The Tarot Tarts

Tarot over Tea #DecksICantPickUp

March 20th, 2024

By the way, HAPPY SPRING! Blessed Ostara for the pagan children out there.

FairyLightsTarot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsoXmlsSSPw) I believe, came out with this brilliant tag, in part due to fans’ suggestions. It is really easy to talk about the decks one loves and adores the most, but it’s a whole ‘nother ball game to reveal that there are decks you spent good money on and don’t use! Some of these I simply just don’t know how to use, some I haven’t dedicated the time to learn the internal system, and some I just plain-old don’t like!

The decks of shame.

The Waite-Smith Centennial Tarot

Well, I won’t belabor this one seeing as I recently posted a full review of this deck. This is a deck that tenuously stays in my collection as a reference sheet. My copy of this deck is mean, and it has earned at this point a permanent time-out.

The Mary-El Tarot

I am so intimidated by this deck! I LOVE the weird and bright artwork, but I picked it up having done ZERO Toth studies. This is one of those things where it’s all on me—I haven’t put in the time. I think once I do (Esoteric June, maybe?) I’ll reach for it! Those of you who are proficient in more than one tarot system, how did you do it? Did you just nose to the grindstone? Was learning the second system easier, or was it harder because your prior knowledge was getting in the way?

Visconti di Modrone Tarot

I am a history lover. Prior to this deck I purchased and became obsessed with The Sola Busca Tarot (and my dearest partner bought me The Game of Saturn that I spent months pouring over). I figured that if I could tackle the Sola Busca, this old pip deck should be no problem.

Me. I. I’m the problem, it’s me. I don’t know how to read pips all that well seeing as I’ve not spent any time with Marseille-esque decks. Maybe that’s an August or later theme??? There’s no way I can do a Toth month back-to-back with a Marseille-esque month, my head would explode!

I want to be able to use historic decks—it’s a really romantic image I have in my head that I haven’t been able to manifest into a reality yet.

The Mythical Creatures by Baba Studio

Another pip deck. While I occasionally use this deck, being it’s so pretty and ornate and the large companion book is the bosses sauce, I’d really like to reach for it more than a few times a year. I find the pips in this deck easy to get lost in, and I’d love to have this as a reader I use for others who’d like a pip deck. I wanna be functional at pips! How do you Marseille readers do it???

The Tarot of the Broken Mirror 5 Edition: Sapphire/Marseille

I backed this deck on Kickstarter for two reasons: 1) I ADORE my IV edition Broken Mirror Tarot, and 2) I wanted a gateway deck to learn Marseille. Unfortunately, I believe the little pictures in the minors meant to help those of us who are stunted in the Marseille department, are not necessarily Marseille meanings, but RWS meanings! Does anyone else have this deck? Is that true? Or are the pictures Marseille in nature and there’s simply overlap?

The Mushroom Hunter’s Tarot

I honestly couldn’t tell you why I don’t reach for this one because I love foraging and I love mushrooms and I think this deck is cute as all-get-out. Obviously mushrooms and fungi are rather niche subject matters so it isn’t “oh duh, perfect deck for this question” unless its cooking related. I think though that I can and should apply it beyond its face value. It needs to be in my next month’s deck list, I think. How do you use decks that are rather “niche” in nature?

Sefriot Tarot

I know perfectly well why I don’t use this deck. I have some serious bad blood between the Kickstarter campaign and the horrible quality of what they took a lot of money to make. While the feel in hand makes me cringe, and the coloring is really poor, the art is still pretty and I’m hoping that if I do a monthly theme for pip decks (which it is apparent at this point that I need to do) I’ll include this deck and see if there’s any saving it at this point.

Tarot Minchiate by Amparo Cortes

On the total flipside of Sefriot, this deck is FAR more finely-crafted than I thought it would be! The cards are absolutely lux. This deck is primarily meant to be a deck for the Tarot Minchiate game. I have yet to learn it! I think that the instruction manual is a bit too vague for me (I really need to watch someone play a game to understand it). I think the only way I’m going to learn this is to actively seek out another group of people who already know the game.

Divine Deco Tarot

I think this is a cool deck. I love the subject of dancers. I have yet to use it. Even once. I don’t know why. Maybe like The Mushroom Hunter Tarot it’s a bit too niche for me to think of it when I’m looking for a deck in particular.

The Arthur Rackham Oracle (2nd edition)

This one I used quite a bit when I first got it. It was my third oracle deck and seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, but for whatever reason, I stopped using it and it got covered at the back of the shelf. It’s a rather strange oracle, and the words with the images don’t always seem to go together or seem to resonate with a tarot pairing. I’d love to hear how y’all would use this quirky deck because I rather like it and would like to put it to work!

Alright, those are the decks I never reach for, and some tentative plans to fix that. What about YOU? Is there a deck that you just can’t seem to make yourself pick up and use?
Tarot at the Table: An Original Draw for Dreams

March 18th, 2024

One thing that I don’t see too much of, is run-of-the-mill daily tarot draws. Perhaps I’m just looking in the wrong places. I tend to find draws that are seasonally focused, formal traditional layouts, or larger, general-viewer draws on the YouTube. I can’t say I see many “I just I want to practice my tarot skills, but I don’t want to spend an hour reviewing thirty different cards” draws. So! I thought I’d share some of the common ones I use! Please let me know if you find this at all interesting.

Decks used in this draw: Liminality Oracle, Asphodelon Mythos Tarot, Wild Unknown Animal Spirit oracle, Wild Unknown Archetypes oracle

I find dreams and dreaming fascinating. Of course, Tarot fits nicely into the various archetypes we might see in dreams, so I’ve developed a typical structure I like to use when delving into cartomancy to help think of my dream in a critical way. Before I get into the actual cards, let me share my dream with you! Please be kind; this is a real dream I had and there is a great bit of vulnerability when sharing it into the internet abyss. Also, be mindful that while this is a bit of a silly dream, it was quite a scary when I was having it, which is why I chose to delve more into it through the cards:

21 Feb 2024

I’m in this mall that has a glass ceiling. There is so much commotion happening outside. The ceiling is shattered as something huge come flying into it. I run, seeking shelter from the glass. I look out at what looks like an airport tarmac and see massive monsters. They are so big I can’t really even tell what they are.

