It was a hugely ambitious event with vendor and artist’s tables, readers, a programme of talks in the glorious Altar Room, more talks in the yoga studio upstairs, and two collage workshops hosted by yours truly.

Despite any hiccups, the day was a resounding success, with an incredible footfall, lots of activity, and a wonderfully welcoming sense of community.

There’s always something special in the air when like-minded people gather at such events, and so far, I’ve found the Tarot community to be a particularly good bunch.

It was lovely getting to catch up with some familiar faces, but also to meet new people and to say hello to some of my followers! If you were there, say hi in the comments!

Artist Table with Lore Carbajal

I had the pleasure of sharing a table with Lore Carbajal, whose first deck, The Infinite Loop Tarot is launching on Kickstarter soon. It’s a stunning collage deck with a unique spirit. I’ve already signed up to be notified and am looking forward to getting my own copy. Check it out!

Thank you to Lore for looking after the table while I was away at talks and workshops. It was such a busy day, but the time we spent together was delightful! Wishing you the best of luck with your Kickstarter!

Kickstarter Shoutouts — Launching Soon!

There were so many wonderful deck creators in attendance, but as well as Lore, I want to give a special shoutout to the magical Ari Wisner and Caroline Harris, who were on the neighbouring table. Both Ari and Caroline also have decks launching soon on Kickstarter, so check out the campaigns below and be sure to hit the ‘Notify me on launch’ button so you don’t miss out!

Unity Tarot — Ari Wisner on Kickstarter

The Taro as Deer — Caroline Harris on Kickstarter

Collage Workshops

I hosted TWO collage workshops during the day in the cafe area. As always, it was so incredible getting to meet everyone who attended and to watch you create some fabulous collage Tarot cards. I hope you’ve all caught the collage bug!

Upcoming Collage Workshop - Leicester Wellness Festival

If you’re based in the UK and couldn’t make it on Saturday, I’ve got another workshop scheduled on September 5th at the Leicester Wellness Festival. While not a strictly Tarot event, in its fifth year looks to be a beautiful day of yoga, holistic stalls, food and community.

Ticket info for the main festival and my workshop is available here!

Deck Creator Panel Talk

Lastly, I joined Caroline Harris and seasoned deck creator, Sara Kathleen in a panel talk in the yoga studio upstairs hosted by artist Scarlet Ostick. We talked about our creative processes and took questions from the audience.

It was my first time getting to do something like this, and it was so exciting to form connections with other Tarot creatives and our audience, who provided some thought-provoking questions about the spiritual journey of card creating and the life of a Tarot artist.

Thank you again to Lila for organising and to everyone who came along and made the day so special.

Here’s hoping that it runs again next year!

All the best,
Joe

What an incredible day it’s been for Stretch Tarot!

It’s launch day for The Stretch Tarot: Remastered on Kickstarter, a bold new edition of the deck to celebrate 10 years since its first printing.

Having over 300 followers on the pre-launch page, I anticipated early support. However, when I pressed the launch button this morning, I didn’t expect the first backers to roll in within seconds. I watched in amazement as the numbers continued to tick over and the £3,000 project goal was reached within a few hours.

I am so thrilled, not only because it means the production of the deck is guaranteed to go ahead at the end of the campaign, but also because every pledge shows your support and investment, for which I am deeply grateful and humbled.

It’s because of support from the Tarot community that the Stretch Tarot has continued ten years on, and hopefully for many more years to come!

The Stretch Tarot: Remastered on Kickstarter

If you haven’t backed the campaign yet, don’t worry — you may have missed the buzz of day one, but backing is still open until July 31st, 2026. If you want to secure your copy of the deck (limited print run, signed and numbered!) please don’t hesitate to pledge your support. You’ll be helping the project to grow, and with higher funding the final product has the potential to evolve into something even bigger and better than originally planned! Stay tuned for updates.

Kickstarter

Help to spread the word

It would mean a lot to me if you could continue to help spreading the word by sharing the project on your socials or even by sending it to just one person who you think may appreciate it!

Once again, a HUGE thank you to those who have already backed the deck!

