Superbacker Spotlight: Meet Ann-Marie, the Tarot Deck Oracle
"Is it a reflective deck? Does it take you on a soul journey? Is it a re-imaging of the traditional decks?" Superbacker Ann-Marie shares her approach to backing tarot projects boldly.
Ann-Marie didn’t set out to become one of Kickstarter’s most devoted Magic & Divination backers — it just happened. One project led to another, then another, until she found herself hundreds of decks deep, following creators across the platform and instinctively knowing which ideas would spark real connection.
Today, she has backed more than 300 projects, most of them in Magic & Divination. She discovers them through Kickstarter’s recommendations, through her own late-night searches, and through the creators whose work she returns to again and again.
With that much experience, she understands what draws people in and what makes them hesitate. So we asked her to share the insights she’s gathered along the way — for anyone preparing to launch a project in Magic & Divination, or anywhere on Kickstarter.
You’re a former corporate employee. When did you change your path in life?
It was never really a change in my life path, but more of a parallel. I have always had an interest in all things mystical. In recent decades, with the exponential growth and development of Tarot and Oracle decks in all their variations, I have remained captivated.
How did you first become aware of Kickstarter?
My first venture into Kickstarter began in 2017 when Marcus Katz from Magicka School/Tarot Association invited his membership to back a Lo Scarabeo project on Kickstarter.
Becca Sangwin
What was the first project you backed?
The first project I backed was Lo Scarabeo’s Fundamental Guide to the Tarot World created by River Horse.
Do you remember why you decided to back it?
Between the author lineup, my love of Tarot, and the three-part format that takes you from total beginner to confident adept, I was hooked.
And, after that, what kept you returning?
From backing the first project the platform opened a whole new world of Tarot and Oracle creations, and from there I have been sourcing most of my decks, from the creators who launch on Kickstarter.
You’ve backed over 300 projects, which is incredible! To you, what makes a campaign worth supporting?
When I'm interested in backing a project, I consider the creator's purpose, the imagery, and the deck's energy.
In this vein, do you have any advice for creators?
Creators today face the challenge of competing with many projects that feature similar graphics. My recommendation is to ensure that the background clearly shows how the deck or work connects to its suits and imagery. And if the graphics are not available at launch, the write-up must carry enough energy to make the audience say, “Let me consider this project even without artwork."
I would also suggest that creators encourage their backers to become followers and encourage creators to follow each other. This will strengthen their community as well as enhance the exposure of fellow creators—when they back a project their followers will be alerted. I have backed a number of projects in this way as well, because I would not have seen them otherwise.
What else makes a project stand out for you?
At a high level, it's the background to the creation: the why, the target audience, and the category of the work. For example, “runic,” “nature,” “astrology,” “cultural.” Is it a reflective deck? Does it take you on a soul journey? Is it a reimagining of the traditional decks? There are also certain creators I follow, and 99.9% of the time, I will support them.
We asked Ann-Marie to share a few live and upcoming Kickstarter projects that have caught her eye, each chosen for its intention, imagery, and energetic pull.
Projects We Love: Ann-Marie’s Picks
Pre-Launch
Sargasso Journaling Oracle by Amber Malott: The first of its kind: Write your guidebook, name the cards- this deck is all about your internal self.
Magic Waters Luxury Tarot & Oracle Deck by Val Str: Fusion of Tarot and Oracle illustrated around the world. Unique storytelling, deep symbolism, messages of wisdom, intuition activation
Live-Projects
Soul Guide Tarot: A Modern Seeker Transformative Tarot Deck by Soul Compass: The Tarot Deck That Speaks the Language of Your Soul | A Luminous Fusion of Psychology, Symbolism, and Tarot Art that Feels Alive
Slavic Spirits: Tarot Deck from Real Witches by Anastaslia Zelenska: Tarot deck inspired by Slavic Spirits and created by practicing witches
The Wild Sovereign Oracle Deck by Jayme Bales: A 67-card oracle of Goddess wisdom, crafted from Anatolian temples and mythic memory: awakening the Wild Sovereign within.
Becca Sangwin
Superbackers like Ann-Marie play a powerful role on Kickstarter, discovering projects early, following creators they trust, and helping meaningful ideas find their audience. Her story is a reminder that behind every successful campaign is a community of backers who believe in the work and the vision behind it.
