Our latest interview is with Isaac Cotec, the creator of the HeroRise Masculine Archetype Deck. The deck is an immersive oracle deck to explore and expand your connection to Positive Masculinity. It was inspired by Carl Jung, myth, and tarot cards.
The HeroRise Masculine Archetype Deck gives you a map to unlock the power of your Masculinity. Furthermore, awakening your connection with the Masculine Archetypes can help you move past the hidden patterns that hold you back, and give you the momentum to grow into your highest potential.
Kickstarter - HeroRise Deck
Where in the world do you call home?
I am blessed to live in Portland, Oregon.
What was your first experience with the Tarot, and when did you fall in love with it?
I grew up as a Mormon. I remember a friend showing me a Rider-Waite-Smith when I was 15. My parents would have been furious if they knew I was playing with Tarot, so I snuck away after school and found a shop to buy a deck. I was instantly enchanted.
What made you want to create your tarot deck? What was your inspiration?
Honestly, I was looking for a Masculine Archetype Deck and couldn’t find one. I was in a moment of transition with work, relationships, and my purpose. I began looking to my Masculinity for some of these answers and looked for a deck. After months of looking… on a fateful night… the muse just inspired me. The next day I started writing out the deck. I reached out to the different artists and kept coming up with dead ends. Before I knew it, I was writing the book and making the artwork. It all just kind of happened to me. Like a flow of water running downstream effortlessly. I put in hundreds of hours, but as long as I showed up, the process just unfolded—one of the most memorable experiences of my life.
What would you say is unique about your deck?
This deck centers around the positive aspects of Masculinity. Using Jungian archetypes as a template to understand the self. There are so many goddess decks and work around the feminine. I wanted to create something to connect to the positive aspects of Masculinity.
How long have you had the idea for the deck, and how long has it taken you to create it?
I had a whisper of the idea about ten years ago. Life took me in different directions. Then in March of last year, I told someone the idea at my birthday party. The Pandemic hit hard the next day, and I found myself dedicating all my energy as a way to find purpose in that difficult moment. I have spent 40-50 hours a week since march 2020 in creating this deck. So somewhere around 2,000 hours. I just launched a Kickstarter for the deck, and when I plan on sending the deck to print a year and a day from when I started.
We are living in such crazy times. How has the Pandemic affected your creativity?
I have been fortunate to be a full-time musician and artist for ten years. I realized the other day that I have loved creating environments through my music to get in touch with their emotional self—using dance and music to support a healing space. Once the Pandemic hit, I moved over to visual arts with this project. Looking back… it makes a lot of sense. I am now using artwork and this deck to help individuals create a space to know themselves deeper. It feels like the same mission but a different pathway.
What have been your challenges in creating this deck?
The hardest part wasn’t the art or the idea, it was figuring out how to share it. I am very social, and I would be talking it up at events, but things feel so fractured with the way life is now. I have lost touch with so many friends. So there is a weight in our culture right now -Grief and confusion. Figuring out how to navigate that and share the message has been the most challenging part.
Why do you think there is a lack of male-centric tarot decks out there? What impact does that have on male tarot readers?
I have loved seeing the movement towards inclusion with the artwork in many tarot decks. Like the Fifth Spirit Tarot, the Lady Tarot Cards, and so many more. I think it is beautiful and needed. As the feminine has been rising, I feel there haven’t been as many tools for male-identified people to see themselves reflected. I think our culture hasn’t put as much emphasis on spirituality for men. This has left many men searching for a way that they can step up their spiritual practice and don’t know where to turn. I see this changing with organizations like Sacred Sons, The Unshakable Man, The Rising Man podcast, and many other projects that I have seen in the men’s field. It’s changing, but I think it is a powerful thing to feel seen and represented in the journey. That is why I am excited to create the HeroRise Masculine Archetype Deck.
How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published?
In an ideal world… a big hug with my loved ones. Most likely, I will take a trip to the woods. Thank the stars, moon, and earth for the honor to do this work.
What is on offer for people who pledge?
I am delighted to be sharing this deck through Kickstarter. If you pledge, you will not only be getting the deck at a discount from the in-store price, but you will also be helping me spread the message of positive Masculinity.
I also have altar cloths, an online course, and other goodies to offer people that pledge.
For all those collectors, searching for a unique masculine deck, back it here:
Kickstarter - HeroRise Deck