The Ghetto Tarot - Alice Smeets - Atiz Rezistans

The Ghetto Tarot - Alice Smeets - Atiz Rezistans

'Cubby Buddy' is what I very affectionately call my sweet friend, because we were in art school together, and shared a studio space that was about an 12x12 foot cubby hole, while we were in second year. Today she sent me this, about a photographer, Alice Smeets who collaborated with a group of Haitian artists,  “Atiz Rezistans” to  produce a series of inspiring and empowering photographs called The Ghetto Tarot.


One of the many things I love about the Tarot is seeing how many artists are directly involved with creating their own cards, producing art work through various creative, innovative and imaginative expressions.

Granted it is a labour intensive endeavour, but so rewarding. I am in the beginning stages myself of creating paintings to the 78 Tarot cards based on the Mythic Tarot Deck, that I use for my own readings.

Tarot is about the The Fool (us) on the creative journey of life. To witness artists that create, who are bringing the Tarot to life is an inspiring, wondrous, and beautiful thing!

The Fool - The Journey Begins

The Fool exits the solitude, and isolation of the cave wide eyed, with an open heart and mind. He is not afraid of risk, and is full of enthusiastic, contagious optimism.
He has all the tools he needs, and energy abounds within his carefree being, with pure intentions. Willing to leap into the unknown, and to start anew, he is eager to develop his capacities and potential. Lacking in foresight and being naive, makes no matter, as he is ready for the journey, the journey of life, and he is not fearful of getting lost along the way.


I have to say I love The Fool. For me, my identification with him goes back to my early life of studying Mime, and Commedia dell'Arte. Originally back in the late 70s, I had hoped to travel to a beautiful place called Paris Maine, to study with Tony Montanaro at the Celebration Barn. Instead due to financial, and geographical constraints, I went to Toronto and studied Commedia dell'Arte.

There are no regrets really, but I so do wish I had the chance to have met and studied with Tony. I believe he was one of a kind. A man who understood what it really meant to be The Fool, with humour, humility and humanity.

 The Fool has an ancient history. which I believe is very worth learning about, because there is much to learn from these so called agents of change, as the journey begins.