The wait is almost over!

The Stretch Tarot: Remastered will be live on Kickstarter tomorrow — July 01, 2026!

The campaign

Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform which helps projects come to life. By backing the campaign, you will be enabling me to fund the printing of this new edition and keep Stretch Tarot alive.

Kickstarter works on an all or nothing model, so we need to hit at least £3,000 GBP within 30 days in order for it to be a success.

I wouldn’t be where I am without crowdfunding magic, so thank you so much to those who have already shown interest in this campaign, those who have supported me in the past, and those who are going to be pledging very soon!

The rewards

By backing the campaign, you are pre-ordering the deck and guidebook.

The print run will be limited and your copy will be signed and numbered. If you’re interested in adding The Stretch Tarot: Remastered to your collection, do not hesitate to support the campaign!

Early Bird offer 🐥

A 20% Early Bird discount will be available to the first 100 backers. At the time of writing this, there are 300+ people already following the campaign, so you’ll have to be quick!

Check out the pre-launch page and tap ‘Notify me on launch’ to be sent an email as soon as the campaign goes live.

Get notified

Collage Workshop @ The Tarot Fayre

I’ve previously announced that I’m going to be at The Tarot Fayre in Brighton this July, a vibrant new event with stallholders, readings, talks, and workshops all celebrating Tarot and Oracle card wisdom.

Now, I’m super excited to announce that I will also be hosting two collage workshops during the day, giving you a hands-on experience to unlock your creative magic!

All materials will be provided and no Tarot or artistic experience is needed.

Learn more here!

Main Event Details

The Tarot Fayre: A Festival of Tarot & Oracle Wisdom
St Augustine’s Centre, Brighton, BN1 6EA
July 18th 2026
10:30am-5pm

Book your general entry ticket to stalls & readers, or full day ticket to Altar Room Talks & workshops now!

Workshop Tickets

My workshops are being held as a part of The Tarot Fayre, so you will need to have your entry ticket booked for the main event.

If you have booked a general entry ticket (£3) you will also need to book a £5 workshop tickets on my website to secure your space.

If you have booked a full day ticket to the talks schedule and prefer to attend one of my workshops rather than one of the talks, no ticket purchase is required. Prebooking is essential due to limited spaces via hello@thetarotfayre.co.uk

Deck Creator Panel Talk

I’m also taking part in a panel talk with two other fantastic deck creators, Caroline of Small Birds Press and Sara Kathleen. We will be discussing our creation process, what Tarot has taught us, and more! The talk is free to attend with the option for you to make a donation.

I hope to see you at the Tarot Fayre on July 18th, 2026!

Let me know in the comments if you’re planning to come!

As you may know, I announced back in May that I was putting together a new edition of The Stretch Tarot to celebrate its 10th anniversary. Now, I’m very happy to announce that the official launch date for the campaign will be July 01, 2026!

Sign up for Early Bird rewards

If you haven’t already, check out the pre-launch page and tap the ‘Notify me on launch’ button. There will be a limited number of Early Bird rewards available for those who do!

Pre-Launch Page

Help spread the word

My next job is to feed the social media algorithms and get the word out to as many potential backers as possible. If you could, it would really help me if you’d like and comment on my posts, and share the project on social media to build momentum for launch day.

Share

Stay tuned for updates

Instagram | Facebook | Substack | Visit my website

Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who has shown support for this project so far. Your kindness and enthusiasm has really motivated me to bring this to life. I can’t wait to share the deck with you!

All the best,

Joe

On Saturday 6th June 2026, I had the absolute privilege of getting to host a workshop at a special UK Tarot Conference event in Canterbury!

If you don’t know, the UK Tarot Conference is an annual celebration of all things Tarot run by Kim Arnold. At the time of writing this, there are still spots available for this year’s conference on October 9th and 10th.

After meeting Kim at the main conference last year, I was delighted to be invited to host a collage workshop at this one-day event in Canterbury.

The day began with me pulling a suitcase full of magazines, scissors, glue, and copies of my DIY Deck along a drizzly, cobbled street towards the Abode Hotel.

