Surrealism Meets Divination: The Dalí Tarot Deck
Plus your chance to win a copy of Tarot for Storytellers!
Salvador Dalí, the master of surrealism (the 100th anniversary is this year!), left an indelible mark on the world with his art. In my novel In The Garden of Monsters, I have a scene about tarot which was inspired by one of his lesser-known yet equally captivating works: The Salvador Dalí Tarot Deck.
The story behind the Dalí Tarot deck begins with an unlikely commission. In 1973, famed film producer Albert Broccoli, known for his work on the James Bond series, sought out Dalí to create a tarot deck for the Bond movie Live and Let Die. Although Dalí’s involvement with the film fell through due to the astronomical fee that Dalí asked for, his enthusiasm for the project remained. Over the next decade, Dalí poured his energy into crafting the 78-card deck, blending his artistic genius with symbols from tarot, astrology, religion, and mythology. It was finally published as a limited edition set in 1984.
Dalí’s tarot cards are unlike any other deck. He was one of the first artists to reinterpret the images on the cards and make them his own. The imagery draws upon centuries of occult symbolism but is filtered through Dalí’s surrealist vision. Familiar tarot symbols—such as The Fool, The Magician, and The Lovers—are reimagined with fantastical interpretations.
For instance, The Magician card features Dalí himself, casting spells with a knowing gaze, commanding both intellect and creativity. The Lovers card is equally striking, blending figures from classical art with Dalí’s fluid forms, suggesting the complexity and duality of love.
The Major Arcana cards, representing the major life themes in tarot readings, are particularly fascinating. They often feature Dalí’s interpretations of key figures from art, history, and his personal mythology. The Empress features his wife Gala, who had a deep interest in the mystical arts and, aside from being an adept card reader, was said to be somewhat clairvoyant.
Today, Dalí's tarot deck is as much a collector’s item as a divination tool. Initially printed in limited editions, the deck has since been reissued by Taschen, making it more accessible to both tarot readers and fans of the surrealist master. Owning and using the Salvador Dalí Tarot deck is not merely a practice in tarot but an invitation to enter Dalí’s bizarre, beautiful world.
MY UPCOMING EVENTS
I’ve got a lot going on, and I’d love it if you come say hi!
Sat Oct 26:
8:30 AM: Concord Festival of Authors: Breakfast with the Authors. With Steve Almond, and Margot Livesey, moderated by Dr. Suzanne Koven. Ticketed Event $30
2:00 PM: Boston Book Festival: with Mark Cecil and Stephen McCauley, moderated by Whitney Scharer
Sun Nov. 3, 7:00 PM ET: Toronto Public Library Salon Series (VIRTUAL!)
Sat Nov 9, 12:30 PM Rozzie Bound Co-Op book signing
Tue Nov 12, 5:30 PM Boston Atheneum: Salvador Dalí and Italy's Sacro Bosco Garden of Monsters
Thu Nov 14, 7:00 PM Wellesley Books: In Conversation with Whitney Scharer, $5 ticket which can be put toward the purchase of a book
SAVE THE DATE! Fri Nov 15, 6:00 PM The Lexington, Cambridge: A special ticketed dinner with celebrated chef, Will Gilson, celebrating the food of In The Garden of Monsters. More info to come next week!
WIN A COPY OF TAROT FOR STORYTELLERS + WORKBOOK
Learn the tarot from an acclaimed tarotist and novelist with over thirty years of experience!
Tarot for Storytellers is the ultimate guide to empowering your writing through the tarot. Written by Kris Waldherr, bestselling creator of The Goddess Tarot and author of The Lost History of Dreams and other books, Tarot for Storytellers utilizes exclusive tarot exercises, insightful writing prompts, original card spreads, and other methods honed during Kris’s decades as a tarot reader, author, and teacher. Suitable for tarot newbies as well as the more experienced, Tarot for Storytellers progressively works its way through the elements necessary to bring a story to life—characters, plot, and more—while offering down-to-earth techniques to spark inspiration, set creative goals, and conquer writing blocks no matter where you are on your creative journey.
This book is a guide to the 78 cards of the tarot and easy methods for remembering—and personalizing them—for your needs as a writer. (Think of each card as a story element!) It includes accessible tarot exercises and prompts to enrich your writing process, develop intuition, and set goals. Plus, you’ll learn exclusive tarot-based methods for developing characters and understanding yourself and the people surrounding you.
And even better, you’ll also win a copy of the accompanying Tarot for Storytellers Workbook!
Do you want to win this book?
To sign up for the giveaway, fill out this form. Your name will be thrown into the hat for a shot at a paperback copy. This giveaway closes at midnight ET on 10/03/24. Winners will be notified within 48 hours of the giveaway closing and announced in my next newsletter/post.
Important to Note: You must be 18+ and a United States resident (pesky international laws make it tricky to do giveaways worldwide). If you are someone who loves to read the rules, you can find the obligatory info here.
What’s Bringing Me Joy This Week
This Autumn moment from Henry.
PeeWee Herman on Letterman. 😈
If you love food and love Italy, and haven’t read THE CHEF’S SECRET or FEAST OF SORROW, click the links to learn where to buy your copy! And now you can order IN THE GARDEN OF MONSTERS!
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