The Journey Continues: Reimagining the Altered Tarot Deck Kickstarter Campaign
“Failure is a word none of us want to hear, especially when we’ve poured our hearts into creating something.”
—FRANK WEST, Publishing Lessons
The Kickstarter campaign for the Altered Tarot Deck & Guidebook is coming to a close, and while we don’t expect to reach our funding goal, this is a chance to pause, reflect, and grow. The journey isn’t over—it’s evolving, and so are we. 🌕✨
Why We Launched the Altered Tarot Deck
Following the 2022 release of Altered Tarot: The End of Love, creators r. tanksley and k. hiatt felt inspired to expand their vision. The Altered Tarot Deck reimagines the 78 tarot archetypes through a blend of nature photography, astrophotography, light, shadow, and poetry, offering a fresh, transformative experience.
Accompanying the deck is a guidebook written by tanksley, which introduces the philosophy behind Altered Tarot, explains the structure of the deck and the symbolism of the suits, and provides upright and reversed meanings for each card. Each card is paired with a personal poem, adding a layer of intuitive reflection and depth.
Over a year of creative development built anticipation among early fans, affirming that this project was something special. Launching on Kickstarter was a way to engage the devoted community that supports Altered Tarot—through readings, events, and reviews. The enthusiasm and support we received confirmed this collaboration resonates deeply with those who are into tarot, art, and poetry. That connection drives us to see this vision through to completion.
What Happened and What We Learned
Despite the passion behind the project, we didn’t gain enough momentum to meet our goal. And that’s okay. This experience has been a powerful teacher.
🌐 Data Insights
Through Google Analytics, we’re learning where our traffic came from and where potential backers lost interest. While platforms like Instagram and Kickstarter drove visitors, many left the page without pledging. This shows that our campaign page needs to be more compelling, transparent, and accessible.
🗣️ Community Feedback
A recent supporter survey revealed key insights shaping the next steps for the Altered Tarot Deck. If you’d like to help guide the project’s future, we invite you to also take the survey.
From early survey responses, a few key themes emerged:
- Show More of the Deck: Many wanted to see more sample cards before pledging. We’re excited to share a new video that will offer a full preview of each card in the deck.
- Clarify Pricing and Value: Some felt the price was high or were unsure about what they’d receive. There were also questions about whether the deck was AI-generated—it wasn’t. Each image is crafted through thoughtful, human creativity, with k. hiatt’s carefully composed photographs and r. tanksley’s intuitive poetry. The new campaign will detail the deck’s creation process, materials, and value, ensuring these questions are fully addressed.
- Offer Early Bird Discounts: There’s a clear interest in time-limited rewards and incentives for early backers, which we’re incorporating into the revised campaign.
We’re listening, and we’re taking this feedback to heart—these insights are shaping a clearer, more engaging, and rewarding campaign.
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The following section assumes the current campaign is not funded.
Next Steps: Relaunching with Renewed Focus
On December 30th, we’re coming back stronger with a 10-day relaunch. The funding goal will be lower, with the first $4,500 in pledges going directly to printing and shipping, with Unencumbered Press covering any shortfall.
How You Can Help
This time, early momentum is everything. If you show up for the relaunch, we can bring the Altered Tarot Deck to life. 🔥
- Spread the Word: Amplify our posts, share the project with friends, and help us reach those who need to see the Altered Tarot Deck. Every share, every mention, every post matters. 💫
- Provide Feedback: If you haven’t yet, please take a few minutes to complete our short survey about the current Kickstarter campaign, which is live until December 21, 2024.
- Mark Your Calendar: The new campaign launches on December 30th. Be ready to back early—the first 48 hours are critical to our success. 🗓️⌛
Gratitude and Reflection
Thank you to everyone who backed, shared, or supported the Altered Tarot Deck campaign. Please do it again on December 30th. Your support is invaluable.
This is just the beginning, and we’re resilient as fuck and ready to take the next step to print and distribute the Altered Tarot Deck & Guidebook. 🔮✨
