The Naked Truth Tarot

Hey, everyone!

So, after the great success of the Baroque Tarot Kickstarter campaign (the decks are currently on their way to the backers before the estimated delivery time (March 2024)), I decided to launch yet another project that I’ve been putting off for months (for both financial and time restraint reasons): The Naked Truth Tarot.

Now, you might be wondering, what is that?

Well, I’ve long been captivated by the raw beauty and honesty of nudity in classical paintings, where both the strength and vulnerability of the human body are laid bare. Going through medical school has deepened my appreciation for the human form in every shape, color, and size. Inspired by this, I’ve decided to create ‘The Naked Truth Tarot’—a tarot deck that honors the beauty of our physical being through the medium of classical art (and some photographs, more on that later), all while exploring the rich symbolism tarot has to offer.

The Naked Truth Tarot is not just about showcasing the naked human form; it’s about unveiling the truths hidden within ourselves, embracing our vulnerabilities, and finding strength in our authenticity. Each card tells a story, not just through the artistic portrayal of the human body but also through the symbolism and meaning associated with the tarot tradition.

And before many of you say it, yes, I know that there are probably many tarot decks that feature nudity and beautiful paintings, but I’m yet to find one that ticks all of the boxes: beautiful artwork, paintings with stories/interpretations that do align with the meanings of different tarot cards, and high-quality printing. Fret not, though, as now we’ll have such a tarot deck!

As you explore this unique tarot deck, you’ll find that every card has been carefully curated to align with the traditional tarot meanings. The artworks, sourced from public domain paintings and edited by a fellow local artist whose name shall remain anonymous (his request, not mine, because of the premise of this tarot deck), add a layer of depth to each card, bringing forth a blend of artistry and mysticism that is both enchanting and thought-provoking. Think of owning this tarot deck as having your own little museum!

PS: Unlike many fine art tarot decks, The Naked Truth Tarot deck does feature some grim-looking artworks. That’s needed to convey some messages in certain tarot cards. Here are some examples:

I just wanted to make that clear because I know it can be a deal breaker for some of you.

Small Note Regarding Diversity

As a Tunisian, I’ve often felt a sense of disconnection with the predominantly white, European-centric depictions in many fine art tarot decks (not denying that those artworks are absolutely breath-taking). This realization sparked my desire to create a tarot deck that truly embraces inclusivity, showcasing the beauty and diversity of different ethnicities. The journey to bring this vision to life, however, was not without its challenges.

Why, you ask?

Well, in the realm of public domain art, particularly in works featuring nudity, there is a noticeable scarcity of ethnically diverse representations. This is largely due to the historical periods from which these artworks originate, where diverse ethnicities were either underrepresented or depicted in a manner that often reinforced stereotypes.

Striving to maintain historical and thematic authenticity while also endeavoring to diversify the representations in my tarot deck was a complex, yet enlightening, endeavor. It became a journey of exploring the nuances of art history, seeking out those rare gems that resonate with the inclusive spirit of this deck. My commitment to this point in my project stems from a deep belief in the importance of representation and the power of art to reflect a more diverse and inclusive world.

In the end, I managed to find some good art pieces, but many of them were photographs, not paintings, so I included them (where I deemed appropriate), as I believe they do add to the beauty of this deck.

‎Please know that if any artwork selected for this deck inadvertently causes discomfort or offense, I offer my sincere apologies. The intention behind this tarot deck is to celebrate diversity and beauty in its most inclusive form, bridging historical art with contemporary values of representation and respect.

Your feedback is invaluable, and I welcome open dialogue to ensure that this tarot deck not only embodies artistic and historical integrity but also resonates with the principles of inclusivity and cultural sensitivity that are at its heart.

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A Glimpse of the Creative Process

‎Selecting the right painting for each tarot card is a journey in itself. I sift through hundreds of stunning paintings, not just seeking beauty – which is plentiful and something to be thankful for – but looking for those rare pieces whose imagery and underlying stories align with the essence of a tarot card.

