Lo Scarabeo Lovers: Romanticizing Colonialism for Mass Consumption in Tarot @ScholarBot

ScholarBot Tarot Abstract
Lo Scarabeo has published tarot decks in the mass market for over 30 years. Based in Torino, Italy, Lo Scarabeo artists and authors have tackled many different themes in their decks with varying results. With a closer look at the Dragons Tarot, the Samurai Tarot, and the Tarot of the Pirates, we allow ourselves to be critical at their surface-level attempts of Multiculturalism during their mid-days of 2000s and inadvertent displays of Orientalism and Romanticism. What does this mean for the way we consume and why does it matter?

0:00 Intro
2:27 Dragons Tarot
7:40 Samurai Tarot
12:51 Tarot of the Pirates
15:24 Dante Tarot
16:50 Get This, Not That

Works Cited

“Ancient Egyptian Race Controversy.” Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_race_controversy#Some_modern_views_on_bias_in_Egyptology

Filadoro, M. (2006). Samurai tarot. Lo Scarabeo.

Lewis, S. P. (2022, April 19). Tarot and Oracle decks created for and by black people. SHOPPE BLACK. Retrieved May 30, 2022, from shoppeblack.us/2020/04/black-owned-tarot-and-oracle-decks

Robin (Toadstool Tarot). “Dante Tarots Side by Side.” 2022. youtube.com/watch?v=89d-6EcOHUg

Robin (Toadstool Tarot). “Dante Tarot Walkthrough.” 2022. youtube.com/watch?v=H4n7O_X1snI

Said, E (1978). Orientalism.

Toraldo, M. (2004). Dragons tarot. Lo Scarabeo.

Vigna, B. (2008). Tarot of the pirates /tarot de los Piratas. Lo Scarabeo.

Wills, Matthew. “The Mexica Didn’t Believe the Conquistadors Were Gods.” JSTOR Daily. January 2020. daily.jstor.org/the-mexica-didnt-believe-the-conquistadors-were-gods

Decks/Creators Highlighted
Dust II Onyx Tarot by Courtney Alexander - dust2onyx.com
Smoke, Ash, and Ember Tarot - threetreestarot.co.uk/product-page/smoke-ash-embers
Tarot Yohualli Ehecatl (Mexica Tarot) by Chicome - etsy.com/listing/1066825300/tarot-yohualli-ehecatl-deck-and-book
Tempest Tarot by Maisy - etsy.com/listing/1101183572/tempest-tarot-deck
Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani - https://yoshiyoshitani.store/products/tarot-of-the-divine-deck
SEAMS Tarot - etsy.com/listing/1187364514/seams-tarot
Sasuraibito Tarot by Stasia Burrington - etsy.com/shop/stasiab?section_id=6803879
Benebell Wen, artist of the Spirit Keeper's Tarot - benebellwen.com/blog
K. Ryan (aka Buboplague), artist of the Yokai Yochi - buboplague.carrd.co

All images and quotations in this video essay are presented under fair use. Please excuse any discrepancies with publication date for the tarot decks in question; my copies stated a different date.

updated 2 years ago

Lo Scarabeo Lovers: Romanticizing Colonialism for Mass Consumption in Tarot

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-05-30 | Abstract
Lo Scarabeo has published tarot decks in the mass market for over 30 years. Based in Torino, Italy, Lo Scarabeo artists and authors have tackled many different themes in their decks with varying results. With a closer look at the Dragons Tarot, the Samurai Tarot, and the Tarot of the Pirates, we allow ourselves to be critical at their surface-level attempts of Multiculturalism during their mid-days of 2000s and inadvertent displays of Orientalism and Romanticism. What does this mean for the way we consume and why does it matter?

0:00 Intro
2:27 Dragons Tarot
7:40 Samurai Tarot
12:51 Tarot of the Pirates
15:24 Dante Tarot
16:50 Get This, Not That

Works Cited

“Ancient Egyptian Race Controversy.” Wikipedia.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Egyptian_race_controversy#Some_modern_views_on_bias_in_Egyptology

Filadoro, M. (2006). Samurai tarot. Lo Scarabeo.

Lewis, S. P. (2022, April 19). Tarot and Oracle decks created for and by black people. SHOPPE BLACK. Retrieved May 30, 2022, from shoppeblack.us/2020/04/black-owned-tarot-and-oracle-decks

Robin (Toadstool Tarot). “Dante Tarots Side by Side.” 2022. youtube.com/watch?v=89d-6EcOHUg

Robin (Toadstool Tarot). “Dante Tarot Walkthrough.” 2022. youtube.com/watch?v=H4n7O_X1snI

Said, E (1978). Orientalism.

Toraldo, M. (2004). Dragons tarot. Lo Scarabeo.

Vigna, B. (2008). Tarot of the pirates /tarot de los Piratas. Lo Scarabeo.

Wills, Matthew. “The Mexica Didn’t Believe the Conquistadors Were Gods.” JSTOR Daily. January 2020. daily.jstor.org/the-mexica-didnt-believe-the-conquistadors-were-gods

Decks/Creators Highlighted
Dust II Onyx Tarot by Courtney Alexander - dust2onyx.com
Smoke, Ash, and Ember Tarot - threetreestarot.co.uk/product-page/smoke-ash-embers
Tarot Yohualli Ehecatl (Mexica Tarot) by Chicome - etsy.com/listing/1066825300/tarot-yohualli-ehecatl-deck-and-book
Tempest Tarot by Maisy - etsy.com/listing/1101183572/tempest-tarot-deck
Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani - https://yoshiyoshitani.store/products/tarot-of-the-divine-deck
SEAMS Tarot - etsy.com/listing/1187364514/seams-tarot
Sasuraibito Tarot by Stasia Burrington - etsy.com/shop/stasiab?section_id=6803879
Benebell Wen, artist of the Spirit Keeper's Tarot - benebellwen.com/blog
K. Ryan (aka Buboplague), artist of the Yokai Yochi - buboplague.carrd.co

All images and quotations in this video essay are presented under fair use. Please excuse any discrepancies with publication date for the tarot decks in question; my copies stated a different date.

#Tarot7Connections VR to @MarilynFromTarotClarity

ScholarBot Tarot 2024-10-09 | What does my practice look like again?

Watch the original video by Marylin from Tarot Clarity: youtu.be/DkF5lWJAALo?si=cIfq_UhU-qvNxFvI
Here's @AuntyKsTarot video that tagged me: youtu.be/vhvDsatn2Hs?si=-1aIXrwbv_BPTLrz

@SaplingTarot has a response! youtu.be/LGLFWrATLyo?si=H87IvxsfwW1z9QCo
@ninecoinsfromsatu Tag! You're it.

The "anti-journal" I mention is called The Anti-Planner by Dani Donovan: anti-planner.com/shop/the-anti-planner-how-to-get-sht-done-when-you-dont-feel-like-it

My IG post on my favorite Strength Cards: instagram.com/p/CN7_8kig2YG/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Definitions
Peer Educator - Someone who teaches learning strategies and best learning practices to students. This includes support services such as tutoring, supplemental instruction, and peer mentoring.

Neurodivergent - Having a brain that works differently than the "standard." This includes disorders like ADHD, Autism, Depression, etc.

Did I miss something? Let me know in the comments.

Out of Practice - Getting Back into Tarot

ScholarBot Tarot 2024-10-01 | Originally recorded on June 7th(?), 2024.

