Mystic Storyteller - Coming to BackerKit

a writer's guide to using tarot for creative inspiration

As a writer, there are times when Inspiration

is slow to walk in the door. I’ve never believed in writer’s block, but I do believe that sometimes we over-or-underthink where to go next. When I wrote for magazines I couldn’t write an article until I nailed down my lead paragraph. Once that was in the bag, the rest was easy.

Not to take you too far afield from tarot, I’ll give you an example of what I mean. The following was for an article in Astronomy magazine. I think you’ll agree that it organically guides the reader into wanting to know more about this mysterious place located in the back-of-beyond.

They stand on the site of an ancient inland sea, scanning the horizon with the same unblinking posture as the stone heads of Easter Island. Within their shadows, cattle graze on high desert scrub, clomping about amidst late July wildflowers. Here and there, big-eared jackrabbits stand stone-still, as highly attuned to nature’s whispers as the 230-ton radio telescopes towering over them. This is the home of the Very Large Array.

Okay, now I could write the article.

But what happens when that first paragraph or that creative image doesn’t appear? Well, as it turns out, Amanda Hughes has the answer and it involves tarot.

Amanda’s book and tarot deck debuts on August 6,

via BackerKit - an anti-AI alternative to Kickstarter. Above are three of the cards from the deck - a fun reveal! The card backs are a deep, rich red, and the deck works perfect in place of any RWS deck. (BTW, don’t you just love the crossed pencils on the back?)

For me, what makes Mystic Storyteller a stand-out - beyond the art - is the accompanying book: A writer’s guide to using tarot for inspiration. Coming in at more than 400 pages, the book guides readers through exercises, spreads, and writer-inspired solutions using every card in the deck. Oh that I had this book back in the day!

Each of the Majors includes a lovely story on how the card resonates with the author, along with a deep dive, keywords, and the shadow side of the card. You'll also find a mention of any astrological or numerological symbols and of course notable people who fit that particular Major. For example, Freida Kahlo and the Celtic goddess Brigid are embodied in the Empress.

Each Major also includes a spread such as this one for the Empress:

You might also use this spread from your character(s) point of view.

1. Imagine your deepest desire for your writing project or practice.

2. While envisioning the most optimal outcome, shuffle your tarot cards.

3. When you are satisfied that the cards are shuffled well, search the deck for The Empress and lay the card on the space for Card 1.

4. Shuffle your cards once more and turn the deck facedown as if you were about to deal the cards.

5. Moving clockwise from the bottom left of your spread, turn over one card for Cards 2 – 5.

6. Ask yourself the following questions, using your intuition to consider the answers. If you are using this spread from your character’s point of view, imagine them asking themselves these questions.

Card 2: What do I need to know about my deepest desire?

Card 3: What is my intention for manifesting this desire?

Card 4: Where are opportunities for nourishment and growth?

Card 5: How might I scale my efforts to yield abundant success?

What about the Minors?

I like that each are grouped in the book by number. Being an old-time numerologist, this type of grouping always made sense to me. Mandy, in each grouping, has created a set of questions should any cards with that number appear while seeking inspiration. For example:

When the Sevens land on your desk, ask yourself the following questions, answering them intuitively by recording your immediate thoughts. These questions can also be asked from the fictional character’s perspective.

• Seven of Cups: Of the options presented to me, which are “need to haves” and which are “nice to haves?” Which idea or project is worth investing my heart in right now?

• Seven of Pentacles: What more work needs to be done? How can I continue to yield the same positive results that I am experiencing right now?

• Seven of Swords: Which thoughts or ideas are worth running with, and which are best left behind?

• Seven of Wands: How can I protect my creativity from distraction? What or who is threatening my spirit and/or energy right now?

How could those questions not break the dam of writer’s block? Impossible.

Yes, all of the Courts are grouped

by Rank, not Suit. And, like the Minors, each Rank has questions formulated for both the writer and her characters.

•Page of Cups: What do I have to learn from the unexpected and/or unconventional?

• Page of Pentacles: What practical information can I share that others might not know?

• Page of Swords: What gut instincts can I share that might help others? How can I deliver an uncomfortable message with grace and thoughtfulness?

• Page of Wands: What am I most passionate about sharing and how might that inspire others?

As someone who has written thousands of words throughout my life, I found the questions to be particularly impactful whether I’m stuck or not.

There’s so much good to say about this deck

and book that I’m not sure where to even begin (or end). Let’s just say that for those who don’t know tarot and those who do, this is a must-have. The chapter on Symbols, alone, is worth every penny you spend to back the project. Not to mention the information on Archetypes, intuitive tarot, practical magic, spreads, and intuitive writing.

The Mystic Storyteller launches on August 6, on BackerKit and you can click here to be notified upon launch.

I know both Mandy @haintbluecreative and Stacey Williams-Ng @lapantherestudio will be posting more as we get closer to launch. But seriously, doesn’t matter if you’ve always wanted to write or never wanted to write - you can learn so much with the Mystic Storyteller book in hand. And as gorgeous as the deck is, I’m backing as much for the book. The deck is yummy icing on the cake.

Nancy