HEARTWOOD TAROT
Created by Stephanie Burrows
Illustrated by Adam Oehlers
Three Trees Tarot, Volume V (first printing)
A little mouse. A big world. So much to explore.
Travel the path with our tiny mouse friend as they seek the wonders of the unseen. What lies ahead and what will unfold is part of the story to be told.
Preorders launch Friday, May 3rd (on ThreeTreesTarot.co.uk) starting at 7 pm, UK time.
There's quite a bit to cover, so we've tried to be as thorough as possible. Please read all the information below before you decide to commit to purchase. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Please note that all of the photos/images shown are prototype copies. The finished designs may vary.
DECK SPECS...
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DECK SIZE: The deck will consist of 78 tarot cards plus an alternative Lovers and Devil card, two double-sided companion reference cards with keywords, and two blank cards designed to protect the deck. Additionally, there will be five extra art cards in keeping with the theme of the deck (these five art cards will be exclusive to the first printing of Heartwood only).
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CARD SIZE: The cards will measure 70mm x 120mm (roughly 2.75 x 4.73 inches). They will be borderless with rounded corners.
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CARD BACKS: The card backs will not be reversible, but you can still read using reversals. Click here to find out more about the card backs.
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CARD STOCK: The cards will be printed on eco-friendly, 400gsm, FSC accredited/carbon balanced paper with veggie inks. They will be protected by a matte, anti-scuff laminate.
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BOX: The cards will be housed in a beautifully embossed 350gsm tuck flap box (with an easy-to-open lid and a glued base).
Each copy of HEARTWOOD will include a uniquely numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
THE PREMISE OF THE DECK...
We imagined HEARTWOOD as an enchanting tarot deck set within an old cottage nestled amidst the forest (an abandoned thing left to nature, giving the creatures, big and small, a place to explore). Our Fool, a tiny mouse, embarks on an adventure that leads them to many mysterious places, meeting many different characters along the way.
THE TITLE...
In our research, we came across the term 'Heartwood'. According to Arbor Day Foundation, 'Heartwood is the central, supporting pillar of the tree. Although dead, it will not decay or lose strength while the outer layers are intact. A composite of hollow, needlelike cellulose fibres bound together by a chemical glue called lignin, it is in many ways as strong as steel. A piece 12" long and 1" by 2" in cross section set vertically can support a weight of twenty tons!'
We thought that was pretty cool, so it became our working title, which just stuck with us.
HEARTWOOD can be whatever you want it to be. It could be viewed as the protective woods in which the cottage stands, or it could be the name of the house itself which has stood strong for many, many years. Either way, this deck is our most magical creation yet, and we hope you love it!
HEARTWOOD IS...
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IMMERSIVE AND INTUITIVE: Adam Oehlers' enchanting illustrations transport us to a captivating storybook world reminiscent of the nostalgic charm and beloved childhood tales. And because the cards are rooted in the Rider-Waite-Smith system, they should be easy to understand for many tarot card readers.
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A VERSATILE TOOL: HEARTWOOD can be used for divination, goal setting, self-reflection, story writing, or journaling. And even if you're not drawn to Tarot, its stunning artwork would make a beautiful addition to any collection.
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ECO-FRIENDLY: Continuing our dedication to sustainability, HEARTWOOD will be printed right here in the UK using FSC-accredited/carbon-balanced paper and veggie inks. For further information on our sustainability practices, please click here.
THE MAJOR ARCANA...
These cards showcase imagery that parallels the 22 individual universal archetypes represented in the Major Arcana of a classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck, with our Fool (a tiny mouse) featured on each card.
If you'd like to view HEARTWOOD in full, please click here.
THE MINOR ARCANA...
Even though this is a mouse-heavy deck, our Fool won't appear on every card in the Minor Arcana; however, they will make an appearance on 3-4 cards within each suit. The cards will mostly showcase the various creatures that they meet on their enchanting journey through the cottage (a charming mix of characters including foxes, owls, frogs, rabbits, squirrels, snails, and sparrows, among others). There's even a little shrew as our Page of Pentacles! We've never had a shrew in our decks, and they're so, So, Soooooo cute!
Unlike our other two tarot decks, there's no set animal for each suit, and the suits aren't explicitly elemental. Instead, we took our interpretation of each card and created a world that reflected a feeling.
Additionally, the Cups suit features vessels of various shapes and sizes, so in addition to cups, you'll find colanders, bowls, platters and bottles.
If you'd like to view HEARTWOOD in full, please click here.
THE CARD BACKS...