This video pitches some context and ideas specific to early 2024 burnout that permeated several communities, including the tarot community. Although, I think many of these tips still hold up, if you're struggling to get into your tarot practice in a way that makes sense to you. I'm hoping to record an update video that includes where I'm at with my own practice, at some point. In the meantime, I await your discourse. :)

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:46 Context
6:07 Purchasing Fatigue
8:38 The 5-Letter Bad Word, I guess
11:19 Playing with your Cards
15:40 Ready for a Tarot Spread?
18:56 Journalling (sic), and Other Stationary
27:03 Conclusion

Relevant Videos from @DawnMichelleTarot & @Lisa_Papez
Tarot Burnout - youtu.be/pVSvrsKlfAU?si=dFdni-Wwi_8dOZoK
Feeling Decks - youtu.be/OAo_ejsDFTc?si=WzO2simfgmP0ixeB
Tarot In Practice: Burnout - youtu.be/aRRsUhUn-rU?si=EmKvI6F3zLVo-B-L

#PopCultTarot & #PopCultureDecks: A VR

ScholarBot Tarot 2024-04-09 | Let’s tour my pop culture deck collection. We’re only looking at adaptations.

Check out the original videos for various the various pop culture tags:
#PopCultTarot from @RhiannonRambles : youtu.be/Lhw9Wtor_fM?si=4X9KnZ7j3wlDK8pb
#PopCultureDecks from @RobynsReflections: youtu.be/cEXV4A3lT2Q?si=R6pR4izK28YdJ52o
@-NiamhWitch- The Inspired VR: youtu.be/puKYJToqv6A?si=mEtCPi553wgHRlln

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
2:02 Pop Culture & Important Housekeeping
5:29 Based on Literature
11:39 Based on Cartoons
15:16 Based on Film
17:02 Based on Games
26:43 Based on Anime
31:31 Shipping and Tarot (Conclusion)

Further Watching
Ellis, Lindsay, Death of the Author - youtu.be/MGn9x4-Y_7A?si=HaCawWNYcCyCXADP
Ellis, Lindsay, Death of the Author 2: Rowling Boogaloo - youtu.be/NViZYL-U8s0?si=OlmV1QLYbylpOTNr

#LetsbeTarotFriends VR to @Tarotismagic

ScholarBot Tarot 2024-04-03 | Y/N? Take a look at the original video by Tarot is Magic: youtu.be/aSh6oqVbKG0?si=wGjc13NSSuRWxIUa

Here are some other VRs I watched:
@ninecoinsfromsatu youtu.be/ri65cCQBN60?si=AFIX7M6lV_BSOTe0
@thefoolsapprentice youtu.be/byNnwMqysYg?si=lRqftnjtW_gfH2sz
@SaplingTarot youtu.be/eddESFltJmU?si=F_anQs2goV-xrM_d
@aquamarine18 youtu.be/K0O-Xkx9jRk?si=Wc2x-O6shf5zCffU

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:55 What art do you look for in a deck?
1:33 What do you search for in a deck?
2:37 What deck are you most intrigued by now and why?
4:47 Is there a card in a deck you always check out first and why?
5:25 If there is one card in a deck you really don't like, would you not buy it/pass it along?
6:55 What is your favorite/least favorite card?
7:46 What do people close to you feel about tarot and you doing tarot?
10:13 How do you feel about the esoteric stuff in tarot?
10:56 RWS/Thoth/Marseille and why?
12:48 What are your thoughts on cardstock?
14:23 Bags or boxes?
15:33 How did you learn tarot or get into it?
17:38 Best news in the tarot world you heard lately?
18:47 How many decks are in your to-get list?
20:28 If you could only keep 3 decks which ones which would you choose and why?
24:45 How does knowing tarot influence your everyday?
26:04 If you could turn back the clock, would you have learnt tarot any other way?
27:22 What are your thoughts of the 3 of swords?
28:27 How many decks do you have right now?
28:56 If you could befriend one person on Tarotube/ in Tarot World who would it be?
30:35 What is your favorite part of the day to do tarot?
31:46 A Confession
32:17 Conclusion

Wanna see how deep the brainrot goes with the LunarFlare's Dabihawks Tarot? Check out my review: youtu.be/Mwglrjpbn5E?si=TIIlXExHr73BnRyU

LunarFlares Dabihawks Tarot: A Review

ScholarBot Tarot 2024-03-12 | Sometimes you have to make a video for you. Here's my review of LunarFlare's DabiHawks tarot, an unofficial MHA tarot deck featuring two supporting characters: Hawks and Dabi!

0:00 Intro
5:10 Production Background
9:35 Card Specs
15:17 Deck Flipthrough
23:35 My Thoughts
27:42 Shuffle Test and Sample Reading
32:57 Mayfield's Office Hours - My Dabihawks Hot Takes ._. Spoiler Alert for most of the series!

LunarFlare's Hub - Has info for the entire team, contributors, and artists!
dabihawkstarot.carrd.co
LunarFlare's Twitter - https://x.com/dabihawkstarot?t=MZALKQ7r0Hne3cI5eu0c8g&s=09
Head Moderator of Lunar Flare Team - Ess (seahactine) - Check out her fanfics! - archiveofourown.org/users/seabhactine
Keychain Charm & Journal by MarinaXStudios
Popsocket by Cuineart
Magnet by Tender and Milder
Dabihawks print by Oriumi

Music during Flipthrough - Overhaul's theme youtu.be/nQnj4VZrGuA?si=v6oOFEDK-opdpdHJ

The Purgatory Box

ScholarBot Tarot 2024-01-22 | Wanna see what's in the box? (Originally recorded August 2023)

0:00 Intro
1:20 Sealed Decks
4:12 Decks that Make me Think too Hard
11:30 Decks with Production Issues
20:43 Lol Why Did I Buy This?
29:42 Time to Say Goodbye Decks
42:11 A Couple More Duplicates
46:42 Tangent Time!
48:55 Conclusion - What Did I Learn?

Tarot Wrap Up and Updates 2023

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-12-28 | Gone for four months and then, BAM! End of the Year Update! Timestamps & Content Warnings, below:

0:00 Intro
1:40 Health/Life Updates (CW - Nausea, Eating Disorder(?) & that 9-month Sickness)
7:42 General Tarot Practice & Video Updates
10:26 Deck(s) Acquired
14:17 Decks Attempted to Acquire
19:36 Decks I'm Waiting On
22:51 Chisme and my Thoughts on my experience awaiting the Palmira Campagna Tarot (CW - Yes, this takes up over 20 minutes of the video)
46:31 Make Discourse, Not War

Stuff I Promised to Share
@AuntyKsTarot Flipthrough of her Marseille Prendre Vie: youtu.be/MqeicRhzAGg?si=f80Q3Q9c-pnLTi_H
Here's my review: youtu.be/a7D7mkL_61g?si=SVwMTEZbTwpV_4nK
Want to snag a copy of the Black Gold Lenormand before it's gone for good? Check out their shop before 12/31/2023 - grandmababyapothecary.com
Here's Grandma Baby Apothecary's Etsy shop if that's more accessible: etsy.com/shop/GrandmaBabyApothecar?ref=l2-about-shopname
Benebell Wen's 2023 State of the Tarot Union: youtube.com/post/Ugkxxv_l9jbwixdgB__5BcSJkAX4-Gr275SE
Kickstarter Campaign Page for the Palmira Campagna Tarot: kickstarter.com/projects/palmiracampagna/tarot-palmira-campana
A Different Perspective on the Bonestone & Earthflesh Controversy: youtu.be/Y8jmWYD2Zvw?si=7G5cs6jYlEtnYd3R

#MyMagicalYoutubeJourney A VR to @The_Wild_Witch

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-09-24 | See? I kind of know what I'm doing. :o

Watch Starlight's Original Video - youtu.be/XNwL3GsGSSU?si=ad7K1yr6Cktmw3gw

Other VRs
@aquamarine18 - youtu.be/db6w7nyP7Sw?si=j-XNgF5HOz1Mlr00
@atypicaltarot - youtu.be/SvQwp1l4nDs?si=umCcHEg3tup6PG2p
@AmethystAscensionTarot - youtu.be/k-dAUVEknXI?si=ZBIHF1ShhuqwU3sS
@scarletmooncreations - youtu.be/TJiKFGOrENY?si=Bw970SvR2GW2avWX

@AbundantLifeTarot TAG, YOU'RE IT!