After setting up and enjoying a warm croissant, I met some familiar faces, including Anna of .

Kim gave us an intro to Canterbury and a potted history of the conference, including talk of lay lines and mysterious energies to be found in a Sainsbury’s car park!

Then it was my turn to take to the podium and guide 30 attendees in making their own Tarot collages. It was so much fun! Everyone was so open-minded and receptive, and an impressive outpouring of Tarot-inspired creativity ensued. It was thrilling getting to talk to so many lovely people and to see their artwork coming together.

I also got to show off the test printing of the new edition of The Stretch Tarot, coming soon to Kickstarter. I announced the launch date at the conference and will be sharing more details later this week, so keep an eye out for that in your inbox and on Instagram!

The day also featured talks from Ari Wisner on the relationship between Tarot and the Tree of Life; Steven Bright on ‘open reading’ — a playful approach to interpretation which focuses on figures and gestures; and an intellectual look at the Sola Busca deck and Tarot as an initiatory tool, led by Lara van Zuydam.

UK Tarot Conference events bring together Tarot enthusiasts from all over the world. If you can make it to the next one, you won’t be disappointed, and you’ll get a goodie bag!

See you there?

Upcoming Events

• July 18th, 2026 — The Tarot Fayre, Brighton UK — You can meet me at the Artists’ Table! Tickets here!

• September 6th, 2026 — Leicester Wellness Festival — I’ll be hosting a collage workshop if you want to make your own card with me! You will need to book a ticket for the day and your workshop spot on my website, here.

• October 9th-10th, 2026 — The UK Tarot Conference — I’ll be attending on both days, so come and say hi!

Stay creative,

Joe

P.S. Happy Pride! 🌈

I am very excited to be a part of the upcoming Tarot Fayre in July. You’ll be able to meet deck creators (hi!), attend talks and workshops, shop spiritual wares, have a reading and more, all in a glorious convereted church venue.

Tickets are on sale now, including a limited Early Bird offer available until the end of May. See details from the organisers below.

I hope to see you there!

The Tarot Fayre - Brighton, 18th July 2026 - Talks Early Bird tickets now available

We’re thrilled to announce that Early Bird tickets for talks and workshops in the Altar room are now available for The Tarot Fayre, a one-day festival of tarot and oracle wisdom, coming to St Augustine’s Arts & Events Centre, a beautiful converted Gothic church, in beautiful Brighton on Saturday 18th July 2026.

We have an amazing lineup of expert speakers including published authors and tarot experts including Melissa Mercury, Maddy Elruna, Paul-Hughes Barlow, Dr Lucy Neville, Ali Norell and Enni Tapionkaski. Find out more at thetarotfayre.co.uk/talks.

General entry is just £3 and you can expect a vibrant marketplace, deck signings, deck creator meet and greets, readings, inspiring talks, raffle, and an on-site café.

We will be joined by a number of amazing tarot deck creators including Mariana Andrade, Sara Kathleen, Ari WIsner, Joseph Stretch, Anastasia Kashian and Caroline Harris whom you can meet on the Artist’s table.

General entry: £3 on the door / Full-day talk tickets are on sale now: £45 early bird until end of May (max 100). Be quick before they run out!

Book at thetarotfayre.co.uk/tickets and follow along at instagram.com/thetarotfayre.

The Stretch Tarot: Remastered aims to archive and enhance the original artwork, celebrating the deck’s past while reviving it for the present and future.

Check out the pre-launch page on Kickstarter and tap the button to be notified on launch.

There will be early-bird rewards and discounts when the project goes live, so don’t miss out!

Visit the pre-launch page

Thanks for your support!

Joe

Instagram | Facebook | Substack | Visit my website

Hi there,

My next in-person Tarot workshop is fast approaching!

Join me for an evening of Tarot reading and chat on April 18th 2026, at the lovely A Fine Balance Studio in Upminster, UK.

If you’re based in London, it’s on the end of the District Line. If you’re elsewhere, it’s well connected via TfL bus routes and the C2C.

