Photography, concept, structural layout and editing by Virginia Jester.
Graphic Design, packaging, branding and marketing by Chris Hopkins.
This deck was designed based on the conceptual foundations of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Rider-Waite deck. It contains all 22 Major Arcana cards, beginning with 0, The Fool and ending with 22, The World. All names and number sequences follow the Rider-Waite model strictly. Additionally, it contains all 56 cards of the Minor Arcana in the four traditional suits: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
Wands are represented by light fixtures found around NYC. Cups are represented by glasses found in NYC restaurants, bars and clubs. Swords are expressed by iron gates found in yards, parks, transportation hubs and the like. Pentacles appear as disks found as architectural elements, decor and design punctuations, as well as naturally occurring light orbs and signage.
Shot in February 2014, this deck is the launch of a multi-city project.
Check out our Kickstarter campaign and video to see more images!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/787185114/city-mystic-new-york-tarot-deck
****About City Mystic Tarot: NYC *****
The City Mystic Tarot project was an idea that came to me after my first visit to Paris, France in 2009. As soon as I returned home I began to long for an opportunity to craft my own black and white photographic Tarot deck based on the monumental and natural beauty of Paris, France. Later I traveled to London and decided that I wanted to complete three separate photographic decks; New York for its deep ties to American Masonry and Occultism, London for its role in Masonry, Occultism and Hermeticism, and Paris for its role in the unfolding story of Alchemy during the Renaissance period, ushering Tarot into its role as a divine tool.
Because we are American, we began naturally, with our cultural mother, New York, New York.
Through harrowingly freezing weather (temperatures fluctuating between 36 degrees f and 5 degrees f) we piled on our numerous layers of heat-trapping clothing we keep on hand for Tahoe trips. Then we trekked, camera-in-hand, from 1pm- midnight (sometimes 4 am ) for seven days, asking the City to tell us its story, to give us a read, to allow us to sense her pulse.
New York was freezing. New York was expensive. New York was harsh. New York was beautiful. The bustle and buzz of life creates an energetic field that is almost palpable, or breathable at least. It can be detected. It can be discerned. New York speaks a vibrant humming language that asks of one nothing short of full presence.
And so that was the energetic read that we aimed to infuse into this deck and its Major Arcana. We wanted to show you New York from a fresh perspective, with honest eyes and a mystical dialogue between camera and city. We left the stereotypes behind and asked the city to show us its Mystic side.
********** Excerpted from the companion book, below is a sample card description. **********
1- The Magician
Union Square calls the Fools attention. At the south end of the square she finds one of the largest public art installations commissioned privately, the Metronome. A massive brick wall designed in concentric circles appears to ripple and wave like a stone cast into a pool of water. Gold leaf draws the eye to a dark opening in the center of the ripples. A long bronze cone, looking much like a magician’s wand, punctuates the center opening. Below, a slab of bedrock represents millennia, in the form of geological time. The piece pays homage to our perception of time-space reality, and its deep significance to NYC culture and daily life rhythms. Truly the City Magician, at noon and midnight the center opening emits a plume of steam, serving as a constant public reminder of the rhythms of the city each and every day, casting a spell on all who wish to notice. A large hand sits atop, representing man’s ability to embody, shape and cast spells with the “reality” of time. In a moment of grand synchronicity, as if on cue, a pigeon swoops into the shot, landing atop the park lamp post.
In the process of human life, the Magician describes the Fool’s birth into human form. Metaphorically, it expresses our individual will, and access to various necessary elements to craft a life wherein we can birth our soul’s potential. In this way, it is considered to express masterful communication of our pure soul potential on varying wavelengths of our understanding- passion, mentality, emotion and resourcefulness. The Magician marks our birth into human form. Our Fool’s journey has officially begun. There is no turning back. We now have a vehicle, a body, in which to experience time-space reality, through which to grow and develop the essence and potential of the Fool.
