The Man Behind The Mantra Card

The Tarot has been around since the 1400’s and it was in the 1700’s that mystics started to use the deck as a divination tool to connect with higher realms for information to predict the future. 

At the Temple & the Moon Collective we believe this power is within us all, it’s for us to set our own future by using the Tarot or Oracle cards as a tool for self reflection. 

Receiving a reading either from someone else or from yourself is a good way to tap into your inner wisdom, reflect on how things have been going and get advice on what to do next to support you in whatever you might be navigating. 

We wanted to create our own cards that had all the richness and meaning of the Tarot but with modern mantras and positive affirmations, that could offer the reader wisdom, advice and a chance to connect to ourselves and reflect. 

Cue, Richard Chasemore, our cosmic creator and talented illustrator who made our dream a reality, we caught up with him in his studio by the sea. 

T&TM: How Long have you been illustrating? 

Richard: I’ve been a professional illustrator for nearly 30 years but I’ve always loved drawing, even when I was little at school nearly every single piece of my work was supported with a tiny picture.

T&TM: What inspires you to create? 

 Richard: I don’t think I was ever inspired to create it’s just something that I want to do. I went to the college at Bournemouth, UK, where there was a technical illustration course. I remember one of the students opening a chest drawer to show me his work and on seeing it I just said to myself this is what I want to do, literally before that moment I had no idea! 

I definitely get a kick out of a finished piece of artwork, especially if I have something in my head I want to create and I actually manage to make it happen. I’m absolutely loving oil painting at the moment, but photography is a fantastic medium, because it’s so quick and easy to create beautiful images. I’m always questioning if I’m any good though and it’s only when I see a piece of artwork after a few months of not seeing it that I can really look at it with a clear head but that’s probably true of everybody.

T&TM: What’s been the work you’ve done that you’re most proud of? 

Richard: I think some of my most favourite work is my oil paintings, it was something I didn’t think I was going to be able to do, but turns out it was great fun and they have been coming out really nice.

I have to say the Temple & The Moon Mantra card was just such good fun as I didn’t have a brief from someone else, I was creating it from my own belief and images in my head after talking to the modern mystics. 

T&TM: We hear you’ve worked on Star Wars, how did that happen? 

Richard: Yes I worked on the Star Wars projects for over 10 years. I was creating some books for Dorling Kindersley at the time and I was called up to say Lucas films were interested in collaborating. A few months later I was in the art department at Skywalker Ranch! How cool is that?

I really loved working on that project. I was not only sharing a space with the most talented artists I’ve ever met in my life, they were so generous in helping and being around, that quality of talent really brought my skills up. 

What was funny was that they had piles of my books especially the military ones, they said when I agreed to work with them they cheered and said “we got the tank man”. 

The added bonus was my art works were being used in the actual films and the sets were being built from my designs. That felt pretty incredible.

T&TM: were there any crazy moments?

Richard: I was told off once though by Industrial Light and Magic, the special effects studio, for making my designs too complicated!

T&TM: Did you get to meet George?

Richard: Yes, I was particularly happy after the first time because I was suddenly introduced, we chatted and I was completely cool… It was definitely quite surreal whilst sat working and George Lucas was briefing someone about concept work. It was certainly nerve wracking when he was walking about looking at what we were doing, I ran off to hide once when I didn’t have something to work on lol. It was an amazing place, they even had a Skywalker Ranch fire engine with a X-Wing badge on the side, as did the security staff uniforms. One of the other lovely things was that they grew all their own fruit and veg which they used in the restaurant and canteen. I never got to try the wine from their vineyards though.

T&TM: So what made you say yes to hanging out with the Modern Mystics at Temple & TheMoon? More like Star Gazing than Star Wars!

Richard: Temple & The Moon came along in lock down and it was perfect timing for my headspace. Having enjoyed yoga for several years now, I’ve always been into the spiritual side of life and this gave me a chance to connect with it more. I guess spending hundreds of hours on big illustrations it’s kind of like meditating right! I really enjoyed going on several retreats with the incredible Pip as well and I defy anyone to do a yoga nidra session and not be amazed by the results! Powerful stuff…

T&TM: How do you maintain focus when you’re working on such detailed projects?

Richard: Staying focused is definitely one of the hardest things that you can overcome and I suspect people that have been working from home or furloughed have felt what it’s like to be self-employed, or to work as an artist, focus is greatly helped by the scary deadline monster though! 

It would also be fair to say that your current project is like a good book, you really just want to work on it and get it done and the only way that happens is by sitting down and doing it!

T&TM: We love the 1960sFantasy style of the card. What symbolism can people expect to see in this first Moon Mantra card? 

Richard: The card was inspired by conversations with the Temple & the Moon Collective about the full moon. I really like the thought of the river being like a life line and adding things around that are in your control and out of your control, such as storms and perhaps not being able to see your way to the sea but knowing where it is, I even added a protective element!

In the card there is a river snaking back on itself so actually it may not go anywhere, but also there is a possibility that behind the Priestess the path to the sea and your goals/dreams in the form of the sea are there. I really like the idea of the storm and lightning to be problems, or even beauty out of your control, self help, discovery, hidden help to navigate you to your goals & dreams.

The mantra at the bottom of the card says so much to so many...

A limited edition Moon Mantra card is currently available within the Temple & The Moon Ritual Kits which all members of the Ritual Magick Course will receive.