The Tarot Tarts

Deck Review: True Black (Tarot)

February 28th, 2025

The True Black Tarot (second edition?) acquired 2020, fifth special hologram edition acquired 2023

Courtesy Nudity Warning: There are beautiful naked people in this Tarot deck.

I’d just like to give a disclaimer that I personally treasure this deck and therefore have a pretty strong bias. It is one of my “if the house is on fire, which deck are you grabbing?” Tarots, so, if you are thinking of purchasing this deck (and it IS a spendy deck), do read at least another review that isn’t as gooey as this one.

Overall: 10/10 Its only downfall is its too good and nothing will ever compare after this. It has it’s own unique style that certainly won’t speak to everyone. Even those that like it visually may find that the images are so non-standard RWS that they may not be feel comfortable reading with it out of the box. I won’t dock points because of cost, but it’s still a limiting factor for many, though the creator Arthur Wang does offer three trial cards for reasonable price, and they very personable if you have questions or concerns.

The figures of this deck are very otherworldly, serious, and somber. I have a tendency to think of this deck as my “spirit guide” deck, so this is the deck I reach for when I’m looking for that deep, third party introspection. I find this deck is extremely good for dream work. I have seen the images of this deck in my dreams many times, so there’s something profound about the card images that tap into the unconscious (at least for me). The deck also has a distinct masculine voice that is powerful and beautiful, without feeling BRRRAW tough-guy manly-man. It also has tasteful and powerful images of women.

This is an exquisitely balanced deck in regards to positives and negatives, but I do have to give a word of warning–this is not a deck that is interested in being buddies. This is a very aloof, impartial deck. It does not bother silver lining things. If any of my decks could represent the Judgement card, it would be this deck. This deck doesn’t exactly have a sense of humor.

A note about the different editions: The cards are almost exactly the same except instead of the spot gloss, the fifth limited edition has a holographic rainbow foil. It is very beautiful and very extra. Most of the spot-gloss/holo details are in the majors so that’s where you’ll see the biggest difference. The fifth edition box is also covered in satin cloth rather than matte paper, and I believe each edition’s box has a different quote on the inside of the box cover. Each deck is hand-edged in black ink to match the cards. I personally prefer the standard spot-gloss effects over the holo as I like the secretive feeling of the black gloss on the black matte cards. The holo foil really jumps out on the matte black cards.

Card Quality: 4/5 These babies are THICC works of art—so much so you feel like you really have to be delicate with them! No heavy shuffling these bad boys. They have rose-petal finish so if you strongly dislike that, this isn’t the deck for you. I personally love the ultra tactile feeling of the deck–it really pairs well with the spot-gloss/holo juxtaposition and the simplistic sense of the art.

One of my favorite things about this deck is the feeling of movement, stillness, and (call me crazy) temperature in these cards! For example, the knight of wands feel HOT and in the middle of action. The X of Swords feels both burning hot and chillingly cold. And the Ace of Wands has this inoffensive feeling of warmth.

Readability: 4/5 This really surprised me since when I first saw this deck I didn’t immediately “get” it. While this isn’t a complete beginners deck, reading is very intuitive from the art. If you have the basics of RWS down, this deck to me feels very easy to use. The majors and courts feature people (or human-like beings) and the minors are objects and animals. There are details you can’t see on a quick internet flip through that carry the weight and meaning of the symbols on each card, and make it all the more accessible to the reader. The LWB is great, very well organized, well written, and succinct. This deck has a really solid “personality,” but it isn’t a “read anything for anyone” deck at all.

The old adage of don’t ask what you don’t want to know definitely applies to the True Black since it will cut straight to the heart of an issue. I frequently find when I use this deck with a particular question it typically says something along the lines of “yes, but here’s what you actually need to hear, here’s where you actually need to do work on.” If you dislike coming up with questions for your cards and rather prefer just drawing the cards and see what comes up, this is the perfect deck for that kind of reading.

The devil is in the details with this deck. Look at the four of wands: do you notice the bird is tethered to the wands? What about the five of cups? One cup is dangerously breaking, three are cracked, but one remains solid. And what kinds of things are going on in Judgement? This is a deck where getting lost in the cards is encouraged.

Art: 5/5 I’d describe this deck art as neo-chiaroscuro with its spotlight effect. The feeling of the senses in the cards are out of this world. There’s interesting lighting, there’s wind, there’s wetness and dryness, there’s odd angles and view points. There’s feelings of hot and cold. It appears at first blush simple, yet it is so, so detailed. It is certainly a deck that after years of use you think you got it, but you still notice new stuff all the time. There’s not much for me to say other than when you get the cards in hand, you start to notice all the little details you can’t see on the screen. Also, this is another great deck if you’re into sword/knifes that look real—so good!

Favorite Card: The tower. I love the concept of the tower being felt in the body. And it has a little black image of a fox hearkening back to the fable of the fox and the grapes. And, there’s that big spooky eye! I also love the take on the III of Swords (yikes), this card haunted my dreams for a while.

Least Favorite Card: Sorry I don’t have one for you. I love them all.

Card I Identify As: Now after some time, I have to agree with this decks assertion of my personality and say The Knight of Swords (so embarrassing…)

The deck Identifies me as: The Knight of Swords—interestingly I always think of it as the knight of wands, but it’s not—its all offense and skill and I often think of myself this way when I’m focused and in my flow.

Season: Mid Winter/Yule/Winter Solstice

Boxes It Checks: Shadow work, Spirit work, Self, Dark, Aloof, Masculine, Intuitive, Honest, Ethereal, Avant-garde

Similar Decks: The Black Tarot (Da Bright Tarot), The Darkness of Light Tarot, The Shadow Light Tarot, El Goliath Tarot, Dancing in the Dark Tarot, Wayward Dark Tarot, Lux Ex Umbra Tarot, Terra Volatile
Year of the Snake Tarot Draw

February 14th, 2025

Welcome to the Year of the Snake! I was excited for this draw a few months ago, seeing as this is my Zodiac animal, but I wish those of us in the USA are having a better start to the year. Well, a good tarot draw makes me less blue, so lets soldier on! Perhaps we can glean some insight into this year.

Sometimes I have a great deck for a themed draw, and I was intending to use my Blood Moon Tarot, seeing as it has snakes aplenty (now that I think of it, is there a snake themed tarot out there? Anyone know of one?). But I was really craving a kind deck and, well, Blood Moon isn’t exactly that! So I went with my newest love, Forest Spirit Imprints Tarot instead, and we have a nice emerald green theme that makes me think slithery snake! Perhaps, later this month it might be fun to do a deck comparison between the two.

I love the “clock” style draw for the Chinese New Years draw. You can consider it a month to month, a personal progress through the year, you can assign the actual zodiac animals to different cards or you can see it as the journey for the year ahead. I like to make twelve animal themed prompts for the year. I’ll start at 1 o’clock and work my way around!

1 What skin do I need to shed?

We start off needing to shed the Ace of Pentacles–and, after a second glance, is it just me or is this ace bleeding??? I suppose there’s some relationship to fertility, but yeesh. This year, I need to shed my idea of wealth and security. Oh boy! Maybe this is a moment to find true freedom from the material world.

2 Where do I need to conserve my energy?

I love seeing the clam in the 4 of Cups, its a much less full-of-one’s-self image I tend to see with this card. I need to conserve my energy in regards to emotionally unfulfilling things! I should turn my back on that which does not fill my cup. (I like this, “Does it fill my cup?”)

3 Where do I bask?

4 of Wands, and a very sweet four of wands at that! I can bask in my successes and positive relations! It is important to celebrate the little things and the baby steps towards our bigger goals.

4 Where must I strike with lightening speed?

The Devil, ha! I must strike down that which is tempting me with falseness and fake promises!

