarot reader with over ten years experience, a Reiki Master/Teacher and a writer. Bonnie has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, is co-founder of the World Tarot Network, and Vice President (as well as Director of Certification) for the American Board For Tarot Certification. She has had articles appear in the 2004 and 2005 Llewellyn Tarot Reader.)
Details of the "Legacy of the Divine Tarot":
Creator(s): Ciro Marchetti
Type: Tarot Deck Number of Cards: 78 Major Arcana: 22 Minor Arcana: 56
Card Size: 3.50 x 5.50 inches = 8.89cm x 13.97cm
Publisher: Self Published 2008 Published by Llewellyn: Sept/Oct 2009
Deck Tradition: Rider-Waite-Smith
Minor Arcana Style: RWS-Based Scenes
Suits: Cups, Swords, Wands, Coins
Court Cards: Page, Knight, Queen, King
Major Titles: The Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Faith, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, The Wheel, Justice, Hanging Man, Death, Temperance, Devil, Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement, World
The Fool is 0 Strength is 8 Justice is 11
Other Decks by Creator(s): "Gilded Tarot", "Tarot of Dreams" by Ciro Marchetti.
- where the above highly impressive, must-see, short-film/trailer for the "Legacy of the Divine Tarot" can be found. As a gift to the Tarot world, there are also several versions of wallpaper based on the “Legacy of the Divine” deck available on Ciro’s site.
Halo ONE'in'All...Wow, this deck is absolutely fantastic! It's truly a multi-sensory, multi-media experience. Never before have I seen a Tarot Deck not only come with its own companion book (complete with its own history/mythology) but also with its own short film/trailer-preview (and what a clip - I urge you all to watch it)! The thought, care & attention that has gone into this project is astounding.
Looking through the cards' images, I was transfixed by their sheer beauty, their colour & light dynamics, their exquisite detail, and their undeniable power. This is easily going into my Top 3 Decks of All Time (and I've just had it for one week!). I just didn't want the deck to end - I enjoyed looking at it THAT much!
The story in the book is equally captivating. It's not just about the story of this deck...it could easily be the story about Tarot in general...
One thing that really stood out for me when I was going through the cards, was the continuing narrative that seemed to run through them. Take for example : in The Tower card, we see a retro-futuristic globe-temple resting on four pillars being struck down by a meteor, lightning & fire. The sense of destruction is striking. In the next card...The Star, we see the same structure many years (hundreds of years?) later, collapsed into the ground. But we see too - an ethereal, feminine, Angelic-like being of Light rising from the remains...offering Hope.
I thoroughly recommend this deck - for all those who love Tarot, fantasy, extraterrestrial mythology, archetypal symbolism, ancient symbols & legends. A true work of art from a fresh face in the Tarot world. Ciro Marchetti is a visionary, an artist and a gift to the world. Period.
Blessed Be, Another (twinkling) Point ov You : OM...
*'Origins Of The Tarot' - Dai Leon (2009) [tarot/history/esotericism/alchemy/philosophy/gnosticism/archetypal symbolism/mythology/metaphysics]
*'The Conscious Universe' - Dean Radin (1997) [psychic phenomena/science/parapsychology/consciousness studies]
~~~ Tarot Decks/Oracles:
*'Legacy Of The Divine Tarot' - Artwork/Created by Ciro Marchetti (2008/2009) [arcane/occult/archetypal symbolism/myth-legend/digital art/fantasy/sci-fi]
'Tarot Of The Sweet Twilight' - Artwork/Created by Cristina Benintende (2009) [arcane/occult/surrealism/dream-astral symbolism]
*'Tarot Of Sexual Magic' - Artwork by Mauro De Luca/Instructed by Laura Tuan (2009) [arcane/occult/pagan-sex rites/explicit nudity]
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*Note : This post will be updated regularly as the month progresses.