Our little mouse, the Fool, nestles snugly amidst a soft bed of autumn leaves, enjoying a peaceful slumber. I wonder what sweet dreams fill their head. We're absolutely thrilled that they've chosen the card backs as their home for the foreseeable.
Even though the card backs will not be reversible, you can still read using reversals. As always, we encourage you to use our decks in whatever way suits you best.
THE FONT...
Fonts can be tricky (especially when there are so many to choose from), but when we stumbled upon the font you will see on the cards in Heartwood today, we fell in love.
This classic font combines the retro feel of a typewriter typeface and the organic touch of a handwritten text. Imagining a typewriter bearing the very same font buried beneath layers of paper on an old desk within our abandoned Heartwood cottage, we realised it was the perfect fit for our card titles.
THE GUIDE CARDS...
Since we want to keep HEARTWOOD as eco-friendly as possible, no physical guidebook will accompany this tarot deck, and there are no plans for one.
Instead, we will include two double-sided companion reference sheets featuring keywords that thoughtfully depict the nature of each card, allowing the deck to be read intuitively.
An accompanying PDF guidebook will be emailed automatically upon preorder/purchase.
HOW WE NUMBER OUR DECKS...
Since the beginning, we’ve been giving every deck we create a new volume number...for example, our first deck, Oak, Ash and Thorn, is Volume I, our second deck, Smoke, Ash & Embers, is Volume II, our third deck (the MINI Oak, Ash & Thorn), is Volume III, Thistledown (our fourth deck) is Volume IV…
So HEARTWOOD, our fifth deck, will be Volume V.
If we ever do a reprint with changes to a deck, we will add a number onto the volume number. For example, the very first printing of Oak, Ash & Thorn (funded via Kickstarter) was Volume I. Eventually, we did a second printing which included some changes to the deck, so that became Oak, Ash & Thorn, Volume I.I (Volume one, first reprint). If we ever print Oak, Ash & Thorn again with additional changes, that will become Volume I.II (Volume one, second reprint).
NEW DIVINATION COIN!!!...
We're thrilled to launch a matching HEARTWOOD divination coin in two colour options (see below).
Just like the HEARTWOOD tarot deck, this coin is a preorder item that will launch Friday, May 3rd (on ThreeTreesTarot.co.uk), and it will be shipped when HEARTWOOD is ready (estimated shipping in September or October of 2024, possibly November if there are any unforeseen delays).
The HEARTWOOD coin will feature our Fool (a sleeping mouse enjoying a peaceful slumber) on one side and our fearless Knight of Swords (bravely holding their tiny sword, ready to venture into a mysterious winter wonderland) on the other.
Each coin will include an informational guide card with instructions (a suggestion for use; but feel free to use the coins however you wish and assign whatever meaning you'd like to each side).
Coins will measure 38mm in diameter (roughly 1.5 inches), and since, at their core, they're made of brass, they have a nice weight to them. Each coin is a joy to hold! ❤️
Divination coins are an excellent addition to any practice; utilise them to clarify a reading, flip a coin to help make a decision, or simply carry them with you for a bit of pocket-size cuteness.
We'll have two plating options available for purchase: an antique silver-effect finish (below on the left) and an antique brass-effect finish (below on the right).
The antique silver-effect finish will be a limited edition coin, and I will be ordering approximately the amount that are purchased during our early-bird launch period. However, the antique brass-effect finish coin will be available as a long term fixture in the shop.
Pictured above: Antique silver-effect finish coin (on the left) and antique brass-effect finish coin (on the right).
Since we're launching multiple new items, the limited edition antique silver-effect finish coin will only be sold individually or bundled with a HEARTWOOD tarot deck. It will not be bundled with other items, but you can order as many as you like.
Please note that all of the photos/images shown are prototype copies. The finished designs may vary.
TO CELEBRATE THE LAUNCH OF HEARTWOOD...
From May 3rd (7pm, UK time) - June 3rd, HEARTWOOD will be on sale for £40.95 + shipping, and each copy of HEARTWOOD will include a little package of goodies (early-bird extras) that we believe everyone will love.
And during this time, in celebration of our deck launch, everything else in the shop will be on sale for 10% off, including our deck and coin bundles, prints, stickers, puzzles, etc.. These benefit from combined shipping costs, so if there's something you've been eying, it will be a great time to snap up a bargain. This discount will automatically appear at checkout (no promo or coupon code will be necessary).
Important: If you order additional items with HEARTWOOD, we will ship everything together in the same package. If an item is currently available and you wish to receive it sooner, please place a separate order for that item.
