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Our latest interview is with Nils and Nadine from Hidden Realms Publishing, the creator of the Wisdom of Ancient Egypt Oracle - an oracle deck that will take you on a journey through one of the most powerful civilizations in the history of human kind: The Ancient Egypt. The illustrated cards feature the most well known and important deities, gods, goddesses, pharaohs, monuments and symbolism of the Old, Middle and New Kingdom. Dive deep into the Wisdom of the ancient Egyptians and discover how they can guide you in the present. Hidden Realm Publishing is an indie publisher from Berlin, Germany, specializing in tarot and oracle decks Kickstqrter - Wisdom Ancient Egypt Oracle Where in the world do you call home? First of all, my sister Nadine and I want to thank you very much for your interview request. We both live in Berlin at the moment, but Nadine has also lived in Brisbane for a year and really enjoyed her time there. Australia is such a beautiful country! Where do we feel at home? I think that both – me and my sister are lucky to feel at home everywhere in the world. The world is so big and has so many beautiful places. What was your first experience with tarot / oracle and when did you fall in love with it? Oracle cards, tarot and astrology were given to both of us in the cradle so to say and that's why we both started quite early with it. I think I had my first deck when I was 15 years and Nadine was only 12. There was always a deck of our mothers lying around somewhere in our house and of course that made us curious. What made you want to create your own oracle deck? What was your inspiration? You know, if you deal with decks a lot, I think the desire comes almost by itself, especially because we both constantly equip ourselves with new indie decks. Nadine just confessed to me the other day that she urgently needs a new cabinet for her decks because she has no more space and if I'm honest, it's the same for me. As we both share the same passion for tarot and oracle decks – it didn’t take us long to decide that we wanted to create something together. What would you say is unique about your deck? I think the spirit with which we have created this deck is something special. When you start to deal with millennia of history, gods and pharaohs, this magic of fascination quickly jumps over to you. Also, it was and is important to us to provide the buyers of "WISDOM OF ANCIENT EGYPT ORACLE" with a great, high-quality deck with lots of details and extras and I think we did that. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank every single supporter and backer. Without your help, this would not have been possible! Thank you so much. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? The first time we talked about it was in the summer of 2019, I think it was in June. As children, ancient Egypt fascinated us in an inexplicable way: the pyramids, the Nile, the wonderful temples, and all the imposing statues. The mysterious and magical culture that existed more than 4,000 years before us and who has left us such a remarkable cultural legacy filled with knowledge and spiritual wisdom. On several trips to the land of the pharaohs, our enthusiasm grew steadily and when we first started discussing collaborating on an oracle deck project together, we both quickly realized that it should be an Egyptian themed deck. All in all it has been a little bit more than 2 years including the completion which will start soon and this project will reach fruition in June/July this year. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? Everything in the universe has at least 2 sides I think and the fact that we found the possibility and time to fully concentrate on our project due to numerous and sometimes long lockdowns has definitely had a positive effect. A deck of 50 hand-painted cards takes a lot of time and also a detailed guidebook is not written overnight. So for the creative phases, the pandemic hasn’t been that bad, but of course, we both hope that things will go back to normal as fast as possible, for all of us. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? In fact, there have been some challenges. When you start to get into the mythology and history behind ancient Egypt, you quickly realize that there is a lot of information out there and some of them differ from one another. The reason for this is probably simply that we are dealing with records that are several thousand years old. Why do you think Ancient Egypt is so fascinating to so many people? We both think that the magical and mythical time of ancient Egypt inspires and interests so many people. Not only that the Egyptians were already a fascinating and advanced high culture - the buildings, the masks, the temples and pyramids - I myself was several times in Egypt and I can assure you, it is simply fascinating. In addition, already in ancient Egypt, about 4-6 thousand years ago, astrology was practiced - and this must be appreciated, right? Since we couldn’t really find an ancient Egyptian-themed oracle deck – there are certainly some wonderful decks out there - we have decided to change that. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? To be honest, we haven't really thought that much about celebrating yet. Right now, our work is still in full swing, and we're cheering every day as we look at the current numbers from our Kickstarter campaign. I think we will meet for dinner afterward to celebrate what we have accomplished. But first, there's still some work to be done. What is on offer for people who pledge? Our supporters during the campaign and also our customers after the Kickstarter phase can look forward to a high quality oracle deck. In addition, there is a comprehensive guidebook in two different versions and also many extras that you can select, such as the limited card deck with the gilded edges, beautiful altar cloths and much much more. And last but not least, there is a special price for our Kickstarter backers. Nils & Nadine To add the wisdom of Ancient Egypt to your collection: Kickstqrter - Wisdom Ancient Egypt Oracle

Our latest interview is with Stefanie Caponi, the creator of the Moon Void Tarot.- a unique deck that follows the journey of one singular character - The Fool, pulling the reader inward with the purpose of self-reflection, shadow work, and healing while learning to develop & trust one's intuition. Stefanie Caponi is an illustrator, intuitive writer, and practicing witch from Brooklyn, New York. She is the creator of the Moon Void Tarot 1st & 2nd editions as well as the author of Guided Tarot For Seamless Readings (Penguin Random House) and she writes the monthly horoscopes for Dame Wellness that focus on sex and intimacy. Her work combines many forms of creative expression to explore shadow work, healing, spirituality, and self-reflection by blending tarot, astrology, witchcraft, and story telling with the help of her two tuxedo cats, Onyx & Luna. Kickstqrter - Moon Void Tarot - 3rd edition Where in the world do you call home? Brooklyn, New York is home for now! What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? I got my hands on my first tarot deck when I was 14 and instantly fell in love. It was a RWS deck, purchased long before the internet existed, and I kept it a secret for many years because I went to catholic school and it really scared my parents. I’m happy to say they are now very pro-tarot! What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? I did not set out to create a tarot deck at all. I was writing a memoir about the spiritual awakening that happened during my divorce when I began doodling what the book would look like (automatic drawing is a way I connect with source energy) I drew a book with open pages containing text, and on the other page I started drawing The Fool. Then I realized my story was just like the tarot and I began drawing the first Moon Void Tarot illustrations, just for myself, as a way of working through the pain I was feeling. What would you say is unique about your deck? I created the deck to help myself through some serious shadow work and to my knowledge I have not seen another deck that follows only one character. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? Each time I’ve created an edition of Moon Void Tarot, the idea has sprung up suddenly and the artwork pours out of me in a matter of a few weeks, which is my favorite part! Then come the production logistics, which take several months and are rewarding in their own right. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? I’m honestly very grateful for losing all of my work in early 2020. What started as a very scary Tower moment has helped clear the path for some of the most creative work I’ve ever accomplished. During this past year I’ve created 2 versions of Moon Void Tarot, wrote my first traditionally published book, Guided Tarot for Seamless Readings, Illustrated a young adult fiction book that is coming out in June, and I’m starting work on the second book this month. It has been a wild time. I hope that everyone is learning to trust the void spaces, learn to let go, and surrender gently. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? Formatting my artwork digitally! I wanted to teach myself how to be my own graphic designer, and it hasn’t been pretty, but the learning process has been fascinating, and when I manage to get something right it’s just so satisfying. Can you explain the significance of the moon, and associated rituals, with the tarot? For me, the moon and associated rituals are so significant with tarot because the moon is symbolic of what is hidden and it serves as a safe, compassionate guide to shining light into our personal darkness. It also celebrates our intuitive gifts, helping us to unlearn societal conditioning that only rewards active accomplishments. The moon in tarot helps us normalize waiting, cultivating patience, and tuning back into our bodies for answers, rather than making hasty decisions out of fear. With the moon, we embrace the unknown. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? I will be buying lots of flowers and a lovely dinner! What is on offer for people who pledge? I’m thrilled to be able to finally make packaging upgrades, moving from a tuck box to a beautiful two piece rigid box, as well as higher quality paper, and silver foil edges! I am most excited to add three additional cards to the 78 card deck, including two crystal oracle cards, Morganite and Black Diamond, that correspond to the heart and root chakras, and a card called The Planchette, which upright says “yes” and reversed says “no,” eliminating any ambiguity that can sometimes be present in our readings. These special touches are exclusive to the Kickstarter campaign 3rd Edition and will not be found in future editions. I’m so grateful to everyone who has helped bring this project to life, and I’m so excited to be able to make art and connect with so many wonderful people through something I had to hide for such a long time. To own a copy of this revamped iconic deck, click here: Kickstqrter - Kickstqrter - Moon Void Tarot - 3rd edition

Our latest interview is with Iara Cortes, the creator of the La Flora Tarot.- a botanical tarot deck based on the Rider Waite Smith system. It goes far beyond the aesthetics of plant drawings. La Flora Tarot is a true study on the correlation of plants and all the Tarot archetypes in a deep, meaningful way. Stylistically, La Flora is based on a highly curated selection of centuries old drawing masterpieces originally created for scientific purposes but pushing the edge on the realm of pure art. Far from being a collage, these botanical masterpieces were beautifully reproduced using a drawing technique called stippling. In its purest form, a stippled image is composed exclusively of dots. One must look at it at a precise distance to genuinely appreciate its richness. As such, stippling became the common thread weaving together all the art in La Flora Tarot. Kickstqrter - La Flora Tarot Where in the world do you call home? My husband and I were born in Brazil. We chose to immigrate to Canada where we became proud Canadian Citizens and parents to a wonderful two-year old boy. We live in Southern Ontario, and that’s where we are delighted to call home. What was your first experience with oracles and / or tarot and when did you fall in love with it? At 19, I bought a Tarot deck on a whim, at lunch break, while browsing a local esoteric store full of crystals, incenses and magic potions. At that time, I wanted to become a witch. I bought it with hopes of being able to glimpse into the future. The Tarot deck came with a guide for beginners. On the guide’s introductory pages, it stated that if you were a beginner, you should start with questions to which the answer should be a simple yes or no. I took the guide seriously and started practicing. Quickly I realized that formulating questions that lead to a yes or no answer was not simple at all. It made me think hard about why I was asking those questions. It made me strip down to the essence of what I was feeling at that time. To my surprise, the more I sat down with my Tarot to “get answers”, the more I was working on the questions. At one point I realized I was not going to get a glimpse into the future. Instead, here it was a gift that made me meditate, think clearer, make difficult questions and face my feelings with honesty. A lot of times I was surprised to find out that my true feelings were actually different from what I had believed them to be up to that point. I was discovering “my true self” through asking those questions. I was discovering what mattered to me and who I wanted to become at an early and confusing age, when you are supposed to make choices that will shape your future. It brought to light a more conscious, clear, practical and rational way of thinking that I had never experienced before. The Tarot was a tool I was using to be my own therapist so to speak. I am grateful to have discovered the Tarot then as I would not have found the same “guidance” around me at that time. Today, after reading and studying more about its history and archetypes, I use it as a tool to help me achieve a calm, meditative state of mind every time I sit down to get to know myself a little more. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? The thought of creating my own Tarot deck came naturally since it combined my love for plants, art and design with my constant search for personal growth. That is how I look at the Tarot: as a ludic but powerful tool for meditation, self-discovery and by consequence, growth. I know there are other beautiful botanical decks readily available, but I believe I am bringing something new to the botanical Tarot table. I guess I should mention that the core inspiration for La Flora Tarot was the essay: “The Intelligence of the Flowers” by Maurice Maeterlinck. Once you read it, you can never unlearn the brutality of the plant world. Aside from your own deck, do you have a favourite deck? If so, which one? There is so much beauty out there. I adore everything UUSI studio has made this far but if I had to pick just one, that would be the “Carnival at the End of the World” by Kahn & Selesnick. The artwork at first seems old-world naïve, but then, looking closer, you will find so many layers and complexity. It is one of those things where you keep discovering new nuances every time. So much so that the French Laetitia @laetitia.cartomancy, who studied art history at Sorbonne and works as an intuitive counsellor, has created a workshop dedicated to the Carnival at the End of the World iconography. Do you have a favourite card (either from your deck or just the card in general). If so, why is it your favourite? This is silly but I do not have a favourite card, I have three (our four)! Since I discovered everyone has Tarot birth cards assigned to them and mine were The Sun, The Wheel of Fortune and The Magician, they became favourites. That said, I do have a soft spot for The Hermit card. I believe it is the one I identify myself with the most, especially the introversion and search aspects of it. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? When I first heard about it, I guess just like everybody else I was shocked and in disbelief. There were so many unanswered questions and real, practical fears. Having a small child on my arms made me feel even more vulnerable and worried for the future than I would have otherwise. Being or feeling creative surely took a hit because there were urgent matters to be faced and sorted out. At that time, or just before it, I was hoping to be ready to launch the Kickstarter campaign, but I wasn’t. It took me longer to get things to the level I envisioned them. I considered postponing the whole project indefinitely but, in the end, I have always believed that it is better to have a plan than no plan at all and it is even better if you have something to look forward to. I kept working on the deck and here I am now. The campaign is live! What have been your challenges in creating this deck? Undoubtedly, the most challenging and maybe as a consequence the most rewarding aspect of creating the deck was finding what I believed to be the perfect corresponding representation of each one of the very human archetypes represented in the Tarot card in the botanical world. Apart from the creation process which to me is where the fun is, other challenges have been abundant. Understanding crowdfunding, working on sourcing, defining production and fulfilment strategies and being prepared for “different levels of success” of the campaign were and still are all very time consuming, challenging and intensive work. Luckily for me, Leonardo, my dear husband, is always here to support my endeavours. La Flora is my creation but without him, it would not have become a reality. Why did you choose botanicals as the theme for this deck? I am obsessed with plants. I could not have chosen any other subject because plants occupy a great deal of my daily thinking process. I am always gardening on my mind. I am always reading, researching and getting my hands occupied with plants as much as I possibly can. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? I will celebrate by contributing to an Organization I have long admired called Instituto Terra, in Brazil. Coincidentally located at the state I was born, Minas Gerais. It was created by Lélia and Sebastião Salgado, who is a documentary photographer of great prestige. The Instituto Terra has achieved an almost surreal recovery and “turned back the clock” by reforesting more than 600 hectares of Atlantic Forest and they continue to do so. The German publisher TASCHEN claims to have a zero-carbon footprint by partnering with them. Anyone interested in knowing more can do so by visiting https://institutoterra.org What is on offer for people who pledge? I guess this question is best answered by the campaign page itself since besides the deck, I ended up developing many complementary items and even went as far as creating LFX, the La Flora eXperience. I invite all your readers to go to Kickstarter to check it out, I promise they will not regret it! To add this unique botanical deck to your collection click here: Kickstqrter - La Flora Tarot

Our latest interview is with Nya from the Ritual Muse, the creator of the The Fools Tarot.- a deck that follows the Fool's journey through life with an innocence that comes from a life not yet jaded by the hurts and lessons of the world. The Fool is a free spirited individual that is unafraid to LIVE life to its fullest. There are no humans in this deck except for "Justice" which is technically a statue. The Court cards do not feature kings or queens and were designed to be gender neutral. The "page" cards are "initiates" and feature a book in front of the alchemy symbol for the element. You'll also see the corresponding moon face near the top. The "Knight" cards are "champions" and feature a trophy before the alchemy symbol of the element. The "Queens" are "Sages" featuring a lotus flower to represent their wisdom and nurturing nature. The "Kings" are "Speakers" featuring a crown to represent the status of being a leader for the suit. All Champions, Sages and Speakers have their corresponding constellation near the top of the card. Kickstqrter - The Fools Tarot Where in the world do you call home? Currently, Knoxville Tennessee is my home, but “Home” really is wherever my wife and son are. What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? My first tarot experience was a subtle introduction by a friend who is a reader. For several months, when we would see each other she would slide a deck close to me and say, “I know-I’m just doing what I’m being told.” At the time I felt like tarot was opening up a rabbit hole that I really did not want to descend into. One night, we were having a glass of wine after dinner and she slid her deck to me. I threw my hands up, grabbed the deck and began to shuffle. I pulled one card, looked at it and then spewed this story out to her. When I was finished, she nodded her head and took out the companion book to the deck and read it back to me. It was eerily spot on. She said, “I told you. You’re a reader.” And that was it. I purchased my first deck, fell completely in love with the art and how doing a reading made me feel-and never looked back. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? Years ago, I had this great idea of creating a deck with two other friends. One was a much more established artist than I was at the time, so my intention was to just be the writer. My artist friend wasn’t interested, so I created one card myself on a three-foot canvas. It was really hard work. I wanted layers for readers to get lost in, but it became overwhelming and there just wasn’t time. Since then, I have really evolved in my artwork and after creating an oracle deck from my previous work, I decided it was time to revisit the tarot idea. Inspiration for all of my projects comes from a quiet place within me. A place where I understand that all of my demons and scars can’t compare to my power and purpose. What would you say is unique about your deck? I think my deck is unique because I didn’t really follow any of the tarot traditions when it came to creating the artwork for the cards. I did not anticipate all of the animal energies emerging, but it just felt so perfect when they did. I think this tarot deck manifested itself and I was just the fortunate woman that got to witness its birth. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? I really became serious about creating a deck a year or so ago. I started this journey with my Tattered Wings Oracle deck which was an easy way to dip my toe in. A tarot deck was always the bigger picture though. This deck took me about four months to create the artwork and I am still writing the companion book. I was very fortunate to be in a place that allowed time to create every single day. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? This past year I really began to understand being an empath and how I allow it to affect me. I remember sitting at our kitchen table or on the couch, night after night just crying from such a deep place. I didn’t understand the hate and the suffering in the world until we were locked in with nothing more but bad news after bad news. The only way that I was able to center and ground myself was to create. I poured whatever I was feeling into my hands and released them little by little with each brush stroke. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? The simplicity in this deck was much harder than I thought it would be. As an intuitive reader, I get lost in the layers of the artwork but I really wanted a minimalist approach. Being happy with a card and its aesthetic and energy was difficult because I was the creator. If someone else made it, it would be easier for me to sink in. Creating comes with expectations and I’m not always confident enough for that. You wanted to create a simple deck that didn’t feature any human beings. Why was this important to you? Human inequality breaks me in half some days and I know how imperative it is that everyone in the world be able to read books and see art with beings and stories that reflect who THEY are. There are some incredible artists out there that can do that, but it is not a strength of mine just yet. So, in order to make this deck gender and culture non-specific, I decided to focus on symbolism. Then I created the Death card, a soaring black raven and realized that animals are something that we can all relate to. And the energy I felt when they came up really made me feel like the cards were going to speak freely to everyone. My deck is for humans, whoever they may be and however they identify. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? Celebration night will most likely look like tacos and adult beverages at the fire pit-where we like to celebrate everything! When my Kickstarter campaign ends and I can breathe again, (HA) I am going to purchase a talisman for myself. I have always wanted a piece of jewellery that I wore when I was sitting down to do divination work or astral travel. The creation of this deck has introduced me to such an amazing community of people and they have helped me to remember a piece of me that I had forgotten. I want to sink deeper and I also want something that I can reach up and touch that reminds me of the gifts that I have been given. I want something to remind me that there is a purpose and that I can escape this realm and find whatever I need, within. What is on offer for people who pledge? Everyone that pledges on Kickstarter receives a deck and companion book. I have also added a companion journal, a hand-dyed embroidered reading cloth, sage items, stickers and pins are on the way and my favorite addition is the ritual oils and goodies that came straight from my garden and through my apothecary area. It’s always been my dream to have a delicious little witchy shop, so making these items and offering them are just really nurturing my soul. To follow the Fool's journey with this deck, click here: Kickstqrter - The Fools Tarot

Our latest interview is with Matt Wisner, the creator of the Transient Light Indie Tarot Deck.- a deck that focuses on the transient nature of life. This is Matt's second tarot deck, the first is the Trinity Tarot. The major arcana is gender neutralised and reimagined - merging traditional symbols with new interpretations. The minor arcana will be fully illustrated also, with the house of Cups being specially interpreted into various different forms of vessels, or containers. This follows the theme of the endless spirit being contained within transient bodies. The deck will be produced plastic-free and will also have plastic-free packaging. Kickstqrter - Transient Light Tarot Where in the world do you call home? Usually I live and work in London. During lockdown, I’ve been temporarily staying at my parent’s home in the East Midland countryside! What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? I stumbled across tarot at a secular tarot workshop by Litwitchure at a music festival in 2018! It had been a transitional year for me – coming out as gay, leaving religion, moving to London and starting over with my first boyfriend. Leaving Christianity left me with a clean slate to find spiritual practices elsewhere… tarot fitted perfectly. As a visual artist who loves symbols and stories, the architypes of the tarot spoke to me. I immediately found it a powerful tool to tap into my inner spirit and intuition. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? It was only natural to see the tarot as a desirable challenge. But it wasn’t until I started working on my first deck, during the UK’s first lockdown, that I really worked through each card in depth. The experience of putting that deck out into the world opened my eyes to the powerful opportunity presented to me. I now feel inspired to create tarot cards as a spiritual tool – a tangible, practical and rich artwork that people can connect with on a daily basis, throughout the transient cycles of life. It’s become quite a humbling experience! What would you say is unique about your deck? My new deck, Transient Light, will be produced plastic-free and locally here in England. It will also include 3 bonus cards (Past, Present and Future) and a 120 page guidebook. Since the Kickstarter launched, I have also introduced my good friend and poet, Fausta Joly to collaborate with me on this guidebook. Her main role will be to create 22 bespoke poems for the major arcana. The focus of the deck is on being a vessel of the eternal spirit of life, love and the broader universe. One of the most powerful themes I find in the tarot is the call to embrace death. Whether an ending is soft and natural, like The World, or sudden and painful, like The Tower – The constant cycles of endings and new beginnings is what gives this life beauty. And in turn, it gives us the opportunity to grow and heal. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? Honestly, the concept has formed naturally in the process of creation – in-line with my own journey and the lessons I’ve needed to learn. Usually, my artistic practice is painting, and I let imagery flow as and when it comes to me. The reasons come to light in the act of making an image, and ideas simmering below the surface spill out. As I’ve been working on this deck, I’ve found it has tied up paintings and ideas I’ve created over the last 5 years. This has also been enriched with childhood experiences, religion and stories taken from my current home-town surroundings. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? It’s been up and down, but overall it’s been very good for my creativity in two ways. Working from home has given me time to invest in my creative projects – and in my personal development and reflection, which in turn feeds into my work. Secondly, the pandemic led to me moving back home temporarily. This means lots of countryside and childhood spots to feed from. I’ve been very fortunate to have not lost my income, so I’m very privileged and thankful to be able to use the resources around me. Isolation has helped me address my fear of being alone. Before the pandemic, I was always out and about, avoiding time alone. But I’ve been able to reach a place where I enjoy my own company – which has really helped me create more often, and not wait until it’s bursting to come out before making quiet time to action it! What have been your challenges in creating this deck? My two challenges have been financing and time management. Creating an indie deck requires investment, with little guarantee of profit! And whilst working a full-time job, managing time and creative flow is a real task. It’s been an interesting experience to commit to a Kickstarter project before the final product is complete. I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and faith from my backers – but there’s an element of healthy pressure too! Healthy doses of pressure and accountability is fertile ground for my creativity – and it’s also exciting to share the process with my backers. I’ve learned a lot about how to take care myself and develop a system of making time to step away and recuperate. Managing this cycle of stop and go has nurtured my creative flow and reflection throughout the project. Why did you choose transience as a theme for your deck? My Trinity Tarot deck was fuelled by my spiritual journey of discovering the divine and manifestation at the beginning of my post-religious life. The new Transient Light deck follows on from this journey, focusing on transience – after a year of loss, change, grief and opportunity for everybody. The