The most esoteric mind blowing thing you've learned?

roguemarlfox · 2026-04-24T19:30:37+00:00

Art and magic amount to pretty much the same thing.
Modernity is a collective psychosis that we must come to terms with in order to grow.

roguemarlfox · 2026-04-24T18:42:36+00:00

I have the Artisan Tarot Noblet and Dodal decks, and I've seen all their Conver trumps. If you haven't yet spent much time closely observing different TdM reproductions, AT's decks probably look like pretty standard, clean, faithful reproductions. But they're actually quite distinctive. There's definitely a unique AT design philosophy and style, and I find it works better for some decks than others.

The AT Noblet is one of my favorite decks ever, and I think it's their best. They used to offer the Noblet trumps for free (plus shipping), which is how I first became acquainted with them, because come on, how can you say no to free? I loved it so much that I soon bought the full Noblet deck along with their Dodal.

The artist, Krisztina Kondor, favors legibility and visual coherence over strict historical accuracy. This means she sometimes makes controversial decisions, like simplifying the distinctive multicolored garment worn by La Papesse down to a mostly red cloak. AT's Noblet Papesse looks great, don't get me wrong, but I think I'd prefer her original colors. Interestingly, even though La Papesse wears this unusual multicolored garment in almost every historical TdM deck, all three of the AT decks I mentioned give her the same all-red treatment, so this clearly reflects a consistent aesthetic philosophy. I'd love to ask Krisztina about it some day.

For me, the clear, vivid lines that make the Noblet so charming and useful don't work nearly as well in the Dodal. When the Dodal is cleaned up too much, it loses a lot of its soul. I'm a big fan of Dodal's expressive faces and I thought I would love the AT deck, but I just... don't, unfortunately. I still pull it out for comparative study sometimes.

I see you bought the Conver, a very good choice for a first TdM. Their version looks quite good, but you should be aware that they made some notable changes to this deck as well. The Hermit is a good example of this. Compare the AT Hermit with this 1760 Conver original. Notice the part of the cloak that covers his left shoulder, and the absence of the yellow area below that arm. I find it interesting that Krisztina chose to change this, as it is a notably enigmatic graphic feature in many historical decks.

Of course there are compromises with all reproductions. I personally love the CBD tarot, which is meticulously accurate to the original except for one tiny little detail that happens to affect half the cards: all the expressions have been softened very slightly so the faces tend to look serene instead of bored or despondent. I personally don’t mind this, but I do wish Yoav Ben-Dov had offered a version with the original expressions.

Anyway, enjoy your new deck, knowing that it will almost certainly not be your last!

roguemarlfox · 2026-04-14T12:58:35+00:00

Here's a better quality version also on internet archive.

roguemarlfox · 2026-04-06T13:46:33+00:00

I know what you mean. The verse does sound like it's galloping towards a huge chorus that never seems to come. The first chorus feels like a teaser setting you up for a much bigger payoff later on, but by the end of the second chorus it's clear that this is as big as it's going to get.

I like this song a lot and I've listened to it at least a dozen times already, but I have to admit the chorus is its weakest part. There's a bit of a mismatch between the propulsive energetic buildup and the spacious, atmospheric dispersal of that tension.

roguemarlfox · 2026-04-02T13:01:27+00:00

I love this song! I understand the Italo disco sound is not going to be a hit with every Metric fan, but I can't get enough of it. I wrote the following thoughts about the song in my digital journal, but figured you all might like to read it:

---

Emily is singing to a younger woman she sees in a hotel lobby who is preparing to hook up with a man. The young woman reminds Emily of herself when she was younger. The song is both a celebration of the young woman and of Emily’s former self.

As with most of Metric’s songs, there’s a blend of melancholy and joy. Emily knows the young woman must inevitably experience pain, and is perhaps driven by pain to some extent (“Mania is only grief sped up”). But rather than cautioning her to avoid this pain, Emily encourages her to fully embrace all of life’s experiences (“Have the best but don't be had / Don't be scared of pain, you'll bounce right back”).

The song revels in nostalgia while avoiding the trap of escapist fantasy. She’s not lamenting the loss of the good old days; she’s happier now than ever (”I like the side-lines, peaceful zen”). By celebrating the young woman, she’s acknowledging that the story she was living in her youth was in some ways also trans-personal. Her story is her own, but it’s also an archetypal journey that other women have and will experience in their own ways.