I run, trying to find a safe place, but there is no safe place. I’m shockingly swift and don’t seem to become winded easily. I see this group if kinda “alternative” looking people, taking on a monster. They are so strong and fast it is like they are savage animals!

I join them—I don’t want to be a passive bystander! I try to help topple the monster too. I bite it and hit it and kick and do everything I can. I get knocked violently aside and I hurt from it. The monster doesn’t topple but runs away.

The leader, who I am acquainted with but don’t know well, pulls me up. I’m so tired I feel limp at this stage. He commands me to stay with the wolves, that we’re going to figure this out. I’m so puzzled, I tell him that I don’t know what he’s talking about. He’s puzzled then tells me I’m a wolf, don’t I know? I don’t. He takes my left arm and says we’ll see if the sign sticks.

He draws a finger down my left forearm on the top, from elbow to wrist and draws some sort of simple symbol. The area he touched first looked like water drawn on my skin then turns black as if tattooed or cauterized into the skin. “See?” he says. “You have the mark already.”

I go trailing after them. We run into a parking ramp to regroup, then we split up into smaller groups to try and secure a certain area. I cannot stop staring at the black mark on my arm!

I should start out that by no means do you need a ton of decks to do this dream draw; you’d be perfectly fine with just one tarot deck or well-rounded oracle. I just had the excuse to pull out some fun deck, so I did! When I typically do a drawing for a dream, I’ll pick one, two, or on rare occasion three cards to represent the main characters in the dream. I used Kim Krans’s The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit oracle for my two characters, my dream-self, and the “pack” leader:

For myself, I drew the Mouse, an earth sign, and for the leader, the Hawk, an air sign.

A mouse is notable for it’s small size. It is a relatively weak animal that is at the bottom of the food-chain, and of course a staple for hawks! Despite it’s timid nature, the mouse is know for its resourcefulness, and its ability to get into spaces its not welcomed and cause havoc. In numbers, mice can be very troublesome indeed. I should note that in my past month of reading Lenormand, the card “The Mice” has repeatedly appeared over and over, and we recently in our own home were losing the battle with a particularly clever and fit little mouse. I can see myself feeling small and fearful in this dream, unsure of myself, but I do not wish to be timid! I want to join others and help them out! Though I am marked as one of them, I do not feel it.

A hawk is considered a bird of prey that is either a buteo or an accipiter (so, not falcons). They have large wings, hunt open spaces and forests, use the wind to their advantage, as some can soar! They are powerful animals that are often viewed as being regal and proud. They have incredible eyesight and must develop deadly accuracy in hunting to survive. The leader in this group is perceptive and sees “the mark” of the “wolf” on me, which I cannot see myself. He comes across as strong and powerful, and somewhat intimidating.

Then, if there are big “themes” or “ideas” or “concepts” that appear in the dream, I might draw a card for those as well. In this dream, I had literal BIG monsters, and also the group of people dubbed “wolves” so I drew a card each for them from The Wild Unknown Archetypes deck (a deck I have a love-hate relationship with):

I pulled for the monsters LXXVII Aletheia. A Greek term that literally means “truth or disclosure in philosophy,” it is also described as “being unconcealed…(i.e) evident,” or relating to disclosure, revealing, factuality or reality (from Wikipedia). The not-so-little white book describes this card representing “truth” or “act of truth.” We see how the same rose looks in both black and white, no matter what way we look at it, it’s the same rose. These “Monsters” are showing me a truth–that there are some big problems that need to be tackled! They exist and affect everyone, whether we want to deal with them or not! And, it will take a group of people to get them to retreat, you cannot do it alone.

For the general group of monster-fighters called “Wolves” I drew LXX The Thread. This image seems both very tenuous but also strong! That person is hardly gripping a thread–its a huge cord! We see a splash of rainbow and color after the stark former Aletheia. The image says to me hope is thin, but not weak, you must grasp it hard and hold on! The LWB speaks to finding the purpose and meaning in the chaos and anchoring to it, which seems very fitting in this draw! We can see the “wolves” as giving us purpose to protect ourselves and attack back at the monsters in an organized way.

Then I decided to draw some tarot. Because I typically draw from jumpers, I usually will shuffle until I get at least three cards, but this deck (the all-new Asphodelon Mythos Tarot) seemed to have a lot to say and gave me six jumpers on the shuffle-through so I lined them up in the order they came leaping out.

In the past, I’ve read the tarot as a separate spread from the oracle cards, but after doing a month of Lenormand, I had a Galaxy Brain moment and realized I can read where the cards are placed relative to the oracle cards (okay, I know you seasoned veterans do this all the time, but I’m still learning, bear with me).

According to the cards, my dream-self in this dream has all the agency and tools at my disposal by which to act upon the world. I can make sudden decisions, and have the power to heal with my actions. I have a great amount of empathy and emotional soundness and security that allows me to love and feel deeply. Also, it’s interesting that with the “angel” like image combined with the two lovers, these two cards look strikingly like the traditional Lovers card which speaks of choices: I have a choice–what do I choose?

Okay, I’m not gonna lie–this is the first serious draw I’ve done with this deck and now I’m really bummed that I already have my monthly decks planned for several months because the Asphodelon Mythos Tarot is totally rad and I need to use it, constantly, for some time. This is an interesting combination of cards for our hawk character–if I saw a RWS clone pairing of the ace of cups with the devil I’d read it as a relationship for the wrong reasons, or a selfish emotional motivation. But in this ace of cups we see two intimate figures, Nix and Erebus. It reminds me of a ying-yang, two side of the same coin, darkness and light. The water out of the cup seems to be cascading down and trying to snuff out the raging Cronus. Perhaps we can say that our strong leader is representing the struggle between balance and selfishness? Maybe his role is to extinguish the threat. Maybe while he is a new person to me that has something to offer, there is a darker aspect that remains to be seen.

So if we take the two tarot under Aletheia (the Monster) we see the Ten of Swords and Death. Easy enough, there was a profound defeat/failure that was a definitive ending. But from that end is the beginning of something new.

Flanking The Thread (the “wolves”) is The Magician and the Ace of Cups–you have surprisingly found a new place–do you belong here? There’s a strong connection here, that is very empowering.

