Tarot for Creativity: A Guide for Igniting Your Creative Practice

by Chelsey Pippin Mizzi

Tarot isn’t just for divination—it’s also a great way to connect to your creativity. Discover how tarot can help you stay inspired and make your best work with this practical guidebook.

For modern mystics of any level—from the seasoned cartomancer to the total novice—Tarot for Creativity offers a fresh take on the rich tradition of the tarot.

In this unique and practical guide, tarot reader and life coach Chelsey Pippin Mizzi explores each of the standard 78 tarot cards and provides an accessible explanation of how their symbols and archetypes relate to creativity, four prompts to encourage creative experimentation and self-discovery, and a spread to help you integrate each card's message into your work. These thoughtful entries are accompanied by vibrant contemporary artwork from the Modern Way Tarot deck, created by J. Bindels and illustrated by N. Fernando.

Whether you're a writer, artist, engineer, chef, or influencer, this guidebook offers down-to-earth advice for honing your voice, overcoming blocks, and cultivating your creative magic.

A NEW APPROACH TO TAROT: Whether you're an experienced practitioner or a new initiate, Tarot for Creativity invites you to explore tarot as a form of storytelling and self-reflection that can yield abundant creative and personal growth.

WE ARE ALL CREATIVE: All humans are creative. But that doesn’t mean great ideas come easily. Drawing on her experience as a tarot reader and life coach, Chelsey Pippin Mizzi teaches us to tap into our imagination, overcome blocks, and deepen our relationship with our creativity, all using tarot as a powerful tool.

COMBINES WITH ANY TAROT DECK: Tarot for Creativity can be combined with any tarot card deck to add a new dimension to your practice. Use it with your favorite set, or gift it to a creative friend alongside a deck that speaks to their personality, from a classic Rider-Waite tarot deck to modern favorites like Mystic Mondays Tarot or Cat Tarot.

Perfect for:
Tarot and oracle card lovers of all experience levels
Artists and writers of all ages
Working and aspiring creatives, including bloggers, designers, and entrepreneurs
Hobbyists who want to experiment with and nurture a creative practice
Anyone interested in self-care and personal growth

Genres: Tarot, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Lauren Chase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unique and fresh approach to the tarot and a valuable resource and tool for readers. Author Chelsey Pippin Mizzi has created an engaging journey through the tarot through the lens of creativity. Each card is featured with a description, a creative prompt, *and* a special card reading spread with a specific layout and questions. A really novel approach and a great resource for any tarot reader and especially for those who engage in creative activities. The author makes it clear that creativity isn't just for artists - she says in the introduction, "...make no mistake, we all live creative lives. You may be an artist, a writer, an entrepreneur, a teacher, a manager, a consultant, a content creator, a coder. Whatever you do, your work and lifestyle rely on creative thinking." Would definitely recommend and as both a tarot reader and an artist, I can see myself using this book for both reference and inspiration in the future.

ARC from NetGalley

[Leeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book on Tarot. There's a page for every card, a nice, easy-to-understand description of each card and how it relates to creativity. Then my personal favorite? A diagram of the card spread, cards are numbered, and the question each one represents is literally written on the card.

I like how each of the card spreads are 1-4 cards each. Nothing complicated. Then, the back of the book has some more advanced spreads with more cards but are again, labeled with the number and the question as well as a description of the spread and how to use it.

I definitely have a couple of friends that I will be recommending this book to.

[Christina GT · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happen to think this book is pretty neat. I like the artwork and I think it complements this book well. I honestly don't know too much about tarot beyond the very basics. I like how the book is formatted. I really like the ideas for using the tarot to help with your creativity. The author's recommendation to keep a "tarot journal" is a fabulous idea. I will be starting my own tarot journal while I reread and work through this book. I think this book would be good for anyone wanting a brief introduction to tarot and those that would like to try different ways of using the tarot. This book would make a good gift too. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly haven't seen a tarot book quite like this before. I thought it would be a book with prompts or craft activities, but it is much more. The author shares an approachable and modern view of tarot framing the cards to reflect on how they might represent the artist and their craft. The book includes detailed descriptions of each tarot card and prompts for writing, visual art, meditation, and other activities. Moreover, there's a mini spread for all 52 cards to explore their meanings further. The appendix offers an example of how to interpret a spread, which is especially helpful for beginners looking to enhance their tarot skills.