very transience of life, is what makes it valuable. Nothing is permanent, yet as humans we are fascinated by the eternal. I’ve had an image in my head for a few years now of a skull containing an eternal spirit of love – that our temporary, earthy bodies can contain and facilitate something more universally connected and priceless. Letting this spirit within us take the lead in our life shifts the focus from the darkness of loss to the beauty of transience. If we have a spark from the universe within us, what a deliciously brief life this is! How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? It all depends on the covid-19 restrictions here in the UK! Honestly, I think I will treat myself to a break – book some time of work and get outdoors. I’m hoping to return to London in a few months, so I will need to recuperate before the change. What is on offer for people who pledge? You can pledge to purchase the deck alone or in bundles of 3, 6 or 12. You can also bundle the deck with my first deck, Trinity Tarot. Alternatively, you can pledge as little as £10 for a set of 3 signed postcards (Sun, Moon and Star). All decks purchased via pledge will be signed, numbered, hand wrapped and shipped with love by me! I’ll also be throwing in a discount code for further purchases either on my Trinity Tarot deck, postcards or t-shirts. To back this unique deck click here: Kickstqrter - Transient Light Tarot

Our latest interview is with Angie McCoy, the creator of the Living Legacy Oracle deck. A fully-customized oracle deck for you to share your Guidance, Advice and Words of Wisdom with your family Have you ever wished you could have a few minutes of conversation with a loved one that you've lost? Just a little guidance or advice for that question, or just some Words of Wisdom? Have you ever wished you could always be there for your loved ones? Just to offer a little guidance or advice for their questions, or just offer some Words of Wisdom? Then this deck is for you! For more info and orders - Living Legacy Oracle Deck Where in the world do you call home? Union Grove, Alabama What was your first experience with tarot or oracle and when did you fall in love with it? The earliest I can remember, was around 11 years old. I started learning, reading and collecting Tarot and Oracle cards when I was in my early 20’s and still get excited about each new Deck! What made you want to create your own oracle deck? What was your inspiration? I have been a Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur for many years. In more recent years, I decided to blend my entrepreneur endeavours along with my passion and start a Mystical Apparel and Accessories Line, Mystic Life™. Creating a custom oracle deck has been a dream of mine for the past few years, after dabbling in some card designs in a couple of community designed decks. I decided to create a completely custom deck designed to give your guidance, advice and words of wisdom as your Living Legacy and a Legacy that is Timeless and will last forever. What would you say is unique about your deck? Living Legacy Oracle Cards is completely custom. Each person that orders a deck, creates their own guidance, advice and words of wisdom that they want to share with their friends & family. The card box is also custom with personalized to and from information and a customized postage stamp image with their chosen photo. Along with their custom information on the cards, they can send their handwriting to put on each card for the person they are creating them for as well as their salutation & signature. Their deck will be one of a kind. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? I believe it was about 4-5 years ago when I first designed a card for a community designed deck, that sparked my interest in creating a deck. It has only been this last year that I have focused in on the idea and design and worked on making it a reality. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? I feel it has boosted my creativity, mostly giving me more time at home to focus. The only delay was manufacturing, printing and shipping, so in those aspects, I have taken my time through the year to get prepared and wait for a better time to bring it to life & launch. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? Most of my challenges have been about self-doubt, fear and analysis-paralysis. But my desire and excitement helped to push through the doubts and challenges. Do you see this deck as helping to connect different generations of family and friends? Yes! My desire is for people to create a custom deck for their friends, family and even have for many generations to come. I feel they would work great for families now, especially with so many families living far away from each other, around the world and military families. They can be a gift for friends and family, for a little comfort on a daily basis and a gift they will treasure forever. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally launched? I haven’t thought about how I will celebrate when they launch, I will just be so happy and excited! I do hope others love the deck and the meaning and purpose behind them as much as I do and I can’t wait for the joy of seeing others create their own custom deck for their friends & family. How can people purchase their own deck? As the Living Legacy Oracle Deck is a completely custom deck, it is ordered one at a time. We are offering a new launch special pricing along with free shipping worldwide. Angie is offering a giveaway that runs until the 31 Mach 2021. To enter, click here: Giveaway To order your own customized deck at a special price (for a limited time), click here: Living Legacy Oracle Deck

Our latest interview is with Karla Refoxo, the creator of the Tulku Oracle. a collection of 53 oracle cards that are portals into the wisdom of heart, nature and ancient traditions. The images of the cards include totems, archetypes and symbols—all based on the blessed amulets from Karla's sacred jewellery range - the Tulku Jewels amulet collection. The Tulku Oracle is an invitation to connect with timeless companion presences who show up to remind us of our gifts, intuition and knowing. . Kickstarter - Tulku Oracle Where in the world do you call home? I live in the beautiful Rocky Mountains—in the Arapahoe National Forest in a small town named Jamestown, CO. near Boulder. What was your first experience with tarot or oracle and when did you fall in love with it? My first WOW experience was when I was about 35 and I got a reading by an elder tarot reader named Gladys. She was visiting a friend of mine and staying with her and offered to do a reading for me in exchange for some small offering. I was living in an ashram, making my living as a fresco painter, making antique thangka reproductions (Tibetan paintings) and Tibetan art restorer at that time. I was also working with bronze casters making a large guru statue on commission in Kathmandu Nepal for 4 months of every year. And it was hard to make ends meet. In the reading, I asked Gladys about my livelihood as a fresco painter, and she came back with seeing me making pendulums in Nepal. I really didn’t see that, but there were so many other things she said that really were spot on and got my attention. About 5 months or so later I had the idea to make amulets and to start a small business working with traditional artists in Nepal, which has since grown into so much more. I always thank Gladys for the encouragement and light she shined on that part of my journey. It was really a pivotal moment for me. What made you want to create your own oracle deck? What was your inspiration? Years later, the idea to create an oracle deck based on the images of the amulets arose from my desire to synthesize years of living in the ashram and learning a Tantric, Hindu, Buddhist perspective that honors non-dualism, ancient wisdom traditions, and the power of imagery to enliven the sacred. Over time, other influences