Deck creator forum — Silver Era Tarot

The following is a new entry in my “Deck Creator Forum.”  I occasionally do deck reviews on this blog, but in this feature I have asked various deck creators say a few words (or paragraphs, actually) about their Tarot deck.

By the way, you too can contribute to this discussion.  If you have this deck and have experience using it, please leave comments about your use of it.  (Note that I will be moderating the comments.)

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A week or two ago I posted an interview about the ShadowFox Tarot deck, which features black and white images.  I am now turning to the Silver Era Tarot, which also uses (mostly) black and white images, but with a very different approach.

The cards in this deck are photographs that have been manipulated via photo collage and a bit of hand-tinted coloring for accent. They have a dreamy, brooding feel to them, which I’ve seen referred to as being reminiscent of the Silent Screen Era, although they remind me more of antique daguerreotypes.

I don’t generally like photographic Tarot decks, so it’s significant that I discovered that I do like this one. I typically find photographic decks to have a garish quality, and perhaps this deck’s black and white imagery mutes that.  Or maybe the images in this deck are artistic enough, with the use of collage and hand tinting, that it doesn’t seem like photography to me. I’m not sure, but whatever it is, it works well for me.

The artist for this deck is Aunia Kahn and the author of the accompanying book is Russell J. Moon. I interviewed Russell for this article, although he sent along one answer from Aunia, as you’ll see.

James: What inspired you both to create this deck?

Russell: Most simply, it was the energy, uniqueness, and power in tarot that inspired the Silver Era Tarot deck.  It was the essence of what tarot really means and is used to symbolize, the connection to something greater than ourselves.  Aunia and I found the willingness to know more and to use our own journey as inspiration that led us to explore and come to our own separate but fulfilling expansion of our selves to complete this project and bring it to others to enjoy.

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Most modern Tarot decks fall into one of three “camps” – Marseille, RiderWaiteSmith, or Thoth. With which of those is your deck most closely aligned, and why did you choose that “type” of deck?

Aunia and I choose the Rider Waite Smith version of the deck as it was most recognizable to the general public and because it spoke to us more clearly.  The idea of the deck was to reach those already inspired by tarot or open the entire tarot experience to newcomers alike, and to do that we felt the Rider Waite Smith imagery was best suited for our inspiration.

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What would you say is the theme for this deck?

The Silver Era Tarot theme is based around Aunia Kahn’s original artwork style of using photography, painting and collage techniques.  The cards themselves were designed in black and white with a subtle hint of color, which gives the deck a completely different feel while remaining uniform in design.  The use of Aunia and myself [in the images] brings a sense of journey throughout the deck as the reader/viewer sees the same person in different situations.

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How did Aunia create the artwork for this deck? What would you like to say about that process?

The process involved with the deck came from Aunia’s own traditional interpretation of the Rider Waite Smith creation, but at the same time incorporating her original style, and holding to those traditional meanings to make the deck functional in every aspect.  Although Aunia is a recognizable artist, the importance was not to create an exclusive “art deck” which people could not use; this deck was created to align with people’s already established understandings and give itself to everyday use.

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What would you say makes your deck special?

The decks imagery itself makes the deck unique, the classical imagery and presentation of solid continuous use of the models expresses the exact feel Aunia wanted to present, a wholly original concept based on a proven art style.

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Are there any non-traditional elements of this deck, such as a 79th card, unusual suit names, an extra suit, or something like that?

In the creation of the deck traditional elements were the focus, although there are some subtle differences in the cards, they are not drastic enough to lean too far from the traditional interpretation.  When you pick up a card, you know what it is; you aren’t searching for a meaning that could be hidden.

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Are there any other remarkable or unusual features about this deck that you’d like to talk about?

Those familiar with Aunia’s artwork know that each image can feel like a snapshot of time, one instance in the subject’s life or travels.  The Silver Era Tarot was no different, except to give the essence of time past (hence the concept of the silver era) the cards resemble stills from silent movies or classic photography.

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The images in this deck are predominantly female, even in cards that traditionally use male figures, such as the Hierophant, Hermit and Hanged Man. Is there a reason for that?

We choose from the beginning to keep Aunia’s character as the main point of reference throughout the deck in order to keep the feeling of a one character journey as intact as possible, except in cases where the naming convention and image might be misleading.  Even the Knights in the Minor Arcana suits were Aunia.  We thought Kings and The Emperor had their equals in the Queens and Empress, so to distinguish we used the male model.  As for the Hermit, we didn’t see a significant change in the meaning by using Aunia. The Hanged Man, was the same, the meaning has nothing to do with gender so we kept the symbolism in check with our overall intentions.  The Hierophant was both an exploration of a woman in use in a traditionally male role and the ability to take on stereotypes. Some have questioned if she was created to look like a feminine looking male or a masculine looking woman.

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The High Priestess seems rather flirtatious, which seems at odds with the typical HP image. Is there a reason for that deviation?

A great question. The traditional High Priestess seemed misleading itself; the form of the Rider Waite Smith version kept her a little stagnant feeling.  It was not the image of one who can influence people to take chances and master their own realm.  There was a lot of central liberty taken with Aunia’s image, but in the end I think people are more able to relate with this image than with the stuffier image traditionally used.

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It’s interesting that you have positioned the two people on the Lovers card back to back instead of facing forward or facing each other. What can you tell us about that decision?

The Lovers was a very interesting endeavor.  The card in the deck wasn’t our original interpretation. But we felt that the image of the two back to back gave a more powerful feeling of them looking out for each other while remaining connected, symbolized by the holding of hands.

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One of my favorite cards in your deck is the Ace of Swords. I like the change from tradition in that a mailed hand holds the sword, and holds it by the blade instead of by the hilt. It’s like it’s hinting at the difficulties and challenges one typically finds in its suit. What is your favorite card from this deck, and why is it your favorite?

Russ:
I most particularly like the Queen of Swords, because it relays a sense of strength and determination, which we both had to endure to complete this project. Also there is has a very strong alignment to its meaning, and I find it aesthetically pleasing.

Aunia:
I am very fond of the Eight of Swords; it really works with me. I feel a connection to the card, and enjoyed the process of creating it. I look at it, and I really “get it.”

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Hmm… It’s interesting that we all chose a Swords card.  I wonder what that means?

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What is the most interesting discovery you made about your deck after it was done — through your use of it for readings or from comments by other people, etc.?

I think the most interesting thing that we discovered is that there were an incredible number of people who were impressed with the original concept and loved the fact that we used the same models throughout.  As I mentioned before, it gave a cohesion to the project that people had seldom seen anywhere else. It’s a great feeling to know that a concept is well received and fills a void.

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Is there a companion book for your deck? Does it come with the deck or is it available some other way?

The 96-page Silver Era Tarot companion book was written by myself, with Aunia’s input to what the traditional meanings meant to us.  It comes included with the deck and fits inside the hard cardboard box for ease of use and storage.  Included in the book are original meanings with the reverse and a couple examples of possible reading options.

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Is there anything else you want to say about your deck?

It was a very long journey, but we’re so very glad that we were able to work on something together as a team, and put out a really neat project. Even if just to use ourselves, it was well worth the time and effort, research and connection to the elements of tarot.

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Where can people go to buy this deck?

The deck is available at all major retailers online and some in stores as well.  People looking for a little something special can order the deck online at www.auniakahn.com and they will receive the companion book signed by Aunia and myself.

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Adminsitrivia:
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Publication date: April 28, 2010
Website: www.silvereratarot.com

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All images from the Silver Era Tarot deck are © Aunia Kahn and Russell J. Moon