0:00 Intro
1:25 What is your channel name and the significance behind it?
1:36 What type of content do you create on your channel? (for example: vlogs, educational, DIY, live streams, and so on )
1:49 What inspired you to start your channel?
3:02 How long have you been on YouTube as a content creator?
3:11 What are your hobbies outside of your channel?
6:39 Is there a new style of content that you want to try?
7:53 How do you plan out your content?
9:05 What are your tools of the trade? (Example: cameras, mics, lighting, software)
11:11 As a content creator, do you experience burnout? If so, what does that look like for you and how do you recover from it?
12:02 Which video are you the most proud of and why?
12:40 Who inspires you within the magical/pagan YouTube community? Are there any channels you would recommend?
13:16 Do you believe there are misconceptions about being a magical/pagan YouTuber?
14:07 What do you like and dislike about being on YouTube?
15:21 What are some of the challenges and struggles you face creating on this platform and how do you overcome them?
18:25 What is your opinion monetization, pay walls or other exclusive content? (example: patreon, or other membership services )
-SKIPPED BY ACCIDENT - ANSWER IN THE PINNED COMMENT- Do you have any boundaries on this platform, why or why not?
19:23 Do you have any current goals for your channel?
19:33 What are some of the mistakes you've made and how did you fix them?
21:03 What are some of the ways your channel has grown since your first video?
22:02 Have you ever wanted to quit making videos? Why or why not?
22:17 What do you wish you knew before starting your YouTube channel journey?
23:39 Do you post on any other platforms? If so, what are they?
24:20 Do you have any advice for those wishing to create a channel?
26:47 Who will you tag in this video?
27:00 Conclusion - What did I Learn?

#Firsttarotkickstarterdeck VR to Tarot, Tatts and Tea

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-09-16 | *beep* *boop*

Here's @ElaineMurphy66 's Original Video - youtu.be/wrwwsdHMI38?si=IjkwdPTZAFye9t9V
Check out @ikalesunflower 's VR - youtu.be/oX-5aTsVpt0?si=bH-RdM-JD2D5RjD_

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:37 #MyFirstTarotKickstarterDeck
7:31 Conclusion

Prompts in Between
What was your first Kickstarter deck that you backed?
Why did you back it?
Do you still use it?
Tell us about the deck!

Get the 2nd Edition, here - https://mtgproxy.art/product/tarotbot-tarot-cards/

Marseille Prendre Vie by Krista Flute Tarot Review

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-09-02 | Let's take a look at a prototype of Aunty K's Marseille Prendre Vie, which will launch on September 7th via Kickstarter!
Kickstarter Pre-launch page: kickstarter.com/projects/auntyktarot/marseille-prendre-vie
@AuntyKsTarot YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@AuntyKsTarot?si=WokMphu6VaJt38MX
Krista's flipthrough of the Marseille Prendre Vie: youtu.be/WhZGiX2LPAY?si=GGiuMYuJ8lq1vllZ
Krista's video on Pamela Coleman Smith: youtu.be/bjn_kxvs5Ek?si=aeP73bkQTtIs59H1

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:28 Artist Bio
2:58 Card Specs
5:27 Flipthrough
12:45 Initial Thoughts
23:28 Sample Reading(s)
29:07 Mayfield Office Hours

Music:
Magicant - Super Smash Bros. Ultimate: youtube.com/watch?v=OnQYkW7aKEc

The music and sound effects do not belong to me. Most of them are from Nintendo. Virgil's ring is from Bungie. Gamers Unite!

#midyeartarottag VR to @chaneldays

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-08-06 | The Check In.
Here's Spirited Stardust's original video: youtu.be/JGk0PRQM3C8

Other VRs
@-NiamhWitch- youtu.be/TCa5XM55ZnI
@CrescentDreamsTarot (incorrectly referred to as Crescent Moon. My bad!) youtu.be/ZhXgIhdaGc0
@Amys-Mystical-Musings youtu.be/V8j1p8WAs8s

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:16 Favorite Deck of 2023
2:05 New Deck of 2023
3:23 My Most Anticipated Release
4:58 My Biggest Disappointment & Story Time
11:29 Biggest Surprise
13:13 My Deck Crush
15:07 The Next Deck
16:25 Deck that Made me Cry
16:30 Deck that Made me Happy
17:50 My Most Beautiful Deck
19:35 Decks Inbound
21:14 Conclusion: What Did I Learn?

The Black Femme Tarot: Mini Edition by Illumilatti kickstarter.com/projects/illumilatti/the-black-femme-tarot-mini-edition?ref=android_project_share

Other Videos Mentioned
An Awful Name for a Beautiful Deck: Unboxing The W.I T.C.H. Oracle by @tarotreadingsfromabitch - youtu.be/gXkb7lv7gZE
Scholarbot Against AI Art in Tarot by Mayfield - youtu.be/f4LKHoqcYD0
Detox and Spiritual Hygiene Check-in Tarot Spread | A Demonstration by @AbundantLifeTarot - youtu.be/fpGhrJePXX8

Why I Dont(?) Personify my Tarot Decks

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-07-30 | "For lack of a better term."

VR to @tarotreadingsfromabitch
Watch Cody's original video: youtu.be/BcoR29rceAE

Other VRs
@ninecoinsfromsatu #DeckPersonified - youtu.be/8p73j8Xu6h8

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
2:14 Reading & Personality
4:39 Crystals? Y/N
4:58 Why so many decks?
6:50 Framework of [Dis]Belief & Practice
13:26 Language
15:58 Personification vs. Anthropomorphizing
20:01 Conclusion

Other Videos of Interest
Dawn Michelle's Video, How Does This Deck Read? (Personifying My Decks): youtu.be/ScQZniSEd04
My video on What We Learn from Zombie Decks: youtu.be/wGxZgV9ZbxQ
My more relevant video on my Tarot and Practice: youtu.be/bKutZUNS41Y

#DeconstructingMyTarotCollection VR to @AuntyKsTarot

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-07-24 | The anatomy of a deck. The anatomy of a collection.

Check out Aunty K's original video, here: youtu.be/V74JIn_tvpM
Here's a VR by @aquamarine18 : youtu.be/LnITZRN9mKo

Did you do a VR of this tag? Let me know in the comments cuz VRs for this tag were hard to find. T.T

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:49 Favorite Court Cards
1:47 Favorite Aces
2:40 Favorite Pips
3:37 Favorite Majors
4:20 Favorite Tarot Cardbacks
4:56 Favorite Deck Container
5:24 Favorite Guidebook
6:05 Tricky Cards: The Empress & 3 of Swords
8:09 Favorite Extra Card
9:05 Conclusion: What did I Learn?

