top of page

The Watchers

tarotstevenbright



It’s interesting that my last post here was about how life can shift overnight. This past week has been a difficult one. My mum had a fall and fractured her spine, and she’s been in the hospital ever since, wearing a back brace. At first, they thought she might need surgery, but thankfully, that no longer seems likely. On top of that, the doctors found some abnormalities in her blood that still need further investigation. It has been a stressful and worrying time. As I said in my last post, sandcastles can be disrupted easily—and often when you least expect it.


While at the hospital, I caught sight of something out of the corner of my eye as I passed a window in a corridor. At first, I wasn’t sure what it was, but later, when I went back to look, I realized it was a fountain in the center of a sensory garden, adorned with two faeries. Seeing it through the glass brought me a quiet sense of comfort, especially at the end of each long day. It felt as though the fae were watching over my mum, a silent reassurance in the midst of uncertainty. Bringing her home today, I whispered a quiet thank you to the unseen guardians as I passed.


Since redesigning this site, I’ve felt drawn to create my own faery oracle. To keep things simple and enjoyable, I’ve been using AI to generate the images—it has been fun, easy, and often full of unexpected surprises. I’ve loved bringing my own fae into being, naming them and giving them personalities as they emerge.


I completely understand the concerns surrounding AI and its impact on artists (being a published card artist myself), but this is, first and foremost, a personal project. Eventually, I plan to print a deck for my own use, but for now, it’s about doing something that brings me comfort and allows me to explore just one vision of the fae.


I wanted to acknowledge the two faeries from the fountain in my own project by creating The Watchers. When my mind was restless with worry, and when I lay awake at home, unable to do anything, The Watchers were there, keeping an eye on Mum. In my oracle, they represent support—not just from the faerie realm but from people, too. The hospital staff have been incredible, explaining everything with such care and looking after Mum so well. And my phone has been flooded with messages from friends checking in, offering help, and sending love.


This card feels like an essential part of my new project. Just looking at these two young faeries, wearing floral headbands like the ones in the fountain, reminds me of the peace and comfort I felt each time I passed them this week. This image, generated by AI, gives me a sense of warmth and quiet support—just as I felt from The Watchers in that hospital garden.


© Words and images by Steven Bright





11 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER

Thanks for subscribing!

bottom of page