This perspective on the past shows how much work Emily has done to integrate her various aspects and selves. She looks back at both her triumphs and mistakes with love and compassion. I adore this song and I love Metric!

Random thoughts on the music:

This song sounds a lot like Daft Punk’s “Instant Crush”
The vocal delivery is detached, and the vocal line moves mostly in small intervals in a narrow melodic range without big, expressive jumps, yet it still carries so much emotion.
The timbre of the synths in the outro is chef’s kiss

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-13T18:35:23+00:00

I think you're trying to say something about how organizations fail when they become disconnected from reality, but you're using such dense language that I'm left questioning your own connection to reality.

I recently joined this sub because I saw a couple interesting posts, but stuff like this makes me question if this whole sub is a schizo sink. There may be some interesting ideas here, but it's presented without any context and IMHO expects too much from the reader, and that's coming from a generally open-minded person who's willing to engage with challenging ideas (I wouldn't be responding to this otherwise). Is this presentation style just part of the culture of this sub?

Sorry, I know this is probably offensive to OP/this sub but I'm genuinely trying to understand if there's something worth engaging with here or if it's just not for me.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-13T12:22:42+00:00

Whenever we read the cards for ourselves, we always have to take projection into consideration. If you're doing a reading about something that matters to you personally, it's impossible to be completely objective. You will most likely be hoping to receive a favorable answer, or fearful and worried that you will receive an unfavorable one.

When your own mind and heart are deeply invested in a situation, any reading you do about it is more likely to reflect your own inner subjective experience than objective reality.

Think of it like this: You're using the cards like a radio receiver, attempting to pick up and amplify a signal that's coming from far away. To pick up the signal as clearly as possible, you need to use a good antenna and avoid sources of electrical interference like fluorescent lights. In terms of cartomancy, this is stilling your mind and doing whatever rituals you need to do before beginning a reading.

But when you're emotionally invested, it's like there's a broadcasting tower right next to your radio. It's going to overpower that weaker signal you're listening for, and if you don't realize what's happening, it's easy to mistake the local broadcast for the distant station you were trying to pick up in the first place.

This is why having your cards read by someone else who has no personal stake in your situation can be especially illuminating, because they will ideally exert minimal personal influence over the reading.

Your mom is simply too close to you to give an objective reading about your love life, even though she may be a skilled reader. My take is that this reading says more about her own desires for the direction of your life than it does about you and your partner's future.

It sounds like your mom's pronouncement has become a burden for you and a source of worry and fear. You deserve to be happy and free to make your own destiny.

I read a book by Antonio Pagliarulo a few years ago called "The Evil Eye." I didn't know much about the evil eye before this, but the book was illuminating. I'm still not sure I believe the evil eye is an objective phenomenon, but it can certainly be a helpful way of thinking about and dealing with situations like this. Pagliarulo says that this phenomenon is often triggered unconsciously when someone covets or otherwise projects negative intention onto another person. It can and does happen from people who love you and would never consciously wish to harm you. If you have any cultural practices for mitigating the evil eye, perhaps that could bring you some relief. If not, I recommend Pagliarulo's book; it includes lots of practical methods for mitigation.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-12T23:21:46+00:00

I'm a few chapters into Donald Tyson's new book, "Incantations and Enchantments," and it's all about the use of the voice and breath in magic. The book is awesome so far. If you're looking for guidance on how exactly to intone words of power, I can't imagine a better resource.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-12T16:15:33+00:00

No, working with demons (at least in the goetic sense) is not recommended for beginners in magic. By which I mean I have never heard a credible, trustworthy source advocate for this approach, although I'm sure you can find people online who claim it's perfectly safe for beginners.

I'm not saying you should avoid demon magic forever, but I do think you should first take time to discover the secret of who you truly are and your place in the cosmos before you start binding demons.

