Heather Ruthigs Virtual Gallery – St. Marys Station Gallery

Heather Ruthig - The Sculpted Tarot

For Heather Ruthig, designing a Tarot card deck has been an idea percolating for many years. It has become a reality with the help of her dear friend Stephanie Bickell. Stephanie’s support and help researching the symbolism of the cards and corresponding plants was invaluable. Ceramics is new to Heather, but a natural evolution to her practice. The urethane resin and silicone products that she used previously to create her sculptural pieces were too toxic for her to be comfortable to continue using. Ceramics has allowed Heather to do her artwork in a safer, less harmful way to the environment.

Each tarot are priced at $450 each except the Master which is $250. To learn more about each piece and its meaning, if you are on a desktop or laptop computer, place your cursor over the image and text will appear. On mobile, hold your finger on the image for 1 to 2 seconds and the text will appear.

If you would like to purchase a piece, go to our Contact Us page, and fill out the form.

Back of the card design

The design on the back of the card represents the four suits of the minor arcana. The minor arcana cards show you what’s happening in your daily life. Each suit plant was chosen for both shape and or traditional plant meaning to represent that suit.

Wands, the fire element, is represented by oak. Pentacles, the earth element, is represented by borage. Cups, the water element, is represented by marsh marigold. Swords, the air element, is represented by ginkgo.

Air Uranus

The fool card represents a new beginning, taking a leap of faith with childlike enthusiasm.

The Maple tree is a symbol of strength and endurance. When the Maple tree calls, it sends the message that you have the ability to create miracles and believe in the impossible. The Maple key takes the fool's leap of faith and sets off on its new beginning with everything it needs. Letting the wind carry it off on its journey.

Air Mercury

The magician card is about gaining skill, knowledge, manifestation and alchemy.

Ferns represent new life and hope for the future. The magician also uses the four elements of the tarot wands(Acorn), cups (Marsh marigold), swords (Gingko), and pentacles (Borage). Each helps the magician in manifesting. You have the power to create. As above so below.

Water Moon

The High Priestess card focuses on using intuition, gaining insight and understanding and spiritual wisdom and letting things unfold in due time, being ready and practicing patience.

The Iris has three points, which symbolize wisdom, faith and valour. The High Priestess is feminine energy using intuition for guidance. The blue and white of the Iris represents balanced judgment. She dwells in the moon, which lets us perceive things that are not within our conscious, awareness and seldom brought to the surface in daily life.

Earth Venus Taurus/Libra

The Empress card is the Divine Feminine of the tarot. Full of abundance, sensuality, fertility, creative imagination and connection to the mystical realm.

Pomegranate the fruit of abundance, contains the seeds of knowledge represents creation of life. The Empress is the "Mother" of the tarot and holds the balanced energy of all four elements. Not only is the Empress full of life, she embodies wisdom, prosperity, strength and love.

Fire Mars Aries

The Emperor card is the Devine Masculine and the counterpart to The Empress. The Emperor has power and authority, leadership and is strategic.

Blessed Thistle is known as an herb of protection, it has a prickly exterior which is strong. Like the Emperor who wears armour to aid him in protecting those around him. The Emperor is the "Father" of the tarot and this card's sign is in the Fire sign of Aries energy around that sign is courage, intelligence and a demanding presence which the Ram's horns represent.

Earth Venus Taurus

The Hierophant is a teacher and spiritual guide. It is a card of learning, marriage and commitment.

Jack in the Pulpit is a symbol of spirituality and an ally. Looking as thought it is bowed in prayer it guides us on our journey, it is teaching and protecting you along the way. It helps guide your heart and soul.

Air Mercury Gemini

The Lovers card is just that, love, friendship, relationships of many kinds, It is also called the choice.

Apple Blossom holds the power of love or of bringing love together. Known for use in the love spells. It symbolizes good health and future happiness. Also represents knowledge that may help you with choices in love and life.