5 Where do I show my fangs?

The Hanged Man. This is for sure a strange Hanged Man, with the trapped fairy closing it’s eyes and praying but our protagonist onlooking. I feel there are many ways to read this one, but given the current situation: I need to show my fangs at injustices done, even when others don’t notice or want to notice them.

6 Where do I poison?

The beautiful Queen of Cups. I have the power to poison the whole ocean! I have the ability to strike right at the emotional heart of things. I must be careful though to not poison my own cup! If I let the negative ocean in around me it will harm the joyous ecosystem I’m nurturing.

7 Where do I heal?

We must remember that snakes in both east and western traditions are not only associated with their venom but also were though of as creatures who can heal (looking at you Asclepius and your staff!). Here I pulled the lovely Empress; I can heal through my creativity, femininity and good nature. I can make good things grow. I have “mom” vibes!

8 What is something I need to digest slowly?

The 2 of Wands! I need to plan my path/journey carefully. Where I want to be is at a distance, with many obstacles in the way, but I can do it with a plan! But this takes time.

9. Where do I need the help of other’s hands?

7 of Pentacles (we have a little nod to our bloody Ace of Pentacle at the beginning, don’t we?). I need the help of others to aid me in cutting the dead growth out of my life to free up the new growth so my tree flourishes. Get rid of that which doesn’t serve you and is holding you back. Again, “does it fill my cup?”

10 How to use my cunning?

Temperance makes her second appearance this month! I must use my cunning to maintain balance in my life. I must choose my battles strategically but also know when to rest and take a break. Perhaps I need to “slither-out” of situations with grace. With this particular Temperance I get a sense of taking only what you need and no more.

11 How to use my charm?

The delightful 10 of Wands. I must use my charm to get the hard work done, even when it feels like an endless task. Perhaps I convince others to help me in the labor, or perhaps I make the the chore fun and delightful for myself.

12 How does the snake help me grow?

7 of Cups. The snake helps me grow by giving me choices, but also the wisdom to make good choices. There’s a rather fantastical experience here, isn’t there? Lets remember our 2 of Wands and think over our choices before jumping into the most appealing one. (I love that we have a little snake wizard in the tree!).

This sure seems like a year of growth (and perhaps growing pains) for me! How about you? What does the Year of the Snake have in store for you?
February 2025 Decks

February 10th, 2025

The Cerulean Sequence Oracle, Animal & Food Tarot, Forest Spirit Imprint, The Craft Felt Tarot, Unicorn’s Journey Tarot

I had some serious plans this year for mixing up my deck choices for something totally new and unexpected, but I’ll start that next month because I wanted (and lets face it, needed) to find some sweet escapism through some colorful, cute, child-like decks.

So, I will admit, I’m not a huge fan of cute decks. Anyone whose been here a while knows this. But for some reason, this past year in particular (I wonder why) a handful of cutesy decks really spoke to me. Lets dive right on in!

It is interesting to see all the cards this month have center embalm motifs!

From the Animal & Food Tarot I drew the very charming knight of cups, which looks like an Afghan Hound on a cute little pony! This deck is not only cute, but it is an absolute fantastic take on the RWS that still holds traditional meanings but with the most playful twists! Of course, the knight of cups is the daydreamer, the die-hard romantic of the knights, the classic “knight in shining armor” who always comes with a gift. It’s also typically a knight I associate with the one who is in search of “the holy grail.” This one has some serious faith in their horse, as they are carrying a glass with a fancy beverage and asking the horse to walk over a blue tarp. I can attest, this is no easy feat!

Then from Unicorn’s Journey Tarot I drew the lovely Page of Cups! I have to admit, while there are things about this deck that kinda bug me, there is just so much heart and soul to it that I’m adoring using it this month. This page looks on at other’s relationships and learns from good and bad behavior what does and does not work. This particular Page seems to be frolicking for the success of its friends!

Hmm, with both the Knight of Cups and the Page of Cups there seems to be a call to go forth boldly with your romantic view of the world, not to be jaded. Be not only your authentic self, but be willing to take chances, make mistakes and learn. Be observant! There’s also a gentleness here with the cups.

From The Craft Felt Tarot I pulled a classic Ace of Wands! Grab your passion(s) and run with them! What a fiery card! This is another deck that is RWS but many of the cards take a very interesting twist on the meanings, this card being a bit of an exception. The whole felt images, usually in bright bold colors really give it an interesting look that is growing on me. Of course, this card being the only red card really stands out!

From Forest Spirit Imprint, a deck I almost didn’t back and now I’m so, so happy I did because I love it’s story, I kept getting XIV Temperance and 4 of Swords together, so I’m keeping the two for this draw. This dark-horse deck follows the story of a young girl who enters a land where she is Thumbelina-small and with her trusty bird friend follow the fools journey. We see an interesting take on Temperance by asking nicely for our needs, and also taking only what we need. The Four of Swords has some sweet metaphor of instilling boundaries to keep our self safe so we can literally find rest. This seems particularly on the nose with the absolute wild things happening in the world at large and this may be my favorite take on the 4 of Swords.

With the Ace, Temperance, and the Four of Swords, I get the feeling of aggressive self-care, and balance. You have to place your health as a priority; no one else is! There’s also the feeling of taking what you need, but not more than that.

So, with the Tarot, we have the Ace of Wands directly under the Knight of Cups–this is definitely a “go boldly and unapologetically to your fancy!” which is fitting as I write this Valentines is arriving at the end of the week. This can also be taken as following your dream or wish or hearts desire.

The Page of Water tops Temperance (who appear to be watching the Page, and the Page watching Temperance) and the 4 of Swords. Due to the character orientation, I’d say this is card combo is definitely calling to watch yourself and your health, especially mental health and assuring that you unplug and decompress in your personal safe spot. Take in the world, but not so much you are overwhelmed. Maintaining a healthy distance is key to managing your self.

All together, the Tarot have a very gentle feeling (except the blazing Ace of Wands!) and with the two court cards in the cups, I get the feeling of strength in gentleness–don’t let anyone tell you being gentle is a weakness!

On to the oracle then!

Okay, I won’t lie, The Cerulean Sequence oracle is a much. This is definitely like a deck I might have imagined as a kid, with its weird complexities and quirks and all. The deck comprises of 60 cards, labeled 0-9, accompanied by images that build and progress. It has it’s own secrete language, numerology, absolutely rad guide book (that has very little writing at all) and is really archetypal without being typical at all. And, I’m not at all confident at using it yet though I really really wish to be! So, as I learn and use this deck, you’re going to have to settle for basic key words.

The first card, a 4, is very chemical looking isn’t it? We see what looks like a process of reactions, a sphere coming apart, the moon phases, vials of liquid, oscillating waves. The key words we have here are Stabilizing, Solidifying, Forming. The 6 card is much more scene-like, with a watering can watering the whole forest and ecosystem. We have repeat images of water drops along with a seed grow chart. Words associated with this card are Temperance (again!) Philanthropy, Reserve Love, “Soft Like Water”. Our final card is a 2, with multiple moon images and keys (I won’t lie, I’m getting some serious High Priestess vibes from this one). Key words are Feminine Phase, Moon, Subconscious and Love.

These three together are, for me at least, the foundation for self love and self care: creating a stable foundation/environment, giving love outward (but maintaining healthy distance) and receiving love and care inward.

There definitely is a strong feeling of self love, self care, balance, rest, and gentleness in this draw! I think we could all use these tools this month ahead.

What did your decks say February looks like for you?
Deck Review: Tarot of The Divine

January 21st, 2025

Absolutely Divine! Acquired 2020, self-appointed FAVORITE DECK OF 2020!

Obligatory Nudity Warning: Mild nudity and one hidden penis in the cards.

