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Art History and Tarot Wisdom tell us that every image has a secret voice. One of the major gifts that silence and meditative reading offer is the unveiling of our most intimate inner truths. Several authors and international researchers have been touched by the fascinating speech and power of art images. Art, sound and silence have been the deepest references of my creative work in the fields of Press, Radio and Graphic Design.

During the last two years I received so many warm messages from you that I felt encouraged to go on and publish LuminaDivinae ArTarot in an updated paper version. Every reader asked me for the deck and this led me to a new cycle of work, recreating the whole artwork of the 78 cards in a revised version. During this time, I was more and more convinced about the primal aim of this Art & Tarot game: LuminaDivinae deck was born to share with you my creative work, love and personal experiences relating Renaissance Art and History, Tarot archetypes and western symbology. This deck has a strong educational purpose.

By that point, I was dreaming about a special companion guide for LuminaDivinae ArTarot; something unique to celebrate Tarot wisdom and encourage the public main sensibilities to the fruition of XVth and XVIth Centuries art. LuminaDivinae ArTarot book began to gain shape a few months later, joining the primal educational and artistic purposes of the deck with some further references to the original structure of the game and the most important European tradition in the field of divination. Along the pages, each one of the referred themes will establish a close connection to the cultural scent of Renaissance life.

LuminaDivinae ArTarot Deck & Book are mostly inspired by my personal view of Renaissance and European divinatory traditions. During my childhood I had two wonderful women inspiring my personal approach to Art, Life and Meaning. I used to stay with my Grandmother for the holidays and a great part of my professional path is a tribute to the wonderful times and invaluable experiences we had together. She lived in Elvas - a small Medieval village of the Portuguese frontier, close to the Spanish village of Badajoz. She was a sensible woman, a gifted artisan and a wonderful singer who led me into the realms of assemblage and collaged compositions using painted papers and old pieces of gorgeous tissues. She told me everything she knew about Nature and Spirit and encouraged me to porsuit my piano and design studies. This beautiful woman was so creative and joyful that her daughter, actually my Mother, was given the name of Estrela, what means Star in Portuguese.

My Father is an open-minded economist, the first person to share with me his books about natural medicines and the endless qualities of plants, some teachings on Yoga, Meditation & self-empowering techniques. I learned from my Father that we must remain close to our Higher Self purposes along the Path. He is the architect of my soul's house because he taught me to hear the Sound of Silence.

My Mother introduced me to the alchemy of Arts & Sounds because she worked in press and broadcasting for several years, long before I could even think about my professional abilities. She studied Art History, also; so I used to wander along the pages of her coloured study books, full of gorgeous drawings and vivid reproductions of ancient Greek, Roman, Italian or contemporary art masters. A few years later, she travelled and photographed a lot during her professional movings around the world. She shared with me some of her most valuable experiences in the artistic and human field, acting as a true "guiding and inspiring Star".

The Radio meetings I had along my professional path, all the interviews with so many interesting artists and scholars, have been touching my heart and mind for years. While broadcasting and designing, I was "webmastering in silence" for the last months, also. In some particular sense, I was experiencing very significant times in life, too. The rebirth of a few Radio & Art exalting projects (relating my interest in Arts and World Music and the inter-cultural exchanges between Europe, Africa, East and Western countries); moving to a new cycle in personal affaires, moving to a new house and experiencing the departure of my beloved friend and Tarot author, the Brazilian writer Celina Fioravanti. Her tender voice and wise words will always inhabit the Secret Garden of my soul and inspire my tarot projects.

I believe that our Wheel of Life is always disclosing some surprising brand new cycles, asking for constant growth in life, concepts and experiences. So, the Oracle Garden of LuminaDivinae will present some new materials relating Tarot Readings & Meditative Techniques, some New Spreads specially designed for this original deck. LuminaDivinae ArTarot Deck & Book are the fruits of my Love for Art & Tarot - a project I couldn't dare to conceive without the lovely words and invaluable messages you sent me along the years.

A big "Thank You" for all the Friendship and Sincere Support!!!

