Frequently Asked Questions

The Hermetic Flight combines the transformative art of aerial performance with traditional tarot symbolism in a way no deck has done before. Each card features real aerial artists captured in movement, creating a living embodiment of tarot archetypes. Unlike generic photographic decks, our imagery is intentionally choreographed to reflect traditional Rider-Waite-Smith symbolism while introducing fresh visual metaphors through bodies suspended in air—representing the liminal space where divination happens.

Key differentiators include 24 real aerial and fire performers and 100% human-created photography. All cards feature real humans, photographed and edited by David Horvitz.

Absolutely. The Hermetic Flight was designed with beginners in mind while remaining valuable for experienced readers. The aerial imagery provides intuitive visual stories that help new readers understand card meanings without pure memorization.

Yes! The Hermetic Flight honors traditional RWS symbolism while introducing aerial metaphors that deepen familiar meanings. If you know RWS, you'll immediately recognize the archetypal structures.

Start simple and build gradually:

• Begin with daily single-card pulls - Pull one card each morning and reflect on how its energy shows up in your day
• Focus on the imagery first - What do you see? What emotions does it evoke? Trust your initial impressions
• Then reference the guidebook - Compare your intuitive read with traditional meanings
• Journal your interpretations - Track how your understanding evolves

Don't try to memorize all 78 cards at once. Our guidebook includes a structured learning path that introduces cards in manageable groups, starting with the Major Arcana's 22 cards before moving to the suits.

No. While some readers incorporate psychic abilities, tarot works equally well as a psychological tool, creative prompt, or decision-making framework. The cards create a structured space for reflection—the insight comes from your own wisdom, not supernatural ability.

Many successful tarot readers approach the practice completely secularly, using the archetypal imagery to unlock perspectives they already possess but haven't consciously accessed.

You can give meaningful readings from day one, even if they're simple. Single-card pulls feel natural almost immediately, and larger spreads follow as the imagery becomes familiar—comfort builds with practice, not with a stopwatch.

The Hermetic Flight's visual storytelling is designed to shorten that road: the images carry the meanings, so your attention goes to the reading instead of the recall.

That's completely up to you—there's no "right" answer. Some readers use reversals, others don't. Both approaches are valid.

Arguments against learning reversals initially:

• You're already learning 78 cards; don't double your workload unnecessarily
• Many professional readers never use reversals and read beautifully
• You can always add reversals later if desired

Arguments for learning reversals:

• Adds nuance and depth to readings
• Helps identify blocked or internalized energy
• Some spreads benefit from directional indicators

Our guidebook includes reversed meanings for those who want them, but frames them as optional rather than required.

Court cards (Pages, Knights, Queens, Kings) are notoriously tricky because they can represent:

• Actual people in your life
• Aspects of your own personality
• Situational approaches or energy
• Messages or stages of development

The Hermetic Flight addresses this confusion through distinct physical embodiment. Each court card features a performer whose presence, movement quality, and energy clearly conveys whether you're encountering:

• Page energy (curious, learning, grounded exploration)
• Knight energy (dynamic action, forward momentum)
• Queen energy (mastery, internal authority)
• King energy (external authority, established power)

The guidebook includes a dedicated court card section with specific guidance on determining which interpretation applies in context.

Standard tarot size: 2.75" x 4.75" (70mm x 120mm). This is the most popular size because it:

• Fits comfortably in average-sized hands
• Shuffles easily without strain
• Fits standard tarot bags and boxes
• Doesn't "shoot off into space" when handling

We specifically avoided oversized formats after research showed they create significant usability frustration, particularly for readers with smaller hands or joint issues.

A premium card stock with a matte-UV finish, full gold-foil edges, and a gold face stamp. This combination provides:

• Substantial feel without excessive stiffness
• Smooth shuffling without cards sticking together or flying apart
• Durability for daily use
• A matte surface that reduces glare and fingerprints

The card backs are directional (single orientation) rather than reversible. The back art came out of a true collaboration between performer Yo-Jelly-Belly and Deirdre, whose work together shaped the final design—and that composition is directional by nature.

That said, we're genuinely measuring how much this matters to readers. If enough of the community wants reversible backs, we may offer a reversible edition down the line. Tell us your preference—the archetype quiz asks, and our newsletter is always open—and if the numbers say it's worth it, we'll make it happen.

The deck comes in a custom magnetic book box—significantly more durable than standard paperboard packaging. This protects your deck through:

• A secure magnetic closure that keeps cards safe
• Support for daily handling and travel
• A structure built to outlast tuck boxes many times over

Not in this campaign. If there's strong community interest in a travel-sized version (approximately 2.25" x 3.75"), we may explore one after fulfillment—let us know through the newsletter or campaign comments.