Overall: 10/10 This was my self-chosen deck of 2020, and it still holds up and continues to be one of my favorite decks in my collection. One of my goals with this blog is I want to review Tarot decks, BUT I want to review them after several years of use. It’s really easy to get a deck and use it a few times and love it in the moment, but it’s an entirely different thing to see how it holds up to years of use and to see if the initial good feelings wear off. When I use this deck, it still feels just as magical as those first few times I used it years ago.

Yoshi Yoshitani’s art has withstood the boom in Tarot deck productions post-pandemic. Their art is still very unique, bright, fresh, inclusive and, while it’s been done now a million times over (partly because of the wildly positive reception of this deck), unique and vast in its selection of myths paired with the Tarot card meanings.

I’m not one to tell people “oh, if you collect Tarot you need to have this deck” but this deck is as close as I’ll get to saying it’s a deck that is both kind and will 100% teach you something as you learn decks, no matter who you are or where you are in your Tarot learning journey.

Card Quality: For the price, 4/5. Even some of my spendier decks don’t get this good. A flexible, linen finish cardstock (which was at publication a relatively new thing to the mass market) that holds up to heavy handed shuffling and resists edge chipping, though I do not believe it has a core. Despite the linen finish the colors are superiorly vibrant! My only complaint (which honestly given the affordability of this deck is hardly a complaint) is the deck does want to hold a bow in the cards.

Readability: 4/5 By and large you don’t need to know the stories to understand what the figures in the cards are doing or represent. The booklet and the companion book deepen your readings all the more. Unfortunately, there is no order/rhyme or reason with the companion book in relation to the cards, so if you want to look up the full story, it frustratingly takes forever to find it in the index. The LWB is great, but the bigger book of stories is really excellent. The art style is beautiful and reads like a graphic novel with fantastic colors that bring emotion and meaning to the images. The symbols, though non-traditional RWS, still shine through readily. It has enough little details though that if you wish to sit with the cards for a longer time, you will certainly pickup on little things here and there.

Even though I consider this a kind deck, I wouldn’t say its cripplingly polite, nor one I’d use to read for everyone! This deck has some BIG feelings!

I do find this deck does not mince words; it’s to the point. That said, I think this is a personable deck that tends to be kind, and it does a great job hearkening back to childhood imagery with a fresh, cutting-edge.

I tried to pick some favorites, but I love all the art in this deck.

Art: 5/5 I mean, people like different art, but this is pretty accessible and stellar all around. There’s a lot of white and blue as the standard theme of this deck (partly why I think of it as an “Air” deck) and vibrant colors throughout make these cards visually pop. The people are definitely characterized, but their expressions are clear and range from the frightening to the endearing. I LOVE the vast diversity of the characters in the cards and nothing feels forced. This is a very authentic feeling deck and part of why I adore it so!

Favorite Card: It’s really hard to pick one! There’s so so many!

Least Favorite Card: Five of Swords. The Five of Swords is always an important card for me, and I don’t think of betrayal as one of the primary meanings for this card. The Five of Swords as I tend to interpret it, is the cost of winning. I’d also prefer to have had Osiris’s and Isis’s relationship as a more Love oriented card (maybe the Ten of Cups?) rather than focus on Set’s betrayal of his brother. HOWEVER! The True Black Tarot’s Five of Swords also uses the Egyptian Khopesh–very interesting!

Card I Identify As: The World. My husband and I spent some time in Rotorua, New Zealand and we fell in love with the Hinemoa and Tutanekai story. This card feels so niche and also speaks to me personally.

The deck Identifies me as: Page of Swords (interestingly)

Season: High Winter/Late Winter (when we should gather around the fire to tell tales and myths)

Boxes it Checks: Diverse, Fairy-tale, Story-Telling, Bright, Bold, Cohesive, Blunt, Avatar TLA-esque, Graphic Novel

Similar Decks: The Star Spinner Tarot, The Dark Woods Tarot, The White Lotus Elemental Tarot, Forgotten Legends Tarot, any one of the million myth-based Tarot decks out there, Oracle 11
January 2025 Decks

January 14th, 2025

Y’all. I’m finally doing the thing I’ve been threatening to do since I started this blog; I’m going to focus my efforts this month to studying just ONE tarot deck–and it’s a doozy of a deck.

The Citadel oracle, Lost Oracle, Terra Volatile Dark Collectors Edition tarot and pocket book (fyi it does not fit in any pockets I have), The Deck of Emblems, Apothecary Spirits Oracle

AND I thought its the perfect time to get good (er, less awful) at using my oracle decks too!

I’ll quick run through my choices seeing as its pretty straightforward this month: the absolutely MASSIVE Collector’s Terra Volatile arrived on my doorstep and I immediately became enamored with this artistic creation/monster, and I must learn everything I can about this deck, so its going to be my one and only Tarot for this month.

I’m not really one who believes in deck measuring, but I think we do need to appreciate and be in awe of this absolute CHONKER.

The Terra Volatile is a deck produced by an artistic duo team called Credo quia Absurdum, based in Portugal (I believe) who are not only enthusiasts of ALL Tarot esoterica and various schools of Tarot thought, but also clearly have love of all worldly esoterica and they really did their damnedest to put as much as humanly possible in each and every card. Also, the artist(s) is/are clearly classically trained, so even though this looks old-timey, it clearly is very modern and up-to-date on modern sensibilities and political doings. Oh, and not only does it have multiple cards for the same major card, often with great fresh takes on the majors, it ALSO has fresh and traditional multi takes on the minors, oh, AND it has a fifth suite of minor arcana, the Vessels, representing Aether, or the stuff of the self. So, this deck is A LOT.

Because this deck has such alchemical, classic vibes, I wanted to pick oracle decks to compliment it’s style. The duo Citadel and Emblems seemed a no-brainer. But I also wanted to bring some new oracles into the mix; the gorgeous but perplexing Lost Oracle which is completely new to me, and the just beautiful Apothecary Spirits Oracle (which is new to this blog). I will say, the Apothecary Spirits was the wild card of the deck choices, but thus far, nearly half way through the month, it shockingly plays the best with the Volatile!

On to the monthly draw!

Alright, we open with a bit of mystery! Interestingly, the first thing I notice is how there is a cut in both images. The purse has been cut (ah-hem, cut-purse? like a thief?), but the plantain is also showing a cutting wound. With the purse, we speak of what is of value to us, where do we put our efforts and money? What is hidden but also has value? The key words also suggests an unexpected windfall. The Plantain is a plant I typically think of as a noxious weed (I mean, where I live it is, often called “White-Man’s Foot” for it vigor in disturbed soils) but the amazing booklet explains that it is a plant of healing, but unusually so because it pulls out that which is unwanted, toxic, and harmful. A keyword with this card is rejection, but with a twist of YOU yourself rejecting something bad for you in order to heal. Huh. So a kind of “cut” or wound which is a windfall and leads to ultimate healing. What else do we have?

Oh boy! Well, I have to admit that my relations with my family are complicated on the best of days. The Ancestral Alchemy card asks us to honor death and the cycle which is indeed part of life. To acknowledge where our ancestors came from and the challenges they faces for us to be who we are today. It calls on us to also take the necessary actions to better the next generation. Paired with the Plantain card I definitely see this as healing generational wounds and conflicts. Interestingly, the pose of the person in the Ancestral Alchemy card mirrors the hands in the following Aspirant.

The Aspirant in the Citadel Oracle is the first card of the court cards and of all the cards in this deck, this is the one which screams “THE FOOL!” or more aptly, “THE MAIN CHARACTER!”. You are the main character of your own story–you are ready to start every day as a new story, you have goals and ambitions and will be required to go through trials and push through with fortitude. There isn’t true “failure” in this story, it’s just the wheels of life turning. Expect the unexpected, setbacks, and challenges, deviation from the path towards your goal, and know there is always more work to be done.