Tickets here

About the Event

Start time: 5:00pm
Duration: 1h 30

Curious about learning to read Tarot? Leave the guidebooks behind and explore the cards in an open, intuitive method which blends meditation, self-reflection and storytelling to create powerful, personal mythologies.

Led by Joe, Tarot reader, teacher and deck creator with 10+ years experience working with the cards.

All are welcome. No prior knowledge or experience of Tarot required.

What To Expect

• a relaxed, grounding experience

• guided Tarot readings exploring different spreads and techniques

• silent self reflection time for journaling

• opportunities to discuss, share insights and integrate messages

Please wear comfortable clothing and bring a notebook and pen. You are welcome to bring your own Tarot deck but it is not required.

Tickets

£35 for A Fine Balance members

£40 for non-members

Tickets here or book via the MindBody app

I hope to see you there! If you have any questions, please leave a comment or send me a direct message.

All the best,

Joe

I met Chelsey last year at a workshop she hosted in the magical Atlantis Bookshop, London. There, we talked about Tarot as a source of creativity and experimented with a range of different art techniques inspired by artists such as Ithell Colquhoun and Dali (who, if you didn’t know, created his own mixed media Tarot deck).

Chelsey is the author of Tarot for Creativity and writes a bestselling Substack, The Shuffle. From our first meeting, it was clear that our approach to the cards and philosophy about Tarot is very much aligned, and I was delighted when Chelsey invited me to be a guest on her podcast to talk all things Tarot and creativity.

You can listen to the episode here.

We chatted about my latest deck, The DIY Deck, the creative process, and the more radical approach I’ve been taking to Tarot recently, stepping away from from spreads and guidebooks to find my own personal meanings — something which I encourage you to do, too!

Intuitive Tarot Reading Workshop

In other news, I am hosting my next in-person workshop on Saturday, April 18th at A Fine Balance Studio in Upminster, UK. If you’re London or Essex based, I’d love for you to join me for a relaxed, insightful evening where we will explore methods of unlocking our intuition and creativity through the cards.

Spaces are limited, so book now here or via the MindBody app.

You can learn more about the workshop here.

I am still reeling from hosting my first in-person collage workshop last week! The outpouring of creativity was inspired, and I got fabulous feedback from attendees. The experience really affirmed that this is the right direction for me to move in with Stretch Tarot, alongside producing new decks and creative projects, of course.

Upcoming Events

I have a few in-person workshops lined up for 2026 and am hoping to add more, so stay tuned for updates!

Intuitive Tarot Reading

Learn to read Tarot for yourself using your intuition and creativity

🗓️ April 18th 2026

📍A Fine Balance Studio, Upminster UK

🔗 https://www.stretchtarot.com/event-details/intuitive-tarot-reading-a-fine-balance

Collage Workshop @ A Day of Tarot Wisdom

Join me for a collage workshop in Canterbury, Kent, UK hosted by Kim Arnold of the UK Tarot Conference

🗓️ June 6th 2026

📍ABode Hotel, Canterbury UK

🔗 https://www.stretchtarot.com/event-details/collage-workshop-a-day-of-tarot-wisdom

Tarot Card Workshop @ The Leicester Wellbeing Festival

Deepen your connection to Tarot by using collage to create your own unique card, guided by Tarot artist, Joseph Stretch

🗓️ September 5th, 2026

📍The Venue@DMU, Leicester UK

🔗 https://www.stretchtarot.com/event-details/collage-workshop-a-day-of-tarot-wisdom

Book a Workshop

Planning an event? I can host a Tarot-infused collage or creative writing workshop at your home or venue.

Areas covered include London,Essex, and Lincolnshire. I am able to travel to other parts of the UK based on the nature of your event, so please inquire via my website, here.

New Website

And finally, I’ve been hard at work giving my old website a complete overhaul, gearing it towards my current events and workshop offerings.

www.stretchtarot.com

DIY Deck Creators Group

Don’t forget to join the forum and begin sharing your creative Tarot journey!

https://www.stretchtarot.com/groups

Thanks for your support & subscription,

Joe from Stretch Tarot

I also can’t quite believe that it is only February of this year — it feels like a century has passed since my last update!

