[sakam-cards]

Hello everyone and welcome to the intro/masterpost for this blog! Here I will be documenting and sharing details about my own tarot-inspired card divination deck. My name is Koda and I use it/he.

If it's your first time here, I recommend reading the full explanation under the read more. To simply get to the cards, see the chart below. More links will be added as I go.

Wheel one:

House one: [111] - [112] - [113] - [114]

House two: [121] - [122] - [123] - [124]

House three: [131] - [132] - [133] - [134]

House four: [141] - [142] - [143] - [144]

Wheel two:

House one: [211] - [212] - [213] - [214]

House two: [221] - [222] - [223] - [224]

House three: [231] - [232] - [233] - [234]

House four: [241] - [242] - [243] - [244]

Wheel three:

House one: [311] - [312] - [313] - [314]

House two: [321] - [322] - [323] - [324]

House three: [331] - [332] - [333] - [334]

House four: [341] - [342] - [243] - [344]

Wheel four:

House one: [411] - [412] - [413] - [414]

House two: [421] - [422] - [423] - [424]

House three: [431] - [432] - [433] - [434]

House four: [441] - [442] - [443] - [444]

I started this project in october 2023 as part of a bigger conworld project called Kena'ar (which i document over on @velaraffricate!). Many different languages are spoken in this world, but Ke'eloom is the lingua franca and the language used when it comes to spiritual matters, so it will be used for the text on the cards.

The structure of the deck functions as follows: There are 64 cards in total, four for each of the sixteen deities worshipped by the people of Kena'ar. These deities, also called "houses" in the context of Sakam, are grouped into four "wheels". The four cards within a house, four houses within a wheel, and everything all together, tell the story of journeys through life, cycles within cycles.

This deck of cards is used in-world for divination purposes similarly to how tarot is used in our world. Sakam readers are highly revered in their society and are usually monks or otherwise very pious people that fully devote their lives to Sakam. The people of this world take it very seriously and often consult it when they're faced with obstacles, difficult decisions, interpersonal conflicts, or complex emotions. They believe that the cards serve as a conduit between the material world and the world of the gods.

Readings are usually done in special rooms or buildings used exclusively for this purpose. These spaces tend to be kept rather dark, being only illuminated by candles or torches, to create a more intimate environment. Some readers like to burn incense, take certain drugs, ingest specific foods or drinks, or touch sacred objects like crystals or small sculptures before doing a reading, but this is highly dependent upon their personal religious practices.

The phrase tshakh lidëŋ lideshuŋa, ezarekon, sakamëkhe sikhonsaka vin drakon liil roka, meaning "We call you to us, great Creator, bless the Sakam and be our guide", initiates each reading (The sixteen deities are all parts of a greater whole, called the Creator. More on the gods's names later). The reader then begins shuffling their cards while the inquirer asks their question. Broad, open-ended questions are preferred over simple yes/no questions. They may enter into a short conversation, but typically readers prefer not to know too much about their client's situations, as to not let subconscious bias cloud their reading (some even refuse to read for family members and close friends at all). There are multiple ways cards can be chosen. Some readers will ask the readee to cut the deck wherever they want, and then pull from the cards at the top in the order they appear. Others will spread out all cards face-down in front of them and let the readee hover their hand over the deck, pulling the cards that call to them. The reading is concluded with the phrase tshakh lideshoŋa, ezarekon, otu godeshaikhe khoro tshal linde tshamburaŋa. tshashalaudaŋa, meaning "We thank you, great creator, for sharing your holy knowledge with us. Be praised". While inhabiting the Sakam-reading space, the reader and readee aren't allowed to speak to each other before and after these holy phrases are spoken.

Numerology is a very important factor in Sakam. The number 1 is associated with the self, 2 represents connections to other people, 3 material possessions and connection to one's environment, and 4 spiritual matters. As will be further explained in the next section, each card has a three-digit number, and which digits appear in said number influence its meaning and interpretation.

Another thing to note is that unlike (sometimes) tarot, Sakam cards are never reversed. All cards contain both positive and negative aspects, and it's up to the reader to interpret them appropriately.