With these four oracles together, I get the sense of “fulfilling” something that has been waiting for a long time and the unintentional positive effects that has. What do the Tarot cards say?

Right away I see a changing disposition between man (or the human self) and his relation to nature and other men, first mastering nature passively, mastering nature forcefully, and then being in a stalemate with his fellow man.

In this particular take on The Sun, the alternative card called Poetry, we see Orpheus (a son of Apollo—a sun god) and his magical lyre enchanting all the animals, uniting predator and prey and opposing forces with balance. It seems effortless thanks to his mastery of his art. He seeks not to control anything outside of himself.

The second card we have the alternative card (again) to Fortitude, which is Strength. Pictured is Heracles during his first of his twelve great feats which is defeating the Nemean lion. Unlike the passiveness of Fortitude, this card demands action (rather than waiting for resolution). We can read the story of overcoming our own beastly desires and actions, taking feats to tame them and quell them, lest they harm ourselves or others. There’s also an element of determining moral right and wrong, and acting with rational.

The final card is an intense take on the Five of Wands (its actually the violent alternative card to a much tamer Five of Wands). It’s an all out brawl in this card! Every person is different and they chose to let these differences divide them. This is particularly volatile when the flames of passion are at an impasse and there is disagreement–strong feelings tend to have strong actions.

Taking the Tarot read together, I see this as a reminder what we have control over in our lives: we successful have control over just ourselves (and even that is in a limiting space seeing as we have a self battle to overcome), and are at our best when we are exercising that which makes us truly happy and fulfilled personally. When needing to make change, we are meet with resistance which in the self can be overcome with great exertion, but with others, well, we don’t really know how things will turn out.

Now lets look at the whole picture:

If we pair the oracles with the tarot, we see that there is great progress made with cutting out/rejecting something that will ultimately lead to a windfall–here we can remain passive and just be happy doing our best selves–our actions speak for themselves. With rejecting/removing that which prevents healing in our ancestral past, we have an arduous struggle, but it is attainable and even shall be attained! But meeting our true calling and goals with our ancestral alchemy is a messy business with many challenges and roadblocks and struggles. This month definitely feels like a journey to self realization!

It really seems like a mixed bag sort of month for me! What does your month look like?
Tarot Over Tea: #Dark Academia Tarot

January 12th, 2025

Obligatory warning: mild nudity in the cards.

This is a delightfully creative and excellent fall/winter Tarot tag developed by Tarot Geek on Tarotube (see original video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BKfUbLnVjM) that uses concepts from the Dark Academia aesthetic as themes to apply to our tarot decks. So, full disclosure, I actually really like the Dark Academia trends and I love me a new twist on “gothic” lifestyle, so I have been chomping at the bit to do this tag! BUT! I’ve been waiting for a specific deck to arrive because I SO BADLY wanted to include it in this list! I have it in hand, so now I get to have some fun!

1. Secret of the Library: The deck that captivates you with its mysteries and hidden depths.

Sola Busca Tarot

This deck continues to puzzle me even though I’ve had it for a very long time and I even was gifted a book about the deck to help me unravel it. It certainly is proof that esoterica is very much a product of its time and, like memes, probably makes a lot more sense to the person who was alive when it was first produced. I don’t really believe I’ll ever fully understand this deck, nor will I ever be proficient at reading with it. Nevertheless, I still regularly pull this deck from the shelf to ponder over it, or even attempt a reading for myself.

2. Inkwell and Quill: A deck that inspires you creatively, like the pages of an old leather-bound journal (your muse deck).

The Citadel Oracle and Tarot of the Abyss

Well, the prompt does say inkwell AND quill! I find these two decks drastically deviate from the typical tarot and oracle, but they also incite my imagination in a way no other decks do! And they do so in very different ways.

The Citadel Oracle is ultimately a deck of archetypes, but those you typically find in fantasy/medieval stories. I personally find this just a delightful way to think of archetypes, and it’s always a surprise to see the simple yet intriguing art on the cards. This deck really gives me space to interpret the name and role on the cards, and it pairs well with just about all of my decks in my collection, so it ends up being a bit of a workhorse.

The Tarot of the Abyss is in a way polar opposite in that it’s oddly specific in its complex card depictions. But, this deck really distills the emotional meaning of the tarot in a very potent sort of way that hits me in the feels every time I use it, even when I end up doing a rather “mundane” reading for myself! I always am left feeling like there is more to tarot that I’ll ever be able to learn after using this deck.

3. Eternal Autumn: A deck that captures the melancholy and beauty of fall, embodying the bittersweet nature of change.

Heartwood Tarot

The month of December was the first real stint of time I spent using this deck and it still feels very new and strange to me. That said, there is something so dream-like about this deck that sets it apart from other decks Three Trees has made. It is beautiful, like all their decks, but it’s very (aptly) haunting. I think “melancholy” is a perfect descriptor for Heartwood! And the nature of decay and change are apparent everywhere in every image. The feeling of entering darkness in the transition from fall to winter seems to be a central theme we see over and over again in these cards in a variety of different ways.

4. Philosophers Stone: A deck that aids in mental transformation.

The Terra Volatile Tarot

This was the deck I was waiting for. I held off purchasing this very strange, five-minor arcana deck (that is a blend of RWS, Thoth and Marseille systems!) for SOOOO long because I was really worried the standard size cards would be too small for my eyes to appreciate all the details. I JUMPED out of my chair when I saw the preorder for their large collector edition this past summer. Though it did not turn out to be what the creators hoped, I was still stoked to get a copy and let me tell you what, I’m so glad to have this (ridiculously) huge deck, and the wonderful companion book.

The creators of this deck, in case you are unfamiliar, are very inclusive of esoterica from around the world, so every time I draw a card and read the book I do feel like I’m learning and improving my tarot. The edition of a fifth minor arcana (Vessles, representing aether, or the spirit of self) also really makes me use my noggin when drawing from this deck!

5. Candlelight in the Shadows: A deck that is ideal for reading by candlelight late at night.

The Nameless One

So…I have a lot of decks I could slot into this category. And, I was determined not to pull out The Nameless One for this tag. But. Well, I can’t help myself. I am an insomniac, and I do read tarot at night when I can’t sleep (I actually do many of my readings when I can’t sleep), and I do more often than other decks, grab this deck if I wake up in the wee hours and can’t go back to sleep. I just love it’s versatility, it is straightforward, but you get SO MUCH from reading the book too. It very witchy without being “kitschy” and the art is beautiful and very natural feeling. I’m a little embarrassed I have all these other awesome decks, and I keep showing y’all this one.

6. Ghosts of the Past: A sentimental deck

The Bloody Tears Tarot

I was such a wanna-be-goth kid when I was in middle and high school! This deck would have been teen me’s perfect deck and I love it for that! It seems to encompass a gothic story in its images and there are various people who reappear in multiple cards over and over. The time and place are very fluid and undefined (could be anywhere from early medieval to early modern judging from the clothing), and the whole “story” is seems a bit fast and loose with the details, but I love it all the more because that’s how teen me would have made such a deck.

7. Scholarly pursuits: A tarot deck you use to study, learn, and gain a deeper comprehension of the cards.

The Mary El Tarot

This deck is so complex, beautiful, wild and in a league of its own. While I struggle with it, I still am determined to learn it and become a reader who can use it!

8. Moonlit Daydream: The deck that reminds you of forgotten fantasies that linger in your head at midnight.

Gothic Literature Tarot

I was a dumb dumb and passed this up on its Kickstarter campaign because I wanted to see all the cards. I liked what I saw, but I was being stubborn and wanted to see ALL THE MINORS. Mostly I remember passing on the The Literary Tarot Kickstarter a couple years ago and I felt like I dodged a bullet because it was a rocky production and I mostly don’t agree with the choices of books they put with many of the cards—what can I say, English was my undergrad. BUT! I do LOVE in this deck the character choices for the majors, and while the minors are rather simple, the major characters do reappear in the minors and I love the general ghosty spooky vibes this whole deck has. It is very romantic and dark and a little disturbing and I’m here for it.

