So what is this project?

Project Minor Arcana is a compilation of 56 flash fiction pieces (some are a bit longer than flash fiction, but I compromise) based on the minor arcana in the traditional Rider-Waite card deck (cards 1-14 in four suits)

A brief history:

Okay, this will serve as both a disclaimer and as an explanation to why I wrote this.

I know that some people look at the Tarot and feel scared because it has “occult” properties or they believe they are connected to the devil. And not to go against religious belief, but sincerely the cards don’t really have anything inherently evil in them. Movies, television, and religious propaganda have made them that way. In other words, they are no different from Harry Potter or Pokemon, both of which have been shunned by certain groups as the devil’s work.

Now, as for my personal opinion, I don’t actually believe they hold “power” or anything in that way. But as an existentialist, I believe that people give them meaning. If you are afraid of them, you will find darkness. If you think they have powers, you will find powers. It’s sort of a confirmation bias.

On the other hand, as a writer, I see them as valuable tools for inspiration. Just like someone would like to write about the bible, magic, or science, I chose these strange cards, something not many people know about, in order to create my stories because I find their imagery so full of interpretation. And as a trained critic, I feel I hold the knowledge to try and see meaning behind their historically rich images, which led me to this project.

Before I started it, however, I was just writing flash fiction based on prompts, some of which I did not find as inspiring, yet I forced myself to write on them. That’s why I chose the Minor Arcana, the 56 core cards in the Tarot. That immediately gave me 56 cards to pull inspiration from. And with the countless of internet sources, each card had so much interpretation, that I could easily play with the stories.

So, check out the different suits on the right, and then check out the 14 flash fiction pieces on each one. They are mostly short little things, varying from 500 words to 1000 words (since they are supposed to be flash fiction), though there will be some longer than that. Most are unrelated, with the exception of Wind, the Suit of the Mind, which I decided to treat like a weird series. But there’s more info on that suit’s page, so check that one out.

Enjoy!