There are many different possibilities for how the cards may be designed, but the layout for the ones I'll be showing off here function like this:

[Image description: A white playing card. A square in the top left corner is labelled as 1, a rectangle in the top right corner as 2, a rectangle at the bottom as 3, and the middle of the card as 4. End description.]

1 is the sigil corresponding to the deity the card belongs to. Speaking the gods's true names is considered highly disrespectful outside of religious rituals, so they each have a sort of "code name" and sigil that can be used in place of their name (As we saw earlier, the sum of all gods is called "the Creator", but its true name is Ekho). 2 is the number corresponding to the card. The first digit is the wheel, the second the house, and the third the placement within the house, so they go from 111 to 444. Fun fact! Ke'eloom actually uses a seximal base, although that won't become relevant here. 3 is the name of the card in Ke'eloom. 4 is the illustration. Here too there can be many different interpretations and art styles, I'm simply showing one possibility.

Finally, I'll be giving some context to how the cards's meaning will be explained.

➽ Illustration: A description of the image for the benefit of those who use screen readers, but also for me to explain my decisions, provide worldbuilding context and describe common variations one might see in other decks. ➽ General description: An explanation of the card's meaning. Keep in mind that it isn't 100% fixed and inflexible - it also depends on the other cards in a spread and the story they all tell together, and in-world I'd imagine different cultures and schools of thought could have slightly differing interpretations. ➽ Advice: What are your strengths, what is the best way to proceed on your journey? Highlights the card's more positive aspects. ➽ Warning: What do you need to keep in mind, what negative habits could hinder you? Highlights the card's more negative aspects. ➽ As a person: In some spreads, a card can be pulled to represent a person's mindset or actions. This section explains how a card in such a position might be interpreted. ➽ Finding love: While this and the next section will typically be answered from a romantic perspective, "love" here can mean anything from platonic, romantic, sexual, and beyond. It can even be applicable to a job or hobby. This part is for when you're seeking something new… ➽ Holding love: …and this one is for when you're looking for advice about a relationship you're already in. ➽ Spirituality: This section will be answered from an in-world religious perspective. The basic gist is that worshipping different gods grants one a buff, so to speak, in the magic spells related to that god. People might seek advice on how to further develop their magical abilities or if their current worship practices are the right path for them.

…And I think that should cover everything! Thank you for reading, I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have :3

[sakam-cards]

113 - The Deer - rodin

[Wheel One] - [House One] - [Card Three]

➽ Illustration: A fawn looks straight forward. The exact pose and species of deer can vary depending on where the deck's artist is from and what feelings they want to convey. Here I went with the typical deer-in-headlights type stare, as I thought it fitting for this card. The Growth is closely associated with teenagers and young adults, so I chose to depict a fawn instead of an adult deer.

➽ General description: The deer represents the aftermath of having tried something that didn't end up working out in the end, and all the complicated feelings that come with that. You were so excited and eager at first, but are now feeling deflated, defeated, and maybe a bit embarrassed. Perhaps there was advice you disregarded and had to learn your lesson the hard way. Now you're paralyzed by fear, scared of failing again. The Deer reminds you that failure can be a great teacher if you're willing to learn, and that you can't make progress on your journey without stumbling sometimes.

➽ Advice: Don't wallow in self-pity, don't try to over-analyze what you did wrong, or else you'll stay stagnant. Learn your lesson, take it within, strive to do better next time, and then move on. It can be easy to get stuck in endless thought loops, going over every detail that led to your failure. You might think you're just trying to prevent yourself from making the same mistakes again, but in doing so you end up staying still. You can't prevent every misstep, don't blame yourself for not being perfect. Look around you and realize that you're not alone, and that the world hasn't ended. There's always a new day and a new chance. The deer is a reminder that you were already brave enough to do it once - you know you have it in you.

➽ Warning: Don't let opportunities pass you by out of fear of failure. There's only one way to find out what the outcome of something will ultimately be. Things might not turn out perfectly, but the worst case scenario is just as unlikely as perfection, and either way presents a chance to grow and learn something new. By being so afraid of failure you're only setting yourself up for it. What do you not want to regret when you look back on this period of your life in a couple years?

