12.19.2024
A "Tarot Everywhere" Gift Guide--Part One!
Hello everyone—and a special welcome to new readers!
“Tarot Everywhere” is a catch-phrase for times when I start out on something else and end up with an unexpected Tarot encounter. The starting point is often research I’m doing for a non-Tarot project (to the extent there is such a thing), and/or an item or pattern noticed in my email Inbox.
In two recent cases, the starting points were actually about Tarot—but I would never have come across them in the ordinary course of things. And as soon as I put them together in a draft, I realized that either could be an excellent last-minute Christmas/Solstice/Hanukkah/ETC present (or self-gift) for any Tarot enthusiast.
Then I realized each one deserves its own post. So here’s the first, and I’ll send along Part Two on Sunday!
First: An Enticing Graphic Novel Series
Lucky for us, a friend spotted this ad in Publishers Weekly and sent it to me.
To be honest . . . my brain has a hard time following stories that are told simultaneously through text and graphics. But—lucky again—much can be learned about Jeff Lemire’s Minor Arcana series with a little ordinary research.
Here’s what he said when announcing the series in his Substack:
Minor Arcana tells the story of Theresa, the estranged daughter of a phony small town “psychic” and tarot reader who returns to the small town she grew up in to take care of her ailing mother. But, soon after arriving, Theresa begins to think that, unlike her flamboyant mother, she may have real psychic abilities, and soon finds herself pulled into the dramas and lives of the very people and community she’s spent her life running from.
Minor Arcana has become my dream project. Combining small town life with magical realism and supernatural mystery it lets me stretch my wings and play with all the different kinds of characters and stories I’ve loved working on since Essex County and Sweet Tooth. Writing and drawing the book myself has allowed me to make it an immersive read that I hope will hook you all as much as it’s hooked me.
Another exciting aspect of the series will be its many connections to the Tarot. Theresa will come to see that the people in the small town all seem to represent archetypes and characters from the Tarot. And I will also be illustrating my own accompanying Minor Arcana Tarot deck. Every issue will feature a new Tarot Card variant cover illustrated by me and by the end of the series we will have an entire deck that I’ve illustrated.
The first issue’s Tarot variant cover is shown here…
It’s a bit confusing, because there will be 22 issues with (apparently) Major Arcana covers, but the deck will be named after the series, which is called “Minor Arcana” in connection with its small town setting. From what I can figure out, there will be four volumes (for the four suits), each with five-ish parts.
Issue #5 is now on pre-order—and here are some shortcuts for getting caught up on the series so far:
When we arrive at the topic of the book’s aesthetic, Lemire teases “different styles for the different worlds the story takes place in.”
He continues: “We have the ‘real world,’ the everyday world of the small town and Theresa. For that, I’m using my regular style, but also water coloring it myself, which is a challenge, but a fun one. For the other worlds Theresa enters, I’ll be using a variety of different styles and media. Anything from chalk pastel to gouache, to collage and colored pencil, depending on the specifics of these stories and the lives of the people Theresa is helping. I’m also using different approaches to the actual storytelling as well in terms of layouts and panelling. I’m trying to push myself to my limits with this book and really grow as an artist.”
In case you’re wondering—Lemire didn’t have past experience with Tarot. But he sees this as an advantage, because he and Theresa (the protagonist) are learning their way together.
I love the idea of a story that explores the world of psychic experience on multiple levels—and brings Tarot archetypes to life in both characters and plot.
The series is planned to play out over many issues, with plenty of twists and turns—so have a look now and see if it appeals to you. And if not, check your Inbox on Sunday for another potential stocking stuffer!
As always, thanks for reading. C