If we take the tarot together on their own, we see someone very assured and strong who was flying high took a terrible downfall and met a proverbial death. There is a rebirth that is more balanced, but the core problem still lingers and rages on (after all, the wolves and I did not kill the monster, it fled).

So, I asked the Liminality Oracle “advice about what can I do?” And drew:

Wow! Those are definitely very wolf-y creatures, aren’t they? Change first starts with you. Be the change you want to see. To change the course you have to take action. Work actively towards what you seek. Be dogged in your pursuit!

Hm, food for thought, eh!

How ’bout you? Do you ask your cards about your dreams?
March 2024 Decks

March 8th, 2024

It is a balmy windy day–more like the end of May instead of the first of March!

After using Lenormand for (nearly) all my draws last month, I’m so ready to move back into the familiarity and comfort of Tarot, but I still wanted to stick with a theme for this month! I want to see what happens when I use animal-themed decks.

The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot, the Woodland Wardens oracle, the Oriens Tarot Deck, the Wild Child Tarot, Thistledown Oracle deck

I am very picky about my animal cartomancy decks. But, I also have a real soft spot for animals! I find that I have quite a few critter decks and I usually include at least one animal deck per month. But, there are still animal decks that I haven’t included in my past year’s monthly decks! So I wanted to round a couple of them up to showcase them, and see if they play well together.

I have been wanting to focus on using The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot since I first purchased it not long after it was released (in 2020 I believe). It wildly deviates from the RWS while still keeping a rough RWS structure and when I first hand it in hand, I was not ready for it. Of course, its famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for turning the path of the fool upside down to represent the path of self discovery and union with the earth/greater universe. The minors also have a tendency to do their own thing, and the courts are completely reworked. I like this very gentle and nurturing deck, and while it’s not “exclusively” animals (as you can see, I drew a more human-centric card) there are plenty of animal guides through the cards and the book is very mindful of various animal presence.

From TWWT, I drew the Craftsman of Air–your March will entail putting ideas into practice! Try, try and keep trying until you find what works! You will have lots of study ahead. Be prepared to accept new ideas, and discard what has worked for you in the past. The path to mastery is neither straight nor linear–do not be discouraged if something fails, see it as an opportunity. Discernment and hard work should be tempered with a lighthearted approach–do not take yourself too seriously otherwise you might set yourself up for failure. There is also hints that cross-pollination between different, seemingly unrelated studies is beneficial to learning and deeper understanding (literature, astronomy, geometry, music, chemistry, biology, there’s a lot in this card!).

The Woodland Wardens oracle deck is a new face to Tarot Tarts, though I’ve had it since it was released. I find this deck is very sweet and it feels rather Tarot-esque in its numbering system/choices, but I find I don’t often reach for it, through no fault of its own.

With a clever combination of animal and plant, this deck is not only very beautiful, but also is a little pocket dictionary of flora/fauna myths (hello cross-studies!). From Wardens I drew X The Duck and Chrysanthemum, Luck. Lucky Ducky! I LOVE that the image chosen was not the classic male Mallard, but his demur, female counterpart. She is beautiful too with her iridescent wing-bars! This card speaks to not only being lucky, but cultivating luck–being kind to others, and not expecting any particular outcome are good places to start. So, I’ll have a good turn ahead of me it seems!

The Oriens Tarot is probably my favorite animal deck ever, and it has made several appearances in this blog, hence why it hasn’t been a “monthly” deck yet (though don’t be fooled, I use this deck all the time).

From this came the King of Cups, a handsome flamingo, perfectly balanced. How can I this month keep my emotions in balance while still perfectly “owing” myself? What is the right balance perhaps is an even better question. This beautiful bird is a little more than flamboyant, isn’t it? There’s a degree of trusting one’s self to achieving that sort of equanimity. This flamingo certainly does not face imposter syndrome! You as you are right now are enough–own it!

The Wild Child Tarot is just a darling deck. It is so very sweet (I feel like I’m going to say this a lot in this monthly draw!). The artist is the same who created The Healing Waves Tarot, and also the Wild Child Oracle. While the animals chosen are rather “typical” of what I’d imaging for most of the cards (whereas I’d say the Oriens is very atypical in most cards) I cannot think of a more classic Emperor animal than the majestic Ram!

Of course, the Ram and the Emperor are cards associated with the Aries Zodiac, so its a “no, duh” choice. But, I usually associate the Emperor with a fire element (hello there little salamander!), but this Emperor seems very earthy and grounded, doesn’t he? Hm, a very practical and perhaps gentle Emperor. While you will have mastery and self control of your emotions, you will also be the boss of your world. You have stability, and are the leader in your own life right now, and you carefully protect what you have. You use logic and sensibility to make decisions and you will exercise prudence to ensure you are on top of things. Also, those are some really impressive horns! You probably only need to look like you mean business to get things done rather than actually needing to exercise any sort of force.

Hmm, between The Craftsman, the King, and The Emperor, there is a bit of a masculine theme, isn’t there?

And finally, the Thistledown Oracle, from Three Trees Tarot (the same who made Oak, Ash, & Thorn Tarot). I have yet to use this deck in any seriousness, and it’s the perfect oracle deck for someone like me who has a bit of lack-of-imagination when it comes to oracles. The images are intriguing without me needing to know much context, and the key-word is simple. This sweet little oracle deck is predominantly forest and farm animals, however, like The Witches’ Wisdom, this deck spat out one of its (very) few non-animal cards and gave me a dragon card.

Silver Lining! “Every mushroom cloud has a silver lining” said Owl City. Yes, I still listen to their album! Sometimes I feel like “silver lining” should be my nick-name! I always, always, always try to find the silver lining in a tough spot or bad place. There have been points in my life where nothing was good or right and I had my work cut out to find something positive. Sometimes you make a decision that isn’t want you thought it would be, or a decision marks a split in the road and while neither is a bad choice, you lose out in some form or another. OR sometimes bad things happen and you have no ability to control them. Silver lining speaks to finding that there is something to be gained in loss, or something that happened to make YOU better and stronger, even if the immediate effect is negative. The little dragon looks out at the retreating storm that has disturbed the forest–there is a wild beauty she sees that she’d have never been able to witness if she didn’t hold on through the chaos. You will find that even the negative have a secret positive that will help you out where you are this month.

