https://www.allisongunn.com/blog daily 0.75 2025-03-25 https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/celebrating-nowheres-birthday monthly 0.5 2025-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/7b30eae0-9c6e-4fbe-bcb1-bcc0e514e848/Dramatic+Author+Pic_NOWHERE+Use.jpg Blog - Celebrating *Nowhere’s* Birthday! - Picture Credit: Melissa Groves-Christ I realize quite a few of you may have to sleep with the lights on, change your camping trip plans, or shy away from Appalachian hikes for a hot minute, but thank you all the same for giving the book a chance. Despite its imperfections, NOWHERE holds quite a few pieces of my heart on each page. I hope it terrifies, thrills, and stuns you, but most importantly, I hope it shines a light on the bits of you that you’re currently too scared to share with the world—not to force you out of your comfort zone on a grand stage, but at the very least, to find a safe space to process. After all, that’s what the horror genre does for so many of us. In these pages, you can find your demons, get to know them, and blow them back into the breeze like dandelion seeds. As dark as the forest may be, there’s always a way out of Nowhere. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/06c509e4-f21b-4832-8bc1-3e4cc7d90e35/NOWHERE+Tarot+Collage+2.png Blog - Celebrating *Nowhere’s* Birthday! - Picture Elements Credit: Atria Books When Charlie thew open the door to this unknown land, my curiosity led the way. When Rachel grinded her back teeth in pain and anger, my jaw ached. When Finn wailed in torment, my throat stung. When little Lucy whispered her secrets, my spine tingled. When Aidan passed, a small piece of me went with him straight into the James River. Not a single one of them is perfect, yet they were the companions I needed to pull me out of a horrific past, through my then-soul-crushing present, and into the future that I enjoy today. Maybe they weren’t the friends I would’ve chosen, but they found and saved me all the same. It sounds odd, but I can’t thank my characters enough for scooping me out of shame and hurt. When I needed them the most, they appeared out of Nowhere. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/647249a2-8437-4178-a078-c119ecc198f0/nowhere_cover+reveal+-+cropped.jpg Blog - Celebrating *Nowhere’s* Birthday! - Cover Credit: Atria Books Happy Birthday, NOWHERE! Beyond my children (human and fuzzy), you are my greatest pride and joy. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/febb21a7-9be6-48d1-bd75-86e8e1086d87/NOWHERE+Tarot+Collage+1.png Blog - Celebrating *Nowhere’s* Birthday! - Picture Elements Credit: Atria Books From its inception as a platform for me to express my darkest fears, pain, and impulses, NOWHERE was a beautiful gift. Without this book, I don’t know that I would have ever found the confidence to publish. More importantly, I’m not sure I could’ve unlocked the doors necessary for me to grow, change, and overcome the many challenges I’ve encountered over the past few years. It is a novel so close to my heart, it hurts to close the cover sometimes. And yet, that’s healthy as so many painful growth opportunities are. NOWHERE and the Kennans (as uncomfortable as they may be) tossed me a lifeline when it was desperately needed. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/nowhere-release-party monthly 0.5 2025-03-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/740714e9-a95c-42ef-b1b4-bb883a39478f/Nowhere+Release+Party+Promo+1.png Blog - NOWHERE Release Party! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/nowhere-is-making-the-lists monthly 0.5 2025-03-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1ced88b2-53bf-4813-82ac-e20a64c11e94/BTB+March+2025+Reading+List_NOWHERE.png Blog - Nowhere is Making the List(s) Best Thriller Books also featured Nowhere in their March reading list! Many thanks to Teresa Brock with BTB for her glowing review of the book which you can find here. Teresa and I are planning to team up for an Instagram live soon. Stay tuned for details on my News page. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/01b5221c-4e99-403a-9995-bc2f220f1563/Pub+Lunch+Buzz+Books.png Blog - Nowhere is Making the List(s) Lastly (for now), I was absolutely thrilled to see Nowhere mentioned as one of Publishers Marketplace’s “Buzz Books” for Spring/Summer in their Publishers Lunch newsletter. Unbelievable to see my work alongside all these incredible voices in current literature! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/6332fd4b-882f-46d2-a253-0fb643545604/Mother+Horror+List.png Blog - Nowhere is Making the List(s) Much to my shock and delight, Mother Horror (otherwise known as the supreme Sadie Hartmann) included Nowhere as one of her most anticipated “Dark & Disturbing Books.” Believe me when I say, that is quite the compliment! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/eb38156b-0c9c-4f0e-a91b-43cf00d0192d/Books+Bones+and+Buffy+List_NOWHERE_2025.png Blog - Nowhere is Making the List(s) Nowhere made its way onto the Books, Bones & Buffy new TBR list in a partnership with ThatArtsyReaderGirl.com’s Top Ten Tuesday. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e3744ad9-8670-42a7-bec6-0427c25e455a/Gizmodo_NOWHERE.png Blog - Nowhere is Making the List(s) Gizmodo also included Nowhere in their list of '“64 New Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books Beaming Down in March.” Shout out to GenX Scribbler in the comments for singling out Nowhere alongside Emily Carpenter’s Gothictown (which also sounds incredible) as his two most anticipated novels out of that very long list! *Also, thanks to Gizmodo for making my best friend lose her mind when this came across her feed :) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/6c48601f-022b-42c4-ba1f-86f8c239b08d/The+Strand+Pic+of+the+Month_Mar+2025_NOWHERE.png Blog - Nowhere is Making the List(s) Strand, one of NYC’s oldest and largest bookstores, named NOWHERE as a top pick for March 2025. Check out their website for information on how you can receive a signed first edition copy as well as Nowhere merch! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d301d2c0-6669-4fc6-b0e8-4b70c0640c6e/Hasty+Book+List+Image.png Blog - Nowhere is Making the List(s) Prolific reviewer, fashionista, and author Ashley Hasty, of the Hasty Book List, received Nowhere along with some other fantastic upcoming books for Christmas this year. My favorite part? Ashley paired her reading with a 2019 Ruffino Modus. Excellent choice—you can’t go wrong drinking red and reading Nowhere. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/450e9172-4754-43b0-9c71-a14bb28a57f7/NightWorms+April+Promo+1.jpeg Blog - Nowhere is Making the List(s) Placed further down this list for those Night Worms Book Club members out there who want to be surprised when their April package comes — Nowhere will be one of two books included in their monthly box! If you’re interested in joining the club, check out the details here, but do it fast! The deadline for April’s package is coming quickly. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/introducing-the-writing-scared-podcast monthly 0.5 2025-01-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/502264f3-7ce9-4da4-a31d-4829628e6758/writing+scared_ep1_promo.png Blog - Introducing the *Writing Scared Podcast* - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/32a0c391-104a-457b-812b-827d0f337f6e/writing+scared+promo+1.png Blog - Introducing the *Writing Scared Podcast* Interested in the writing process? Curious about publishing? Captivated by angst-ridden rambling? E.W. Doc Parris & I have you covered! Join us as we discuss ANXIETY in the creative process in the very first episode of the WRITING SCARED podcast. E.W. brings his perspective as a successful self-published author to the table alongside my experience as a soon-to-be traditionally published author to demonstrate once and for all that *no writer* is immune to the jitters along the journey. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/binsc4s9opev3si4jvn1agadcfi05g monthly 0.5 2024-09-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1721768502247-J7PNOM1HS98HOJ0FWUZ6/nowhere_cover+reveal+-+cropped.jpg Blog - Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways! - Make it stand out Enter the Goodreads Giveaway before 9/24 for a chance to win an early copy of Nowhere! https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-everywhere-everything-everytime monthly 0.5 2024-08-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1720648114834-S5Z0LZAAK48E1OL36WH6/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Poetry: Everywhere, Everything, Everytime - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-a-lot monthly 0.5 2024-08-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f5e84df5-340e-46d1-8c3b-3d8bdcec35ae/DSC_2273.jpg Blog - Poetry: A Lot. - Photo by Melissa Groves-Christ My heart is an ocean My brain is a tidal wave My life is storm Hurricanes blow through Waterspouts form Tsunamis eat my plans Whirlpools define my worth https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/a11fb768-f6df-4645-af89-a78308132b48/DSC_2208.jpg Blog - Poetry: A Lot. - Make it stand out Photo by Melissa Groves-Christ https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-same-day-same-story monthly 0.5 2024-07-31 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/332ed0c8-45ec-467a-9c5c-3b8b5b73100a/DSC_2301.jpg Blog - Poetry: Same Day, Same Story - Make it stand out Photo by Melissa Groves-Christ https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-falling-off-the-edge monthly 0.5 2024-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1720646958539-GRB8GTJPBTR39UC5ZQPU/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Poetry: Falling Off the Edge - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/the-darkness-inside monthly 0.5 2024-07-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/0e68417f-1aaf-4367-8f33-1814852ec107/on+laptop.png Blog - The Darkness Inside While wandering the depression wilderness, try to focus on *trying*, even if it’s just a little bit. Sit down at that keyboard and try to jot down a few words. Pick up that camera and try to take a few shots. Pull out your paints and try to get a few strokes on the canvas. No, it probably won’t be magnificent, but it’s something that continues to feed your soul and remind you who you are regardless of what bullshit society lobs onto you. Try to give that to yourself—yourself; not anyone else—because if you don’t, that psychological pit will continue to deepen and the darkness inside of it will grow. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e3d57c5e-1eba-48fd-a5dc-d8f6c293a765/BandW+in+water.png Blog - The Darkness Inside In other words, creativity does not cancel out the pressure cooker known as western society, and that pressure inherently leads to (let’s all say it together) ANXIETY! And what does runaway anxiety lead to? DEPRESSION! And what does prolonged depression lead to? Well, a lot of things, but for the purposes of this entry, the one thing it certainly does NOT lead to when you’re going through it is energy—perhaps the most critical piece of being a professional creative. You can’t translate your art to the masses if you don’t have the oompf to even think. Not only is that frustrating as hell, it’s also scary. Again, if I don’t get the job done, no one else will. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b114254d-6286-4222-92da-7ac074ae7b36/quitting+gao.jpg Blog - The Darkness Inside But the upsides of this new career path are tremendous. My ‘breaks’ are no longer spent in an office building bathroom sobbing. I’m able to plan, execute, and accomplish projects per my own vision. I’m free to speak about my convictions publicly, even recently posting a TikTok on equality, protection, and unionization for sex workers—something I would *never* have been permitted to do before. I’m doing the things I love and truly believe in, helping people as well as creating, making careful decisions about what job I take on next. Most importantly, for the first time since I became a parent, I’m able to spend time with my kids (and enjoy it) without having to ask for permission or cram it in between business calls. Gone are the days where I’d wake up wishing I’d died in my sleep, or contemplate launching myself in front of a metro train on my commute. In choosing this new trek, I made an active decision to live a life filled with meaning and fulfillment even if it comes with a heaping side of insecurity. I don’t regret that choice at all. The sizable salary and benefits were not worth sacrificing my beliefs, talent, and relationships. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1720643994578-C1JRJL0WY22DDTPTEL42/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Darkness Inside If you’ve been following me here or on any of my social media accounts, you probably know this year has been one of the wildest of my entire life. This month marks one year since I officially quit my job as a federal senior analyst in D.C.. Next month marks one year since my former spouse and I split. In a couple of weeks, it’ll have been six months since I moved to a new house and (technically) a new town. Looking back, none of these things are inherently BAD. Indeed, they all needed to happen for various reasons. Nevertheless, that’s a hell of a lot of change, and with a noggin’ wired like mine, that’s just asking for a visit from the Brain Gremlins. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1720645886656-8MHLEEVACVWE2IWDLD7O/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Darkness Inside What does one do in the meantime? Well, my therapist recommended creating a steady schedule with an organized task list (which I was already doing) and to begin speaking positive affirmations in the morning and at night (which I’m trying to get better at). Try to stay busy. Try to get outside more. Try to appreciate the small things. These are all great ideas virtually every therapist and self-help coach will give you. Knee-deep in the Anxiety-Depression Soup, none of that sounds particularly helpful, but there is one immediately helpful piece of advice wrapped inside all of those recommendations. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/ready-for-launch monthly 0.5 2024-06-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f28be7f0-9238-4e76-b034-31c0de5bde97/panicked.jpeg Blog - Ready for Launch! What this meant was an immediate scramble to update all of my social media, my website, claim my Goodreads author page (FINALLY - this was something that was surprisingly difficult to do), and start reaching out to contacts about forth-coming galley copies. It meant immediately strategizing how to best boost pre-orders, leading to me designing and ordering bookmarks which should hopefully be arriving in the next week or so (stay tuned for more info on that and other forthcoming goodies). In short, my week went from one focused on revising my latest manuscript to full promotion prep. Nowhere is my debut, and as a result, I’m somewhat bumbling my way through this rodeo. While I’m fortunate enough to be publishing with a major house and have plenty of back-up on the promo and distribution front, authors still need to push their own books on social media and through contacts in the literary world as well as pop culture. None of that is easy for a tried and true introvert like yours truly. The next few months will certainly be an adventure as we draw closer to Nowhere’s release and main promotion campaign . . . and I’m certain I’ll be bumbling my way through much of it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1718325210133-JWIAUWLMTGYNBL9SOPU5/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Ready for Launch! Because Nowhere is not a light jaunt through the woods. Yes, it’s shrouded with spooks and shadows and terror, but beneath it all, it’s a very intimate tale of a family in crisis. It’s a story about imperfect human beings failing in epic ways despite wanting to be better people. Personal secrets, struggles, shame, and pain are threaded through each page. Nowhere isn’t just a creepy tale I cooked up; it’s a reflection of me as a human being. It is deeply personal, reflecting me at my most vulnerable . . . which will soon be at the fingertips of whoever picks it up. That’s a startling and scary feeling, but it’s also a wonderful, liberating one. I’ve known it would be ever since I decided to publish it, but now it’s real. It’s really real. My book with all of its messy characters, broken hearts, and trauma is about to take flight in the big world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/302b7be4-ac42-4b0f-86f8-91b1aa32f1ae/nowhere_cover+reveal.jpg Blog - Ready for Launch! - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-remember-when monthly 0.5 2024-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/5e7e57fe-ebd3-493e-89c4-0fe0483cdc3e/Me+and+Butterfly.jpg Blog - Poetry: Remember When - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-dreams-of-chaos monthly 0.5 2024-03-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d8457a37-89e9-42dd-96c8-a2671c6ee2bc/tunnel.jpg Blog - Poetry: Dreams of Chaos - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/writing-horror-while-happy monthly 0.5 2024-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1710512431170-SDNO6K9JAWFBPMB8IS1V/FF748B6D-CCA7-4B63-A5E7-C05DC37B3B1F.JPG Blog - Writing Horror While Happy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1710512429123-MLQFT7JQNE19BLRRH4H3/IMG_7989.JPG Blog - Writing Horror While Happy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1710512430330-GAUA5X33YYRW4Z31AFY6/IMG_7219.jpg Blog - Writing Horror While Happy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1710512430914-I56JUDK2NTE3JEWOCPJZ/IMG_7102.jpg Blog - Writing Horror While Happy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1710512429034-ZMDT6Q9N25RS9WEYP2PP/IMG_7468.jpg Blog - Writing Horror While Happy https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/8b39e2d4-49d8-4f92-a30d-00ec520649b7/A9A3C488-DD97-465D-A29A-BEA031A66714.JPG Blog - Writing Horror While Happy - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/2b7eebed-b950-48a3-b346-521ccb1828f1/Case+32+Mood+Board+1.jpg Blog - Writing Horror While Happy - Pictured: Early concept imagery for CASE 32 For example, when I wrote NOWHERE, I was coming out of a horrific period in what would ultimately be a doomed marriage (didn’t know that piece for another 5 yrs). Hell, I didn’t even realize that the names of the daughters in that book began with the same letters as my own children’s names. When I wrote THE HIEROPHANT, I had just begun working through an assault that had occurred years prior but didn’t see the connection until I’d wrapped the first draft. Even as I review material for my current work-in-progress (CASE 32), I now see threads of real-life pain that was taking place while simultaneously writing those opening chapters. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/33cf8f90-47ef-4ddd-9b46-5237ea25a44e/DSC_1943.jpg Blog - Writing Horror While Happy - Photo Credit: Melissa Groves-Christ That’s not to say things aren’t tough: money is exceptionally tight; drama is high; the entire world seems to be falling apart quickly. Nevertheless, I find myself grateful for and warmed by my relationships with family and friends; my home; my children; the little bits of magic I see around me every day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1710511099406-7CADC96HSO1OKSG2OGHW/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Writing Horror While Happy I’ve actually spent a considerable amount worried about being happy. The all-too-familiar question ‘Am I manic?’ has crossed my mind countless times now. (Spoiler: I am not.) I’m not euphoric or delusional. I’m not throwing money around like it’s confetti. I still wrestle with negative habits, but they’re the same ones plenty of perfectly sound people struggle with as well. None of my classic mania signs are present . . . except not dreading life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1710510441242-3G1E36VGMI7P517FS4VI/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Writing Horror While Happy So, what happens when a horror writer’s life no longer reflects horror? Where’s the inspiration for those tales of terror and despair if life is . . . well, lovely at the moment? Is it possible to dive into darkness when you’re living in sunshine? I think so . . . https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-so-this-is-me monthly 0.5 2024-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/9b01c271-9462-4aa0-86df-9492544eb28a/IMG_8952.jpg Blog - Poetry: So This Is Me But this is me This is broken me The one with pieces glued back together in odd places The one who had their brain removed and reconfigured A thousand times before you knew my name This is me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/0063b093-4ccd-4f51-bfc9-29660e7c779b/Cemetery+Angel.jpg Blog - Poetry: So This Is Me This is the child kicked onto her knees This is the weakling taught to lick boots This is the daughter of a legacy which will never die This is the person too fucked for you to know This is me https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/0400a4e3-1f39-413f-9bcc-b961893a9b39/In+Mirror.jpg Blog - Poetry: So This Is Me - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/writing-through-the-storm monthly 0.5 2024-01-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/9aea663a-901f-4541-abf2-fff1bae8f749/temp_me+in+water.JPG Blog - Writing Through the Storm - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ae70f2a0-7c2a-4ccf-ba2f-4e1594aa597e/temp_Me+thinking.jpg Blog - Writing Through the Storm I’m back here again, trying to remember what I thought I’d already learned back in 2020. Evidently, I’m not immune to writing blocks even as my debut novel approaches its release this year. Life’s challenges sometimes gum up the works, including my craft. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/15be3f95-f9e2-4d43-9026-1791d8429bfe/NOWHERE+Board+1.png Blog - Writing Through the Storm My debut novel, NOWHERE, wasn’t written during a crisis. It came after one. A particularly painful chapter in my life closed before the novel came tumbling out of my head. The book is heavily influenced by that period and that shines through in every single scene, my life back then reflected back at me in ~90k words that mean more to me than most accomplishments I’ve ever achieved. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/3cebd549-f709-4dda-9b62-f6c99f6dfe0d/Mood+Board_Banner+HIEROPHANT.jpg Blog - Writing Through the Storm - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1705429784830-IWXVSGJLYBXIDMEJ06NL/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Writing Through the Storm And the same will be true this time. Perhaps what I write in between packing boxes and making phone calls won’t be my greatest. That’s alright; stories can be revised later and journals are meant to capture the messiest bits of ourselves to begin with. After the dust settles and the broken glass is cleared, the words I’m looking for will return with new insights and force behind them. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/cf156ad1-1e12-456a-a4e0-37b818e01d4e/temp_boots.jpg Blog - Writing Through the Storm These are the days I’m lamenting that blockage morning, day, and night. I wake up and stare at the screen feeling paralyzed; I go to sleep ticked off at myself for insufficiently representing what my main character is feeling. I text friends to bemoan my failure. I avoid my family’s questions about how my writing is going. I ramble on to those closest to me about the manuscript, desperately trying to iron out plot holes and character motivations. And I continue to be reminded by those same people what I already know: creativity can’t be forced, and sometimes, all you can do is hunker down and wait for the storm to pass. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1705428448028-TPVYFH9E282WG246T8R2/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Writing Through the Storm - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-candy-apple monthly 0.5 2023-10-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1698230332505-0B3VIF3PGBWMYN4KFJZ3/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Poetry: Candy Apple - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/the-tower-is-falling-and-thats-a-good-thing monthly 0.5 2023-10-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/77f1203e-2afa-4d79-a063-928176f65c36/Black+Mirror.jpg Blog - The Tower is Falling... and That's a Good Thing I’ve written about it here and lamented on social media more than is necessary, but my life took a hard turn left without a clutch this year. After 6+ years in a pressure-cooker career, my brain and body gave out. I had to quit, not just because I was burnt out, but because my body literally would not allow me to function if I continued. It wasn’t something I chose to do. Instead, life swept in and washed it out to sea. That’s when the lightning hit The Tower. I just didn’t realize that the rest of my carefully crafted life would begin to crumble in its wake as well. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/2485165b-c5c9-4077-ba4a-efe1b1e5b05b/The+Tower+Post.jpg Blog - The Tower is Falling... and That's a Good Thing - Pictured: Images of The Tower from The Dreamkeepers Tarot; Starspinner Tarot; and the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith tarot decks. Nobody wants to see The Tower appear in their reading. It’s not a fun card, and there’s really no way to get around the fact that its meaning (in any orientation) has to do with disaster. Maybe in reverse, you just barely missed averting crisis, but even that interpretation is generous. The bottom line of The Tower is that chaos and massive change is coming (or has already). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f2fd2ae9-5bb1-40ce-ada6-17258d75fa6b/Wedding_Car.jpg Blog - The Tower is Falling... and That's a Good Thing My marriage toppled after that lightning strike. Ten years with the certificate, twelve spent together… and then it was gone. There were rumbles long before the storm arrived, but they’d always been far in the distance. When something like this happens, it’s too complex to detangle and force blame. You can try, but you’re not being honest with yourself when you do that. I’m not going to attempt to pull apart how/why my relationship got to this stage because it doesn’t matter for the overall point. The fact is, my life was pushed over like it was a game of Jenga, and the pieces still haven’t landed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/90cdbcaf-8b2a-4965-b45f-129da82365ec/Death_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - The Tower is Falling... and That's a Good Thing - Pictured: The Death card from the Ethereal Visions tarot deck Death is a curious card. It’s the one most frequently depicted (wrongly) in films and TV where the spooky tarot reader foretells the main character’s impending doom. Sure; Death is scary. It’s uncomfortable. It’s world-altering in one way or the other. But Death also offers transformation and rebirth. From the ashes of suffering, we are able to reemerge. Whereas The Tower’s destruction was out of your control, you have a choice with how you will handle Death. Will you move on? Grow stronger? Accept the change you just underwent to become a new version of yourself having learned from the losses you just experienced? Or will you allow mourning and grief to overpower you and block your forward progression? It’s entirely up to you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/63f8d331-5b47-4be3-82d1-b87b09d35744/Pareidolia+Mood+Board+1.jpg Blog - The Tower is Falling... and That's a Good Thing - Pictured: New nightmares cooking in my brain :) Additionally, this experience is sparking new story ideas and pulling forward characters I’d never know without the destruction taking place around me. I’m invigorated and inspired by their complexity and am happy to have them along for the ride, even if they are immensely flawed. So am I. And for that, I couldn’t be more grateful. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1696885809965-XQDD9GVNYG5LJ5WHX1IQ/image-asset.jpeg Blog - The Tower is Falling... and That's a Good Thing I mentioned the Death card before, and there’s a good reason. For me, The Tower and Death have always gone hand-in-hand. Where Death *can* be an internal change made by choice, it also awaits at the bottom of the crumbling Tower. No matter how you splice and dice the meanings, there will most certainly be a death of something (if not a great many things) following The Tower’s collapse. When you hit the ground, things won’t be the same. That’s where Death comes in. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/bdac3be1-9557-4d98-b6ff-300298074e96/NOWHERE+Poem+Pic.jpg Blog - The Tower is Falling... and That's a Good Thing As it happens, my debut novel NOWHERE is indeed about a marriage and family in crisis, their world torn apart following the destruction of the life they once knew. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/poetry-unique monthly 0.5 2023-07-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/3273e5e4-ebc0-4a48-aa43-cf0129cdd437/Unique+Identifier+Mood+Board.jpg Blog - Poetry: Unique Identifier - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1da6e551-cfef-47d3-b7f2-b7f33f70414f/typewriter.jpg Blog - Poetry: Unique Identifier You’ve never felt fear until you see their code The moment you find it is the moment you’ve lost Your plans no longer matter Your intentions collapsed Now you see their code, and there’s no going back https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/death-and-rebirth monthly 0.5 2023-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1657931024202-4NTR8HVQFD3XNIOAONT3/Death_Wild%2BUnknown.jpg Blog - Death and Rebirth - Make it stand out The Death card from The Wild Unknown Tarot deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/46411106-f852-4241-8bf1-8a9cd87d7db0/Allison+St+Ignace.JPG Blog - Death and Rebirth Still, I was churning out the work like a BAMF. And I was happy! Everyone knew I’d be the one smiling on camera when we logged on for a meeting. I even spoke about mental health at a work event and how to best manage it. Pretty hilarious, right? Not really. By this point, I was back to day dreaming about suicide. At one point, I even hoped a tractor trailer would side swipe me so I didn’t have to take my life. It could just end neatly, and my family would even get my life insurance benefits because guess what that would mean? STABILITY! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/77f1203e-2afa-4d79-a063-928176f65c36/Black+Mirror.jpg Blog - Death and Rebirth So, what happens now? Unclear. There are quite a few things I’m lining up: some freelance work; beginning my own small business that I’ve had in mind for some time; reviving a podcast I’d started with my best friend years prior; and of course, focusing more on my writing. None of these things, even in conjunction with each other, will provide the same revenue my prior job did. I’m struggling to make peace with that as I crunch numbers and make plans. The one thing I’m sure of, though? The illusion that making that money had ever created true stability was a falsehood. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/34e02400-8512-4180-bd9b-be8432f58e70/AG+DC.jpg Blog - Death and Rebirth I was the happy one at work… the person everyone knew would run events; create activities; check in on people; ace the projects to which I was assigned. My colleagues as well as my managers knew they could depend on me. I was even jokingly asked if I was planning on running for president of my team since I seemed to be everywhere all at once. What they didn’t know was that nearly every morning, I stared at the train speeding into L’Enfant Plaza and contemplated whether or not to jump in front of it. That intrusive thought became so strong that I began having to step back on the platform until I knew I couldn’t possibly jump far enough to clear the edge and end my life. Eventually, there was never a commute where I didn’t weigh the pros and cons of what seemed to be the only way to make the overwhelming anxiety and depression stop. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/4780b566-554d-4092-9b6d-3da5bced181f/Allison_matt_justinwedding.jpg Blog - Death and Rebirth The trouble was, the same chronic burn-out culture translated to the virtual space just as easily as the rest of the work. In fact, it appeared that for many of us, it increased. For those of us who had few boundaries in place before the Pandemic, creating them during it was nearly impossible. Now, there were no breaks between meetings. Twice as many meetings could be jammed into my schedule than before. Lunch-time became just another slot for even more meetings. And in between meetings? Well, that was more time to hammer out more work and increase productivity.* On top of that, many of my colleagues were scared and hurting because hell—we were living an actual nightmare. We couldn’t leave our homes, and for some, work became the only time they interacted with another human being. Allison Gunn couldn’t handle others feeling alone. So, what did the Queen of Cheer decide to do? Create more programs and schedule more face-time with people who needed to talk, of course. Once more, I was applauded for my optimism and drive through the darkness the world was facing. Three cheers for the consummate performer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d8dc75f8-f515-43a2-8888-ab790b2f4798/Gunn+image+2020.jpg Blog - Death and Rebirth Soon, other symptoms began to pop up. My anxiety was through the roof. I’d begun shaking all the time. I’d wake up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat thinking about work. I started dry-heaving into a trash can in my office right before logging onto yet another meeting. I found myself sobbing at random times, though this was admittedly not new. Even as a new hire, I could be found in a bathroom stall once a week quietly crying… and so were other colleagues, though I didn’t know it at the time. But I still didn’t listen. Instead, I had my psychiatrist increase my meds to numb my body’s warnings. I added in CBD both for mental wellness and to shove back whatever autoimmune and GI symptoms were constantly recurring. I did yoga and tried to meditate until naturally, there was no time left in the schedule for this. I buried myself in my writing on the weekends to escape my full-time job, but Monday always inevitably came. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e5bb884c-9cbd-4bad-9d27-493748d1c7cb/In+water.jpg Blog - Death and Rebirth One evening in the beginning of June, I finally crashed into that massive wall I’d been speeding toward for years. My partner gave me the ultimatum that I would either have to take leave and get serious medical help, or he was going to take me to the hospital. Honestly, I kind of thought he was bullshitting, but the rest of me heard him loud and clear. I woke up the next morning barely able to move. My partner wouldn’t leave me by myself, and by now, my children had caught on that I was very much not at all okay. I managed to log on to a meeting with my manager and broke down. I’d been moments away from suicide the night before, and I didn’t think I could make it through the work day. The soaring fireball had at last burned right the hell out into a cold rock that plummeted to the earth. I filed for FMLA immediately and began a month of time off. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1689262379853-RXOMIAEUPMLFMKRO57D1/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Death and Rebirth Instead, it came from the only two people that it really ever could have come from: my kids. I was cooking dinner a couple weeks into leave and started chatting with my partner about returning to work. As the conversation was going on, I hadn’t noticed the girls had entered the kitchen. One of them cut in, raising her voice over my partner’s and freezing me in my tracks: “You need to quit your job, Mom. It’s not the end of the world because we’ll all still be together. We’ll be okay.” The other one immediately agreed: “We’d rather have you.” I abandoned the pot on the stove, went into the next room, and sobbed. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/how-to-choose-a-deck-for-your-project monthly 0.5 2023-01-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c28ac98a-13b8-48b1-95da-4d3683ee87e3/Two+of+Cups_Linestrider.jpeg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project - Pictured: The Two of Cups card from the Linestrider Tarot deck Visual Alignment Most creators have some kind of general aesthetic in mind when they start a project. For me, my characters’ dialogue typically comes first. However, the setting and visuals follow close behind. Finding a deck that shares similar art concepts as what you’ve set out to create can help generate more ideas that are very specific to the world you’re attempting to create. For instance, my current work-in-progress has benefited from two decks, each with the same kinds of color schemes and scenery I envisioned when I first started brainstorming the project. When pulling a card to spark ideas for the main character, it has made a difference to see alchemical symbols and sleek angles on the cards versus the soft, sweet depictions in decks like Ethereal Visions Tarot. Instead of thinking about the warmth and devotion depicted on the traditional Lovers card, my mind shifts to considering the mystical relationship between materials… the unifying undercurrents between humans as well as the elements. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1673808069692-OPJE4TQBXRIVML9EEXGN/unsplash-image-0WFUP_y4tds.jpg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project Intuition Here’s where we dig a bit into the ‘woo-woo,’ though I think it’s less metaphysical than folks may believe when they first hear the word. I’m willing to bet damn near everyone has, at one point or another, felt a tug in their gut where they simply knew what was right for them even if it didn’t make sense. You’ll hear it again and again: “listen to your gut” or “follow your gut.” That little twinge in your tummy? That’s your intuition, and it extends far beyond your digestive tract. More than once, I’ve seen a deck in a store shop window or online and thought ‘that has the precise aesthetic of my WIP.’ I’ve then brought that deck home, sorted through each and every one of those cards, and ended up realizing that deck really didn’t jive with my work. There wasn’t really a reason I could pin down… no specific trait I could point to and say ‘now I know this deck doesn’t work well for this manuscript.’ It was all a gut feeling. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/8543556e-f034-4161-8475-58957dcdd2b4/Del+Toro+Hermit.jpg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project - Pictured: The Hermit card from the Tarot Del Toro deck Tone Once upon a time, a friend invited me on their podcast to chat about how I use tarot in the creative process. Ten minutes into the conversation as I described the images on the deck I was using at the time to develop a story, I realized it would be impossible to fully convey my meaning without the listener seeing and/or holding the cards themselves. As many times as I ran through what images were depicted on each card I pulled and why I found it significant to the story at hand, there was something missing. I’d never be able to fully relate what the mood of the deck was—how its brutalist wheels and wood-cut scenes instilled a particular sense of anxiety and urgency. The weight of the card stock in my hands betrayed its temporality, though the images harkened to centuries long past. Try as I might, I couldn’t then nor can I now explain the precise tone of the deck without handing it over for another person to sort through. Even then, I suspect the full nuance is dependent upon the viewer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/401e3263-978b-4af0-80c0-a781798cd689/IMG-2880.jpg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project - Pictured: The Wild Unknown Tarot deck by Kim Krans Something I’ve raised in multiple articles is my tendency to use certain decks for specific projects. For instance, I exclusively used the original Wild Unknown deck by Kim Krans while developing THE HIEROPHANT. For another project, I utilized Madam Clara’s 5 cent Tarot to better flesh out character arcs and their psychology. On yet another, the Tarot Del Toro based on the works of the incredible Guillermo Del Toro. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/4770640e-5a46-41fb-bcbe-83840f549f47/Elements+of+the+Source_pack.jpg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project - Pictured: The Elements of the Source oracle deck on display in Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart installation Right around my birthday, I was fortunate enough to find myself in Las Vegas visiting its Meow Wolf art installation. My dear friend surprised me by purchasing the oracle deck that was created and used specifically for the Omega Mart display there. As soon as I cracked the plastic on that puppy, I knew it was perfectly aligned with my current project. The art made sense, yes. The general vibe of the deck meshed. But it was the feeling I got when sorting through the cards that made me excited to work with the deck in relation to the project. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/db91946e-9523-4270-80ed-85c49ec793ea/Nowhere+Board+2.jpg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project - Pictured: Aesthetic board for NOWHERE Similar to when and why creators utilize mood boards while developing their creative projects, choosing a deck that shares the same aesthetic assists vivid recreation of the scenes and characters you’re bringing to life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1673814554622-HRWK3E9O3AZ76GY5SAOV/IMG-4985.jpg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1673814555796-CUAPLC9T02RL1IFPC4O3/IMG-5070.jpg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1673814557754-U5WD104YATB27ER8AV5C/IMG-5072.jpg Blog - How to Choose a Deck for Your Project https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/data-from-the-querying-quest monthly 0.5 2023-01-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c43b7342-5ecd-421d-a085-da220c2e5875/me+at+the+laptop.jpg Blog - Data from the Querying Quest So, for anyone who is reading this, please know that the information I share below is not necessarily what you should be seeing in your own experience. It’s not a reflection of how good your book is (look to beta readers to provide that commentary) or that you’re doing anything ‘wrong.’ What it may be useful for is gauging the temperature of the industry. Rather than sharing my tactics on how to query (it was pretty much ‘research, research, research; then ‘try, try, try’), I’m just going to provide you with my stats. While in the trenches, data is what helped me gain perspective and anchored in reality. If it helps you as well, read on! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/4f713463-80b2-4e07-a110-fc0447c617e4/Nowhere+Board+3.jpg Blog - Data from the Querying Quest - NOWHERE Genre and Subgenre: Paranormal Horror/Thriller Final Word Count at Offer: 85k Full Beta Reads: 7* (3 fam/friend readers; 2 writing partners; 1 Pitch Wars mentor; 1 outside reader) Dates: November 2020 - October 2022 Total Queries: 34 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1673185693845-2YO1HGZQOXXYB4GRK1W4/unsplash-image-2q6C5zDJOsg.jpg Blog - Data from the Querying Quest Your art has meaning. If traditional publishing is where you know you want to be, keep going! Feel free to get in touch if you have questions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f844aba1-9dda-4c78-b40d-ec252cf88663/Mood+Board+Hierophant+1.jpg Blog - Data from the Querying Quest I was so impressed with the time and thought Logan had put into NOWHERE that I submitted THE HIEROPHANT to her in September 2022. Based on her feedback with the first MS, I already knew we would work well together. In October 2022, my now-agent requested a call. When we got on the phone, we discussed both manuscripts, but really dug into NOWHERE with a clear vision and path forward. Happily, we decided to push ahead with that manuscript first, and in November 2022, I signed with her and dove right back into revisions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/db91946e-9523-4270-80ed-85c49ec793ea/Nowhere+Board+2.jpg Blog - Data from the Querying Quest She originally requested a partial of NOWHERE following #PitDark in May 2022 followed by a full request in June 2022. In early July, Logan suggested an R&R (“Revise & Resubmit”) with extremely helpful and detailed feedback. Seventeen days later, I’d sent back a revised version of NOWHERE. She loved the novel, but still passed based on other circumstances. Nevertheless, she invited me to submit future queries to her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/74489a40-09fb-490a-8b8b-c44bee0e4b99/Mood+Board+Caragh+1.jpeg Blog - Data from the Querying Quest - THE HIEROPHANT Genre and Subgenre: Paranormal Horror/Sci-Fi Final Word Count at Offer: ~90k Full Beta Reads: 7* (4 fam/friends; 2 writing partners; 1 Pitch Wars mentor) Dates: May 2022 - October 2022 Total Queries: 39 https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/heres-to-2023 monthly 0.5 2023-01-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/2f65da83-faef-440a-bea9-50fdef281fa2/286440419_5605018766194654_2112138338541285273_n.jpg Blog - Here’s to 2023… - There were some lows in there too, of course: My precious Aussie passed away in June after 14 beautiful years. I resumed more personal and professional responsibilities than initially expected. We had some major not-so-great medical news. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1673177627849-CL1NTNHIEJVJOVU71GJF/unsplash-image-hopX_jpVtRM.jpg Blog - Here’s to 2023… - There’s a reason why I write horror —well, many reasons, obviously. However, the more I’ve given it thought, the more I’ve come to believe that I write horror primarily because it allows me to face, process, and share my fear with others in a controlled environment. I craft the narrative; I see the path through the woods and know where I’ll arrive in the end. I’m the one that guides the reader through the nightmare. Horror is the one place where I can control fear. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1673177779582-K782HMYKSGYVJG8LDYQZ/unsplash-image-abkEAOjnY0s.jpg Blog - Here’s to 2023… - So, here’s to the frightful adventures ahead in 2023! Here’s to better understanding myself; better accepting and integrating what I find lurking in my own shadows; better horror writing; and most importantly, better healing in the end. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1673177182367-QBQ9TGZOWWHVY1TV6GTQ/unsplash-image-v2Jf_jpNamc.jpg Blog - Here’s to 2023… - As I stand looking around at 2023, I’ll admit that the road ahead makes me a bit nervous. It feels as though unknowns lurk around every corner. Change is on the horizon, but I don’t know how difficult the path from here to that place will be. It’s easy to shrink back from that because well, it’s scary not knowing where to put your feet next. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/tarot-quick-hit-the-ten-of-swords monthly 0.5 2022-10-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/3d140203-b0c7-4b74-bbed-96e368ebbcde/10+of+Swords_Abyss.jpg Blog - Tarot Quick Hit: The Ten of Swords - Pictured: The Ten of Swords from the Tarot of the Abyss deck So, maybe it’s a good time to pause and focus on what you can do to take care of yourself, so you don’t get taken out completely by the battles you’ve been waging. What makes you feel healthy? Happy? Whole? Whatever the answer to that question is, maybe it’s time to do more of that thing for a while. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/3822bab9-b61d-48dc-a1bb-2a537ecaabc0/10+of+Swords_Linestrider.jpg Blog - Tarot Quick Hit: The Ten of Swords - Pictured: Ten of Swords from the Linestrider Tarot deck The Ten of Swords is a card intrinsically associated with pain, suffering and exhaustion. As you can see from the various versions shown here, the card frequently depicts the slaying of someone via a barrage of swords (10 to be precise, and oh btw – that someone being slayed is usually you). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e1b0a83b-e0a4-42b9-a6a5-b177cc3728bf/10+of+Swords_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Quick Hit: The Ten of Swords - Pictured: The Ten of Swords from the Ethereal Visions Tarot deck In a Goals-Motivation-Conflict (GMC) spread for your character, wherever the Ten of Swords falls, your character has some work to do. Whether that’s seeking to heal, being propelled by past pain, or finding that they encounter near-defeat in pursuit of their goals, the Ten of Swords underscores the anguish your character has/is experiencing. You get to decide how they tackle that suffering (though, if you need a little more inspiration, you can always pull additional clarifying cards). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e730440a-6ec9-448b-b54a-debd09c3a4af/10+of+Swords_Wild+Unknown.jpg Blog - Tarot Quick Hit: The Ten of Swords - Pictured: The Ten of Swords from the Wild Unknown Tarot deck So, how does this play into creativity? https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/creator-profile-es-oliver monthly 0.5 2022-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1664636859467-W33MEQYX7ALTQIE8JZF8/unsplash-image-PzSHXg5DyJU.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E.S. Oliver - Anything else you want people to know about you and your art? “My work is sneaky spirituality and healing in entertainment form. I’ve coined it as “theratainment”. My work is dark and violent (albeit, hopeful), but that’s because this world we live in is full of dark and violent forces that have traumatized every individual on this planet. My greatest hope is that readers see themselves in my work, and are able to confront parts of themselves that they are too scared to confront outright. Anne Rice, Neil Gaiman, and Lev Grossman did the same for me, and I will forever be appreciative of their insight and the growth it nurtured within.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1664635904870-4LCB76YKHLN9JRW27BIZ/unsplash-image-2q6C5zDJOsg.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E.S. Oliver - What inspired you to begin writing? “My dreams, actually. I’ve been gifted very vivid dreams my entire life, and a few of them have been so epic and enlightening that I’ve wanted to share them with the world. Also, my husband. He is my greatest cheerleader when it comes to my writing. Every time I’ve questioned my decision to dedicate my time and energy to my writing, he reminds me why I do it.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/87e883d8-9c0c-4034-90e2-bcca0744e0c8/ES+Oliver.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E.S. Oliver - Tell us a little about yourself “I’m a serial creative, caffeine addict, and dog rescuer who lives a secluded life in the mountains with my incredible husband and our pack of dogs, alpacas and ducks.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1664635774615-YVBQHSBFVS5TC95J8YNL/unsplash-image-FTNGfpYCpGM.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E.S. Oliver - How long have you been writing? “I’ve been writing since I was a teenager. I actually had my first piece published in the Las Vegas Sun while in high school, but only really started focusing on my writing in recent years after a series of huge life event changed my trajectory in life.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1664636181133-I7M7EZEQ7O71Q67UYB8Z/unsplash-image-eS1omi9_W58.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E.S. Oliver - What inspires you now? “Nature, spirituality, history, and my own fantastical life experiences. I find the best inspiration to be when all four of those align.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1664636615864-381RBTEJK4FX4DQYDQEO/unsplash-image-abkEAOjnY0s.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E.S. Oliver - What do you do when you're not creating? “I meditate, spend time in nature, play with our dogs, create stained glass pieces and embroidery projects… But I spend most of my free time mentoring people who are on a spiritual path through the healing and awakening process.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1664636444706-T9RKAR360VLSX2K8Z8WI/unsplash-image-hmCMUZKLxa4.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E.S. Oliver - What creative project are you proudest of? “I’m like a parent, I am equally proud of all of my brain babies. They all serve different purposes.” https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-suit-of-cups-amp-the-element-of-water monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1659281513819-NAWFCQB9J2MJG3BNMZZB/Page+of+Cups+Upright_Seth.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1659281511302-GSO2TPO6ZE5Q77U06ODU/Page+of+Cups_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/9cf3088d-65ca-4bd9-9543-0add28783a76/Blackwater+Falls.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Blackwater Falls State Park in Davis, WV The element of Water allows us to easily visualize what’s happening within and without us. Sometimes, it’s calm and you can serenely float on its surface. Sometimes, it’s violent and consumes everything around it. Water is as versatile and unpredictable as we are. Have you ever thought about what happens when you ignore that leak in your roof? Have you ever tried to drive through a massive puddle and fishtailed? Have you ever gotten stuck in a riptide and scared the living hell out of yourself? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/52f8b7ca-23b9-4c7c-83c7-096636baf1cf/Page+of+Cups_Star+Spinner.jpeg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Page of Chalices (aka Cups) from the Starspinner Tarot deck Page of Cups: As a court card, Pages usually represent beginnings and flourishing ideas. They tend to be an optimistic (though sometimes unrealistic) player when in the upright position. SO, the upright Page of Cups is a great signal for those setting out on creative or romantic pursuits. For plot development, this card could signal just that: the beginning of a relationship or passion project for the main character. Is this what motivates them? Is this the conflict? Is it both? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c28ac98a-13b8-48b1-95da-4d3683ee87e3/Two+of+Cups_Linestrider.jpeg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Two of Cups from the Linestrider Tarot deck Two of Cups: Sweet, sweet harmony! Twos in Tarot are almost always connected to peace or syncing up. No matter the suit, it often involves relationships. However, the Two of Cups dials that up to eleven. Usually, this card tips toward harmony within relationships, but it can also indicate aligning with your purpose or self love. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/7a163496-3636-4c48-a686-61e2757c5226/Linestrider_5+of+Cups.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Five of Cups from The Linestrider Tarot deck Five of Cups: The Five of Cups can be a tragic card. It says you’re missing out on something. In most depictions, three items (usually cups) are destroyed, but two remain unscathed. Yet, the “main character” of the card seems oblivious to the positives that are present even amidst the pain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f8eccf56-c9aa-4083-b632-7fd109f0c3ee/Oceanview.JPG Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: The Chesapeake Bay at Oceanview beach in Norfolk, VA If you’re unfamiliar with tarot, you may not know that each suit (often known as Cups; Pentacles; Swords; and Wands) corresponds with one of the elements (Water; Earth; Air; Fire). This week we’re going to jump in with the suit of Cups and its counterpart, Water. I’ll start with some background on the suit and the element, but feel free to skip ahead to the section below dealing with how certain Cups cards could be applied in story development as well as inner creative development. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/21ec5692-6304-4d02-9ae9-bfabdec024ef/VA+Beach.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: The Atlantic Ocean at First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach, VA Water is the most prevalent natural resource on our beautiful planet, flowing from shore to shore and cutting paths through our landscapes. It’s long served as the primary mode of travel for humans and ensures we continue to exist, keeping our otherwise dry world thriving. Indeed, even the human body is mostly water. It is essential to our survival, but it is also the element that connects us physically and physiologically. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/883a4373-844b-4c6f-a383-5eed55c4df64/Ten+of+Cups_Abyss.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Ten of Cups from the Tarot of the Abyss deck (see above note on the unfortunate marketing decision made regarding this deck) For the creator pulling cards for themselves, this card may be a signal that your journey on a particular project is coming to a successful end…that the light at the end of the tunnel is growing larger. You’re almost there, and when you arrive, that ending will be especially sweet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ca712372-9371-40bb-928e-d025bad6610c/Ace+of+Cups_Abyss.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Ace of Cups from the poorly named Tarot of the Abyss deck. Despite a name which was clearly crafted to lure angst-ridden teens to purchase a rad deck at Hot Topic, this deck is beautifully illustrated with incredible symbolism. For character development, this could indicate someone who is confident in their endeavors, especially related to creativity and romance. They’re finding abundance in their life somewhere, and my guess would be that they know it. Aces (like Knights) can sometimes be a little too confident, however, so this could also feed into your character’s development. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/add04ca6-d556-4080-8ff6-1a1838588a62/Car+wash.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water When Cups pop up in a reading, it’s usually meant as a sign post pointing directly to your relationship with others as well as yourself. Often, when I’m reading, I view an upright Cups card as highlighting something related to external relationships while the reverse would indicate something going on within myself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/081d0e9a-e900-45ff-9e1d-0ef62aa1822e/Ten+of+Cups_Wild+Unknown.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Ten of Cups from the Wild Unknown Tarot deck Ten of Cups: Woo-hoo! Tens in tarot represent endings or completion. Sometimes that can look a bit painful (such as with the Ten of Swords), but with Cups, this equals fulfillment in one’s endeavors. It’s a card of prosperity, joy, and community. In developing characters and plot lines, this card may guide you toward thinking about the MC’s ultimate goal, especially regarding their relationships with others. Are they pursuing a romance or fighting to protect their loved ones? What may stand in the way of them completing that mission? OR have they already achieved what they believe to be success, and what may that look like for them? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/157ca1bf-b727-4b92-bf66-24bc97c5e4df/Ethereal+Visions_5+of+Cups.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Five of Cups from the Ethereal Visions Tarot deck For character development, this seems like it could be applied broadly. What is your character missing when they encounter their conflict? Even in the depths of their despair or doubt, are there tiny hints of light that could be highlighted to make the character more well rounded or further deepen the story’s complexity. From a personal perspective when approaching your own creativity, this card could be particularly useful for those of us slogging through the querying trenches or battling the dreaded writer’s block. What good things are we ignoring because we’re so wrapped up in the negative? How can we pull those things forward and into focus to make sure we keep our creative hearts in tact? Sitting in despair and mourning won’t get us very far. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/32e2c8bf-e2ae-413a-a7ba-1f43a82046be/unsplash-image-y3qrbAgm7q8.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water I’m a big fan of intuitive tarot reading, meaning I fully support individuals drawing cards with minimal knowledge of the traditional meanings behind them and allowing their subconscious to interpret what’s in front of them. Doing this kind of reading not only obliterates gatekeeping, but it facilitates a deeper understanding of our own psychology, even for those who think the mystical side of Tarot is bullshit. That being said, here’s my hot take on what certain Cups cards could mean when pulled in context of creativity: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/16d88ec4-bddc-4dc4-a85b-d342e80a94db/Two+of+Cups_Madam+Clara.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Two of Cups from Madam Clara’s 5-Cent Tarot deck In context of story development, no character exists in a complete void. How are they interacting with their fellow characters? Are they on a quest to find harmony with others, or are they searching for it within themselves? My guess is that somewhere in the story, even when developing villains, there’s a relationship that is or was highly compatible and important. When in the reverse position, it could mean the loss of that relationship or a total break with one’s purpose. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/148f6824-d78d-4f10-957e-c1400223dd69/Me+on+Beach.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you’ve almost certainly noticed I have a fondness for water. I love the mountains; forests; and even urban areas, but I’m at my most peaceful by the water. For me, the water evokes memories of loved ones long gone as well as the healing experiences I had planted in the sand on Buckroe Beach throughout my mid-20s. However, along with clarity and contentedness, water also refills my creative reservoir in a way almost nothing else does. And that makes sense! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/9b9c4331-ed54-4fb7-a7c2-55dcfa7f5884/Ace+of+Cups_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Suit of Cups &amp; the Element of Water - Pictured: Ace of Cups from the Ethereal Visions Tarot deck Ace of Cups: Upright Aces are kick-ass cards. Think of it as a giant “YOU GOT THIS!” or “YOU’RE CRUSHING THIS!” from the Universe (or the deck’s artist if you’re approaching tarot from a purely psychological perspective). Combined with Cups, this card often indicates success in passion projects and relationships. Whatever you’re doing, keep it up. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-death monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b9e6b2c4-cb62-4a84-a89e-3929a2628862/Death_Woodland+Wardens.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death - Make it stand out Pictured: the modified Death card from the Woodland Wardens Oracle Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e9e97051-c6ca-4ec5-a547-7264e785c2cb/Maggie+5.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death The last article I wrote was on the Five of Cups, and if you read it or follow me on Twitter, you’ll know much of it related to having gratitude for the short amount of time I knew I had with my beloved Aussie, Maggie. If you’re not a “pet person,” you may not understand the level of despair I felt when she passed away in her sleep only a couple days after I posted that article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d88744b7-405b-4581-8acc-0804fd20f07f/Death_Wild+Unknown.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death - Pictured: The Death Card from the Wild Unknown Tarot deck Common keywords for the Death card include: Upright - Endings; Transformation; Closure Reverse - Resistance; Personal or Inward Change For a full write-up on the Death card, see Biddy Tarot’s article here. You’ve seen it pop up in a hundred different movies as a tired way of forecasting imminent doom. Some schmuck encounters a mystical tarot reader who pulls the Death card and is immediately horrified for the character. Yeah - that’s not really what the Death card is about, so you can toss that overworn trope right out the window. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/772e8269-f2de-4a4e-9680-e66493bbe272/Maggie+6.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death Her death alongside some other major life changes set off a severe bout of bipolar depression that knocked me on my ass, sent quite a few of my plans into chaos, and generally derailed my momentum especially related to creative progress and querying. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/a7d81f67-0d93-4967-b4de-39c857d17863/IMG-3781.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death What this meant was that I had to go further out in the state— the places that aren’t trendy yet. While I loved exploring the more remote and stunning parts of WV, the amount of time it took to travel there and the risk of exposure along the way resulted in a lot less movement and meditation. Without even realizing it, my spiritual wellness began to take a major hit. Life in indoor isolation became about what I could produce both in my remote job (which I was exceptionally fortunate to have) and in my writing. Everything revolved around how much I could accomplish and how quickly. My productivity began to define my identity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1657930618109-LYVDIEU0X602WOGP3TA5/Death_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1657930614233-OED35Q13J1HNSWYH57W7/Death_Linestrider.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1657930621575-GJK4534VMCV5ILF7ACI2/Death_Madam+Clara.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c4e6d1b3-4117-45b5-a9cb-1732047fee2a/IMG-3731.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death There were a hundred different things during the thick of the pandemic that should have forced me to pause, but in large part, I barreled through them. It wasn’t until here at what could maybe-possibly-kind of be the end of the worst that I finally bottomed out. Driving out to the middle of nowhere for our solstice retreat, I realized just how starved my spirit felt after two years of less than regular hiking in the woods. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/5f788a77-f995-4ed2-87e5-e86222bde830/IMG-8134.JPG Blog - Tarot Pull: Death I was surprised with how much I’ve changed since the pandemic hit— how much stronger I am, but also how very jaded parts of me have become. As pieces of the outer-facing me fell away over those few days to reveal the Allison that exists beneath the shell, I saw the transformation that had been taking place inside the cocoon. This is representative of Death just as much as loss and pain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/de413c0c-5345-4adb-93a9-6f345364478d/287692008_5605018786194652_5355785107943128604_n.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death And that’s where I was in the first couple weeks after Maggie passed…utterly stuck as I wrestled with sorrow. Heavy, right? Sure is, and that’s why Death is frightening. It means losing something which is dear; it means pain. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/2f65da83-faef-440a-bea9-50fdef281fa2/286440419_5605018766194654_2112138338541285273_n.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death One final note on the Death card and its role in my life recently— Before Maggie passed, we had spent months talking about welcoming another rescue dog into our home. We held off on it because we didn’t want to disrupt Maggie’s space and really, her medical treatment was costly enough without adding in more housemates. When she passed, it wasn’t long before we started thinking about bringing in another rescue, not to replace Maggie (that would be impossible), but to pay forward the love she gave us. If there was a singular lesson she taught me during those 14 years, it was to always love more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/83e07a24-2a48-4b1f-b76f-6dceb4ec3275/IMG-8062.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death Before COVID, I hiked at least every other weekend. The outdoors are more sacred to me than any church or temple I’ve even been in. Whether swimming in the ocean or exploring hidden trails in the forest, I’m always at my most peaceful in nature. I lost quite a bit of that when COVID swept through the country. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/76519e1b-8735-4669-af0a-6ab6a8276373/Tenney.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death So, we did. Our little Tenney Roscoe (or “Tenney Monster” depending on the day) was born at the local animal shelter on April 10th— right around the time Maggie was born all those years ago. While we’d intended on adopting an adult dog, through a series of disruptions, Tenney chose us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1658192487617-8Z0SQLCHZ5JNDSUCSD2N/IMG-3769.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1658192492987-LAZ3FKXFCMI7XTWVQV9Y/IMG-8124.JPG Blog - Tarot Pull: Death https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1658192490299-S54N4DTZEP03KEBHTTRX/IMG-3784+cropped.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: Death https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/f5f711fq4qsl8yozgrw84swhcvo9ha monthly 0.5 2023-07-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1652453255821-4KELO6RWO5Q2IQQAGOBY/unsplash-image-LEzopw2kebc.jpg Blog - Short Story: Come Inside - Come Inside by Allison Gunn I miss you. I do. I always have. I saw you the other day. Don’t think for a moment that I missed it. I wouldn’t miss you for all the world. You came so close, put your hand right against the windowpane, and I could feel you again. Oh, how very much I miss the feel of you. Did you feel me? Did you see me? Did you know I was right there on the other side? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1688825679674-9VQVNYOZMGBIMIMU0HFV/image-asset.jpeg Blog - Short Story: Come Inside - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-five-of-cups monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/81d9b0c1-81d2-4f7e-b12f-9fb8a8000205/Wild+Unknown_5+of+Cups.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups - Pictured: The Five of Cups from the Wild Unknown Tarot deck. Notice, the horse is wandering in the darkness, but dawn is breaking overhead. Before you throw a shoe at me for indulging in false positivity, allow me to clarify that the Five of Cups doesn’t condemn you for mourning or demand that you stop. Mourning has its place. Stuffing sorrow down eventually leads to explosion and destruction, and that is where the true tragedy exists. The Five of Cups clearly shows there IS something to cry about. However, the card reminds us not to get stuck in that pain forever. Shed your tears, but remember joy still persists somewhere. Eventually, you will have to flip the card and let go. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1654962730613-CH6AF82JJHMOJE0K5JY5/Linestrider_5+of+Cups.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1654962730920-9M1LOX2Y2J3FN6WDZJ3J/Ethereal+Visions_5+of+Cups.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1654962734065-F43XUTGOE5GYBZ20JKGW/Madam+Clara_5+of+Cups.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/70c15735-e537-45ab-8043-2d9a313b9e4c/Rackham_5+of+Cups.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups - Pictured: The Five of Cups from the Rackham Tarot deck. Here, we see goblin-like creatures calling to the mourner, threatening to pull her into a watery pit from which she may not escape Common Keywords for the Five of Cups include: Upright - Grief; Loss; Pessimism; Regret Reversed - Moving on; Letting go; Forgiveness; Focus on the Positive For a full write-up on the Five of Cups, see Biddy Tarot’s article here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/8cbfba2e-0fd3-4a9b-a579-ad26e63cc5c1/Maggie+3.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups It’s easy to get lost in our suffering, especially when the loss appears greater than the remaining good. Yet, even in the darkest of times and the most chaotic moments, there’s something standing by that’s ready to be acknowledged and embraced when you’re ready. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f873d941-0f10-41ce-9539-9da7952d7e7e/Maggie+1.JPG Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups Lately, I’ve been experiencing some serious interruptions to my “norm,” the most challenging one being ‘end of life’ care for my sweet puppers, Maggie. For months, I’ve watched her slowly go downhill, and the end is now coming soon. We’re showering her with love, attention, pretty much all the treats she wants, and pain medicine. Just writing these words tightens my gut and fills me with a sense of dread. She’s been with me my entire adult life— sitting on the bed with me through 6 weeks of bedrest while pregnant and scared; cuddling with me as I cried over countless stressors; making road trips joyful as she stuck her face out the window with glee; quite literally herding me to bed when it got too late in the evening for people with common sense to be awake (Aussies can’t help themselves but herd). There are so many beautiful gifts Maggie has brought with her every single day she’s been in my life, and it’s difficult not to be overcome with grief at the thought of her leaving us (yes; I am crying right now). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1654963475532-STN0Z11APMNNTGPQQKVB/Maggie+4.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1654963475403-HQJG0MXZBC475LCFC6GJ/Maggie+5.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1654963475979-9SYVIKQ70U1SV7ZNB7BP/Maggie+6.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Five of Cups https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-high-priestess monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d0d17a85-5c30-4425-9e6c-bfcc51dd66fd/High+Priestess_5+cent+Tarot.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The High Priestess - Pictured: The High Priestess card from Madam Clara’s 5-cent Tarot Meanwhile, other decks often depict The High Priestess as mythical, mystical and mysterious. For example, Madam Clara’s 5-cent Tarot uses a magnificent owl adorned with a diadem. Those of you in the crowd who are a bit more woo-woo are probably aware owls are frequently used to represent intuition and the unknown divine in folklore and magickal practices. Some of you who are woo-woo plus weird (like me) are probably also aware owls have been associated with certain ‘paranormal’ events with some individuals even suggesting owls are either extraterrestrials or a favorite creature for extraterrestrials to imitate while watching Earthlings bumble life. I’m not quite so far down the rabbit hole to climb aboard the owl-alien connection, but I do think the choice to use an owl for this version of The High Priestess aligns well with the established lore surrounding the creature. It’s an automatic visual cue that this archetype is ‘next level.’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/8d718355-1f8f-41ad-ad5d-aac3b6201503/High+Priestess_Rackham.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The High Priestess - Pictured: The High Priestess card from the Rackham tarot deck Common Keywords for The High Priestess are: Upright – Intuition; sacred knowledge; divine feminine; the subconscious Reversed – Secrets; withdrawal; repression; superficiality For more in-depth information about the card itself, see Biddy Tarot’s article here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/676069cc-45de-4826-bb34-9f825059c6c1/High+Priestess_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The High Priestess - Pictured: The High Priestess card from the Ethereal Visions deck The High Priestess is such an important and fascinating member of the Major Arcana that I’m not promising I won’t write about her again at some point. She is a card I work with quite frequently in my own personal practices and carries huge significance in readings, particularly related to women. The High Priestess represents the feminine divine— the undercurrent in the Universe that, while being a creator, is fundamentally unknowable. She’s not what I would describe as a “warm” figure of the Major Arcana (look to The Empress or The Lovers for that kind of emotional support); she is transcendent. For me, The High Priestess is another representation of many feminine deities across world religions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/eeb14644-074c-4149-872e-dcb31e543a39/High+Priestess_Linestrider.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The High Priestess - Pictured: The High Priestess from the Linestrider Tarot deck In working with this archetype while creating the character of Cleo Howard, I started to dig into what it really meant to be on this ‘next level’ when it comes to The High Priestess. One of my biggest takeaways was that The High Priestess (similar to The Magician) is morally ambiguous. Whether she is “good” or “bad” in character isn’t the point of The High Priestess. It is instead her role that gives her supreme significance. The High Priestess carries sacred knowledge; she is the embodiment of the feminine divine; she is the force opening up the subconscious and heightening intuition. All of these things are morally neutral. The High Priestess is simply operating in this role, serving to show humans what exists beyond themselves and deep within themselves. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/205cf508-3419-440f-9987-eb1c7e8089c2/Mood+Board_HIGH+PRIESTESS+KEYWORDS.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The High Priestess As with a number of the tarot articles I’ve published lately, I’m focusing on the tarot archetypes I used while creating THE HIEROPHANT, the horror/sci-fi manuscript which I am currently querying. Each of the four pivotal characters in the book corresponds to a member of the Major Arcana: The Hierophant (obviously); The Fool; The Magician; and The High Priestess. This article wraps up our journey through those archetypes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b73618c6-e61d-4c46-9bb2-14f4f8723aef/High+Priestess_Wonderland+Tarot.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The High Priestess - Pictured: The High Priestess card from the Wonderland Tarot deck Because of the significance of The High Priestess in tarot, you’ll often see a lot of attention placed on the art related to this card. Frequently, she is the main female character in themed decks like The Wonderland Tarot deck. It’s meant to catch your eye and naturally place emphasis on the card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/9a382f88-5312-4104-b09c-64c0fa4c74ed/Cleo+Tarot+Quote.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The High Priestess - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e4a4f6d3-00ae-4e3f-9f0e-34b97fb1933e/Mood+Board_Banner+HIEROPHANT.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The High Priestess - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/ihzhdoh66kv11rsuzk4zf70sx33dtb monthly 0.5 2022-05-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1652452182175-5WKH35GRQRYH6I21OE96/unsplash-image-aSg5OS7FbxY.jpg Blog - Short Story: Reflection Just as suddenly as I’d begun the journey, I knew I had arrived. It was the fourth window along the side, almost to the back of the farmhouse. There was a small bed and some chairs and some lovely kitsch that had been strategically placed by the realty company to make potential buyers feel at home there. But none of that mattered to me. No...I cared about the Something else that coiled up inside there. Something that was invisible, intangible but more real than anything I’d ever experienced before. I drew in close, my breath fogging up the glass slightly. I placed both of my hands on the cool pane and peered inside, my soul rising upwards and in, pressing against the window. My palms warmed slowly at first, then quickly...wonderfully...blessedly. I nearly squealed with glee as condensation slowly materialized around my fingers as the hands on the other side of the glass met my own. There. There. The hands were there. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1652451756750-NPGDDB5NORPAVL7IGF60/unsplash-image-HJuPy02lQkU.jpg Blog - Short Story: Reflection “I know it’s a fixer-upper, but just think about what we could do with it, honey. It’s rustic. It is more than what we wanted to pay, but it is still more space than we ever imagined we’d have,” the words rolled off my tongue as I repeated every key phrase and buzzword my husband had recited in our furious quest for a new home. “And you were the one who said you wanted to be further out from the city—” “I didn’t mean this far out!” he snapped. “We need to put down roots, remember?” I smiled as I caught his eye, knowing he could hear himself in my words. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1652452457330-INVJE03NN3Y3G0GUS63N/unsplash-image-BvxTpTj0QlA.jpg Blog - Short Story: Reflection Slowly from the darkness it emerged, unfolding and blossoming as ink in water might. It was one with the shadows, but distinct in its existence. The eyes were vacant and empty. Black swaths of cloud or perhaps spirit swirled about its face as if giving form to hair. Its body was immaterial, but feminine in nature, and I knew it so well. Its thoughts reached into my mind, expanding and stretching into the depths. We must have been mates for such a long time, though I couldn’t remember a world where we would’ve existed beside one another. But here we were...united again. We drew close, breath of life giving flush to death with only a single pane of glass between us...a barrier so easily surmounted...so easily cracked. We had to be together. We must always be together. We are forever together. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1652451135112-AE8VA1FXA6II3K47P2JK/unsplash-image-kgnjlLvv5LM.jpg Blog - Short Story: Reflection But everything that I thought I knew about myself changed the moment we rolled up the gravel driveway to a stunning white Victorian farmhouse just outside of Marlette, Michigan. It stood there like a rock jutting out of the cornfields with nothing else around it at all. I imagined that once upon a time, there must have been a barn and fences, trucks and maybe a silo— something. It had to have been a part of something other than the cornfields. Time must’ve gobbled up the other farm trappings with wind and rain, but there our house was, lingering there all on its own. It was ours from the moment its foundation had been laid so many years ago. It was as if I’d known this to be true my entire life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1652451943340-RWTQ6YTXJJGG5PYIO35P/unsplash-image-RQUY-u2NRdU.jpg Blog - Short Story: Reflection I left the two of them there in the cream colored kitchen with the glistening tile, but cracking cabinets. The hallway twisted and turned towards the front door. In the darkness, there was a great expanse. It pulsed and breathed in and out. I knew it was in here somewhere. All around me maybe. It was as if I entered the most vivid dream as a feeling of wonder and weightlessness washed over me. My focus remained on the one undeniable urge to find and embrace whatever it was that silently cried out my name and drew me ever closer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1652450918956-VNQNSLBGVEZGHDFESV25/unsplash-image-a1dmdBNcktw.jpg Blog - Short Story: Reflection - Reflection by Allison Gunn I’ve always believed in something bigger than myself; that we’re all connected somehow; that there’s something watching us— maybe guiding us. When I was younger, I went with my parents to church every Sunday, and I called this hint of something out there “God,” but now that I’m older...well, I’ve come face to face with that something. It’s not a god, though it does indeed watch us and draws us nearer with every breath. About a year and a half ago, my husband, Mark, got it into his head that we needed a house. It’s the American dream, right? You get married. You get a house. Then you get the kids to go in the house - possibly buy a minivan to top it off. You get the picture. I wasn’t so sure I wanted to be in that particular picture, but I couldn’t see myself being anywhere else. Maybe it was a lack of imagination or drive, but...I just felt as though my purpose was right around the bend. I’d figure it out eventually, and in the meantime, I had Mark steering the ship for the two of us which didn’t seem like such a bad thing given he was the one making six figures. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-magician monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/a5318d76-e712-43bf-a357-e7718de34981/Magician_Del+Toro.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Magician - Pictured: The Magician from the Tarot Del Toro deck The Magician from the Tarot Del Toro deck also demonstrates the creation aspect of the card (with less emphasis on the ‘smash it to bits’ aspect). In the Tarot Del Toro, Guillermo Del Toro himself is used to represent The Magician— pretty fitting given the context of the deck. He sits at a work bench tinkering away at the bits and pieces the filmmaker has woven together to make cinematic magic. These are his tools, his creations, his highest magic that he gifts to the world. It’s really a beautiful image of The Magician. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/956ef50a-73da-4278-acbb-d8c3a7a0a81d/Mood+Board+Ben+2.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Magician - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/401e3263-978b-4af0-80c0-a781798cd689/IMG-2880.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Magician - Pictured: Major Arcana cards from the Wild Unknown deck As a fun side note, I highly recommend pulling a clarifying card when you draw The Magician with your creative work. It can help provide some specificity as to how the magic will go or what the magic relates to. Because of The Magician’s ambiguous nature, it can be helpful to have that extra clarifying card to give you better perspective on what aspect of The Magician you want to work with. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/177c62a7-9bed-4c07-9e9d-efcf2518218c/Mood+Board_MAGICIAN+KEYWORDS.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Magician In THE HIEROPHANT, the archetype of The Magician is invoked to represent a character which holds incredible knowledge, skill and drive along with a dash of mystery. Of course, he’s also conniving, manipulative and overly confident. He roundly dismisses the wellbeing of others in pursuit of his goals, and he does so without remorse. Ben Howard ends up being the perfect example of both sides of The Magician card, so let’s take a closer look at this risky gent. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/24018d66-25c3-467b-ab9c-b7588f5a33ee/Magician_Star+Spinner.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Magician - Pictured: The Magician from the Star Spinner Tarot deck Out of the cards I chose to showcase for this write-up, I think the Star Spinner version best represents the chaotic power of The Magician. Here, you can see The Magician exerts great force, breaking and creating simultaneously. His hand is sure while his actions are brash. The Magician isn’t a subtle card, even if he can be devious. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/a77364d4-3558-48ac-add8-54c6e6183bcc/Magician_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Magician - Pictured: The Magician from the Ethereal Visions deck Common keywords for The Magician include: Upright – Manifestation, resourcefulness, power, inspired action Reverse – Manipulation, poor planning, untapped talents For more in-depth information on the card, see Biddy Tarot’s article. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/cbd1319f-7c16-47cf-a21e-c0288bd225db/Magician_Wild+Unknown.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Magician - Pictured: The Magician from the Wild Unknown deck The Magician is both a creator and a destroyer. He is inherently a trickster no matter which way you flip the card as he exists in a morally ambiguous space. His magic and skill can be used for good, but it can just as easily be flipped. While some may read The Magician in its upright form as being an indicator of “real” magic versus an “imposter,” I don’t think it’s quite so cut and dry. At his core, The Magician will always be a magician. It’s how he orients himself that reveals whether he’s coming from a place of goodwill or ill; whether the results will be miraculous or disastrous. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/creator-profile-e-w-doc-parris monthly 0.5 2023-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/bac3b5b5-8bba-4594-b905-9865a273bc39/denial+of+heros.jpeg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris - Pictured: Original concept art for Parris’ WIP, The Denial of Heroes Parris: I've been writing all my life. I was an early reader, and I would write what I was reading. There are some very early samples of epistolary fiction that owe a lot to Harriet The Spy in a box in my attic. I remember being complimented on my writing in 5th grade. I had a short story published in my high school literary magazine. I was one of those kids in high school. I also wrote plays and entered them in competition. They were over the top, self-indulgent nightmares. But, everyone's early work is, right? When I got to college, I took writing courses until I'd taken them all and then devised my own with some creative abuses of independent study credits. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/586777b9-ce7e-4147-a975-9b1afaa5446e/Rick.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris If there’s one person who has helped me along the way with a wry sense of humor and a good kick in the pants when I need it, it’s my critique partner - E. W. "Doc" Parris! He graciously agreed to be my guinea pig for the inaugural creator profile, so let’s dig in and see what makes “Doc” tick… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1651172672869-4NC9CWJCG37VYXOW3L90/unsplash-image-s0JGDMlX-js.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris - Not a Parris original, but don’t mess with this man and his hot sauce game A couple of things. I'm constantly rehabbing my 40-year-old colonial and doing yard work on my 2-acre wooded lot. I don't have writer's block as often as drywall sander's block. I also like to cook, particularly barbecue in the summer. I have a pretty big family, and we like to get together for a feast throughout the different seasons. Yes, I realize all of those are also creative in their own right. I can't stop myself. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/7645033d-a0a1-4e26-9814-9faa6c558201/Final+Cover+Art_Dent+in+the+Universe.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris - Pictured: Cover art for Parris’ debut novel, The Dent in the Universe Parris: Get comfortable. This may take a while. Lots of stuff. As I'm heading into my middle 60s, my focus is now writing. Science Fiction stories, to be specific. Novels and Shorts. All aimed at adult audiences — mostly due to language and violence, not graphic sex scenes, but I'm not promising anything. I'm currently querying my hopeful debut novel, The Dent in the Universe, a dark, funny, believable tale of how the world's end is caused by self-confident tech influencers. Because, really, if you think about it, doesn't that seem inevitable? Note: The Dent in the Universe is now for sale here! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1651171747666-IWUEBA6SHZZBRLHPYKUQ/unsplash-image-yJ02ZUVOdkQ.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris Parris: I did a year-long graffiti art project where I wrote "Put Him In The Basket, Henry" all over my college campus for almost a year. I mean, I wrote that tag everywhere. Hallways, bathrooms (men's and women's), lunch trays, everywhere. It was my first love affair with black sharpies. It became a catchphrase that became a part of the campus zeitgeist. No one knew what it meant. Then, once it was cemented in the minds of the whole school, The Wizard of Oz was playing in the main auditorium, and when Aunt Em said to Dorothy's Uncle, "Put him in the basket, Henry." (Referring to Toto) - the college audience erupted in a standing ovation. It was a bizarre conceptual-performance piece that took a steadfast commitment and absolute secrecy for almost a whole year. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/adcacd1b-a7a7-4739-95fa-6719f61cf00e/Photo+example+1.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris - Pictured: Parris’ original photography But I'm creative in many other ways. I've been an actor, graphic artist, print designer, art director, videographer, editor, motion graphics designer, animator, and photographer. And those were just the paying jobs. I've also been known to paint, throw a pot on a wheel, and even do a little puppetry. My creative advice is, "Try everything!" https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ad656c64-f987-4fb3-8ed1-4ce3af1f73d4/1500x500.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/585424de-a568-4e32-bd8c-03c3c165fada/sketches.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris - Pictured: Original sketches by Parris Parris: Watching a lot of TV. I'm totally serious. I figured out, I think very early in my childhood, that TV was just stories. That someone wrote TV shows. I think I picked that up from The Twilight Zone (which I'm not ashamed to point out, I watched in its original broadcast run. I was, like, 6 or 7). But I absorbed all of that golden-age TV like a sponge. I wanted to do that! Writing was the easiest way to scratch that itch. In my head, I could imagine all sorts of stories, and I enjoyed writing them all out for others to read. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/34284c72-2ea1-4267-8f87-6209b0cb3be0/Picture5.jpg Blog - Creator Profile: E. W. "Doc" Parris - Pictured: Parris’ original photography Parris: I helped Colonial Williamsburg create an online course called "The Idea of America." It was a year-long civics course that showed how America is founded on a set of values that are always in tension. For example, we value freedom, and we value equality. We love the idea that we have individual rights that can't be infringed, but we also believe that every American needs to be treated equally. Well, those values are at odds and create a tension in our country that we can see down through our whole history. Your freedom isn't freedom if everyone isn't equal. If you're more free than another American, well, that's privilege, right? That course will probably do more good than anything I've ever done or will do. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-fool monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/056291ee-1b99-4aa3-ad7d-e984f598d464/The+Fool_Del+Toro.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool - Pictured: The Fool from the Tarot Del Toro deck It’s the Tarot Del Toro deck’s depiction of The Fool that really pulls all these pieces together via the character of The Fawn from Pan’s Labyrinth. Fawns are tricksters; yet, they can also be wise and bring good fortune. They teeter on the edge of moral ambiguity and can represent child-like wonder or the mortal’s folly. As quirky as this particular deck can be, the use of The Fawn as The Fool is the perfect choice. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/076cee16-4c8c-48a5-b666-cf132f541e93/The+Fool_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool - Pictured: The Fool from the Ethereal Visions deck Starting out a new leg of a journey could be enough of a basis to focus on The Fool card. Above everything else, The Fool is literally the beginning of tarot. It is Point Zero where you’re looking out at the road ahead. It’s a card packed with potential and new beginnings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f844aba1-9dda-4c78-b40d-ec252cf88663/Mood+Board+Hierophant+1.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool This week, we’re sticking with the Major Arcana, but this time it’s definitely not by random chance. If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you’ve probably noticed I’ve begun obnoxiously posting about THE HIEROPHANT, my adult paranormal horror-SF novel. I’m headed into the “query trenches” with the manuscript, and I’ve been having a blast sharing concept art as we move into the next phase. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/345d2d16-053f-4708-b19a-f896cbce96f6/The+Fool_Group+Photo.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool - Make it stand out Pictured from left to right, The Fools of the Star Spinner Tarot; Ethereal Visions deck; The Rackham deck; The Wild Unknown Tarot; and the Tarot Del Toro https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b88e407d-60c9-408c-94f0-783ed4101be7/The+Fool_Wild+Unknown.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool - Pictured: The Fool from the Wild Unknown deck Traditional keywords for The Fool: Upright - Beginnings / Innocence / Spontaneity / Free spirit Reversed - Holding back / Recklessness / Risk-taking For more information on the traditional interpretation of The Fool card, see Biddy Tarot’s article here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/a734b128-5ed4-4b82-a107-88287c762b49/The+Fool_Rackham.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool - Pictured: The Fool from the Rackham Tarot deck One of the things I love most about this card is the well-rounded and logical nature of the Archetype: there is a clear correlation between its upright meanings and the reversed ones. Living life to the fullest as a free spirit can be a beautiful thing, but it can easily tip over into recklessness. Spontaneity can spark off wonderful adventures, but there’s a fine line between being spontaneous and taking risks. Being The Fool requires some kind of delicate balance, or you may tip too far. It means paying attention to where the fine lines between innocence and stupidity exist. Being The Fool is a wonderful and terrifying thing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/a49c47d7-b829-4df5-9918-452b993514e1/The+Fool_Star+Spinner.jpeg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool - Pictured: The Fool from the Star Spinner Tarot deck When looking at the cards in this article, you’ll notice they are all fairly consistent in their representations: someone (usually a male figure) is setting off on a journey. In the Rackham deck, The Fool is represented as a seasoned traveler making big strides along the path. The Wild Unknown depiction of The Fool highlights innocence as a baby bird prepares to fly for the first time. The Ethereal Visions version of The Fool emphasizes the eagerness and enthusiasm of the archetype as he sets out. Meanwhile, the Star Spinner’s Fool plays with the jester aspect of the card…the joker who may not have any answers at all. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/4a5ca492-e70e-4fe4-92ec-6372cf460600/The+Fool_Caragh.jpeg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool According to Hijo, when The Fool is paired with The Magician, it signifies “the necessary preparation of the tools for the journey.” It just so happens that The Magician of THE HIEROPHANT is indeed the master of the tools which will send the main character on her journey. He is the person solely responsible for preparing her way with all of the tricks, skill and manipulation only The Magician can bring. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/86dc0707-a555-4e32-80ec-2f000c80ee1f/The+Fool+and+Me.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Fool - Make it stand out Yours truly repping all The Fools https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/character-building-tarot-spread-goals-motivation-and-conflict-gmc-spread monthly 0.5 2022-05-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1dc25afa-f4b9-4b44-8b8d-83bb7ff0c93f/GMC+Character+Spread+pg+1.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread - Make it stand out The GMC spread chart above shows you the order in which the cards should be placed and their location. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/23877a96-7052-41c8-8d10-7379670b2908/GMC+Character+Spread+pg+2_key.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread - Make it stand out The GMC spread key above shows you the meaning of each card placement from the chart. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e7484ca1-3057-48aa-ba05-681a4e0adc26/King+of+Buttons+Rev_Seth.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread 4. External Conflict - This card represents what external factor is standing in the way of Seth achieving his goal (represented by The Messenger in position #2 of the spread). The King of Buttons reversed represents Seth’s external conflict. Keywords for this card per the deck are: avarice; unsavvy; and rigidity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d5739ef5-c543-4639-a6ba-4a7330f92e82/teen+in+woods.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread Without further ado, meet Seth. He is one of the pivotal characters in a current work-in-progress for whom I happen to have a huge soft spot. A glimpse at his GMC layout may give you the feels for him too, though there are plenty of red flags to sort through. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/7812c13b-0900-411b-bfe9-29d6e3e5344a/The+Messenger_Seth.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread 2. External Goal - This card represents what Seth is trying to achieve. It’s his external desires, or what he hopes to manifest. For this, I pulled The Messenger upright. Like “The Beyond” card pulled in the last character development spread (and later in this one too), The Messenger is an addition to the Major Arcana exclusive to this deck. This is important to note since 1) it reveals more of this particular deck’s character, and 2) you will not be able to Google its meaning from other sources. Keywords for The Messenger in its upright position are: spirit guides; protection; and divine signs. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b89d6d34-fdb4-46e8-b42d-53e42d3bb0e9/Page+of+Cups+Upright_Seth.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread 5. Internal Goal - This position shifts away from the character’s external world, focusing in on what resides inside Seth alone. When looking at internal goals, we’re really asking how does Seth want to feel? It’s interesting to consider this goal in conjunction with the external goal to see how they align. Will achieving his external goal result in the realization of his internal goal? We can ask ourselves the same question, and it’s easy to see that these two things don’t always work together. For Seth’s internal goal, I pulled the Page of Cups upright. Keywords for this card per the deck are: curiosity; possibility; and imagination. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/43ef08e8-95f0-4a01-bc3b-346fed6a79a6/Madam+Clara+Deck.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread To give you a hands-on tutorial, I’m going to walk you through one of my own character’s GMCs using Madam Clara’s 5-cent Tarot deck for the spread. Because I don’t want to ruin plot points or hand off too many details to less-than-noble individuals looking to swipe ideas, this will be fairly high-level. Nevertheless, I think it will give you a solid idea of how this kind of spread can be used to assist character development. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1649588638244-I70E73UN6MUIDC1JGLWE/unsplash-image-EP6_VZhzXM8.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread Thanks to my phenomenal critique partner, E.W. “Doc” Parris, I started thinking more about my characters’ goals, motivations and conflicts (GMC). Intentionally pinpointing these in each of your main characters’ actions is what breathes life into their words tapped out on your laptop (or notebook, if you’re an old school, cool kid). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e09902ed-2d03-496a-9d02-ed4d22d4a380/The+Tower+Rev_Seth.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread 3. External Motivation - This card represents why the character seeks the goal shown in position #2 of the spread (in this instance, The Messenger). For this, I pulled The Tower reversed. Those of you familiar with tarot may have just recoiled. For those of you unfamiliar with The Tower, it’s not a card people get excited about pulling in most spreads. No matter which way The Tower is oriented, swift and often painful change is involved. Keywords for The Tower reversed in this deck are: resisting change; close call; and fear of loss. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/9115f43d-90f0-4165-b14a-f722e4d4648f/Six+of+Matches_Seth.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread Character Card - this is the high level representation of who the character is. In other words, if you had to choose ONE card (or word, if you’re not on board with the tarot thing yet) to represent your character, this would be it. Seth’s character card is the Six of Matches. While the card fell in the reverse orientation for the spread, a Character Card can be read in any orientation. We’re all multi-faceted with both positive and negative aspects. The same goes for your characters. So, let’s take a look at the keywords for both upright and reverse orientation per this deck: Upright: acclaim; victory; success Reverse: arrogance; disgrace; pride https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b232bd04-02da-452d-b87b-ea7cf20aba21/The+Beyond+Rev_Seth.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread 6. Internal Motivation - Why does Seth want to find the possibility represented by the Page of Cups? What’s driving him toward that goal? Here’s where we see The Beyond appear in Seth’s spread, just as it did in Addy’s character development spread. In contrast to that spread, however, The Beyond appears in its reverse orientation for Seth. As mentioned before, The Beyond is an addition to the Major Arcana unique to the 5-cent Tarot deck. Keywords for The Beyond reverse are: apathy; doubt; and mistrust. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/500a6f09-6747-4903-bbf8-eee1ebf6c1e8/Wheel+of+Fortune+Upright_Seth.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread 7. Internal Conflict - What is standing in the way of Seth achieving his internal goal? Mind you, because this is the internal portion of the spread, it’s most likely that this conflict is also internal to Seth rather than a force being directly imposed upon him. For the lucky number 7 spot, we see The Wheel of Fortune upright. Keywords for this card upright are: destiny; fate; karma and luck. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/4586bfb9-abb6-42cf-8735-b918ad4d6a0e/entire+GMC+spread_Seth.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Goals, Motivation and Conflict (GMC) Spread - Make it stand out Seth’s full GMC spread https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-with-character-development-demo-the-lovers monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/4648aa10-05d4-42a6-85a6-731daf53c66b/Justice_Madam+Clara.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers Final question: What is the undoing of this relationship? And the answer? I pulled sweet, sweet Justice Upright. Keywords for Justice in its UPRIGHT position are: Cause & Effect / Truth / Fairness https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/13cf8506-f023-4222-93ba-b2f150a13215/Lovers_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers - Pictured: The Lovers card from the Ethereal Visions Tarot deck If you’ve ever been to a carnival and gotten a tarot reading, it’s very likely you just happened to end up with The Lovers card. I’m not saying they would have perhaps stacked the cards in such a way where you were almost certainly going to end up with that card in the spread, but ummm…*cough, cough*. Look, it’s generally a happy card, and for those of us who are either in a relationship or would like to be in one, it’s always nice to have that reassurance that peace, love and harmony are on the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/36f592d4-9a2b-4204-8395-5500ad008294/Lovers_Madam+Clara.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers - Pictured: The Lovers card REVERSED from Madam Clara’s 5-cent Tarot deck To be honest with you, the romantic piece of The Lovers card doesn’t register with me as much as what I view as the core meaning of the card: harmony. In the upright position, it can be indicative of a happy home, well matched partnership or even a harmonious working relationship. It doesn’t have to be about your soul mate (which is good for me since I don’t really believe in soul mates). In the reverse, take all of those things and flip ‘em around: are your relationships out of alignment? Is there discord amongst family members? Are you puling out your hair at your job? Do you need to focus more on loving yourself than obsessing about how others feel? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1651167235915-RWSLWRF6WK94P3DE8X52/Nora_6.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1651167217790-3SG0MDTQYF431V7EKK7A/Queen+of+Needles_Madam+Clara.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1651166110524-2OIIWPDR9AY6H8F4ITOO/Addy.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1651166158384-NZF29LWLNGRAPEVAJSP7/Page+of+Needles.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/219d5e78-df82-469f-82d7-8e81fa4f4fc4/Magician+Reversed_Madam+Clara.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers The next thing I wanted to know was: “What is it that actually keeps them together?” For that, I pulled The Magician Reversed. Keywords for this card in the REVERSE position are: Manipulation / Deception / Unfocused https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/bdb2d54f-ca38-440f-86bc-8cd1001702cd/Lovers_Madam+Clara.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers If we’re going to start out with The Lovers, we’ve really gotta be talking about a relationship of some sort. It would be pretty easy to use the card as a starting point to delve into the two actual lovers in the story, but we’re going to look at a relationship that’s a bit more fraught. This time, we’re taking a look at the relationship between Addy and Nora— two women thrown together as the world fell apart. While Nora is decades older than Addy, they certainly don’t have the traditional mother-daughter relationship. Addy would concede that Nora has taught her enough to survive the world as it’s become, but she would also highlight the terrible price Nora has forced Addy to continually pay for that survival. Their circumstances have created a vicious cycle where neither can survive without the other, and that brittle glue is the only thing keeping them together…at least, in the beginning of the novel. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/cda4d629-bf99-4807-9aa2-e8f702f18abd/Lovers+Spread_Madam+Clara.