➽ As a person: The Deer can represent somebody who tends to be anxious and shy and prefers staying in their comfort zone. They find it difficult to find their voice and express their feelings and opinions, and let others take the lead on important decisions. They might also want to evade responsibility for when things go wrong, but in doing so they lose control over their own life. Their anxiety might even turn to paranoia or conspiratorial thinking, causing them to isolate themselves from others. They might need someone to take them by their hand and bring them back into the light, so to speak, before their fear turns so paralyzing they can't get out of this spiral at all anymore.

➽ Finding love: The Deer might show up if you just went through a break up. You may need some time to be alone and regain your strength to find yourself again and figure out what you really want. Feeling disappointed, you might not feel like putting yourself back out there again, and a break like that might be just what you need right now. But don't close yourself off from love forever out of fear that it won't work out again. Few relationships truly last forever, and transience doesn't make something worthless. Be open to all kinds of connections, even small ones can be very meaningful and fulfilling.

➽ Holding love: In relationships, this card can represent trust issues, and important matters that aren't being discussed. Are there questions you want to ask but don't, out of fear for how the other person might react? Do you fear that your partner is hiding something from you, or are you the one keeping secrets? Sometimes it's easier to just go along with the status quo and not rock the boat. But if it's not fulfilling anymore, it might be time to seriously reassess the situation, no matter how scary the future might look. If you feel trapped, what do you need to do to regain your freedom?

➽ Spirituality: You might feel insecure in your practices, like you're not doing it correctly, or not doing it to a satisfactory degree. But is there really a wrong way to worship? Are you afraid of disappointing the gods the same way you've disappointed others, or been disappointed? Your magical abilities suffer from your diffidence, you must get over this notion of "correctness" if you want to strengthen them again. It will be difficult and messy, and others may try to tell you to do it differently, but only you can know what works for you. The gods will accept your honest hard work and commitment, even if it might look a bit unusual to other people.

<- [112] - [114] ->

[sakam-cards]

112 - The Fruit - dzub

[Wheel One] - [House One: The Growth] - [Card Two]

➽ Illustration: A shiny red apple hangs from a branch. Which fruit is chosen to represent this card of course depends highly on where the deck's artist is from. Instead of showing the fruit still hanging from the tree, some decks instead depict a full fruit basket.

➽ General description: The Fruit represents the energy of starting something new, when you're still in the throes of trying everything out, pushing boundaries, and just can't get enough, but also the pitfalls that come with that. Breaking rules is necessary sometimes, but can also get you in big trouble, and that might not always be worth it. You might be acting selfishly without even realizing it. Sometimes, being a bit egoistic can be a good thing, but there comes a time where it's taken too far and you unintentionally start hurting others. All this energy makes you feel rejuvenated, but it also might mean that you're acting recklessly and taking risks you shouldn't. You keep going way past the breaking point and can't recognize when it's time to take a break.

➽ Advice: Slow down a bit! Take a step back and try to assess your situation without getting your personal feelings too caught up in it. The Fruit suggests talking to a trusted friend and implores you to humbly take their advice. Recognize that you still have a lot to learn, but that you don't have to do it all on your own. There's still plenty time to find what you truly desire, no need to rush things and do something out of impulse you might regret later.

➽ Warning: You might end up burning yourself out as quickly as you ignited. This state isn't sustainable, and you need to be careful to take care of yourself in all aspects - body, mind, spirit - to not crash. You might feel like you know that already and are taking care of yourself, but your lack of experience might be clouding your judgement. You must learn to sit alone with your feelings, and not constantly distract yourself with the shiny new thing.

➽ As a person: The Fruit represents someone with a lot of energy, who just can't seem to be able to slow down. From the outside they can be perceived as a bit selfish and pretentious, they haven't yet learned humility. If you're farther along on your journey it can be easy to get annoyed with and dismiss them, but they need a mentor to show them the ropes and guide them on their way. They might not be willing to accept that help, so patience and an open heart is needed. Wait for them to come to you, but don't become haughty when they do. Everyone has to start somewhere.