I have to say this is a fantastic reading for this month! While there’s a lot of work needed and focus, I’ll have mental and emotional balance and I have a great deal of agency at being my own “fate-maker.” I’ll see a good turn of luck, but also positive thinking which will enable me to weather any difficulties, or perhaps past difficulties will blossom into positive experiences now. In any case, a good month ahead!

What about you? Do you have a favorite animal themed deck? What does March look like in your cards?
Deck Review: Santa Muerte Tarot

February 23rd, 2024

For all its skeletons, it’s a bouquet of flowers. Purchased 2020

Overall: 8/10 Do you have an Abuela who’s kinda out there? Eccentric, has beaded curtains and wears sarongs even though it’s snowing? Has married a couple times, since her husbands seem to die tragically? Every time she tells a story it’s different, and better than the last time? Always has some tamales for you to snack on? No? Me neither. But the Santa Muerte Tarot is that Abuela.

I love this deck. It’s one of the few I’ve ever modded by edging in red. I’m going on four years of using it and the enchantment has not worn off. It is one that I go out of my way to find occasion to use, and I feel despite the rise of Tarot popularity since it first came out, it will continue to stand the test of time because it fills such a particular niche. While the skeletons are ghastly, they are very animated, and the somewhat old-school computer-graphic-y art feels at times dated, this deck is thoughtful and kind.

This deck is a strong contender for “best back design.”

Card Quality: 3.5/5 It’s uber-glossy. Works fine, nothing to write home about. Does it’s job, holds up well over multiple uses.

Whether the card is sticking to the traditional RWS meaning or completely branching out, each card art is very creative and unique in its interpretation.

Readability: 4/5 This deck does not stay strictly to the RWS system and honestly, it doesn’t need to because the images are really self-explanatory. If you’re looking to branch out beyond basic Tarot, and expand your intuitive reading ability, this is a great place to start. I consider this deck one of my “teacher” decks seeing as it changed how I read tarot. The themes of the minors are clearly portrayed and there is a sense of progression and order that very few decks possess, even those that I rate higher than this deck. There are some rather puzzling images that will take a bit of time to ponder, and because the 10’s and some of the court cards aren’t necessary as clear as some decks, I’m not sure this is a complete “beginner” deck, but it is an easy reader. There’s a lot of symbology bound up in different represented body parts that really deserve a lot more attention than I’ve seen out there.

In the 10’s we see a body-representation of the suit: Swords are skulls (where the mind is kept), Wands, being a suit of passion is represented by the hip/pelvic bone, Pentacles are feet that keep us connected and down to earth, and the Cups are the ribcage, where the heart is kept safe. I know that some people think this is silly, but I really like this interesting take.

For a person who is artistically in-tune with their body, then this will “make sense” in a strange way.

Art: 5/5 I mean, there isn’t much in the way of words that I can do for this deck; it’s rich in color, details, symbols. It’s so so fun, humorous, and just gosh-darned good natured. Death, it would seem, becomes us all. I love the way the skeletons really level the playing ground on how people are perceived in this deck. Each minor group court is marked with different eye-socket designs which a) makes reading quickly a cinch, and b) gives some really good visual character to our skeletons. The Majors and Minors have equal amount of detail and thought put into them which is a big seller for me. Oh and the backs are STELLAR! This is one of the best backs out of all my decks. I love them to death (hehehe).

Favorite Card: I mean, there’s a LOT of really good images in this deck like XVI The Tower? HELLO! What an interesting take. But the 2 of Wands is what really sold me on this deck. This is a darkly funny idea of “planning” and preparation. Also the 2 of Swords is incredible (notice the scissor blades?), and this has to have one of the best 3 of Swords I can think of.

Least Favorite Card: The 9 of Pentacles—I just I don’t get it??? Also, let me point out to any future tarot deck makers the importance of putting the little line under the 6 and 9 if you are not going to have the numbers at the top or bottom of your cards, your readers will thank you.

Season: Spring/Summer when all the flowers are in bloom, or around Day of the Dead.

Boxes It Checks: Unique, Charming, Witty, Humorous, Shadow Work, Kind, Ancestor Work, Bright, Bold, Tropical

Similar Decks: In artistic style (except in black and white) Goetia Tarot by the same artist, The Marigold Tarot, The Sugar Skull Tarot, Tarot de El Dios de los Tres, Ancestors Tarot, the companion oracle by the same artist Santa Muerte Oracle, Night Sun Tarot (also by the same artist)
Lunar New Year, Year of the Dragon 2024 Draw

February 21st, 2024
I really got a kick making a draw for the year of the Rabbit in 2023, and I 100% have been waiting to do a Dragon 2024 draw for this lunar year! A Google told me that people born in the year of the dragon have “natural courage, tenacity, and intelligence, often displaying enthusiasm and confidence.” Seeing as I don’t personally know any scaly dragons to model actual animal behavior and wisdom after, I’ll have to take the G’s advice about the Chinese Zodiac system to help structure my questions. Let’s get to it!

Of course I had to bring out my beloved Smoke, Ash & Embers Tarot deck! I love that this deck is RWS, but it takes a very different, practical and holistic approach to modern tarot. In their version of the LWB they label the Wands as our spirit, the Pentacles as our material world, the Swords our thoughts, and the Cups our emotions. While this is pretty typical in RWS decks, I’ll especially be paying attention to this during this draw.
1. What great magical thing will start your year?
2. What frightening obstacle will block your path forward?
3. How best to show courage?
4. What will try your patience?
5. How to show tenacity and perseverance?
6. What riddle will puzzle you?
7. How best to outsmart it?
8. How do we show enthusiasm when we’ve lost our mojo?
9. Where should we cultivate confidence?
10. When should we be tender?
11. When do we need to be fierce?
12. Where will I find unexpected luck?
1.What great magical thing will start your year? Three of Pentacles. You will have help in building your nest egg! In a project or financial adventure, you will find a willing and eager partner. Perhaps they will help teach you, and you in turn can teach them. This is now the second recent draw that I’ve had a 3 of Pen show up, I gotta start paying attention.