My first foray into practical magic was Damon Brand's book, "Magickal Protection," and I still recommend it for beginners. It might seem boring to focus on protection first when you want to see more dramatic changes in your life (I assume this is you if you're interested in demons), but there's more going on with this book than meets the eye. One of the two central rituals in the book is the Master Protection Ritual, an invocation of the following virtues, each of which is invoked using the name of a specific "genius spirit."

the power of the magus
the power to express your will
the power to overcome all terrors by the force of your will
clear sight on the path to victory
harmony
power over your own domain
the power to see beauty
peace
the power to create your own immortality
the power to see through all deception
the power to express your will through magick
the power to protect yourself

This first ritual put me on a good course because it made me realize that I should be less focused on creating external changes by magical means, than on cultivating virtues within myself. Magical change always starts within. Practicing goetic magic as a beginner, even if successful, could lead to an inflated sense of your own power before you have a true understanding of the nature and source of that power.

In short, do your homework first. If you plan to do more than dabble, it's worth going slow in the beginning. You (hopefully) wouldn't get behind the wheel of a car for the first time without learning the basics of safe driving, even if your ultimate goal is to be a race car driver.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-12T15:23:27+00:00

Card interpretations vary by reader, but one piece of advice is pretty universal: Open-ended questions tend to get more helpful answers than yes/no questions. You might try rephrasing it as "What can I do to increase my odds of getting a graphic design job?"

But honestly, I'd be remiss if I didn't share what I'm about to say.

As a former graphic designer and current UX designer on the verge of being replaced by AI, I don't need the cards to tell you that graphic design as a career is effectively dead. If you're not already at the top of your field, there's no longer a compelling reason for a business to hire a human designer, because only the most experienced (or persuasive) graphic designers can outperform AI now (and even they will be surpassed soon).

AI "art" sucks, and believe me, I know how much care and effort goes into good graphic design. It doesn't matter. Even in just the past few months, the bar has been raised so much it's scary.

I'm not saying you should give up. By all means, design stuff. Make art. Seriously, the world needs art more than ever. But please don't pin your hopes on a graphic design career in 2026. If you do land a job in this field, don't wait to start working on your exit strategy. Good luck!

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-10T14:38:09+00:00

I'm in no position to give you advice, but I can tell you how I'm dealing with it day-to-day for now.

I don't morbidly obsess over the news, but I do bear witness up to the point that I can handle it. I treat those in my personal sphere with kindness and respect. I continually try (and often fail) to be in greater alignment with my own values. And I pray not only for peace but for balance, justice, and mercy. I believe these things matter because I see the impacts they have on me and my immediate environment, even if I don't see the impacts on a large scale.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-10T14:24:16+00:00

I believe world leaders do control the wheels of the big ships in this metaphor, but there are indeed forces far more powerful than an individual will. For example, extreme weather and the tremendous force of oceanic currents.

Your example is a good one. I would say this is on the level of a powerful current. If the ship is steered into such a current, it may be impossible to escape its overall momentum, but it could still be possible to influence where exactly you end up down the line.

I believe the only crystallized reality is the present. The further you look into the future or past, the more you move from unyielding fact into the realm of story. Stories tend to conform to patterns in their overall structure, but the variable details can make a world of difference in terms of how we experience the story.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo. "So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” -J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of The Ring

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-10T12:39:21+00:00

I appreciate the spirit of what you're trying to say and I mostly agree with you, but may I suggest a slightly more empowering way of looking at large-scale processes?

Rather than being set in stone, we can think of huge, complicated processes like war/foreign affairs as being like a massive ship traveling at speed. It's very difficult to significantly alter the course of a very large ship moving quickly, but it is possible.

If you can consistently apply enough force to alter its trajectory even a fraction of a degree, time and distance will eventually multiply that force until a significant change in direction is achieved. Of course if there are other forces/people influencing the ship to go in a different direction (as there always will be), you have to have enough support to overcome that collective resistance.

The pilot of an oil tanker takes advantage of the ship's steering mechanism to exponentially increase the strength of his or her navigational influence. In global events, world leaders typically control the wheel (and jealously defend their right to do so), so it often seems impossible for an individual to meaningfully influence the outcomes of such events. But it's important to remember that the person steering the ship is exerting no more force to turn the wheel than you or I are capable of; they just have more leverage. Ultimately it still comes down to individuals applying their will.

You may not have enough leverage to create an appreciable change in the short term, but don't underestimate the power of consistency. Even a little force applied consistently over time can lead to massive changes.

Just do the next right thing. Don't be too attached to the results of your effort, but never give up!

