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Our latest interview is with Thea, the creator of the Black Cat Tarot - a deck that highlights the special and quirky things about our favourite noir felines. Thea is a small local artist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She created this deck for all Black Cat Lovers!.This deck is not bad lick. In fact, this deck is super lucky! Black cats have long endured cruelty and horrible misconceptions due to myths and superstitions and Thea has set about to dispel this and show us the beauty to be found in black cats. Kickstarter - Black Cat Tarot Where in the world do you call home? Albuquerque, New Mexico! Home of Green Chili and traffic cones. Albuquerque is beautiful; it's right next to the Sandia mountains which make all of our sunsets magical and pink! We are truly the land of mañana. We definitely have a lazy cat vibe in our culture. Think the opposite of New York City. We are kind of a loyal group of weird people who love our IPA beers and the United Soccer Team. What was your first experience with tarot? When I was a kid I found one of my mom's tarot decks and laid out all the cards. She got really upset. I was messing with her stuff but I thought the cards were so beautiful, I wanted to look at them more but she wouldn’t let me touch them. So, whenI first bought my own Tarot deck when I was 20 I was so happy, I set out all the cards every day and just loved them. Now I personally own almost 100 decks. I love them. I love to do readings. I love to sit with the cards. Tarot means so much to me personally. I love that each deck can speak to you in a different way. I set out to create my own tarot deck but put that project down at least 7 times as something “too difficult”. Well, I finally created Painted Tarot which was my first Tarot Deck and funded on kickstarter. It was so freeing but I felt like I learned so much from the experience I wanted to create another deck. I created Cats in Space Tarot and was narrowly funded on kickstarter. I was told by so many people that the project was a good idea and I think it was too niche. But then doing some self-healing I got really creative and made an oracle deck, Love Thy Self, which was also funded on kickstarter. I wanted to come back to tarot and I wanted to create a tarot deck that was really for me. So I made this Deck, Black Cat Tarot. This is my 4th Deck that I have created and I am so proud of it. I have learned so much about myself, about tarot with each deck. This is definitely my best one yet. What would you say is unique about your deck? I own every Cat deck that exists! Seriously! I love Cats and I love Tarot. I know of 10 Cat Tarot Decks, if there are more let me know! I made sure my art and style was different from what is out there. I wanted this deck to be unique but not gimickee. This deck is simple yet funky with its art. The cats aren't overly detailed but each card has REAL symbolism from the RWS style. It’s cutesy yet accurate, Stylized yet mystical. It’s a much different deck then any of the cat decks out there. including my Cats in Space Deck. I think its bright color and heavy imagery will provide for insightful readings. This is a clever deck and I hope it helps offer guidance and find hidden answers. How long has it taken you to create this deck? My First tarot deck took 4 years. My second deck took roughly nine months. My Oracle Deck took two years to create and this deck has taken about 2 1/2 years total. Most of the art was completed in the last 2 months! Mostly November was when I created this deck. I sat and thought about this project for so long. But once I started it the art flowed out of me. It was so much fun to create this project. I hear sometimes people say during deck creation that it takes so long, and I didn’t experience that with this deck. It was a joy to make each card. Each one was fun. It felt so authentic and releasing. I feel like these cards are filled with wisdom that we are all capable of so much more than we can imagine. I completely loved creating this deck. It was one of my fastest projects. I seriously felt a shift inside myself that allowed me to create this. I really had to believe in myself to overcome the self doubt of others. Everything people say to you is a reflection of themselves. Usually if someone says you can't do something it is because they believe they couldn't do that thing. Once I figured that out = a solid 50 hours of working straight and I almost had each card perfect! What card are you most proud of and why? I really like The Hierophant Card. I struggle connecting with this card because it can have that religious sort of connotation. I hated this card in my Painted Tarot Deck. I painted her as a woman pope with shadows before her and I made her ominous and lifeless and creepy, like a negative yielding authority. I think she's ugly. It's not about being just for her, it's about following rules. So I sat with this card for a while and decided to draw a funky kitty floating through space time. When you view this card like a teacher or a mentor and view it as life lessons for yourself you can start to see this as an omen of yes, do your research and remember you stand on the shoulders of giants. There is nothing you can’t learn. So this is my favorite card because it made me connect deeper with this card for all of my tarot practice! What impact would you like your deck to have on it’s readers? I hope that someone does a reading with my deck and they find some clarity and insight into themselves. I believe tarot is a very important tool. I really believe in tapping into your own knowledge and power. Cats are so wise, you hear of cats sitting on hospital beds before people die. Cats are mysterious and wise creatures and we can learn so much from them. I connect with black cats so personally that thinking about them in tarot has deepened my practice. I connect with these kitties and I hope others do too. There's a special deck for every person. and there's a deck that is an occasional use Deck. I think this deck can be both. For some people I hope its their go to, for others I hope they at least find entertainment in the cards. Maybe they will really connect with a card and my imagery can connect them more deeply with that card's meaning. It is a deep deck in the sense that symbolism is important for each card, but also its just pretty adorable and fun. Things can be multidimensional and purpose can be determined by the user. I hope my deck makes people happy. Like a fat purring kitty on your lap :) What have been your challenges in creating this deck? Honestly it's letting other people make me doubt myself. It can be hard to turn the criticism off from others, but you must learn to do this as a creator. I put off this deck for almost a year because I was scared. When I first pitched the idea to people in my life, they told me not to do another kickstarter, not to do another cat deck and to wait until life calms down and I can find another non-tarot project. I do have a lot going on. I am just starting back to school, moving, dealing with family drama etc. So yes, adding a kickstarter is alot. But my “too much” is a limiting belief others are putting on me. I am not too much. I am as much as I need to be. I LOVE Tarot. It’s something I connect with, I am not going to stop creating tarot decks. I love them. I don’t care if other people agree with me, and I'm not offended if you don't like every project. What really matters is that my heart is in it. I hope other artists make tons more decks and I hope to make more decks too, I want a future with lots of Tarot and lots of options! I set my kickstarter amount to the bare minimum because I wasn't interested in making money, I was interested in bringing this project to life. I tapped into my own magic and believed in a thing and did the thing. The second I started believing in myself the project was almost finished. We all have this magic and I hope people can buy this deck and tap into that magic within themselves too! The hard things make us grow. How we weather the storm tells us who we are. I believe in Tarot and I need to make sure I am believing in myself too. Why did you choose black cats specifically rather than cats in general? Oh great question! Ok so I started an LLC 3 years ago. I was talking to my mentor at the time and he told me I needed a name for my business that was loose, because I was offering: event planning, design and pilates, etc and I needed an umbrella term that I could mold to fit where my career path took me. He told me not to think inside of a box. I was going to call my business “Thea’s Event Planning”. He told me to go home and think about it, so I went home and I sat in my room and my black cat Boo came up to me and sat in my lap, as she does whenever she can. I wrote out hundreds of names, starting with “Boo Works” (My cat's name is Boo) And I decided