It’s Pride Month and what better way to celebrate that with the Queer Expansive Tarot Project! Now available on Kickstarter, the Queer Expansive Tarot Project is an innovative and inspiring endeavor brings queer artists from across the globe to create a stunning and unique tarot deck. This deck is not just a collection of beautifully redesigned cards; it’s a vibrant tapestry that weaves together the diverse identities and experiences within the queer community. Each card in this deck is a work of art, drawing inspiration from a wide array of queer pride flags, starting with the iconic Gilbert Baker rainbow flag and extending to encompass lesser-known identities such as Vyrosexual and Xenogender.
The beauty of this project lies in the incredible variety of skill, talent, love, and queerness that each artist brings to their cards. Artists and contributors have taken on the challenge of designing anywhere from one to seven cards, showcasing their unique perspectives and artistic styles. The result is a richly diverse yet harmonious tarot reading experience that speaks to the vast spectrum of queer identities.
The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, one of the most popular and widely recognized tarot archetypes, serves as a foundation for this project. Traditionally, the Minor Arcana suits in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck correspond to those in a standard playing card deck, and the Major Arcana includes archetypal figures such as the Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, and Emperor. However, for the Queer Expansive Tarot Project, these names and suits have been thoughtfully reimagined to more accurately represent the queer community.
A New Major Arcana for the Queer Community
The Major Arcana in this deck have been renamed to reflect queer experiences and identities. Here’s a glimpse at some of the reimagined Major Arcana:
- Naivete (originally the Fool)
- Identity (originally the Magician)
- The Guide (originally the High Priestess)
- The Mother (originally the Empress)
- The Father (originally the Emperor)
- Community (originally the Hierophant)
- Support (originally the Lovers)
- Resistance (originally the Chariot)
- Self Worth (originally Strength)
- Self Care (originally the Hermit)
- Fluidity (originally the Wheel of Fortune)
- Riot (originally Justice)
- Patience (originally the Hanged Man)
- Transition (originally Death)
- Council (originally Temperance)
- The Closet (originally the Devil)
- Loss (originally the Tower)
- Hope (originally the Star)
- Questioning (originally the Moon)
- Euphoria (originally the Sun)
- Crossroads (originally Judgment)
- Coming Out (originally the World)
New Suits with Deeper Meanings
The Minor Arcana suits have also been renamed to reflect different aspects of queer life:
- Insight (originally Pentacles): This suit primarily covers identities based around sexual attraction.
- Expression (originally Swords): This suit encompasses gender identity.
- Dreams (originally Wands): This suit showcases cards expressing romantic attraction.
- Memories (originally Cups): This suit provides commentary on the nuances between the other three suits.
Each suit delves into the unique facets of queer experiences, providing a more inclusive and representative tarot reading experience.
This project exemplifies how art can be a powerful tool for representation and inclusion. It’s a reminder that the queer community is vast and varied, and that every identity within it deserves to be seen, celebrated, and honored. The Queer Expansive Tarot Project is not just a deck of cards; it’s a testament to the beauty and diversity of the queer experience.
The Queer Expansive Tarot Project is now available on Kickstarter, starting from just USD10 for a PDF printable deck and USD50 for a physical deck.
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