Terms

These are the terms for using The Alchemist Papers. I’ve tried to write them the way I’d explain them to you in person. If you use the site, you’re agreeing to them. If something here is unclear, email me at chad@thealchemistpapers.com.

The Alchemist Papers is run by a sole proprietor in Texas, USA, under the registered business name (DBA) The Alchemist Papers (“I”, “me”). How I handle your data is on the Privacy page.

Reading is free

Everything I write here is free to read, with no account and no paywall. That won’t change. An account and a library card exist for the tools around the writing (My Practice, your notebook and so on), not to lock the writing away.

↑ Contents

What this is, and isn’t

The Alchemist Papers is reflection and personal practice: writing about tarot, astrology, seasons, rituals and the inner life. It isn’t medical, psychological, financial or legal advice, and it isn’t a substitute for professional care. Nothing here predicts your future or tells you what to do. If you’re struggling, please reach out to someone qualified to help.

↑ Contents

Your account

• You need to be 16 or older to make an account, and old enough to make a binding purchase where you live to get a library card or leave a tip.
• Keep your sign-in secure. You’re responsible for what happens under your account.
• You can download your data or delete your account at any time. See Privacy for what deletion removes.

↑ Contents

Comments

Comments are open to library card holders, and they’re public, so they appear with your name and profile photo. If your card lapses, your comments stay up, but you can’t add new ones until you renew. By posting one, you’re confirming it’s yours to share, and you’re giving me permission to show it on the site alongside the edition. It stays yours. That permission ends when you delete it, except where other people’s replies still quote or refer to it.

Please keep comments kind and on topic. I’ll remove comments, and may suspend accounts, that:

• harass, threaten, demean or target anyone
• are hateful, sexually explicit or illegal
• are spam, advertising or impersonation
• share someone else’s private information

This is my house, and I make these calls myself, as fairly as I can. If you think I’ve got one wrong, email me.

↑ Contents

Library cards

A library card is a paid membership. These terms say “membership” where the law needs the precise word. Everywhere else on the site, it’s your library card.

Pay what you want Membership is monthly or yearly, at an amount you choose, above a small minimum ($5 a month or $25 a year). What each amount pays for is shown on the Join page before you pay.

Who you’re paying Payments are processed by Gumroad, Inc., which acts as the merchant of record. That means Gumroad is the seller on your receipt, handles sales tax and VAT, and takes the card payment. Your purchase is also covered by Gumroad’s Terms of Service.

Renewal Membership renews automatically at the end of each term, at your chosen amount. Charges recur until you cancel.

Cancelling Cancel whenever you like from Account → Library card (you’ll manage it on Gumroad’s page). Cancelling stops the next renewal. Your membership carries on to the end of the term you’ve already paid for, and there’s no partial refund for the rest of that term.

Changing your amount You can change your amount or switch between monthly and yearly from Account → Library card. Raising it is charged straight away, minus a prorated credit for what’s left of your current term. Lowering it takes effect at your next renewal.

If a payment fails Gumroad will retry it. You keep full access while it does, and for a grace period after. If it still can’t go through, your membership ends.

When your library card ends Everything you saved in My Practice stays yours and stays put until you come back or delete it. It’s never deleted just because you stopped paying.

Prices If I ever change the minimums, it won’t affect a membership already running. You’ll keep your amount unless you change it yourself.

↑ Contents

Tips

A tip on an edition is a one-off payment. It isn’t a subscription, and there’s nothing to cancel. It’s handled by Gumroad in the same way as a library card, needs an email for your receipt, and isn’t linked to an account. Tips aren’t refundable, except where the law or Gumroad’s terms say otherwise. If you’ve left one by mistake, email me and I’ll sort it out.

↑ Contents

Your right to cancel (EU, UK and elsewhere)

If you live in the EU or UK, you can withdraw from a new library card within 14 days of getting it. Email me (or contact Gumroad, which handles the payment), and I’ll refund it in full, no questions asked. Nothing in these terms takes away rights you have under the consumer law where you live.

↑ Contents

My writing and images

The writing, photographs, artwork and design on The Alchemist Papers are mine, or used with permission, and are protected by copyright. You’re welcome to read them, share links, and quote a short passage with credit and a link back. Please don’t reproduce, republish or sell them without asking me first.

↑ Contents

Things I can’t promise

I’ll do my best to keep the site running and your data safe, but the site is provided as is. I can’t promise it will always be available or free of errors. As far as the law allows, I’m not liable for indirect or consequential losses from using it, and my total liability to you is limited to what you’ve paid me in the past 12 months. None of this limits liability that can’t be limited by law, such as for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or for fraud. If you’re in Australia, nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any consumer guarantee, right or remedy under the Australian Consumer Law.

↑ Contents

Ending things

You can stop using the site or delete your account at any time. Deleting your account doesn’t cancel a library card on Gumroad, so cancel that first from Account → Library card. I may suspend or close an account that seriously or repeatedly breaks these terms. If I close a paid membership for any reason other than a breach of these terms, I’ll refund the unused part of the term.

If I ever shut The Alchemist Papers down, I’ll give card holders at least 30 days’ notice, refund unused membership time, and give you a way to download your data.

↑ Contents

Changes to these terms

If I change these terms in a way that matters, I’ll update the date at the top. If you have an account, I’ll email you before the change takes effect. If you keep using the site after that, you’re agreeing to the new terms. If you don’t agree, you can cancel and delete your account.

↑ Contents

The legal bits

These terms are governed by the laws of Texas, USA, without taking away any protections you have under the law where you live. If we ever disagree, please email me first. Most things can be sorted out with a conversation.