9. Wuthering Heights: A deck that stirs intense emotions, like a gothic romance novel.

Bohemian Gothic Tarot

I mean, is there anything that needs to be said for this one? This contradictory deck has BIG feelings whether it be silly or sad.

10. The Ivy-Covered Tower: This deck evokes the spirit of your most beloved mentor.

The Woven Path Tarot

Perhaps my favorite college teachers was my Advanced Literary Studies professor. But his niche of studies was old English. And he had an unwavering passion for stories of all kinds, spoken in all voices. He perhaps was the reason that I made it through my rigorous degree path. He helped me remember why it is I love to write and read, and he also taught me how to think about and enjoy stories that I normally wouldn’t bother to read. This deck, with its multitude of artists and individual card stories reminds me of him and how he went about in the academic world.

11. Golden Sunset: Which deck reminds you of the last pleasures you get to endure during the summer’s waning hours? A liminal deck.

Golden Wheel Tarot

This deck is really a gem in the tarot world. It is so beautiful and has such strong end-of-harvest vibes that I sometimes find it difficult to use it in the winter because I am longing for the summer days after using a reading with it. It gives very distinct readings. The art is “folksy” and a bit historic, which hearkens to that feeling of a time gone past where life was simpler (of course, we know this is an illusion, but one we can still play pretend and enjoy). While this is a RWS deck, there does feel like there is a sort of depth and complexity in the art that brings it beyond a simple clone deck.

12. Whispers under the Oak Tree: Which deck makes you think of the timeless truths that lurk and hide in the depths of our souls?

Blood Moon Tarot

I could not help but immediately think of my beloved Blood Moon Tarot for this final prompt. Personally, this deck feels like it represents my (and human’s) base-nature. It is a very primitive-feeling sort of deck, and it does tend to read heavy-handedly. Every card’s emotions are amplified and the meanings seem to be reduced to their essential basic form. This isn’t exactly a “kind” deck, which, I tend to think of oak trees as “kind” in the way they support many organic forms of life, but this deck does not in any way mask the truth. Like an oak’s wood, there’s a hardness to it, but also a sort of timelessness.

Have you done this tag? Do you have a deck that feels like it falls beautifully into the Dark Academia trend?
December 2024 Decks

December 11th, 2024

Left to right, starting from bottom left corner: Anna.K Tarot indie second edition, The European Goddesses and Spirits Oracle Deck, Heartwood tarot, Förhäxa Tarot (aka The Enchanted Förhäxa Tarot), The Slavic Legends Tarot

Nudity and salaciousness portrayed in the cards ahead. So much for a G-rated Holidays draw!

This December I want to really slow down with my decks and focus on doing thoughtful readings. It is very dark, and a stuck-indoors time of year here, so I wanted that to be reflected in my deck choices. I’d say the theme of this month is “cozy and introspective,” perfect for the winter season! So, grab a warm cup of tea and hunker down for a looong winded reading!

The Anna.K Tarot, despite its huge feelings and emotions, is a very cozy deck to me! It is a straight shooter, uncomplicated, honest, and kind. If there was a deck that had “hobbits of the shire” feel, it’s totally this deck. I also get strong feelings of family and community from this deck which I think are on point with the holiday season.

European Goddesses and Spirits Oracle Deck is a bit of a wild-card choice I made for this month. I didn’t have a deck dedicated to Goddesses (seeing as it isn’t something I intentionally practice or utilize when I use Tarot), but I backed this on Kickstarter because I LOVED the art and I loved that the author made a full sized book covering myths about these Goddesses. For a month of slowing down, I figured it might be worth taking the time to learn about a few of them! Sadly, I am traveling and I forgot the big book, so I’ll have to rift off of the smaller guidebook that partners with the deck.

The newest deck from the fantastic Three Trees Tarot indie creators and publishers, the Heartwood Tarot is very moody compared to their other creations, and I haven’t had the opportunity to use it much. I’ve been waiting in anticipation to really dig into it! This deck definitely fits the “introspective” part of this month! It has a dark fairy tale vibe, almost haunted house (well, cottage) feel. Except, all the cards are from the point of view of the critters that live in the abandoned cottage! This is a very unusual deck in my collection.

The Förhäxa Tarot has been an old-faithful deck for me since it first came out. It definitely has some strong matriarchal vibes and an intuitiveness about nature that really draws me in. The art style is very different from anything I have in my collection so it does stand out as rather unique on my shelf. It’s very busy with a lot of imagery, so it isn’t an “easy” deck to just pull out willy-nilly, but the cards all leave a very strong impression! It is one of those rare decks that even though I’ve used it a lot, every time I mindlessly flip through the cards, I see something new and different. I do tend to pick this as a winter deck because the seasons are represented, but more importantly the bright colors are uplifting on grey days.

Did anyone read Jan Brett books as a child? I did, and I still have several of them. I bring them out for the holidays and page through them, and like magic they bring me back to being a kid on a cold winter’s evening looking at the beautifully illustrated images under the colored lights of the Christmas tree! The Slavic Legends Tarot deck reminds me of those beautifully illustrated books. Not only is the art folkloric and intricate and colorful and gorgeous, there is a story told with each image. Slavic Legends is the perfect deck when you want to really sit with an image and think about it!

Enough reminiscing, onward with the draw!

So, I drew this in a different order than I am going to read it. I drew an oracle first, then the Anna.K, two jumpers from the Slavic Legends, a card from Heartwood, and two jumpers from Förhäxa. Given what the oracle card is, I decided to read this in a wheel form (center, 12oclock and clockwise).

I knew when I drew The Norns that this was not going to be the monthly draw I was hoping for (but lets be real, are they ever?!?). The Norns are Nordic Goddesses who, similar the Greek three fates (Moirai), decide a person’s destiny and path in life. In a way, it’s a very fatalist point of view–the fates, or Norns, have total control over a person’s life so your individual “choices” have little to do with the outcome of a situation. The guidebooks key word is “Acceptance” or in other words, accept that there is a whole lot out of your control. Your situation isn’t necessarily a direct relation to your own actions. The way the art is done here (have I mentioned I absolutely DIG the art of this purple edged deck???) it also makes me think of the three cycles of women–Maiden, Mother, Crone–of the cycles of change, and the three graces (or, at least their foil!).

XV The Devil and the Five of Cups—OOFTDA! So, I almost always think of The Devil as control, or desire for control. Ah, makes sense following the Norns. To control ones destiny (which we are preemptively reminded we don’t have control over that), to control by manipulation others, to have control over getting one’s desires, etc. This particular Devil really seems to heavily lean into the excess of desires with lots of lust going on; lust for others, for wealth, for food and drink, for battle, yeesh. I think these actions are misguided attempts to control one’s life, but ultimately become lack of control when done in excess, which in turn can lead to addiction. Interestingly, there’s actually a lot of people in this orgy of desires card, usually The Devil is portrayed with three figures in a card.

And followed up by the beautiful but pensive Five of Cups. I have to admit, I get some Star energy out of this Five of Cups! I love how the Maiden seems to have a gown made of moss that is growing out of the forest floor! She’s stuck in her wallowing! How long has she sat here mourning the loss of her cups? I also like how though the maiden has lost three out of her five cups, the reflection of the cups in the water make it appear like the loss is far worse than it actually is in reality. I can’t help but wonder if she disentangled her gown from the forest floor if she could just, you know, wade into the pond to get her cups? Maybe because they are filled with swamp water she doesn’t want them any more, I dunno.