have shaped my world view, including my work as a Plant Spirit Medicine healer (as taught by Eliot Cowan) and a deep dive into the world of dreams through DreamTending. Spirituality and art have always gone hand in hand for me, and indigenous wisdom and following a pilgrimage path reawakened my natural orientation towards animism, shamanism, and nature. As I have grown over the years as an artist, and engaged with others using the amulets, the imagery and symbols have revealed many levels of deeper meanings. Creating the oracle deck has been a way for me to express my own unique understanding and experience of what the symbols behind the Tulku amulets represent. I also really wanted to create art again, as Tulku (the jewellery business) took off and I found myself spending my time much more as a business person rather than creating art. So this has been a delicious journey for me, diving back into the images and discovering what more they have to share with me as an artist as well. What would you say is unique about your deck? I think it is not only that each card has a very special, handmade, blessed amulet companion available for purchase should someone really want to bring that energy home, but that it is an eclectic mix of traditions and images that I have developed a relationship with over a long period of time. The companion book (266 pages) goes into some depth about the symbolism as well as the oracle, and my hope is that it will help others deepen into relationship with some of these images in ways they perhaps have not. This deck would resonate with people who practice yoga, Hindu and Buddhist esoteric meditation traditions, and also with people who want to connect in new ways to the power of Symbols, Totems and Archetypes. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? This deck has been in the making for about ten years! We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? It was actually the pandemic that created the window of time for me to dedicate to finishing this long project. And it made me realize the time is now. Prior to the pandemic, I was traveling about once a month mostly for the jewellery work—selling at retreats and events (mostly with the Chopra Center) around the world. So this being at home for such an extended amount of time, with little business happening on the jewellery front, has given me permission to finally create this long held dream. And I got a government loan so that I could help fund it! What have been your challenges in creating this deck? For me the writing has been the most challenging part, it’s not my natural medium and it really stretched me to go deeper. I think in images and expressing my experience in words has been really profound. I did procrastinate and struggle a lot with that part though. Since I also began this project ten years ago, I have changed and grown a lot during that time so I had to redo a lot of what I had created initially. That was hard to do as well! The cards are all brothers and sisters to the amulets of the Tulku Jewels. Could you please explain what amulets of the Tulku Jewels are? Tulku amulets are like talismans, or charms. They are created not only for adornment, but with the intention to provide instruments of healing that bring support to others. They are caringly hand-crafted with consciousness by several loving hands, hearts, and souls to awaken their powerful quality. Each amulet is carved in repousse by master artist Rajendra Bajracharya—a 17th generation Buddhist priest; then blessed by a Nepalese holy woman known as Mata. These amulets are imbued with the power inherent in traditions where there is no separation between pure spirituality and the act of creation. Through wearing these amulets, that power supports, inspires, and protects us on our own particular Paths in Life. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? I will take time offline and go deep into nature to give thanks! What is on offer for people who pledge? The deck, the 266 perfect bound full-length guidebook all wrapped up in a beautiful elegant box. Other pledge items include a two-sided spread cloth, a handmade pouch to hold both the book and the deck, jewellery, a special amulet and prints. You can see more details on the Kickstarter. Thank you so much for your support! Websites: tulkujewels.com paintedream.com To connect with nature and ancient traditions through these cards, back it here: Kickstarter - Tulku Oracle

Our latest interview is with Darshanie Sukhu, the creator of the the Lovely Om Tarot Deck. The deck features Gods and Goddesses from the Hindu pantheon and mystical Beings from the many dimensions that intersect our reality. This deck helps you to access your intuition so that you can explore different perspectives, communicate with your subconscious and bring in the wisdom of your Higher Self. Kickstarter - Lovely Om Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I’ve lived in so many countries, and they have all been a home for me. Right now, I am in the enchanted lands of New Mexico. The nature is magnificent, and the people are so sweet and beautiful. I love it here. It is where I am now, and it is home. What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? Trying to avoid a broken heart, haha. I was young and desperately in love and wanted to know what the other felt. I played the tarot incessantly and, in the process, learned a lot about myself. Nothing came of the relationship, but I found a true friend in the tarot. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? I’ve been doing psychic work for many years and have gotten so many insights that wanted to find an expression in the world. The tarot is such a great language to communicate truths from the psychic dimensions. It was a perfect fit and it just flowed. What would you say is unique about your deck? The Lovely Om Tarot is a deck that can bring about big psychic release. You can use it to process deep subconscious patterns and thereby grow in awareness. It has mystical Beings from the earth and Gods from the divine realms. This huge range of frequencies allows a lot of transformation to take place. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? I’ve often fantasized about a deck with Indian Gods, but it was only after the inspiration for the Ace of Wands, that this impulse became a real idea. Once I started, it took me 10 years to complete. It was an amazing and intense process. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? It has been a difficult time for everyone. What I really missed is being around people. I get so much creative inspiration from friends and the world in general. It balances the amount of time I end up spending in my own space. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? Patience and surrender to the process. I didn’t realize it would take so long. Every year I would set goals for finishing the deck, but each painting took its own time and could not be rushed. I am so grateful for the process each card brought to me. The art for your cards came from mystical beings through meditation, visions and dreams. Is this something that has happened to you in your life before? Many times. I have a very lively dream world and I spend a lot of time in psychic spaces. Creating this deck was a great exercise in communicating and grounding that part of my reality. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? Wow, I am not sure yet. I’ll have to think about that. What is on offer for people who pledge? A full 78 card deck with 100+ page booklet. There is a companion certification course on the Lovely Om Tarot and a few original art pieces of cards from the deck. Website https://lovelyom.com To create a sacred space for this lovely deck of cards, back it here: Kickstarter - Lovely Om Tarot

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