BUNDLES...
We currently have some great bundle offers on our website, but you'll see even more on launch day.
Here's a list of all the bundles that will be available starting on May 3rd (7pm, UK time)...
Two-deck tarot bundles
Oak, Ash & Thorn + Smoke, Ash & Embers
-Regular discounted bundle price: £85.00
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £76.50
Oak, Ash & Thorn + Heartwood
-Regular discounted bundle price: £85.00
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £76.50
Smoke, Ash & Embers + Heartwood
-Regular discounted bundle price: £85.00
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £76.50
Thistledown bundles
Thistledown + MINI Oak, Ash & Thorn
-Regular discounted bundle price: £68.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £61.65
Thistledown + Smoke, Ash & Embers
-Regular discounted bundle price: £78.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £70.65
Thistledown + Oak, Ash & Thorn
-Regular discounted bundle price: £78.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £70.65
Thistledown + Heartwood
-Regular discounted bundle price: £78.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £70.65
Deck and coin bundles
MINI Oak, Ash & Thorn + matching coin
-Regular discounted bundle price: £49.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £44.55
Oak, Ash & Thorn + matching coin
-Regular discounted bundle price: £59.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £53.55
Smoke, Ash & Embers + matching coin
-Regular discounted bundle price: £59.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £53.55
Heartwood + matching coin (antique brass- effect finish)
-Regular discounted bundle price: £59.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £53.55
Three-deck tarot bundle
Oak, Ash & Thorn + Smoke, Ash & Embers + Heartwood
-Regular discounted bundle price: £127.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £114.75
Four-deck bundle
Oak, Ash & Thorn + Smoke, Ash & Embers + Heartwood + Thistledown
-Regular discounted bundle price: £163.50
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £147.15
All of the decks
Oak, Ash & Thorn + Smoke, Ash & Embers + Heartwood + Thistledown + MINI Oak, Ash & Thorn
-Regular discounted bundle price: £195.00
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £175.50
Coin bundles
Oak, Ash & Thorn coin + Smoke, Ash & Embers coin
-Regular discounted bundle price: £30.00
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £27.00
Oak, Ash & Thorn coin + Heartwood coin (antique brass-effect finish)
-Regular discounted bundle price: £30.00
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £27.00
Smoke, Ash & Embers coin + Heartwood coin (antique brass-effect finish)
-Regular discounted bundle price: £30.00
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £27.00
All of the coins
Oak, Ash & Thorn coin + Smoke, Ash & Embers coin + Heartwood coin (antique brass-effect finish)
-Regular discounted bundle price: £45.00
-In May, further discounted by 10% = £40.50
OUR PRINTER...
We absolutely love our printer, Generation Press, so it only makes sense that we'd continue using them for future projects. Here are just a few reasons they're our printer of choice:
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They’re local to us (based in Brighton, England), which reduces our carbon footprint.
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They have been previously EMAS certified since 2013-2018 (that’s the EU Eco-Management and Audit Scheme, which allows all types of organisations to improve their environmental performance and achieve recognition for doing so).
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They became a B Corp Certified Company in January 2022 with a whopping score of 119! B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.
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They use their own generated solar power and are topped up with renewable energy supplied by Ecotricity, they’re carbon-neutral, they offer sustainable paper, and they use vegetable-based inks. We also love that they’ve funded the planting of 6518 trees in the UK.
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They offer the Carbon Balanced Paper programme, enabling their customers to offset their emissions through The World Land Trust (an international conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats acre by acre).
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They're a certified Living Wage Employer (achieved October 2020).
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS...
WHAT IS A PREORDER?
Preordering means that you won't receive your order right away. Instead, you're securing your order for a later date. Preorders help our little business thrive so we can correctly estimate how many decks to have printed.
HOW MUCH IS HEARTWOOD?
From May 3rd - June 3rd (the early-bird period), each copy of HEARTWOOD will be on sale for £40.95 + shipping. After June 3rd, each copy of HEARTWOOD will increase to £45.50 + shipping.
WHAT ELSE IS INCLUDED?
From May 3rd - June 3rd, each copy of HEARTWOOD will include a little package of goodies (early-bird extras) that we believe everyone will love.
WHEN DO I PAY FOR MY PREORDER?
Preorders are charged at the time of ordering.