to name my business Black Cat Consulting LLC, just generic enough that I can still teach pilates and sell tarot decks under one business name :) Boo is my ever loving companion. I accidentally adopted her from NM Animal Humane. I went to look at the new facility they built here in Albuquerque and made the mistake of going into the Cat room. I had just been dumped and I was super sad. But I sat in that room and Boo marched right towards me and immediately showed me her belly and let me pick her up and it was love at first cuddle and I had to take her home. They were not sure if she was 4 or 5 and that was roughly 6 years ago. I am guessing she is 10. I adopted her on October 30th so I celebrate her birthday every year. She loves fish so I usually give her a little tuna. She is my best friend. She has been with me through major life changes, seven moves, several changes in careers, multiple breakups. She is always purring at my side. even right now she's sitting on my feet as cute as can be. I think it’s only fitting that my tarot deck is black cat tarot. PLUS I have already made a deck called cats in space tarot (which is way different, it has real cat pictures and pictures from NASA). Also There are some great cat decks out there. Weird cat Tarot is tons of fun. I wanted my deck to be different then those in terms of focus and art. I think there's plenty of room for even more cat decks :) How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? For Boo’s Birthday I made her a tuna cake, maybe we will do that again when the campaign ends! And video it for everyone! Or maybe Her and I can do a photoshoot, something really cheesy with a ball gown?! I am seriously so happy about this whole experience, to a project I was discouraged from creating, to getting funded in 5 days; has been a roller coaster of emotions. I feel like the universe has thanked me for being my authentic self! I am truly honored that so many people have loved my idea and I can't wait to share more ideas with the world and I can’t wait to see what the future holds. It almost feels unreal. I am definitely going to celebrate with lots of love and light and send out so many positive vibes. I might even get some balloons! Boo loves Balloons! What is on offer for people who pledge? I have options for Stickers, enamel pins and even super fun tops! Including a hoodie with paw prints inside the hood! There are fun add ons on thie campaign. I am SO excited! You can get the Black Cat Tarot Deck for $35 + shipping! Each Deck comes with a 62 detailed guide book and a sticker! I also have a Black Cat Tarot Bundle that includes: The Deck the guidebook tshirt or tank top. A sticker Pack 8x12’’ print Black Cat Key Chain Black Cat Bagnet Black Cat Enamel Pin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackcattarotbythea Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/blackcattarotthea/ Website: www.theaburque.com For the purrrfect deck to add to your tarot collection, pledge here: Kickstarter - Black Cat Tarot

Our latest interview is with Angi Sullins, the creator of The W.I.T.C.H Oracle - a deck that is inclusive and diversity friendly. It empowers women to be mistresses of their own power. Angi Sullins is a professional Wonder Hunter. Author of multiple oracle and tarot decks, she has also written five books including Doorways and Dreamfields: A True Fairy Tale, Flaming Muse, and Thriveology. In her poetry, workshops, immersive events and on her Muse Juice Tours that travel to the world's most magical places, she takes seekers on a journey of self discovery to rekindle their muchness. She is here to help you remember who you were before the world told you who you should be. Kickstarter - The W.I.T.C.H Oracle Deck Where in the world do you call home? I literally live in Enchantment. No kidding. It’s right there on the licenses plates: New Mexico Land of Enchantment. Taos, my town, is as close as one can get to a bohemian artist village here in the United States, and I’m happy to call it home. What was your first experience with tarot? I played hooky from the church I was raised in to go to the local pagan store. The card boxes beckoned me, begging to have their spines stroked, their folds opened, their gilded cards adored. The archetypes dazzled me and whispered hints of ancient stories and intertwined destinies. I was smitten. What would you say is unique about your deck? For one thing, the deck includes untamed poetry and wild, feral heart-songs. I find when I’m using a deck that I love to connect to the unconscious and cherish the “between space” of non-ordinary reality. Music, lighting, incense…anything that helps me get into that between space is alluring to me. So I wrote poetry for the deck, to enhance that luminous experience. But let’s hear it for the art. Silas Toball is one-of-a-kind himself and pours his mythic soul into every image. I can get lost inside each painting, and end up wandering around my soul for hours. How long has it taken you to create this deck? We’ve been working on this deck for the better part of a year. But packed inside is half a lifetime of study, experience, and wisdom. In my 20’s, I was paralysed from the neck down on an operating table while undergoing a routine surgery. I had no family or friends around me, no inner circle or guide or wise-woman. I needed support, wisdom, insight. I needed comfort. When I recuperated, I knew my life mission was to create the kind of wise-woman support for others in need. So in essence, I’ve been developing this deck, and its encouragement of each woman’s sovereignty, since then. What card are you most proud of and why? So many. All of them! But if I had to choose I’ll vote for two: The Phoenix and The Selkie. Silas. I made The Phoenix to honor the moment in a woman’s life when she decides to become the mistress of her own power, letting the fires of her life experience transform her into her next highest self, rather than allow the fires to burn or destroy her inner sanctity. And The Selkie. Well, let’s just say I am a selkie, so I am partial. But every woman needs to be able to both dance on the sand under the moonlight (honoring her topside life) and swim in the deep channels of her soul space (honoring her deep internal life). Encouraging women to remember their worth, and to honor the natural habitat of their own creative life is of utmost importance to me. What impact would you like your deck to have on its readers? I want to encourage women to dare to rewild their lives, and trust themselves and their own personal experiences. I want women to have the tools to not only claim their sovereignty but to dwell in it. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? Mostly our challenge is time. This has been a passion project, so both Silas and I have had to work on it in our spare time while taking on other freelance work. But I’ll also say that diving into the realm of the W.I.T.C.H., and trying to do justice to the messages I hear with my soul-ears, is always a challenge. I struggle to get out of the way and let Her come through. How would you describe a “Woman In Total Control of Herself”? A W.I.T.C.H. knows her place, and that place is E V E R Y W H E R E. She has shifted her allegiance from pleasing to pleasure, from subservient to subversive, through the very act of claiming her inner knowing as her highest authority. She’s willing to abandon everyone else’s expectations and approval before she’ll abandon herself. She’s stopped fearing her path and started blazing it, loyal to the visions in her head and the longing of her heart. She trusts her intuition to guide her to the next right thing for her, even when she can’t see the entire path or explain it to a mind of logic. A W.I.T.C.H. knows her worth, and that worth is E V E R Y T H I N G. She treasures her authenticity, so she’s let go of manipulating how others perceive her and accepted a radical unbecoming. She values her time and well-being, so she no longer betrays herself by agreeing to things that sap her energy. Boundaried and self-respecting, she understands that “no” is a complete sentence. Her “yes” then becomes a whole-hearted sacred thing, requiring no permission or explanation. Instead of adjusting to the demands or desires of her ever-shifting world, she roots inside her deepest truth, and her highest values, and lets the world adjust. A W.I.T.C.H. knows her power, and that power is S O V E R E I G N. She doesn’t depend on circumstances, success, or approval to experience it. Her power grows from self-knowledge, self-care, and self-trust, which requires daily amounts of self-forgiveness and grace. Her strength derives from her ability to fall down and get back up again, knowing she is lovable through every stumble, weakness, or failing. Her belonging is not earned, it is a birthright. Having granted herself the freedom to belong foremost to her self, her very presence passes on permission for others to do the same. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? Chocolate and pomegranates. And likely champagne, ‘cuz bubbles make everything better. Especially when sipped while wearing a unicorn onesie, so that’s gotta happen. What is on offer for people who pledge? Oh, the goodness! We have the deck, Silas’s art prints, a stunning witchery soundtrack that includes some of the most intoxicating music you’ve ever heard, along with an original visualization and meditation MP3. We have original art, a stunning altar cloth that looks like it came straight from The Night Circus and so many other yummies that let you indulge the truth that YOU have the potential to become 100% that W.I.T.C.H. Instagram - @angisullins Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AngiTV/ Newsletter - https://angisullins.com/?page_id=3795 If you'd like to back this deck and find your own feminine power: Kickstarter - The W.I.T.C.H Oracle Deck

