Madam Lichtenstein's Cosmic World

A “Sorcerer’s Treasure Trove” Uncovered in Pompeii

This just reported by HyperAllergic.

A wooden box full of amulets, trinkets, and gems is believed to have belonged to a Roman sorceress, according to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii.

Archeologists working in the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, say they have unearthed a cache of amulets, good luck charms, gems, and other items of sorcery. The objects likely belonged to a Roman sorceress, officials at the Archaeological Park of Pompeii say.

The objects were found in a decaying wooden box with bronze hinges at Casa del Giardino in Region V of the archaeological park. The archeologists believe the objects were left behind as inhabitants of Pompeii tried to escape the volcanic eruption that destroyed the city in 79 AD.

The sorcery items include crystals, amber and amethyst stones, buttons made of bones, amulets, dolls, bells, phallic amulets, fists, human figurines, and a miniature human skull. A glass bead depicts the head of  Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and fertility. Another glass amulet features a dancing satyr.

Among the objects found, a miniature human skull.

“They are objects of everyday life in the female world and are extraordinary because they tell micro-stories, biographies of the inhabitants of the city who tried to escape the eruption,” said Massimo Osanna, the general director of the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, in a press release. “In the same house, we discovered a room with ten victims, including women and children, and now we are trying to establish kinship relationships, thanks to DNA analysis,” he revealed. “Perhaps the precious box belonged to one of these victims.”

“The high quality of the amber and glass pastes and the engraving of the figures confirm the importance of the domus owner,” Osanna continued. But since none of the objects in this “sorcerer’s treasure trove” was made of gold, a material favored by Pompeii’s elites, they most likely belonged to a servant or a slave rather than the owner of the house, Osanna assessed in an interview with the Italian news agency ANSA.

A glass amulet features a dancing satyr.

Many of the objects symbolize fertility and love. Others, like bird bones, were used in rituals to cast away an “evil eye” or bad luck. Pieces featuring Egyptian Scarab beetles are known to have been used by Romans to protect pregnant women and infants.

“Interesting is the iconography of objects and amulets, which invoke fortune, fertility, and protection against bad luck, and the numerous pendants in the shape of a small phallus, or the ear, the closed fist, the skull, the figure of Harpocrates, the scarabs,” Osanna said in his statement.

The objects are now being studied to understand their meaning and function, according to Osanna. The jewels and stones found in the discovery will be eventually displayed, together with other Pompeiian jewels, in an exhibition at the Palestra Grande in Pompeii.

The objects “invoke fortune, fertility, and protection against bad luck.”

The archeologists believe the objects were left behind as inhabitants of Pompiie tried to escape the volcanic eruption that destroyed the city in 79 AD.

Since none of the objects was made of gold, a material favored by Pompeii’s elites, they most likely belonged to a servant or a slave rather than the owner of the house.

“They are objects of everyday life in the female world and are extraordinary because they tell micro-stories, biographies of the inhabitants of the city who tried to escape the eruption.”

Many of the objects symbolize fertility and love. Others were used in rituals to cast away an “evil eye” or protect pregnant mother and infants.

The objects are now being studied to understand their meaning and function.

Spiritualist Drawings That Open Portals to Other Dimensions

Maria Cynkier of Atlas Obscura writes about an interesting art exhibit:

Often compared to the work of Hilma af Klint, dozens of rarely-seen drawings by the late Swiss healer and Spiritualist are on view at the Serpentine Gallery.

LONDON — Entering the Serpentine Gallery from the cacophony of Hyde Park feels otherworldly. Apart from occasional whispers, camera shutter sounds, and visitors’ footsteps moving through the constellation of rooms, there is no noise. I’m sitting in the Gallery’s central domed chamber; its concentric structure parallels the symmetrically arranged, abstract geometric drawings that hang on the walls around me. The drawings’ colorful, repetitive shapes fan out from centerpoints, like quatrefoils in Christian churches. Every single one is satisfying to look at, and the Gallery’s quiet, cathedral-like atmosphere enhances their ethereal quality.

The exhibition, Visionary Drawings, tells the story of Emma Kunz (1892–1963), a Swiss healer and spiritualist. Her works were only exhibited after her death, and she herself believed that her art was destined to be viewed by later generations. In the last few years, her drawings have been shown alongside the works of artists such as Hilma af Klint and Agnes Martin; however, Kunz’s practice does not easily fit into the history of the development of abstraction. Perhaps this is because art in itself was not her primary occupation; she considered it a means for the exploration of the astral plane.

Emma Kunz: Visionary Drawings at the Serpentine Gallery (2019) (Installation view) (Image courtesy Serpentine Gallery)

Just over 40 drawings are displayed in the show, which constitutes a small portion of Kunz’s legacy. Although she didn’t incorporate art-making into her spiritual practice until her forties, she managed to produce hundreds of works. Each one acts as a portal between the earthly realm and the transcendent realm. Spreading out on checkered sheets of graph paper, these “energy field” drawings have an intricate but technical look to them. They were made with a technique called radiesthesia, in which the artist used a divining pendulum to plot the compositions. At times, Kunz would work on them continuously for almost 24 hours, and she considered them to have the potential to give different readings at different times.

