Slow Holler Tarot Project

The Slow Holler Tarot project is a collaboratively imagined and illustrated deck created by 32 artists and four writers. We all either have southern ties, identify as queer, or both. The deck is a vibrant collection of illustration styles and voices. Each card is a work of art, a story rendered with care, crafted by the experiences of different hands. Together, the cards weave a larger story of the whole deck. Our collective shaping of the deck steeps it in perspective and strength from all of us.

Suits

Throughout the deck, we re-imagine names and symbols from the traditional tarot. We use visual storytelling so each card can be read in an emotional, intuitive way. Our hope is to make a deck that folks relate to easily and understand without special knowledge. We’ve formed the suits from a collection of four everyday objects: branches, knives, stones, and vessels–familiar things that we encounter in daily life.

Characters & Gender

We also wanted move away from the white, patriarchal, old European focus of traditional decks. Instead we aimed to create a deck that queer folks, people of color, and folks with varied gender identities can more readily feel at home with. Characters are re-imagined, sometimes in new human forms but also as plants, creatures, and natural elements. Many cards in the Slow Holler deck bear new titles that move beyond a gender binary and make room for different gender experiences. The deck carries the care with which it was created so it can rest in quiet hands, pass from person to person at potlucks, be tucked into altars or held by healers, shared with friends, or whatever purpose the deck is called to fulfill.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who’s supported the project. Biggest thanks to all of you who helped us realize this dream.

Participating Artists

Sample work from participating artists (see more)

Destiny Hemphill

Writer
Destiny Hemphill

kai lumumba barrow

Artist
kai lumumba barrow

E Henderson

Artist
E Henderson

Nic. Jenkins

Artist
Nic. Jenkins

Saba Taj

Artist
Saba Taj

Vanessa Adams

Artist
Vanessa Adams

Rachel Speck

Artist
Rachel Speck

Corina Dross

Artist, Writer
Corina Dross

Xander Stewart

Artist, Videographer
Xander Stewart

JB Brager

Artist, Editor
JB Brager

Euj Osoria

Planner, Proofer
Euj Osoria

Jen Cooney

Artist
Jen Cooney

A-B Moore

Artist
A-B Moore

Beatriz Carmen Mendoza

Artist
Beatriz Carmen Mendoza

Miranda Javid

Artist
Miranda Javid

Project Updates