A new Kickstarter campaign has just launched for the Ever Ahead Tarot, a road-trip themed tarot deck designed by queer folk musician Joey O’Neil. This unique deck, based on the classic Rider Waite Smith system, features 78 watercolor illustrations that transform common vehicular items into symbols with deeper divinatory meanings.
Inspired by O’Neil’s own adventures in her 1989 Jeep Wagoneer XJ, each of the 22 Major Arcana cards depicts objects found in or around a vehicle, represented through whimsical and nostalgic imagery. The suits are cleverly assigned to road-trip related items: Wands are represented by signs, Cups by coffee cups, Swords by keys, and Coins by coins. These familiar objects are staged in various scenic contexts, offering new interpretations of traditional tarot meanings.
The Ever Ahead Tarot is designed to be both functional and beautiful, perfect for bringing along on adventures or using for introspective moments at home. The deck features:
- 350 gsm cardstock with a matte lamination for a pleasant shuffling experience.
- Matte gold edges to mimic the gold finish of O’Neil’s Jeep Wagoneer.
- A sturdy, two-piece rigid box adorned with the card artwork, finished with matte lamination for protection on the road.
One of the unique aspects of this deck is its minimalist design. Each card has a borderless white background to create a light, airy feel, with the titles appearing at the bottom in O’Neil’s handwriting. The backs of the cards feature a hand-painted “tarotee” pattern inspired by the 1970s Rider Waite Smith decks, adding a touch of retro flair.
O’Neil’s goal is to raise $6,000 to bring this deck to life. The funds will be used for printing, manufacturing, and shipping the tarot decks, as well as packaging and creating additional rewards such as stickers, keychains, and digital album download codes. Stretch goals include adventure pouches, altar cloths, and guidebooks, which will be unlocked as funding milestones are reached.
Starting from CA$ 60 for a tarot deck that comes with a digital download code for O’Neil’s musical album Ever Ahead. In addition to the tarot deck, backers can choose from various reward tiers, including:
- Passenger ($5): 3 stickers featuring illustrations from the deck.
- Troubadour ($10): A digital download code for O’Neil’s 2020 album Ever Ahead.
- Sightseer ($60): The Ever Ahead Tarot deck and a digital album download code.
- Roadtripper ($70): The tarot deck, digital album download code, and a motel-style keychain.
- Guide ($120): Two tarot decks and two digital album download codes.
- Trailblazer ($250): The tarot deck, digital album download code, stickers, keychain, and a one-of-a-kind crocheted deck pouch handmade by O’Neil.
- Outfitter ($350): 10 tarot decks for wholesale pricing.
Joey O’Neil, who tours across Canada with her dog Oblio, created the Ever Ahead Tarot to complement her album Ever Ahead, an ode to the road. After three years of illustrating the deck, O’Neil hopes this project will resonate with other travelers and tarot enthusiasts, providing a meaningful and enjoyable divinatory tool.
For more information and to support the campaign, visit the Ever Ahead Tarot Kickstarter page. Follow Joey O’Neil on Instagram at @joeyoneil and explore her musical journey alongside this unique tarot project.
Don’t miss the chance to own this beautifully crafted tarot deck, perfect for anyone who loves the open road and finding meaning in the mundane.
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