... and "Why didn't you post anything about the publishing process of the deck? When will I be able to buy the new LuminaDivinae ArTarot cards? ". Tarot readers and friends keep on asking me these type of questions almost daily, even when I am walking around for Radio Programs ....(and I am so happy for that, too!!!).

Well, my answer is quite simple: when I was considering the author's edition for September 2006, a very important email arrived! The warm words and strong commitment of my American agent touched me so deeply that I couldn't say anything but a big "yes!" to her and the publishing staff. We began thinking about the new Portuguese/English version for the cards and book, what actually meant a revised script and translation.

"Lumina" is an old Latin expression for Inspiration, Disclosing and Sharing of the Light, Clarifying. "Divinae" stands for what is Mythic, the Sacred Feminine, but also to everything that is Natural. I use to say that LuminaDivinae refers to the Light of the Universal Mother ...

"Oh my Goddess, please grant me your Light!", I said... "This seems to be an Herculean enterprise, really greater than I can handle!". I confess you that I was really scared with the hard work implied; moving to a new house, jumping from my Radio emerging projects at office, two little wonderful and creative boys at home, my Yoga & Meditation Daily Practices along with the Hindi and Sevilhanas Dance classes ... and our Life Personal Meditations & Tarot Readings!...). One morning I asked the cards to throw some Light upon my tarot project ... Amazingly, a quite simple message took shape over my old silk handkerchief: "Tarot wisdom is a divine gift, a spread of Light upon reality. Art encourages us to expand our personal perspectives, so LuminaDivinae's deck (i.e"The Lights of the Goddess") will celebrate the dialogue between individual Life and Oneness expressed through the existence of the Whole. Meditate and work around this concept for the next two years".

After those intense days - almost one more complete year and a half ...-, I completed the English script for the book, composed some new contents about Renaissance Art and revised the artwork for covers and the external box of the set. This took me really much more time than I was planning when I created the first version of the website with the experimental version of LuminaDivinae's Major Arcanes!

By now, my dear Readers and Friends, we are much more close to the final stage because the whole set is finally ready to be published, only waiting for some last contractual issues to be cleared between Europe and the USA. After these last lines are legally established and the deck finds his International or Portuguese publishing house - I really hope it doesn't take to much longer ... -, LuminaDivinae ArTarot Cards & Book will be able to be touched, mixed and matched by your hands along your personal readings. As we all know, sometimes Tarot authors & Tarot lovers may be submitted to these kind of natural delays, specially when different countries and matters are concerned.

My dear friends and visitors, while LuminaDivinae ArTarot Deck & Book are waiting to show up in the printed version, I have been thinking about all of you, reading your encouraging messages and considering your wishes! So, I prepared some new releases to for the Oracle Garden and will release some brand new proposals for the months to come ...

~ We will post some inspiring scripts about Art, Tarot and Meditative Reading Techniques in the different nooks of the Oracle Garden's Scriptorium!...

~ We are preparing a New Tarot Course for 2008 inside the Magic Factory, what will give you a different perspective of Tarot & Art as unique self-empowering and educational tools!...

| NEW: visit The Magic Factory to read more about the Distant Learning Course program|

~ You may try our Free Readings Room with some New & Expanded Spreads according to different areas in Life and unveil the Revised Version of LuminaDivinae's Major Arcanes!...

~ You may send me an email to Book Your Personal Private Meditation & Life Tarot Reading !...

| NEW: visit the Courses page to read my Personal Code of Ethics concerning the professional use of Tarot Cards and get in touch with the spirit of my Readings |

~ You may Sign up for The Lights of the Goddess Newsletter here to get in touch with all the forthcoming news about the publishing process of LuminaDivinae ArTarot Deck & Book!

~ You may open the GiftBox and get some new offers or buy our Art & Tarot gifts to share the word! ...

Remember to keep your links updated, bookmark LuminaDivinae Oracle Garden and drop us a line if you want to know more about my work. Here you may share your Love for Tarot, Art & Meaning ... or say a warm "Hi!" whenever you want. We will read your messages as a gift of confidence; we don't share or sell your emails or contacts with others and never will.

Here at LuminaDivinae's Oracle Garden we are glad to hear from you !!!

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