2. What frightening obstacle will block your path forward? The Hanged Man. You will face uncertainty and a change of view—things are not as you thought, but if you take a moment, you will see there is something to be gained here that you’d not be able to get otherwise.

3. How best to show courage? Ace of Swords. Pay attention! Use your head. Use your sense of observation to understand and learn to go forth strongly! Success is at hand, but you need to take the sword and practice the skills it takes to get there. Listen to mentors (this also seems to be a reoccurring theme).

4. What will try your patience? Eight of Swords. The constant hard work, grind, and, well, patience! Accomplishing something is never a linear journey and sometimes it feels as if you are getting nowhere, fast. Keep at it! Don’t worry about needing to get your hands dirty every once in a while.

5. How to show tenacity and perseverance? Two of Swords. This is a very different take on the two of swords than I’m used to. Counter intuitively, sometimes you need to take a fricking nap! When things get overwhelming and seem to lack progress, take a break, try something new, enjoy the flowers of your successes you have made. Also, don’t stand up too fast!

6. What riddle will puzzle you? Page of Cups. A new person, feeling, idea, or opportunity will come out of nowhere and completely take you off guard!

7. How best to outsmart it? Six of Pentacles. Be kind. You will find reward for your kindness in unexpected ways. Be a force that brings others together. Realize what a person really wants when they give you something. Put offerings/gifts in context; if someone is giving you something, what, if anything do they expect in return?

8. How do we show enthusiasm when we’ve lost our mojo? Page of Pentacles. Keep things practical; look at what you have already accomplished, and look at where you want to be. What will it take to get there? Make a list, write it down. How can you allocate your resources right now to get to where you want to be? Start there. Go back to the fundamentals. Once you get moving, you’ll get your chutzpah back!

9. Where should we cultivate confidence? XIX The Sun! Be confident in what you know you do well and are successful at! Duh! Do that! When you are happy and joyful, you exude confidence, so first ensure you are having a good time.

10. When should we be tender? Page of Wands (holy mole, we got some Page energy today!). Treat the imagination and the joy of newness tenderly—this is where great things happen and negatively criticizing ideas prematurely will help no one. Help yourself and others grow to be their best by believing in your/their vision!

11. When do we need to be fierce? Ten of Cups. When it comes to your family-of-choice and those you love, you get involved! They are your people! It’s up to you to help make sure they are secure and they in turn watch out for you. It really does take teamwork to make the dream work.

12. Where will I find unexpected luck? Nine of Wands. When you are feeling like you are at the end of your game and you have no more strength to persevere, you will find unexpected luck.
And, just for fun, I drew from The Thistle Down oracle deck a card for “advice for this lunar year.”

Don’t forget to take moments to collect yourself, live in the moment, and smell the flowers, even if you’re a little bit of a grouch *wink*.

So, I see lots of pentacles and pages, so I have a lunar year of learning and practicing my arts and skills. Can’t ask for anything better in the year of the Dragon!

Did you do a Lunar Year draw?
Deck Review: The Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot

February 12th, 2024

The OG tarot of our modern times, purchased 2020

Courtesy Nudity Warning! Naked people are in the cards ahead!

When I started writing about Tarot my goal was to provide a platform to post reviews in new and interesting ways of decks I own (or have owned) for fun, but also to help others make informed purchasing decisions. I told myself that I was going to post reviews of decks in the order of which I received them, to not only give me ample time to use and test them, but also let the excited honeymoon phase wear off. Which, I’ve been overall good about, but that means I got to go through some decks that I just don’t regularly use, and kinda don’t like.

In my personal experience, when most people think Tarot, they will think of the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition. Some people adore this deck SO MUCH they will collect multiple variations and copies of it. More power to you! And I will admit, there is something very timeless, vintage, and classic about this deck, but, y’all—

I never use this deck.

I (almost) never use it for myself, I certainly don’t use it for others, and it usually only gets pulled out to argue over a “classic” RWS symbol or to compare to “standard tarot size.” So, please take this review with a grain of salt and remember this is just one person’s opinion of arguably the most well know and purchased Tarot deck on the market.

I wanted to do a five card draw for this review, and I typically use jumpers as my cards. I got to card four and thought “hmm, well, maybe this deck isn’t so bad after all! And then it spat out two jumpers for card five–classic S-W Centennial had to end the draw on a happy note!

Overall: 5/10 I use this as a reference deck. My copy has a history of being very mean-spirited, so after a serious bumpy first few months where I really wanted to be that classic tarot reader with my worn-in copy of the classic Smith-Waite Centennial, it was simply not to be. I’m not inclined to use it for readings, and it has become a dust collector on my shelf. Now, there is something to be said that this deck is very much “the mother deck” of many modern Tarot, and has had arguably more influence on modern tarot and the new wave of tarot interest than any other deck. There is endless history to talk about regarding the esoteric choices of art and symbols for this deck (of course many were chosen by Waite, but Pamela Colman Smith’s was heavily influenced by the historic Sola Busca Tarot) but that’s for more scholarly reading that what I can offer here.

Card Quality: 3.5/5 Great balance of resistance and usability. Extremely easy to shuffle. Soft in hand. I wish all decks of this price came with such no-nonsense cardstock.

We have the OG RWS to thank for our modern illustrated “pips”!

Readability: 3/5 This is a very dated deck in that there are (A LOT OF) other decks out there available for the modern Tarot reader that are more user friendly, more relevant, etc. But, this is the baseline for many other decks so it is not a bad idea to become familiar with the original RWS imagery. Though this is a “modern” deck, I find it difficult sometimes because I know there’s historical significance in the symbols that I’m missing.

There are some cards that are so symbol rich its easy to quickly get “lost in the sauce,” at least for me.

Art: 4/5 I love the art-nouveau kitch—it’s very internally consistent, I love the details and the symbols, I mean, it’s a classic for a reason! Obviously printing wasn’t what it is today and some of the line work can feel heavy.

Favorite Card: Queen of Wands–love me the little black cat. The Fool is so iconic and classic. Death—death and his horse are rad

Least Favorite Card: Eight of wands, I feel like this card ruined all other eight of wands to follow. Nine of Cups, the guy just looks so smug XD. Two of Pentacles, the guy has a condom on his head and you cannot convince me otherwise

Boxes it Checks: RWS, traditional, old school, classic

Similar decks: I mean, most decks? There’s a million and one RWS clones out there, but for something “similar but different” The Harmonious Tarot looks very nice

What are your feelings around the Wait-Smith deck?
Tarot Over Tea: #EndOfYearTarotTag 2023 Decks in Review!