Water Moon Cancer

The Chariot card has the energy of the sign of cancer attached to it, thus the Crab was perfect for the card.

A crab can move in many directions, some easier than others. Their legs on opposite sides of its body must work together to carry the crab.

The Yin and Yang symbol represents balance needed to keep you moving in one direction. Kelp is a symbol of the deeper aspects of self, self mastery is needed to choose the direction you need to move in.

Fire Sun Leo

The Strength card is about courage and bravery and determination to The Strength card is about courage and bravery and determination to move in a situation. It is a powerful feeling that propels you forward.

Sage is a herb that has many health benefits for the whole body to help keep one strong. It is also a herb of protection of clearing negative energy. It offers the herbal virtues of clarity and wisdom. It will help empower the strength card for the best possible outcome.

Earth Mercury Virgo

The Hermit is a card of reflection and collecting of thoughts. Solitude and time of waiting. Having patience to gain understanding before making a decision.

Turtles are the symbol of patience, serenity and determination. Turtles move slowly, but they stay true to their path and are not easily distracted. When they need to retreat, they go within. Much like the Hermit, searches within to gain clarity and listen to their intuition. Narcissus flower represents the energy of calmness, a guide toward inner peace and self-love. The yellow of the flower is the colour of hope it illuminates the path for the Hermit.

Fire Jupiter Sagittarius/Pisces

The Wheel Of Fortune is a card of destiny. Being divinely guided towards something better than we imagined. The wheel of fortune turns in your favour if you are open to it. Seize the moment.

There are four fixed zodiac signs depicted on this card in their elemental symbols. Air(Aquarius), Water(Scorpio), Fire(Leo), Earth(Taurus) they are a symbol of stability amidst movement and change. Magnolia flower is the stability as well as change. It is said to be one of the first flowering plants to have evolved on earth, it has found a way to sustain and adapt with time. Even as the wheel turns, the magnolia keeps you grounded as you grab a hold of Destiny's wheel and see where it takes you.

Air Venus Libra

Justice is a card of balance, law and order, truth and karmic lessons.

Oak trees are known to be the king of the forest. They are strong, stable, full of wisdom and a symbol of personal honour. These are all tools needed to make life choices. The scales in the tree are about balance and weighing all the options before making a decision they also represent having balance in life too much of something throws the scale off balance.

Water Neptune

The card of suspension, new perspective on an old idea or situation. The card of pause and waiting.

Lotus is the symbol of enlightenment, rebirth, regeneration. In the hanged man position thus card allows you to see things from a different angle highlighting the changes needed to go forward. The lotus root begins buried in mud and murky water, eventually breaking through the surface of its cloudy surroundings to reveal a beautiful bloom.

Water Mars/Pluto Scorpio

Death and rebirth this card is about transformation and necessary change, the end of an old cycle. Most Importantly, it is a symbol of a new beginning.

Mushrooms help regrow and rebuild from the rot and decay of the forest. They can change and transform the environment around them for the better. Death of an old cycle or pattern, relationship can be difficult and even painful, but with each ending comes a new opportunity for growth. A beginning which ultimately leads to a more fulfilling, happier life

if you are willing to let it.

Fire Jupiter Sagittarius

Temperance, the card of balance, patience and timing. All good things come to those who wait.

The honeycomb in a hive holds not only life but food for the bees to survive. It takes time to create and sustain it to ensure their survival.

Patience and care to build it. Bees remind us to trust in miracles. Have faith and keep working, but stop and smell the roses. Trust in divine timing, everything is always working out for you.

Earth Saturn Capricorn

The Devil is a card about the fear, restrictions, addictions. Toxic behaviour and relationships that we all have in our lives. It is a card of healing.

Devil's Turnip has the ability to give you a deeper understanding of self. It opens your eyes, mind and heart to what holds you back in life. What are the fears and doubts you tell yourself to keep you stuck. What relationships do you keep even though they are hurtful. When this card presents its self, what areas need to be exposed and let go of to move forward and heal.