Our latest interview is with Hania, the wonderfully talented creator behind the Self Love Tarot. The deck focuses on a female figure, without demanding female perfection. The girls on the cards are curvy, have hairy legs but they feel comfortable and happy in their own skin. Hania created the deck to allow herself to feel self acceptance and self love and to look for good energy within herself and not to relate these feelings with her appearance. These cards help to promote these same feelings within the reader. Kickstarter - Self Love Tarot Where in the world do you call home? For me home is the place where I can fully be myself and I feel happy. It doesn't have to be a place, it's more about the company. Now I call my home Wrocław, a city in Poland, where I live with my husband. What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? I am not very experienced in tarot readings. But the first time i was in contact with tarot cards was a very magical moment for me. I was about 12 years old and visiting Spain with my parents. We went to a second-hand open-air market by the sea and there it was. A traditional old tarot deck. I wanted to buy it but as I had my budget of 20 euros for the trip I couldn’t afford it. But this feeling of mystery and magic stayed with me since then. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? For me the inspiration for this tarot deck was a journey of self-acceptance. As a girl with a lot of body issues and a period of an eating disorder i was quite unhappy with myself. When I started painting and drawing plus size girls it made me feel pretty. I realized that size doesn't really matter and the importance was what you feel inside. As tarot consists of 78 cards, I could fully develop the conversation with myself that was needed at that time and it helped me a lot. The girl on the cards is my self-portrait and she made me more confident than I ever was. What would you say is unique about your deck? In my tarot deck you won't always find the typical elements, as I was creating it more based on a feeling than on the specific motives that are repeated in most decks. I was also trying to represent a girl who you can relate to. She has a normal body with hair and imperfections and she is trying to look at life with a smile and sense of humour. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? I had the idea for a few months before I started. I was trying different media at the beginning, collage, gouache and colored pencils, but the watercolor turned out to be the one that I felt most comfortable with. It took me about two months of summer holidays to paint the Major arcana and then another almost 10 months to finish the rest of the cards. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? The main challenge was that I was learning the cards as I was going along with the creation of them. And now the digital part of the preparation of the cards for the printing which for me is just less fun than painting on the paper and getting dirty. What is on offer for people who pledge? Depending on the amounts they decide to pledge and the rewards combination, there are option of getting a postcard with a major arcana illustration, an A4 print, the deck of cards with gold details, a Positive Energy Guidebook or an actual original illustration of one of the Major Arcana cards of their choice. The price of the deck during this kickstarter is lower than what it will be once the campaign is finished. And it is quite possible that this version of cards will end up being a limited edition :) To back this gorgeous deck that will bring a smile to your face, click here: Kickstarter - Self Love Tarot

Our latest interview is with Buboplague - the creator of the Yokai Yochi Tarot. This deck is a body of art that is a culmination of the creator's love for ghosts, folklore, and traditional Japanese artwork all blended together with the storytelling of tarot. Every card features a different unique yokai (or two), each chosen to match or reflect the meanings and stories of the cards. Some are playful critters, while others are sombre spirits - there's a full array! Each card was traditionally drawn in sumi ink on rice paper, then scanned and digitally colored for consistency, giving it a not-quite modern and not-quite traditional fresh look. Kickstarter - Yokai Yochi Tarot Where in the world do you call home? Illinois USA, nothing special. What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? I was gifted Yoshitaka Amano's Shiwase o Tsukamu tarot deck many years ago (one of my favorite artists), and found the structure and stories of the cards really appealing. Since then I've always admired and appreciated all the artistry and thought that goes into making a deck. I love how unique each one is. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? The friend that gave me the Amano deck had actually heavily encouraged me to make one some day. It was a seed that was planted early in my mind and stuck with me. This specific deck actually started as a personal art challenge, with no real goal for a printed product. I wanted something to work on here and there that had a set number of pieces and a theme, maybe a story to tell, that I could look back on and say "I completed this body of work." A tarot set seemed perfect. What would you say is unique about your deck? Maybe the style? It's a bit traditional looking but a bit modern. It was made to feel both old and new. How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? It took me years to start, because I could never settle on a solid theme, but once I finally narrowed it to yokai, it all clicked and fell into place pretty fast. That old seed that was planted suddenly erupted. It took six months to draw from start to finish and I worked on it in between other things, then when I was done I posted it all to social media. The reception was so overwhelmingly positive that I decided maybe I should print it after all... And then designing the box, writing the booklet, formatting the cards for print, and the whole pre-production and preparation process felt like it took even longer than drawing the deck! We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? It hasn't that much actually. I was one of those few where not much in my life changed, except some time off from my job during the 3 month quarantine. I did feel that unspoken pressure to create and draw more because we all suddenly had more time, and not being productive in that extra time made me feel guilty -- I think that was a common feeling among creatives. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? Finding a uniform style that wasn't too simple or too complex, that I could be consistent with for 78 cards. I restarted the first few cards quite a few times before I settled on a look. There's been a lot of challenges trying to get it to print as well, it was delayed a full year; but in the end I think the timing worked out. Are stories of the Yokai handed down through the generations? Were you familiar with them all or did you have to research them? I love traditional stories and do a lot of reading/research on my own out of interest, but a lot of the common yokai lore I was introduced to as a child either by my mother or my grandmother. So it was a mix of both knowing them and researching to find something that fit. For the deck, I did try to stick to all pre-existing yokai and folklore, and I wanted to specifically include some lesser known ones - some are so obscure that there just isn't much information, but are still beloved enough to be recognized and documented. How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? A nice long nap. What is on offer for people who pledge? The main item is the deck, but people can also get a cotton cloth, a couple of pins, and those that pledge in the kickstarter will be able to buy prints of any of the cards! To add this unique Japanese deck to your tarot collection, click here: Kickstarter - Yokai Yochi Tarot

