This art project “Blood Tarot: Suit of Swords”, was cultivated out of a curiosity to know my ancestors and understand the ways we still find to connect to them through religion and spirituality. I chose to feature blood, as it’s critical to our life source. Without it, we die. So I wanted to focus on the symbolic nature blood possesses in black religious and spiritual customs. In black churches, you can often hear the phrase “by the blood of the lamb.” In African Spirituality, blood is the conduit between us and our ancestors. Despite the disconnect and negative view Christianity can have of African Spirituality, we as black people have found ways to connect with those who came before us in religious and spiritual ways. 

Click on each image below to see my explanation behind the art.