oh dear

The Creative Process spread is designed specifically to peer into the nature of a project or creative undertaking, and shine a spotlight on the evolution of its parts. The Colman Smith Tarot is a modern reinvention of the classic Rider Waite deck, infusing the original line drawings by Pamela Colman Smith with colors drawn from the psychedelic digital age.

The card in the middle represents the creative force behind the project, be it a person, organization, or other entity. The Fool, when reversed: Apathy, negligence, and dangerous carelessness. Unquenchable wanderlust. Obsession with someone or something. Losing all sense of proportion. Foolhardy adventuring and lack of interest in critical matters. Immature or unrealistic ideals. Strange impulses and desires coming from unexpected sources. Vanity, delirium, folly, and oblivion.

The card on the top represents imagination - the prophetic image that stems from the creative force of the previous card to initiate the project. This is the poetry or voice of the undertaking. The High Priestess: A pure, exalted and gracious influence. Education, knowledge, wisdom, and esoteric teachings. The forces of nature. Intuition, foresight, and spiritual revelation of the most mysterious and arcane sort.

The card on the left represents emotion - the feelings aroused by or surrounding the ideation of the project that takes place in the previous card. This is the music or scent of the undertaking. King of Pentacles, when reversed: The dark essence of earth behaving as air, such as a diamond: An unyielding businessman, with a gift for identifying weakness and exploiting it for personal gain. One well informed about material affairs, but ignorant of larger, more pressing issues. A blind devotee of business as usual, unconcerned with the unintended results, and contemptuous of new ideas. A person full of greed and avarice, easily corrupted by luxury or the temptations of the flesh.

The card on the bottom represents thought - the analytical process of organizing the project and capturing the emotional content of the previous card. This is the science or vision of the undertaking. Three of Pentacles (Works), when reversed: Delays in the commencement of business, commercial transactions, or employment. Holding back or failing to use one's abilities to their full potential. Shoddy workmanship and lack of attention to detail. Being hamstrung by convention, or failing to temper artistic fancy with an understanding of reality.

The card on the right represents manifestation - the real work involved in completing the project, and the form it will take upon culmination. This is the painting or touch of the undertaking. Nine of Cups (Happiness), when reversed: Vanity, conceit, and smugness in romance, friendship, or other relationships. Achieving what you always thought you wanted. Overindulging in food, drink, or the pleasures of the flesh. A state of joy and abundance that is shallow and fleeting.

Big Molasses Ginger Cookies

From Elinor Klivans's 125 Cookies, a book which has made my family very happy.

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 cup (12 tablespoons) cold vegetable shortening
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cold large egg
1/4 cup molasses

1. Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or heavy aluminum foil.

2. Sift the flour, baking soda, salt, cloves, cinnamon, and ginger together and set aside.

3. Put the vegetable shortening and 1 cup of the sugar in the large bowl of an electric mixer and beat on medium speed for about 1 minute, until smooth. Add the egg and molasses and mix on low speed for about 30 seconds until blended thoroughly. Stop the mixer and scrape the bowl during this time. On low speed, add the flour mixture and beat until all the flour is incorporated and the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl. For each cookie, roll 2 tablespoons of dough between the palms of your hands into a 1 1/2-inch ball; about the size of a Ping-Pong ball. Roll each ball in the remaining 1/4 cup sugar to coat. Place the cookie balls about 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

4. Bake 1 baking sheet at a time about 17 minutes, reversing it after 8 minutes. The cookies will flatten toward the end of their baking time, and their tops will have cracks when they are done. Bake the second pan of cookies. Cool the cookies on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.


(I'm sure I've posted this before, but I never did go back and tag things, so I couldn't find it when randomdreams asked. The last time I made these was when my next-door neighbor had a baby, and that baby is one and a half now. Definitely cookie time.)