- Frequently Asked Questions - About The Deck
The Blood & Ink Working Notes
If you’ve found this page then we can safely bet that you already know; Blood and Ink isn’t like other decks. It has been described as a “Chthonic Rorschach”, its cards – as portals. Those who are already working with the deck have experiencing some incredible synchronicities. The stories are growing! Although some months have passed since Blood and Ink was first born, only now, with the release of the First Limited Edition Major Arcanas, are we beginning to see its influence as those who love it commune with its energies. I have always said that this is a deck that wants to be used for witchcraft, sorcery and all things best done under cover of darkness, so here we are….
In the following pages I will answer some common questions about Blood and Ink, give tips on how to best work with it, both for tarot reading and inward journeys, and finally give brief descriptions of each card.
Please bare in mind, these pages are a work in progress. Check back soon for additional information or go here for additional notes on the Major Arcana cards
FAQ
- What do I do with this sigil?
Each First Edition deck came with a hand painted sigil. This sigil brings you clear divinatory sight when using the cards and acts as a key into their inner word and through the portals. There is no requirement to do anything at all with the sigil if you don’t feel called. The work was done, simply by sending it to you with your deck.
However, in order to activate the cards as servitors (spiritual helpers) try this:
Light a candle and a little incense and go into a meditative frame of mind. Lay out a few of your favourite cards from Blood and Ink and focus intently on the sigil. Say these words:
“BY MY BLOOD AND BY THS INK; OPEN THE WAYS”
Spend some time in meditation with the cards, allowing the images to open before you and pull you in. - Who is the Roy de Pique and what’s he doing in my deck?
This sharp dressed man in black is the King of Spades. The Minor Arcana cards have been completed using standard playing card suits and court cards and he is included here as a sample of things to come. This dapper fellow calls on many tales throughout folklore of an otherworldly sharply dressed dark man as a nod to the devilish origins of Blood & Ink. When he turns up in a reading, expect some hard truths and sharp cuts. I’ve come to think of him as a bit of a butler into the underworld; an emanation of the same energies that work through card XV. - What is this small ‘secret’ card? What do I do with it? Did you choose it especially for me?
It’s a gift, a sample of the full deck which will be published soon. Use it as a talisman, carry it in your wallet, mark your place in a magical book, or stick it under your pillow at night – whatever you like. Some were chosen specifically for certain people. Some were chosen by the hand of random selection. - What’s the best way to get to know these cards? What do they mean????
First of all, shift your thinking away from ‘what does it men?’ This will only take you into an analytical frame of mind and further away from your ‘imaginal’ brain. Shift your thinking more towards: What is this card doing? How is it acting? What is it showing me?
I recommend a journalling practice when getting to know the cards. Spend some time with each card and use the following prompts to establish a direct dialogue. Ask the card…
– Where have you been?
– What have you seen?
– Where are you going?
– What do you need?
– What do you want me to know?
– How can we work together? - Why doesn’t XIII have a name? Is he Death?
I would never be so gauche as to use his first name. (but yes) In older Tarot De Marseille decks, XIII is never named directly, perhaps out of respect or superstition during times when humans walked much more closely with death. We once again find ourselves in plague times and many of us have lost loved ones as a result. XIII remains unamed out of respect for all those who have passed, out of respect to the great, unstoppable, levelling force we all face and as an acknowledgement of the one thing that can never be known in our lifetime.