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers - Make it stand out Pictured: The impromptu spread I used to further develop the relationship between two main characters using Madam Clara’s 5-cent Tarot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/404f5360-0751-4bee-b030-87ac32f787e5/Lovers_Star+Spinner.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers - Make it stand out Pictured: The incredible Star Spinner Tarot deck decided to go all in on The Lovers card showing the many kinds of relationships and ways in which love manifests in the real world https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/987552d4-e551-4932-9d1f-e9b76b4150bf/Madam+Clara+Deck.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers To do this, I’m going to use Madam Clara’s 5-cent Tarot deck, and we’ll play around with some of the characters I’ve been developing for my new work-in-progress. As I mentioned in my article on a more elaborate character building spread, this is the particular deck that seems to gel best with the vibe of my next project. It’s also going to be the next deck we take a Tarot Tour of soon! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f5589227-4d25-435e-8b1c-46bf83207b23/Lovers_Wild+Unknown.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull with Character Development Demo: The Lovers - Pictured: The Lovers card from the Wild Unknown Tarot deck It doesn’t get much more huggable than this. Traditional keywords for The Lovers: Upright - Love; harmony; values alignment; commitment; choices Reversed - Self-love, disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values; separation For more information on the traditional interpretation of The Lovers card, see Biddy Tarot’s article here. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-hermit monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1f6de01c-8f99-4524-8d29-33fa0f8d91b8/wonderland+hermit.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit In The Wonderland Tarot deck (pictured here), The Hermit is represented by the sleepy dormouse. Similar to the turtle Hermit in the Wild Unknown deck, the dormouse has his shelter at the ready. He’s not actually headed anywhere. Instead, the mouse can access quiet amidst the Mad Hatter’s chaos any time he chooses. When he emerges, the light he’s kindled in that dark teapot is held aloft for others to see. His fire comes from within before he can share it with the world. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/8543556e-f034-4161-8475-58957dcdd2b4/Del+Toro+Hermit.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit We’ll end with what is undeniably the most startling Hermit out of the bunch— the classic “Pale Man” monster from Pan’s Labyrinth as shown in the Tarot Del Toro deck (pictured here). First, if you’ve never seen Pan’s Labyrinth, please stop reading this right now and go watch it. The film is everything you could ask for in plot, pacing and cinematography. It is stunning, and it actually changed the course of my art forever. While the monster here is terrifying, the artistic decision to use him as The Hermit makes complete sense. This monster lives in total solitude. Without spoiling the film, this Hermit is a sage in his own horrifying right. His purpose is to teach a lesson…one that he holds in silence and stillness. He sees the world differently (literally, in fact) as a result. I wouldn’t want to run into this particular Hermit, but its application here still rings true for the card. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b103dac4-62b8-47ff-9ad5-b8156084ec76/Wild+Unknown+Hermit.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit - Pictured: The Hermit from the Wild Unknown Tarot deck Common keywords for The Hermit include: Upright – Soul-searching; introspection; being alone; inner guidance Reverse – Isolation; loneliness; withdrawal For more in-depth information on the card, see Biddy Tarot’s article here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/35e34f1d-8c5b-4ffa-bdcb-b0c022c13d5e/5+cent+hermit.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit Starting where I often do, I’ll point to both The Wild Unknown (pictured above) and Madam Clara’s 5-cent (pictured here) decks. Both of these decks steer clear of humans entirely. Instead, these gorgeous tarot cards use nature to tell the story of the Major and Minor Arcana. In one, a turtle ducks into his shell while in the other, an Anglerfish swerves through the waters, his lamp shining the way. Both creatures couldn’t be more perfect to represent The Hermit. While the slow and steady turtle constantly bears a shelter in which they can find solitude, the Anglerfish resides in some of the deepest parts of the ocean, largely unbothered by human interference. At all times, they carry with them the capability to be entirely alone with themselves— to find dark quiet. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1650594053880-74PKE6FEVPDRXZFJC7WX/unsplash-image-WHel7Z0l4RI.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1650594463589-6694NZ47XZSSWTXVXHSK/Ethereal+Visions+Tarot.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1650594467245-JZXLZ947ZMLXH648C0YU/Star+Spinner+Tarot.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1650594463872-81S560TC4ZT6IC05PMJS/Rackham+Hermit.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1650595114981-H5UGMRGDZ2KSGTWNZ2OF/unsplash-image-hopX_jpVtRM.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hermit - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/inspiration-and-intention-altars monthly 0.5 2022-04-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/eb2d367c-ad1e-4a42-9eb3-7bad40565575/IMG-2926.jpg Blog - Inspiration and Intention Altars Just as the COVID-19 pandemic swung into high gear, I began to dig into a project that, second to THE HIEROPHANT, is the single weirdest writing experience I’ve ever had. Without going through the entire project details (you can find a teaser here), the project led me to revisiting Appalachian folk magick and traveling to some little known spots across West Virginia and Virginia. In between making some questionable lodging decisions (more on that to come…probably for the entire existence of this blog), searching for an actual Appalachian shaman, trying my hand at folk magick and making the requisite weirdo pilgrimage to Point Pleasant, I found myself trying to make connections with my characters and the plotline in a more tangible way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1648763834804-LAU6V5T9B49IFAJPSYEB/unsplash-image-HG4lwc76oxg.jpg Blog - Inspiration and Intention Altars Whether or not you subscribe to a belief system, constructing space for physical reminders of your artistic inspiration could help facilitate a better connection with whatever you’re intent on creating. Our brains are funny things and are often assisted by items we can see, touch and with which we can form a real-life bond. If nothing else, holding a piece of scrip a mining family once held in their hands provides an up close and personal view of the historical setting in which the story is situated. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/97c95a20-349c-44f1-bed4-d37c3c503337/IMG-2925.jpg Blog - Inspiration and Intention Altars - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/371698f2-3100-4516-8d5a-c1a7413def0e/IMG-2923.jpg Blog - Inspiration and Intention Altars I decided to test that a bit with one project in particular. If one can create an altar space to honor the elements or even creative energy (both of which currently exist in my own home), why not a temporary space to better inspire and connect (or channel, for those of you on the weirder end of the spectrum with me) with a specific project? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d41aee1c-6283-4dd8-8fa0-12cf0f4d9dc7/TRAVELING-MUSEUM-OF-THE-PARANORMAL-OCCULT-HAUNTED-ARTIFACTS-VISIT-SCHEDULE-EXHIBITION-BOOKING.jpg Blog - Inspiration and Intention Altars - Picture Credit: http://paramuseum.com/ While Dana tackled many different kinds of divinatory methods and absolutely crushed the entire class (as usual), one thing that immediately slapped me over the head was the idea of “intention altars.” In Dana’s words, these are temporary altars created as a hub for specific energies and intentions. In the context of her presentation, this applied to “paranormal” investigations. Major props to those who are boots on the ground doing thoughtful, intelligent and kind exploration. As for this mom of young kids with two jobs, I have limited time to spread around. I’ve chosen to spend that time writing/creating rather than hanging with my amazing late-night weirdo warriors as they lurk around spooky locations. (One day, my friends…one day) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/8a68bf8e-70bb-423c-a008-128b81c151f6/IMG-2762.jpg Blog - Inspiration and Intention Altars For those of you not familiar with the idea of an altar or sacred space in modern pagan practices, this can look like a lot of different things and serve a variety of purposes. Some practitioners use theirs for honoring their ancestors while others may devote altar space to a specific deity with whom they work. Still others use their altars for actual magic workings. Some individuals may have all of these kinds of altars and more in the same home. Altars can be stationary or portable, permanent or temporary. At its core, an altar is a space devoted to a specific cause or intention. That intention can be just about anything, including communication with the “paranormal,” such as what Dana described. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1648763680861-2OOMS73OX2H7T23AC4RM/unsplash-image-iY_cqJome-A.jpg Blog - Inspiration and Intention Altars Needless to say, the everyday lives of West Virginia coal miners and their families in the early twentieth century is an integral part of the story. As anyone who has written anything should know, research is integral to ensuring a well structured, impactful piece. Reading, studying documentaries, visiting both historical and modern coal towns and spending more time in the WV wilderness formed the foundation of the novel…but I still had to build the house itself. For me, that’s where the characters spring to life. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/16427a6c-9ea4-48b9-a6d8-cc227628b985/IMG-2924.jpg Blog - Inspiration and Intention Altars I kept a few pieces of scrip, tobacco and coffee (all items directly tied to coal town stores) in a pouch on a piano bench that I turned into a makeshift altar space. I placed pieces of coal and plaster from plates and old housing that I’d found in rivers across WV in a basket there as well. Pulling in more mystical symbols, I also included tiny rough emeralds, a hand drawn sigil, a quill, ink and symbols of the elements to aid with inspiration. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-sun monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d0422a2f-ad32-4d33-a8e6-89e2c6069091/The+Sun_Animal+Tarot+Cards+Deck.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Sun The next version of The Sun also leaves little room for interpretation, but in a syrupy sweet kind of way. Meet the Animal Tarot Card deck. I’ll be honest— I never would have picked up this particular deck for myself. It’s a bit too ‘hooray!’ for my taste, but it made its way into my collection by happenstance. So, why not play with it a bit? In this deck’s version of The Sun, we see a sweet robin bathing in the sunlight amidst sunflowers and butterflies. It’s something you’d see on a get-well card, but that has its place too. There’s no reverse interpretation for the card. Instead, there’s a proclamation that you’re blessed and your endeavors will succeed. If you’re the type of person who likes things cut and dry, but also don’t particularly like being slapped in the face when you do a tarot reading, this might be the deck for you! For inspiration purposes, it could be the perfect deck for someone creating lighter art. As a writer, I can see where something like this may add a helpful boost to those writing children’s stories. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1ccdd3f1-2119-47c8-b39c-1a457885065e/The+Sun_Tarot+Del+Toro.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Sun Based on several of Guillermo Del Toro’s works, perhaps the only traditional aspect of this card is the image of the sun painted on the ginormous knight’s armor. He’s holding a sword, wielding a club and looks to be terrifying the pair cowering beneath him. The dude’s not playing around, okay? The creators of the deck did a fantastic job with the write-up on this one, emphasizing both the positive powerhouse aspect of the card as well as the danger that comes with this kind of burning energy. (They also successfully wove together how The Sun relates to the rest of the Major Arcana in both its upright and reverse positions, but if you’d like to check that out, you’ll have to get your hands on a copy of the guidebook.) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/2e584e50-c589-49fa-a306-83aac89b2b75/dogwood.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Sun I don’t know about you, but where I’m at, pulling The Sun fell at just the right time. After what seemed like the winter that lasted forever, it’s finally bright sundress weather here in West Virginia. However, no matter what time of year, The Sun will bring much needed illumination, warmth, and a hopeful outlook into your day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/188abcc3-c13a-4e0e-9cbb-f6365fa63185/The+Sun_Rackham.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Sun For our last peek at The Sun in its various permutations, I wanted to include one that diverts from all traditional imagery but conveys the most moving aspect of The Sun, in my humble opinion. When I first saw this card, I had to double check the Rackham Tarot deck’s guidebook (which is a bit lacking, to be honest). There is no depiction of the sun whatsoever here…no sunflowers; no bluebirds; no brilliant greens. Yet, the image of dandelion seeds being blown into the air for a child’s wonderment conveys a sense of joy and hope that I struggle to adequately express. It’s one of those images that hits me in the feels more effectively than even the written word. Those emotions are subjective, of course— unique to each viewer and point in time. Nevertheless, I think the Rackham deck does a wonderful job demonstrating the meaning of The Sun card without relying on the Rider-Waite-Smith imagery for assistance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/2b88b0dd-0b49-4611-b35d-90608d707ea3/The+Sun_5+cent+Tarot.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Sun I’ve included it in multiple write-ups, but I really do love Madam Clara’s 5-cent Tarot. It doesn’t leave much room for alternative interpretation as the keywords for both upright and reverse orientations are literally written on the card. Even though I love intuitive tarot, this deck can be especially handy for beginners OR if you need a good kick in the pants. You can wiggle your way out of what this deck hands you. With this version of The Sun, we see all the hallmarks of summer and heat— sunshine; sunflowers; a reptile and new growth everywhere. It’s a joyful card, and rightfully so! As you can see, the 5-cent Tarot lists “happiness; authenticity; and optimism” as the meaning in its upright position. For me, the happiness and optimism piece seems obvious, but I also love the authenticity piece. It shows that the sun is lighting up all our dark corners, leaving our truest selves exposed to the world. That’s a beautiful thing, right? https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/tarot-spread-body-of-the-character monthly 0.5 2022-04-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/21a9618d-1e73-4047-adb6-a51f3b470127/IMG-3045.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character - Make it stand out PREDOMINANT TRAIT #1 with PRO and CON https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/150c62d8-6a9e-42b1-b518-a74e8828c36b/IMG-3012.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character 4. Addy’s First Predominant Trait - The Eight of Buttons Upright Keywords for the Eight of Buttons (or Pentacles in traditional decks) in its upright orientation according to the 5-cent Tarot deck: mastery; apprentice; focus In line with The Magician (i.e. Addy’s higher self or guiding principles in position #2 of the spread), one of the most readily apparent aspects of Addy in the story is her focus on her craft. A key plot point in her character’s journey is indeed an happenstance apprenticeship. This defines the rest of her life and identity. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d2884fa2-7948-413b-b0f0-7387ad5558a7/IMG-3016.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character 8. Pro of Addy’s Second Predominant Trait - The Eight of Cups Reversed Keywords for the Eight of Cups in its reversed position: avoidance; fear of loss; escapism (Check out my write-up on the Eight of Cups here) How can a card with such bummer keywords possibly be a pro? In context of the story and the spread overall, it actually makes perfect sense. Because Addy knows she isn’t a born leader and actively fears what would happen if she had to take the reins, she avoids it at all costs. Instead, she retreats into what she’s good at (remember the Eight of Buttons in the #4 position as her first trait) where she finds security. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/40addd80-25b9-41f0-826e-3e2bb94b1be9/IMG-3046.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character - Make it stand out PREDOMINANT TRAIT #2 with PRO and CON https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c8c02ba4-e1bf-4457-9523-d7f4063771ec/IMG-3013.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character 6. Pro of Addy’s First Predominant Trait - The Beyond Upright Keywords for The Beyond upright in this deck: the soul; higher being; belief. Again, a perfect fit in context of Addy’s guiding principles (represented by The Magician in position 2 of the spread). The pursuit of her craft (as illustrated by The Eight of Buttons in position 4 of the spread) aligns with her higher self and belief system. Because of that alignment, trait #1 is an automatic pro that keeps her moving in a positive direction. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1d735e19-95cd-478d-ac48-7761fda50a45/Tarot+Spread_Body+of+the+Character.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/458b7065-668a-44aa-a269-f4b3f057d6b3/IMG-3049.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character Most of the time, I talk about this creative development in the abstract. Why? Well, I’m a writer who can’t really give away the specifics of my stories unless I 1) would like to spoil every plot point and/or 2) would like for some not-so-nice individuals to swipe my novels before they’re published. This time, however, the details of my work-in-progress are still high level enough that I'm able to share a cool spread for character development I think may be helpful to those wanting to incorporate more off-beat methods to their creative madness. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/abccbb57-d84a-4e24-a333-f70b3f5f2ea0/IMG-3043.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/7075d1e8-f95c-43d1-97c4-0490658a232d/IMG-3010.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character 2. Addy’s Higher Self - The Magician Upright Keywords for The Magician upright per this deck: master of skill; resourceful; concentration. All of this connects well in conjunction with her core card. Addy is motivated by her desire to be the best…to acquire the skills that will help her achieve her goals. It’s of the utmost importance that she knows the ins and outs of her trade…that she’s always on top, or the rest of her identity crumbles. Her survival is in jeopardy if she does not transform into the Magician. This guides her above all else. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ac68069c-01da-4b49-8ad4-1950f18c061f/IMG-3011.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character 3. Addy’s Base Self - The Five of Needles Upright Keywords for the Five of Needles in its upright orientation per this deck: disagreement; self-serving; surrender. Addy’s most basic, underlying self is indeed prone to surrender and acquiescence. She wants to survive, and while her highest self pushes her to gain the skills that will help her and others excel, Addy will all too readily shut up and follow others. This isn’t entirely motivated by insecurity regarding her own abilities; it’s often because Addy knows it’s easier to stay alive by following those who are more aggressive than she is…those that are willing to take the heat even when it’s detrimental to the overall wellbeing of those around her. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/abc50d33-01ab-470d-a6a7-811c575affd6/IMG-3014.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character 7. Con of Addy’s First Predominant Trait - The King of Cups Reversed Keywords: heartless; unstable; uncaring (Check out my write-up on the King of Cups here) Yep…could’ve seen this one coming in context of Addy’s profession. While her skills are invaluable and do align with her guiding principles, they have also caused her to develop a thick skin and numbed (even somewhat hardened) heart. When pursuing or exercising her skills, Addy can come across as heartless and uncaring. She has to, or her world caves in…which would cause her instability…not that anything like that will happen to her (*clears throat*) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/65f55a2c-5c39-4670-96db-cbae78bcbe3d/woman+outline_potential+Addy.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character I’d like to introduce you to Addy, one of the main characters of my latest work in progress. For reasons stated above, I’m not going to delve into the nitty gritty of how her character operates within the story. However, I think it’s safe to give you a quick peek at her foundational psychology. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/dd1beb9e-9a97-4f08-acea-ee8d048f58bf/Page+of+Needles.