Taken together, I’d say that so far this is a warning that excess on one’s part can lead to a loss on another’s. This can be one person (or persons) lusting and taking too much and a different individual loosing out (and perhaps blaming themselves when it was out of their hands) OR this could be read as a self reflection; I have taken excessively in one part of my own life, and now I feel loss in the other, or if not loss, a lack of wholeness and feeling like I’m missing out. The feeding of the lust doesn’t fulfill the soul. The loss is real but also part of an illusion–it is made out, or felt, to be greater than it actually is, and perhaps I am lingering in the loss too much and not being proactive enough. The relation between the Devil and the Five of Cups might not be apparent given how we have a determined fate seen in The Norns. Or perhaps this rise from the high in The Devil and fall into the Five of Cups is predestined? Lets keep looking:

Ooooh! Two Tens, the Ten of Fire (Wands) and the X Wheel of Fortune. I could not help but at this point in my drawing of the cards think of a cycle, hence the desire to have this read in wheel-fashion. With the XV and the 5 we had twenty, and now twenty again which brings about thoughts of Judgement–how are these two situations judged? How are they both related to Judgement? Hmm….

This fairy in the Ten of Fire is (according to the delightful book) saving dragon’s eggs. It clearly is a thankless chore, and it is an active card! The fairy looks over-burdened, tired, and we are unsure if they can get back up. It seems like dire straights, with volcanoes in the background, burning dragon eggs, and too much in the basket all at once! But I remember in the five of cups, how the water makes the cups and loss greater than it actually is. What can this fairy do? Will they solider on, give up, or something else? Must they bear this burden all on their own? What will you do when your feet are to the fire? At least we have some movement and action after the immovable, lamenting Five of Cups. What is your end goal with this toil? Does your work and suffering define you as a person?

X Wheel of Fortune: this is a very passive and quiet Wheel of Fortune. It is perhaps a good reminder that things change, even with no one to see, while mice sleep. Change is the only sure thing in the world. Is there Karmatic destiny after all the struggles in the first cards? Or is life just a teeter-totter of ups and downs? What change will happen?

I’d also like to take a moment and compare the XV The Devil to it’s opposite card, 10 Wheel of Fortune: The actions in The Devil are short lived and unsustainable in the long term. Change will happen no matter what! That for sure is a safe bet if one is considering that all is predetermined and out of ones hands! Also, if we take the fifteen from the devil plus the five of the Cups minus the ten of the Fire and minus the ten of the wheel we land at 0, or the Fool, the beginning, much like the clock striking midnight or 00:00 in the Wheel of Fortune card. Perhaps this is a marker of starting over?

So now I’m thinking of the path I tend to take when I myself succumb to my own inner Devil: self pity, followed by throwing myself into my work excessively as if this will be my penance for my shortcoming! But there is change, what happens?

What a beautiful Two of Water! I love this take on the Two of Cups; with true authentic relationships there is little that can’t be done. Though these mermaids’ seem to flow from different sources and they are pulled in two different directions, they still can make a real connection and celebrate the beauty in life! They can share the same lovely pond in harmony and not be in competition for its resources. How can I cultivate my sense of space to ensure everyone has enough? (As juxtaposed with the excessive Devil?)? How can I cultivate my relationship with others to ensure security for all?

And with the lovely Six of Coins I feel as if we’ve come full circle to the Devil. Rather than spending our wealth on desires, we are now giving it to others in need, or conversely, receiving wealth when we feel we have nothing. The winter landscape is beautiful but barren–there is nothing to be had, and the man has nothing to offer, but a queenly lady in an ornate house thinks nothing of giving. How do we combat lust and greed? Perhaps to give without expectation–without a direct idea of investment but rather as a means to change (perhaps to create safe space for all to exist like in the Two of Water). There is something here that does catch my attention–they lady gives but it seems to affect her not at all with all her wealth. Again, we go back to the “actual vs perceived loss” and I should ask myself how much have I actually lost? How much does one really need to live a good life? How do I see myself in this card as the giver and what can I give to others? How do I see myself as the beggar? What do I need others to give me for me to feel satisfied and fulfilled?

Seeing as my goal this month is to be more thoughtful in my readings, lets go ahead and go the extra mile and compare the cards on the left and right edges. The Six of Coins we can compared to the Five of Cups, maybe we can think of it as generosity vs sorrow. Well, we know sorrow doesn’t “solve” generosity, but being generous can help heal sorrow (especially self pity). Then we have Two of Water and Ten of Fire–harmony with others vs an arduous solo task. Asking for the help of others (which is seen in both the Two of Water AND the Six of Coins) can relieve the burden of trying to do a difficult task by one’s self. Where in my life do I need to ask others for their assistance? This vulnerability and honesty can cultivate secure relations with others.

Well, I guess this draw came closer to A Christmas Carol than I had intended! Perhaps one way to read the whole spread is the realization of actual wealth vs perceived wealth. When you are in possession of actual wealth it is easier to give rather than take. Rather than describing wealth as something that fulfills desires, instead we can think of it as the ability to better our world. Wealth is found in the cultivation of good, wholesome relationships and connections and the understanding that change is ever constant even if we personally don’t feel its immediate effect.

Wow. What do the cards say you all are working on in December?
Tarot over Tea: An oldie but goodie #Twenty One Tarot Questions

December 2nd, 2024

Oh my gosh. I’ve done it again. A much too many decks. My desk almost looks as messy as my neighbor’s construction!

Nudity in the cards ahead! You’ve been warned.

This is an old tag I realize I actually wrote when it was first very popular on TarotTube (um, TWO springs ago!) but I never ended up publishing it because I didn’t have the time to take pictures. C’est la vie. Well, better late than never! For funsies, I’ve chosen NEWER decks in my collection rather than the same twenty old guard decks I use over and over in tags (though a few did eek through, sorry). This is too excellent and fun of a tag to let fall by the wayside!

1: What is the deck they’ll have to pry out of your cold dead hands?

The Victorian Romantic Tarot Special Large Edition. Okay, though this deck can sell for very good money I never will let go of it! I have no reason to hold onto it, I have the smaller edition I use regularly. But, I just adore getting lost in the big images. This deck is just so ridiculously beautiful I am so lucky I was able to snag a special edition of it, even if I have no real “reason” to have it.

2: What’s your guilty pleasure deck?

Along a similar vein, Forgotten Legends Tarot was a deck I at first convinced myself I didn’t need seeing as I already have way-too-many myth and legends themed tarot decks. Alas, I ended up purchasing a copy before it goes OOP (I don’t think we’re quite there yet, but soon) and I love it just as much as I do all the others. It’s a cool deck!

3: What’s the deck you wish existed?

A really great, breath of fresh air, LOTRs decks with completely illustrated minors and NO PIPS!

4: What deck would you give to a new reader?

The Moravia Tarot was a left-field purchase for me. I have always wanted to like the Ethereal Visions deck because I actually am enamored with the idea of simplistic decks, but I have always found EV…really lack-luster. The Moravia is a very muted, pastel, feminine, fairy-holo-pink gilded, anime style Art Noveau RWS with the most beautiful angels, that isn’t quite a clone but is simple, modern, beautiful, with just a touch of esoterica to make it feel like a real bona fide Tarot deck. It’s easy to read and easy on the eyes without being too “soft” in content (I mean, check out that Eight of Swords!).

5: What deck do you want to get along with but it just never clicked?

The Lover’s Path Tarot. I got this in conjuncture with a Kickstarter Tarot book set and I’ll admit, I am rather underwhelmed by both. But, the deck is everything I like in a Tarot: specific theme, water color art, a little old-timey feeling, myths and stories, interesting shape and…I cannot tell you why, I don’t like this deck! I’m going to keep it until February and see if I can use it in a romantic setting and if it will grow on me, but this may be a deck that gets re-homed, along with the books.

6: What deck do you only keep for the art?

