I’ve been playing with creative ideas in Andy Matzner‘s wonderful book, The Tarot Activity Book, a treasure trove of self-discovery and self-expression. It’s a text that’s both deep and fun! One of my favourite things to do with my Card of the Day is to write an alpha-poem, a poem that is generated by writing the name of the card vertically then completing each line spontaneously. Writing these poems is not only enjoyable, it gets me to a nugget of learning that is a great piece of guidance. Here’s one I came up with for the Woman of Poetry from the William Blake Tarot of the Creative Imagination (a stunning deck by Ed Buryn).
who am i?
oracle being!
mature, fully myself
anything else would be an insult;
nothing but the best possible human
offers truth.
from mouth, from body is flung forth
prophecy, revelation
of what’s life-giving and what’s not
especially in
tender precarious times like these.
rigorous self-evolution
yields a beauty-filled culture.
Evolutionary Tarot & Circle Ways 
Yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Merci!
I like doing acrostic poems–got going on that after getting the Wonderland Tarot and reading a bio of Lewis Carroll, who was very good at clever acrostics.
I like your line “tender precarious times” which seems to have a deeper meaning especially if you consider alternate meanings of the word “tender”.
This looks like the kind of book I would like, as I often do similar exercises, but it isn’t available in Canada. I’ll have to wait a year for an inter-library loan.
I have the original printing of the William Blake–was glad to see Ed managed to publish it in a second edition, it’s a treasure. I find myself with an increasing fondness for older decks as they seem to have more thought behind them.
I, too, appreciate tarot packs (and a small handful of non-tarot packs) that are well thought out. As far as obtaining a copy of The Tarot Activity Book, Andy has some copies for sale (I think), so you could purchase one directly from him. It’s beautiful to discover what these tarot acrostic poems can reveal. The final lines of the poem I created based on the Woman of Poetry are still ringing in my bones. Thank you for your thoughts here, JJ.
I don’t find the book challenging enough, I want exercises that really push me into doing different things or making art.
I suppose the best way is choose to do it rather than reading a book, but it’s nice to be inspired or stimulated from outside myself. Haven’t found that yet.
I love this James… its the first time I have seen this idea of using the card name to create a poem. Yours here is certainly powerful and goes from a singular layer to multi with an eloquence I very much enjoy. Thank you. Blessings, Catherine
Thank you, Catherine. While I write them, I often have the card propped up somewhere nearby. If I need another work or idea, there it is in the image.
William Blake was a true visionary
Yes!