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character Addy’s Core - Page of Needles Confession: I drew this card when doing a prior profile on Addy, so I’d already established this as her “core card” before doing the spread. In my opinion, it’s fine to do this. If you have already drawn a card on a character for inspiration OR you already associate a particular card with a character, why not start with that one? For context, in the 5-cent Tarot deck, Needles are the equivalent of Swords in your traditional Rider-Waite-Smith deck. While many associate Swords with “thought,” I often associate them with “action” or “movement.” Thought and action are interrelated anyways, so I’ve never had an issue with this interpretation. Meanwhile, Pages often represent new beginnings or pursuits…the start of an adventure or passion project. Keywords associated with this card per the deck: Upright: ambition; restlessness; initiative; Reverse: haste; dishonor; ‘all talk’ https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/6e4c5803-7d57-40b7-9b17-79658deaa6fb/IMG-3017.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character 9. Con of Addy’s Second Predominant Trait - the Eight of Needles Reversed Keywords: self-acceptance; release; reevaluation Opposite from the above “pro” (the Eight of Cups reversed), how could this card with its happy keywords function as a con? I read this as ambivalence, releasing into the average and failure to challenge her own limitations. It’s great that Addy is aware enough to know she’s not best suited to take the lead and even better that this has resulted in her own survival. However, when acceptance of that perceived inability leads to complacency and an unwillingness to push her own boundaries, it has devastating effects. She’s not trying to change or grow in an area where Addy sees herself as weak. If she just so happens to be thrust into that role (*whistling innocently*), Addy will not have the tools she needs to thrive. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/5d82179c-01c6-48af-95a7-681d82913d4f/IMG-3015.jpg Blog - Character Building Tarot Spread: Body of the Character 5. Addy’s Second Predominant Trait - The King of Matches (traditionally Wands) Reversed Keywords per this deck: poor leader; unrealistic; overbearing Poor Addy. It sucks, but it’s also true. She’s not a natural born leader, and when forced into that position, bad things happen. Addy knows she isn’t best suited for leadership— at least, not at first— and this comes out clearly in the way she interacts with others in the story. This correlates with her base self (i.e. The Five of Needles in the #3 position in the spread) which urges Addy to surrender to survive. Further, by virtue of her trade, Addy can come across as overbearing with specific needs that others must accommodate. Despite being a less than ideal leader, Addy is an intelligent powerhouse applying pressure behind the scenes. She’s more of a ‘Hand of the King’ figure than the actual monarch. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-eight-of-cups monthly 0.5 2022-04-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/34d77a2b-fed5-4ff9-adcc-5d0762d045b9/8+of+Cups_Rackham.jpg Blog - Weekly Tarot Pull: The Eight of Cups The Rackham deck takes it one step further. Here, a woman is being pulled downward into the sea by a group along the ocean floor. It’s a more aggressive message: you better figure this out fast because you’re drowning. It’s a gorgeous image and despite being a more active version of the Eight of Cups, it still conveys the same ache I pick up with the Star Spinner version as well as more traditional representations. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d034e873-93d0-4ba9-afd8-ac3979516e8a/8+of+Cups_Five+Cent.jpg Blog - Weekly Tarot Pull: The Eight of Cups However, the Eight of Cups in Madam Clara’s 5-cent Tarot puts an unorthodox spin on the card. As with all the cards in the 5-cent Tarot, the image is in the vein of 19th century circus or fair art using non-human animals and insects. Here, a crab is ducking into a teacup to hide…but still keeps stirring the tea elsewhere. It hasn’t decided what it needs to do or where it should go. It can’t commit to staying or leaving. While this version doesn’t carry the heaviness of the Eight of Cups in the Star Spinner and Rackham decks, the same message comes through: figure it out, friend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1649298234219-BGYHAHQ6HZDR995P13BD/unsplash-image-DA_tplYgTow.jpg Blog - Weekly Tarot Pull: The Eight of Cups Common keywords associated with this card in its upright position are disappointment, abandonment, withdrawal, and inner journeys. In its reverse position, some common terms associated with the card are avoidance, escapism, indecision, aimless drifting, and giving up. For additional detailed information on the card, see Biddy Tarot’s write-up here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/616d58e4-5535-4e96-93bb-73a319cfd497/8+of+Cups_Star+Spinner.jpg Blog - Weekly Tarot Pull: The Eight of Cups Out of the three versions I chose, the Star Spinner Tarot’s Eight of Cups is most reminiscent of the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith deck— and there’s little about the Star Spinner Tarot deck that is ever traditional. In the RWS version, a man pauses his journey amidst the mountain pass to reflect on what’s standing in his way. In the Star Spinner version, a girl atop a boulder in the ocean (inspired by Andersen’s The Little Mermaid) replaces the mountain traveler. A castle looms on the hill beyond as she contemplates the situation around her in the night. I love this version of the Eight of Cups. The expression on the girl’s face so accurately depicts longing and confusion— the disorienting struggle that comes with trying to sort yourself out. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1649298340703-KRSBD1R2W67VNFKPHEUA/unsplash-image-ceITO2rlDgc.jpg Blog - Weekly Tarot Pull: The Eight of Cups There was a certain point in my life where I pulled the Eight of Cups on a routine basis. I knew exactly what it was referring to at the time, and I kind of hated the fact the cards were calling me out on it. I was in a bad spot with a mountain of issues that needed to be sorted out, but I’d been ignoring them for so long, it seemed impossible to solve the puzzle. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/does-inspiration-come-in-a-vacuum monthly 0.5 2022-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1648757796847-UK7IIDHAJ0T9HZJAEGKP/unsplash-image-AIfbUyzhKz0.jpg Blog - Does Inspiration Come in a Vacuum? Over the past few months, I’ve struggled with the feeling of racing against the clock with my writing. I literally wrote a 115k novel in a little over a month during the fall. I’ve spent a lot of time hiding in my head, not only weaving together stories but fighting to create and follow a path to actually publishing the massive backlog of works I’ve written trying to go faster and faster and faster. Call it post-Pitch Wars anxiety; blame it on a steady diet of social media where it seems every other writer just acquired the agent of their dreams or a sweet publishing deal. My brain keeps screaming to keep pushing ahead, or I’ll miss out on the moment…that my writing will wither away on my laptop never to see the light of day before I kick the bucket. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/41dbd906-f454-4aeb-bc9a-81d29c9076b2/IMG-1141.jpg Blog - Does Inspiration Come in a Vacuum? In a chaotic world, I ran/run into my stories. It’s where I process pain and joy. For me, creating those worlds is as necessary as breathing. Sometimes, it’s nearly impossible to not slide inside those magical narratives and hide. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c43b7342-5ecd-421d-a085-da220c2e5875/me+at+the+laptop.jpg Blog - Does Inspiration Come in a Vacuum? Several weeks ago, I went home to Hampton Roads, staying in an Air BnB on my own instead of at my dad’s. The plan was to go bananas on my edits for THE HIEROPHANT in between seeing my family for dinners and maybe a stroll or two on the beach. I had to take advantage of literally every second in complete isolation… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/7b1bb72a-7baa-450b-aa19-34c483dac057/IMG-1334.jpg Blog - Does Inspiration Come in a Vacuum? - Pictured = the reason my stepmom can’t take my dad and me anywhere at all But I did it the next day too. Instead of coiling up inside the Air BnB with my laptop, I went out with my family, and I didn’t worry about the time. I wasn’t sweating looking at the clock and calculating how all my writing time was slipping away along with any progress toward publishing. I took my time with dinner. I sat out on the porch long after I’d planned to leave. Then, when I started to leave my dad’s place, I decided to stay even longer to give a relative a last-minute tarot reading. I didn’t get back to my room until after midnight. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/9e8fc7e7-cc4c-48fb-9391-3c9ea5087975/IMG-2051.jpg Blog - Does Inspiration Come in a Vacuum? Taking that pause and spending time in the moment outside of my own head actually helped my writing. Relationships between the characters became richer, their conversations more realistic because oh yeah…I engaged in actual conversations. The setting was better described because…oh yeah, I actually spent time in the environment. And it allowed me to actually sit in front of the computer without panicking…to take my time and breathe because time wasn’t racing. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/71338256-750c-4214-818a-7891ba3b6005/IMG-2074.jpg Blog - Does Inspiration Come in a Vacuum? Then, I had a friend call. Laptop still open, fingers hovering over the keyboard, ready to wrap up the conversation any moment to dive back into my novel, the last thing I had planned was a four-hour long phone chat. But that’s exactly what happened. Rather than hopping off the phone when she called, I decided to stay on the line for however long the conversation would go. I drank a couple glasses of wine; I sat on the beach, burying my feet under a sand heap while watching the waves and just…talking…to someone other than my characters…for fun. Before I knew it, the evening had slipped away, and so too had the precious few hours I’d allocated for editing. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-king-of-cups monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1648753076210-OXY70RCNQFVCSZI8E7R6/unsplash-image-GLsAydqqgzs.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The King of Cups I’m a water kind of gal, both in the woo-woo sense and in the literal one…lots of big emotions, creativity and mutability, and a heart that is forever tucked into the sandy beaches of Hampton Roads, Virginia. Because of this, Cups are my favorite cards of the minor arcana. Cup cards usually relate to feelings, relationships, inspiration and artistic pursuits. Meanwhile, Kings in the minor arcana often represent masculine energy, dominant characteristics, and experience or wisdom. Put the two together, and the King of Cups has a lot to say about your creative endeavors. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b8ced061-cad5-4348-8acf-fc3927f82dfe/King+of+Cups_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The King of Cups The King of Cups card in the Ethereal Visions deck is the closest version in my deck collection to the one you usually see in the wild (i.e. the Rider-Waite-Smith version). Here, we’ve got a rad, presumably wise guy hanging out with his fish friends. He reminds me of someone you might have run into at a Creedence Clearwater Revival concert back in the day, or the slightly less creepy version of that guy in college who you know is way too old to be hanging out at the frat house now. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1648753229008-ESJ5G6YVXDPLE7TXFCQW/unsplash-image-dttmeqFUDSU.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The King of Cups I say it in every tarot post, but in case this is the first one of mine you’re reading, it is perfectly fine to ‘see’ something different than the traditional interpretation whenever you look at any tarot card. Whether you buy into the mystical side of tarot or are simply admiring the art, pulling cards is a great way to give your subconscious permission to address things you might not have otherwise thought about. So, if you look at the King of Cups card and you see nothing relating to friends, lovers or male energy, that’s valid. Take whatever does come to you and play with that. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/daf474dc-831c-475c-b49d-cbd21e4fef74/King+of+Cups_Star+Spinner.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The King of Cups For one last take on the King of Cups, I threw in the version found in the Star Spinner Tarot deck. Here, “cups” are “chalices,” but that doesn’t fundamentally change the suit itself. However, this deck used worldwide legends and traditional folk stories to inspire the artwork, and what they chose for the King of Chalices absolutely does make me think of the card differently than any other deck. A dragon holds an orb in its mouth, crown atop his head as he appears ready to dive. In sharp contrast to the King in the Rackham Deck above, this one radiates action: “Go get ‘em; You’ve got the vision; You’ve got the drive; Now, dive.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/393ff57c-0267-49d9-834d-e4a79c0a537e/King+of+Cups_Rackham.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The King of Cups Meanwhile, the King of Cups in the Rackham deck tells a completely different version of the story. Here, the Merking is old and tired. He’s resting alongside the waters- not struggling in the current or navigating the waters. He’s taking his time and staying present with the river flowing at his side. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/tarot-tour-1-the-wild-unknown-tarot-deck monthly 0.5 2022-03-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/b1a48c58-2f26-4f2f-884c-b392f379b6fe/IMG-2892.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/cdebefb8-d2b0-4867-9f87-910927c14fb3/IMG-2878.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck Physical quality Here’s the part of these tours that I think will always make me nervous. For one, quality is often extremely objective. There are, however, certain standards within the tarot community regarding how durable and usable decks are. For those unfamiliar with tarot, card stock is usually the first thing enthusiasts will mention when they’re reviewing a deck. It is, after all, the primary functional aspect of the cards that we’re going to notice. Card stock is usually an indicator of how long a deck will hold up and how well the cards will shuffle. It’s a factor when “cutting” the deck (dividing it to pull cards) as well as the general upkeep of the cards. As far as card stock goes with the Wild Unknown deck, it is perhaps the *only* minor complaint I’d have about the deck. For me, the card stock is a little flimsy. There are a couple of cards in the deck that have begun to peel at the edges – not horribly, but a little nonetheless. Another factor tarot readers consider is the size of the cards. These are pretty standard size (a little larger than your standard playing cards). For me, that’s perfect. For some, that may be a little too large. It’s really your preference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/4b09e8ee-bee1-44ad-ac6f-9fdc3600e7d3/IMG-2886.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck But that’s not the totality of the deck. Turn your attention to cards such as the Ten of Cups or the Ten of Pentacles. Infused with the rainbow, these cards radiate warmth and joy. They easily convey the sense of community and completion behind the original interpretation of the cards. Both Temperance and The Sun (members of the Major Arcana) are bursting with light and color. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/5853426a-ce3a-4aa6-9bc2-c93a5bf1b28e/IMG-2885.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck 2. That leads me to a sticky point in the deck: Many decks take liberty when it comes to labelling suits (such as pentacles, wands, etc.). This one takes the traditional “court cards” (Page/Knight/Queen/King) and puts them into a traditional family structure (Daughter/Son/Mother/Father). We can all debate whether it makes sense to default to a traditional family structure, but that’s a different conversation. As far as reading the cards are concerned, it can cause a bit of a hiccup if you’re very wedded to understanding the reverse positions. Because reverse interpretations are not included in the guidebook AND because the family structure of the court cards is not common, you aren’t going to find exact interpretations for those cards in the reverse. Instead, you will need to translate the cards to their most likely corresponding court member (i.e. daughter = page, son = knight, etc.). That, or you’re going to have to interpret intuitively (gasp!...but with love b/c I respect my traditionalists). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ff50da2c-27fa-4840-b399-d63519a4c42c/IMG-2872.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/501ebbef-04f3-426e-8ebb-943c9303abaf/IMG-2877.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck How we met I was looking to diversify my decks and spied this one online. I’d had a few tarot decks through the years, but when I finally decided to study tarot seriously, I worked with my Ethereal Visions deck for about a full year. When the time came to spread my wings a little more, I wanted something that wandered a bit further away from the traditional card representations found in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (i.e. the Godmother of most tarot decks). I researched The Wild Unknown deck for longer than 90% of the decks I pick up. When I first saw it online, I was instantly drawn to the artwork displayed. However, there were a couple of very dire warnings left in the reviews from individuals claiming to be professional tarot readers saying things like “This deck is filled with darkness!” and “One of my clients ran out of the room crying because of the art on the cards!” I was not up for any more trauma in my life, so I continued exploring other decks. Then, I had the opportunity to play around with the deck in person at a metaphysical store, and while I didn’t immediately fall in love with it, I definitely felt a strong pull to it. That’s when I put it on my birthday list, and my partner (like the BAMF he is) shoved it into my hands as his homemade Loch Ness Monster birthday cake literally melted in front of me. It was an amazing birthday, but that’s not what we’re here for… https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ff0366ab-e089-42e1-aea7-43622b37702a/IMG-2880.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck All in all, The Wild Unknown Tarot deck is one of my absolute favorites. If you have a metaphysical or witchcraft store near you, chances are they carry it. Many of them will even have one open on display for you to handle and look at each individual card. If it’s a deck that interests you, I strongly suggest you find a way to get your hands on the deck and explore. If you cannot get your phalanges on the deck, it is available online for purchase, but you can also feel free to drop me a line with any questions about the deck. I’m always happy to answer tarot questions as best I can! If you want to delve even deeper, please check out other tarot experts such as Katie Webb or witch-extraordinaire Dana Newkirk. Without people like them, the tarot world would be stuck in the 1970s forever…not that the 70s were bad…but let’s all agree we still have work to do. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f3a1a60c-4ea7-4638-bbf0-47772050d654/IMG-2880.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/f01440db-94b6-41ec-9b71-d34b68986768/IMG-2882.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck That’s absolutely true if you’re looking at certain cards in the deck. For example, the Nine of Swords looks like something straight out of a horror movie. Similarly, the Ten of Swords is a bit upsetting – a bull pierced by swords from nearly angle. The Death card in the Major Arcana is also a bit of a dark card that doesn’t leave anyone wondering about the tone of the pull. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/45a7c7b2-cfb9-439a-936c-df1a27646b3e/IMG-2879.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck I’ve mentioned it before, but if you’re new here, I often feel like my manuscripts often “choose” a deck to work with as the project unfolds. I “blame” it on the manuscripts themselves, mostly because I don’t always clearly see the connection between one deck and the story in my head. Yet, somehow they seem to mesh and facilitate deeper thought. In this instance, THE HIEROPHANT most definitely chose The Wild Unknown deck. After I began using The Wild Unknown to help me develop the characters, plot and general approach to the story, I found myself using the deck for my own daily readings. Not long after that, it became the primary deck I use to give others readings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/657ac39c-cb9e-492a-872b-304b551f7ecc/IMG-2908.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck Unique features The deck comes with a fairly large, beautiful guidebook featuring one card per page. It provides detailed information on the meaning of each card along with keywords. Many decks include guidebooks, but often times, they are paper-thin (literally) and hard to read with as little description as possible. It’s clear from the guidebook that the Wild Unknown deck creators took deep care with each card, even beyond the Major Arcana. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ec690b13-d124-43cd-9dd7-04146513f32e/IMG-2873.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck How I use it I didn’t regularly use The Wild Unknown deck for a few months. It was a deck I would occasionally take out and study the art, but I didn’t do any readings with it, including for myself, for quite a while. Indeed, the reviews from the “professional tarot readers” online had me sufficiently spooked enough to keep several pieces of tourmaline stuffed in the box with the cards…y’know…just in case. Then, one day it just seemed to click. I started pulling cards from it in conjunction with my Ethereal Visions deck (not asking the same questions from each deck but using one deck to build off the pull from another). Eventually, I started feeling more comfortable with the Wild Unknown in my daily readings. It wasn’t until THE HIEROPHANT downloaded into my brain that the Wild Unknown became my primary deck for readings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1648158669484-24RD838CJ9AMTNCWW6QX/IMG-2887.