True Black Holo (5th) Edition. Okay! I am SO attached to my OG True Black deck that I literally never reach for this deck. But it’s beautiful. And on occasion when I have a party to impress, I’ll take it out.

7: What deck did you buy because everyone else did?

The Witches Garden Tarot. My friend had this deck a while and I was fascinated by it! I wanted to try it too! It’s a solid deck for sure, but it isn’t a deck I reach for consistently. But, it does something special that no other deck I have seems to do—witches AND gardens! I think I particularly like that it allows me to pair my various plant related oracle decks easily with it.

8: What deck is over your head or just baffles you?

Tea Oracle Steeping in Magic. I backed this on Kickstarter before I decided I was completely against AI decks. I like the CONCEPT of this deck, but I want this to be actual human made creation. I wish there was more “meaning” baked into the art rather than having to rely on the guide book, which, at times is really baffling.

9: What deck surprised you?

The Riderless Tarot. This little horsey RWS clone is so sweet and kind! It’s a deck I reach for when the world is really feeling down and I need a gentle hand. It really speaks to my inner horse girl. Its a very playful deck and feels quite honest, even if it’s really very nice.

10: What deck doesn’t really work for you but you keep it because it’s a collectible?

Well, my truly collectible decks I do actually use—I cannot justify the cost otherwise! But a technically (but not-really) collectible deck that I almost never use but love to look at is the “museum quality” Visconti de Modrone Tarot. I imagine this is true for a lot of people who own this deck!

11: What deck is your favorite gilded deck?

I am IN LOVE with the color scheme of the new Mystic, Augur & Sage Oracle. I have always wanted a copper-edged deck, but the flaky Seed and Sickle Oracle really let me down. The combination of the other jewel tone colors in MA&S just makes the copper POP! This is a totally rad deck and I cannot wait to showcase it in a monthly favorites!

12: Which deck do you love – but hate the card stock?

Tarot Landscapes. This deck is so intriguing to me, and is one of those decks I spent hours with when I got it in hand. In other words, I spent a lot of time fondling it. But, the card stock, while thick, is very cardboard feeling, inflexible, and awkward in hand. I really want this on a linen, ultra flex core like the Moravia.

13: What deck gives you the willies?

The Nemeth Tarot. This deck repeatedly gives complex, specific, spookily accurate readings (most honestly I didn’t even realize how dead on it was until the thing happened) for both myself and my friend when we use it. It also, well, just has a certain hauntingly beautiful vibe. Don’t get me wrong, I adore this odd little deck, but it is not a deck I pick up and use lightly.

14: What’s your favorite deck for shadow work?

I’m not sure if the Tabula Mundi Tarot is my favorite shadow work deck, but it is one that I’ve been using consistently since exploring Thoth back in June. This deck is a hard hitter and the cards constantly reference each other back and forth so it is really easy to get deep into the cards quickly and go places you didn’t know needed exploring.

15: What deck do you love in theory but not in practice?

The Zerner Farber Tarot aka The Enchanted Tarot. I freaking LOVE the art in this deck. I have two different editions, I love it so much. But, I struggle to fluidly read with this deck. I often feel quite whelmed by all the textiles and prints, and as a result I tend to shy away from it when I’m searching for “the right” deck. I think I need to revisit this deck soon seeing as I’ve grown in my reading style and abilities since I last took it out in a monthly deck selection (and barely used it!).

16: What deck would you never use to read for someone else?

The Last Unicorn Tarot. I’m rather precious about this deck which has become a deck of inner child work for me. That said, I don’t really believe in “not” using a deck. So for the right person and situation I’d use it. This isn’t exactly a deck I’d bring with me to a meeting with friends though.

17: What deck would you never use for yourself?

The OG RWS, its such a mean deck! I wouldn’t use it for others either unless someone specifically asked for it.

18: What deck could you NOT bring yourself to buy?

The non-lenticular versions

I chose ultimately not to back the Exile Tarot and Monsoon Tarot Lenticular Editions that were recently on Kickstarter—I have all three of these decks in their regular form and while I ADORE the imagery, I really didn’t much care for the lenticular form of either. I like being able to have them all side-by-side!

19: What’s your favorite pip deck?

Swordswomen Tarot Cards. I’m not a fan of pip decks, but I love me some rad lady sword-fighters! Also, the backs are just gorgeous.

20: What deck slaps you with the truth?

5¢ Tarot. She’s a cold-hearted b*tch wrapped up in a cute facade. I love this deck.

21: What’s the deck that got away?

The Anna K Tarot. Many times I passed on this deck (because I didn’t it was “pretty” enough, geez I was a loser) and then it finally went out of print. But Lady-Luck recently smiled on me and it is now CAPTURED and in my collection and much beloved!

Phew! That’s a lot of decks! Have you done this tag? Did you do it last year? How have your tastes changed in Tarot since then?
Deck Review: The Light Seer’s Tarot

November 25th, 2024

Mass Market edition. A popular, bubbly deck. Acquired 2020

Nudity warning: bare chested devil-man lurks below!

Overall: 7/10 There’s a reason everyone and their mother has this deck. It’s bright, it’s lighthearted, it’s RWS, it’s not very esoteric, it does an okay job at representing various people, and it is probably the least offensive deck I own. If you want a deck that you can safely use with anyone, this is that deck.

This deck is a nice deck. I do like it, it’s a Steady Eddie deck that I can bring with me anywhere and use to give anyone a Tarot reading. But, its not my favorite.

I won’t lie, it took me a while to warm up to these cards. Personally, I feel this deck is a bit too nice and fluffy (and crunchy), but I’ve come to appreciate the soft mood the Light Seer’s has to offer. This deck has a rich sense of emotions, and they are much more accessible than some of my other “big feelings” decks. The colors really scream “summer” vibes, but I find that I tend to reach for this deck in the cold dark winter when I’m in desperate need for a sweet, flowery feeling reading. It’s funny how that works.

The fact is, it is too much of a happy deck and that prevents me from reaching for TLST more often for my personal use. While there is difficult emotions and pain here (the three of swords is pretty strong!), and introspection there, it is vastly overshadowed by all the joy and “good vibes” and some of the cards really fall flat for me . I do feel like this is an unbalanced Tarot in that regard, but hey, some days you need all the happy you can get.

Card Quality: 4.5/5 These are thick and good! Very impressive for the price. Wish the mass market came green gilded, I for sure would have paid extra.

The challenging cards I think are done well in this deck–much emotion! So pensive, very wow!

Imo, some of the challenging cards that fall a little flat for me.

Readability: 4.5/5 I could see this being an absolute beginner’s deck. I have to say, while I like the light/shadow concept the LWB provides, I don’t necessarily always agree with the author’s interpretations, and I very rarely reach for the booklet. But, I don’t struggle to have my own intuitive meanings of the cards either. There’s such a playful, whimsical attitude that makes it easy to want to work with this deck.

Because it’s so light feeling, it doesn’t necessarily provide the opportunity to delve into more difficult subject manner. While the three of swords definitely is the hardest hitting card of the deck, even then it has a connotation of healing and mending the pain and heartache (which honestly is great compared to the standard three of swords). The ten of swords and the tower on the other hand totally numb the harsh pain the cards typically display.

Art: 4.5/5 This is by far my happiest deck I have. It’s very modern, bright, pretty, and feel-good. I’m a total sucker for the rich jewel tone colors here, and I wish I had more decks that were really committed to color like this deck. I will say that in regards to representation of various people, ages, and body types, I feel like The Unfolding Path did it better, but there are still many people present in this deck, though they all do feel rather “classically” beautiful.

Favorite Card: I really like the 6 of Cups! Right in the feels. I also really enjoy the Justice Card and the action in the Knight of Swords, the playfulness of the 4 of Wands, and the clever interpretation of the Page of Swords.