Our latest interview is with Danilo Sanino - the creator of The White Fly Tarot. This deck's narrative derives from both Fantasy and Grotesque themes It includes the major and minor arcana and comes with a special guidebook that provides meaning for all cards in their upright and reversed positions. The guidebook comes in English, Italian and French. Kickstarter - The White Fly Tarot Where in the world do you call home? I have never identified myself in the place where I live, or in the reflection of the people around me. The definition of home for me is a feeling of peace and tranquility that I can achieve after a satisfying job, or during time spent with friends, or just by myself. It is definitely an inner space, which I have yet to completely conquer. The "home" theme is a goal that I am reaching, but I am in transit at this moment in my life. I hope to cross the threshold of my inner house, and be home, soon. What was your first experience with tarot and when did you fall in love with it? I remember that in the first years of high school, with my first Tarot deck, I read the cards to my classmates. I had written the meanings of the Arcana on the cards, and the whole subject was difficult for me. Then, over time, I temporarily abandoned the tarot, to study Astrology and various metaphysical themes of Indian derivation in depth. I have been studying the Bhagavad Gita, an ancient Indian Sanskrit text, and practiced yoga for years. After this, during the pandemic, I took up the tarot again, and thanks to YouTube I dusted off my ancient curiosity. At that moment, I fell in love with them. At that point, I was more mature to assimilate the meaning of the cards and the synchronistic act of reading them. What made you want to create your own tarot deck? What was your inspiration? I have been working as a professional illustrator for more than 10 years. I felt that the right time has come to give birth to a great project that summarizes all my experience. Commissioned work, although it represented a point of personal pride and financial support, has reached its saturation in my career. I feel the need to be an author, of something special, something on which my intuition and creativity can be expressed. I have always been very prolific in my creativity, I have produced thousands of illustrations over the years. Some of them were perfectly suited to the meanings of the cards, therefore, I adapted them, adding details, varying colors, improving them to have a satisfactory result. Others, however, have been specially designed for the project. The external inspiration came from the observation and study of the various Tarot readers on YouTube. Internal inspiration, on the other hand, comes from my creative world, which can only express itself through what I call "play". If I don't enjoy drawing, I can't come up with a good result. Creativity is a game. I know it sounds unprofessional, but that's what I believe. Metaphorically speaking, this concept aligns with Eastern philosophy which speaks of reality as a game, like a matrix. Macro creation is a game, just like micro creation, of the single individual. It's definitely a serious game, that's what I believe in. What would you say is unique about your deck? It's hard to say. I think it's the synthesis of my style, which maintains realism, while expressing itself with cartoon accents. I wanted to give very clear and expressive images that would describe a story, if put together. For example, the Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings figures are people who might belong to a fantasy novel. We also have mythical animals on other cards, such as the phoenix and the unicorn. I wanted to differentiate the Major Arcana from the Minor ones. The Major Arcana have a white background, the subject represented is alone in the empty, white space. The Minor Arcana instead have a full color, in the whole area of ​​representation, the background is colored and full. I am very satisfied with the final result :) How long have you had the idea for the deck for and how long has it taken you to create it? The idea of ​​creating a deck came to my mind years ago, but I wasn't ready. I started doing them, but then I stopped. Finally, last year, 2020, I decided to restart this long climb. I started with the first card, the two of Swords, in August. I completed the deck in December, working hard every day (and night), so 5 months in total. We are living in such crazy times. How has the pandemic affected your creativity? The pandemic played a fundamental role in the realization of the White Fly Tarot project. During this period, from March 2020 onwards, every day I spoke to my best friend via video call. We read tarot cards to each other, to reduce anxiety and feel together. This process gave me the desire to create a Tarot deck. Furthermore, I have studied a lot the meaning of each single card, practicing constant and daily reading. As for creativity, the pandemic was a tool that completely isolated me, in my inner space, amplifying the will to express and work on a long-term project. Outside there was uncertainty and fear of the future. Sitting at my desk, with my pencils and papers, computer and graphic tablet, I took refuge in a safe space. What have been your challenges in creating this deck? There have been some challenges. The first of all was facing the magnitude of the project. During the making of the first cards, I did not know when I would finish, and above all I was not sure I had the consistency to get to the last one. The other challenge was: "How can I make this Tarot deck known to the world?" So I studied various ways, and I discovered Kickstarter, a crowdfunding site where my project is currently located. At the end of the project, I still don't know how I will carry this deck forward, I am considering various options. I hope some doors open for me. Your deck is based on a fantasy and grotesque theme. How do you define a grotesque theme? For me, the theme of the grotesque is similar to horror and macabre, but it doesn't reach their heights. In other words, it maintains a feeling of darkness, but carries with it a lightness that can be given by a funny detail. For example, in the Devil card, we see a semi-human subject with buttons instead of eyes. He is sitting on a goat, which instead of the hoofs has high heels. This is grotesque. Instead, in the Nine of Swords, I inserted a real horror image. In the classic description of this card, there is a person who is affected by the Nine of Swords, sitting in a bed with his face in his hands. I wanted to represent, instead of the consequences of the nightmare, the nightmare itself. But I didn't want to give the whole deck a horror feel, so a few times I put in details that broke the drama. In another card, the Moon, we see a half human, half moth subject. This character, as it is described, could lead back to horror. But the way in which I represented it, in the colors and above all in its delicate pose, almost dancing and floating in the air, soften its characteristics. It could be called grotesque, I think :) How will you celebrate when the deck is finally published? On a personal level, I have already told my best friend that we will cook a memorable dinner together. On a broader level, I am in a phase of change in my life. I hope this project reaches the stars, I'm thinking of opening a YouTube channel dedicated to the deck, but I'm in the "work in progress" phase, especially on a mental level. Reconnecting to the first question, I hope this project gives me the key to open the door to my inner home. What is on offer for people who pledge? Since it's my first project on Kickstarter, I want to keep it simple. So far, I have included buying one, two, or five decks as an option. I am evaluating the possibility of putting stretch goals, such as emailing digital illustrations relating to cards, in high quality. Thanks a lot for this interview! It makes me happy and proud :) To add this wildly imaginative deck to your tarot collection, click here: Kickstarter - The White Fly Tarot