The Serpent Ikons
The Serpent Ikons: A Sorcerous Distortion of the Tarot de Marseille Major Arcana
by Helena van El & Shandi AzK/Bouscatier
Illustrations by Shandi AzK/Bouscatier
Typeset, Layout, & Design by G. McCaughry
The Serpent Ikons: A Sorcerous Distortion of the Tarot de Marseille Major Arcana is a card deck, philosophical commentary, and grimoire; combining at the very heart of its creation primal art, writing, and magickal practice. Forged in the fire of passion for the Mysteries, the Serpent Ikons are an oblation to the Self and its Daemon in the most sacred of experiences – one’s Life as a deliberate, Initiatory journey fashioned by the creativity and will of the magician.
The Serpent Ikons have their roots in the revolt against any religious authority imposing a singular and unilateral relationship with spiritual forces. They embrace the Witch’s way; that torturous path that defies dogma and distorts order. In The Serpent Ikons, the major arcana of the Tarot de Marseille have been subverted to act as a transgression of the Tarot tradition: the Operant needs only the Self for guidance, and prognostications are consciously chosen then brought into being through ritual with one’s Daemon.
Together artist Shandi Azk Bouscatier and author Helena van El have woven a spell of stunning visuals, deep contemplation, and profound magickal practice; and together they invite you to the intimate world of The Serpent Ikons.
[read more below]
The Serpent Ikons: A Sorcerous Distortion of the Tarot de Marseille Major Arcana
by Helena van El & Shandi AzK/Bouscatier
Illustrations by Shandi AzK/Bouscatier
Typeset, Layout, & Design by G. McCaughry
The Serpent Ikons: A Sorcerous Distortion of the Tarot de Marseille Major Arcana is a card deck, philosophical commentary, and grimoire; combining at the very heart of its creation primal art, writing, and magickal practice. Forged in the fire of passion for the Mysteries, the Serpent Ikons are an oblation to the Self and its Daemon in the most sacred of experiences – one’s Life as a deliberate, Initiatory journey fashioned by the creativity and will of the magician.
The Serpent Ikons have their roots in the revolt against any religious authority imposing a singular and unilateral relationship with spiritual forces. They embrace the Witch’s way; that torturous path that defies dogma and distorts order. In The Serpent Ikons, the major arcana of the Tarot de Marseille have been subverted to act as a transgression of the Tarot tradition: the Operant needs only the Self for guidance, and prognostications are consciously chosen then brought into being through ritual with one’s Daemon.
Together artist Shandi Azk Bouscatier and author Helena van El have woven a spell of stunning visuals, deep contemplation, and profound magickal practice; and together they invite you to the intimate world of The Serpent Ikons.
[read more below]
The Serpent Ikons: A Sorcerous Distortion of the Tarot de Marseille Major Arcana
by Helena van El & Shandi AzK/Bouscatier
Illustrations by Shandi AzK/Bouscatier
Typeset, Layout, & Design by G. McCaughry
The Serpent Ikons: A Sorcerous Distortion of the Tarot de Marseille Major Arcana is a card deck, philosophical commentary, and grimoire; combining at the very heart of its creation primal art, writing, and magickal practice. Forged in the fire of passion for the Mysteries, the Serpent Ikons are an oblation to the Self and its Daemon in the most sacred of experiences – one’s Life as a deliberate, Initiatory journey fashioned by the creativity and will of the magician.
The Serpent Ikons have their roots in the revolt against any religious authority imposing a singular and unilateral relationship with spiritual forces. They embrace the Witch’s way; that torturous path that defies dogma and distorts order. In The Serpent Ikons, the major arcana of the Tarot de Marseille have been subverted to act as a transgression of the Tarot tradition: the Operant needs only the Self for guidance, and prognostications are consciously chosen then brought into being through ritual with one’s Daemon.
Together artist Shandi Azk Bouscatier and author Helena van El have woven a spell of stunning visuals, deep contemplation, and profound magickal practice; and together they invite you to the intimate world of The Serpent Ikons.