Least Favorite Card: The Tower. This is a people focused deck, and I feel it was a cop-out to portray a cute squirrel rather than a stressed out human. This is a gentle deck; too gentle with The Tower.

Card I Identify As: I have to admit, while there’s a lot of cards I really enjoy in this deck, I haven’t found a “me” card yet.

The deck Identifies me as: The Chariot

Season: Summer or Winter when you desperately need some summery feelings!

Boxes it Checks: Bright, Positive, People-Centric, Happy, Modern, Diverse, Personal, Watery, Colorful

Similar Decks: I think the Superlunaris Tarot is a true sister deck. There’s an onslaught of modern feeling tarot decks and I don’t have the space to list them all here but some notable similar modern decks: The Sasuraibito Tarot, This Might Hurt Tarot, The Slow Tarot, The Numinous Tarot, The Unfolding Path Tarot
November 2024 Decks

November 22nd, 2024

Starting at the left, clockwise, Le Tarot Arthurien, Forgotten Legends Tarot, Asphodelon Mythos Tarot, The Oracle of 11, Legendarium Tarot

When the season is turning noticeably darker, I love returning to the stories I was read as a kid, or read as an adult, or stories in general. I love to read, but often I find I am too busy in the long summer days to linger in a book. Late fall really gives me that chance that I crave. With the anxiety of the tumultuous elections in the USA, I more than ever need a place of solace and stories are that for me. It shouldn’t be a surprise then that one of my favorite “themes” in the Tarot world are decks about stories, or that tell stories, and I wanted to dedicate a whole month (at least!) to decks that are all about myths and legends. I may need to return to this theme seeing as I have so many decks that fit this category!

Look at the variety of gold edging! And the “helper” doing her best to keep out of the way!

This month I wanted to choose decks that are not only myths and legends, but of those decks, ones I’ve used the least. Almost all of these are a year or less in my collection so I’m pleased to get the chance (and challenge!) of really digging in deep to get to know them better.

At the top is the The Oracle of 11, made by the brilliant Ambi Sun, who is the creator of my much beloved Oriens Tarot. This oracle deck is representing South East Asian stories (I believe it was originally called The Oracle of SEAS). This enchanting deck really packs a wallop, as you’ll see shortly. The art is of course just stellar, but I will say that the colors of the card faces are quite a bit darker than the backing and box suggest. In any case, this is a really different and fun deck to use!

The Legendarium Tarot gave me two jumpers for this month. This deck so surpassed all expectations I had of it! It’s very clear that D&D had a huge influence over the card images and keywords, and it deviates at times rather drastically from the RWS, but it’s structure and general “Fool’s journey” is delightful and fresh. I could easily see traveling with this deck for months on end and never getting bored of it! This is a total “cool kids” deck. The art is quirky, charming, and a very interesting nod to traditional Marseilles Tarot and playing card art. The creator is the same who made Tarot of the Golden Wheel and currently has another Kickstarter deck, a sister deck to Legendarium, that is just wrapping up it’s funding! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/montenzicollabs/the-clouds-of-destiny-tarot

The Forgotten Legends Tarot was a last moment purchase. I knew of it for a while, and like many many decks I admired it from afar and told myself I already have Yoshi Yoshitani’s Tarot of the Divine. The art between the two decks are very similar, and obviously the theme of legends and myths is exactly the same, but Forgotten Legends is muted in color pallet and overall has a rather darker tone in many of the cards. I was so surprised when I got it in hand how very different it feels compared to the Divine, and I absolutely love it. It is certainly much more Euro-centric in its choices of myths and imagery, but this deck is very complex, and is a perfect, moody winter deck.

I was gifted the beautiful Le Tarot Arthurien for Christmas last winter, and I’ve used it through out the year but have held off including it in a monthly deck collection. I adore this beautiful and emotionally evocative deck and I must say that Ana Tourian really is becoming one of my favorite deck makers. I was hoping that I’d be able to acquire the English version of the book that accompanies this deck, but I don’t think its been published quite yet.

And finally, the Asphodelon Mythos Tarot, a deck that has been long in the making. I bought the majors from the artists personal shop years ago and was so stoked to see that she decided to finish this awesome Greek inspired deck! I’ve had this deck for most of this year but really haven’t used it all that much so I’m really enjoying the discovery time I have with it! I really like that there are certain myths I know quite well, but others that are totally new to me, albeit this means that when I sit down with this deck to do a reading I need to budget a little more time in case I get sucked down a story rabbit-hole!

This month I did my monthly draw with my Tarot friend and I wanted to take the opportunity to share with the small audience I have on here how she really helped me become more engaged with my cards and think of my reading with fresh eyes. Like with any art, it’s easy to get stuck in a formulaic structure that works well for you, but this can limit your growth when you neglect to try new things. This is a great example of how you can choose to make your reading more creative, and become more engaged with your cards–include your friends in your draw!

So, I’ll first give a short version of my first reading with these cards as seen above, then we’ll talk about Val’s hot take!

We open with the month’s theme represented by the Puteri Walinong Sari story–a beautiful princess has so many suitors due to her looks and power, and she isn’t really interested in marrying them. She herself is an accomplished martial artist, so veils herself and says that she’ll marry the suitor that is able to fight and beat her–well, of course she kicks all their butts! Then a humble man from out of no-where talks to her and, you know, takes a real interest in her. He too is a martial art mat-rat and they inevitably decide to spar and he is winning! In a last ditch attempt she removes her veil and stuns him with her beauty and is able to defeat him and *poof!* he disappears! It is said she was whisked away with him to a far away mountain top and is reunited with him, neither ever seen again.

So, from this I get the “true beauty is within” but also “don’t settle for less.” There’s a lesson of needing to fight the good fight to get what you are worth. Expect there to be resistance. Huh.

Then I have the Two of Coins with the keyword “Rope-Walker” and the Ace of Cups with a charming Nereid. Though you go through this time with a knowing grin, you are playing a balancing game. Things are not as easy as they may appear to others. Nevertheless, you must keep your eyes (see that creepy eye on the chalice? ) and heart open for the genuine and true (similar vibes to our oracle card I think).

And then we end with a pretty exhausted 10 of Wands, a jousting 5 de Batons (Wands), and the cute Page of Cups. You have much bounty but to harvest it is a great chore and perhaps too big for one person, but you have no choice but to persevere. There is a challenge, and neither party is ready to take it on, though there is a “winner,” both knights have no tack and are certainly falling off their mounts. And we end with Hebe, who is carrying the ambrosia of the Gods. You are tasked with an important responsibility, but this doesn’t require you to leave your child self behind–see the world through the eyes of a child, let yourself play and try to find joy and meaning in what you do.

Now, my friend took these cards and did something really simple but interesting with them and pointed out some visual cues:

She pointed out in the oracle card, we have two figures, male and female, who are clearly warring with one another, but we know in their story they end up as dearest lovers.

We see the jester juggling in the Two of Coins the sun and moon, two drastically opposing forces.

In the 5 of Wands, we have on the left the chestnut-horse rider the 10 of Wands (also in warm brown tones), and the opposite black-horse rider is paired with the black haired Page of Cups. She explained that if it was her draw, she sees the Chestnut-riding knight the work-a-holic person fighting the childlike play that is the Black-riding knight.

But, we finish with a mermaid, who is, despite all natural order, is a half human and half fish–two opposites that seem impossible to get along, combined to something new and fresh. So, how can you (me) think of taking these two different approaches to responsibility and marry them together into something that is strange, but beautiful and new? How can you integrate these two parts of yourself harmoniously?

Wow! I was so taken by this interpretation! You can see how just thinking of the cards and what they depict in a different way can completely set a different tone with a draw. I feel like both readings are spot on for me this past month, and I was so pleased I had her with to look deeper at imagery and think critically at the whole of the draw!

How about you? Do you read Tarot with friends? What new ideas do they inspire in you?