Fire Mars Aries/Scorpio

The Tower appears to highlight changes. Opportunity for growth, surprises and reminds you to look at the foundations you have built.

Lightening is the symbol of sudden, unexpected forced changed. It tears things down to build something better. Eyebright is used to help clear eyesight, making things easier to see. Once the dust settles from the fallen tower,

Eyebright helps you clearly see the next path to set out on and how you can begin building a new tower with a stronger foundation.

Air Saturn/Uranus Aquarius

The Star is a card of hope, support, wish fulfillment. It is a guiding light of the wonderful things making their way towards you.

Stargazer Lily symbolizes abundance and prosperity. It reminds you to have faith in the divine and that dreams do come true. The seven small stars in the background are symbolic of the seven chakras that work best when they are all open and aligned.

It is a reminder that alignment of yourself with what you are trying to manifest is important and to be open to it when it arrives.

Water Jupiter/Neptune Pisces

The Moon card is the card of secrets and unseen influences, things happening below the surface that you are not aware of yet. It is about illusion, phases and cycles, lack of communication and fear of the unknown.

Moonflower opens only at night, it represents growth of our personality and soul. In the moonlight, it reveals itself. A reminder that eventually all will be revealed to you when the time is right. Be vulnerable to the unknown and open your heart, things are not always as bad as we think.

The Humming Bird Moth is a symbol of transformation, it guides you in both personal and environmental changes.

Fire Sun Leo

The Sun is the most positive card in the tarot. It is bursting with a golden glow of joy and success. The ultimate happiness card.

Sunflowers bring you protection against negative energy, and they attract joy into your life. The yellow is uplifting and is attached to happiness. Within the sunflower there is the Flower of Life sacred geometry, it symbolizes creation and the unity of everything.

Fire Pluto

Judgment is a card of self evaluation, renewal, and awakening. Past, present and future together.

Butterfly is a symbol of transformation, it is the shedding of the old into something different and new to begin again in the future. Judgment is much like the butterfly. The old self learning lessons while wrapped in its cocoon of the past. Understanding and wanting the need for change to grow and shedding the cocoon. Slowly moving forward, spreading our wings, testing them, taking small steps with the new thoughts and ideas we learn and eventually breaking free, trusting the new path and emerging a new version of yourself.

Earth Saturn Capricorn/Aquarius

The World is the last card of the Major Arcana in tarot, and it is the most powerful. It represents completion of the fool's journey and a cycle coming to an end. Through the lessons learned along the way, it rewards you with successful outcomes in many areas of life.

Mandrake, used for setting creative visions of the mind. It releases hidden ideas. Helps you to understand what you needed to learn to move towards completion of thoughts and ideas or desires. Lovage surrounds the Mandrake it is the herb of love, it attracts love and is associated with the energy of protection. If you move and create from a place of love, you will receive more than you imagined.

The Hermit

8" x 5.5" x 8.5”
$650

Earth Mercury Virgo

The Hermit is a card of reflection and collecting of thoughts. Solitude and time of waiting. Having patience to gain understanding before making a decision.

Earth - small jar

6" x 4.5”
$250

The element of earth is nurturing stable and rooted.

It represents wealth and prosperity and feminine energy.

Earth cares for us creates fertility and infinite creativity.

Ace of Cups

9" x 5.5”
$500

In a tarot reading the ace of cups signifies new beginnings of an emotional nature. It is time to fill your cup with joy and love. It can also be a symbol of love and friendship being offered.

9 of Cups - Wishes Fulfilled

6 ” tall, spread out around 12”
$575

The nine of cups vessel is full of white lilies which symbolizes purity and rebirth.

In a reading the nine of cups represents a time of extreme happiness and all of your wishes coming true.

The element of cups is water and the suit of cups relates to events and situations of an emotional nature

The marsh marigold in the “Sculpted Tarot” represents positive emotion and energy.