When I find that perfect painting, I collaborate with my artist, who skillfully makes edits when needed. These tweaks aren’t always necessary, but when they are, they’re crucial for enhancing the painting’s symbolism and fitting it into the tarot narrative. Worry not, though, as most of them are subtle to preserve the original art pieces.

Here are a few examples:

Example 1: The Fool

Example 2: The Devil

Other examples:

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Sneak Peak

Note that I had to cover up the nudity to follow Kickstarter’s guidelines. The Tarot does contain nudity in its physical form (which is the whole point, isn’t it?)

Major Arcana

Suit of Wands

Suit of Coins

Suit of Swords

Suit of Cups

Back of the Cards

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Deck Features

Cards:

• Original RWS Tarot Deck Structure that includes 78 cards (22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards) + 2 extra cards with their own keywords, meanings, and interpretations since we reached our second stretch goal (so 80 cards in total so far) (PS: the extra cards will be exclusive to the Kickstarter print).
• Convenient Size, with each card measuring 2.75 x 4.75 inches (7 x 12 cm) (standard tarot card size).
• Our cards are crafted with premium, 350 GSM art paper that ensures durability and longevity (with enough funds, we may be able to upgrade to 330 GSM German black core paper, so keep your fingers crossed).
• Linen Finish, because no other finish can preserve the beauty of these timeless paintings (Kickstarter exclusive).
• CMYK Printing
• Rose gold foil on the front (if we reach $30k in funding).
• Rose gold foil on the back (if we reach $40k in funding).
• Rose gold edges (if we reach $60k in funding).

Box:

• The cards come in a beautiful two-piece rigid box that features an exquisite “First Edition” foil stamp in rose gold (if we reach our third stretch goal, that is).
• Physical features: two piece rigid box, 1200gsm cardboard + 157gsm art paper on all sides, CMYK printing, matte finish.

Guidebook:

• The deck comes with a detailed physical Little White Book (LWB) that includes insights for every card (keywords and meanings for upright and reversed draws).
• Along with the physical LWB, we’re going to provide a more detailed digital companion book as part of our first stretch goal.
• Physical features: 2.75 x 4.75 inches (7 x 12 cm), CMYK cover, black and white inside, 120 pages.
• Here’s a glimpse of the physical Little White Book (LWB):

• Here’s a glimpse of the digital guidebook:

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Tier Rewards

• Nude Appreciation Note: A token of gratitude! For $5, receive a heartfelt thank you from the creator of The Naked Truth Tarot.
• VIP Naked Truth Access: Early birds bare it all with the best discounts! Secure your exclusive copy of The Naked Truth Tarot for only $45. Act quickly; there is a limited number of copies for this bare-bones reward.
• Early Nudist’s Treasure: Embrace the essence of The Naked Truth Tarot as an early nudist. Pledge $50 to claim a copy of this authentic deck at an exceptional backer’s rate. Once we run out of early bird copies, the price will rise to $60 for a copy of The Naked Truth Tarot. Note that there’s no physical difference between this and the VIP reward tier. The VIP tier is just our way to show love to our early supporters.
• The Pairing: At $90, reveal the allure of two immaculate Naked Truth Tarot decks. Adorn your collection and gift the second to a fellow aficionado of the natural human form.
• The Naked Truth Tarot + Baroque Tarot Pack: If you missed the Baroque Tarot campaign, this is your chance to grab a copy of each tarot deck for only $100!
• 20-Deck Wholesale Pack: Introducing a 20-deck pack designed with retailers from China and Hong Kong in mind—distribute The Naked Truth Tarot where East meets West in the appreciation of artful nudity.‎ ‎

Addons

After you choose your reward, you can add as many add-ons as you like in the add-ons section.

