If you've been around the world of Tarot for any length of time, you probably have already heard of Major Tom. He is the publisher of the very popular Tarot Lover's Calendar and his own Tarot decks, Major Tom's Tarot and Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles. He is currently in the process of putting together the 2008 Tarot Lover's Calendar, and he was gracious enough to take a break from all that so we could hear from him on that and other projects.

It's always a pleasure to talk to Major Tom about the Tarot... I do it as often as possible. What follows is our interview, and a short bio for Tom so you can order his calendar or book him for a reading. Enjoy!

Greyhound: What inspired the first Tarot Lovers calendar?

Major Tom: There were a variety of factors that led to the creation of the Tarot Lovers Calendar but without a doubt in my mind the inspiration was love for the Aeclectic Tarot Forums and its members. In autumn 2002 it became clear that Llewellyn had discontinued their tarot calendar. I was at that time the moderator for the Tarot Deck Creation board at Aeclectic Tarot Forums and noticed that there were a number of very talented artists working with tarot, yet very little opportunity for these artists to showcase their work. I put these factors together and the Tarot Lover’s Calendars were born.

GH: What year was the first calendar published?

MT: The Tarot Lover’s Calendar 2003 went on sale in October 2002.

GH: Can you describe the process that you go through to choose the artwork?

MT: All the artwork chosen is produced by members of the Aeclectic Tarot Forums. Even though I’m no longer a moderator I still read every thread, view every attachment and follow every link posted on the Tarot Deck Creation board. I watch as work develops looking for originality and consistency. At the appropriate time in the cycle of creating the calendar I approach the artists for their permission for inclusion in the calendar.

GH: When does the planning begin for 2009?

MT: It starts as soon as I pick up the calendars for 2008 from the printer.

GH: How do you choose the other articles, spreads, etc?

MT: Lisa Krough uses the same method as I do excepting on the Tarot Spreads board at Aeclectic.

GH: Can authors or artists can submit material to you for consideration?

MT: I would prefer not to be approached directly regarding submissions for inclusion in the calendar. Artists or authors interested in producing work for the calendar are encouraged to join the Aeclectic Tarot Forums at www.tarotforum.net and share their work with the community. This gives them the opportunity to join a truly international community and gives us a chance to get to know them.

GH: Do you have other Tarot-related projects going on at the moment?

MT: I’m working on a ‘colour your own’ deck and book set also based on the Tarot of Marseilles.

I lead a Tuesday Night Tarot Discussion Group in the Crown Hotel in Framlingham, Suffolk.

I’m the organiser for the Ipswich Tarot Café.

My next Learn Tarot Class at the Ipswich Buddhist Centre in Ipswich, Suffolk starts in September.

I’m available for tarot readings by appointment.

One of my favourite projects is getting out in my tarot reading tent at various fairs, fêtes and festivals throughout East Anglia. I’ve got events booked for most weekends.

GH: Is your Tarot deck, "Major Tom's Tarot of Marseilles" still available? Is there any possibility of another print run?

MT: I believe the edition published by the Association of Tarot Studies (http://association.tarotstudies.org) is sold out but it’s always worth checking with Tarot Garden. There were only 50 copies printed.

The good news, and you are the first to get it, is that Schiffer Publishing is releasing another edition of Major Tom’s Tarot of Marseilles sometime in September. This edition will be quite different from the first. I’ve redrawn several of the cards and re-coloured all of them. The deck will come in a rather nifty box with a full colour ‘little white book’.

GH: Do you have any tarot-related activities that you do every day?

MT: One of the really brilliant things about tarot is that there is always more to learn about it. I take my cards with me everywhere. I do something with tarot every day, but it isn’t always the same thing. You only need to look at my projects to get an idea of the kinds of work I do with tarot every day.

GH: How has the Tarot changed your life?

MT: Tarot has made and continues to make such an impact upon my life that it’s difficult to know where to start to answer that question. I suppose the biggest thing tarot has done for me is to make me mindful of my own thoughts, words and actions and how those impact on the people around me and the world in general. Tarot has opened and continues to open many doors for me. It was through tarot and my life partner that I’ve become interested in biodynamic agriculture and spiritual science as created and inspired by Rudolf Steiner.

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Major Tom Schick is the leading Professional Tarot Card Reader in East Anglia and is based in the beautiful market town of Framlingham, Suffolk, England, UK. Major Tom has dedicated himself to providing everyone with the most insightful and empowering, yet affordable, tarot readings one can get anywhere. He teaches classes on how to read tarot cards in both Framlingham and Ipswich. He has created his own tarot decks and publishes the well-known annual Tarot Lover's Calendar. Major Tom firmly believes that our own actions, thoughts and words create our own futures and that collectively we hold the future of the world in our own hands. See Major Tom's site (http://www.majortom.biz/) for information on how to obtain your very own Tarot Lover's Calendar or book a reading.