Microcosm Publishing

Iron and stained glass, brick and stone, clouds and rain-Pittsburgh is arguably America''s most gothic city. Permeated with an old-world sensibility, this once perennially dark and smoggy metropolis that built its wealth through coke and steel is moody, atmospheric, melancholic, and beautiful. Eschewing contemporary stereotypes that reduce the city to just football or sandwiches with fries on them, The Pittsburgh Tarot expresses the complicated and conflicted period of the city''s greatest expansion and influence during the 19th century. This is the same era that inspired the iconic Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot illustrations, and each of the cards in this deck pays homage to those original designs. To that end, The Pittsburgh Tarot features people, events, and themes from the 19th century and through La Belle Epoque, with a special focus on the Gilded Age, the city''s period of greatest significance. With an aesthetic style that calls to mind the gothic work of artist Edward Gorey, this is a beautiful and unique expression of a city that''s as much sentiment and disposition as it is location.

Breaking it off? Got dumped? Parting ways with a pal? Ouch, that hurts. Even beyond the heartache, embarrassment, and logistical strain of the moment, breakups can summon up all our old baggage to come play havoc with our lives and heads. Dr. Faith G. Harper, bestselling author of books like Unfuck Your Brain and Unfuck Your Intimacy, brings you a kind, relatable, and plain-language guide to all things break-up: deciding to do it (or not), doing the thing, and picking up the pieces afterward to build a life that suits you better than ever. Whether or not the breakup was your idea, whether the partnership was romantic, platonic, or a secret third thing, no matter the seriousness of the bond or the shared responsibilities and finances involved, parting ways can be a canon life event with powerful transformational potential as you rise from the wreckage. And it''s never too late to come back to your best self.

A thorough and classic examination on tried and true herbal treatments for common gynecological problems, as well as great basic sexual health info for anyone with a uterus. It begins, ''Patriarchy sucks. It''s robbed us of our autonomy and much of our history. We believe it''s integral to be aware and in control of our own bodies.'' Diagrams and herbal remedies teach you how to diagnose and heal many basic problems from bladder infections to inducing your period to ease cramps to even dealing with pregnancy. Learn herbal remedies to ease every stage of the menstrual cycle. There''s references to further reading, descriptions of herbs, and a section on aphrodisiacs. The sections include: Body Mapping (in brief); About Menstruation; Love in the Age of Aids; 35 years of fertility; STDs and Other Aliens; The Ovaries and the Uterus; Aphrodisiacs; How to Prepare and Use Herbs; Picking Your Own Herbs; Herbal Properties and Dosages; Interesting Reading; Useful Addresses. This book deserves to sit next to your copy of Our Bodies, Our Selves.

In Is There A Cult For That?, Mary Beth Chapman examines what defines a cult and why Americans are so fascinated with them, served up with humor and self-awareness (and charts!). The book also includes fun tips for starting your own cult, including how to choose your idol and how to hire the just the right charismatic cult leader, plus activities like word salad mad libs, red flag bingo, and your very own cult leader paper dolls. Perfect for cult questioners, kool-aid critics, and zealots for fun facts, the quest for the one true path just got a fresh dose of snarky good times.

Comprising all major and minor arcana, they''ve experienced nine times as many lives as humans ever will, and they''re here to guide you through happiness, heartbreak, and whatever else life has in store! Drawn in charismatic, aesthetic poses, each of these 78 cats has their own character and advice. In the accompanying booklet, each card is described from the calm, meditative point of view of a cat. Mysterious and enigmatic yet also charming and sensitive, these cats offer the philosophical outlook you need to divine the future, develop your intuition, and find new perspectives on all of life''s questions.

Trying to figure out the best way to observe a birthday or difficult anniversary? This holiday survival guide from Dr. Faith G. Harper, bestselling author of Unfuck Your Brain and Unfuck Your Boundaries, is for anyone who''s ever struggled with the expense, drama, loneliness, pressure, and feelings that go along with so many of those big days on the calendar. Learn coping, logistical, and conversational strategies for making it through a family holiday dinner without bloodshed. Figure out how to go your own way next year (and how to have that conversation). Gain skills and recipes for hosting your friends or chosen family. Navigate religious, political, and dietary differences. Whatever you celebrate (or would prefer not to), this funny, level-headed, helpful book offers perspective and tools for making all holidays more meaningful and less stressful.

We can''t know the hour of our death, but we can plan for it--and benefit ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities by doing so. This collaborative and empathetic game, crafted by Jennifer Kumer, creator of Cards for Couples, provides a safe container for exploring end-of-life scenarios. Play this gentle, collaborative game with family, friends, or kind strangers. There are no winners and losers--instead, each player will have a structured opportunity to use the cards to consider and share knowledge about topics ranging from end-of-life care to funeral arrangements to how they want to be remembered and lay out a personalized plan to enact over the course of the next year. You''re never too young or old to reflect on what is and isn''t important to you, and have meaningful conversations about life, love, and legacy.

Curl up on the couch with Joe and Gina for a romp through their favorite horror movies, TV shows, and books from the 1930s to today, exploring their messages, meaning, and enduring appeal for queer audiences. From The Thing to vampire porn, The Exorcist to paranormal television, Goblin Market to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, these thoughtful, conversational essays will make you think, laugh, shiver, and see your favorite media in a new light (even if you have to cover your eyes for the scary parts). Horror buffs and queer media mavens alike will enjoy this wide ranging journey through a genre often derided, dismissed, and misunderstood, but which offers rich opportunities to explore our culture''s ideas about gender, sexuality, and desire. Whether you relate to the monster or the final girl, enjoy sleuthing hidden queer themes, or just want recommendations for obscure, low-budget ghost movies, this book''ll be a scream.

