Abstract Futures Tarot

Hilma’s Ghost

Paintings, 2021-2024

ABSTRACT FUTURES TAROT by Hilma’s Ghost is a collaborative project between Dannielle Tegeder and Sharmistha Ray. Together, the artists created 78 original drawings for an original Tarot deck and 5 paintings that are based on Tarot readings from the deck. The duo’s abstract Tarot deck responds to the original Rider-Waite deck, which is the most popular deck in distribution in the world today. Illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, the Rider-Waite deck harbors the occult belief systems that prevailed in both America and Europe throughout the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and is commonly held to be the first deck used solely for the purposes of divination. More than a century later, Brooklyn-based artists, Tegeder and Ray, have taken an abstract lens to the cards’ rich symbolism to interpret their signs and symbols to generate divinatory meanings that can be unlocked through an interpretation of abstract forms, while honoring an overlooked woman artist’s achievements.

Both Tegeder and Ray are well versed in western and non-western abstraction, with Tegeder pulling from Bauhausian and Minimalist traditions, and Ray from spiritual and esoteric forms from South Asia, as well as the patterning and craft traditions of its textiles. Within the drawings, these dynamic systems of colors, shapes, and compositional elements entwine to express a culturally hybrid form of abstraction that is both daring and experimental. The artists worked together for more than 500 hours, blending their distinct styles, to construct the 5 paintings and 78 drawings for the Tarot deck. The original drawings are done on Fabriano Murillo paper with a combination of gouache, ink, and colored pencils and are directly proportional in size to the Tarot card dimensions. The paintings were created from Tarot readings from the deck. The duo used the readings as a compositional tool for the paintings, which are made from acrylic, flashe, spray paint, and ink on stretched canvas. After the paintings were complete, Sarah Potter, a professional witch and tarot reader, performed readings of the paintings which are now the titles of the works.

Go ahead, go for it! Go after what you want. You know its right in front of you so reach out and grab it. Missing an opportunity because you dont take it is worse than trying and failing. Maybe success will be in the failure? Live without regrets because at least you tried.

Not everything is as it seems right now. You are unsure as to which way to go next. It feels uncomfortable to be so unsure, but you must make a decision because standing still or remaining in place is not an option. Make your choice.

You are embarking upon a new journey... put your all into it, your whole heart. Explore! Don't be afraid of what you find or what you uncover. Is it too good to be true? No, its everything you hoped for and more. This is the inspiration you always desired.

Put away the clutter and focus on the goal! You have a unique opportunity that has presented itself to you, something you have been manifesting for a while now. Meditate on this painting to gain further insight.

The fruits or your labor are here! Everything you have worked for is materializing in the physical and spiritual realm. Your life is in a state of flow as evidenced by The Chariot in this painting. Don´t stop now! There is more to do so don´t rest on your laurels just yet.

A divine green path of guidance for you. You have had much success and as you move ahead this will sustain you with green pathways providing you with resilience. The path ahead is transformative and gives clarity.

Retreat to a place of serenity and surrendering your material concerns. This is a call of your ancestors, a place to contemplate your mortality. Use the circular moons as a connection with the divine feminine, her intuition and subconscious mind, and the natural cycles of life.

Shake off your chains! You are attracted to the dark side, but channel The Devil to push you to greater heights. If you seek clarity, cut the etheric cords with anything that is not serving you in this moment. A golden passage lies on the other side of your self- doubt. Raise your sword up and retreat from the palace of illusion.

You are finally sitting on your throne you have a wand that is your symbol of life and creativity. This work deals with permanence and satisfaction. everything you have put your efforts into for a long time will pay off in the future. It suggests that everything will work out well in the end - for you have always kept the long term picture in view, choosing to take no shortcuts. Your legacy is sure to stand for quite a long time to come. This is a relief, for the path to get here has been filled with setbacks and challenges, making this point of the journey even sweeter.

Jump through the violet portal! The Queen and Page are here to ferry you to the other side. There are signs and symbols to transform your relationship with the material plane. Attract abundance and throw your pentacles into the golden light. The prosperity fire in the realm of the inner square awaits you.

Gold coins rain down around you. There have been challenges that have brought wisdom and clarity. You have done a lot of growing and the signs foretell that you should stay focused on higher goals. Stay in the energy of dimensional unconditional love and abundance. The symbols are aligning to envision success —success that you have won through earnest work and keeping spiritual goals in balance with material prosperity. New partnerships, people, and opportunities that come through this channel will involve diplomacy and leadership, but will result in abundance in all spheres of your life. Carry your newfound wealth into this new territory.

Cosmic Altar

Now is not the time to wait for things to come to you. Persevere and find new skills to harness that will open up new realms of possibility. Shut out the noise and focus on what’s truly important.

A new idea sparks, a thirst for knowledge; new horizons. Illusions dance behind my eyes.

If everything is false, what is really true? Call upon the inner tides of intuitive knowing. This is a time to venture inward and create spells to reveal what is hidden.

Work