Our comprehensive guidebook goes far beyond standard "Little White Books":

For each card:

• Detailed description of the aerial imagery and symbolism
• Upright interpretation with deck-specific context
• Reversed interpretation (optional use)
• Keywords for quick reference
• Questions for reflection
• How this card commonly appears in readings

Additional content:

• Introduction to aerial arts symbolism
• Structured learning path for beginners
• Guide to reading for yourself objectively
• Court card mastery section
• 10+ original spreads designed for the deck
• Tips for connecting cards into coherent narratives
• Stories from the creation process and performer interviews
• Suit system and elemental correspondences
• Care instructions for your deck

The guidebook is written in clear, accessible language—not dense esoteric jargon—making it valuable for beginners while offering depth for experienced readers.

Yes! Each card description explains the intentional choreography choices and how they relate to traditional tarot symbolism. For example, you'll understand why a specific inversion, suspension point, or fabric configuration was chosen to embody that card's energy.

This behind-the-scenes insight helps you understand not just what the card means, but why this particular image captures that meaning—deepening your reading practice.

The Hermetic Flight intentionally features diverse representation across:

• Body types and sizes (aerial arts welcomes all bodies)
• Ages (from 20s through 50s+)
• Ethnicities and skin tones
• Gender presentations
• Abilities

This wasn't tokenistic—aerial communities are genuinely diverse, and we documented that reality. Tarot speaks to all humans; the imagery should reflect that.

No. All Major Arcana retain their traditional names (The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, etc.). We believe radical renaming creates unnecessary confusion and can indicate an oracle deck rather than a true tarot deck.

However, our interpretations honor both traditional and modern understandings—for example, The Devil addresses both shadow work and systemic oppression, and Death explores transformation beyond the individual level.

Not at all. The deck is designed for tarot readers, not aerial performers. The guidebook explains any aerial-specific concepts needed to understand the imagery, but no prior knowledge is required.

The aerial elements serve as visual metaphors that enhance tarot meanings—suspension represents liminal space, inversions show perspective shifts, and apparatus choices reflect elemental qualities. These connections are intuitive even without aerial experience.

Aerial arts and tarot share profound symbolic resonance:

• Suspension = Liminal Space - Both practices exist between earth and sky, between the conscious and unconscious, between question and answer.
• Defying Gravity = Transcendence - Aerial performance literally transcends normal physical limitations, just as divination transcends ordinary perception.
• Trust and Release = Surrender - Both require releasing control to discover what's possible.
• Physical Embodiment = Grounding Abstract Concepts - Aerial artists physically embody archetypes, making abstract tarot concepts viscerally tangible.
• Risk and Transformation - Both practices involve calculated risk in service of transformation.

The combination creates a uniquely powerful visual language for tarot divination.

The 78-card deck features 24 real aerial and fire performers: 22 on camera across multiple cards and 2 behind the scenes. Not every single card shows aerial performance—some cards require grounded or environmental imagery—but the aerial aesthetic and symbolism thread throughout the entire deck, creating visual cohesion.

You can absolutely read for yourself! While reading for yourself presents objectivity challenges (emotional investment in outcomes can cloud interpretation), many readers maintain successful self-reading practices.

Our guidebook includes specific techniques for reading objectively for yourself:

• Using clarifier cards when confused
• Journaling before and after readings
• Setting clear intentions before shuffling
• Waiting 24-48 hours before rereading on emotional topics
• Treating yourself like a client you're reading for

Self-reading is also more affordable, private, and convenient than regular professional sessions.

Tarot isn't fortune-telling—it's reflection, pattern recognition, and intuitive synthesis. "Accuracy" isn't about prediction but about resonance:

A valuable reading:

• Provides new perspective on your situation
• Resonates emotionally even if intellectually challenging
• Offers actionable insight
• Creates clarity where there was confusion
• Feels neither overly vague nor impossibly specific

A less useful reading:

• Feels completely disconnected from your situation
• Uses only generic statements that could apply to anyone
• Leaves you more confused than when you started
• Makes you feel anxious without offering constructive guidance

The cards reveal patterns and possibilities, not fixed futures. Your free will always determines outcomes.

These cards have unfairly frightening reputations! Understanding their actual meanings eliminates the fear:

• Death - Transformation, endings that make space for beginnings, shedding what no longer serves you. Rarely literal death.
• The Tower - Sudden revelation, necessary destruction of false structures, breakthrough after breakdown. Liberation disguised as disaster.
• The Devil - Recognizing bondage (to addiction, toxic patterns, limiting beliefs), shadow work, reclaiming power from what controls you.

These cards often appear during our most significant growth periods. Our guidebook includes detailed explorations of commonly feared cards, reframing them as powerful allies rather than omens.

There's no "should"—it's entirely personal. Common practices include:

• Daily single-card meditation
• Weekly deeper spreads
• Monthly overview readings
• As-needed guidance on specific questions

Warning signs you're overreading:

• Pulling cards repeatedly on the same question seeking different answers
• Feeling anxious when you can't read daily
• Making no decisions without consulting cards first
• Reading becomes compulsive rather than reflective

If you notice dependency developing, consider taking a break and consulting a therapist or trusted friend about decision-making patterns.

Yes. The Kickstarter is live now and closes September 7, 2026, at 9:00am PT. Visit the live campaign to back the deck.

