Abstract:
Tarot and other esoteric traditions have been historically intertwined with second and third-wave feminism, from the Motherpeace Tarot Deck (created in 1978 and endorsed by Alice Walker) and Clarissa Pinkola Estés’ exploration of feminine archetypes and mythologies, to the “teen witch” phenomenon epitomized by late ‘90s pop culture film and television classics like “The Craft” and “Charmed.” In recent years, there has been a revived interest in divinatory tools as resources that support identity exploration, self-discovery, healing, empowerment, liberation, and affirmation. A number of queer and feminist artists have created decks that subvert traditional notions of gender identity and sexuality inherent in the classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck. With consideration for their place in archives and special collections, tarot decks are similar to zines in that they capture the unique perspective of their creators through a combination of art and text. Likewise, they are often self-published with limited circulation and extremely limited print runs. The Newcomb Archives of Tulane University is dedicated to collecting, preserving, and making accessible materials that document the history of gender and women, with a regional focus on the Gulf South. This poster will share their new collection development initiatives around tarot and divination decks created by feminist and LGBTQIA artists. In addition to acquisition, this poster will summarize outreach initiatives around the Tarot Collection, including a card spread for “self-care” and “collective-care,” distributed to archives visitors to encourage use of the decks beyond the traditional scope of scholarly engagement.
