Queer Mystical Tarot Series
“Queer Mystical Tarot” latest series by gay photographer.
“The true Tarot is symbolism; it speaks no other language and offers no other signs.”
―
Dmitriy Gushchin has long been fascinated by Tarot cards and esoteric philosophy, seeing them as symbolic maps of human experience and spiritual transformation. Yet the persistent lack of LGBTQ+ representation in modern media inspired him to create the project “Queer Myth Renaissance.” At its core, this work seeks to reclaim myth and archetype through a queer lens, offering imagery that affirms identities too often excluded from mainstream narratives.
A central element of the project is the creation of Queer Tarot images—visual reinterpretations of traditional Tarot that embody queer sexuality, love, and liberation. These works challenge the heteronormative frameworks that dominate cultural storytelling, while opening space for new mythologies that speak directly to LGBTQ+ lives.
Dmitriy’s dream is a world where queer sexuality is regarded as ordinary and natural, rather than sensationalized or treated as a shocking subject. Through the language of myth and the symbolism of Tarot, “Queer Myth Renaissance” envisions a future where queer identity is woven seamlessly into the fabric of collective imagination—recognized not as an exception, but as an essential part of human experience.
Although many of the images created by Boston-based gay photo artist Dmitriy Gushchin have been banned by Instagram and other social platforms under the label of “containing nudity,” Dmitriy sees this as part of a broader pattern of anti-LGBTQ censorship. What began as his visionary series “Obscure Dream Liberation” has unexpectedly turned into the “Instagram Nightmare”—a struggle against the silencing of queer artistic expression in digital spaces.
Currently, Dmitriy’s Instagram account is “shadow blocked,” appearing private to non-subscribers and limiting the visibility of his work. This suppression highlights the urgent need to defend LGBTQ+ rights and freedom of expression. Art should never be censored simply for its honesty, vulnerability, or celebration of queer identity.
By subscribing and following accounts like Dmitriy’s, you stand in solidarity with queer artists who refuse to be erased. He is not alone—this is a collective fight, and every voice matters. Together, we can resist censorship and affirm the power of queer creativity.
You can read more in the article linked below.
You can check the article by clicking the link: https://www.advocate.com/business/instagram-shadowbanning-lgbtq-content . Please support your favorited gay photographer and LGBTQ photo artist community by expressing your opinion to Instagram and other anti-gay social networks. Your opinion hopefully can make the difference!
The Fool (Queer Mystical Tarot Series)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer The Fool reimagines the Tarot’s wanderer as a queer traveler on the threshold of transformation. Standing at the edge of a radiant cliff in mesh, white gloves, and towering platform boots, they embody playful defiance and radical openness to the unknown. A small bundle on a stick and a white rose recall the classic symbol of traveling light, guided by clarity of spirit rather than certainty. Behind them, a glowing egg suggests cosmic rebirth, while a shimmering spirit-creature at their feet echoes the traditional dog—part warning, part guardian, urging them forward with care. Bathed in surreal light, this Fool is not naïve but courageous: a portrait of queer becoming, honoring the risk, vulnerability, and joy of stepping into one’s own path.
The Empress (Queer Mystical Tarot)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer. The Empress reimagines the Tarot archetype as lush, gender-fluid queer femininity—abundant, sensual, and self-sovereign. Seated before a cascading waterfall and wrapped in glowing greenery, the model becomes nature’s vitality in human form. A golden crown, red gloves, and thigh-high boots pulse with power and desire, while subtle mystical details hint at an enchanted realm. The image celebrates queer, gender-fluid embodiment as fertile, fluid, and deeply alive.
The Emperor (Queer Mystical Tarot)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer. The Emperor reimagines the Tarot archetype as a figure of fluid, queer authority—powerful not through rigidity, but through self-possession and self-creation. Seated on a throne of fantastical ram-like guardians beneath a glowing golden crown, they blend strength with sensual, visionary presence. Neon weapons, hovering sigils, and mechanical relics fuse ancient symbolism with futuristic myth, casting this Emperor as a protector of queer realms whose power is defined by clarity of identity and the courage to occupy space without apology.
High Priestess (Queer Mystical Tarot Series)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer. The High Priestess reimagines the Tarot archetype as a queer guardian of mystery, seated on a glowing crescent moon in a lush, nocturnal scene. Their dress, white gloves, and radiant boots merge softness and strength, embodying a fluid play between masculine and feminine energies. An apple pierced by a dagger hints at forbidden knowledge and truth revealed, while the owl in their hand symbolizes calm wisdom beyond illusion. Mirrored figures on industrial staircases hold glowing orbs like modern pillars, opening a passage between conscious and subconscious. Amid rusted beams and urban decay, The High Priestess celebrates queer intuition as sacred power.
The Chariot (Qweer Mystical Tarot series)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer The Chariot reimagines the Tarot’s vehicle of willpower as a queer engine of self-determination. The central figure stands in command of their path, holding tension between opposing forces rather than choosing one side. Surrounded by charged, symbolic motion, they embody resilience and forward drive—moving through hostile systems, claiming space, and steering boldly toward a self-defined future.
Hanged Man (Queer Mystical Tarot Series)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer "Hanged Man" is a part of Major arcana.
The Magus (Queer Mystical Tarot Series)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer "The Magus" is a part of Major arcana.
The Sun (Queer Mystical Tarot Series)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer "The Sun" is a part of Major arcana.
The Hierophant (Queer Mystical Tarot Series)
Dmitriy Gushchin, photographer. The Hierophant from my Queer Mystical Tarot reimagines spiritual authority through a queer lens. Instead of a rigid gatekeeper of tradition, this figure becomes a bridge between worlds—earthly and mystical, personal and collective. Their presence suggests a teacher who blesses divergence rather than conformity, honoring chosen family, lived experience, and non-normative paths as sacred. This Hierophant invites viewers to question inherited dogmas and to trust the truths revealed by their own bodies, desires, and intuition. Here, queer spirituality is not an exception but a valid, powerful way of knowing—an open doorway into a more inclusive, tender, and expansive understanding of what “holy” can mean.
Three of Swords
Boston based photographer Dmitriy Gushchin has a great interest in Tarot cards and esoteric philosophy which reflects in this work "Three of Swords".
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