One premium deck, three price points — scarcity is on price, not quality:

• The First Flight ($40, Early Bird) — premium 78-card deck with full gold-foil edges, magnetic book box, and printed guidebook. Only 50 available.
• Second Wave ($48) — the identical deck, reserved for the next 150 backers.
• Open ($55) — the identical deck, available throughout the campaign at retail price.

Value-add tiers (signed decks, private readings, VIP Ball access) and a wholesale retailer case (10 decks, $300) round out the lineup on launch day. See the full breakdown on our launch page.

The campaign is live now. After funding, the current fulfillment plan is to place the production order in August or early September. Manufacturing is expected to take 25–30 days, followed by approximately 30–40 days for ocean freight, with bulk inventory expected around October.

Backer surveys are planned to lock around October, kits are planned to ship in November, and delivery is targeted for December 2026.

Yes. We plan to ship worldwide with appropriate customs declarations and tracking. Shipping will be charged in the pledge manager after the campaign, using regional rates. International backers should also expect potential customs duties determined by their country and longer delivery windows for some regions.

We understand! The deck will be available for retail purchase after Kickstarter fulfillment, though likely at a higher price than campaign early-bird tiers. You can also:

• Follow free content on our blog and social media
• Join our community Discord/Facebook group
• Sign up for the newsletter for future sales and promotions

The Kickstarter exclusive items (if any) will be clearly marked so you know what's limited vs. what will be available later.

Absolutely not. Every image in The Hermetic Flight is human-created photography featuring real aerial performers. We believe tarot's power comes from authentic human experience and artistic intention—something AI cannot replicate.

All 24 performers were compensated fairly, and credited in the guidebook. This is a collaborative human creative project from start to finish.

The campaign is centered on the physical deck. For everything currently offered—including any digital items—the live Kickstarter page is the single source of truth for tiers and inclusions.

We're open to community input! Possible future projects could include:

• Oracle deck exploring aerial arts more abstractly
• Expanded guidebook with additional spreads and techniques
• Educational content (courses, workshops, videos)
• Collaboration decks featuring different aerial disciplines (pole, hoop, rope, etc.)

For now, our energy is devoted to making The Hermetic Flight the best possible tarot deck it can be.

We're building community spaces where readers can:

• Share interpretations and insights
• Post photos of their readings (with consent)
• Ask questions and get support
• Connect with other aerial artists and tarot readers
• Access exclusive content and advanced techniques

Details will be announced during the Kickstarter campaign. Join our newsletter to stay connected.

Yes—reading with the deck professionally, in person or over video, is exactly what it's for; the license explicitly covers reading for yourself and others. Two limits protect the performers on the cards: the artwork is licensed for personal, non-commercial use, so please don't reproduce card images (or photographs of them) in marketing materials or merchandise without written permission—and never in AI tools. Professional readers who want multiple decks: a wholesale case of 10 decks is offered as the Retailer tier ($300).

The Hermetic Flight was materialized by Deirdre Quigley, an aerial performer and Reiki master who recognized the profound symbolic resonance between aerial performance and tarot divination. After overcoming physical and spiritual battles, she realized these were the same journeys tarot guides us through.

The project combines Deirdre's background in:

• Aerial arts performance
• Energy healing and intuitive work
• Tarot reading practice
• Visual storytelling and creative direction

David Horvitz is a Seattle-based photographer with over 20 years of experience behind the lens. His work celebrates the unique, the unconventional, and the beautiful—specializing in flow arts, performance, and alternative communities including fire-spinners, witches, and cosplayers. With roots in production work from childhood and a self-described "weird perspective," David finds inspiration in showing the world the unexpected beauty within every subject. His passion lies in capturing fantastic people doing incredible things and sharing the odd, beautiful moments others might overlook.

All 24 are real aerial and fire performers from the Pacific Northwest aerial community. Of them, 22 are on camera and 2 are behind the scenes. The 22 on-camera performers were selected to represent:

• Diverse body types, ages, and backgrounds
• Specific movement qualities matching card archetypes
• Willingness to collaborate on choreographed embodiment
• Ability to physically execute required poses safely

Performers were compensated and credited. Many of the 22 on-camera performers are excited to share how they personally connect with the cards they embody.

"The Hermetic Flight" references:

• Hermetic tradition - Esoteric wisdom, "as above, so below"
• Hermes/Mercury - Messenger between worlds, traveler of liminal spaces
• Flight - Aerial arts, transcendence, movement between realms

The title captures both the tarot's hermetic philosophical roots and the literal flight of aerial performance.

Website: thehermeticflight.com

Blog: In-depth articles on tarot divination and aerial arts symbolism

Newsletter: Campaign updates, behind-the-scenes content, early access

Social Media: @thehermeticflight (Instagram, Facebook) for daily card reveals and performer stories

Back the live campaign through September 7.

Share the campaign with friends interested in tarot or aerial arts.

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Thank you for supporting The Hermetic Flight Aerial Tarot Deck and the people who brought it to life.