February 9th, 2024

Technically Tarot over Turkish Coffee and a Valentine’s cookie!

This is a bit belated. I wanted to let 2023 sink in so I could look back with a more critical eye rather than rushing onward towards the new year, which I am wont to do!

This is a tag I fist watched Coyote Tarot post (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyU7z6IUtIM) and I think it’s a great end of year summation. I believe there are many Tarot-Tubers out there that have done this tag, so go watch a few!

So, unless I’m doing a deck review and am referencing specific cards, I randomly draw cards to share. I feel this is fair to the decks rather than letting my bias show through. However, upon reflection, one of these cards is not like the other and that devastating Knight of Wands feels a little, violently, out of place.

Deck you used the most: The Slavic Legends Tarot

I will admit it took me a while to break down and buy The Dark Mansion Tarot deck, but once I got a copy in hand, I fell absolutely head over heels and it remains to this day my favorite read- for-others deck. When I heard the same makers and publishing house was ready to release a new deck, I didn’t even have to see any specs or sample images to know I was going to pre-order The Slavic Legends Tarot; but don’t get me wrong, I spent an hour drooling over the card photos they had released! I knew was going to love this to pieces, and I could not help myself but use it continuously throughout the year. It’s so lush, both in artwork and in cardstock that it’s hard to NOT reach for it! The deck is conscious of the seasons so no matter the time of year you’ll find seasonal themes represented in various cards throughout the majors and minors. I love that the images all are very consistent in art style and theme and are extremely detailed—in fact, I’d worry that the standard size version might lose some of that fine work! It is RWS without feeling boring or clone-like. This deck is not nearly as jovial as the Dark Mansion, and there are some heavier themes of war, fears, challenges, etc, but it also has a lighthearted moments. There are rumors that a collection of all the various legends and myths that are represented in the cards are being compiled, which would have to be my one gripe with this deck. It would be great to have a card by card explanation or better yet, BIG BOOK telling us all about the stories portrayed. I’d say this is my Deck of 2023!

Deck you didn’t use at all (in 2023): The Endless Oracle

I focused in January using this deck, but given my excitement to see it arrive once the Kickstarter ended, I was shocked I didn’t seem to find the time to work with it in 2023! This was not at all a case of I didn’t like this deck, to the contrary, I think it’s a really neat deck, but rather I had so many other things planned for the year it kinda fell off the to-do list, oops. I am a huge fan of Maille’s art, so of course I enjoy this deck, but I will admit that it was a challenge for me to use it seeing as it was so outside of my normal “oracle” style deck. I really enjoyed it though and now feel quite confident pulling it off the shelf!

Most recent addition: 1999 Bizarre Summer Lenormand

This weird little deck cracks me up, and really is the reason I decided I need to up my Lenormand game. The premise is looking back at the age between child and teen, as a girl growing up in the weird, turn of the 21st century. That would be me! So there are some funny, retro-manga style images that really hit home. Oh, and the deck has a MINI version, and rocking cardstock. What else can you ask for? It is not at all a “traditional” Lenormand image-wise, but it feels very accessible and I cannot wait for the creators to release their tarot they have in the works!

Deck you re-homed (or put in purgatory): Threads of Fate Oracle

Ah, I wish I would have taken more pictures of this deck. There were a handful of beautiful cards in this deck, but it really did not speak to me and also made me a bit Oracle-scared for several years after my failure with it. It was gifted to someone else who LOVES it and has a better home!

Favorite pairing: The original Citadel Deck with literally any other deck

A variety of different decks paired with The Citadel.

So I had some serious salty feelings when I saw Liminal 11 was coming out with a rebooted, bigger better spot-lighted Citadel (oracle) Deck. I aggressively used my “limited print” version I got with their special fancy-pantsy Seed and Sickle oracle as much as I could to try and convince myself I didn’t need the new edition. I discovered I really, REALLY dig this deck; I love how it will read with ANYTHING, and I really like its structure and the companion booklet. I eventually broke down and bought the newer, fuller edition and I love that as well, but there’s something funky and special about this little do-it-all deck.

Favorite mod or bag made (or any accessory): I made a Tarot reading/wrap cloth for a friend’s birthday!

That’s five different pieces of fabric! I’m really pleased with how well I was able to get it to turn out, especially how sewing is NOT my forte!

What deck do you want for Christmas: Le Authurien Tarot!

I had NO IDEA Ana Tourian had released this deck until I read her newsletter in December. I immediately had to share with my French bestie seeing as she’s a tarot enthusiast as well. She was immediately on the ball, and snagged me a copy in France! What a wonderful gift!

I have yet to work much with this deck, but I already am in love with it—it is not at all your typical RWS, and I find the images very intriguing, like all of Tourian’s art. The Arthurian theme is perhaps over-done in tarot, but somehow this is very fresh feeling. This deck may well be a favorite, if not THE favorite of 2024!

Deck you’d gift others: Ephemere Tarot

As I was an early-bird Kickstarter backer, I was able to snag a second deck on discount and it went to my bestie (see above) for her holiday gift. This is certainly NOT a deck for just anyone, nor an easy or “beginner” deck, nor does it even follow a traditional system (Arthur Wang really remade the system for himself and I love it), but it IS a great gift for the seasoned tarot reader who has it all. Its simple, lux, beautiful, haunting, ethereal, and unique.

Deck you fell in love with: Silver Acorn Tarot

I mean, don’t call me shallow, but one would have to seriously work hard to not fall in love with this deck. It was a deck I bought because it was so dang cute, but it is a great RWS reader. It makes me laugh every time I take it out. It is sweet, and wholesome, and doesn’t have a mean bone in its body. What more can you want?

Which card sums up this year as a whole: Knight of Wands

This one, that’s the bastard right there!

I pulled this card continuously in the early start of last year and it continued to haunt me (still does, tbh). Let me tell you, it was spot on. I’ve been charging forth on new adventures left and right all year—it’s been exhausting!