In readings the Magician is asking us to look at our ability to manifest. What is the time-space reality we are experiencing, and how do we feel about that? Especially in situations where we feel unsure of what to do, the Magician urges us to take stock of our imaginative efforts and perceptions of reality. Are you happy with the reality you are experiencing? If not, what “spell” are you under? What perceived limitations or hindrances are you living through? How can you craft a new perception, or spell, through which to experience and manifest your pure potential? Use your senses wisely, and be sure to draw on your many resources- physical, mental, emotional and energetic- to create a reality that is aligned with your innate essence, or inner Fool. This is why Pagan spell casting and monastic ritual work is helpful- it channels the energy of your senses into a relationship to that which you wish to create, stimulating your body mind and spirit into contemplation in the direction you wish to move.
**********Excerpted from the upcoming Extended CMNY Companion book, due late winter/ early 2015…
Nine of Pentacles-
(see the card image in our virtual gallery at http://www.ginniejester.com/product/tarot-deck-pre-order/)
Nines are all about personification, or wholeness in self. Before things change in the tens, they reach the pinnacle of self-potential, in nines. In this way, nines represent all that we’ve learned- both about ourselves and others. We merge the interior and exterior. Our knowing extends beyond our initial inspiration, and is grounded in experiential wisdom. We are able to gauge the significance of our dreams within the spectrum of our actual capacities. The nines bring us to a place of inner completion.
Pentacles are a suit of Earthliness, or groundedness. We make and manifest in the Pentacles. We create something in the real world. We deal with resources and finances. We actualize in the most human way possible.
The Nine of Pentacles represents a manifestation of our work that affords us accolades and the highest acclaim. We are recognized for our hard work, determination and dedication- not to mention skill! From our soul pours forward a path or goal that takes us far. We come from inspiration to manifestation. We come, finally, into a sense of validation in our work, our path, our ambition. What’s it like to feel honored for what you do? What’s it like to be seen and valued for your unique contribution to society? In what way are you receiving positive feedback for your gifts and talents? If you have not been honored in such a way- what are you craving attention and payback for? What do you feel you deserve accolades over?”
Tarot For Spiritual Practice
This E-Course is the second-edition of a beloved original offered on our website since 2012. Now new and improved, this original audio e-course includes a quick 30+ minute Tarot basics class so anyone can participate in this practice, no matter how much or how little you know about Tarot.
The second half of this class is a guided audio e-course to help you make the most of your personal Tarot work and growth with simple exercises and easy-to-follow instructions. Its designed to help you build your intuition, understanding of the cards, and spiritually center yourself through your relationship with Tarot.
Use it daily, weekly, monthly or quarterly as you like. Some people like to save this practice as a New or Full moon ritual, others like to spend Sunday mornings with it. No matter how you wish to incorporate it into your life, it can enrich your practice and your spiritual development for many years to come.
THIS PURCHASE INCLUDES:
A 1-hour audio download (too large for Etsy, a link to the class dropbox folder will be manually sent to you upon purchase).
An original Magnum Opus Tarot (City Mystic sister project) E-Book Workbook (34 pages, black and white) digital file for IMMEDIATE DOWNLOAD. Your workbook also includes a complete breakdown plus large image of each and every Major Arcana card, text and images excerpted from our original City Mystic • New York Tarot deck.
In your Workbook you’ll also participate in exercises to help build your intuition and access important subconscious spiritual information, as well as receive a complete Basics of Tarot lesson with brief explanations of the anatomy of a Tarot deck, how to use it, the difference between Major and Minor Arcana cards, how to work with Court Cards and more. The second half of your workbook is dedicated to working through the spiritual practice taught in the audio class so you can follow along in a personal-journal-style setting. Many people like to print this workbook and keep it in their personal Tarot journals, Book of Shadows and self-development journals. Feel free to participate in ways that are most congruent and empowering for you- there are no rules, only guidelines, suggestions and opportunities for you to grow your own deep sense of spiritual development and empowerment with this class.
Plus receive a free Grounding In Meditation Handbook to begin all of your Tarot work.
Learn Tarot with a trusted, grounded, healing-oriented reader, Ginnie Jester, of Magnum Opus Tarot and City Mystic.
…………… See section below for full bio! ………….
This course is totally automated for your learning convenience, complete with audio files as well as comprehensive, one-of-a-kind class textbooks! You can’t get these materials ANYWHERE else, they are our originals crafted during years of research, in-depth study and practice, personal and professional.