I appreciate the author's inclusive and practical approach to creativity. They write, "It is impossible to be human and not be creative." Both art and tarot can feel mysterious and exclusive. It's wonderful to find such a welcoming message here. I would recommend this book to any artist with a tarot practice. It is suitable for both beginners and intermediate tarot practitioners.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is based on a digital version of the book. The paper version would evoke a very different response for reasons that I will explain.

Tarot for Creativity is supposed to help creative people (and the author says that EVERYONE is creative in some way) overcome whatever is blocking their creative work. As an experienced tarot reader and a writer who is facing a significant block, I had high hopes for this book. I was disappointed.

The author starts with a brief history of tarot and a less-brief description of her own accomplishments as a creativity coach. It then goes through the deck, card by card, with each of the Major and Minor cards receiving a full-page black and white illustration (with a single colored object or flourish) based on the Modern Way Tarot, a minimalist Rider Waite clone deck. (I assume the author has some kind of arrangement with the creator of the deck) These illustrations lack faces, which seem to me to be part of what makes any good tarot deck so intriguing. For example, the shocked expression on the face of the Page of Cups when he realizes his cup contains a fish has always been an important part of that card's meaning to me. It seems weird to emphasize the "playfulness" of the card when the illustration seems so static. (I am aware that many decks lack faces, but choosing such a deck, in my opinion, detracts from the effectiveness of this book.)

Each illustration has a title like "Trust Your Own Creative Worth" or "Hold Space for the Hard Stuff" which is then elaborated on the next page. Some of these had very little to do with the various traditional meanings of the card.

After the description, four "creative prompts" suggest activities that the reader can try. While there were some differences, most of these appeared to follow a pattern of physical movement (dance, yoga, walking, breathwork, etc) artistic experimentation (draw, sculpt, create a song, write a story, novel, or play), activity (plant a seed, cook a special meal, help a stranger or family member, etc.) and journaling.

On the same page as the "creative prompts" a spread specific to the chosen card is illustrated. Some of these strike me as silly because they involved shuffling the deck, searching through it for the specific card, and then using two, three, or four cards that happen to be behind that card. Why not just shuffle and deal or draw? Many of the spreads do just that, so why bother with the other "techniques?" The questions on each card in the spread relate to the title of the illustration. Some of them were better than others.

While I can see that some of this material might be helpful, the digital format ruins the book. Trying to read it on a small phone screen requires expanding each individual page, which is a recipe for eventual headaches. The acsm file on a computer screen requires scrolling through the whole thing to get to any other page. This limits its use as a reference book.. A linked index might have improved things, but that was unavailable.

As a Kindle reader, I found it difficult to use the acsm format. Perhaps the Kindle version would be better. Still, if I were going to purchase a copy of Tarot For Creativity, I would wait for the paper version.

I am grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read a free advance copy of this book.

[Ariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I recommend this book for people who are already somewhat comfortable with interpreting tarot and who also need structure and guidance for their creative expression.

I do not strongly recommend this for those who are very new to tarot. The writer's approach is to introduce each card, give associations to these cards based on familiar concepts, such as works of art or entertainment that could be associated with those ideas, and then frame the card in relation to Creativity before offering suggestions of several creative exercises and a spread based on the card to explore the idea further. It's an engaging approach toward the tarot, but if you do not have your own relationship with the tarot and your own concepts of what each card means, you would be limited by just the author's interpretation and framing of each card. There are numerous books that offer multiple approaches to each card interpretation to help you shape your own understanding of the tarot and it would help to have that background before diving into this. Some of the card interpretations had me thinking "Yes, I'd see how you'd see it that way, but that isn't how I would interpret that card for the most part..." but that's only because I've formed a different relationship to Tarot than the author has.

I also do not strongly recommend this for those who already have some form of structure for their creativity or find creative outlet outside the form of writing and drawing. A prompt to make a collage might inspire you to try something new, but if your creative outlet is dance or music or ceramics, you might find it hard to utilize the creative prompts in a meaningful way to form a deeper relationship to the cards. Many of the prompts involve writing, contemplation, or drawing, though some will stretch into unexpected realms, like a Hermit prompt to go on a solo trip and record your experience. Depending on how you express your creativity, this book will either be an incredible resource of ideas or very little will resonate with you.

Some of the spreads designed in the book (one spread for each card) are very original and clever. Some, you could replace the word "creativity" for "parenthood" or "spirituality" or "career" and have a similar spread with a different focus on another concept. Which may be great for those who want to use the book for other angles like that. It's a good jumping off point to take your mind in new pathways if you have the time and space to dedicate yourself to trying out the different spreads and creative prompts in the book.

