The Tarot Channel

Will Worthington Art

One of the most talented artists to illustrate Tarot and oracle decks is Will Worthington.

Based in the UK, Will has illustrated the art for four decks: The DruidCraft Tarot, The Druid Animal Oracle, The Druid Planet Oracle and The Green Man Tree Oracle.

What blows me away about Will's art is that he uses powdered pigment mixed with egg yolk as his artistic medium. And, he even makes his own gesso! (I just happen to be married to an artist, so I know what this is: the white stuff painted on canvas to make the surface smooth).

In the companion book to the Druid Plant Oracle, Will notes that he prefers to make his own gesso (!) with "powdered chalk and rabbit-skin glue".

If, like me, you're captivated by Will's art, you'll be pleased to know that he has his own website (click here to visit) where he sells original paintings and prints. In fact, he even takes commissions.

Enjoy!

-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book

Fran Made Bags

If you're looking for some gorgeous, handmade bags for your Tarot decks--as well as lovely matching spread cloths--check out Fran Made Bags from Western Australia.

For those of you who have the Touchstone Tarot Limited Edition by Kat Black, you've already experienced Fran's exquisite handiwork. That's right...Fran is Kat Black's Mum! (And the lady who made those wonderful bags for the Touchstone LE. I happen to have the yummy #20.).

Personally, I'm hankering for those jewel-tone satin bags...but I can't make up my mind which one!

-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book

Back in Time Tarot Book Tour

My Back in Time Tarot Book tour begins November 2008! I'll be adding dates to this page as they're scheduled. If you'll be in any of the areas, come on out for a lively, interactive discussion and book signing! I'd be pleased to meet you.

Thursday, November 13 at 7:00 PM - Books-a-Million, Morgantown, West Virginia

Thursday, November 20 at 7:30 PM - Barnes & Noble, Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Saturday, November 22 at 1 PM - Borders Express, Uniontown, Pennsylvania

Saturday, December 6 at 1 PM - Borders Books, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Saturday, December 13 at 12 Noon - Borders Express, Washington, Pennsylvania

If you're a producer or journalist wanting to schedule an interview or request a media kit, please contact my publicist at Hampton Roads Publishing, Sara Sgarlat, at ssgarlat@hrpub.com or 434-296-2772 ext. 49. Feel free to cc me, Janet Boyer, at this email address.

If you're a reader or group organizer that would like me to come speak at your local bookstore, Tarot Meet Up, spiritual gathering or other venue, feel free to contact me or my publicist.

-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (October 2008, Hampton Roads Publishing Company)

Giclee Prints By Baba Studio

Recently I purchased The Tarot Reader print online from baba studio and I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with it! The vibrant, saturated quality of the giclee prints are outstanding--truly a work of art. In addition to The Tarot Reader, an image from baba studio's Baroque Bohemian Cats' Tarot (2nd Edition), I also received The Hermit--my favorite card in the Tarot.

I swear, it's as if I could actually reach out and feel the burgundy satin on The Tarot Reader's cowl and the plush purple velvet of The Hermit's robe! While The Tarot Reader isn't a limited edition, most of their other prints--including The Hermit--are limited to 150.

For authentication, all prints are signed and numbered by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov--the geniuses behind baba studio/Magic Realist Press in Prague. For those of you unfamiliar with Alex and Karen, they are the artists, designers and authors of beloved Tarot decks like The Fairytale Tarot, The Tarot of Prague, The Victorian Romantic Tarot, and The Fantastic Menagerie Tarot.

Each print is made individually according to giclee standards with archival inks on thick, high quality Archival Matte Paper. The size of the prints are around 9 x 6 inches and although I couldn't find any suitable frames for a "perfect" fit, I found that 8 x 10 frames can work beautifully with some kind of paper behind the print (white worked great for my purposes, complementing the white outer border).

Other Tarot card prints from several of their decks include The High Priestess, The Star, Justice, Temperance, The Hanged Cat and many more. In addition to their high-quality giclee prints, baba studio also sells Tarot bags, cushions, bucket bags and other distinctive items--many Tarot related.

-- Janet Boyer

Tarot Talismans from Wellstone Jewelry

Do you feel that the Wheel of Fortune has always brought you luck? Or perhaps consider The Fool "my card"? Maybe you've had your birth cards calculated and feel a special connection to them?

Now, you can wear your favorite cards via Tarot talismans crafted by Wellstone Jewelry. This beautiful line of pendants and earrings features all 22 cards of the Major Arcana, as well as the Ace of Pentacles, 2 of Cups and 9 of Cups--all engraved according to Rider-Waite-Smith imagery.

Wellstone Jewelry even has a few Tarot figures, such as The High Priestess, The Hermit and The Star.

-- Janet Boyer

Great Tarot Shops: New Vibrations

I travel -- a lot -- and everywhere I go, I make a point to visit locally-owned, independent New Age and Tarot bookstores. As a result, I've shopped for Tarot in twenty-two states and more than a dozen countries around the world. It pleases me, then, to note that one of the best and brightest shops on the planet is located right here in (of all places!) Jackson, Mississippi.

Karen Parker's store, New Vibrations (2914 N. State Street, Jackson, MS), is awash in vibrant color and positive energy. Outside, the shop's purple paint and green trim catch the eye; inside, jewel tones and soothing music provide a welcome retreat from the harsh Mississippi sun.