Our latest interview is with Luna Charlotte, the creator of The Octopus Tarot - an intuitively drawn tarot deck based on the magick and mysteries of octopuses. Luna is an artist who has been practicing art professionally for about 5 years, traveling and exposing my artwork at hundreds of events in 13 countries. Each drawing in the deck started off as a totally intuitive drawing - which reflected entirely in their process. For example, if a card signified a time of rest and pause for Luna, that card would take her exceptionally longer than any of the others to complete as she would feel called to taking many breaks during its creation. Kickstarter - The Octopus Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I’m based in Canada. I was born and raised here to parents who immigrated from France. As for calling it “home”, my travels have shown me many homes all over the globe to which I am equally if not more connected to than Canada. What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? My first experience with tarot was around 2011, I was living in a small town called Canmore, my best friend introduced me to tarot and I was gifted my first deck not long after that. To be totally honest, it took me a while to understand it, I just like drawing cards and looking at the pretty pictures. You didn’t realise at first that the art you were creating was in fact a tarot deck. How surprised were you? It was an interesting experience! Definitely made it feel like I was guided by something much bigger than me into this project. I have learned over the years that if you listen to the signs the Universe sends you, you always end up exactly where you should. Creating a tarot deck was a project of such grand scale I don’t think I would have embarked on this kind of journey had it not been by accident. Anyways, I’m glad that I did because this has been, and continues to be an extremely powerful experience with so much room to grow. What would you say is unique about your deck? When I started looking into it, I was actually shocked no one else had made an octopus-themed tarot… it just seemed like such an obvious match for some reason. Needless to say, the octopuses are therefore what makes it unique. In the same way these animals are totally unique in the animal kingdom, this deck is its own unique vibe. How long has it taken you to create this deck? Three years almost to the day! We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? As someone that used to travel a lot, the pandemic has actually grounded me a lot. It gave me an opportunity to sit still and focus and finally complete this project. It also allowed me to create a much better foundation for my business as an artist to stand upon. It may not have been the most creative time of my life, but it’s definitely helped me get my ducks in a row. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? Despite the creation of the art accounting for the larger part of the time spent on this project and the hardest to get through, the logistics afterward are definitely what I would consider the most challenging bit. I remember finishing the last drawing and having this burst of excitement quickly followed by the weight of the realization that I had to now; write a book, digitize the files, find a manufacturer, and create a Kickstarter campaign. The last few months have been intensive, to say the least. And this being my first Kickstarter, I hadn’t anticipated the amount of work that would be required post-launch! I have been non-stop answering messages and editing files and organizing interviews since its launch. Not to mention the countless business opportunities that came out of it that I’m managing behind the scenes! Tell us more about your theory that the octopus has the ability to grant wishes. I actually laughed out loud at this question. It all began a bit over 3 years ago. I had been staying with a friend who happened to have a matching octopus stuffed animal. So we started painting an octopus painting together while listening to podcasts about these strange critters. Pretty much, the more we knew, the weirder they got and we somehow concluded that the only explanation was that they must be genies. And what do genies do? Well… they grant wishes! So we started making a wish every time we saw an octopus and started telling people about how they grant wishes. No one knew we made it up, but no one seemed to question it - it just made sense. I mean, every wish that I have wished upon an octopus seems to have come true so there must be an element of truth to it. I remember the day I realized the myth had caught on when I was painting an octopus at a festival in Australia and someone came up to me and said “did you know they grant wishes?!” How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? I’ve been so caught up in the moment that I haven’t even thought about this actually. I already have so many plans for other projects afterward that this just feels like a big item to tick off the endless checklist of massive projects. I should go diving. That’s what I should do. Go back and visit the creatures that started it all. What is on offer for people who pledge? Well first off, my endless appreciation for their contribution to bringing this dream to life. Otherwise, there is the Octopus Tarot deck, there’s a playing card version of the deck, original drawings are available as well as prints, and currently, we have unlocked a few stretch goals including 2 stickers and an octopus fact pdf. There were pins but I think they’re sold out already. I have many more stretch goals planned to make the deal as sweet as possible for all the incredible backers that are willing to invest in this passion project of mine. www.lunacharlotteart.com IG: @lunacharlotteart TikTok: @lunacharlotteart Facebook: www.facebook.com/lunacharlotteart If you'd like to back this deck and maybe make a wish on an octopus, click here: Kickstarter - The Octopus Tarot

Our latest interview is with Lyn Thurman, the creator of the Wisdom of the Depths Tarot - a tarot deck that uses digital collage artwork, mainly from the late 1800s, in ocean-inspired scenes. The deck is loosely based on the tradition of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck - the names and numbering are the same - but Lyn took creative license with the images Kickstarter - Wisdom of the Depths Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I live in a beautiful seaside town in North Wales. We moved 10-hours before the first UK lockdown and I’m so blessed that I got to spend 2020 only a ten-minute stroll away from the sea. I adore living here. However, I’m a Londoner and London will always have a piece of my heart. What was your first experience with tarot/oracle and when did you fall in love with it? I bought my first tarot deck when I was seventeen. I had no idea what I was doing so I picked an Ancient Egyptian deck because I’d always felt a connection to that era. However, I really didn’t feel a connection with the deck. I buried it in my underwear drawer and never used it. Not sure what happened to it. When I was in my late twenties, I re-found tarot. It was a turbulent time in my life but it rekindled my fascination with all things mystical and magical. I bought a Rider-Waite tarot and set about learning how to read tarot. That was the beginning of the love affair with tarot and the start of a tarot collection (I’ve lost count). What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? I created an oracle deck in 2015 – the Sea Whispers – and had originally planned to create another oracle deck last year. It just felt like the right time to get creating again after a bit of a lull. But, as a tarot reader, I really wanted to create a tarot deck. It just seemed like a huge undertaking – 78 cards following a traditional RWS format. My husband encouraged me to take the plunge. My inspiration was the sea (it usually is for most things I do). It’s my happy place and I wanted to share that through my tarot. What would you say is unique about your deck? I think my deck is a bit quirkier than most sea-themed tarot decks. I have folklore characters, regular sea-living folk, and familiar creatures. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? The idea for the tarot deck came very quickly after realising that I’d like to create another oracle deck (in 2020). As soon as I realised that I was going to do a tarot deck, I started to create it. There was no big plan – just an unfolding. It took me a little over a year to complete. I started in July 2020 and finished August this year. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? Actually, I feel incredibly lucky to have found the pandemic to be a time of healing. Having space to reflect and ponder has renewed my creativity. I have had time to allow creativity to flow to the surface and then the desire to pursue it. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? My first challenge was believing that I could do it. After that, the deck sort of came together on its own. The next challenge was finding a printer in the UK that prints tarot/oracle decks. I only found two and one of those didn’t really meet my requirements. Fortunately, the other printer’s test deck was exactly what I was hoping for. My final challenge of this journey so far has been working out how to price a campaign for Kickstarter. The most frustrating thing was working out the postage, which must be included in the campaign goal. It gave me such a headache! The majority of the images you used were from the late 1800’s. Does this time period have significance to you? Not particularly. There is an abundance of public domain images from the late 1800s so it allowed me to find my characters for the tarot deck. I also fell in love with taking old artwork and breathing new life into it. My next deck, which I‘ve started on already, will also use a lot of 19th-century illustrations. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? That’s a good question. My husband and teenage daughter are my support team (and will be parcel packers when the time comes) so it will involve them. Might have to involve vegan pizza too! What is on offer for people who pledge? Along with the tarot deck, backers can choose to include a digital Tarot Journal, art prints, and handmade tarot bag wraps (made by The Auld Spaewife in Scotland). Instagram: @lynthurman Facebook: https://facebook.com/lynthurmanpage Website:https://lynthurman.com If you'd like to back this stunning deck, click here: Kickstarter - Wisdom of the Depths Tarot

Our latest interview is with Matthew Breer, the creator of Vivika Tarot of the Fae - a beautiful deck based on the B.O.T.A and Rider Waite tarot decks with a personal flair, vibrant colors, and a look into the wisdom of tarot depicted in a world of rainbow-winged fairies Kickstarter - Vivika Tarot of the Fae Where in the world do you call home? Well, that’s not an easy question as my home is anywhere, I hang my hat and I don’t own a hat 😊. I’m originally from Colorado, spent most of my life in Oklahoma, and Texas, but I’m based out of Texas and travel the world, although Cambodia has a special place in my heart and if I had a hat, it’s the place where I might hang it. What was your first experience with tarot/oracle and when did you fall in love with it? My first experience with the tarot was stumbling onto my mother’s deck when I was about 4 years old, thinking that they were the most interesting thing I had ever seen, and at that age they probably were. Needless to say, I’ve been dabbling in tarot and such things ever since. so, I would say I fell in love with it at the young age of 4. Being exposed to the imagery at such a young age probably drove me to pursue the arts in my education. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? I’m an artist and tarot lover so the natural progression is to make a deck, the act of creation is a magical process, and as an avid admirer of all things fairies it seemed fitting to make my first public deck fairy inspired. What would you say is unique about your deck? It’s a deck inspired by the world of rainbow-winged fairies and mushrooms, infused with vivid colors, personal flair, and an energy that can only be described as fairy-like. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? This is my first public deck. But, creating decks have been an ongoing idea or concept since 2008. This particular deck idea started over three years ago but with my mother having several strokes and passing, it was paused for quite a long time. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? Well for a long time, even before the pandemic, I had been in an artistic funk, and a few months back I had what I believe was covid, which knocked me off my feet for over a month, but after, I found myself out of the funk, emotionally, physically and spiritual and ready to create and so I have. Some dwell on the negatives of what is going on in the world around them I chose to look at the positives and so I must do what I can to make the world a better place. As an extension, this deck is the start of creating the change I want to see in the world. because I truly hope that it brings its owners the peace and happiness it has brought me in creating it. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? I think the hardest challenge was accepting the things that were keeping me in the funk, like my mother’s passing. however, I truly enjoyed almost every minute of making the deck as it flowed from my hand to the finished card, finishing each card gave me more energy to create the next. So, this will not be the last deck. I’m currently working on a deck to honor my mother, a unicorn-themed deck but it is still really early in its beginning, but so far it’s been a pleasure creating it. The name of your tarot is interesting. What is the meaning behind it? It’s a play on words and understanding as derived from the words vivid meaning bright, producing powerful feelings, and Viveka a Sanskrit name meaning wisdom, discernment, distinction, or right understanding. It has been described as the ability to differentiate between the real and unreal, eternal and temporary, Self and non-Self. It is the act of realizing the Truth and the Soul. So, it can roughly translate to The bright wisdom tarot of the fae but so much more is implied within, much like the cards themselves. Rider Waite is perhaps the most famous tarot deck; however, your deck is also based on the B.O.T.A deck. Can you explain more about this type of tarot? Yes, the Builders of the Adytum (BOTA) deck, for the most part closely resembles, Rider-Waite deck, but the creator of the B.O.T.A deck corrected what were thought to be mistakes or blinds in the Rider-Waite deck. Even going as far as to convert the suit cards back into pip style cards. as far as this deck is concerned, I took elements and ideas from both decks. In general, as far as I understood the symbolic elements, and incorporated them into the deck, if I felt I didn’t understand an element, or it just didn’t make sense, I researched it to have a better understanding. If it still didn’t feel right or didn’t make sense it was not included. For example, the death card in the Rider-Waite deck shows a skeleton in Armor atop of a horse, and in the B.O.T.A deck is a more traditional skeleton with heads around. so, while I understand the horse is meant to show movement or change in today’s modern age that is no longer the association so I opted to follow the B.O.T.A deck. However, I still included elements like the two towers and the flag. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? The Kickstarter ends just before Thanksgiving in the United States so I will be thankful for all the support and enjoy a big feast while shipping out orders and continuing to work on my next project. What is on offer for people who pledge? We are offering several things that are best described on the Kickstarter campaign but a summary is: 3 digital coloring books, A digital Card Art Print with your name on it, A copy of the illustrated guide to Vivica tarot of the fae guidebook, First Edition Deck, First Edition Round Deck, First Edition poker-sized deck. and several other things 😊 Website: https://www.breersartandthings.com/ Facebook Page https://web.facebook.com/BreersArt If your collection is calling out for rainbow-winged fairies to join it, click here: Kickstarter - Vivika Tarot of the Fae