Pull a card for the new year: Knight of Cups

Oh boy…I seem to be in my Knight phase! Year three of knights! At least this one is calmed down!

How did YOUR year look like with the cards???
February 2024 Decks

February 5th, 2024

I want to mix things up a little. In fact, this year I’d like to spend a month here and there focusing on different styles of cartomancy readings to help me feel more comfortable outside of my normal decks, pairings, and general RWS modality.

For this month, I wanted to have a specific focus on Lenormand decks! I have done a bit of Lenormand reading in the past, but it’s been very sporadic and I wouldn’t say that I’m at all adept at the style. And, I need at least ONE Tarot deck, so I have my beloved Fyodor Pavlov Tarot, possibly the best tarot deck for Valentines month (that and I love this deck and am always looking for an excuse to pull it out).

I have five Lenormand Decks, but The Shadow Night Raven Lenormand I used just last October (quite a bit actually), so it’s on hiatus for a little while.

Never fear! There’s still four that I haven’t used much in the past half year so lets dive in!

Clockwise left to right, 1999 Bizarre Summer, The Paper Oracle, The Owl’s Lenormand, The Fyodor Pavlov Tarot, The Magpie’s Lenormand

1999 Bizarre Summer Lenormand is a new addition to my collection, and I have to say it was the inspiration for this month’s Lenormand theme. I have to admit, I find this deck very interesting! It has an adorable, vintage manga style of art, and thematically revolves around pre-teen girl’s day dreams and reality, but its very off the wall, and unexpected. It also has a sense of movement that in a world of stagnant Lenormand pictures is a breath of fresh air. It’s also uber cute.

I really started reading Lenormand with The Paper Oracle, made by Eric Maille, the same artist who produced The Ink Witch Tarot, and The Endless Oracle I worked with last month. It’s beautiful and the images really clicked for me. I believe last year I utilized this deck as my monthly “oracle” deck, but I’d like to dig in more seriously. Its playful and lush without feeling over done, or busy.

The Magpie Lenormand and The Owl Lenormand, as you can tell, are made by the same artist, Rozenn Grosjean. And they are gorgeous! The cardstock, imagery, glorious gilding, are all top notch! The Magpie Lenormand was the first Kickstarter I backed and I did so, not because I was particularly interested in Lenormand, but because it was so dang beautiful! Yes, I sometimes will buy a deck for looks. I will say, there are some critical changes in the deck that make this a not-easy to learn variation of Lenormand (for example the child-woman-man was replaced with Caterpillar, Chrysalis, Butterfly/Moth, and other replacements). I found once I got this lux, lovely deck in hand, I felt rather lost in the system. It doesn’t help that the pretty book is more or less useless to me (this is my opinion!). Its sister deck, The Owl Lenormand, while using very similar images, does feel a little more “classic” in its choice of imagery, but I would not say this is particularly beginner friendly either. After having other Lenormand decks, I think I want a retry with these two!

And since I need at least one Tarot to cling to while being on the Lenormand Struggle Bus, I included the Fyodor Pavlov Tarot, which at this point hardly needs an introduction!

The monthly draw!

The internet tells you to start Lenormand by reading in threes. We’re not gonna do that! Let’s jump right into the four cards:

I was secretly hoping I wouldn’t have to address the Chrysalid in the room. But alas, the one card I didn’t want to draw, I drew. *Sigh* In the two Rozenn Grosjean decks, The Chrysalid (Chrysalis) takes the place normally held by The Woman signifier (or The Man, its not clear which it replaces), and, while I can appreciate the artist’s attempt at removing gender from the deck to make it more accessible to all readers, it bothered me for a while that one was in-progression to the other, in the direction of a “better” form. BUT after some actual contemplation and using my brain, I realized this is faulty thinking on my end. The author ISN’T saying this, I am projecting that onto the card images; rather, she seems to be focusing on an individual’s growth process and where you might be in that process.

So, The Chrysalid. Arguably the most intriguing card in this deck. Something that you’ve been working towards, or something that is subliminally on the proverbial “back-burner”, is growing. There is unseen change happening. This is a moment of being in flux. Things both exist and don’t exist. There are behind the scenes action happening, something new is cooking out of the old.

I love how this interpretation of the Key makes it clear that the character in the card is not entirely sure where the key might go to! You already have the answers/knowledge. Something new is about to be opened for you, but its up to you to do the work to get there, and find how it fits in your life. We can see this progressing from The Chrysalid as perhaps realizing what has been working behind the scene, or how to use it or how to unlock it’s potential. Let see what else.

The moon; intuition, dreams, creativity, imagination. Perhaps the keys will unlock a sleeping well of inspiration, a muse, or creative drive! Perhaps looking closely where dreams and reality align would be of value this month, or otherwise asking what have you been dreaming about that needs to come into the realm of tangibility?

Aww, The Bouquet! You are being acknowledged kindly. You have either meet success or a friend is making a sincere gesture. Your creativity you’ve unlocked in the prior cards will be recognized in a positive, admirable way! I especially love the peonies pictured here, they are one of my favorite early summer flowers. Perhaps I’ll see the fruits of my efforts in early summer???

So far the draw has been very individual focused, but our tarot card, the three of pentacles, reminds us we do not learn skills on our own. We need excellent teachers, friends to support and help us, and also to share our wisdom in return to continue to grow as artisans. Don’t be afraid to ask your mentors and friends for help. Be willing to assist others who ask you in turn!

All in all, I’d say this was a very positive draw for the month of February! There was a theme of personal growth, “leveling up”, and being seen for it! The Tarot reminds us to always remain the student, always look for opportunities to grow and learn and never be afraid to ask for help when stuck!

What do your cards say you have in store for February? Do you use Lenormand decks?
January 2024 Decks

January 5th, 2024

Right to left: Black Violet Tarot, A Divine Feminine Tarot, Endless Oracle, Tarot of the Abyss, Ephemere tarot

Nudity warning for several card images ahead! I guess I have a lot of decks with naked people (face palm).

