Chicago-based Tarot art Kickstarter

A new collaborative Tarot themed project just announced.

From the Kickstarter page:

The Major Arcana are the most emotionally evocative cards in a tarot deck.  How would an artist and a tarot reader explore these archetypes through the photographic medium?

Lara Dorsett is a photographer and artist who employs intuition and mythology in her personal work.  Jeffrey Kramer is a tarot reader with a background in medieval traditions and lore.

This project will involve the first nine cards in the Major Arcana:  The Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot and Strength. 

Lara and Jeffrey will each shoot in black and white film and be challenged to create all of these images in the Chicagoland area.  They will only use props and materials created or found with volunteer models (when used.)

The resulting work will be shown in a local space with free admission for guests.
The successful completion of this project will result in further exploration of the remaining Major Arcana.

For more information, visit:

Kickstarter page

Lara Elizabeth Dorsett's photography website

the advertisements of L.W. de Laurence

I've held off posting more about Lauren de Laurence, as I assumed that others were probably getting tired of hearing about my personal favorite local dubious historical publisher.  After some positive feedback, I'm giving in and posting a few things that I've come across.

Firstly, Michael Nowicki has posted several images from de Laurence's catalogs, along with an amusing story on Rosicrucians.org.

 

 According to Nowicki, the de Laurence company was still in business in the 1960s (despite the fact that de Laurence himself died in 1936).  Rather than post his story here, I'm just going to suggest that you visit the website to read his anecdote about visiting the de Laurence company.

A Tarot website at http://home.comcast.net/~vilex includes many images regarding the de Laurence Company's Tarot deck (a blatant copy of the Ryder-Waite deck).  The author goes into great detail regarding different printings of de Laurence's deck and related books.

"The Key to the Tarot: Oracles Behind the Veil, by Dr. L.W. de Laurence. It is, or should be, common knowledge that this book is AE Waite's Pictorial Key to the Tarot word for word!"

A very interesting read for those interested in the history of occult literature.  Start here for several pages of scans and information:  http://home.comcast.net/~vilex/Adverts.html


Website Church of Good Luck includes scans of de Laurence's catalogs.  Follow the link to see several advertisements.

"Artist's Conception of de Laurence Wearing a Turban and a Tunic"

"De Laurence wrote a lot of his own material in addition to his habit of "borrowing", and what he wrote best was ad copy.  He managed to fill over 500 pages in his 1931 catalog, and it stands to this day as a monument to bombast."

And so that I am able to contribute something of my own, here is a snapshot of the back page of an issue of Occult Digest from 1933 (three years before de Laurence would pass away).  Included are ads for Practical Lessons in Hypnotism and Magnetism, and The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism.  The latter, you may recall, was found in a local bookstore (with alternate "Hindoo" spelling).

Sunday, June 24th

As evidence that Chicago's stake in the occult is not just historical, I'd like to post a screenshot of the Occult Chicago calendar on Sunday June 24th.

Alchemy Arts is hosting two events, including a lecture regarding the distinction between the Left vs. Right hand path by Dr. George J. Seig.

Aum Ha Lodge is hosting their free monthly Tarot for Fun and Prophecy class, as well as their monthly public performance of the Gnostic Mass.

Occult Bookstore is holding their monthly lecture by Michael Bertiaux.

Aum. Ha. Lodge and the 100 year anniversary of the OTO

Aum. Ha. Lodge is the local body of the Ordo Templi Orientis.  On the last Sunday of each month (read:  today) they open their doors for a public performance of Liber XV, the Gnostic Mass.  Most months they have a free tarot workshop in the afternoon before the Mass.

On Friday, June 1st the Lodge will celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Aleister Crowley being installed as the UK Grand Master Of OTO by offering a free public lecture by T Polyphilus on the history of the OTO.

For details, visit this event page:  http://www.witchvox.com/vn/vn_detail/dt_ev.html?a=usil&id=82740

Aum Ha Lodge is located at 7013 N Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60626