Our latest interview is with Danielle from Danielle Trudeau Studios, the creator of The Joyseeker Oracle - an oracle deck that is a love letter to all things animals, plants, nature, and the beauty of life. Each card was hand-painted & inked by Danielle, with a focus on the magic and beauty of the natural world. Packed with symbolism and positivity, this deck will serve to remind us that there is magic in our daily life, we just have to allow it to shine. Kickstarter - The Joyseeker Oracle Where in the world do you call home? Born and raised in the prairies of Manitoba, Canada! I was surrounded by nature throughout my life, so animals and plants were always at the top of my inspiration list. What was your first experience with tarot/oracle and when did you fall in love with it? Symbolism in art was always something that felt magnetic to me, so when I discovered the world of tarot & oracle it was love at first sight. In a way, it felt like a language that was so fluid and personal and gave me the opportunity to see my own life in a different way. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? Creating my first deck, the Joyseeker Tarot, can only really be described as being a vessel to help bring something greater to life. The idea for the deck came on so suddenly, and I let myself be swept up in that energetic flow. What was truly bizarre was that so many of the details of the deck like the design, art style, and overall theme were already formed in that first burst of inspiration, and I continued to add my own spin on things. What would you say is unique about your deck? The colour palette blended with the subject matter definitely gives it a unique feel! Plus it was super fun to create so many pink animals! How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? The moment I wrapped up the Joyseeker Tarot deck, I knew I had to explore the idea more and the Joyseeker Oracle thoughts began. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? As a deeply introverted person that loves to spend time creating art, I appreciated the extra time indoors but the struggles of the world definitely made it hard to really fall into a deeply creative experience. I learned to take better care of myself as a result which is always a blessing! What have been your challenges in creating this deck? The brainstorming phase was definitely the trickiest - having created the Joyseeker Tarot first, I got used to having the structured flow of a Rider-Waite tarot-inspired, but when I really sat down to start planning the Oracle, I was overwhelmed with the sheer openness of everything. How do you combine shadow with light in each card? The balance of light & darkness, both visually and emotionally, has always been incredibly important to me. Dualities give life spice and also context, so this definitely has a factor in the Joyseeker Oracle. The message behind this deck as well as the Joyseeker Tarot isn't about ignoring the dark, sticky parts of life. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Instead, it encourages us to embrace and accept that darkness & pain, forgive it, and allow it to make the beauty & brightness shine that much more radiantly. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? A spa day and a brand new tattoo :) What is on offer for people who pledge? Backers can get their hands on the brand new Joyseeker Oracle deck, and can also bundle their pledge with the sister deck, the Joyseeker Tarot! There are also prints available of any of the cards so you can embrace more of that pink animal love within your favorite spaces. If you absolutely have to have these gorgeous pink animals in your collection, click here: Kickstarter - The Joyseeker Oracle Website - https://www.joyseekertarot.com/

Our latest interview is with Hansjurgen Bauer, the creator of The Lost Tarot - a tarot deck that is enriched with seventy-eight cards of medieval imagery, including emperors, empresses, kings, queens, knights, and their retinues, also a mage, a hierophant, the lovers, and the common fold of Feudal England at the time of Henry VIII. Kickstarter - The Lost Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I reside in Kerrville, a small town nestled among the hills, rivers, and forests of the Texas Hill Country. I also have a home in Los Angeles, California, but seldom remember to visit there. In the past couple of years, I’ve spent a good bit of time in New York City. What was your first experience with tarot / oracle and when did you fall in love with it? My first experience with tarot came when I was gifted a deck of the gorgeous 22 card Majors only Sola Busca tarot. After that, I was smitten. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? I have long had an interest in creating photo-based art, but the decision to create a tarot deck was not originally my idea. Once, it was my desire to create a portfolio of highly distressed, antiqued photographs depicting well-known historical personages (Robin Hood, Julius Caesar, Joan of Arc, etc.) as if they had simply shown up at my door requesting that I make their portrait. For several reasons (the difficulty of finding suitable models and period-appropriate costumes), those first attempts were unsatisfactory and, in time, I moved from Los Angeles to a rural Texas town, where I soon forgot about the project. After several years, during which I sporadically attended two local Renaissance fairs, a friend reminded me of the earlier project and suggested that most of the heavy lifting had already been done by the wonderful characters encountered at the fairs, with their fantastic costumes, armour, and period accessories. My friend further suggested I try my hand at a Tarot deck, about which I knew little at the time. I decided to experiment with a single card, The Fool, and, if pleased with the result, would continue. To my great delight, The Fool far exceeded my expectations. What would you say is unique about your deck? Through trial and error, I was able to create a 22-card deck of Majors giving the impression of an authentic medieval tarot. Clearly, such vintage decks were already in existence, but mine would be different: The Lost Tarot would consist entirely of photographs, the idea being that they were created with a crude prototype box camera (a camera obscura) nearly three-and-a-half centuries before the actual intention of the first camera in 1839. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? The first images were made around 2014. In 2017, testing the waters, I published the signed/number limited edition Majors + 4 bonus Aces. Now four years and countless hours later, I’m publishing the full 78-card deck + 2 bonus mono cards. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? Having been self-employed most of my life, I have the luxury of working from home. I’ve been blessed in having been largely unaffected by the pandemic, although I have put a few trips on the back burner. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? So many. As mentioned, most of the characters were encountered at two local Renaissance fairs. However, some additional images were shot in my home studio. Some costumes were created and shipped to me from Ukraine. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? Good question. Begin with getting caught up on some bills. And perhaps a long road trip to National Parks located in the Western states. Beyond that, I’m back to polishing a new novel. What is on offer for people who pledge? Our Kickstarter campaign (09-09-21 through 10-11-21) features a tier of sixteen pledge options. The basic pledge, the one that seems most popular, is ‘The Companions’: one deck of The Lost Tarot 78-Card Edition + 2 bonus mono cards, and its Companion Guide. $50. (Once the KS campaign is over, decks will be priced at $60). But again, there are multiple pledge combinations. To bring the past to life with this deck, click here: Kickstarter - The Lost Tarot

Our latest interview is with Taryn Wise, the creator of the Transparent Owl Tarot Deck -a tarot deck that can be used in a creative context and can help artists with the creative process. A deck that can also help everyone uncover their hidden creativity. Kickstarter - Transparent Owl Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I live close to the ocean with my dog Smokey on the Long Beach Peninsula. What was your first experience with tarot / oracle and when did you fall in love with it? The Transparent Owl Tarot Deck came about after discovering an old Rider/Waite tarot deck in a cupboard of an abandoned house. My knowledge of tarot was limited to movies that usually showed some poor soul picking the Death or Tower card and then being doomed. This became the beginning of my own Fool’s Journey – I was going through a time of intense transition where I was drawing the Death and Tower cards almost every day! What I learned was that these cards meant transition and rebirth (not doom) and gave me the belief that not only would I survive, but that I would thrive in my new life. I found out that the Tarot was a perfect blending of my artistic talents and art history background. