Krans' tarot deck, guide offers beautiful insight into unknown
The artist Kim Krans introduced a new generation to the centuries-old practice of tarot card reading when she released her hand-drawn illustrated decks two years ago.
Now the publisher for the Portland-based artist has released one of her popular decks with a new guidebook in a keepsake box called The Wild Unknown Tarot ($39.99, HarperElixir).
The title comes from a Bob Dylan song, Isis, and hints at the vast universe inside each of us. For seekers and all people drawn to the inward journey, tarot cards are a path of inquiry.
Welcome to the wild unknown tarot. Youll find no wrongs or rights inside this box, only mirrors for reflection. Open your mind, draw a card, and have fun on your journey.
When Krans tarot deck came out in 2012 it captured so much interest she has over 110,000 Instagram followers she sought a permanent home for it.
When Harper came to me last year as fans of the deck, I thought I had taken it as far as I could as an individual. When I met these two women there, and their offices were enshrined in crystals, I knew I had found the best keepers of the deck, Krans says.
Krans moved to Portland in 2014 by way of Los Angeles, New York and Pennsylvania. Her studio on Northeast Alberta Street employs five people to keep up with the work associated with her studio art and website.
Tarot can be one of those intimidating topics, said Krans, who became interested in tarot as a teenager. People think they may not know enough about it, but its actually quite intuitive.
I was given a deck and book, she recalls. Like many people, I was intrigued by the archetypes in the deck. I got really into the book, but I didnt like the imagery in the deck. Being a visual artist, I was very picky about what it had to look like.
This habit started young, when Krans wanted to re-illustrate many of the childhood books she loved.
Its drawing that brings Krans the most solace, taking her to the place that many people access through yoga, meditation or other forms of healing.
I used to give readings when the deck first came out, and wove it into professional events, she says. I saw that I had a knack for it, and I also saw that it could take over so I made a really clear decision to stop and just focus on my art and writing.
Krans says that she feels in her deepest bones that she is an artist one who is fascinated by integrating meaning and image into a succinct form.
Thats why when I found the deck and started thinking about creating my own, it was a gold mine.
Krans has published two childrens books, ABC Dream, and a board book, Hello Sacred Life. Her third book with Random House comes out next year.
Priestess Bling
Ann Heideman is a local tarot card reader who uses the name Priestess Bling online. She explains that the Rider-Waite tarot deck, published in 1910 with illustrations by Pamela Comen Smith, probably remains the most popular tarot deck to this day.
Interest in tarot exploded in the 1960s, she says, and now there are thousands of decks out there. Heideman, who uses the Aquarian deck from the 1970s for her readings, says, in its early history, people often drew their own illustrations and made their own tarot decks in order to connect with the cards.
Heideman doesnt read the future, explaining that she talks to people in terms of opportunity, free will and their ability to manifest and allow for something to be created.
Theres disagreement about the history of the cards and folk methods of divination, Heideman says. Some claim that ancient priests handed the cards to the Romani people of northern India to keep them from the Christian crusaders.
Heideman and her partner, Erin Leckenby (or Erin Aquarian), read tarot cards at Portland retailers Flutter and Cargo. Readings take about 10 minutes for a three-card reading and 20-30 minutes for a 10-card reading.
Facebook and Instagram have brought people interested in tarot together, says Heideman, who also teaches tarot classes.
Im amazed by the interest. Millennials dont question it as much, theyre open, she says. The world needs healing and the younger generation is tuned into that.