With 10 years behind Stretch Tarot, I have a strong foundation on which to move forward and continue to grow this little dream of mine. With the skills and experience I’ve gained in that time, I’m excited to make the next steps a reality.

Here are my current plans to mark 2026.

Tarot Inspiration Day: A Day of Tarot Wisdom and Inspiration

6th June 2026

Abode Hotel, Canterbury, Kent

Hosted by Kim Arnold of the UK Tarot Conference, Tarot Inspiration Day will bring together members of the community to explore and celebrate our love of Tarot. The conference will include a diverse array of workshops, talks, and interactive sessions led by Steven Bright, Ari Wisner, Lara Van Zuydam, and yours truly.

I am so honoured to have been invited to be a part of this event after finally making my way to the UK Tarot Conference in October 2025.

I will be hosting a collage workshop where we will be making our own cards and exploring the innate creative power of Tarot.

There are still spaces available if you are based in the UK and would like to join!

Tickets Here

Leicester Wellness Festival

5th September 2026

The Venue@DMU, 20 Western Blvd, Leicester LE2 7BU, UK

I will be hosting a Tarot Card Workshop as a part of the 5th Leicester Wellness Festival in September, a showcase of all things Holistic and New Age.

Again, I will be hosting a collage workshop where we will be making our own cards and exploring the innate creative power of Tarot.

To secure your place, you will need a ticket to the Leicester Wellness Festival itself, and also register your free spot at the workshop on my website. Early Bird Tickets for the festival will be available April 1st, so I will send out a reminder then!

Kickstarter: Arcanum

At the end of last year I announced that I would be promoting a new deck on Kickstarter, entilted ‘Arcanum’.

I am currently working on the last of the artwork for the cards, at which point I will get a test print before finalising the date for the Kickstarter launch. As Stretch Tarot projects have to work around my day job and other commitments, I don’t want to set a timescale at this stage, but work is slowly but surely happening to get this deck to the finish line.

This will be the publication of my fourth deck and as always I am so excited to share it with you. It’s been a long time in the making and it stands as a testament to what I’ve learned about Tarot in the 10 years since the release of The Stretch Tarot. This one means a lot to me.

Stay tuned for further updates!

The Stretch Tarot: 10th Anniversary Re-Release

Finally, I am planning to re-release the Stretch Tarot deck at the end of this year! This will be a remaster of the original artwork, cleaned up and presented in the highest possible quality, with adjustments made to the formatting of the titles and card size. The aim of this is to achieve my original vision which I struggled with upon the deck’s initial release.

For the first time, the deck will also come with a guidebook, packed with behind-the-scenes images and sharing the full story of the deck’s creation.

There’s a lot of work to do to prepare, so don’t get too excited just now, but do get excited! You will be seeing the Stretch Tarot: 10th Anniversary launched on Kickstarter after work on Arcanum is complete.

As always, thank you for your support & subscription,

Joe from Stretch Tarot

What is it?

One of my goals when making the DIY Deck was to help build connections between creatives within the Tarot community.

This past week, I’ve set up a forum on www.stretchtarot.com/groups where DIY Deck creators are invited to share their progress and insights to support one another as we journey to create our custom cards.

Like many of you, I’ve come to find mainstream social media platforms overwhelming, oversaturated and disengaged. I remember when I first started Stretch Tarot on Tumblr and had an active network of followers who I would chat to every time I logged on. At the same time, the go-to spot for Tarot was Aeclectic.net, a huge forum which has been archived now, but is still a great resource for finding decks and learning about the cards. I know I’m not alone in feeling that in recent years, algorithms, influencers and advertisting has made us loose focus of what these online spaces can be.

By setting up the DIY Deck Creators group, I have high hopes of recindling that same kind of genuine, engaged community who can inspire, motivate, teach and support one another in our own safe, welcoming, and private patch of the web.

I need your help to make it work!

How do I join?

New customers will automatically by emailed a link when you order the DIY Deck.

Existing customers can register now by going to www.stretchtarot.com/groups.

Once you’re in, start posting and commenting. I can’t wait to see what you will create and share!