Buying AI Decks? - AI Art in Tarot

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-07-17 | My robot overlords are gonna be so pissed. :( Here are three reasons I don't plan on buying AI Tarot decks and some decks that would be better alternatives.

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
4:06 The Ethics
7:49 The Personal
16:04 The Aesthetics
24:34 Get this, Not That!
40:01 Conclusion

Arin Hanson, animator and Youtuber of GameGrumps, on AI Art: twitter.com/egoraptor/status/1631717867421933583
Interview with Winslow Dumaine, creator of the Tarot Restless: canvasrebel.com/meet-winslow-dumaine
AI Art merging with itself: twitter.com/kitbashstudios/status/1670859046197542913

Decks Shown
Tarot of the Sweet Twilight from Lo Scarabeo - llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738718545
Interim Tarot by Linda Benjamin: Looks like a 2nd edition is in preorder phase? Contact the artist for more details - interimtarot.com/interim-marketplace/p/signed-full-bleed-deck-5fhcb
Angelarium by Peter Mohrbacher - barnesandnoble.com/w/angelarium-peter-mohrbacher/1125531578
Earthly Souls & Spirits Moon Oracle by Terri Foss (MM) - usgamesinc.com/earthly-souls-and-spirits-moon-oracle
Tarot Restless by Winslow Dumaine - http://www.winslowdumaine.com/tarot-prints-and-tapestries/the-tarot-restless-third-edition-pre-order

Decks Mentioned
Invisible Tarot - llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738776910
Deck for Wonder Walking by Amy T Won - kickstarter.com/projects/amytwon/a-deck-and-explorers-journal-for-wonder-walking?ref=discovery&term=amy%20won
Tarot for Liminal Space - **TIL that this deck has AI-generated elements. 😑 Now, I'm stuck with an AI deck. 🤦🏽‍♀️

Other videos on AI in the Tarot Tubes
Ethony: youtu.be/C67VWZC_xbU
@atypicaltarot : youtu.be/uwkZzN2DXsA
@AmethystAscensionTarot: youtu.be/BSvpqVRE_mM
@BenebellWen: youtu.be/_qnFpogthlw
General Videos on the Art Community
@CatherineGraffam’s Artists Beware series (includes a video on AI Art): youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0WhlFzbdCoGG7HobUH_zL4NIRLU9BlwQ

#BooksForTheMajors VR @LennanSmith

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-06-20 | Let's keep reading alive. Watch me make connections between each of the Major Arcana with a book from my library.

Watch Lennan Smith's original video: youtu.be/aFUFybqnF0o
Watch @aquamarine18's VR: youtu.be/X2PMqg2068I

Timestamps and ISBN Numbers in Order of Appearance
0:00 Intro
1:17 The Fool - 9781593080280, 9780814787083
3:00 The Magician - 9780399500350
3:30 The High Priestess - 9780684717258
5:11 The Empress - 9781974709403
5:55 The Emperor - 9781479818402
7:09 The Hierophant - 9781590201626
8:19 The Lovers - 9781250798138
9:20 The Chariot - 9781509526406, 9780807174555
11:50 Strength - 9780195341195
13:50 The Hermit - 9781368024136
14:57 Wheel of Fortune - 9780816654468
15:36 Justice - 9781439184080
17:16 The Hanged Man - 9781250830227
18:08 Death - 9784805314432
18:59 Temperance - 9780520227811
20:06 The Devil - 9780060853976 (Honorable Mention), 9780553213485
21:18 The Tower - 9780520248113
23:10 The Star - 9780262640343
23:50 The Moon - 9781479806072
24:57 The Sun - 9780375759895
26:18 Judgment - 9780679740384
27:37 The World - 9780307346612
29:00 Conclusion - What did I Learn?

#TarotAndPractice VR to @aquamarine18 & @WaterChildTarot

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-06-12 | The tarot practice of a secular heathen. /s

Original Video: youtube.com/watch?v=RXr0QWEAY8Q

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:34 What does your tarot or spiritual practice look like?
3:47 Why do you STILL practice tarot?
4:19 How do your tarot practice and spiritual practice fit together, if at all?
6:59 How do you document your tarot readings?
8:11 Is a question always important to your reading?
9:27 Conclusion: What did I learn?

Flowers for Bl@ck Tarot Artists

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-05-15 | Let me know in the comments which Black Tarot artists you would like to appreciate.

Make sure you're subscribed to these folks:
@oyasgirl7777 - youtube.com/@UCzlnPrqlsfnjen7rS6dmqboQ
@AbundantLifeTarot - youtube.com/@UCkuEuE5Yj_SGyB528KbNgSQ
@SparkleDivineTarot - youtube.com/@UCaCITF-JvbTR5Ql4KWKlqUg
@ikalesunflower - youtube.com/@UC8v2xhkOAY8r2Mv3Z37FR1A

Feel free to plug your own channel or share your fave black tarot creators.

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
3:50 Krystal Banner, founder of Kaleidadope - kaleidadope.com
6:16 Carey Adela, CEO of Healthy Vibes - thehealthyvibebodega.com/shop
Looks like "I Am" is currently sold out, but there IS a preorder for Volume II of Healthy Vibes!
7:59 Notty, of Notty Designs - nottydesignss.com/home
9:39 Andrea Furtick, Afro Goddess Connection - https://linktr.ee/art.goddess.drea
12:10 Joe Phillips - witchboys.com
14:48 Zoe, the Hurricane Mystic - thehurricanemystic.com
16:50 Lolu, creator of Akamara - akamaratarot.com
19:53 Tayannah Lee McQuillar - instagram.com/tayannahleemcquillar/?hl=en
On Hoodoo Traditions in Black America - youtu.be/OjVdaZkpJho
22:04 Safara - instagram.com/artbysafara
Tazama LinkTree - tazamaafricantarot.com/linkpage
23:47 Tea and Ian, founders of Grandma Baby Apothecary - grandmababyapothecary.com
25:23 Courtney Alexander, creator of the DustIIOnyx - dust2onyx.com/pages/about

Further Viewing
F.D. Signifier's video, "Break Bread," is awesome if you're interested in LeftTube, but the relevant chapter I've linked is on "No Favors from the Algorithm" for Black creators - youtu.be/41B5YonixBs?t=1920

#ittakesavillage VR to @DawnMichelleTarot

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-05-05 | My happy-ish little tarot village. :) This script was written in 2022, but updated for 2023. Check out Dawn Michelle's original video and several other VRs that she conveniently accompanied in a playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeKRgvRgjOZ_Onn3RsapbHQejG1hD7sUV

Timestamps & Prompts
0:00 Intro
1:05 The Guide - Personal Decks: Decks I reach for
4:13 The Caregiver - Support Deck: For self-care
7:04 The Muse - Creative Work Deck: Decks that help inspire me
14:08 The Counselor - Family Deck: Decks for others
17:09 The Mystic - Spiritual Work Deck: Decks that make me feel an otherworldly connection (or as much as atheistic trash like me feels the divine)
18:59 The Elder - Sage Advice Deck: Decks that offer positive advice
21:32 The Teacher - Study Deck: My Entire Book Report List (but not actually)
26:37 The Outsider - Deck that Doesn't Belong
28:18 The Stranger - New Deck in the Village
30:58 A New Villager Appeared!
32:31 Conclusion

