From emale: issue 103 October 2011 -
Australia’s leading national men’s health & wellbeing ebulletin
The Men’s Deck is a toolkit for examining the Self. It is a set of cards and a booklet. Each card has images based on archetypes and the male experience, which prompt the viewer to respond with their own stories.
The Men’s Deck is the first tool of its kind in the world pitched at the masculine mind and body. As well as being an exploratory tool, it is a mental health check, and an emotional health check, in a box. It also prompts examination of the physical body and the energetic body. The Men’s Deck empowers men. It provides an opportunity for men to say "I care about myself and my life, and am prepared take some responsibility and do some work towards making it better."
By examining our own stories, we are more able to recognise and understand patterns of behav-ior and the reasons for our responses. The Men’s Deck can be used very scientifically for psycho-logical study, or it can be used very intuitively. The Deck is currently used by individuals, couples, friends, businesses, men’s groups, counselors and therapists.
The Men’s Deck retails for $40. For more information contact Basil Eliades at www.basileliades.com or visit the website at www.themensdeck.com
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Basil Eliades, interviewed by Tania Yorgey.
From: The Magician Magazine Number 35 Summer 2010 / 2011
Reproduced with kind permission of the publishers.
The Men's Deck is the love child of Basil Eliades, born from his passion for life and the desire to invoke insightful discussion into everyday issues facing men. Used as a tool to explore our own psyche and self acceptance, the images guide us through our journey which is unique to each and every one of us. Eliades explains, “The Men’s Deck is not a tool for divination. It will not predict the future. But it does provide images and archetypes as prompts for your inner journey.”
The deck is presented in black and white and isn't just a desk deck for men as the name may have you believe, it's a deck for anyone exploring their Yang psyche. The Men’s Deck is a way to launch conversation, to offer insights into self and others.
Basil’s relationship with the unfolding written word is not separate from his quest for freedom of expression in all forms. He writes in a way that makes you want to turn the page upside down, as an artist would his canvas, in order to see his work from a different perspective and to create insight that may not have been seen form from a ‘normal’ viewpoint.
According to Basil “The term ‘experimentation’ is foreign to me; I would rather call it the process of being alive, that is the practice of writing, of drawing of exploring interactions and the energy that words and images carry. Exploring is vital; it is what we need to do, otherwise we become stagnant. My writing, teaching, learning, painting, even my parenting I try to approach with a fresh vision each day, with each interaction. Of course I fail, repeatedly.” Extract from “Etchings” feature article “Energy as Essence”
To sit in conversation with Basil is to marvel at the world as a child would when discovering their voice. – it’s a gift to behold! It’s like opening up the mind to pathways that been lost in time. When I first saw the Men’s deck I couldn’t stop smiling at the cheekiness of the playful “Fool” about to embarking on his journey baring all and totally fell in love with “The Lover” as he explores his commitment to self, first and foremost. The “Devil” is the male form at play and about “taking the piss” out of situations. The question arises “are you adapting to self or to other’s beliefs about yourself?”. A nice take on the Devil card, when he can sometimes be given a raw deal.
As you explore the deck you will find the 78 images divided into five sections of 22 Trump or "Triumph" cards and 14 cards in each of the Suits of Body, Mind, Emotion and Spirit. There are no “better or worse” cards, they each have a special purpose.
The Men’s Deck will be released in 2011. Not only will the beautiful and poignant images inspire, so will the card’s descriptions, it will be a tool that you can build, shape and transform your life with.
Q: What would be your defining moments so far in your life?
[B--] There have been so many spectacularly defining moments. Beyond any one incident, I have to say, is my fortune in understanding that I could learn from everything and anything that happened to me. That has to be the main thing. And, given that understanding, the wonderful teachers I have been blessed with – and I know ‘blessed’ can sound trite and insubstantial, but they are genuine blessings. I have had great teachers.
Q: What was your main purpose for creating the Men's Deck?
[B--] The Men’s Deck is a tool to help get some insight into the stuff that happens in our lives, much as any Tarot deck does. However any tool for self-reflection and awareness is only as good as your willingness to be open and flexible about who you are, and who you can be. The Men’s Deck offers a new way for men to see themselves, and the context of their lives. It’s geared towards men because the Tarot tends to be a feminine modality, in that it relies heavily on intuition and internal awareness, such as what state the Emotional body is in. Men tend not to be conscious of their internal dialogue. So The Men’s Deck is an attempt to redress that. It’s also a nod towards the massive cultural shifts happening for men in the West, and their growing interest in getting a handle on their inner lives.
Q: Where did you draw your inspiration from when you were creating the images in the deck?
[B--] Everywhere! As an artist and writer I have many thousands of images in my head, many of which are mine, many of which are combinations of other images. Much of the deck was channeled, and there was often a real sense of exactly what image was needed and the pencil did all the work. I struggled a little with the notion of colour, which is so much more attractive. But there was a strong sense as I was working on it that the deck needed to be in grey-lead which somehow seems more honest – less bullshitty.
Q: Who do you admire and why?
[B--] My teachers, definitely. And that includes my children, my partner, my colleagues and my students. And I find that I admire people who are able to integrate their Earth and Sky aspects, who are able to hold down a regular daily practice in the face of others’ expectations. So for example, to hold down a daily job, but not get stuck in the rut of it, and to still be able to expand oneself, and your relationships, and possibilities. That’s a big ask. And on top of that are the artists and musicians and writers I adore – and that’s a big list. On top are people like Soutine, Picasso, Kurt Vonnegut, Jeanette Winterson, and it goes all the way to Beethoven…
Q: What comes first the image or the words?
[B--] Neither. Both. Ten years ago or so it seemed that different parts of my brain needed different timezones and spaces in order to produce different work. Then a great journal called Etchings did a feature story on me and for the first time my paintings, non-fiction writing, poetry, and ceramics all appeared together – and I think this did something to me. It seemed to coalesce these disparate segments of my mind, as has all the meditation and training I’ve been doing, so that both seem to work harmoniously now. Which is a bonus!
Q: What is a typical day in the life of Basil Eliades?
[B--] There is no typical! I spend a lot of time with my family, and teach part-time at the strange and wonderful school called Candlebark, near Romsey, which is a joy. I’m building a house. I do a lot of martial-arts training, and meditation. I love painting and writing, and often have hundreds of ideas churning around – but I’m getting better at letting them go and trusting that they’ll be there when I want them. I also love cooking, and great food and wine. So my days usually have some or all of those elements to them. And walking the dogs, too…
Basil Eliades is a dynamic individual who is a father, husband, author, poet, performer, painter, poet, artist, and teacher. Basil can be contacted by email on: basil@basileliades.com