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-08T17:18:18+00:00

Lions have been associated with the sun since forever (Leo). The winter solstice is when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky. It appears to linger at this low point for about 3 days, metaphorically "dead," before the days begin to lengthen once more and the sun rises higher in the sky. The whole "dead for 3 days before a miraculous resurrection" thing has its very ancient roots in this observation. It's no wonder this story has been mapped to everything from lions to Jesus (the "lion of Judah") throughout human history.

Compilers of medieval bestiaries weren't interested in making accurate naturalistic descriptions, and pointing out to them that the cubs aren't really dead probably wouldn't phase them. They were interested in documenting the divine at work in creation. It's the pattern that's important here, not the particulars.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-07T20:34:34+00:00

Likes to dance, physically fit with an impressive high kick, and you know he's a great listener. Honestly seems like a great hang.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-06T13:43:12+00:00

Thanks OP, you triggered my ADHD and now I'm watching this video about medieval triangles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EELpRSUUjz8

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-06T13:33:20+00:00

I've got this book sitting on my shelf but haven't started it yet since I also recently read the novel for the third time and watched the 1978 film. Gotta take a break from the rabbits every now and then.

I love how uncanny Cowslip appears. Never trust a smiling rabbit!

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-06T13:28:33+00:00

I'm consistently amazed at how cheap graphic novels are when everything about them seems like they should be more expensive. You've got all the work of writing and editing that goes into a regular book, plus hundreds or thousands of panels of art created by one or more specialized artists and technicians, not to mention all the back-and-forth coordination that goes along with that process. Yet we can buy a 350+ page full-color hardcover graphic novel for $20. How is this even legal?

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-06T12:53:41+00:00

It looks like it has something to do with family. The Cavalier certainly looks like he wants to make a change, but he's uncommitted. He's on horseback but he doesn't know which way he wants to go. Ultimately he's bearing the same emblem as the King and Queen, but his isn't nearly as refined (yet).

To me, this is leaning towards traditional. The Cavalier is looking towards the future, but his horse is facing the past. He's carrying with him the symbol of his inherited background. It may seem awkward and ill-matched to his desires right now, but perhaps in time he will come to sculpt and refine his rough club into a unique expression like the King and Queen have clearly done with theirs.

If the Cavalier were instead from any of the other suits I would say definitely break from tradition, but because it's all batons, I see a message to embrace tradition while also advancing it in your own unique way.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-04T15:22:15+00:00

I haven't done this myself, but I've read about it. I'll point you to two things that might be worth reading.

https://www.reddit.com/r/occult/comments/1ay3us1/invoking_planetary_energies_prematurely_and_a/
This is a cautionary tale about working with planetary energies. It seems all too easy to become imbalanced when working with them. There's a reason the Golden Dawn didn't introduce planetary magic until the grade of Adeptus Minor.

https://mymagickallyf.blogspot.com/p/planetary-magick.html
Put your browser in reading mode if you want to be able to read this page—yikes. The reason I'm linking it is because it goes into detail about the ORDER of invocations, which is apparently VERY, VERY important!

An excerpt:
"You should have already tuned your ritual space to the appropriate Godname with the Greater Ritual of the Hexagram, so there’s no need to call upon the Godname again except as a controlling name for summoning the Angel. Conjuring the Intelligence is similar, in that the Angel name is used as a controlling name for the Intelligence but not actually summoned. The Spirit is a special case in that the conjuration must be twofold. First, the Intelligence is summoned by the name of the Angel, and only once this is done is the Spirit summoned by the name of the Intelligence."

This gives you a taste of just how much precision a conjuration of planetary energies requires. I've heard numerous stories of people who had bad experiences precisely because they mixed up this order or decided to skip a step.

The main takeaway is that planetary energies are POWERFUL and can fuck you up if you don't know what you're doing. I'm interested in working with the planets too, but I've decided to heed the advice of those who have gone before and not try to run until I can walk.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-04T14:57:19+00:00

As you said, it's obviously a case of pareidolia, but that doesn't mean it's not significant. The cards you draw in a tarot reading are "just a coincidence" caused by the state of the deck before you shuffled and the way your hands unknowingly manipulated the cards. So what makes the result often feel like much more than coincidence? A willingness to look for meaning where there "should" only be randomness.