This is a fantastic and well-designed book for those who have a comfortable relationship with reading tarot and would like to develop a creative life. It's not so much for those who do not yet understand the meanings behind the cards, have an unconventional creative outlet, or are already fairly confident in the structure and direction of their own creative output.

[RedReviews4You Susan-Dara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished reading and using Chelsey Pippin Mizzi's Tarot for Creativity and to say that I am impressed with this workbook immensely underrepresents my reaction. This book uses the Tarot in a way that speaks to both my logical and spiritual selves. It inspires, as well as captures the mythic intuition that so many seek when using a Tarot Deck. In short, Mizzi's book is both a creative guide and a creativity tool. For me, Tarot for Creativity is a Complete Text and so much more than a workbook: it is is a beautifully crafted and illustrated Tarot Handbook with clear instruction and context, an insightful and compelling Guidebook for self discovery, and an inspiring and provocative Workbook that is easy to use regardless of skill level. Joining these together, it is easy to see that this is a tool any creative person can use to help them when stuck in their art or with a troublesome day. Being able to look to a specific card as a guiding question allows the user to highlight a specific issue that needs to be addressed, or when allowing the Tarot to guide you to a random card is an exercise in reflection on inspiration. And, having all the cards of the Tarot represented through such clear and direct illustrations that connect back to myth and Tarot history, it ensures this book has universal appeal for any reader, artist, or Tarot user.

Personally, I have been using this book to find writing inspiration and self exploration. The spreads that I have used, have lead me to many different activities ranging from journaling and creative writing exercises along with more art based forms like collage, drawings, and illustrations that have all challenged me to intriguing results. To be honest, when stuck with a character arc, I have even done these spreads posing as characters in my own fiction to help me dive deeper into their own stories and help me work through Writing Blocks and chracter 'dead ends'. All of these activities have not only called to me, but stretched me beyond what I would have instinctively reached out for. As you can see, Tarot for Creativity has proven itself to be a great way to bring a dependable, friendly, and encouraging voice to my day that has challenged me to exercise my creativity and build confidence in myself. Every card's section and the connected discussions and activities have become a strong personal workout and a way to keep my curious inner child playing while learning about herself.

This is a book that authors, artists, and other creative people like BookTockers and Bookstagrammers, as well as those doing Oracle Spreads, will find a clear, useful tool that provides inspiration for those days when creativity is lagging in this book. No mater.

Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the arc I read

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy from Chronicle Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you’ve been looking for a Tarot book to help you expand your Tarot knowledge, then this might be a good book for you! Inside, you will find an introduction, and some basic information on Tarot before diving into the cards. The rest of the book goes through each card in the Major and Minor Arcana. The book helps readers look at the cards differently than they may normally look at them. I’ve used my Tarot and Oracle cards for creative inspiration before, so I like that this book will help people look at their cards in a new light. I also love that there’s so many different spreads included in the book. There’s a spread after each card plus seven spreads at the end of the book.

I think this is an excellent book to have in your collection if you are a Tarot reader, especially if you are artistic in any way. There’s a ton of little creative prompts throughout the book, so even if you don’t pull some cards for yourself or someone else, the prompts may get the wheels in your mind spinning when you feel like you’re stuck.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book came to me at just the right time! I am at a crossroads in my creative practice, with many disorganized ideas and questions about where to go next. I also recently got a “create-your-own” tarot deck, and I think this book will be the perfect companion, letting me explore creative ideas while manifesting them on the cards. I’ve pre-ordered the paperback book and will eagerly get started with the ebook.

The author takes a creative, contemporary and positive approach to tarot, reframing the cards to reflect on how they might work with a creative practice. Each card has prompts (including such activities as journaling, creating an artwork reflecting the card, or even writing and filming a short script. For each card, there is a mini spread and instructions on how to pull and read it (an appendix has several more in-depth spreads).

As with tarot practice itself, when something comes into your life unexpectedly, it’s up to you to listen. Thanks to the universe for putting this in my path, and to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC.

[Anastaciaknits · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve never owned a tarot deck in my life, and have only had one reading in my life. But I was intrigued by this title and description because my creativity has completely disappeared, I am not inspired by much and feel like I have no unique ideas left. So naturally this book caught my eye.

The book begins by a rather dry, but necessary section of the basics of tarot and tarot decks, which I did learn from. And then the rest of the book is devoted to how different spreads can be interpréted to mean different things, which one can then draw their own inspiration from. It’s meant to be a stepping stone, a beginning, with room for your own personality and skill sets, by your own actual struggles. It does this very well.

