From the Desk of Isha Lerner

Tarot Musings of Tarot and The Tarot of the Four Elements

The history of the tarot may begin long ago, with our ancestor's first discovery of communication through art and imagery, a time when the magic of fire stirred the passions of human thought and dream. Humanity sought to create a semblance of order out of the ever-changing universe, invoking and using language, symbol, music, and myth as tools. This yearning to create meaning out of the fabric of nature broadened the soul life of man as he traveled the earth’s terrain. Through organizing the fragments of life’s mysteries, humanity has continued to search for clues that may uncover the secrets of our destiny and assist in the mastery of existence. This quest continues to unfold, refining the primal stuff of earth and heaven and making palpable and supple an image that may define and synthesize earthly existence. 

Through the study of the tarot, humanity is offered a system from which to dive into the archives of ancient wisdom. The seventy-eight card tarot system offers a profound understanding of the co-creative relationship between nature and man. The gaining of such knowledge spurs the psyche forward as a means to acquire a broader vision of the transformative process of life. Loosening the threads of the tarot’s intricate body of knowledge, examining its language and symbol, bit by bit, we are able to glean a fragment of insight into human evolution. The Tarot has been aligned and compared with many secret doctrines and teachings through out history, each one unveiling a unique perspective. As each new tarot deck reaches the greater collective, imagination ignites the soul-life of the individual, and, like the fires of our primal past, sets ablaze the possibility of new discoveries in art, song, dance, and ideas. One of the tarot decks I have created, The Tarot of the Four Elements, offers another thread of light that may be woven into the tapestry of wisdom; a wisdom that shapes our greater consciousness and guides us toward the primal aspects of our psyche.

With magnificent colors, raw and equally refined art, and brilliant illustrations by Amy Erickson, this deck pulls at the core of earth magic, offering the user a kind of ritualistic trance with each chosen card. I fell in love with Amy’s art when I first encountered it. It spoke a new language to me, and I felt a deep urge to become the voice to her art. The more one connects with the deck, the art, and words, the greater its impact. I hope you will take a look…and explore.

Click here to view The Tarot of the Four Elements, written and created by Isha Lerner.