Decks Shown
The Landback Tarot by Aunty K - OOP, but she has a YouTube channel, here: youtube.com/@AuntyKsTarot
Tazama Tarot by Abusua Pa - tazamaafricantarot.com
Tarot of the Unknown, the Winter Printing by Chris Smith - OOP but the mini "Special" printings are still available: etsy.com/shop/QuarterPress?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1385156519
Sasuraibito Tarot by Stasia Burrington - etsy.com/shop/stasiab?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1392279644
The Poe Tarot by Trisha Leigh Shufelt - barnesandnoble.com/w/the-poe-tarot-trisha-leigh-shufelt/1138860561
Darkness of Light by Tony DiMauro - darknesstarot.com/collections/all
Heavenly Bloom Tarot by Noa Ikeda - usgamesinc.com/heavenly-bloom.html
Cosma Visions Oracle by James R. Eads - 1st edition OOP, but a 2nd edition is available: prismavisions.com/products/cosma-visions-oracle
Yochi Yokai by buboplague - OOP but I hope you follow them for their other amazing work! instagram.com/buboplague/?hl=en
Black Gold Lenormand, First Edition by Tea and Ian - grandmababyapothecary.com/collections/all
Ritual Abuse Tarot by Ryan Sheffield -
Buy Ritual Abuse, here: printerstudio.com/sell/designs/ritual-abuse-tarot.html
Check out Ryan's other work, here: etsy.com/shop/ryansheffield
Beautiful Creatures, 1st Edition by J.R. Riviera and Jasmine Beckett Griffith - OOP but a 2nd edition is available: barnesandnoble.com/w/beautiful-creatures-tarot-2nd-edition-jr-rivera/1137390511
The Philosophy Cards by Melanie - etsy.com/shop/PhilosophyCards?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1245831179
The Philosophy Tarot by Sereptie - penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717040/the-philosophers-tarot-by-sereptie
The Azathoth Tarot from Nemo's Locker - nemoslocker.com
The Earthly Souls & Spirits Moon Oracle by Terri Foss, Mass Market - usgamesinc.com/earthly-souls-and-spirits-moon-oracle
The Dragons Tarot - OOP and I hope it stays that way -_-

Work Cited
sociologylens.net/topics/culture/avery-gordons-ghostly-matters-and-the-haunting-of-sociological-research/13127

OOP Tarot Prices: Why the Hexen 2.0 isnt Worth $300

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-04-28 | This is video is largely for fun, but that won't keep me from being hopeful. Let's challenge the status quo of community discourse surrounding Out of Print (OOP) tarot: Neg the deck! 😂

Can this still be a VR to @MixtressRae for #incomeinequality if I wrote the script a month ago? Perhaps not. 🥴 Either way, here's her video on her experience; definitely worth a watch - youtu.be/GZ_lXQc1bfA

0:00 Intro
1:52 Glitches in the Discourse
6:08 The Free Market of OOP Decks
12:57 The Ethics of being a Pirate
15:41 Make Discourse, Not War

Decks Shown
Hexen 2.0 (art book) - I purchased at $30 before it went OOP
Yokai Yochi by buboplague - Also OOP, but sometimes the artist will announce leftovers on their Patreon, first. Otherwise, follow them here: instagram.com/buboplague/?hl=en
Fyodor Pavlov - Indie OOP. Mass Market version available on US Games - usgamesinc.com/fyodor-pavlov-tarot

Other Resources
Hexen 2.0 Tarot - suzannetreister.net/HEXEN2/HEXEN_2.html
@BenebellWen's Essay, TAROT TUBE & CLASSISM - benebellwen.com/2023/04/17/tarot-tube-and-classism
@SaoirseGraves's Video, Double Standards in "Community" - youtu.be/EN0ooBs_luM
How to Spot Counterfeit Decks
from Liminal11 - liminal11.com/2021/07/08/fake-tarot-deck
from US Games - usgamesinc.com/counterfeit-decks.html
from Reddit - reddit.com/r/tarot/comments/rwsa9x/counterfeit_decks
Cat Graffam's excellent video on NFTs in the context of Art Collection - youtu.be/VtxQL55Y8cM

I feel like I'm forgetting something. Am I missing a link? Let me know!

Dust II Onyx - The Journey and the Answer

ScholarBot Tarot 2023-03-26 | Here’s my book report (read: reflection) on Dust II Onyx as an answer to Dr. Saidiya Hartman’s Lose Your Mother. In watching back during the editing process, I wished I talked a little more about the politics of beauty that Alexander presents in Dust II Onyx. Another future video perhaps. In the meantime, enjoy my ramblings on this very special topic!

Courtney Alexander’s Instagram (her bio also contains a link to her GoFundMe): instagram.com/reallycourtney
DustIIOnyx - dust2onyx.com/collections/all

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:31 Saidiya Hartman’s Lose Your Mother
8:46 Card Specs & the Answer
11:32 Bridging the Gap
13:43 But First! How did I get here?
21:48 I Opt for A Few Select Cards

Works Cited
Alexander, Courtney. DustIIOnyx: A Melanated Tarot Deck (Travel Edition). Black & Sage, 2017.
Hartman, Saidiya V. Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route. Serpent's Tail, 2021.

Further Reading
Furtick, Andrea. Afro Goddess Connection Tarot: Limited Edition. theafrogoddessconnection.com/collections/frontpage
Haley, Alex. Roots: The Saga of an American Family. 1976.
I don’t remember the specific video I learned the “When we mythologize evil…” bit (I know it was an early-ish), but if you’re interested in video essays on black movies and other media, here’s F.D. Signifier’s channel: youtube.com/c/FDSignifire

Depth Year Deck Haul (2022)

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-12-13 | An oxymoron, I know. Here's my self-assessment and overview of my 2022 Depth Year.

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:32 Book Report Progress
2:20 Video Essay Progress
4:48 Future Plans for the Channel
7:28 Deck Haul for 2022
24:40 Honorable Mentions
30:14 Celebrating our Ws

Decks Shown and Mentioned
Heavenly Bloom Tarot by Noa Ikeda - usgamesinc.com/heavenly-bloom.html
Asotele Oracle by Lolu (OOP) - akamaratarot.com
Poe Tarot by Trisha Leigh Shufelt - schifferbooks.com/products/the-poe-tarot
PVRGATORIVM Heks by Mr. Friborg - arcantvm.com/products/pvrgatorivm-oracle-divination-tarot-cards
Landback Oracle by Aunty K (OOP), but here's her YouTube channel - youtube.com/@AuntyKsTarot
Weiser Tarot - redwheelweiser.com/book/the-weiser-tarot-9781578637959
Philosopher's Tarot by Sereptie - penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717040/the-philosophers-tarot-by-sereptie
Tarot of the Crystal World by Brooke Penrose (KS completed but here's the page) - kickstarter.com/projects/brookepenrose/tarot-of-the-crystal-world
Green Glyphs Collection by James R. Eads - kickstarter.com/projects/jamesreads/green-glyphs-tarot-runes-oracle-and-lenormand-decks?ref=user_menu
Twylight Dreams Tarot by Notty (OOP)
Angelarium: Year 1 & 2 Collectibles by Peter Mohrbacher
Sasuraibito Tarot by Stasia Burrington - etsy.com/shop/stasiab?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=502680632
The Fablemaker's Animated Tarot by Hit Point Press - hitpointpress.com/animated-tarot
Kaiser Permanente Playing Cards

#TarotAntiBucketList VR to @StrengthReversed

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-11-19 | I don't want what's in that bucket. :(((

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
1:14 Yeah, What They Said
3:44 Kicking Away the Bucket (My personal Antibucket)
8:13 Conclusion

Check out Amy's original video, here: youtu.be/lf3V8z2y19c
Also check out other VRs:
@aquamarine18 youtu.be/2O-k2AECkOo
@AbundantLifeTarot youtu.be/ypkeiHLkqZ8
@Peekaboorose youtu.be/gv7iecO6-sU

What We Learn from Zombie Decks

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-11-01 | Here are some ramblings I’ve had about the Zombie Tarot, Tarot Z, and what it means for us to use Zombies in our tarot practice.

