The Tower

Tarot Major Arcana XVI

(Ink on Paper; see more in the Tarot Gallery)

I have two more art shows this year and one of them will include as many Tarot cards as I can finish before then. Hence: the intensity of recent Tarot content.

Which is kind of a lie. This is just how my brain works. I’m best at tasks when I’m looking side-eye at them. If I look directly at anything I have to accomplish, I flinch. If I sort of… sidle up next to them I do things like get a PhD, open my own tattoo studio, and write a bunch of (decent! not good but decent!) books.

The only thing I’m always doing is being an artist. And I’m a better artist when I’m studying something new and I'm better at studying something new when I’m working on an intense art project.

Right now, I’m getting my second master’s degree. No offense to the counselors of the world, but this one (in counseling) is significantly less intellectually taxing than the first one (in art history). Probably because it’s practical, and there’s less use for a full onslaught of philosophy in practical, hands-on matters.

It is, however, far more personally and emotionally taxing. Getting a master’s degree in counseling requires near constant self-awareness and self-confrontation. Nearly every day is The Tower. Was that your foundation? Hahahaaaa… we blew it up. How about this one? Nope! Not anymore! Sucker!

Revelation does not come easy. Which is kinda fun… if you’re into that particular brand of suffering.