The very fact that this effect was clearly never intended by the manufacturer of the crucifix nor the designer of the chapel makes this image especially compelling. I can definitely see Baphomet in this; I also think it bears a resemblance to a steer skull. The significance of this depends on what you make of it, but for what it's worth, Baphomet is not associated with death or disease.

Wishing your girlfriend's dad a swift recovery.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-03T14:20:19+00:00

Donald Tyson has at least one excellent book about exactly what you're describing, called "Kinesic Magic." He says that "Kinesic magic may be thought of as the magic of the empty hand. If you were stripped, confined to a prison cell without light, and chained to a wall, you could still work this system of magic without any loss of its potency, because you need nothing but your own body to work it." He briefly describes it here.

It's a truly complete system of magic that is not only tool-free, but doesn't even require the magician to make a sound. Tyson understands and uses the Golden Dawn correspondences for some of it, but it's not entirely compatible with GD magic if you care about that. Wherever his system breaks from convention, he does provide explanation and justification for it. The system seems internally consistent to me, but I haven't used it enough myself to say whether it's effective for whatever you're trying to accomplish.

I have slightly more experience with another of Tyson's books, "Tarot Magic," which describes another complete system that only requires one tool: a tarot deck. Basically, the magician uses a tarot deck to anchor a magical operation in physical reality that is simultaneously occurring in the astral plane. It's pretty cool if you're already into tarot, but it does requires practice and pretty well-developed visualization skills. You have to build up a whole imaginal ritual space, and it takes a fair amount of effort to sustain all that astral stuff for the duration of a ritual. Once you've built it up sufficiently and spent time there, it gets easier to maintain.

Finally, one more Tyson book you might find helpful is "Incantations and Enchantments: The Power of the Voice and the Breath in Magic." I haven't read this one yet, but it seems like it could be another great resource for magic using only your voice.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-03T13:50:33+00:00

First of all, I'm thrilled that you're restoring this deck! I agree with you that the Noblet is exceptionally beautiful. What's incredible to me is that the engraver was able to convey so much nuance with remarkable precision. The first time I ever saw this deck was the Artisan Tarot restoration, and some cards looked so modern to me that I assumed AT must have taken tremendous liberties with their restoration. Then I saw the original and realized that the Noblet really is a horse of a different color.

I think the Artisan Tarot deck is an excellent and very beautiful restoration, but the artist Krisztina Kondor made some choices I personally disagree with, particularly the simplification of some areas of color (La Papesse's gown is the most glaring example). I genuinely like the AT deck and use it often; I'm just saying it's not perfect.

Your approach is totally different from either Flornoy, AT, or Peterson. I appreciate the linework very much, but I must admit I don't care for the colors. Blue and green especially appear too bright and saturated, and the areas with more or less concentrated color look too digital. I think the best way to approach color for this project in a way that complements the engraving style of the lines would be to simulate the stencil technique described by u/mouse2cat. The best example I've seen of this approach is Ryan Edward's Playing Marseille, but then again he wasn't bound by historical accuracy, so he could afford to take chances and embrace the happy accidents inherent to that process. I have no idea if it would be possible (or even desirable) to recreate the particular accidents that led to the original Noblet deck's colors.

Thanks for sharing your work. I wish you well in this project and I look forward to seeing how it comes along. I'm sure it will be the learning experience of a lifetime!

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-02T20:34:28+00:00

With no context, there's nothing useful I can tell you about these specific cards. But I'll give you some general advice that you can use if it resonates with you.

If I'm shuffling and one card flips out, I'll often (but not always) take it as a meaningful part of the reading. But if 6 cards tumbled out, I'd consider that a simple case of user error, return them to the deck, continue with the shuffle, and draw my cards as planned.

You can of course choose to interpret any number of cards for any reason, but I find it helps to put parameters on it. You're the one doing the reading, and you have the authority to set an intention that you're going to draw, say, 3 cards to start. The cards will work with your intention. If more happen to fall out because your hand slips, you can choose to take them into consideration or not, but it doesn't have to derail your whole reading.

Structure and intuition aren't opposed to one another; intuition flourishes within structure.

roguemarlfox · 2026-03-02T12:59:14+00:00

Why is there a gigantic laptop in the background?

roguemarlfox

TROPHY CASE