Thisbe's Nemesis Oracle - The Creation Process

Thisbe's Nemesis Oracle 

One of my favorite love stories of all time is the story of Pyramus and Thisbe.

As told by the Ovid, This story is similar to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

It takes place in ancient Babylon, where these two children grew up in a one-room house that was connected to the other. Over the years, they fell in love with each other, but could only talk through a hole in their wall because their parents refused them to see each other.

Finally, Pyramus got fed up with his parents and so did Thisbe. They decided to run off one night and elope. Pyramus gave Thisbe the location of the place they would meet, and they agreed.

Thisbe was the first to arrive at the first Mulberry bush outside of the city, but as she was waiting, a lioness walked by with her jaws covered in blood from a previous kill that day. Thisbe, frightened at her sight, ran non-stop to the nearest cave. Soon after, Pyramus walked by and saw a cloak, his love gift to her, covered in blood and torn to pieces with the footprints of the lioness left behind. He immediately thought that his only love had been killed by a hungry lion, and unsheathed his sword (her love gift to him), letting the cold, hard steel pierce his broken heart. Thisbe, bringing courage to her heart, ran back and found her only love lying on the ground next to the blood-covered Mulberry bush with his sword impaling his chest.

She gasped in horror as she asked the still breathing Pyramus what happened. Barely able to stay awake, he told her what happened and she cried in sorrow. She took Pyramus' blood-stained sword and asked him to wait for her while she brought the blade into her own soft flesh. Thus they died together, in love and peace.

This is why the berries on the Mulberry bush are red, instead of their original white, in commemoration of the two young lovers and their great sacrifice.

Thisbe's nemesis was that she couldn't foretell her future. Had she been able to look into her future, she may have been able to change her fate, and have lived happily ever after.

This story is the inspiration for this new oracle deck that I have created. I used Pre-Raphaelite style paintings done by one of my favorite artists of all time; John William Waterhouse. His works have been used in other decks that I admire, so I thought I would try my hand at creating with them too. There may be a few images by other artists of the same era mixed in as well, if I liked them. They will be available with black borders & numbered or without borders & without numbers.

The cards above, when put together in a story (no question asked), they show a young woman who is saving herself for marriage, and is curious when her boyfriend might propose. :)

The cards that have numbers, I gave numbers simply to be able to add an extra layer of depth to a reading. If three cards are not enough to answer a question, you can add the numbers on them together, and find the card associated with that number for further information.

The cards above do not have borders, and are not numbered.

I have given names to the cards that either fit visually with the painting, or ones that go along with the story of the painting. There will be 54 cards total to a deck, and printed on very lovely linen stock, poker size; which is 2.5" wide  x 3.5" high. There will be an option to purchase a little zipped bag to match the cards & store them safely. As of right now, I have to wait on a test print of the cards to see if all is well before offering them to the public.

I have also been working on a rune card deck that will be available also, but I am not sure of the details just yet. They will come with black borders and extra cards with definitions of the runes in both upright, and reversed positions. Here is a small sample of what they look like without the words on them. I am adding the rune "title" to each card so that you will know when one is in reversed position or not during reading.

They would be read as:
Question: Will I get the new job?
Rune one: good fortune and advancement in career.
Rune two: good counsel from a respected person.
Rune three: a lot of positive energy.
Rune four: beware of some delays, and take precautions not to get sick because you don't want to miss too many days on the new job!

So, this is why I haven't been blogging much; I've been creating some new cards. It keeps me busy and out of the refrigerator. I am trying to drop some weight. Plus I have made the pact to myself not to sign onto facebook or other social media until I have exercised daily. ;)

Blessed Be.