Table of Contents
0:00 Intro & Zombie Bridge Riddle
6:56 The Meta – Box & LWB Specs
9:32 Zombie Tarot & the Cold War
24:23 Tarot Z & U :)
31:18 Conclusion

Decks Shown
Zombie Tarot
Tarot Z

Works Cited/Further Reading
Avila, Eric. The Age of White Flight.
Chakraborty, Ranjani and Melissa Hirsch. “Dodger Stadium’s Violent Origin Story: The Community Los Angeles Destroyed and Replaced with a Baseball Team.” vox.com/videos/2021/5/17/22439387/dodger-stadium-chavez-ravine-history
Gendler, Alex. “Can You Solve the Zombie Bridge Riddle?” youtu.be/7yDmGnA8Hw0
Golub, Adam, et. Al. Monsters in the Classroom.
Film: 'The Best Years of Our Lives' (1946)

Psst! Count how many times I say the word "essentially." XD

#AllAboutTarot2022 VR to The Hermits Cave

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-08-29 | Join me for a VR to Simon from @the_hermits_cave All About Tarot 2022! Check out his original video, here: youtu.be/ZotNyx5VX0Q

Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:43 Your first deck & how you encountered it
4:59 Your last deck & how your tastes have changed since your first
9:07 Why tarot?
10:20 Tarot pet peeves
11:50 Favorite tarot spread
12:29 Your preferred tarot system
12:36 Tarot rituals
14:26 How do you use tarot? Introspection, or divination etc.
15:37 Your significator card & why you feel it represents you
16:42 Most expensive tarot acquisition
18:46 Unicorn deck. The deck that’s so hard to find
21:31 What’s the most important lesson the tarot has taught you?
21:43 Tarot Dinner party guests. 1 guest of honor plus 2 other guests (dead or alive)

Why, yes, this is @SparkleDivineTarot stan account. Check out her videos:
Havana’s video on the #LandBackTarot: youtu.be/lO6ImWtpUEo
Havana’s video on Diversity vs. Tokenism in Tarot Decks: youtu.be/Ed5pwu5A7vQ

The Tarot Diagnosis IG: instagram.com/thetarotdiagnosis

Decks Shown
The Beautiful Creatures Tarot – 1st Edition OOP, but the 2nd Edition is still available: barnesandnoble.com/w/beautiful-creatures-tarot-2nd-edition-jr-rivera/1137390511
LandBack Tarot by Aunty K – OOP, but do check out her YouTube channel: youtube.com/channel/UCXqUSMxGp_vJCPvGzzwVH1g/featured
5 Cent Tarot by Madam Clara - etsy.com/listing/777576578/the-5-cent-tarot-2nd-edition-by-madam#:~:text=The%205%2Dcent%20Tarot%20is,the%20upright%20and%20reverse%20positions.
The Tazama Tarot by Abusua Pa - tazamaafricantarot.com/product/tazama-african-tarot-deck

#circulardecks: A VR to Ikale Sunflower

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-08-15 | Look at them rounds. :o Long time, no see! Here’s a VR to @ikalesunflower 's hashtag, #circulardecks. Check out B’s original video: youtu.be/ZY52sZ0CC_k

Here's another VR to #circulardecks by aquamarine18: youtu.be/SUskfjCGlJU

I also like how the one video I post, where keywords are kinda important, ends up being mirrored. XD Sorry about that!

Timestamps:
0:00 Awkward Intro
0:52 Prompt One – What draws you to Circular Decks?
1:28 Prompt Two – What challenges are present with Circular Decks?
2:03 Prompt Three – How many Circular Decks are in your collection?
2:11 Prompt Four – What is your most recent Circular Deck purchase?
2:20 Prompt Five – Show off your Circular Deck Collection!
11:40 Conclusion

Decks shown:
Fantasma Oracle by Chris Smith. The Round Film Reel edition is out of print but the standard edition is still available! - shopquarterpress.com/collections/tarot-divinimation/products/the-fantasma-oracle-45-pocket-size-cards-based-on-vintage-toons-oracle-deck-tarot
Two-Penny Oracle by Madam Clara - etsy.com/listing/848917381/in-stock-the-two-penny-oracle-by-madam

TV Recommendation:
Over the Garden Wall on Hulu

Samurai Tarot Deck Mod

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-06-21 | Here's a deck mod on the Samurai Tarot, a deck I featured in one of my previous video essays on Lo Scarabeo decks: youtu.be/sRoFwpAKH1U

Timestamps
0:00 Intro & Background
7:03 The Result!
8:10 Walkthrough of Reassigned Cards

Samurai pin in the thumbnail by buboplague: instagram.com/buboplague

Always exercise caution and safety when doing crafts like this. For some helpful tutorials on deck modifications, check Boho Tarot's playlist on deck mods: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeKRgvRgjOZ_GVlTRLdo_EInfKIIDuH97

#QueerDecksforPrideMonth: A VR to Tom Benjamin

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-06-13 | Watch me clumsily walk you through decks that I enjoy using during Pride Month. And then, watch Tom Benjamin’s original video: youtu.be/wqGadit9U3E

Timestamps/Decks Mentioned
0:00 Intro
1:44 Prismatic Tarot by Kelsey Showalter: etsy.com/shop/WingysArt?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=508640297
4:27 Lost Hollow Tarot by James from PixelOccult: etsy.com/shop/PixelOccult?ref=shop_sugg
8:34 Numinous Tarot 3rd Printing by Cedar McCloud: numinousspiritpress.com/numinoustarot
11:22 Fyodor Pavlov Tarot by Fyodor Pavlov – I forgot this deck is technically OOP, but check his Instagram for updates on the Mass Market version: instagram.com/fyodorpavlov
15:46 Honorable Mentions
Divine Diversity by Joe Phillips: witchboys.com/shop/ols/products/divine-diversity-tarot-deck
Tarot of the Silicon Dawn by Egypt Urnash (OOP)
21:06 Conclusion

And be sure to actively remember: Trans Rights are Human Rights. You are valid and you matter.

#ClicheTarotReader: A VR to Astral Lady Tarot

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-04-08 | Here’s a VR to a hashtag from July 2021: #ClicheTarotReader from Astral Lady Tarot. Watch her original video and others I’ve enjoyed:

Astral Lady Tarot: youtu.be/q9JR_jQNwwk
Lisa Papez: youtu.be/EhjBHoxevkk
Atypical Tarot: youtu.be/tgXCP1o98H0
PeekabooRose: youtu.be/696FTxAFFDI

Timstamps:
0:00 – Intro
0:53 – Backup/Multiple Decks?
1:53 – Tarot Tattoo?
2:00 – Tea or Coffee with Tarot?
2:19 – Crystals?
3:09 – Tarot Books?
4:01 – Tarot Journals?
4:40 – Like to Shuffle?
5:10 – Candles?
5:16 – Fairy Lights?
5:21 – Bags/Cloths?
5:33 – Purgatory Drawer?
5:59 – Deck Modding Tools?
6:16 – The Verdict/Concluding Thoughts

The Tarot Restless - Gender, Divinity, and the Grotesque

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-03-27 | Apparently, Gatorade should be thicker. Here’s my book report on the Tarot Restless by Winslow Dumaine. I swear I asked for an extension but it must have gone to your spam box. 👀

Timestamps
Intro – 0:00
Some Housekeeping – 1:34
The Deck – 2:25
Questioning Gender at the End of the World – 5:51
Gender and Gender Roles – 9:00
Worldbuilding and the Divine – 15:08
The Grotesque – 22:26
Concluding Thoughts on the Guidebook – 27:18

Works Cited
Dumaine, Winslow. Tarot Restless. 3rd ed., n.d. http://www.winslowdumaine.com/tarot.
Dumaine, Winslow. “Winslow Dumaine at Thalia Hall.” YouTube, November 21, 2018. youtube.com/watch?v=A0tQIUq7-qU&t=335s.
Golub, Adam, Heather Richardson Hayton, W. Scott Poole, and Jeffrey Jerome Cohen. Monsters in the Classroom: Essays on Teaching What Scares Us. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, 2017.