[read more below]
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BOOK: 5.25 x 8.5 inches. 208 pages. Hardbound 90pts, bound in Iris 'Grape' fine bookcloth. Gold foil blocking on rounded spine and on the cover + Blind Deboss details on the backcover. Colour interior, with Apple-Red with Marble 'Oracle Antique' Endpapers. White Headbands. Fully Illustrated by Shandi/Azk Bouscatier (of AZK Talismanic Jewelry). Fine typography, printed on Husky White/Smooth 160M archive-quality paper. Comes with a carton-plate insert glued on the interior, individually hand-numbered, and signed by the Author & Artist.
DECK: 35 full-color custom-sized cards (3.16" X 7.10"), printed on thick 16pt carton with Scuff-Free Lamination, in a custom-made Tuck-Box.
Limited to 892 copies | ISBN: 978-1-989339-17-6
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BOOK: Format 5.25 x 8.5 inches. 208 pages. Hardbound 90pts, Quarter-bound in Snake-Embossed Amethyst Genuine Leather and "Vibrations Metallic Umber" Handmade Paste Paper. Gold foil blocking on rounded spine bleeding onto both front and back. Color interior, with "Cosmic Expanse" Artwork by AzK printed Endpapers. Gold Headbands. Fully Illustrated by Shandi/Azk Bouscatier (of AZK Talismanic Jewelry). Fine typography, printed on Husky White/Smooth 160M archive-quality paper. Comes with a carton-plate insert glued on the interior, individually hand-numbered, and signed by the Author & Artist.
SOLANDER BOX: The book is encased in a fine Clamshell Box, Quarter-bound in Snake-Embossed Amethyst Leather and ‘Black Magic’ SoHo Leather, and 3 sides of the box is wrapped in the same material as the above-mentioned "Vibrations Metallic Umber" Handmade Paste Paper. Gold Foil blocking on the top of the Solander Box, as well as on the Spine side. Plus Blind Emboss Details on the top of the box.
DECK: 35 full-color custom-sized cards (3.16" X 7.10"), printed on thick 16pt carton with Scuff-Free Lamination, in a custom-made Tuck-Box. And the hand-designed and fully cast Coin Talisman mentioned above (each Coin is individually numbered by the jewelry maker AzK).
Strictly limited to 33 copies | ISBN: 978-1-989339-17-6
Contents
Dedications
Preface
Foreword: A Wicked Pack of Cards,
by Gary Lachman
Introduction
¶ Part I
i. The Serpent Ikons – The Vision
ii. The Serpent Ikons – The Royal Path
¶ Part II
The Serpent Ikons – Wielding the Inner World
¶ Part III
Grimoire Space – Rituals
¶ Part IV
Divinatory Speech – Spreads and Questions
Conclusion
Bibliography and References/Resources
Acknowledgments
Epilogue
An additional word from Helena & Shandi
"We are so glad and grateful for this long journey full of mystery and magickal connections, and, we are proud of this work!
We, as Witches (the two of us), cannot ignore the condition of the planet and the natural world around us. We consider our practice to be deeply rooted in the physical, in the land, and in the reality around us. We stand for the Woods – not only as a conceptual place but as a tangible space from which we draw our power. We are committed to a magickal practice that is not elusive, but rather in relationship and cooperation with the natural world and the beings around us. Our planet is a living being and the most magnificent of all Temples.
It is our Will to use this book and deck as an ecological and magickal act, and as our practice must be based on action and not on words, we, therefore, pledge that for every book and deck set sold, we will plant a tree. This will be done through Forest Ontario’s 50 Million Tree Program once all copies of The Serpent Ikons have sold. Thank you for supporting our arte & vision."
Warning
Potentially Sensitive Content: some of the cards depicted in the book and provided with each purchase as a separate deck of cards contains Graphic Nudity. Although not intentionally created to be explicit or even "erotic" by any means, this may be disturbing to some of the more sensitive customers. We advise customers to be of legal age (18+) to purchase the Book and Deck of Cards.
