Beautiful Bullshit is a unique compilation of essays penned over the past decade, exploring the concept of presence as a magical phenomenon. This 70-page work was published in 2022.

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Enrique Enriquez about the Tarot de Marseille and his insightful notes, Beautiful Bullshit.

Below is the full interview with Enrique:

Hello Enrique! What initially attracted you to tarot?

I’ve shared this before, but during my time at design school, a teacher would read tarot cards to his students. The class was predominantly female, and he spent hours alone with them, engaging with the cards.

The allure of these images, sacred as they are for having been passed down through generations, is deeply connected to their power to captivate and create intimacy. Though we never spoke, this teacher taught me that there are profound forms of connection beyond mere physical attraction.

Why do you favor the Tarot de Marseille?

It’s not about preference; the Marseille tarot feels alive, while others seem static. Each image resonates with the others, inviting a poetic interplay that reflects the world’s vibrancy. The Marseille tarot transcends itself, offering a narrative that remains fresh and engaging.

Your notes, Beautiful Bullshit, compile essays from the last decade. How did you choose the title?

Life has surpassed its own parodies. The absurdity highlighted by Alfred Jarry a century ago has been eclipsed by a pataphysical reality. Today, magic feels superficial, as it’s daily life that disrupts us. We find ourselves in a chaotic search for meaning, where language fails to convey its intended significance. In response to this overwhelming noise, I propose a movement toward harmony through language—both visual and verbal—epitomized in the phrase BEAUTIFUL BULLSHIT.

Is there a central theme in your essays?

Instead of merely interpreting the symbolism of a man hanging upside down, I’m intrigued by the significance of someone carrying that image in their pocket. Can we analyze the act of reading? Can we see the cartomancer’s presence as a signifier in our world?

For 15 years, I’ve read tarot for the same woman almost daily, drawing us closer to the present. One day, we will recognize ourselves in the cards. The next day, they will reflect yesterday, and the day after, the day before. Every promise lives in anticipation and memory, and as we reach the future, the tarot reveals an increasingly distant past.

The essays approach tarot not through the mechanics of reading but through the lens of this exploration.

What key takeaway do you hope readers gain from your notes?

The notes start with a method for reading playing cards that enhances memory and flexibility of imagination. This technique can be applied to anything, from fallen eyelashes to seashells. The essays then encourage us to lift our gaze from the table and observe the world. A deck of cards is a tangible object whose cultural significance often overshadows its symbolic meaning. The most powerful image in my essays is that of the tarot acting as a lever that shifts our perception of reality.

Can you elaborate on the lecture associated with Beautiful Bullshit?

The notes reflect my interest in developing the concept of post-cartomancy, where our ongoing engagement with the cards allows us to embody the tarot, becoming the very force that shifts reality.

Thank you for sharing your insights with us. We are excited to collaborate on future projects and are pleased to offer Beautiful Bullshit in our store!

We hope you enjoyed our conversation. In the coming weeks, we will unveil a new project with Enrique that will complement these notes perfectly. Be sure to grab your copy while supplies last.

Happy reading!

William Rader

About Enrique Enriquez

Enrique Enriquez is a New York City-based artist whose work delves into the magical aspects of language, birdsong, dreams, and the Tarot de Marseille. He authored Tarology (2011), regarded as one of the most unconventional books on tarot, along with two interview collections: EN TEREX IT & EX ITENT ER (2012), and Linguistick (2013), a volume of pataphysical poetry. His theories are central to the independent film TAROLOGY, the Poetics of Tarot (2011), directed by Chris Deleo.