Hellenic Tarot

Design of the Deck

The cards of this deck do not use the standard symbolism common to the Rider-Waite-Smith and to the many decks modeled after it, but these cards do share their meanings. Each card takes the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith interpretation and expresses that meaning through a character from Greek mythology whose essence or story or personality at their core matches the card best. Almost all beings of geek lore will have countless versions and variations of their stories, and most will have many stories in which they appear; but the moments representing them on these cards – I believe – encapsulate each of their overarching themes and archetypal presence that resonates through all of their tales.

All of the cards of the Major Arcana depict Theoi – the gods and goddesses of the Greek tradition, while for the most part the four suits all feature heroes and heroines, with the Court Cards (Princess, Knight, Queen, and King) all showing persons important in the cycle of myths surrounding the Trojan War. The cards of each suit that are not of mortals are the Aces and Threes (Triads).

The Ace cards depict various Protogenoi, these are primordial first born beings that existed at the dawn of time, they are the very fabric of the cosmos itself – Gaia is not so much as the goddess of the earth as she is the very Earth Itself, Aether is the pure upper air of the heavens, Hemera is Day itself and Eros is the force of Love that binds together all things. The Triad cards each show a set of three goddesses such as the three Fates or the three Graces. Lastly, the Pair cards each depict a set of male heroes who are inextricably linked together in myth and legend.

Arcana of the Absurd - a M*A*S*H Tarot

 I was working on a workshop about creating your own oracle systems and joked that you could make a Tarot deck out of anything, even M*A*S*H... so my brain decided that was something I needed to do: 

Wheel of the Year Tree Meditation

Imagine roots sprouting from your feet, sinking deep into the Earth, grounding you, and connecting you to the ancient rhythms of life. Feel your bark, rough and strong, protecting the tender flow of life within you. Your branches stretch high, reaching for the sky. You are on top of a hill overlooking a small village nestled in a timeless English countryside. The villagers move about their days, but you are older than any of them. You are timeless, your roots deep in the earth and your branches reaching for the stars.

The longest night of the year surrounds you. The air is crisp, and frost clings to your branches like tiny crystals. You feel the deep stillness of the earth, a slumbering energy that rests beneath the surface.

In the village below, the humans gather in their homes. You see the warm glow of candles and hearth fires flickering in the windows. They bring evergreen boughs into their homes, holly, ivy, and mistletoe, symbols of enduring life in the depths of winter. A great Yule log burns in the central hall, its sparks a prayer to rekindle the sun. The villagers feast, laugh, and exchange small gifts, celebrating the return of the light, even if it’s only a glimmer on the horizon.

Oedipus’ Mom (to the tune of Stacey's Mom)

Oedipus’ mom has got it goin’ on
Oedipus’ mom has got it goin’ on
Oedipus’ mom has got it goin’ on
Oedipus’ mom has got it goin’ on

Oedipus, did you slay that Sphinx today
(The Sphinx today)
olved the rddle and saved Thebes upon the way
(Saved the day)
Did you know that the Queen was up for grabs?
(Up for grabs)
But that prophecy thing was kind of drab
(Yeah, a bit of a drab)

The Birth of the Cosmos: A Tale of Divine Forces

The Birth of the Cosmos: A Tale of Divine Forces

Before time had a name, before space held form, there was Ananke. She was the embodiment of inevitability, a force so fundamental that even the laws of physics bowed to her will. Ananke was not a being but the essence of existence itself, a paradox neither alive nor dead, neither light nor dark. From her infinite, unyielding nature sprang Chaos, the primordial void. Chaos was the Singularity, an infinite expanse of potential where nothing yet existed but from which all things would emerge.

From the stillness of Chaos, the first whispers of creation stirred. Gaia, the Earth, arose. She was the embodiment of matter, sculpted from the fabric of the void. Gaia was the bedrock of existence, the fertile soil from which worlds would grow, the solid ground beneath the chaos of becoming.

Her counterpart, Tartarus, emerged as a vast and terrifying force, the black holes of the cosmos. Tartarus was the abyss, the consuming maw of darkness that defined the universe’s boundaries. He was the enforcer of limits, ensuring that creation did not spill unchecked into oblivion.

Bakkhai on the Storm - A Radio Play (Euripides' The Bakkhai as put to the music of The Doors)

 

Bakkhai on the Storm

SCENE 1

(Darkness. A faint, crackling hum, like an old radio tuning in. The sound of wind, distant and whispering.)

DIONYSUS (whispering, distant at first, then growing closer):
Is everybody in?
Is everybody in?
(A pause. The organ hum deepens, a faint heartbeat joins it.)
The ceremony is about to begin...

(The hiss of static, voices murmuring, overlapping, neon lights buzzing to life)

DIONYSUS (soft, eerie):
The face in the mirror won’t stop.
The girl behind won’t disappear.
The phone is dead, the voice in the next room fades...

(Distant, distorted voices whisper incomprehensible phrases. The sound of a match striking. A sudden whoosh, fire igniting.)

Strange gods are coming... Savage heads, wild-eyed...

(A deep rumble, the crackle of fire, a distant, crowd cheering, chanting, laughing wildly.)

The Wheel of the Year – A Mystery Play

 

The Wheel of the Year – A Mystery Play

Characters:
The Goddess (she begins wearing a long white dress with a long white veil hidden under a long red veil)
The God (he begins wearing a pure white outfit)
The Narrator

Props:
Elemental Altars:
Candle x4, Cords (long!) x4,
Pieces of The Mantle x4 – each with Velcro to make a full cloak and covered in dead foliage and fruit
Incense and burner, The Goddesses’ crown
Fire Brazier, The Goddesses’ scepter
Water, The Goddesses’ necklace
Salt, The Goddesses’ belt