➽ Finding love: You might feel a deep desire to start a new relationship, but aren't ready to commit just yet, and are still in the stages of flirting and fooling around without tying yourself down. And that might be perfect for you! No need to commit to anything if you don't want to. But the Fruit also cautions you against hastily discarding a potential deeper relationship because it's not immediately perfect, or because you get bored of it quickly. Love needs time to bloom, after all.

➽ Holding love: This card might show up if you just entered a new relationship and are still fully in the throes of new relationship energy. Everything is exciting and you just can't get enough of each other, but this is also the time to lay the groundwork for a strong foundation so you don't immediately crumble as soon as you start getting bored or having problems. Think about your long-term future, and what you truly need for this to be sustainable. If you've already been having problems, you might feel like your partner isn't taking your relationship seriously enough and refuses to have difficult conversations about the future. Your communication might be suffering as each party follows their own selfish goals.

➽ Spirituality: You might feel undecided about what spiritual practice is truly best for you and have been trying out many different things. But have you lived with it for long enough to accurately assess your feelings on it? Patience is the key. Fully commit to something for a while before deciding if this is the path you want to continue on or not. The Fruit also suggests seeking the guidance of a trusted spiritual leader. You don't have to figure it all out on your own.

<- [111] - [113] ->

[sakam-cards]

111 - The Butterfly - shandiz

[Wheel One] - [House One: The Growth] - [Card One]

➽ Illustration: A peacock butterfly dries its wings, still sitting on the cocoon it just emerged from. The Growth is associated with butterflies in general, but especially peacock butterflies. According to legend, they were created when the Growth blew petals into a rainbow. Other decks may show the butterfly in flight, or even still as a caterpillar, but the cocoon imagery is the most common.

➽ General description: The Butterfly is the beginning of all things, the turning of a new page, the (re)birth. It signals that you're ready to start a new life phase, and that beautiful things await you if you open yourself up to them. But you must also make amends, tie up loose ends, let go of what is holding you back to step unburdened into the future. Make peace with your past and forgive yourself, look into the future with hope and optimism. The Butterfly tells you that it's okay to be a bit selfish sometimes, and that now's the time to do what's right for yourself, no matter what anyone else says.

➽ Advice: Take that first step, do what you've been truly wanting to do and unfold your true self without letting fear hold you back. Open your mind up to all possibilities that surround you, get up and try again if it doesn't all work out at first. Be confident and proud in your abilities and strong in your convictions even if doubt sets in.

➽ Warning: What unfinished business are you trying to leave behind? You can't run away forever from trauma, from difficult conversations, from yourself. You must make peace with your past to truly be ready for the future.

➽ As a person: The Butterfly represents someone who has a lot of youthful energy, loves trying out new things, and rarely gets bored. But they might also be taking unnecessary risks and don't yet understand the potential consequences of their actions. They're naïve about the world, don't take advice well and have to learn lessons the hard way. But they're also confident and prideful, and always strive to reach new heights.

➽ Finding love: The Butterfly strongly suggests that you're ready to put yourself out there and enter a new relationship! Be confident in yourself, even if it doesn't work out at first. Love is already all around you, you just have to open your eyes to it.

➽ Holding love: This card signals that something needs to change - now that doesn't necessarily mean breaking up, although it certainly could. Rather, maybe you feel like your relationship has grown a bit stale, and it's high time to infuse it with new energy. Try out something new, break out of your daily routine and surprise each other again. If you've been having problems, talk it out! The Butterfly assures you that change is always possible if you're committed to it, but you must be open and brutally honest with each other to make sure everyone is on the same page with where you want your futures to be headed.

➽ Spirituality: On one hand, this card suggests that now is a good time to start a new spiritual practice! If you were thinking about adding a new deity to your worship rituals or shedding an old practice, this is the sign that you should go for it. But the Butterfly is also very ego-centric, suggesting that this new spiritual path may be shallow and self-serving at first - although of course that doesn't mean it can't bloom into something more meaningful in the future. Just be mindful that your ego might get in the way of you being able to fully commit to your practice.

<- [444] - [112] ->