We live in a culture dominated by imagery. It is hard to imagine a time that we weren’t constantly exposed to so many complex, colourful and competing images. For the majority of our history, art and imagery have been in limited supply. Before we could reproduce art, it only existed in its frame. It was likely kept privately and seen only by a privileged few. Art was hard to produce, requiring rare materials and specialised skills. Therefore, images crafted for aesthetic admiration rather than utility have been uncommon.
The way most pre-modern people would have experienced art is at their sacred sites. Churches and temples became locations where craftspeople and artists could devote materials and time to creating art for public consumption. In a Christian European context, just as a church itself was a technical wonder that demonstrated God’s power, the ornate art inside also had the double duty of being both attractive and reinforcing the symbols and values of the church.
In a world where art and imagery were in short supply, the stained glass windows of churches carried a lot of power. Not just because of their physical beauty, filled with coloured light and the stern visages of impressive figures, but also due to the richness of their symbolism. Stained glass windows typically represent archetypal biblical acts, every object and detail screams with hidden meaning. These windows represented thousands of hours of skilled work from artisans who may have been born hundreds of miles away. Such was the demand for these limited skills and the importance of artwork to the church. Even today, in our image-saturated world, stained glass windows inspire awe and reverence. You can only imagine the impact these ambitious, light-filled scenes would have had on those who first gazed at them.
We tend to privilege sight over our other senses. What we see has power over us. This dominance of sight is also reflected in our language. We change our view and gain a fresh perspective. When a picture tells a thousand words, it’s no surprise that images have such an influence over us.
Our culture has become saturated with images. By the 15th century, paper was common in Europe. The invention of the printing press enabled the mass distribution of not just text, but also images. We’re constantly finding new ways to use images. Coinciding with our shift towards an image-saturated culture, the church as an institution has decreased in power and importance. Images today serve another God entirely: Commerce.
No industry has taken to the image more so than advertising. Knowing the power of “seeing is believing”, they’ve used every technology available to produce, enhance and distribute images that compel you to consume. Every shop window has a flat-screen looping endless advertisements. In public spaces, billboards loom over us and every available surface is colonised by corporate interests. Even on public transport, your gaze has been monetised by opportunistically placed screens. Wherever there are eyes, there’s a chance to sell something.
From the time we wake up each morning, phones beam high-definition images into our retinas. The social media boom coincided with the rise of digital images. Indeed, the current popular social networks are purely visual. Text is an afterthought, a mere caption. Internet image culture has perhaps summoned a more capricious demon than even advertising. Memes and image macros have been weaponised in online propaganda wars conducted by shadow figures intent on chaos. Cartoon animals are Trojan horses that normalise radical messages. In a world of shifting contexts, you can never truly know what you’re looking at.
Our visual cortex is under attack. The kind of visual overstimulation we experience daily today is something previously only experienced during sacred botanic rites. Putting your phone down only serves to avoid the noise. We need to actively counteract the influence of this endless stream of malevolent imagery.
The Tarot is a collection of 78 cards featuring artwork that depicts both the mundane and spiritual. The imagery traces the full scope of human experience. Each card is a building block of story, illustrated with archetypal scenes, figures and concepts. The artwork includes detailed symbolism, blending historical, religious, occult and spiritual influences. The cards empower you to build a network of personal meaning connected to the images and informed by your intuition. Amid the visual static of the modern world, spending time with your tarot deck becomes a defiant act. A true instance of self-care.
At a time when images are ubiquitous and their agendas murky, let the Tarot be your stained glass windows. A chance to reclaim your visual cortex. When we take some time to meaningfully engage with the symbolic art of the Tarot, we receive the same nutrition that stained glass windows provide for the faithful. They provide visual and symbolic nourishment. You’ve chosen your deck because the art speaks to you. Now, have a conversation.
Bygone Rite 