Absinthe AI, The Green Demon Tarot

Probably the most heavily debated issue in the past year within the Tarot community, at least on Facebook, was how AI technology impacts the present and future of the Tarot.
There are pros and cons arguments on both sides, and people get very passionate about their opinions.
I find most of the topics trivial.
In my opinion, AI technology is just another instrument. How we use this technology is an individual choice. One can create something genuinely Magick or produce nothing but cloning mediocrity.
I will try to be brief as much as possible. Bear with me, please.
Since the US Games republished and achieved commercial success with the Rider-Waite Tarot pack in 1969, Tarot, an esoteric art form, has evolved into a global business.
Ever since, probably more than 80% of the created and published decks are, better or worse, Rider-Waite clones. Everybody tries to pill off their share of skin and profit from Pamela Colman Smith’s original work. Some redrawn or repainted the cards, while others used various digital graphic tools to create their clones. Technology evolves constantly, and the latest wonder is Artificial Intelligence.
Oddly enough, most people don’t have any issue with copying Pamela Colman Smith’s design but consider it unacceptable to work with an AI instrument.
What method of work does one choose to create their product doesn’t really matter. Speaking specifically about a Tarot deck, what matters the most is its embedded esoteric content.
While the artwork of the deck is the most appealing to the general public and, as such, is the foundation of commercial success, we tend to forget that the Tarot is a sensible instrument for personal development. Thus, the performance and efficiency of the deck are dependent on its visible and hidden esoteric content.
Most artists involved in creating Tarot decks are ignorant of these essential esoteric matters. In a material world, the apparent sells better, and the invisible remains disregarded.
I had high expectations of renowned scholar Marcus Katz when I first read that he wanted to create a deck using AI technology provided by Midjourney.
Regrettably, the Tarot of the Everlasting Day did not meet expectations. The graphical presentation is somewhat odd and debatable, and the deck lacks the profound, esoteric content I had expected from its author.
One of the greatest challenges of creating a Tarot deck using AI technology is aesthetic consistency.
Lori (Lorraine Sharkey-Dolan), known as Violet Fleur du Mal on Facebook and one of the founders of the Tarot Garden website, spent quite a considerable time experimenting with AI. She had/has a quite sizeable collection, the cultural and visual baggage and the enthusiasm to create her own decks. Eventually, the AI technology created the opportunity to give it a shot. Actually, more than a shot.
Lori invested a significant amount of time and effort in learning and experimenting with AI technology.
Working with AI requires specific knowledge and skills, especially when it comes to a complex and lengthy project such as a Tarot deck.
First, you need to establish a clear theme, setting and aesthetic. Then, you need to learn and understand the language AI speaks.
Writing the most effective prompts is a special skill. Not everybody has the talent and patience to explore all the possibilities and acquire the necessary knowledge.
Lori not only created – generated? – a handful of decks, but she reworked each card as many times as she considered necessary to obtain the outcome she wanted.
She shared the results on Facebook, and I have followed her progress, occasionally offering my feedback.
One of the cards that grabbed my attention was a version of the Fool for the Absinthe AI, The Green Demon Tarot.
I commented: The little green Devil pushes the Fool to begin his journey.
The image is a philosophical statement and relates to human psychology. It is also an original image and concept I have never seen before. It is a challenge to follow one never-before-travelled path into the Tarot labyrinth.
The Devil made me do it. In modern language, it signifies blaming someone else for our wrongdoing. However, if we think about it more profoundly, the Devil, called Lucifer, meaning the “shiny one” or the “light bringer,” initially played a liberating role. Lucifer was a rebel and the Lightbringer. He brought knowledge and educated humanity. He can be identified as Prometheus in Greek mythology and has its origins in the Sumerian Enki, who saved humanity from the wrath of Enlil.
Therefore, it depends on what exactly the Devil made you do. It made you revolt against oppression, or, G_d forbid, it made you think on your own?
The Tarot deck is primarily a learning experience. Through the cards, one can learn about themselves and the world.
Each dack has its own character and proprieties.
Then, Absinthe AI, The Green Demon Tarot, was created roughly based on the familiar Rider-Waite model. It makes it accessible for those familiar with Tarot standards and easy for newcomers to become accustomed to.
The deck’s theme is a dark, gothic style with certain steampunk accents. It’s a timeless fantasy world in which all sorts of green devils are lurking around the main character. Devils, as you probably know, are shapeshifters and come in various forms and numbers.
From the Devil who pushes the Fool into the unknown to countless small devils falling off the Tower, they will keep you company throughout your journey. It reminded me of the lyrics of a song, “There’s a devil on my shoulder making me dance”.
My favourite card is obviously the Fool, but I also like the High Priestess, The Hierophant, the Lover, the Wheel of Fortune, the Hanged Man, Death, the Tower, the Moon, the Sun or the Last Judgement. Each encounter is unique, placing you in a new situation and revealing a distinct aspect of yourself.
Why Absinthe?
Perhaps because it has a green fairy vibe.
As far as I know, absinth gained its nickname “Green Fairy” (French: la fée verte) from absinthe’s vibrant green colour and its mysterious, almost magical reputation in nineteenth-century Europe.
Originating in Switzerland in the late eighteenth century and gaining popularity in nineteenth-century France, absinthe quickly became associated with bohemian culture, favoured by many famous artists, including Vincent van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec.
Absinthe was romanticised for its supposed hallucinogenic effects and mysterious aura. The primary ingredients in absinthe are wormwood, anise, and fennel, which impart the drink its unique flavour and contribute to the “louche” effect. When water is added, absinthe turns a milky opalescent colour. The chemical compound thujone, found in wormwood, was long believed to induce hallucinations and madness, leading to the banning of absinthe in many countries during the early twentieth century.
Everything good in life is either fattening or illegal. There was a time when Tarot was banned as well.
Fortunately, times have changed, and the only thing that stops us from learning is our ignorance.
The Tarot deck is a vehicle for preserving and transmitting knowledge. Each deck is unique and opens a different perspective into a world of mysteries worth exploring.

I believe that AI technology may shake up and reshuffle the Tarot scene. More and more authors will try to create their decks without relying on the support of artists and digital creators. The increasing number of self-published decks also proves that self-exploration and self-expression are possible without intermediates.
The world is changing, technology is developing, and there is no reason for you to stay the same.

Violet Fleur du Mal Facebook profile

#tarot #tarotdeck #AItarot #absinthe #greendemon