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? This project is dedicated in memory of my Mom. I inherited my love of art and different cultures - earthly and beyond - from her. She is the reason for this deck - with such a personal bonding a person has with their chosen deck, my Mom would have told me “you need to make your own” - so I did :) What would you say is unique about your deck? My last name is Wise and I have always been drawn to owls. When I first discovered the Tarot I searched and found many gorgeous decks with animals, but not any that were based on owls. I also had a hard time finding references for artists and creatives – how can the cards be used in a creative context? How can they help artists with the creative process? The suits in my deck are based on creatives: Wands = Paintbrushes & Pencils = 2 D creatives, ie. Painters, Graphic Designers, Tattoo Artists Cups = Musical notes = Emotional Creatives, ie. Musicians, Dancers & Actors Pentacles = Gears = 3 D Creatives, ie. Architects, Software Developers, Sculptors Swords = Pens = Intellectual Creatives, ie. Writers, Scientists, Philosophers How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? It has taken me 2 years to create and paint the deck. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? The times have reminded me as to what is important to me and put many aspects of my life into perspective. No matter what avenues are closed, the power of the creative mind is always awake and alive. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? My biggest challenge has been finding a suitable box. I would like to be able to do a magnetic box or a two-piece box but I have not found a printer source yet that is economical (without a huge minimum) with the quality & turnaround I am looking for. My printer is able to provide a tuck box but…. I am still looking! It’s such an interesting concept to produce a deck to help people with the creative process. Can this deck be used by people who may think they are not creative? Can it unlock their creativity? Absolutely! We all have an imagination that is just waiting to be accessed. Literally every interaction on earth and beyond is a common human language made up of images. We all have common life experiences which have been recorded through various creative outlets. Languages and even the disciplines we call science and medicine are a combination of images and symbols that communicate thought processes. Think about blueprints, mathematical formulas, and MRI’s for instance – all images that communicate information. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? I will start painting the images for my next deck! What is on offer for people who pledge? I have individual decks & multiple deck offerings. The book will be available to everyone via a digital download. They can also buy a printed version in the add-ons.My Intro class for creatives is available as an add-on.I have a Creative Bundle which includes a limited edition, signed deck plus the Intro class. Website www.transparentowl.com To unleash the creative soul within you, click here: Kickstarter - Transparent Owl Tarot

Our latest interview is with Mykola Taradaiko, the creator of the Sea Witch Tarot - a tarot deck based on the wise Sea Witch - a character from H. Ch. Andersen’s fairy tale The Little Mermaid. Every card contains symbols of A. E. Waite. There are many similarities to a classic Rider Waite deck, however there are also many differences. In the minor Arcana, the Sea Witch has her own little helpers, and they are different in each suit. This helps differentiate the suit the card belongs to and the element it presents - there are golden creatures in pentacles, orange in wands, blue in swords, and purple in cups. Kickstarter - Sea Witch Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I come from Ukraine, a country with deep historical roots and ancient esoteric traditions. What was your first experience with tarot / oracle and when did you fall in love with it? For a long time I had an online store of playing cards. One day a man came to me from the street and asked why I didn’t sell Tarot. I thought about it and began to study what the Tarot is and what it is for, since then I have been carried away by it. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? Once I found out that my friend the artist Jester was creating an erotic deck Muladhara Tarot, I decided to help him promote it. At first we thought to contact one of the well-known publishers, but then I decided to launch my own. Then I ran my own small publishing house Pentagram Publishing. Sea Witch Tarot will be our third Tarot deck published. What would you say is unique about your deck? Every card contains symbols of A. E. Waite. Any interested person can compare the deck with that of the classical Rider - Waite tarot to find many similarities as well as many differences. In the minor Arcana, Sea Witch has her own little helpers, and they are different in each suit. This can also remind of the suit the card belongs to and the element it presents - there are golden creatures in pentacles, orange in wands, blue in swords, and purple in cups. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? Earlier this year, my friend and colleague Mishel Tarnopovich showed me sketches of a deck where the heroine looked like a nun and an octopus at the same time. We started thinking about it and came to the image of the Sea Witch. After that, in 5 months, the entire deck was created. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? The pandemic has not affected my life, work and creativity in any way. I am not afraid of the coronavirus. If The Higher Powers need to kill me, they will kill me, and if it is not necessary, they will not kill me. Then why should I be afraid of a pandemic? What have been your challenges in creating this deck? This was the first deck in my life where the same hero is present on all 78 cards. Therefore, it was difficult to think about all the symbolism and all situations, to preserve the meaning of the deck. What is the symbolism behind the Sea Witch as a character for the tarot? Sea Witch is old and wise, and a tarot character must carry wisdom. As you remember from Andersen’s tales, it is she who saved the Little Mermaid from troubles and warned her against dangers. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? This will be our first small victory on Kickstarter! And immediately after that, we will begin to prepare for the next campaign. - Reverse Scale Tarot. What is on offer for people who pledge? Sea Witch Tarot deck and accessories designed specifically for Sea Witch Tarot: silk bag, plush cloth and wooden box. Contacts: Website Pentagram Publishing https://pentagram.shop/ Instagram @pentpub To bring the Sea Witch to life in your collection, click here: Kickstarter - Sea Witch Tarot

Our latest interview is with Beenish Khan, the creator of the Flights of Fantasy Tarot - a vividly-illustrated Tarot deck with characters from folklore and mythology. Each card is tied to a fable, a legend, a deity. No single card bears a similar theme. Yet each card can be read as part of a self-exploratory whole. Whether your goal is shadow-work, divination or simple entertainment, it is my hope that these cards will offer a humble source of wisdom.. Kickstarter - Flights of Fantasy Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I've been traveling since I was a child, so I'm used to finding home in unexpected places! That said, I find myself unfailingly gravitating to places by bodies of water – whether it's rivers or sea-sides. Currently, I'm residing in Austin, Texas, and utterly in love with their network of lakes, and the energy of freshness and inspiration they bring :) What was your first experience with tarot / oracle and when did you fall in love with it? I was 12-years-old when I first got my hands on a Morgan Greer Tarot deck. Although I couldn't understand the motifs, and knew very little about Tarot's divinatory uses, the deck's artwork just spoke to me. It was like poring through a storybook with a complex and colourful cast of characters. Afterward, I bought a guidebook to understand the significance and mythology behind the cards. Since then, I've purchased and perused several Tarot/Oracle decks. Yet my baseline fascination for Tarot remains tied to its storied iconography. For me, each card is like an illustrated page, and can offer us guidance on how to understand our world, both the inner and outer. What made you want to create your own oracle deck? What was your inspiration? I've always had a deep fondness for Brothers Grimm fables, and their older, more adult origins. Similarly, I'm always on the hunt for tidbits of local folklore and mythology wherever I travel, be it Okinawan ghost stories or Slavic fairytales. In a way, Flights of Fantasy is both a love-letter and an illustrated compendium of the stories/characters that have most strongly resonated with me, from childhood to adulthood, and my desire to share their interpretations with a wider audience. What would you say is unique about your deck? In terms of uniqueness, I've tried to convey a literal sense of the fantastical in the deck, through both its vivid and highly saturated colours, and the surreal compositions. I want to offer Tarot readers a sense of having their feet in two worlds – at once grounded in reality and also somehow untethered from it, in a way that invites reflection, and a sense of freedom. One of the reasons I chose Flights of Fantasy as the deck's title was because of the Greek word "phantasia," from which "fantasy" is derived. For Ancient Greece, phantasia was synonymous with the imaginative faculty, and the birthplace of ideas before they manifested in the physical realm. I'm hopeful that this deck offers a similar space to entertain fantasies, as part of the healthy and holistic process of self-knowledge. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? Since my late teens, I'd dabbled with the idea of creating my own Tarot deck, in a loosely Rider-Waite-Smith style. However, I lacked confidence in my ability to create a deck that others would respond positively to – and the patience to sit down and meticulously plan each aspect of its design. You could say this deck has been a learning curve nearly two decades in the making, in terms of both self-discipline and artistic skill, with several aspects needing to be redone and revised until I got them just right – or was at least satisfied with the end result ^^; We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? As someone who revels in solitude as a chance for creativity and reflection, the pandemic brought with it both complications and blessings. On the one hand, it felt as though we were forced to hit pause on many aspects of our lives, and reassess what truly sustained us, versus what was ultimately damaging for our well-being. On the other hand, there is no denying the pandemic has been a source of tremendous emotional, physical and financial stress. For me, personally, the backdrop of the pandemic allowed me to transform my creative work into a source of meaning-making, beyond simply an outlet for stress. I think most artists treat their works as tangible representations of their feelings. For me, the pandemic created environmental pressures that forced me to go beyond that, and treat my artwork as a narrative of my current state-of-being, and how that evolves from moment-to-moment in a post-2020 world. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? One of the biggest challenges was finding a wide variety of subjects to sketch, given the lockdowns. Initially, I'd envisioned a diverse cast of characters from all walks of life. Unfortunately, the pandemic forced me to limit who I could and couldn't include in the deck. Rather, I ended up using myself as a reference for much of the artwork, and narrowing the scope of stories I hoped to share. Thankfully, with restrictions loosening, I've had the chance to update the deck, and include more characters that better reflect my original plans for an inclusive and multifaceted storyset :) Your deck can be used for shadow work, and I know a lot of our readers are interested in decks they can use for this. Can you explain how the deck is used in this way? In my experience, self-reflection, and the space to fully embrace our darker aspects, is part and parcel of shadow work. While I've done my best to imbue Flights of Fantasy with a sense of colourful whimsy, there is no denying that this is a "dark/gothic" flavour of deck, in terms of both subject matter and style. Tarot compels us to confront all facets of ourselves, both the positive and negative. Similarly, the deck doesn't shy from more sinister motifs – but it also attempts to engage the querent in a dialogue with their darker selves, using the imagery of myths and fables to tap into the language of their subconscious. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? Knowing me, I'll have leapfrogged the "Time to Celebrate!" stage right to the "What will my next project be?" stage, haha! What is on offer for people who pledge? There is a wide collection of goodies to choose from! The tiers below $50 feature over 100 Kiss-Cut Stickers, 6x6 Magnets, and Posters from my store, DÉJÀ VISITÉ. For the tiers above $50, there are a variety of options to receive the Tarot deck. There's also a Combo Pack tier which allows backers to receive the deck in addition to all the abovementioned goodies! :) To begin your flight to fantasy with this deck, click here: Kickstarter - Flights of Fantasy Tarot Website - Main Store Youtube TikTok

Our latest interview is with Aka Skyweb, the creator of the Orphic Tarot - A fully illustrated deck that combines the Tarot tradition with the Greek Orphic mysteries. Featuring 80 original cards. The Orphic Tarot deck revolves around the theme of life-death-rebirth, with its recurrent references to the myth of Orpheus, his symbolic descent to the Underworld, and his return to the land of the living. It is particularly indicated for shadow-working, self-healing and medium channeling. It has a powerful, solemn and firm energy, akin to "the eye of the Typhoon" kind of electric quietness. Kickstarter - Orphic Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I guess wherever I can really stop thinking and just be in the moment. When I can access an indefinable state of eternity, and my body is an extension of my surroundings. This includes of course natural places, like forests and the sea shore, but can be extended to my own room if I enter a meditative-kind of state. It is quite hard to explain through words. (I never in my life did drugs, btw) What was your first experience with tarot / oracle and when did you fall in love with it? I was well into mythology, symbolism, metaphysical and esoteric traditions way before my chance encounter with Tarot. To be honest, Tarot and Oracle cards did not really appeal to me at first. I was too sceptical of the aura of “quackery” which, unfortunately, surrounds this divination tool nowadays. I think the turning point was the chance encounter with Jodorowsky’s book “The path of Tarot”, which I bought when I was 20, both out of curiosity and to gain more information for an assignment at the Art Academy I used to attend to at that time. What made you want to create your own oracle deck? What was your inspiration? I guess it was a combination of factors. On the one hand I desperately needed a vent to my anguish and frustration during the COVID-19 lockdown in March-April 2020. On the other hand, I felt a strong urge to incorporate my knowledge of Tarot and cement it by creating my own deck. Dabbling into art as I would normally do lacked a sense of cohesion and structure and was not providing me with much solace. But a Tarot deck can be (should be) a creative work of art AND the reflection of the unity of macro and micro-cosmos, so I went for that option. After carefully considering my areas of expertise, I chose Greek mythology and specifically, the myth of Ariadne, Theseus and the Minotaur as a source of inspiration for my first deck. After a successful crowdfunding campaign, I started planning the Orphic Deck, which is currently on Kickstarter. What would you say is unique about your deck? The Orphic Tarot unites the tradition of Tarot with the wisdom of ancient Greek Orphic Mysteries. It has 80 cards (including an alternative Magician and World), each featuring a deity of the Orphic pantheon. It took a painstaking work of research and studying to establish strong nets of correspondences between the energy of the traditional Tarot cards and that of the Orphic deities that embody it. For instance: The Empress is represented by Mother Gaia (the Earth), while her counterpart, The Emperor, is Father Ouranos (The Sky). The orphic deck revolves around the theme of life-death-rebirth, with its recurrent references to the myth of Orpheus, his symbolic descent to the Underworld (katabasis), in pursuit of his deceased wife, and his return to the land of the living, enrichened with a supernatural knowledge which led him to compose the “Orphic Hymns” and fund the Orphic religion. This deck is particularly indicated for shadow-working, self-healing and medium channelling. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? A good whole year and half since the idea started buzzing in my head, and about 11 months of relentless work to physically create it We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? It was the actual catalyst for the creation of my first deck, and surely enough of a contributor to the making of my second deck, so I can’t say that the pandemic thwarted my creativity and self-expression. This is mostly because making “stuff” is for me, a form of escapism. However, I have to admit that, all of this pent-up, electrifying energy sizzling my brains did not come without a price psychologically-wise. I had many burn-outs and still suffer from insomnia, but that’s become almost a habit of mine, lol. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? I regret not to have chosen a better drawing support for the cards, while I was drawing them. It took me literally MONTHS to edit all the bleeding lines and imperfections in Photoshop. Your deck is a hybrid between the Marseilles Tarot and the Rider Waite, what inspired you to combine the two? The Marseille Tarot and its symbolism (especially concerning the Major Arcana) was the first I was confronted with when I started gathering information about the MEANING behind the mystery of Tarot. Although I am not a huge fan of its iconography, I can’t deny that the Marseille Tarot has a much more insightful, enlightening and rational structure that the Rider Waite’s. Also, the numerological correspondences between the energy of the first ten Major Arcana and the first ten cards of the four suits is most appealing to me. This is why I made a point to apply the same numerological symbology in the Orphic Deck. Please don’t get me wrong: I appreciate the RWS Tarot too, especially the fact it is a fully-illustrated deck, a feature it shares, in fact, with the Orphic Deck. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? Probably with a nice glass of red wine and a night of free readings live on my IG for all of my amazing backers. What is on offer for people who pledge? A big and sturdy 6x6cm hard enamel gorgeous pin featuring Nyx and the Orphic Egg. A 55X55 cm 100% pure cotton themed altar cloth A 16 pages zine featuring 8 Orphic themed Tarot readings by your favorite Goddesses: Athena, Nyx, Themis, Selene, Hecate, Persephone, Artemis and Medusa) Hand-stenciled, 100% linen drawstring Tarot bags featuring Selene, Hecate and Nyx.- Ideal for regular size (120x70 mm) Tarot cards. Hand-stenciled, 100% linen drawstring Tarot bag featuring Athena on the one side, and her counterpart Medusa, on the other.- Ideal for regular size (120x70 mm) Tarot cards. Soon I will be putting up some hand-made articulated rag-dolls and a limited number of 10 Zodiac-themed sets of 12 Charms . They are both truly one of a kind, and in high demand after the first batch was snapped up in a matter of hours, so I suggest you follow me on my IG (@akaskywentarot) to get notified on their launch! To support this beautifully illustrated deck, click here: Kickstarter - Orphic Tarot

Our latest interview is with Brant Pallazo, the creator of the Moon Baby Tarot - a tarot deck based on the Hoi Polloi tarot. First marketed in 1972 as a game for children, the Hoi Polloi has remained a favourite deck among collectors despite its low print quality because of its funky take on the original Rider Waite Smith deck. Brant knew the quality could be improved to contemporary standards while preserving its mid-century aesthetic. The deck was re-coloured and re-formatted so that the images could be printed in modern tarot dimensions. The original old gothic font didn't suit the style of the deck so it was replaced with a fun '70s style font. The result is a fun, updated take on a classic vintage deck. The Kickstarter for this deck has finished and it was fully funded within 7 hours!! Enchanted Gypsy will stock the deck, so keep an eye out if you would like to purchase! Brant will have an etsy shop and will have high quality art prints of the most popular cards in the deck and other fun goodies. Where in the world do you call home? I live in the capital city, Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? I actually grew up about 45 minutes away from New Orleans which is a major hub for Voodoo and other Magical practices. Jackson Square is a city block and is sort of where all the action is. There are tons of street performers and venders selling handmade products. Among these artisans are tarot readers set up all over the streets. As a young person I spent many weekends there with my family and friends. So, I really grew up seeing tarot readers and so for me tarot has always been normal and I never really had any negative ideas about tarot. For me, it’s just always been normal and fun. It wasn’t until I grew up that I really learned about how to use the cards. My love for tarot really began when I started collecting decks. My vintage deck collection is my prized possession. There’s nothing I enjoy more than searching for and finding a deck that is hard to find. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? The Hoi Polloi is one on of the first vintage decks that I got at the start of my collection. I absolutely fell in love with it! It came out in 1972 and had everything- a fun ‘70s vibe, Rider Waite Smith based, amazing colors. The only issues I had were that the cardstock was thin and poorly cut and hard to shuffle and the printing was not very good. Shuffling is such an important part of the reading for me. I’d say I’m kind of an aggressive shuffler actually. I always wished I could use the Hoi Polloi more easily. It just wasn’t satisfying to shuffle. When the Pandemic started I lost my job. I was left in a place I hadn’t been before in my life. I didn’t have the answer this time, I didn’t know what to do this time. I have always been interested in art. I’ll pretty much try any medium. I’ve experimented with acrylic painting, weaving, macramé, pastels, gouache, watercolors and the list could go on for pages. I hadn’t really ever worked with digital media though, so I decided to turn the lemon that life gave me into lemonade by exploring and learning photoshop. It was an excellent help to keep me focused on something good and fun and really kept my mind off of my unemployment. I started learning photoshop by editing, reformatting and recoloring the Lovers card from the Hoi Polloi. After I finished that card I moved to another and then another. Pretty soon I had worked my way through all the cards and really developed my photoshop skills. What would you say is unique about your deck? It’s hard to find a Rider Waite Smith deck that isn’t just fully drawn from the original deck. My deck is fully Rider Waite Smith without being a complete clone of Pamela Colman Smith’s original drawings. My deck has a decidedly ‘70s aesthetic- from the font to the colors. At the same time, it feels relevant today. It doesn’t feel old, it feels Vintage and retro. How long have you had the idea for the deck and how long has it taken you to create it? I started working on the deck around September 2020. It was a slow process though because I didn’t consistently work on it every day. I would sort of work on it a little when I could and then came back and worked on it more when I had time. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? I’d say the pandemic actually helped with my creativity. Being at home and having limited time with people other than my husband and immediate family opened up my free time. It also was the only reason I had the time to learn photoshop and work on the deck. What have been your challenges in creating the deck? The biggest challenge was the learning curve of photoshop. I picked it up well but it was difficult to find ways to do the things I needed to do because I didn’t know what the processes were called. I don’t have a graphic design background so I didn’t always have the vocabulary to describe what I needed to do. It was a challenge but it was fun! How do you thing the ‘70s style will resonate with younger tarot readers? I think the colors are really timeless on their own and it’s only when you put them next to each other that they give the feeling of the ‘70s. I also think that the timing of my project is really good because the ’70s kind of groovy tie-dye vibe is kind of having a moment on social media. The deck is definitely groovy and retro but also seems relevant with the current trends and aesthetics. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? I think I want to celebrate during the entire process. I want to enjoy it every step of the way and I want to include the people who have been supportive of my project. I’ve been thinking about filming the tie-dying process for the reading cloths and then the packaging process for my YouTube channel, @Moon Baby. It has been such a lovely process unlike anything else that I’ve experienced. It’s one thing to create a work of art and have your friends and family compliment it and support it, but having the support of people all over the world is the most overwhelmingly good feeling. It’s hard to put the feeling into words. What is on offer for the people who pledge? So far the deck will be printed on high-quality cardstock with a matte finish and will be housed in a rigid two piece box. We’ve blown through the stretch goals with include: two additional cards so you can pick which numbers you want strength and Justice to be, a Spread cloth that will be Tie-dyed by me with custom colors that match the palette of the deck, and a guide book that will have all the basic things you need to know to read your cards for the first time and will include my favorite spread. Moon Baby YouTube QR code: