After deciding to hold off on completing this edition last year, we are so excited to finally announce the full release of sleeping ships. I created this image in the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. Initially it was titled “six feet apart” but as the image grew so did the idea. It became more about the growth we experience in the quiet moments in life. This print means a lot to the studio team because of what it represents…a time of uncertainty, a period of uneasy reflection but much needed rest even when what we wanted most was to be moving forward. That time was integral to our growth. It allowed for us to plant seeds for the future
while some parts of yourself may feel like they are withering, new inspiration will grow in the shadows. this inspiration will plant seeds for future thoughts and future epiphanies. and when it is your time, you will grow. you will find new paths and inspire others in the way you have inspired yourself. that is the beauty of being human - we are always growing, even when we’re resting.
Sleeping ships is a 14-color screenprint with accompanying poem and certificate, created in an edition on rainbow foil paper and a small edition on wood panels. Available in the shop tomorrow, July 23rd at 11AM PDT www.jamesreadsmerch.com
The past three months have been complicated in various aspects of my life. Some things have been of the goodcomplicated kind, others have not. I’m hoping the next month a half will be a respite to start the next academic year full of energy and health. To indulge myself, I have been working non-stop with one of my dream decks: the Cosma Visions Oracle. This one is by the same creative spirit behind the Prisma Visions Tarot, one of my all-time favourite decks (and also of many others in this community).
This deck has sold like hotcakes (the second edition is expected late summer). And I totally understand why. The Visions decks have a magic of their own that can’t be found elsewhere. This deck in particular is different from the two previous Visions instances (Prisma and Light) in that it is an oracle deck. However, it does feature its own structure. James says: “I created this oracle to tell one story of what may happen in the space between lives, re-imagined upon the structure of the traditional 78 card tarot”. As you can see in the images below, the cards are full of vibrancy, life, movement and colour. Palettes are cleverly chosen to aid in the conveying of messages (as you can see, the majors are darker, while the minors are more colour-coded). And, as with anything that James creates, it’s breathtakingly beautiful. The sceneries are magical but natural, earthly elements meet dreamscapes, and all details have a voice of their own.
Let’s delve into its structure a little more, as it is very interesting. The deck features 79 cards as it adds an extra card (in the style of its siblings). The major arcana are bordered, and they tell the story of the soul from death until rebirth. The minors tell stories of life on Earth, and they are split up into five suits (which is the most radical departure from the traditional structure). The first four suits (the Spark of Embers, the Dance of Lotuses, the Flight of Birds, and the Growth of Trees) correspond to the numbered cards of the minors. The fifth suit is called The Importance of Being, and it is made up of the 16 cards that would make up the court cards in a traditional deck. While the first four suits create a 1x10 panorama, the fifth creates a 2x7 one.
The companion guide is a treasure on its own. Over its 113 cards you will be able to know about the magic of the deck. It starts with an introduction, and how to conduct a reading with the deck (including spreads). This is then followed by the bulk of the booklet: the card meanings, which include the name of the card, its mirror card in a traditional deck, keywords, a paragraph on the journey of the soul, and the actual message of the card. Everything is spectacularly designed: the cards feature mesmerising labradorite blue edges and a matte finish, and both the deck and the guide come in a sturdy flip-top box that features gilded details in and out.
TheCosma Visions deck is, indeed, the perfect companion oracle to Prisma Visions and Light Visions. Of course, it also shines on its own. It offers magic for beginners and seasoned readers alike. Beginners may feel it bridge the gap between a freer oracle and a more structured tarot (while offering a wonderful view on courts, which are usually hard for initiates). Those with more experience will surely appreciate a hefty oracle with a structure of its own that allows us to dive deep. And, even for those who are not into tarot, this is a magical treasure of artwork that cannot go unnoticed: it is a conversation piece, a single work of art, a gallery on itself. Keep your eyes peeled for the second edition, and in the meantime, check the rest of James R. Eads decks!
