My Story

In 1987, I was reading a book on alchemy when I became fascinated by an alchemical illustration representing the Philosopher's Stone. It depicted the Stone as a type of mandala with a heart surrounded by a thorny wreath and placed in the center of a cross that divided the background into four sections. Each section contained an image representing one of the four ancient elements: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. The heart had five drops of blood on its surface and a rose bud sprouting from its top. Besides the obvious connection with the Sacred Heart, the five wounds of Christ, and the crown of thorns, the image inspired a deeper connection. In a flash of insight, I realized that the symbolism of the design was entirely interchangeable with that of the Tarot's World card. The dancing nude on the World stands in the center of a wreath and she can be interpreted, like the heart, as a symbol for the soul. The creatures representing the four evangelists in the corners of the World are also symbolically connected to the four elements through their Medieval correlation to the fixed signs of the zodiac. This realization was like a key that opened a lock to a forgotten door. I sat mesmerized as images poured out of this new portal in my mind. They formed a parade of alchemical illustrations that were spontaneously paired with Tarot trumps and it became obvious that the trumps can be alchemical, and that the series of trumps describes the alchemical Opus. This insight led me into research, writing, and drawing and after eight years the result was an uncommonly beautiful and meaningful deck.

The Impact

From the beginning, The Alchemical Tarot's publication has been linked to magical synchronistic events and its reputation has grown over the years. Original art for the Alchemical Tarot was exhibited at the opening of the Tarot Museum in Riola Italy, in 2007, and at the LA Craft and Folk Art Museum, in 2010, and the cards have been displayed on numerous television shows. Due to popular demand, I want to reprint this deck.

The Alchemical Tarot was originally published by Harper/Collins in London, in 1995. That edition is now out of print and, although it originally sold for $35, copies have now sold for over $2,000. In 2007, I regained the rights to the deck and published The Alchemical Tarot: Renewed. This edition was redesigned and improved. The line drawing of an archway that formed the border on the original cards was dropped so that the drawing could be enlarged. I made improvements in the drawings, added shading, and improved the coloring. I designed a new back for the cards. When I designed the Lovers card for the first edition, my editor felt that it was too sexy and asked me to tone it down. As an added feature, the second edition included both versions of the Lovers, the one that was previously published and the censored version. The 79 cards were 4.75 by 2.75 and came in a tuck box with a little-white-book. Now that edition is also out of print.

Keeping the the changes from that edition, I have again made improvements to clarify the symbolism in this 79 card deck. This is particularly noticeable on the eight of swords where the beast now has wings. I have redesigned the back with an image that gives insight into the symbolism of the four elements and have added more description about the symbolism in the little-white-book. I am now ready to print this third edition. In conjunction with the printing, I am finishing an updated version of the companion book and I am working with software engineer, Tony Newell, to create an APP version of The Alchemical Tarot.

What I Need and What You Get

This edition is ready to print and I need $5,000 for printing costs. If I do not receive all of this money, I can print a smaller edition and I will make up any balance in the payment myself. If you contribute you will receive your premiums.

Donate $30 and you'll get an 8.5 by 11 signed archival gyclee print of your choice of one of The Alchemical Tarot illustrations.

Donate $40 and you'll receive a signed copy of The Alchemical Tarot.

Donate $65 and you'll receive both the print and the signed copy of the deck.

Donate $120 and you'll receive the print, the deck, and a signed copy of the companion book when it is complete.

Donate $200 and you will receive the print, the deck, and a signed copy of the companion book, plus I will give you a one-hour Tarot reading with the deck over the phone or in person in Saugerties.

Donate $700 and you will receive the print, the deck, and a signed copy of the companion book, plus you can come to my house for a five-hour personal class on using The Alchemical Tarot.

Other Ways You Can Help

If you would like to see the Alchemical Tarot in print, please spread the word. Tweet, post to Facebook, your Wordpress blog, Aeclectic Tarot Forum, or any other media you have access to. Thank you for your encouragement and support.

For More Information go to http://www.alchemicaltarot.com

Update:

We have reached the goal in record time.

Thanks so much to everyone who has contributed!

This covers the printing cost and we have also covered the shipping cost.  Every dollar above now will free up my time to finish the revised companion book for The Alchemical Tarot: Renewed and to finish the art for my new Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery.  Needless to say, I will be excepting donations right up until the end of the campaign and I will be giving out the perks.  The prints can go out right away and the deck will be delivered in November. I hope to have the book ready by then also.  So keep donating.