Due to its on-demand nature, it is popular with many different types of schedules, learning types and personalities. This is a highly technical class with in-depth information about all the important basics of Tarot that you need to know to read WELL, for yourself or others!
********** INSTRUCTOR GINNIE JESTER FULL BIO **********
Virginia Jester, Ginnie, as she’s known by many, is a Tarot Reader, Educator, Spiritual Counselor, Holistic Health Practitioner, Artist and Writer from San Francisco, CA. Trained formally as a Massage Therapist, Health Educator, Herbalist, Tarot Reader and Spiritual Counselor, Ginnie has spent her adult life traveling, studying and practicing the holistic healing arts. Having completed intensive reader training with trusted reader, Diana Taylor of London’s Treadwells, Ginnie currently shares her healing wisdom with others through Tarot, Astrology, Art (see her online boutique of headpieces, EmpressHouseBoutique.com for more) and Herbal Remedies. She calls her work Magnum Opus, a phrase used in alchemy to describe its aims as “the great work” of our lives, encompassing all the modalities she adores. Ginnie currently lives in Sacramento, the city of trees located in Northern California with her two daughters. She was first certified as a Massage Therapist and Health Educator in 2001 at the National Holistic Institute in Emeryville, Ca, which was the beginning of her winding work path in the holistic healing arts. She has since continued her education in holistic healing, spiritual counseling, mysticism and divination for the purpose of helping her clients heal self-esteem issues in various programs. In 2006 she enrolled in a Master Herbalist program with the Global College of Natural Medicine. In 2008 she studied Spiritual Counseling with an emphasis on Self-Parenting and Inner Child work through the Holistic Learning Center in New Jersey. In October 2012 Ginnie completed her readers training with Diana Granger-Taylor of London’s Treadwells, although she began her Tarot studies in 2007. She continues her journey as a student of the healing and spiritual arts while teaching workshops, working with clients and students, producing The Empress Project Podcast, running her handmade artisan accessories boutique, Empress House and blogging to her audience since 2009. Ginnie began studying and practicing massage therapy and energy balancing work in 2001 while recovering from her own wounds. From her youth she gained her most important education about the value and impact of healthy self-esteem, and the consequences of its absence. Upon graduation from massage school she embarked on a decade long journey into healing, embracing both clinical allopathic treatments as well as alternative medicine and soul-searching practices from ancient healing traditions. These include, among others, Ayurveda, Native American and European herbal medicine, energy therapy/ vibrational medicine, crystal healing, Astrology, Tarot, oracle card reading, Alchemy, and many sources of divination and mystical study. Her most recent addition is Qabbalah, the Tree of Life and their relationship to Tarot. In her work with clients she shares a unique blend of physically inclined holistic healing mediums -such as herbal remedies, flower essences, and nutritional supplements- with esoteric and metaphysical healing tools -such as affirmations, archetypes, Tarot, Astrology and guided journaling. Upon entering the world of holistic healing, her emphasis was on assisting her clients to embrace the messages their bodies were sending through the physical pain they were experiencing, stressing the importance of building healthy self-esteem and whole-self care, including body, mind and spirit. Her career as a massage therapist began in a small neighborhood day spa in San Francisco’s Sunset District, where she also became one of the spa’s managers. In her eleven year her career, she has owned her own private practice and has managed one of Downtown San Francisco’s most prestigious salons and day spas. In her management work she was trained to coach through Aveda’s Coach the Coach program. She has worked on all levels of holistic healing- from the highly physically based work of teaming up with personal trainers to access a clients best performance, to the highly metaphysically based work of energy balancing and Chakra therapy to clear negative vibrations. Ginnie continues to share her work with building self-esteem, inner wisdom and creating spiritual relationships daily. Her youthful rebellious nature inspires others to explore the range of their own creative forces, and she is known for challenging people to look beyond their perceptions in order to discover their potential for fulfilling authentic relationships, starting with themselves. More than anything else, she is known for encouraging people to embrace themselves as they are, and to take responsibility and positive risks for harvesting the potential in dreams they hold most dear. It is her rebellious passion, whole-hearted willingness to try new things, unabashedly honest story telling and dark humor that keep her listeners, readers, clients and students loyal to her work.
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