Join the Group

P.S. If you own the DIY Deck and haven’t started using it yet, consider this a sign from the universe to give it a go✨

I’m thrilled to announce that I will be running my first in-person workshop! Join me for an exploration of Tarot using creative writing techniques to engage deeply with your chosen card.

Suitable for all levels of Tarot and writing experience. Beginners welcome!

What: Tarot Writing Workshop

Where: A Fine Balance Studio, 173 Saint Mary's Ln, Upminster RM14 3BL

When: Saturday 15th November 2025, 4:30-5:30pm

Price: £20

Tickets are limited to 20 spaces, so book now to secure your spot.

Book Now

What to Expect

• You will select one Tarot card from the deck.

• You will be guided step-by-step to produce a self-reflective journal entry inspired by your card.

• This is an opportunity to stretch your imagination, develop your creativity and intuition, and dig deep into your own psyche.

• There will be periods of silent writing and meditation with structured opportunities for discussion and sharing your insights, if you feel comfortable to do so.

Learn More

I hope to see you there! If you can’t make it, I’d really appreciate it if you could help to spread the word and share this post with someone who might be interested.

Best wishes,
Joe

tlbcreates | Instagram, TikTok | Linktree

Drawing up to three cards at a time, Tessa incorporates a Tarot reading into her creative process, using the messages of the cards as inspiration for the artwork. By crafting three cards at a time, there are sometimes interesting and unexpected visual interplays between them which capture her readings and the unique unfolding of her deck creation. I think it’s a fantastic way to approach the project!

Tessa says:

“The DIY Deck has become a fundamental part of my practice as I create my own deck. It seamlessly connects my collage art with tarot, providing endless inpiration and a deeper creative process.”

“I am really loving how my practice is evolving to have its own little routine from selecting the cards > carrying out the research > analysis and image selection > collage creation

The last two steps often happen multiple times interchangeably as I get into the creation practice and my analysis evolves.”

“As I work on it intuitively, sometimes the cards I pull have such a personal meaning when considered together that the imagery looks similar, but in today's case I found the perfect background that could be used for both cards so I have two cards that are a continuation of each other” (IV of Pentacles and II of Swords, pictured above)

Get Creative with Tarot

If you’re feeling inspired by Tessa’s work, why not grab your own copy of the DIY Deck and try your hand at crafting your own Tarot cards? Link here.

Don’t forget my FREE guide featuring creative techniques to unlock a deeper connection to the cards. Link here.

Leave a comment

When it comes to stage magic, I’ve always found the challenge of figuring out how it’s done far more interesting than the illusion of magic itself. There’s that ‘aha’ moment when you finally understand something that baffled you at first, and then there’s the feeling that you now hold some secret knowledge, you’re a part of a group of people separate from the uninitiated masses.

Most modern interpretations of The Magician Tarot card focus on the tools laid out on the Magician’s table. We can see the cup, pentacle, sword and wand which represent the four suits of Tarot (symbolising the Magician’s control or understanding of all aspects of their life, i.e., the emotional, physical, intellect, action), as well as being the tools used in ceremonial magic, such as that practiced by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, whose teachings have had an enormous impact on the legacy of Tarot. If you’ve interested in Tarot and have not yet fallen down a Golden Dawn rabbit hole, consider this your call to action.

Subscribe now

If we look back at earliest examples of The Magician card, I get a different sense of its meaning. The Magician is a street performer about to do a trick, and the viewer is placed as his audience, ready to be amazed by his sleight of hand. As the first card in the sequence of the Major Arcana after The Fool, this card can be seen as the entry point into the Tarot journey. We begin with a point of divergence, a ‘two roads in the woods’: some people are satisfied by the trick and will not want to spoil the magic; others will want to find out how he did it. It’s the latter, the knowledge seekers, who will progress further on the spiritual quest represented by cards.

I’m no historian, but I’m sure that The Magician card would have once been viewed with the same attitude as magic performers in Renaissance culture, and I’d like to imagine that would be pretty similar to how people are sceptical yet spellbound by magic tricks today.