More than anything else, Kunz was a naturopath and advocate of a holistic worldview. Her lifelong search for the divine in the natural world sometimes contradicted the laws of science, but also reflected her extraordinary sensitivity. Her drawings reflect her beliefs about the universe, as in “Work no.12,” which is often called “Philosophy of Life.” This diagram is based on two intersecting axes, forming a crucifix; at the center is a human, acted upon by cosmic forces. The vertical axis represents a path to enlightenment, while the horizontal one symbolically positions man between evil on the left and good on the right. While the particularities of Kunz’s symbolism might not be apparent at first glance, the drawings seem to emanate a healing power. Their meditative capacity lies in their dynamic presentation, showing both micro and macro perspectives on the world.

Emma Kunz (1892-1963), “Drawing No. 020” (c. 1939) (© Emma Kunz Zentrum)

Around the outbreak of the Second World War, Kunz made a drawing, “No. 20”: dozens of red rays fanned in a circle, intersected by two sets of thick black lines. While creating the work, Kunz asked her pendulum about the future of world affairs and outcomes of political negotiations. According to her contemporaries, she predicted that the US would develop a weapon with the potential to destroy the world — a prediction often thought to be related to the atomic bombs detonated in Japan in 1945.

Only when I’m halfway through the exhibition do I realize that Kunz’s drawings are not the only artworks on display. Intersecting the space like commas are six benches made by the Greek artist Christodoulos Panayiotou (b.1978, Limassol, Cyprus). In Panayiotou’s practice, materials are usually loaded with cultural, historical or political meaning. The benches he created for Visionary Drawings are made of AION A, a mineral that Emma Kunz discovered in a Roman quarry in Würenlos, Switzerland, which was later named the Emma Kunz Zentrum and Grotto. Kunz believed this stone possessed magnetic, therapeutic powers that could boost health and relieve all sorts of pains, and she named it AION A after the Greek word for “without limitation.” AION A is still sold in Swiss pharmacies, in the Serpentine Gallery, and is promoted by curator Hans-Ulrich Obrist. Panayiotou’s benches are in a silent dialogue with Kunz’s drawings; like these drawings, they have a practical purpose. Instead of distracting from the works, they serve as viewing devices.

Emma Kunz: Visionary Drawings at the Serpentine Gallery (2019) (Installation view) (Image courtesy the Serpentine Gallery)

Emma Kunz: Visionary Drawings transforms the Serpentine Gallery into a refuge from the fast-paced London life. By tracing Kunz’s colorful, precise lines across checked paper, one might feel transported to a divine realm. Leaving the gallery, I felt that, through her art, Emma Kunz managed to share with me a small portion of her special gift of sensing networks of mutual influences and non-empirical forces. Walking back into Hyde Park, I begin to understand how the artist considered her connection to her environment to be a form of spirituality.

Emma Kunz – Visionary Drawings: An exhibition conceived with Christodoulos Panayiotou, curated by Melissa Blanchflower and Natalia Grabowska, is on view at the Serpentine Gallery (Kensington Gardens, London W2 3XA) through May 19, 2019. 

 

Game of Thrones Tarot Deck

For the true fan of Game of Thrones, there is the GOT tarot deck. Get ready for the premiere of the final season and, when using this deck, you might predict the outcome!

Buy This: A Beautiful New ‘Game of Thrones’ Tarot Deck

See if the future remains uncertain for our heroes on HBO's 'Game of Thrones.'

Pop Culture | By Alison Nastasi

 

While the world waits with bated breath for season eight of HBO’s Game of Thrones (more like panicked withdrawal, if we’re being honest), we’re thankful to have the new Game of Thrones Tarot to pass the time. George R. R. Martin’s fantastical world of dragons, White Walkers, and magicians comes to life in the Liz Dean-authored and Craig Coss-illustrated deck. It’s a real beauty, too.

“Archetypes are the foundation of every great tale — and Game of Thrones is an outstanding story, a rich weave … From the icy landscapes beyond the Wall to the hot deserts of Dorne, the world of Game of Thrones is replete with symbolism: an abundant source for a new tarot deck,” Dean said of the cards.

Every character is represented here, including our favorite shapeshifting Thronesian, Arya Stark — as the Death card, natch. Perhaps we can use these cards to predict the future of our players as the Seven Kingdoms unite — or as many as Jon Snow can convince, anyway — and defend themselves against the evil Night King.

Since the last and final season of Game of Thrones doesn’t debut until 2019, you’ll have plenty of time to practice the art of tarot with Chronicle Books’ beautifully illustrated deck. It even comes with a hardcover booklet to guide you.

 

© HBOⓇ, published with permission of Chronicle Books

New Psychic Program on Lifetime

Premiering on July 11^th, Lifetime's new half-hour series, "Seatbelt Psychic" surprises unsuspecting ride-share passengers with readings featuring world-renowned medium Thomas John, a trusted advisor to influencers and celebrities around the country, including Courteney Cox, Sara Gilbert and Goldie Hawn. We would love to arrange an unforgettable interview with you and Thomas John, who infallible track record and down-to-earth approach has lead him to being known as one of the world's top psychics.

