#cardoftheday #TheSevenofWands. Stand your ground today. You may need to defend your position or beliefs. With courage and conviction, you can overcome any challenge that arises. #everydaytarot

Depiction of a naked lady sitting at the doorway of Baba Yaga’s hut (original digital artwork in black and white by Glam Beckett)

The more I work on my #wip, the more Slavic it becomes 🦴💀🦴

It already features such archetypes as Baba Yaga, the Grey Wolf, Ivan the Fool and Marya Morevna…
And this is only natural, as it’s more generally authentic to write about one's own cultural heritage.

#thesevenofwands #writesky #horrorsky

Ivan Tsarevich Catching the Firebird's Feather. Illustration by Ivan Bilibin.

In East Slavic fairy-tales, Ivan the Fool is a trickster who embarks on a journey to the realm of the dead.

In #thesevenofwands, Joseph embodies this archetypal role. Sent to Dogisle to investigate its illicit activities, he finds himself at the border of the worlds.

#wipsnips #writesky #folklore

The image depicts a giant grey wolf and a man dressed in traditional Slavic period clothing standing in a wooded area. Original digital art by Sirmaril

In Slavic lore, yellow is attributed to the supernatural – an animal with yellow fur can be a witch in disguise.

In #thesevenofwands, Elias is a yellow-haired entity who escaped hell. He embodies the archetype of the Grey Wolf, a magical companion who assists the hero on his journey.
#wip #folklore

The Three Witches from Macbeth (Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne; Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire; Anne Seymour Damer) by Daniel Gardner. This unusual group portrait depicts three of the most politically influential and socially notorious women of the period. They are, from left to right, the society ladies and political hostesses Elizabeth Lamb, Viscountess Melbourne, Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire and the sculptor Anne Seymour Damer. Description: National Portrait Gallery

A dead witch riding on the back of a mortal is another motif of East-Slavic folk-tales employed in my #thesevenofwands

In East Slavic lore, witches are never actually dead. Buried in the woods and swamps, they can attack by-passers and even bend them to their will.

#dailyspooklore #wip #folklore

Botanical illustration of the cursed crow-foot by Jacob Sturm that depicts its bright yellow flowers, seeds, roots and leaves.

The cursed crow-foot is a bright flower that can be found near bogs and marshes. Dangerous to both animals and humans, its toxin is known for causing aggression in bees and killing them. In folk-medicine, it's used against pain and for healing wounds.

#SwampSunday #thesevenofwands #GothSpring

V. K. Menk "Morning in the swamp" Depiction of a hazy landscape of some swampy area with tall trees here and there, and a lot of tree stubs.

An old East Slavic riddle about a swamp: "The place, where one can neither walk nor ride".

The word "boloto" or "balota" originally was associated with an adjectives "white", "sparkly" and "shiny", which, according to some scholars, signifies its sacred meaning.

#SwampSunday #thesevenofwands

Depiction of a red-haired woman with a giant snake on her shoulder (details of John Collier’s original oil painting of the Jewish mythic figure Lilith)

A snake-fiancé is a common motif in many Slavic folk-tales.

Handsome and rich, they can take the shape of a human only under special circumstances, and often get murdered by their future human in-laws.

#swampsunday #dailyspooklore #folklore #thesevenofwands

Image: John Collier

Depiction of a man’s reflection in a broken mirror he is holding in this left hand (original black and white photo by Alexander Morozov)

Supporting characters of #thesevenofwands

Armand is a jinn stuck in the human form – neither dead nor alive. Once forced to do evil, all he wants is to live a simple life.

Armand feels how the fabric of the world is changing, yet possesses no power to stop that.

#wip #writingcommunity

Depiction of a dark-haired yellow-eyed lady dressed in a stylized period clothes (original artwork in red, gold and black by Bella Bergolts)

The belief that one can have up to 3 souls is present in Slavic, Romanian and Hungarian lores.

Such blood-drinking witches have different names, one of which is “bosorka” (from Turkic “basyrkan” – a nightmare). Usually, it’s the eyes that give them away.

#thesevenofwands #dailyspooklore #folklore

Depiction of a blond lady in a gothic black dress holding a smoking bulb in her right hand (original digital artwork by Abigail Larson in sepia, black and red)

Supporting characters of #thesevenofwands

Ellida – the one who lifts the veil between the worlds. She’s walking on both sides at the same time and, perhaps, can see a bigger picture than everyone else.

For the same reason as Baba Yaga, she experiences problems with her body.
#wip #writingcommunity

Smoking kills!

#thesevenofwands isn’t my first #wip but it’s the first time when supporting characters come out of the blue and make me want to tell their story. In particular – Aya’s (the heroine) husband, who wasn’t part of the original plot but now lives rent-free in my head.

Image: Alexa Chung for Hommegirls

I’m obsessed with the Devil card from Alexandra Dvornikova’s tarot deck – there is an actual mirror in the middle of it! Fits my #WIP just perfectly!

And yes, this deck is all about East Slavic lore, folk-magic, forests and swamps.

#thesevenofwands

I haven’t participated in any pitch events here (mainly, because my brain doesn’t work this way) but at least I know how I want the cover to look like.

Original painting: On the Study of Plants by Leonhart Fuchs (1542)

#wip #thesevenofwands #writingcommunity

Painted ceiling with 4 women in the sky lying on the clouds. (Original photo taken by me)

“We are all born marked for evil…”

— Charles Baudelaire

#booksky #thesevenofwands

Depiction of a ginger lady pitting a cigarette (original art in black and red)

In East Slavic tradition, the red is associated with beauty, however, it is also the color of unholy critters.

In #thesevenofwands, Rozalka’s red hair and garments symbolize the wickedness of her soul – she herself is a bad omen.

#dailyspooklore #folklore

Image: Alice Tretyakova

The Devil tarot card inspired by horror films and the Rider Waite deck. Illustrated in a black and white, engraving-style illustration. Depiction of a woman and a man holding hands, in the backdrop, there is a goat standing on his back legs under the crescent moon.

Despite its title, #thesevenofwands isn’t actually about tarot. In fact, there is only one card that appears in the plot – the Devil that symbolizes 2 of the 5 main characters, their desires and weaknesses.

#writingcommunity #iamwriting #wipsky

Image: ANTHONYGROEN

The Golden Witch by George R. Chapman Depiction of a woman in a gold dress with a white lace collar, holding a tree branch in her hands (oil painting)

Another part of East Slavic beliefs incorporated into #thesevenofwands is that witches and warlocks have an extra set of teeth and two souls, one of which is demonic, hence its capability to leave the body, shape-shift, cause havoc and even drink blood.

#dailyspooklore #folklore #writingcommunity

This artwork features a pearly white muslin moth (diaphora mendica) with a golden halo surrounded by delicate sage-green western maidenhair ferns. Original art: https://thecopperwolf.com/products/drifting-white-muslin-moth-art-print

In Slavic and Finno-Ugric folklore, butterflies are associated with human souls, but also with wicked magic and diseases, especially – white moths.

These beliefs play an important part in my WIP #thesevenofwands

#dailyspooklore #folklore
#writingcommunity

Art: The Copper Wolf

Depiction of a skeleton dressed in a robe with a red halo around his head, surrounded by 7 flowers (original art in black, white and red)

The working title of my WIP is “The Seven of Wands”, so from now on, I will be using #thesevenofwands to share all the stuff related to it 📖

Not only is this my favorite tarot card, but also the plot reflects its meanings.

#writingsky #writingcommunity
Illustration: Micah Ulrich