City Mystic Paris Is Almost There!

As an independent artist I am reaching out for help to make the final push of my second independent card-crafting production, City Mystic • Paris, happen. As a result of some unforeseen changes, I am offering you an early opportunity to invest in this very special project which is so very close to fruition.

Last year I envisioned, photographed, crafted and funded my first in a series of these decks looking at the architectural elements of iconic western world cities in New York, New York. The past year has been dedicated to spreading the word and establishing this project. You can read more speficically about the wonderful success of that project toward the bottom of this message.

Its been a wonderful year, but as we all know, there are many costs to starting a business that can thrive, on top of which I am raising a family. This year is more ambitious, with Paris on the roster. I have already booked my flight and have been swept away by some surprising changes in my personal life just before the trip. As of now I have invested all of my earnings from the first deck's success back into making Paris happen with a better camera, repairs to my 35mm analog SLR camera (on which I have been planning to shoot film and hand-craft several images in the dark and light rooms) as well as further support equipment so that I can capture more images on the trip.

When I photograph these decks I work day and night- I take to the city streets on foot for 14-18 hours a day capturing everything I possibly can that will support the crafting of the deck. Its truly an intuitive, mystical experience as I have no idea what the final product of any card will be until I return home and begin post-production work. To further facilitate the capturing of many, many useful images I have invested in equipment to help my cameras sustain battery life and storage space on long days and nights in a foriegn country where charging batteries is not always so simple.

I have put all that I am and have into this project because first and foremost, I believe in it, and second yet equally important, I've seen how much the NYC deck has touched and inspired people. 

I am aiming to create an avenue through which this deck can come into being with this small yet meaningful campaign.  The final costs of the trip include accomodations for 10 days on Air BnB and 35 mm black and white film, as well as darkroom/lightroom fees, checmical supplies and photo paper for the post-production printing process. 

****************************************************** CONTRIBUTION PERKS: I have presents for you! (if you've already contributed and things have changed, you get the newest version. Please send your mailing address if it applies to your contribution level)  :)

$2- a "thank you" on my website and a blessing candle lit in your honor on my altar.

$5- a "thank you" message on my website and a blessing candle lit in your honor on my altar with a specific intention (if you'd like to set a special intention please send me a private message containing your brief 1-sentence intention. I will limit these to one per donor to conserve waste unless you contact me privately to make special arrangements :) ).

OR

$5-a one-card email Tarot reading pertaining to a one-sentence question, deliverable within 3 days.

$10 - Zodiac Map digital download which you can print and assemble at your liesure to learn and practice your Astrology skills (and use to follow along on my fre Astrology Foundations Video Crash Course on my website ;) ). 

$15- a 3-card email Tarot reading pertaining to a one-sentence question, deliverable within 3 days.

OR 

$15- 3 11x17 tabloid prints from City Mystic • New York (requests are warmly honored if I have your favorite prints in stock, otherwise I can send you a random draw <3 )

$20 - a digital download of the City Mystic • New York major aracana which you can print and work with at your liesure.

OR

$20- 5-card email reading pertaining to a one-semtence question, deliverable within 3 days

$30  a digital download PDF of the entire City Mystic • New York tarot deck plus two previously unpublished alternate cards from the upcoming second edition (not anticipated to be available to the public until mid 2016) which you can print and cut at home to work with at your liesure.

$40- a copy of City Mystic • New York original Tarot deck (includes shipping)

OR

$40 - my two online courses- Tarot for Spiritual Practice and Personal Growth with Tarot, each complete with original workbooks and an audio (spiritual practice) and video (personal growth) class to follow along with, available for instant download via dropbox.

$50- a copy of the first Edition of City Mystic • New York, my first deck in this project (only a little less than 200 copies remaning from the limited 700-copy print) plus a digital downlaod of the deck, plus PDF's of two alternate cards from the upcoming second edition (not anticipated to available to the public until mid 2016), plus 3 CMNY post cards (you may request a specific major arcana card but please know my stock is low so I may not have it on hand. I will do my best to accomodate you but I've gotta work with what's here :) ).

OR

$50- a copy of commercially produced City Mystic • Paris (contingent upon successful printing funding on Kickstarter this fall)

$65- two copies of City Mystic • New York

$100- I will provide you with a CMNY care pack including 2 posters, a deck, a post card and a little special surprise something, plus PDF's of two alternate cards from the upcoming second edition (not anticipated to available to the public until mid 2016)

OR 

$100- a special 3-pack of 30 minute readings via Skype or phone (please use within 1-year of contribution, can be gifted to friends and family but please be sensitive to other people's values and beliefs. Its never fun for anyone to get a reading they're uncomfortable receiving ;) ).