TIMELINE & DELIVERY
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Early-bird preorder time: May 3rd - June 3rd 2024 (each copy of HEARTWOOD will be on sale and include a pack of early-bird extras)
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Production time: June 4th - August 2024 (preorders continue, but each copy of HEARTWOOD will not be on sale or include a pack of early-bird extras)
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Estimated shipping time: September - October 2024 (if there are any unforeseen delays, this might be pushed back to November, but we don't think this will happen)
WHAT IF I ORDER ADDITIONAL ITEMS WITH HEARTWOOD?
If you order additional items with HEARTWOOD, we will ship everything together in the same package. If an item is currently available and you wish to receive it sooner, please place a separate order for that item.
HOW WILL MY ORDER BE SHIPPED?
We will send most international orders using Royal Mail's tracked service, and we will send most UK orders using Royal Mail's 1st Class, Signed For service.
HOW MUCH IS SHIPPING?
To give you an idea of what you might expect to pay for shipping, please see the chart below. This chart applies to HEARTWOOD decks only. Because we ship by weight, if you add additional items to your order, the shipping price may increase.
To view a list of countries in each zone, please click here.
IMPORTANT CUSTOMS INFORMATION
It is the buyer’s sole responsibility to be current on any customs fees or VAT taxes that may be applicable to their purchase order. We are not liable for customs fees or VAT taxes that your country charges you, the importer, nor are we responsible for any delays in delivery on account of customs. Customs policies vary widely from country to country, so we recommend you check your local government's customs rules for more information.
EU customers kindly note that the UK has now left the EU. Orders shipping to addresses within the EU may be subject to additional handling and disbursement charges upon delivery, which are set solely by the EU country the order is being shipped to. Please be aware of your country's fees before placing your order.
WILL YOU SEND ME A TRACKING NUMBER?
You'll receive an email with a tracking number soon after we post your order (estimated shipping in September or October of 2024, possibly November if there are any unforeseen delays).
WHAT IF MY MAILING ADDRESS CHANGES?
You can contact us anytime before we dispatch preorders with your name and new address, and we'll be happy to update your information. We'll also send out a few email reminders asking you to update your mailing address before we dispatch preorders.
WHEN WILL I FINALLY RECEIVE MY PREORDER?
We aim to ship HEARTWOOD in either September or October of 2024 (possibly November if there are any unforeseen delays). These decks will ship from the UK, so delivery times may vary.
Please remember that shipping times are estimates and are not guaranteed. While experience has shown us that the vast majority of packages are delivered in a timely manner, some can take 35+ days to be delivered (although that doesn't happen too often).
While we aim to dispatch orders promptly, unfortunately, we cannot promise on-time delivery, and we cannot provide more information than what the tracking shows (if applicable). Certain factors may affect delivery date, including order volume, end destination, possible industrial action with Royal Mail, and the COVID-19 situation the world finds itself in.
We will regularly update everyone on our progress, including any potential delays, through email. To stay informed and ensure you don't miss any updates, please subscribe to our mailing list (if you haven't already done so) by clicking here.
RIGHT! HOW DO I ORDER?
Thanks for your support! We really appreciate it! Preorders for HEARTWOOD will go live on our website on Friday, May 3rd at 7pm (UK time).
For additional information regarding our Terms and Conditions (Shipping, VAT & Customs, and Return Policy), please click here.
Actual colours may vary. This is because every computer monitor, laptop, tablet and phone screen has a different capability to display colours, and everyone sees these colours differently. We edit our photos to show all of our products as life-like as possible, but please understand the actual colour may vary slightly from your monitor.
Adam Oehlers
Adam Oehlers is the illustrator of this deck. He currently works out of Norwich, England and has exhibited worldwide from Australia to the UK, Europe and the States. He has worked alongside writers and publishers from around the world and has worked as a concept artist, character designer and writer for animations and computer games.
Adam has always found a great deal of inspiration from the classic illustrations of Arthur Rackham, Edward Gorey and any intricate classic pen illustrations and print work. He has a great love of old stories and fairy tales and aims to tell a story through every illustration, striving to create a sense of nostalgia to take the viewer back to a forgotten memory, to remind them of the soft magic that surrounds us.
Stephanie Burrows
Stephanie Burrows is the creator of this deck. The West Yorkshire countryside that she calls home is the source of her inspiration. Some of Stephanie's earliest memories of Tarot include her mother reading Tarot for friends and family. Now, she enjoys starting the day with Tarot for inspiration and guidance.
The journey to where she is today has been incredibly wonderful, and she is thankful to everyone that has supported her along the way. Your e-mails and messages are so lovely, and it reminds her, every day, how lucky she is to be able to now create Tarot decks for a living.