I was a bit disappointed that a book about creativity lacked a lot of its own creativity. I expected bright photos and graphics, and we instead see basic illustrations which does nothing to inspire or lead you into reading further. However the information written is entirely different.

[Michelle Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the idea of this prior to starting it - I’m still recently out of the worst depression of my life and during this period, I lost all my creative urges / drive and it saddens me that creativity, which was such a natural state for me, no longer seems to be. Therefore, I wanted to read this, to see if I could (hopefully) kickstart my creativity with this guide.

The book is well written, and The layout is clean with the card pages in bright, vivid colors. The text goes into the creativity behind each card, gives examples of spreads, offers prompts and exercises.

I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to read an early copy of Tarot for Creativity: I was impressed and pleased during my reading - it’s comprehensive with suggestions and exercises that are easy to put into practice. I really found a lot within the pages, and it’s a title I’ll be getting for my own bookshelf.



Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the PDF

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy of this book.

This book has beautiful illustrations and formatting that make it easy to follow and understand.

Each entry has an illustration, an explanation of how to understand the card, creative prompts, and a tarot spread.

At the end of each section, there are exercises to do with the major arcana and the minor arcana suits.

It seems like the cards for the suits are similar enough to each other that it would be cool to see a side-by-side comparison. For example, if all the suits for the 3s are on one page (or multiple if need be).

I wish there was a reference index for the cards’ spreads and when to use them. Otherwise, it would involve flipping through the book until you find what you need.

In the end, I think I’ll end up buying this once it’s released.

[Jane whimsyandbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an artist who has very little time to be creative (read: mother), I found this book to be the perfect little jumping-off point to help you get started creating when you haven’t been able to dive into your creativity in a long time. I have used the Tarot to come up with ideas in the past, and this book will help me do that in a more focused and intentional way. It’s great for beginner and seasoned readers alike. I’d say I am fairly familiar with reading the Tarot, but lean more towards beginner. It covers a simple history of the cards, how to use them. There’s a thorough explanation of each card for creativity, prompts, and a spread for each card to further understand your reading of a specific card that is pulled. There are additional exercises for each of the four suits. At the end there are seven large spreads to really help you dig deep. I can’t wait to physically have this book in my hands. I already preordered this book. Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing me with an eARC.


[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an absolutely delightful book on using the tarot to fuel your creativity.

Chelsey Pippin Mizzi has delivered a book full of helpful tarot information, like how to interpret each of the cards. But where this differs from other tarot books is that Chelsey helps to interpret each card from a creative point of view. They offer to the reader multiple ways to interact with the cards through journaling, art, storytelling, and poetry. They also offer a tarot spread for understanding each card as it relates to one’s individual creative journey. I appreciated their handling of the ‘difficult’ cards in a more uplifting way.

This should be a definite purchase for anyone interested in tarot!

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for a digital copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

What I liked best about this book was that although the focus is on increasing and drawing out creativity many of the prompts and ideas can be used across a variety of situations. I found myself taking note of some of the questions to apply to other life situations in which looking deeper and questioning more of what is blocking me from doing something. This book is also easy to navigate and the layouts easy to follow. I liked how the author goes through each card and explains how it ties into overall theme of creativity; I also really liked the visual representation for each card. I highly recommend this book to anyone who may be feeling stuck (in really any aspect of life) and looking for a new way to analyze a situation or get guidance on possible next steps to take.

[Erin Martins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Tarot for Creativity by Chelsey Pippin Mizzi! This book is such a wealth of information for anyone looking to spark their creative energy or dive deeper into tarot. Chelsey’s writing is so approachable and the way she connects tarot to the creative process is genius, and her prompts and exercises are inspiring and easy to follow. This book is great for newbies (like me) and is packed with fresh ideas and insights to help you tap into your imagination. I haven’t made it all the way through the book yet because there is so much to learn, but it has become my go-to whenever I need a creative boost or just want to feel more connected to my intuition. Highly recommend! Thank you to Chronicle and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Antoinette Van Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is chock full of wonderful prompts toward creativity and self-reflection using tarot cards as a guide for that purpose. i liked that the illustrations (and whole book) were so colorful and left more open-ended since not all tarot decks look the same (though usually incorporating similar elements on each card, depending on the tradition they draw from). simple explanation of each card and a whole spread for each focusing on the theme of that card, as identified by the author (sometimes a broader interpretation and more angled to creative practice than traditional meanings). i will definitely be keeping this in rotation for journaling prompts in all the tough and easy parts of the creative process (in all mediums)!

