COVER REVEAL: The Shadow Path

+ Exclusive artwork from my new book, out next year

Hi little coven.

No matter what day or time you read this, there will be a full moon in the sky.

This is true because even when the moon is on the other side of the world, even when it appears in slivers and bites, the moon is always a complete object.

You may only see what the light reveals, or what your personal vantage point allows. But it’s always there, the whole of it. New, full and in between, the moon does its work: it drags the tide and stabilizes the tilt of the earth’s axis.

The funny thing is that even when we call it full, we only see the half of it. The dark side of the moon is always hiding on the other side of its bright, full face.

The funnier thing is that your soul works the same way…

So begins the introduction to THE SHADOW PATH, my third book, publishing this January via Bluebird, an imprint of PanMacmillan (all formats in the UK, and Europe and on audio in the US, with a print date forthcoming).

Looking for the recording of our most recent tarot journaling club session? Find it here.

Today, I’m delighted to be able to share the GORGEOUS cover art for The Shadow Path with you:

The Shadow Path is a project that grew, appropriately, in the shadow of my previous two books: The Tarot Spreads Yearbook and Tarot for Creativity. Laboring over these prior projects over the last four years drew me to confront and illuminate things hiding in my own Shadow: my fears and doubts, but also my most authentic creative voice.

My work with the tarot drew me to become a certified Shadow Work practitioner and equip myself with the tools and resources to bring Shadow work — the process of uncovering and reclaiming what lies hidden in our inner depths — and this book was borne out of a desire to make that work accessible to readers through gentle, creative practices that highlight not just the darkness that lies in the depths of us, but the golden light hidden under bushels of shame and expectation that we never asked for, or deserved.

The book offers a ten-week journey to discovering and connecting to the depths at the core of you through meditative and creative exercises. Think of it as a gentler, but equally transformative take on The Artist’s Way. ¹

It’s the perfect book for anyone struggling to confront their inner critic, unprocessed pain, and close-held secrets. But it’s also the perfect book for creative seekers who are simply interested in new ways of getting to know themselves on a deeper level. Along the Shadow Path you’ll meet your Shadow, give it a name, listen to its stories, co-create art with it, and ultimately discover the potential that lies deep within you when you allow yourself to embrace every part of you.

And, if you opt to purchase the audio book, MY voice will be the one to guide you down that path.

“But Chelsey, didn’t you JUST publish a book?”

I did! Consider this the Evermore to my Folklore and enjoy! Honestly, though publishing is weird: I started work on Tarot for Creativity in 2020, I finished writing it in early 2023, but it only saw shelves 2 months ago.

I had been creatively “finished” with Tarot for Creativity for over a year when I started working on The Shadow Path — a project that my work on Tarot for Creativity really shepherded into the light. So much so that I used tarot cards for creative inspiration when developing the 365 days of Shadow Work & Play prompts available in the back of the new book.

Working with a “Big Four” publisher has enabled the timeline on this book to be significantly faster, so, though these two books gestated in very different versions of me, The Shadow Path arrives as a late twin to Tarot for Creativity. I couldn’t be more proud of the way these books serve as companions to each other.

Each book, in its own way, is about charting a course to our most authentic modes of expression; each asks us to get beyond ourselves, to take risks and to make discoveries. To believe in the magic inside of us.

The Shadow Path has been beautifully illustrated by Sinead Hayward and I’m so excited to share a few of those illustrations with you for THE VERY FIRST TIME:

Pre-Order Perks

Pre-orders are key to any book’s success — the number of copies pre-ordered helps bookshops decide whether or not they’re going to stock a book in their shop, invite authors to visit, and/or promote a book to relevant readers through bookclubs, workshops, and other activities.

Pre-orders also determine where a book sits in the algorithm for online sellers. Books often struggle to be found when they don’t have the foundation of solid pre-order support, and this can affect authors’ prospects when it comes to pitching future books to publishers.

So to say I’d be grateful and honored to receive your support through a pre-order would be putting it lightly. As an incentive and a thank you, I’d love to offer you some special gifts for pre-ordering my book.

You can provide proof of your pre-order via this form to receive the following gifts, delivered to you on publication day (Jan 2):

• An exclusive Tarot Spreads for Shadow Work ebook

• A written tarot message from your Shadow

• 1 free month of full-access subscription to The Shuffle (pre-existing full-access subscribers, you’ll get a free month tacked on to your existing subscription).

Pre-order your copy today:

UK readers can use the dropdown menu here to select your preferred format and retailer.

US readers can pre-order the audiobook here.

European and international readers can pre-order from Shakespeare & Company here.

Once you’ve made your order and saved a screenshot of your proof of purchase, you can claim your perks!

Finally, I just want to say that whether this book finds a home on your shelf or not, I so deeply appreciate your presence in this space. Just having you here, having your eyes on my words, makes all the difference. It’s the whole point.

Thank you.

1. Read my thoughts about Shadow work and The Artist’s Way right here on The Shuffle!