So, let’s take the idea of magic as a metaphor for any area of knowledge that may seem complex, impossible, or mind-blowing, but instils a sense of awe and longing to know more within you. That could be a spiritual or religious knowledge, a technical knowledge such as mastery of a skill, or perhaps an intellectual knowledge.

While one aspect of this card is an invitation the embody the qualities of The Magician (control, awareness, creativity), I also see it as an invitation to think about the moments in your life which have set you on your path. What are your moments of awakening or revelation? What insights about yourself can you gain by reflecting on these experiences?

Now, my biggest question to you is this: are you someone who likes to know the trick, or are you someone who’d prefer to keep the magic secret?

Leave a comment

Back in May, I did a Call for Submissions, inviting you to get creative with Tarot inspired by Major Arcana card I - The Magician.

Getting back into the swing of things, I’ve finally posted the next Community Creations digital zine showcasing the brilliantly varied responses to The Magician. We’ve got digital and analogue collages, creative writing, and even a baking recepie!

Check out the post on Instagram below:

Shoutout to contributor who is also on Substack.

Get Creative with Tarot

If you’d like to be featured in the next Community Creations zine or just want to get your creativity flowing, join in!

Theme: XVII - The Moon

Deadline: September 30th, 2025

Submissions: @stretchtarot on Instagram | stretchtarot@gmail.com

This month on Stretch Tarot we are exploring card I: The Magician, and I’m inviting YOU to get creative with Tarot and to share your work to a growing community of artsy Tarot enthusiasts.

The Magician is a card of mastery, manifestation, creativity and will. On his table rests the four suits of Tarot, demonstrating his control over all aspects of life.

Submissions

I’m looking to see any form of creative response to this card. It could be artwork in any medium or a written piece (short fiction, poetry).

Your work doesn’t have to be perfect – I want us to encourage each other to be expressive, open-minded, and to go with the flow. The real value is in the process, not the result.

Your work will be shared on my Instagram (@stretchtarot) and in a newsletter post at the start of June to my growing community. Be a part of it!

Deadline: May 31th 2025

How to Submit

To submit, you can:

• Email your work to stretchtarot@gmail.com

• DM me on Instagram @stretchtarot

• Tag me in Instagram posts @stretchtarot

• Or drop your work in the Stretch Tarot Subscriber Chat (linked below)

I’m so looking forward to seeing what you create!

Leave a comment

In April, Stretch Tarot saw it’s first call for submissions to encourage you to get creative with Tarot. This first round of submissions were inspired by card XIV - Temperance.

It was so exciting to see your work coming in and to see people commenting on each other’s posts in support. We are at the beginning of something magical — a journey of creativity and self-discovery — and we’re here to help each other along the way.

What I find so fun is how unique each of these pieces are. There is no limit to what you can create with Tarot. It’s a doorway into the subconscious and what comes out is often surprising, and always interesting!

Without further ado, let’s take a look at your creations.

Anthony | Instagram: anthonyreadsthecards

Anthony is in the process of creating his own Tarot deck. This is one of his original cards. I love the idea of a mixologist for Temperance!

Michelle | Instagram @eclectic_art_witch

Michelle is a collage artist creating her own deck using the DIY Deck by Stretch Tarot. You can read more about her amazing work here.

Kayla | Instagram: taxidummy_

Kayla is an incredible cut up artist. I love her irreverent humour and unexpected take on this card!

Shaunté | Substack:

Shaunté is creating her own deck and writes a quality Tarot Substack. This digital collage is mesmerising.

Tessa | Instagram: @tlbcreates

Tessa is a collage artist creating her own deck using the DIY Deck by Stretch Tarot. Stay tuned for an upcoming DIY Deck Spotlight post on her inspiring work later this month!

Temperance: The Art of Dichotomy

She is the fusion between two worlds, the union of opposites, where balance creates. A dichotomy is the division between two contrasting forces, yet in its essence, it holds the potential for unity. Temperance is the tide pulling between fire and water, motion and stillness, passion and restraint. Active but still, she remains grounded but fluid, balancing opposing forces with a quiet, steady grace. She moves through life with the patience of a river carving its path-constantly in motion, yet never hurried. Her rhythm flows like the pulse of the earth, a constant reminder that even in flux, there is peace. She holds the wisdom of both the spark and the calm, knowing that true power lies in knowing when to move and when to wait. Temperance reminds us that true strength lies not in the extremes we live by, but in the balance we create between them.