My Tarot Deck Mods and #DeckModFails

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-02-13 | Modded Decks – A sort of a VR to Boho Tarot. Today, I wanted to share with you all, my modded decks and deck mod fails.

Here's Boho Tarot's original #deckmodfails video: youtu.be/ykeAD-B0oJI

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
0:58 Edged Only
8:42 Trimmed Only
11:00 Trimmed & Edged Decks
17:55 Failed Deck Mods
23:03 Conclusion

You can see my deck mod of the Honorable Mention, here on my Instagram: instagram.com/p/CNN3_lvHHRh/?utm_medium=copy_link

Decks Shown
Life is Like a Board Game Tarot by Krystal Banner - etsy.com/listing/775164402/life-is-like-a-board-game-tarot-tarot
Ritual Abuse Tarot by Ryan Sheffield - ryansheffieldart.com/tarot
Tarot Z Limited Edition - goodreads.com/book/show/46018333-tarot-z-limited-edition
Murder of Crows Limited Edition (OOP), but standard edition still available - llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738766423
Tarot of the Sweet Twilight - llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738718545
Crow Tarot by M.J. McCullinane - goodreads.com/book/show/43809238-crow-tarot
Tattoo Tarot: Ink and Intuition by Megamunden - goodreads.com/en/book/show/40513995-tattoo-tarot
Mother Mary Oracle - usgamesinc.com/mother-mary-oracle.html
Tarot de Marseilles by Bounty – Snaps! It looks like it’s OOP. My bad.
Original Rider Waite deck pack – usgamesinc.com/original-rider-waite-tarot-set.html
Philosophy Cards by Melanie Mascio - https://philosophy-cards.square.site/

Decks Mentioned
Tarot of a Moon Garden by Karen Marie Sweikhardt - usgamesinc.com/tarot-of-a-moon-garden.html
Numinous Tarot by Cedar McCloud - http://numinousspiritpress.com/numinoustarot
Threadbound Oracle by Cedar McCloud - http://numinousspiritpress.com/threadboundoracle

Channels Mentioned
Boho Tarot: Here’s her playlist for deck mod tutorials - youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeKRgvRgjOZ_GVlTRLdo_EInfKIIDuH97
Delora Dabbles’ unboxing video for the Murder of Crows Limited Edition - youtu.be/s-LboVO20qY

Defining Depth Year During... well... my Depth Year

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-02-08 | There are no shortages of Depth Year videos, here on YouTube. I was so overwhelmed by all of them, so by not watching very many, in search of defining it, I realized I had “Depth Year” all wrong! Let me know in the comments what a Depth Year is to you, and if the working definition in this video even fits right.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
1:00 A Plethora of Information
1:52 Source #1: Sample Definition
3:00 Source #2: Context Clues for A New Definition
4:08 A Quick Definition on Low Buy and No Buy
5:33 My Working Definition Based on Source #1 and #2
6:20 My First Depth Year Experience and All the Rules I Set
8:48 Reflections and Applying Them to Round Two
10:10 Further Criteria within Reach
11:00 Thanks to All You to All Subscribers in the First Month of ScholarBot Tarot

My Depth Year Diary Part I: What and Why? by Cathy A. Browne (Medium Article, through a soft paywall): medium.com/@cathyabrowne/my-2020-depth-year-diary-part-1-what-and-why-b2242638d872#:~:text=A%20Depth%20Year%20is%20a,rather%20than%20buying%20new%20ones.

“8 Depth Year Preparation Tips to Know BEFORE You Start” by Anya Esma: youtu.be/dpWCOyGZwNA

Other Channels Mentioned
Abundant Life Tarot's Playlist on her 2020 Depth Year: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdWWMox8jbX52uRK8O-qX-8iBURnCMh5E

Decks Mentioned
The Tarot Restless by Winslow Dumaine: http://www.winslowdumaine.com/tarot
The Shadowscapes by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law: shadowscapes.com/Tarot/purchasedeck.php
The Mystical Medleys Tarot by Gary Hall: liminal11.com/product/mystical-medleys-a-vintage-cartoon-tarot

Black Magic: African American Public Memory in Contemporary Tarot

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-01-17 | The Abstract:

Tarot has become an increasingly popular form of entertainment, self-care, and spirituality among contemporary audiences. As those audiences grew, a rightful demand for ethnic representation grew as well. African American presence in Tarot, either in the art or as artists—or both! — offers a fascinating look into the aesthetic, cultural, and spiritual identity that’s being created in cartomancy. With particular attention to diverse, specifically African American, tarot projects in the summer of 2020, African American artists bridge the gap between black pride and personal identity through a spiritual journey, recreating a cultural identity that is inherently African American. Since Dr. Hartman’s Lose Your Mother is largely the spark that created this research, my argument will attempt to challenge that notion that we are unable to find or make a space for ourselves as African American, and I will argue that, thanks to African American Tarot artists, such as Courtney Alexander, Tea and Ian, and Krystal Banner, African American Tarot readers like myself have a means to reach out to public memories that we have never known and recreate community.

Chapters
0:00 – Title Slide
0:34 – The Agenda
0:51 – The Basics of Tarot
2:25 – Contemporary Tarot
5:35 – What’s at Stake?
6:57 – Dust II Onyx
9:23 – Black Gold Lenormand
11:33 – 2020 Visions
13:34 – Concluding Remarks
14:08 – Make Discourse, Not War

Works Cited
Decks
Alexander, Courtney. DustIIOnyx: A Melanated Tarot Deck (Travel Edition). Black & Sage, 2017. dust2onyx.com
Banner, Krystal. 2020 Visions Tarot: The Major Arcana. Kaleidadope, 2020. kaleidadope.com
Tea, and Ian. Black Gold Lenormand. Grandma Baby Apothecary, 2020. grandmababyapothecary.com

Other Decks Shown:
Slide 3: Rider-Waite Smith Tarot Deck - goodreads.com/book/show/57768477-pamela-colman-smith-s-rws-tarot-deck
Slide 4: Modern Witch Tarot by Lisa Sterle - liminal11.com/product/the-modern-witch-tarot-standard-edition
Slide 11: Healthy Vibes Affirmation Deck by Carey Adela – I’m unsure if this is Out of Print (OOP), but here’s her website: thehealthyvibebodega.com
Tongues of the Mother Tarot by Lolu – akamaratarot.com
Afro Goddess Tarot Arcanas: Special Edition by Andrea Furtick - theafrogoddessconnection.com/collections/frontpage