[Mollified.Moments · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Tarot for Creativity" is a true delight! As a web/graphic designer, I found its innovative blend of tarot and creativity captivating. The creative prompts and spreads were undeniably unique, offering fresh perspectives and unlocking new levels of inspiration. However, I didn't quite resonate with either the artwork or the typography, as the latter was jarring and hard to read at times. Nevertheless, the book's content was top-notch and its approach to tarot truly refreshing. I'm eager to explore further and highly recommend it to fellow tarot enthusiasts looking to spark their creative journey!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarot for Creativity by Chelsey Pippin Mizzi is a fantastic book for anyone who would like to incorporate tarot into their creative projects. I can also see this book being used as a guide to work through the entire 78 cards of the tarot to learn archetypes and meanings through a creative process.

I appreciate the layout of the table of contents, clearly stating each card and it's topic. A card could be drawn at random and then follow along with the corresponding chapter, or choose a card by its listed theme.

Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexa Esperanza · Rating 5 out of 5]

As both a creative and spiritual person, I absolutely loved this book. Tarot for Creativity is all about how to use the Tarot less for the purpose of seeing into the future and more about gaining insight on the present with regards to your creative practices which I can 100% get behind. There’s no nonsense explanations and insights on every card making this a great book for both veterans and beginners. There are also practical spreads and exercises to help you gain insight while on your creative journey, no matter your artistic medium or skill level. This is definitely a book I’ll be going back to a lot!

[Cyrambo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect with this book and I was pleasantly surprised. The book is broken down by card and has specific prompts for each one as well as a guide on how to interpret the meaning of the card in relation to your creative endeavors. I'm reviewing this at work, but I can't wait to sit down at home with my own cards and put some of it into practice. I would recommend this to any artist, writer, creator, or practitioner looking to expand their craft. Thank you Chelsea Pippin Mizzi, Chronicle Books, and NetGalley for the chance to review this ARC.

[Victoria Proctor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get bursts of creativity but I always wanted to be more consistent and have looked for many ways to combat the block I get. I also enjoy using tarot but never knew I could use tarot to help with my creative blocks. This guide not only gives a good explanation of tarot in general it provides useful tools allowing one to use tarot in a wide variety of ways. It's well put together and I plan on using it over and over.

[Liz H · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's a fantastic guide that blends the wisdom of tarot and the creative process. It offers a fresh perspective on how tarot can be used as a tool for unlocking inspiration, overcoming creative blocks, and enhancing artistic expression. The exercises and prompts are practical, having you explore your own creative potential in new ways. This book is a valuable resource.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book!

[Maddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the free copy in exchange for a review!

If you are into anything creative or tarot-related, this book is perfect for you. I LOVED this book - I am a huge creator and I love using tarot in my everyday life, I want to start using tarot in my creative endeavors and this book was the perfect starting place for learning all about tarot for self-reflection. I would highly recommend this book for artists or lovers of tarot.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tarot for Creativity by Chelsey Pippin Mizzi is a lovely illustrated guide to using tarot to express or influence creativity. It explains what each of the major and minor arcana influences regarding creativity and provides specific spreads based on each card. There are also details of other spreads for creativity.

[Sammyreadsdarkthings · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book and concept!
To go through each card within tarot, study it, and find a creative form of expression from the prompts given. Along with a tarot spread for each card. This was very well thought out and very organized. Also something that can be used over and over within someone’s spiritual journey.

Thank you netgalley, author, and publisher for the eARC

[Darian Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is a fun new approach to using tarot in a person's life. I like to do tarot readings not only for daily life readings, Having a new approach and a method of deepening my relationship to art and creativity is very fun and I recommend it for people who find themselves getting in a creative rut.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read for all levels!
This is a great resource for everyone! Because, as the author says, we are all creative. I found the writing and the content in this book to be easily consumed, but easy to put to use. Regardless of your level of experience with The Tarot.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve never had anything jump start my creativity like Chelsea’s book. Her insights and spreads have helped me immensely. Sometimes I just read a few pages for inspiration and others I’m using it to dive into specific cards I’ve pulled. It works any way you want to use it!

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tarot for Creativity is so fun! I loved this approach to Tarot reading it is spontaneous and interesting. I enjoyed the fresh approach and the knowledge you can be creative in his you choose to do a tarot reading and the book definitely inspired creativity. I highly recommend it!