 

From the producers of Carpool Karaoke and Drop The Mic, Lifetime's new half-hour series, "Seatbelt Psychic," surprises unsuspecting ride-share passengers with psychic readings. With the goal to share his gift was as many people as possible, Thomas picks up ride-share passengers and reveals he can communicate with the dead. From the driver's seat, Thomas relays detailed messages from past family members and friends, leading to fun, highly emotional, shocking, and for many, life-changing readings. Thomas has never met the people he picks up, nor does he know what spirits will speak to him. But the details he relays will be mind-blowing, for both believers and skeptics alike. Thomas may only be giving his passengers a short ride, but they'll be floored to find out who they will hear from along the way

 

Thomas is a global psychic sensation who has impressed audiences with his accurate messages from 'the other side' and he's constantly high demand with influencers and those at crossroads in life. Thomas has also been a trusted advisor to celebrities around the country, including Courteney Cox, Sara Gilbert and Goldie Hawn.  

 

Thomas now resides bi-coastally in New York City and Los Angeles and is known for hosting sold-out events across the country such as An Evening with Spirit. Thomas has also garnered international attention for making innumerable accurate predictions in the media about celebrities, including the deaths of Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson; the splitting of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes; and circumstances surrounding the birth of the royal babies. Additionally, he's had countless visions surrounding medical breakthroughs, political events, and natural disasters, which have come to pass in record time.  

 

Thomas has been prominently featured in New York Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Post, GQ, Maxim, The Hollywood Reporter, and Life&Style, along with broadcast appearances on Dr. Phil, The Real Housewives of New York City and Entertainment Tonight. He is also an accomplished with his first novel, Never Argue with a Dead Person: True and Unbelievable Stories from the Other Side, where he offers 15 fascinating stories of what happens when clients ask him to contact their dead friends and relatives.

 

He has been hailed as "the Hollywood psychic with the highest batting average" by the Hollywood Reporter.

 

Fortune Telling Tea Cups

I studied Tea Leaf Reading and it is no easy feat. For those who have often wanted to try their hand at tea leaf divination but couldn't remember all of the configurations, there are "trainer" cups with patterns designed to help you along. Anne Ewbank, writing for Atlas Obscura, gives us the low down --

 

Tasseography, or tea-leaf reading, has been practiced for centuries. Keen-eyed fortune tellers, it’s said, can derive a wealth of meaning from different shapes formed by tea leaves at the bottom of a cup. But what about the amateur fortune-teller, who can’t tell a skull from a set of stairs?

Enter the fortune-telling tea cup, which first emerged in the early 20th century. Thanks to its paint-by-numbers approach to tasseography, anybody could tell a fortune. Soon, a number of porcelain-makers in the U.S. and England were making their own versions. From the outside, some fortune-telling cups looked like elegant, normal cups. But on the inside, they contained arcane symbols. Wherever tea leaves landed indicated a fortune-telling clue.

The cups were part of a craze for all things occult that lasted well into the 20th century. With new discoveries and technological wonders discovered daily, the mystical didn’t seem that crazy. Having one’s fortune told became a party game, and even an industry. In the 1920s, fortune-telling cafes sprang up in urban centers, and many offered tea leaf readings. So it’s not a surprise that porcelain-makers got in on the trend. Fortune-telling cups were sold in small magazines and even books: One 1907 juggling tome sold a cup “marked with the signs of the Zodiac, all arranged in a certain mystic order.” Interested readers could also buy a crystal ball and “mesmeric discs.”

Fortune-telling cups came in various designs. According to The Mystic Tea Room, an online museum of fortune-telling cups, there are four typical patterns. Astrological signs, numbers, playing cards, or meaningful symbols, called “omens,” are usually printed on cup interiors. Other cups occasionally have designs on the exterior or even the saucers. One common design came with a couplet written along the edge: “Many Curious Things I See, When Telling Fortunes In Your Tea.” Cups were often sold individually, with instructions on their use for fortune-telling amateurs. These days, manufacturers are few and far between, and many older models are sold online as antiques.

“Would’st thy fortune like to see?” studio_lou_lou/Used with permission

One such pamphlet, published in 1924, laid out the rules for discerning a fortune from a “Cup of Knowledge,” which had a playing card design. After drinking the tea, the cup was to be turned three times, then flipped upside-down on a saucer. After most of the tea had trickled away, the leaves sticking to the cup could be read. Leaves closer to the rim indicated that predicted events would happen soon, while leaves atop each card could denote anything from “a dance” (the nine of clubs ) to “happiness and prosperity” (a Joker, oddly). But particular sets of cards together had their own meanings too. Readers were cautioned to watch out for the “evil intentions” denoted by two Jacks.

 

What is interesting to me is the close relationship between tea leaf reading and tarot. Maybe I need to get one of these cups....