$200- I will gift you with a copy of City Mystic • New York along with the care package listed above, my digital classes, Tarot for Spiritual Practice and Personal Growth with Tarot, each complete with original workbooks and an audio (spiritual practice) and video (personal growth) class to follow along with, available for instant download via dropbox, AND a copy of City Mystic • Paris  if it is successfully funded on Kickstarter later this year (sorry, I know this one is contingent on further developments, but I feel very strongly that CMParis will become a reality if it helps :) ). 

OR

$200- a copy of City Mystic • New York Black, limited edition only 15 copies printed, 6 remaining, signed if you prefer,  plus a commercial copy of City Mystic • New York

OR 

$200- request a monument or building of your choice incorporated into the City Mystic • Paris deck with credit in the little white book.

$500 - 2 copies of City Mystic • New York, City Mystic • Paris AND all of my digital classes and workbooks (7-week Beginner's Tarot Course, Tarot for Spiritual Practice, and Tarot for Personal Growth) plus a live 60-minute Skype Tarot reading with me at a date we can determine together some time after late-June. 

OR

$500- a copy of City Mystic • Paris  plus commission your own special one-of-a-kind 5 alternate cards of your choice. You can choose specific monuments, buildings, spaces, etc... and decide which cards you would like the images to be in. 

$1000- a copy of City Mystic • Paris, a copy of City Mystic • New York, and your very own special-edition version of City Mystic • Paris with 10 cards of your choosing- you pick the monuments, buildings, spaces, etc... and tell me what you want, I'll put it together for you and print a one-off one-of-a-kind special edition version just for you. You'll *literally* be the only person with that version of the deck outside of me. I will keep one version on hand in my personal collection as part of my portfolio. We can make and share this special, potent magick together <3 

All contributors of all levels will be thanked on my website in honor of your support. 

********COST UPDATE******

I have put together some hard numbers to help show where all these funds need to go...

Air BnB: $50- $60 USD for 10 nights, plus taxes and fees, approx $550- $650

Food and Transportation Per Diem: $40- $60 USD for 10 days, including taxes and currency conversion, approx $400- $600

Total absolutely necessary to make this trip happen: approx. $1250

Film: 10 rolls, average. $8 per roll, $80 USD

Film processing fees: approx. $20 per roll, $200 USD

Darkroom Fees: $60 membership + $6 per day, minmum 10 dyas processing and printing, plus $150 in supplies, $270

Total film and darkroom fees: $550

********
You can find out more about the project, me and what I'm doing with this work by visiting my website  .

and the original Kickstarter campaign for the NYC deck  

You can also find out more about City Mystic by reading the about the project below:

I’m Ginnie Jester and I publish modern Tarot decks. I make them because I noticed as a busy, traveling Tarot reader that many decks are leaving behind a large group of folks whom are hungry for magical imagery speaking to their tastes. These folks are seeking something special. They are longing for a sense of sophisticated wonder in their modern lives. I made City Mystic, a fresh, modern line of photographic decks especially with them- maybe even you- in mind. City Mystic offers a completely unique experience of Tarot captured in our shared modern environments.

My decks stand out to the discerning eye yet are firmly based on the well-known structure of Rider-Waite-Smith. Seasoned readers and newbies alike are raving about this deck around the world! “I love this deck! I haven't even had it 2 full days or done full fledged readings with it but for some reason I just keep taking it everywhere with me. Seriously, I had this thing on my desk at work all day - I even taped my card of the day (strength) up so I could see it (I love that I can do that without damaging this deck, that laminate/coating/whatever is awesome!!) The photos are gorgeous and I never thought I'd own a black and white deck because normally they just don't appeal to me… I love this deck and the [little white book] is probably the best I've seen so far. I can't wait for the next City Mystic!” -Nosferatu1618 City Mystic Etsy Shop Customer Review

In 2014 Tarosophist International Magazine named City Mystic • New York #24 on its 50 Essential Decks List!

The City Mystic Tarot project was an idea that struck me in Paris, France. I was studying Tarot and wishing that the images in my deck matched the experiences I was having in the city. When I came home to San Francisco I got to work. I had studied photography in college years before and now I knew I needed to blend my unique skills in order to make a special Tarot deck that is both high-design and highly readable.

Through research and dedication this has become a multi-city project. I began my first deck in the U.S.A’s cultural mother; New York, New York. 

To make these decks I focus my camera on the architectural elements, public art and monuments to tell the story of Tarot through fresh eyes. As a City Mystic, l ask iconic western world cities to show me their Mystical side. Its a magical unfolding that many a Tarot student, teacher and curioso alike appreciate the world over.

City Mystic • New York funded on Kickstarter in September 2014. Less than a year later I only have 200 decks remaining of this first edition 700-copy print from my online shop sales alone! My second deck in this project, City Mystic • Paris, will be available in late 2015.