Maat Tarot Blog

First Quarter Moon in Sagittarius–September 19, 2007

There are a couple of things that strike me, both about the card, and the text in the book. But first–what is the model pointing at???

Julie writes about the trio of artist, medium and idea; but there is another trio of artist, model (or muse) and audience. The image reminds me more of the discussions (usually Thoth-centered) about intentions vs. interpretations. My view is that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” We all have to interpret images for ourselves, but artists’ intentions can and should be an aid to interpretations. Not, however, the last word. Interpretations aren’t static, but based on the development of knowledge and experience.

I have a recent example from my own life of how creative projects morph and take on a life of their own. It all started with a wall that’s been blank too long and an old cotton mattress cover. First I thought about dividing the cover into three panels and sewing large applique flowers on each. Lots of possibilities, lots of flexibility, and I could have simply cut up some old clothes for material. Then I thought it would be more cool to make four panels–three vertical and one horizontal–and make an image based on the Waite-Smith Moon card. I was amazed at how ideas and materials came to me. Instead of dog and jackal, I had to make Swiss cows grazing. Then of course I would need flowers for the meadow. I’m sure I spent at least a week looking for the right way to do the flowers. I searched the Web for beads and buttons, tried making a few different styles of my own, etc. Then one day I was in a shop about two blocks from my house, and asked if they had any flower-shaped buttons. Voila! The same little daisies that grow in my yard! And when I had to borrow my neighbor’s sewing machine for another task, I discovered a perfect leaf stitch. While looking for the right material to make the moon itself, I realized that a mirror would be better. (My husband has always wanted to buy a mirror for that wall.) And when I finally found a shop that sold little cow bells, I discovered that they had round mirrors too! etc, etc, etc. It’s not done yet, but I sure am having a lot of fun watching it come together!
Here’s a link to the preliminary sketch. And you can see the first two panels here.

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