Welcome back to my series on the creation of The pocket Textured Tarot! If you're joining me, I recommend starting with Part 1, where I shared how this journey began with a hand-knit sweater and a pivotal conversation. Throughout these posts, I'm exploring different aspects of reimagining The Textured Tarot as a completely revised and updated pocket edition. Today, I'd like to delve into the evolution of the deck's language, imagery, and practical considerations that shaped this new version. These behind-the-scenes glimpses give you a deeper appreciation of the deck's creation process.
When I created the original Textured Tarot in 2018, I wasn't confident enough to write definitive, upright, and reversed meanings, relying instead on keywords and phrases I had researched. Yet, over time, I came to appreciate the value of upright with reversed readings and the deeper dimension they bring to interpretation.
Through my experience creating Tarot Gallimaufry, I better understood the messages I wanted to convey with each card. I decided to embrace more contemporary language, moving away from traditional spiritual/magical terminology while maintaining the essence of each card's meaning.
Evolution of Design
Diversity in representation has always been important in my work, as it reflects life in all its colourful and eccentric glory. This principle continues in the pocket edition.
For better visual separation between the Major Arcana, Pips, and Court cards in this smaller format, I removed people from the Pip cards, keeping them primarily in the Court cards and Major Arcana. The symbolic language of the deck evolved intuitively – from sticks to bowls to feathers and stones (wands, cups, swords and pentacles respectively). These changes weren't a calculated decision but rather an intuitive shift toward something more elemental and softer.
Renaming for Accessibility
I've also renamed several Major Arcana cards. After wrestling with "The Priest" for Hierophant in the original deck, I've settled on "Guide" – a more modern concept that feels less tied to religious institutions. Similarly, renaming cards like Death, Devil, and Hanged Man makes the deck more approachable for the tarot curious and an alternative for more advanced readers. I understand that people within the tarot community love to have a variety of decks that serve different needs. I hope my new deck can fit into a theme that works.
My primary goal is not to predict the future but to focus on self-improvement. These cards are useful tools for revealing parts of yourself or reflecting your present circumstances. They work well alongside journal prompts. By making the deck more approachable, individuals can engage with each card's messages without being distracted by potentially unsettling titles or images. My deck respectfully seeks to honour the human experience, embracing its bright and dark aspects through a modern perspective.
Practical Considerations
While I've received requests for a smaller deck for smaller hands, I've come to appreciate the portability of a pocket-sized deck. At 62mm x 100mm, it maintains the proportions of a standard tarot while being travel-friendly.
The selection of cardstock was made with care. The initial Textured Tarot featured a sturdier, satin-like texture, making riffle shuffling difficult. For this edition, I opted for a poker-style cardstock that's a bit thinner but significantly more flexible, featuring Ivory Graphics eco-coating. It has a woven textured feel that aligns perfectly with the deck's name. Even though it's smaller, it should be easier to shuffle!
Authenticity Protection
I'm taking substantial measures to avoid any possible duplication of this new deck. Witnessing the unauthorised reproduction and sale of The Textured Tarot has been upsetting; unfortunately, these actions are prevalent online.
Each limited edition print will include decks with distinct numbering, printing dates, and a few creative techniques to verify copyright and authenticity. I will document each print run digitally. While I recognise that I cannot completely prevent copying, I aim to make it more difficult.
What's particularly shocking is seeing counterfeit decks sold at the same price or higher than the authentic ones. So, my authenticity protection measures are a gift to both you and me – ensuring each deck carries the positively intentioned energy of the original artist.
Finally, some great news! Since the new GPSR EU and Northern Ireland guidelines came into effect in December 2024, I have been unable to sell into the EU... However, my printer has just informed me that... "UKCA/CE regulations were updated in December 2024, meaning that for UK and EU markets, it is a legal requirement to have the UKCA and CE mark respectively on your product.
For the CE mark, an EU Representative's address and details must be next to the logo. We're excited to announce that we are now able to offer coverage under the CE and GPSR regulations for products you wish to sell in Europe." Yippeee!!!!
That's all for my musings this time. I'll share Part 3 soon! Read more about my new deck here and here. Sign up for my Newsletter (for updates and a Coupon on preorder launching) or follow me on social media @lisamcloughlinart for details about the pre-order launch on Etsy. I have settled on #pockettexturedtarot as my hashtag.
Onwards and upwards!
Lisa xxx
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