Hannah | Substack:

I was thrilled to get a written response to this card. Hannah’s words capture the meaning of this card beautifully — I especially like the final line.

Laura | Instagram: @thebarleymoon

Last but by no means least, Laura created this piece while on holiday in Spain! I like the fact that this artwork focuses on a landscape rather than a figure. It’s refreshing, and certainly captures the calm.

Get creative with Tarot

If you would like to be featured in my next Community Creations post, simply make something inspired by this month’s card — I - The Magician — and send it to me!

Submissions close on May 31st.

I look foward to seeing what you create!

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Temperance is a card of control, order, and balance. The word, ‘temperance’ literally means self-control and is historically associated with the Temperance movement, which promoted abstinence from alcohol.

In the Cambridge Dictionary, one definition of the adjective ‘temperate’ is: ‘not extreme; within a middle range’ [1]. I think this definition is the most useful when thinking about Temperance within the context of Tarot.

In short, this card is about the balance of polarities, of finding a middle way.

Experience = Education

Unlike earlier cards in the Major Arcana (such as The High Priestess, The Hierophant, The Chariot) this card addresses the connection or unification of polarities not in a conceptual way, but in a more literal way. While earlier cards consider how to bride gaps, Temperance is about the act of doing it.

Paul Foster Case describes Temperance as a ‘kind of consciousness which puts theory to the test of practical application, which makes experiments to verify hypothesis’ p. 148 [2]. This aligns with Aleister Crowley’s thoughts that ‘it’s nature is not to be understood except by experience’ [3].

Therefore, this card is a call to action. It speaks of actively adapting your behaviour and suggests a way of being that will help you towards mastery of The World (XXI).

The Divided Self

In Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Rachel Pollack explains that ‘many people can only deal with life by parcelling it of into sections […] Temperance combines the elements of life’ p. 106 [4].

I am guilty of this myself. Society teaches us that we should act in certain ways, that certain behaviours and ways of being are suitable for certain contexts – it’s only natural that we should find ourselves divided. But how are we to fully realise ourselves when our sense of self is fragmented?

In Pictorial Key to the Tarot, A.E. Waite describes Temperance as acting ‘under that we know in our rational part something of whence we came and wither we are going’ p. 127 [5]. Perhaps Waite is alluding to the idea of essentialism; an innate understanding of who we are and who we are meant to be which drives us on our paths to actualisation. Deep down, we know where our flaws lie, and we know the fears we need to face to reach our goals.

Temperance encourages us to embody our true self – a self that is not tempered by the expectations of other people, but by our own judgements and will.

Consider the traditional imagery of this card: a figure pouring water between two cups. Picture the water as your true self – your essence or soul – moving between different states of being. Once you fully accept and recognise that all your different guises and states of being are simply smaller elements of your larger self, you will begin to better understand who you truly are.

You can be more than one thing at a time.

You are a contradiction.

That is the nature of all things.

Temperance = Art

In Crowley’s Thoth Tarot, Temperance is renamed ‘Art’. While this most likely refers to the art of alchemical practice as described in The Book of Thoth, I like this change because it speaks to the idea of the creative act as being a transformative, alchemical process in which mental images are transferred to the physical realm. It aligns with my belief that getting creative with Tarot is a powerful way of furthering your spiritual journey. Creation is magical.

References

[1] TEMPERATE | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary

[2] The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages, Paul Foster Case, The Banton Press, Arran, 1993.

[3] The Book of Thoth: Egyptian Tarot, Aleister Crowley, Samuel Weiser Inc, Maine, 1983.

[4] Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom: A Book of Tarot, Rachel Pollack, Thorsons, London, 1997.

[5] The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, A.E. Waite, University Press, New York, 1959.

[6] Song of Myself (1892 version) | The Poetry Foundation