In the summer I created this diagram. Its a diagram of the Tree of Life, also known as the Qabalah. It’s something I teach people about and am very interested in. It is the cornerstone of the Western Mystery Tradition, of which I am an initiate. The diagram is big, A1 size because I wanted the end result to hang on the wall in my workroom/temple. I created a soft golden sheen as the background, by spraying golden acrylic paint mixed with water, over the surface. I gave it a few coats, until I was happy with the result. I used waterproof markers for the diagram itself, to make sure they didn’t run or bleed. I already own diagrams of the Tree that other artists have created. Opinions differ about how to label the different areas of the tree and I wanted my diagram to reflect my beliefs and experiences.
I got Granthams (my local art shop) to scan the big diagram for me. They saved it onto a memory stick for me which I uploaded into Photoshop.
I gradually added the text, using instructions from You-tube on how to do it. I listed the names of the spheres, archangels, planets and numbers in each of the spheres. Then finally, I found the symbols for the planets online and added them.
On the branches of the tree (the paths between one sphere and another) I have included the relevant tarot cards. I had to ‘faff’ around with the size of fonts and positioning; the grid tool helped me line things up as neatly. In the process I got to practice adding text to an image. I loved the way it was all so neat and precise! I could never be so neat and tidy freehand! I even learned to add text horizontally as well as vertically (which is actually easy).
So, all in all, I was very pleased to have made a start with adding text and making diagrams. I think Photoshop will be very useful to me both as an artist and also as a teacher. Hopefully lots of people will benefit from what I’ve learned.
It got me thinking, that maybe one one day, I’ll write a book about the magical uses of the qabalah. If I did I could incorporate my own diagrams and drawings of Archangels? wow! that’d be exciting…
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