Getting to know the cards

Back in college, as a part of one of the poetry classes I was taking, we were tasked with writing an Ekphrasis poem. The entire class walked over to an art gallery on campus and we each slowly drifted throughout the gallery, eventually pairing off with a piece of art. It was like choosing a mate for the evening. The piece I chose (how I wish I remembered the name of it or the artist) was a mixed media piece. It was shades of gray and brown and olive green and it pictured Medusa and her wild living mane. There were pieces of lace overlaid on the art, giving it a ghostly and wraithlike feel. We were asked to look at the piece, no, look into the piece, insert ourselves in the art, walk around in that world and interact with the subject. Live in the canvas and hear the whispering snakes. I let the artwork envelope me; and then I wrote. I don’t remember the poem but I remember the art. I remember walking around Medusa, getting caught in the veil. That piece is burned into my memory.

That was my first experience with Ekphrasis poetry. When I started learning Tarot, I did mini-Ekphrasis sessions with the cards. I’d close my eyes and fall into them. Walk up to the magician’s table and survey his tools. Turn around and face his audience. Feel the energy pulsating through the room. 

Recently I decided to start writing poems after meditating with the cards. It’s been a brilliant way of getting to know the cards and experience their stories. There is so much symbolism in every card, and so many decks filled with such beautiful artwork, that I feel like I’ll never be able to write all the stories. But I’m trying. Please be gentle.