Custom tote bag (choose any card/painting for the design): $40

Custom Journal (choose any card/painting for the design): $30

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Stretch Goals

• $10k – UNLOCKED: We’ll include an enhanced digital companion book that explains the reasoning behind every painting choice and dives deeper into the interpretations of each card.
• $15k – UNLOCKED: We’ll add two extra cards with their own meanings, keywords, and interpretations to The Naked Truth Tarot deck (Kickstarter exclusive).
• $20k – UNLOCKED: We’ll add a premium “First Edition” stamp on the box in shimmering rose gold (Kickstarter exclusive).
• $30k: The card fronts will be adorned with stunning rose gold foil.
• $40k: The card backs will be adorned with stunning rose gold foil.
• $60k: We’ll add matte rose gold edges to the cards.
• $80k: We’ll upgrade to a box with magnetic enclosure! (Kickstarter exclusive)
• $150k: We’ll upgrade to 330 GSM German black core paper! (Kickstarter exclusive).
• $250k (HOPEFULLY): Every deck will come with a free tarot cloth! (Kickstarter exclusive)
• $400k (FINGERS CROSSED): Every deck will come with a free tarot bag! (Kickstarter exclusive)

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Other Considerations

Cost breakdown (per tarot deck)

Our initial funding goal is $5,000, with each deck selling at around $50 on Kickstarter. Here’s an approximate breakdown of the costs:

• Design cost: around $8 = 16%
• Printing and packaging costs: $21 = 42% 
• Kickstarter and processing fees: $5 = 10%
• Marketing costs (advertising and social media promotions): $4.5 = 9%
• Taxes: $5 = 10% (since we had to incorporate in the US to be able to launch the Kickstarter campaigns).
• Contingency:* $5 = %10
• Profits: 3% (the cost would go down and we can start making a profit if we manage to make a bulk order, so fingers crossed!)

PS:

• *Contingency: We’ve added a 10% contingency fee to each deck for unforeseen issues, unexpected changes in costs, changes in exchange rate, etc. If unused, it would be added to profit.

Shipping

After the campaign wraps up, we’re aiming to get everything on its way to you sometime between June and July 2024.

Note that the shipping fees aren’t included in the reward prices (they are included for the addons, though). We’ll collect shipping fees and delivery addresses after the campaign concludes using the post-campaign survey (which will be sent out using a pledge manager like BackerKit or PledgeBox). This survey covers things like collecting shipping fees, getting your shipping address, offering any extra add-ons you might want, and more. We don’t want to collect shipping fees on Kickstarter because shipping prices are prone to fluctuate and we’d have to account for Kickstarter’s fees.

Here are our estimated shipping costs for a single deck:

• North America (US and Canada): $15-20
• European Union and UK: $16-21
• Australia: $16-21
• Asia: $10-16
• Everywhere else: $20-24

PS: Please, please, please do keep an eye on your inbox in the weeks following the end of this campaign. I’m not planning to drag this for long, so I’ll be moving on with the manufacturing/shipping promptly once the campaign is over (unless something unexpected happens, of course), and I want you to add this deck to your collection as fast as possible! If you don’t provide your shipping address within a maximum of six months of receiving the survey (I’ll post several updates when I send out the surveys), your pledge will be treated as a donation to the project, since we can’t store the decks indefinitely.

Responsibility for Customs and VAT Fees: Please be aware that as the recipient, you are responsible for any customs fees or VAT taxes that may apply to your order. I cannot be held responsible for any customs fees or VAT taxes that your country might impose on overseas purchases. Additionally, I am not liable for any delays in delivery due to customs processes.

Import Restrictions Notice: Some countries prohibit the importation of esoteric items, such as tarot or oracle cards (including my home country, Tunisia). It’s essential that you check whether your country permits the importation of these items. For customs compliance, we have to declare both the contents and the full value of the package.

Additional Resources

On a final note, I really recommend checking out these books and resources if you want to better understand the stories behind the paintings and legends found in these cards:

• ‘Mythology’ by Edith Hamilton
• ‘La mythologie expliquée par la peinture’ by Gérard Denizeau (pardon my French (pun intended))
• ‘Classical Mythology in Art: An Illustrated Guide’ by Susan Woodford
• ‘The Art of the Renaissance’ by Peter and Linda Murray
• Joseph Campbell and the Power of Myth (this is a series, not a book)
• The Renaissance: A History of Renaissance Art (podcast)
• Give your local museums a visit as well!