Footnotes
1:29 Wu, Hong-An. “Tarot as Technology.” Journal of Cultural Research in Art Education 37 (2020). https://www.wuhongann.tw/publications. 206.
2:01 Ibid. 209.
2:28 Burton, Tara Isabella. “The Rise of Progressive Occultism.” The American Interest, August 12, 2019. the-american-interest.com/2019/06/07/the-rise-of-progressive-occultism/.
2:58 Furth, Brett H. “Ethnic Neo-Pagan Altars and Ancestors in Texas: An Ethnoreligious Strategy to Reconfigure European Ancestry and Whiteness.” Western Folklore 76, no. 3 (2017): 313–45.
6:00 Houdek, Matthew, and Kendall R. Phillips. “Public Memory.” Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Communication, January 25, 2017. oxfordre.com/communication/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228613.001.0001/acrefore-9780190228613-e-181.
7:42 Bois, W.E.B Du. "The Souls of Black Folk." The Souls of Black Folk. Signet Classics, 2012.
8:28 Hartman, Saidiya V. Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route. Serpent's Tail, 2021.
9:49 Gordon, Avery. Ghostly Matters: Haunting and the Sociological Imagination. University of Minnesota Press, 2011.
11:01 “The Lily Lenormand Card Meaning and Combinations.” Labyrinthos, August 11, 2017. labyrinthos.co/blogs/lenormand-cards/the-lily-lenormand-card-meaning-and-combinations#:~:text=It%20represents%20intense%20experiences%20that,intentions%20and%20a%20pure%20heart.

VR to Moon Baby #tarotcollector

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-01-08 | Welcome to my very 1st video response (aka a VR). This time, we’re taking a look at the first one I ever watched: VR to Moon Baby’s #tarotcollector

Time Stamps
0:00 Intro
1:30 My Most Expensive Deck
4:35 My Least Expensive Deck
5:51 The Deck in My Collection that Other Collectors Would Want to Steal
7:24 My Strangest Deck
9:28 A Deck that’s Least Likely to be in Someone Else’s Collection
11:50 My Oldest Deck/Deck that’s been in My Collection the Longest
14:50 My Newest Deck
16:10 The Deck that Made Me Want to Collect
18:20 My Favorite Deck
20:51 A Couple of My Favorite VRs to this Tag

Channels Mentioned
Watch Brant's original video: youtu.be/fVUTKxbm3Gk
Oya's Girl's VR: youtu.be/XWQN7G4WrH0
Hermit Cave's VR: youtu.be/oqGaGTntgVg
I also mentioned Sparkle Divine Tarot's flip through of the Storm Roots Oracle. Check it out: youtu.be/N2zHX9-p-ik

Decks Mentioned:
Storm Roots Oracle: Typhoon Edition by The Hurricane Mystic - thehurricanemystic.com/products/storm-roots-caribbean-inspired-oracle-80-card-oracle-deck
Zombie Tarot by Paul Kepple and Stacey Graham - goodreads.com/book/show/12640926-the-zombie-tarot
Yokai Yochi by buboplague (OOP, for now, maybe) – Follow her on social media! buboplague.carrd.co
Tarot of Shadows by Vera Sklyarova
Tarocchi di Robot by Giordano Berti (Definitely OOP)
Beautiful Creatures Tarot: 1st Edition by Jasmine Becket-Griffith (OOP, but a 2nd Edition is available) - schifferbooks.com/beautiful-creatures-tarot-2nd-edition-6262
The Wandering Moon Tarot by Rachael Jean – Seconds are currently not available, but you can still get the deck: etsy.com/shop/TheWanderingMoonCo?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=947043498
Tongues of the Mother Tarot by Lolu – akamaratarot.com
Visions of the Liminal Space by Barbara Winkter - shopeverydaymagic.com/products/visions-tarot
Hexen2.0 by Suzanne Treister (OOP)
DustIIOnyx Tarot by Courtney Alexander - dust2onyx.com
Black Gold Lenormand by Tea and Ian - grandmababyapothecary.com/collections/all

It should be noted that I’m well aware you can purchase some of these items at *ahem* certain online shops. I will never judge or shame someone for wanting to purchase their items at a significant price reduction, but I cannot in good faith list this particular seller, as a matter of principle and in solidarity with the working class who deserve better working conditions. Instead, buy indie, if you can help it.

Tarot Book Reports

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-01-01 | The Tarot Book Report is my main New Year’s Resolution. Here’s a list of Tarot decks that I’m going to be reviewing and analyzing, and where you can purchase and/or find out more information:

0:00 Intro
0:58 Spirit Keeper’s Tarot: Revelation Edition by Benebell Wen – Currently OOP, but supposedly slated for a 2023 reprint. Follow Wen’s blog for more info: benebellwen.com/2021/12/02/skt-revelation-first-printing-sold-out
2:02 Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani – https://yoshiyoshitani.store/products/preorder-tarot-of-the-divine-a-deck-and-guidebook-inspired-by-deities-folklore-and-fairy-tales-from-around-the-world-tarot-deck-only
2:52 Tarot Restless: 3rd Edition by Winslow Dumaine – http://www.winslowdumaine.com/tarot
3:37 Hoodoo Tarot by Tayannah Lee McQuillar and artist, Katelan V. Foisy (left) - simonandschuster.com/books/The-Hoodoo-Tarot/Tayannah-Lee-McQuillar/9781620558737
Mojo Workin': The Old African American Hoodoo System by Katrina Hazzard-Donald – goodreads.com/en/book/show/13697064-mojo-workin
& New Orleans Voodoo Tarot by Louis Martinié and Sallie Ann Glassman (right) – simonandschuster.com/books/The-New-Orleans-Voodoo-Tarot/Louis-Martinie/9780892813636
4:10 DustIIOnyx Tarot: Travel Edition by Courtney Alexander – dust2onyx.com
4:55 Visions Collection by James R. Eads – jamesreadsmerch.com/collections/all
5:53 Tarot Yohualli Ehècatl by Chicome – etsy.com/listing/1066825300/tarot-yohualli-ehecatl-deck-and-book?click_key=1e9dd293de798e0ea912d3b22dd8e5ed1e04bbb6%3A1066825300&click_sum=054e7254&ref=shop_home_feat_1&pro=1&frs=1
7:01 Book of Azathoth Tarot by Nemo’s Locker – nemoslocker.com/ols/products/the-book-of-azathoth-tarot-cards
8:16 Hexen 2.0 by Suzanne Treister (OOP) – But, you can still look at the cards here, suzannetreister.net/HEXEN2/TAROT_COL/HEXEN_2_TAROT.html
Essay by Lars Bang Larsen – suzannetreister.net/HEXEN2/HEXEN_2_LBLessay.html
11:19 Honorable Mentions
Philosophy Cards by Melanie Mascoe – theexistentialtarot.com/shop-2
Next World Tarot by Cristy C. Roads – croadcore.bigcartel.com
Tarot of a Silicon Dawn by Egypt Urnash (OOP)

I should note that I’m well aware you can purchase some of these items at *ahem* certain online stores. I will never judge someone for wanting to purchase their items at a significant price reduction, but I cannot in good faith list this particular seller, as a matter of principle and in solidarity with the working class who deserve better working conditions. Instead, buy indie, if you can help it.

Tarot New Years 2022 Resolution

ScholarBot Tarot 2022-01-01 | Welcome to ScholarBot Tarot. Nice to meet you!
0:00 Intro
0:53 Intention #1
1:44 Intention #2
2:13 Intention #3
2:43 Intention #4/The Actual Resolution
3:38 Make Discourse, Not War

Link to my Tarot Book Report Intro Video: youtu.be/ItSQLYoM0to