Explore the magic of the natural world through green witchcraft. The articles, recipes, and spells in this year''s almanac will help you deepen your connection with the earth. You''ll discover plants are sacred allies and can be powerful tools for magic and medicine. Every week, you''ll enjoy a new exploration of empowering practices. Includes Lunar Planner Pages, Weekly Schedule, Moon Phases, Moon Signs, Sabbats, Meteor Showers, Eclipses, Spells, Recipes, Rituals, Meditations, and so much more!

Can zines save the world? Maybe, says Stephen Duncombe in the updated fourth edition of his groundbreaking study of the zine publishing underground, but only if we act on what we learn from them. Duncombe''s lovingly critical and thought-provoking book explores the history, theory, and usefulness of zines, from their origin in the early twentieth century sci fi fandom, their spread through 1960s counterculture, and their rise through the 1990s punk and riot grrrl communities. Throughout, zines have critiqued capitalism, broken from mainstream culture, and provided outlets for marginalized people to express themselves and communicate with each other. In an era of book bans and culture wars, we need zines now more than ever. Featuring a foreword by Emma Alice Johnson, midwestern farmer-zinester and author of such gems as Alternatives to Beekeeping and Midnight Queens: 80s Horror Movies Written and Directed by Women.

In so many facets of our lives, it can be surprisingly hard to speak up, listen well, and find mutual understanding. At some point, all of us will experience an unfortunate miscommunication with a friend or intimate partner, and sometimes there''s just no escaping a difficult conversation with a family member or colleague. Rather than eating your words or running from confrontation, learn to communicate confidently and listen empathetically with the help of Dr. Faith G. Harper, bestselling author of Unfuck Your Brain and Unfuck Your Intimacy. In this no-nonsense guide, you''ll find conversational templates, guidance for setting boundaries, and tips for talking effectively at home, at work, at school, in everyday encounters, and even with social services and other bureaucratic entities-all of which form a handy toolkit for successful communication.

In so many facets of our lives, it can be surprisingly hard to speak up, make ourselves heard, and listen effectively. At some point, all of us will experience an unfortunate miscommunication with a friend or intimate partner, and sometimes there''s just no escaping a difficult conversation with a family member or colleague. This workbook from bestselling author Dr. Faith G. Harper offers exercises and tools to help you communicate confidently and listen empathetically. From using ''I'' statements to identifying toxic communication patterns (in ourselves and others) to learning how to really apologize, this standalone companion to Dr. Faith''s Unfuck Your Communication will help you hone your skills to become an expert communicator in your everyday life.

Artist Reid Chancellor leads us on a tour through hardcore musicians that have struggled with mental health - and written about it in their songs. In this standalone graphic novel, Chancellor picks up the discussion he began in Hardcore Anxiety, in an engaging narrative that will be deeply relatable to anyone grappling with identity, fear, and loss in the mosh pit. If you''re considering supplementing your headbanging sessions with therapy and medication, or if you just want to read about the music scene you love from a unique angle, Hardcore Happiness can help you find your way. Punk opens the door to speaking out about mental health issues, but it doesn''t always encourage you to walk through the door and get help. Chancellor props that door open with humor and vulnerability, asking the question, ''Why aren''t there more hardcore songs about seeing your therapist?'' That''s a song we all might need to hear.

Dr. Faith''s original hit, Unfuck Your Brain - with 3.7 million copies sold - is now available in this illustrated format specially tailored for young adult readers. Your brain has a mind of its own. And sometimes, even when it''s doing its best, it can feel like it''s out to get you. If you''ve ever had a meltdown in class, suffered emotions nobody understands, or found yourself shutting down at the worst time, you know this all too well. Thankfully, this graphic guide is here to help you understand your brain and retrain it to better respond to serious upheavals as well as everyday indignities. This fresh take on the bestseller presents Dr. Faith''s insights and neuroscientific nerdiness (and swearing) as a nonfiction graphic novel with artwork by Gerta O. Egy. If you''re struggling with trauma, depression, anxiety, anger, grief, or addiction, or if you just want to have a more chill response to life, this guide will help you get your brain back on track so you can take on the world.

Each day since 2001, he''s drawn a three-panel comic about his day, creating a rhythm with subtle humor and genuine feeling that draws you into events both startling and mundane. This collection starts off in San Francisco, but aging parents and a major family emergency cause Ben to move back in Richmond, VA. After 23 years away, Snakepit returns to the place where it all started. His band breaks up, he turns 50, and the world and his life change dramatically, but Ben keeps bringing us a comic-and a song-every day throughout it all. Grown-up punks, fans of outsider art and diary comics, and anyone with aging parents will get it-and once you get it, much like growing older, there''s no going back.

Humans often think of insects and other invertebrates as gross or creepy, but we couldn''t survive without them. In this love letter to bugs, biologist, linguist, and bug enthusiast Karyn Light-Gibson introduces us to an array of our notable neighbors, from bees to bedbugs, caterpillars to butterflies, earwigs to isopods, ants to mantises, ladybugs to katydids, and so, so many more. With informative glee and striking illustrations, she identifies the many bugs we encounter every day and delves into their place in science, history, art, literature, culture, cuisine, and even warfare. For every human, there are 1.4 billion insects in the world, playing a vital part of our ecosystem. A small percentage of bugs can be dangerous or spread disease, but the vast majority are our allies as indicators of environmental health, pollinators of our food, and a key part of the food web we rely on. Even the most wary readers will come away with a new perspective on the tiny creatures around them and a serious appreciation of just how important-and cool-bugs are.