An alternative Tarot deck, designed by Scott Maddix, Art by Amy Haven ©2001
Over the past couple years, I've been working to develop the Haven deck, something I've felt called to do almost since I picked up my first Tarot deck. Images, interpretation, even a new layout were mine to create. The art provided a problem until I met the Divinely mad (and synchronistically named) Amy Haven, whose art style closely matched the style of art I was seeing in my head. I approached her with the idea, and, being a starving artist (and, she says, charmed at the idea of making 101 original paintings for one project), she accepted the commission -- unfortunately, my career as art patron is limited and primarily a matter of optimistic wishful thinking.
To see some of the card back designs I'm contemplating, click here.
101 Cards:
31 Major Arcana
8 Sabbats
10 Planets
13 Moons
70 Minor Arcana (14 of each of the Five Suites: 1-10, Heir, Champion, Consort,
Ruler)
14 Sticks
14 Stones
14 Blades
14 Bowls
14 Bells
(This is a new layout, original to the Haven Deck.)
Card One, in the center: The Focus
Card Two, crossing: The Situation; The Environment; The Motive Force that turns the current cycle
Card Three, in the East: The Spring; The moment when the seeds get planted that will give rise to the cycle at hand
Card Four, in the South: The Summer; The forces that give growth and shape to that which was planted
Card Five, in the West: The Harvest; The fruit that develops
Card Six, in the North: The Winter; The process that wraps up the current cycle and starts the transformation into the next cycle
Card Seven, in the Southeast: The Watering; That which aids in the growth and development of the seed
Card Eight, in the Southwest: The Scythe; The event or force which brings about the Harvest
Card Nine, in the Northwest: The Feast; The fruit that was borne is put to use for the growth of all
Card Ten, in the Northeast: The First Green; The transformation into the next cycle; What's coming up next