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1648158669445-MJCA1W539W230J2W9BCI/IMG-2889.jpg Blog - Tarot Tour #1: The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-ace-of-wands monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/a45900e0-46c0-4837-8403-05f673f78f96/Ace+of+Wands_WU.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Ace of Wands - If you’ve read my prior posts on tarot in the creative process, I almost always lean towards “intuitive reading.” What the hell is that? In its most basic form, it’s when the reader pushes out what they’ve learned about each card in favor of what meaning comes to them when they pull the card. That being said, the foundations of tarot are important and constantly informing how a card is interpreted even when you’re taking a more intuitive approach (you never really unlearn the basics). The Ace of Wands card from The Wild Unknown Tarot. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/a81584f8-dc20-4c50-8e8e-2517adf93e5b/Ace+of+Wands_Rackham.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Ace of Wands - Pictured left: The Ace of Wands from the Rackham Tarot Deck The day I finally cranked out my novel-monster in its new configuration, my brain sparked with a ton of new ideas for a project I’ve shelved for nearly ten years. It’s enough to dust off the 27k novella, re-read and re-build using the knowledge I’m so lucky to have gained over the past two years studying the writing craft in earnest. Two days later, I have the bones of an outline for the full novel (THE NEW WORLD). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/44114603-1e0b-4eb1-b15d-0b724c616d23/Ace+of+Wands_EV.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Ace of Wands - Now for the fun part - Typically, when I pull this card, there’s always some sort of ‘victory in thought’ theme. I pulled this card for inspiration on a day when I was buried in revisions, hoping against hope that it would be the day I finally finished stitching THE HIEROPHANT back together again. You can probably imagine how excited I must have been (finally - this month’s long surgery will be over!) The card basically screamed back at me “You’ve got this!” And guess what? I finished the last major revisions on THE HIEROPHANT that evening. Pictured Right: The Ace of Wands from the Ethereal Visions deck https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-hierophant monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c0c583d2-0b1e-4106-ae6b-d35d8efcac4f/Hierophant_Group+Photo+2.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant - Tarot decks from left to right: The Wonderland Tarot; Star Spinner Tarot; The Wild Unknown Tarot; Tarot Del Toro; Front row: Madam Clara’s 5-Cent Tarot; Ethereal Visions Tarot; Rackham Tarot Thanks for reading! If you have thoughts or questions, feel free to contact me here or on Twitter. Until next time, stay creatively and perpetually weird! - Allison https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/77ad3457-4795-43a5-aee0-c2238e5b1143/Hierophant_Ethereal+Visions+Deck.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant - PICTURED RIGHT: Ethereal Visions Deck I’ll be honest— I hated this card for the longest time. Even more than The Emperor card, The Hierophant always represented male dominance to me. It was a card of restriction and imposition. When I pulled it, I always sensed some external force was putting the kibosh on my carefully laid plans. Imagine my surprise when I wrote this novel and saw this archetype reflected back at me, and not solely in a negative sense. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/34028318-2f04-48bc-85fe-093ca384cfb5/Hierophant_Group+Photo+1.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant In July 2021, I finished writing my fourth full-length novel, appropriately titled THE HIEROPHANT. It is a manuscript near and dear to my heart and constantly plays in the back of my mind…which is probably why editing it is currently a terrifying experience. More relevant to this article, no other manuscript I’ve written (thus far) has been so heavily influenced by the art of tarot. Without delving too deeply into the plot line (you’ll get plenty of that along the way here), THE HIEROPHANT incorporates several archetypal figures from the major arcana most commonly found in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck system. The most pivotal archetype to the plot? You guessed it—The Hierophant. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/cb0197c0-f9ee-45a0-b50c-3372513c3a0c/Hierophant_Wild+Unknown+Deck.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant It was The Hierophant card in the Wild Unknown deck (pictured left) that tripped my switch when it came to interpreting this card, and that meaning is what is ultimately reflected in my novel. The raven here is still holding the key; it still possesses knowledge that is perhaps unknown to most. However, the raven is calling into the darkness. It is screaming into a storm as lightning flashes overhead. It could function as a harbinger of doom (ravens often are depicted as such in folklore), but it could also be bringing you the key to unlock yourself. It may be crying out to you in the midst of your own storm. The raven could be doing all of the above. With the Wild Unknown deck, I could see both a light and shadow side to the archetype— a figure which is just as much stifling as it is concerned. The implications of that could still work for either good or bad (or somewhere in between), but it is far more nuanced than some bearded bro waving his finger in your face and shaming you back into your figurative seat. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, then, that The Wild Unknown deck became the only deck I worked with when looking for creative inspiration and direction with this manuscript (more on that to come in future articles). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1647208521064-7VL5IUSGCBAFLNUDSX8X/Hierophant_Del+Toro+Deck.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1647208522320-3XL6R8M0D559BSLAZHMS/Hierophant_Rackham+Deck.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1647208527697-SNQUMC5V3O81MPIT9MN8/Hierophant_Star+Spinner+Deck.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1647208907428-QA9SMXVVWOK8IZRFAR11/Hierophant_5+Cent+Tarot+Deck.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1647208906624-C67A24WHB8NOJOIV5G8E/Hierophant_Tarot+in+Wonderland.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Hierophant https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/weekly-tarot-pull-the-seven-of-cups monthly 0.5 2022-08-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/922adcf1-02a1-4af6-8b6c-cd3c9dec0d91/7+of+Cups+Upright_Ethereal+Visions.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Seven of Cups - Think the Wild Unknown depiction of the Seven of Cups isn’t all that impressive? Take a look at the card in the Ethereal Visions deck. This version of the Seven of Cups is a bit closer to the imagery utilized in the iconic Rider-Waite-Smith deck many individuals are most familiar with. When you look at the card, you’re not exactly sure what’s going on…or, if you do, please contact me immediately so I can go to the same kinds of parties you attend. With the Ethereal Visions version of the Seven of Cups, the concept of illusion, fantasy, manipulation and potential danger are quite obvious. From the wispy castle nestled in the clouds beyond to the bizarre and fantastical reptilian snaking its way through the scenery, nothing is quite grounded in reality. What can you trust when you’re lost inside a dream? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/8e79a5ed-0c26-46c1-bb91-58d181de3244/7+of+Cups+Reversed_Wild+Unknown.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Seven of Cups - And what I see in the Seven of Cups is usually unnerving to me because, at its core, the Seven of Cups is all about mystery and the unknown. As beautiful as the Seven of Cups is from the Wild Unknown deck, the card in its upright position still has the connotation of illusion and deception. No matter how many times I pull the card, I always confuse the upright and the reverse position. Compare the two positions, and I’m willing to bet that, were it not for the numbers at the top, you wouldn’t be so sure how to orient the card…and that’s the point. The card is asking you to evaluate what is real and what is not; what is reality and what is an illusion? https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d77bd7b6-a541-4f06-b251-db611a6f04cb/7+of+Cups+Upright_Wild+Unknown.jpg Blog - Tarot Pull: The Seven of Cups - This particular card ‘jumped’ out of the Wild Unknown deck as I was pulling cards this morning, deciding on its own that it would like to be the inaugural weekly random pull for our blog…which immediately caught my eye because I’m not a huge fan of this card. https://www.allisongunn.com/blog/what-is-this-blog-all-about monthly 0.5 2022-01-24 https://www.allisongunn.com/home daily 1.0 2025-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/64556856-a0b5-4d1a-b106-397b13245184/blog+landing+image.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/74298008-7ad3-417c-9fd3-279cb737f9b9/nowhere_cover+reveal+-+cropped.jpg Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ce323e8c-bfda-4022-9240-aaf13a780587/HIVE+MIND+DEAL+ANNOUNCEMENT+POST.png Home https://www.allisongunn.com/writing-research-services daily 0.75 2024-04-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/83d9c0eb-4999-424d-b834-91c2c6f39852/Resume+Picture1.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/8f3f4886-8f9c-4fa5-b260-9569dd6a6b04/Resume+Picture2.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/2bc8de4a-b3be-46fe-94cd-b792263885f4/Resume+Picture3.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/90612df3-6d4f-4e97-9903-951be92d34a1/Resume+Picture4.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/13e1532a-729f-4056-9efa-5f1301b551c9/Resume+Picture5.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/7f2a904d-786b-434c-81b9-f186abc2dddf/Resume+Picture6.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c083cf4e-2c45-4390-8daa-bc5d7f6fe2c9/Resume+Picture7.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/5db83f15-16f7-4913-b632-c22baf01aab1/Resume+Picture8.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d91bd3f8-d747-4aca-9cf8-cfb095a8c0b5/Resume+Picture9.png Writing & Research Services https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/2450d1e5-db0c-42e3-b189-d39f42d68a1c/Resume+Picture10.png Writing & Research Services https://www.allisongunn.com/connect daily 0.75 2024-09-20 https://www.allisongunn.com/nowhere daily 0.75 2025-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d5ec1e82-13fe-4a3e-ad36-628f992fad37/nowhere-allison-gunn-best-thriller-books-teresa-brock.jpg Nowhere - Make it stand out Read Teresa Brock’s full review here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/0c90f449-69b8-4db4-894a-d71362760ca2/Library+Journal+Quote+Graphic.png Nowhere - Make it stand out Read the full Library Journal review here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/14a1e267-e700-449e-9ee3-073032804e52/Booklist+Nowhere+Quote+Graphic.png Nowhere - Make it stand out Read the full Booklist review here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/adb5045c-0b59-4aeb-aa35-8dcdeaf977c8/nowhere_cover+reveal.jpg Nowhere - Order your copy here! Mare of Easttown meets The Outsider in this spine-tingling and twisty debut about a series of disappearances in a small, fundamentalist town and what one broken family must do to remain together as dark forces close in. After losing her young son in an accident, Rachel Kennan throws herself into her career as police chief of a small Virginia town to avoid focusing on her grief. Meanwhile, her husband, Finn, a washed-up writer whose alcoholism led to the devastating tragedy that changed everything, struggles to redeem himself before his family completely falls apart. Their two daughters are the only things keeping Rachel and Finn together, but the girls have demons of their own. At the same time, a disturbing crime rocks their tightknit, religious community, sending Rachel chasing leads in a place that does not take kindly to outsiders. When an ominous force in the forest starts calling to the children, fear spawns hate among the townspeople, placing the Kennan family directly in the line of fire. Left with no choice but to rely on each other, Rachel and Finn must come together to face threats inside and out. A haunting family saga and a disquieting horror debut, Nowhere draws from Appalachian folklore to caution us that true terror is what we bury in our own hearts. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/4366e1e0-56ed-421b-9f7c-6994d3567e17/Publishers+Weekly+Quote+Graphic.png Nowhere - Make it stand out Read the full Publishers Weekly review here. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/11f71772-c1df-4f22-a3c2-bdcd62282b8e/Dumas+Review+Quote+Banner.jpg Nowhere - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.allisongunn.com/about-1 daily 0.75 2025-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/62458066-9b8d-43bc-97cf-b13357cc029a/potential+main+shot+1.jpg About - About Allison Gunn is a professional researcher, writer, and educator with a penchant for all things whimsical and strange. A proud student at Shepherd University and a graduate of the University of Maryland, Allison has extensively studied marginalized communities, folklore, and the occult. She currently resides in the wonderfully weird land of West Virginia with her twin daughters, precocious pup, and one seriously troubled tabby. Allison is represented by the incredibly patient and saint-like Logan Harper with the Jane Rotrosen Agency. Her debut horror novel, NOWHERE (Atria | 2025) is available to order here, OR to request at your local indie book shop or library which need support now more than ever. For inquiries related to interviews and events, please contact Debbie Norflus at debbie.norflus@simonandschuster.com For film/tv inquires, please contact Michelle Kroes (Creative Artists Agency) at michelle.kroes@caa.com https://www.allisongunn.com/news daily 0.75 2025-08-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e84d54a3-6fd2-467e-9dfd-14d96faa615b/HIVE+MIND+DEAL+ANNOUNCEMENT+POST.png News BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! My next novel, HIVE MIND, has been acquired by Loan Le & Atria Books (aka the dream team behind Nowhere as well!) HIVE MIND is an adult horror-thriller which follows the tragic tale of Bee Torrance, a controversial online horror queen with plenty of demons in her closet, and her controlling manager/husband, Jacob Peyton, son of a Hollywood tycoon. After a disorienting evening, Jacob wakes to find himself in an abandoned cabin in the Appalachian wilds— with Bee dead beside him. All evidence points to Jacob’s culpability for the grisly crime. Yet, he remembers nothing of the murder or the subsequent week he spent in the deserted cabin with her remains alone. Except, Jacob isn’t so sure he was alone. In fact, with each passing day, the doomed widower becomes more convinced the devil himself paid the couple a visit. Coming to a bookstore near you in 2027! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/d6c009bb-957f-4456-8e75-26777cfb6f96/PM+Deal.png News - April 5th, 2023 The Publishers Marketplace deal announcement for NOWHERE was just posted! Happily, CAA Film Agent Michelle Kroes has also joined the NOWHERE team. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/79fbf22a-1664-4c10-8b89-b4c5c36a0e62/Pub+Weekly_NOWHERE.jfif News - March 24, 2023 Absolutely over the moon to (finally!) announce that NOWHERE has been acquired by Atria’s Loan Le. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work with Loan whose vision for this book aligns perfectly with my own. I’m confident that our work together over the next few months will bring you all the best-worst nightmares for years to come. P.S. - Follow Loan on Twitter and Instagram! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/7c09728f-6a9c-4cd3-9f7f-9e56d8e55c34/Nowhere+Cover+Fall+Decor.jpeg News More Nowhere Giveaways! Atria Books is hosting another giveaway on Goodreads! Enter by 12/11/24 to win an early copy of Nowhere. Good luck and happy reading to all! To enter, follow this link or click on the image: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/400748-nowhere https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/24f3bdde-26fc-494e-abc9-ffbdcb3356bc/Upcoming+Events+Fall+2025.png News Fall is shaping up to be a busy one! Here are a few of the dates currently solidified. I’ll continue to update as more information is available. Note: I’ve removed the prior events page simply because I couldn’t keep up with the number of engagements. Moving forward, I’ll post the info here. For the most current lineup, please follow me on social media where news typically breaks first! As always, please reach out if you have questions. Hope to see you soon <3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/302b7be4-ac42-4b0f-86f8-91b1aa32f1ae/nowhere_cover+reveal.jpg News - June 4th, 2024 Beyond proud to finally reveal the cover for NOWHERE! Additionally, the pre-order links have been released. You can place your order here. Also, be sure to request the book at your local library and bookstores! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/451741f5-a80a-405b-8043-b80f3032f3d2/Four+Seasons+Books+Front+Image.jpg News - NOWHERE Release Party & Author Event **Updated March 5, 2025: I’m still delighted to say that the release party for NOWHERE will still be at Four Seasons Books in Shepherdstown, WV on 3/23/25 at 3 pm. A few of the logistics have changed, however, so be sure to check out the new Events & Appearances page for all new information on the party and snag your tickets before they’re gone! #### Phenomenal NOWHERE News! I'm so excited to finally share that the release party for NOWHERE will take place at Four Seasons Books in Shepherdstown, WV on 3/23/25 (Time TBD)!! Patrons have the option of pre-ordering a copy and entrance to the signing event at the store, OR adding on a dinner with the author at Alma Bea Restaurant following the main event. There will also be exclusive Nowhere swag (a gorgeous tarot card included) limited to Four Seasons' preorder campaign only! Come out and join us as we celebrate and get access to the book TWO days before everyone else gets their hands on Nowhere's nightmare fuel Get your tickets here or by clicking the image <3 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1721768502247-J7PNOM1HS98HOJ0FWUZ6/nowhere_cover+reveal+-+cropped.jpg News - Nowhere Giveaway on Goodreads! Atria Books is hosting a giveaway on Goodreads! Enter by 9/24 to win an early copy of Nowhere. Over 5,000 people have already entered, so jump on this deal now. Good luck and happy reading to all! To enter, follow this link or click on the image: https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/395877-nowhere https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/c9d07ae8-acab-42c4-b5e4-cbdc7d10374d/Italian+Rights+for+NOWHERE.png News - April 27th, 2023 Pleased to announce Sperling & Kupfer acquired the Italian language rights for NOWHERE. Evviva! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/e9aeb6ee-133a-457f-aaf6-ca51108a6ad1/WUWpod+promo.png News NOWHERE Giveaway for a Good Cause! The What’s Up Weirdo podcast is hosting a giveaway to raise funds for some dear friends. NOWHERE goodies are up for grabs along with prizes from many other amazing creators! NOWHERE items include: an advance reader copy; bookmark; and limited edition tarot card. To enter, visit the What’s Up Weirdo Linktree here: https://linktr.ee/WhatsUpWeirdo The winner will be announced in a live stream on Saturday, September 7th at 8 pm ET. https://www.allisongunn.com/blue-fae-tarot daily 0.75 2024-06-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/723f281e-13d5-431a-bec3-44df1018651b/Blue+Fae+Small+Logo.png https://www.allisongunn.com/curriculum-vitae daily 0.75 2024-11-10 https://www.allisongunn.com/hive-mind daily 0.75 2025-06-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/9ba2e34e-1979-43c0-94ed-ace7629a8306/HIVE+MIND+BOARD+1.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/ce323e8c-bfda-4022-9240-aaf13a780587/HIVE+MIND+DEAL+ANNOUNCEMENT+POST.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/de237fc8-49a3-4281-b165-7d1eb3244aec/HIVE+MIND+2.png https://www.allisongunn.com/portfolio daily 0.75 2024-07-23 https://www.allisongunn.com/portfolio/nowherenovel monthly 0.5 2024-07-26 https://www.allisongunn.com/portfolio/fraudinthefedgov monthly 0.5 2024-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/577223f5-8047-43ae-a078-b98291479511/Fraud+in+Fed+Govt+1.png Portfolio - Fraud in the Federal Government Fraud in the Federal Government (Front) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/04677c36-4d42-4dba-a807-0828818e7609/Fraud+in+Fed+Govt+2.png Portfolio - Fraud in the Federal Government Fraud in the Federal Government (Back) https://www.allisongunn.com/portfolio/publiccomments monthly 0.5 2024-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/93396afe-f14b-4aa2-a697-9f4d874cffbc/Public+Comments+Highlights+Page.png Portfolio - Federal Rulemaking: Public Commenting Highlights Page - Click Image for Full Report https://www.allisongunn.com/portfolio/creative-works monthly 0.5 2024-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/3273e5e4-ebc0-4a48-aa43-cf0129cdd437/Unique+Identifier+Mood+Board.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1721773306705-MAJ96DYD1YJILPKE6LCR/unsplash-image-pBb4HvRpglo.jpg https://www.allisongunn.com/portfolio/select-blog-articles monthly 0.5 2024-07-26 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1da6e551-cfef-47d3-b7f2-b7f33f70414f/typewriter.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1722003034838-POHXET193OEUJH1E8YLA/unsplash-image-FTNGfpYCpGM.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61c4839353c27d1232f8d6ff/1722003627815-EX2YL2YGMPJ7VR1PEPPI/unsplash-image-hmCMUZKLxa4.jpg