Like most of North America, we’re having a very weird winter. It’s astonishingly warm. But the strange light of January remains the same—its either very very bright, or very very dark. While we are out of the darkest month (thank goodness, dark at 4pm is really early! I don’t know how folks even further north do it), January still has days that are bleak. But, the strange flip-side is that when its cloudy, its warmer! And when the sun is blisteringly bright, it’s very cold. The thick clouds act like a blanket.

Usually for January I like returning to the stories I know and love. There’s comfort in my favorite stories, and I especially need this when we are trapped inside due to cold. Usually, I will reach for my Tarot of the Divine, a perfect deck of myths and stories with bright happy colors I crave in the stark white. However, its above freezing today, the snow’s almost melted, and frankly I’m missing winter. So, if I can’t have it outside, I’m going to try to have it in my Tarot (though, I’m not complaining *too* hard, it’s nice that my skin doesn’t get frost bitten!)!

My experiment this month is to use decks that are black and white, stark decks, with minimal color; let’s see what happens!

I’m kinda digging the various back textures and colors! I get some major mix and match tea set vibes from this one!

The Endless Oracle, by the same artist of my beloved Ink Witch Tarot (Eric Maille, https://www.ericmaille.com/store), is a deck I’ve been waiting for what seems an age to really dig into! As a myriorma deck, all cards appear to flow from one to the other due to the black bushes and trees at the edges, as if you’re walking from meadow to meadow in a thick forest at night. With little pops of color, and the same rough, charming unfinished style of the Ink Witch, this oracle seems like it will fit with most other decks. The keywords and images do invoke rather mythic and storybook settings, so perhaps my regular January theme still exists!

The Tarot of the Abyss I’ve used extensively since I first purchased it, and I typically use it in winter or darker days. I find this deck is very profound in its readings where it can tap into the inner child, and it can really get into sensitive subject matters with me. I usually save it for personal readings only for that reason. Ana Tourian (https://www.anatourianart.com/) is an incredible artist who clearly understands the Tarot system and also has a deep artistic understanding of human psychology. I suspect that this deck will really stand the test of time and continue to be a deck people buy many years down the road from now.

I really enjoyed last year getting to know The Black Violet Tarot (by Heidi Phelps, https://www.blackviolettarot.com/), a uber minimalist tarot deck that is also very earthy, grounded, prudent, and dare I say, grandmotherly? I found the experience last year very novel using such a simplistic deck, but I haven’t reached for it all that much since. I actually find I rely on lots of “stuff” in a card to read, so using this deck is a challenge, but one I’d like to revisit seeing as I really adore the quirky, almost folk style art. Despite the lux cardstock and stark imagery, I find this deck very gentle and humble. I’m excited to get it back out again and see what I can learn from it.

If The Black Violet Tarot is the humble country grandmother, then it’s fabulous youthful city sister would be A Divine Feminine Tarot Deck by Cocorrina (https://www.cocorrina.com/). This deck has been around a hot minute, but I didn’t acquire it until I added it on when I backed Cocorrina’s Book of Whispers. The black and gold is so glamorous, and the nude figures are so dramatic, this whole deck is over the top. I have barely used it but I can tell we’re going to have a fun time together!

And then, last but not least, my project deck for this month, the Ephemere tarot, by Arthur Wang (https://trueblacktarot.com/), the same artist who created my much beloved True Black tarot. I feel I have exercised great restraint in using this deck almost not at all and saved it for a New Year’s treat. Wang’s done it again and made a stunning, gorgeous deck. But, not only that, this deck’s majors are a new take on the tarot system; instead of the Fool’s Journey, we take the Hero’s journey. He has a whole web series that is being produced right now that delves into this new system structure and I’m SO EXCITED to be learning along!

Okay, all major arcana–what the heck does January have in store for me???

A group of revelers, or perhaps some sort of religious ceremony, go marching up the mountain side, their wreaths and banners bouncing merrily along. A bloodmoon, an auspice lunar eclipse, rises in the sky. Are they welcoming in the new year? Then, a lone fisher-person sits quietly along the calm banks. Do they need of space to think and reflect? Are they idle? Do they come from the procession or do they await them? Then our little creek flows into the mighty waterfall. Though you cannot see it, even single drop of water makes a difference in is ever constant progress. Strong, it ever pushes forward and waits for no one, quite the contrast of the still fisher-person. We also see no people in the waterfall, complete solitude. I see a trio of balances, social time, alone/idle time, and time to focus and get stuff done. There’s also this sense of movement, movement in a crowd, stillness, and pushing forward with purpose. Hmm, lets see what the tarot say to give us some more context.

Usually I read right to left (except when I don’t, lol), but my eyes were really caught by these two bright white cards so I had to look at them first. We first have the Seeker, (or traditionally, The Hermit). The moon is almost nothing but a sliver, and she is cloaked in a veil, but she carries a lantern and a mirror. What she seeks is both an external observation and an internal examination. What you know about yourself, you also know about the world, in a sense. How you internally project onto the world shapes how you see the world. To truly understand something profoundly, you have to look beyond yourself but also be mindful of who you are and how that affects your perceptions. What is it that you seek?

Ah, the lovely Temperance! I really love this take on XIV, so simple and truthful. Fire and water, earth and air, passion and emotion, grounded-ness and imaginative thinking, you need all to be complete and feel whole. Balance is key. Do I seek balance? You bet I do! The struggle is real!

Though I thought these two simple decks would clash with one another, they are actually rather complimentary!

I like how The Black Violet Tarot’s High Priestess is praying. She is listening to her internal consciousness and intuition. Gut feelings are a gift to us to keep us healthy and alive! They are not to be ignored, and sometimes when we are repeatedly told otherwise, we forget how to listen to ourselves. The LWB says “The High Priestess urges you to trust your instincts as you move forward–your path will become clearer as you go.” For some reason, I get major Princess Mononoke vibes from this Priestess. Between the Fisher and the Seeker, there’s a lot of internal retrospect in the draw thus far!

Well, this is truly a very dramatic Judgement! Again, we see another sliver moon. This herald also has a lovely messenger dove. A year is done, and now we move on to the next. What have you learned that will help you this coming season? How can you grow and become a better person despite your shortcomings and flaws? Even an imperfect person can have grace and move forward with their life.

Taken all together, this months draw seems to acknowledge the end of a busy year! It has a heavy emphasis of balancing of activities with others, with myself, and towards my goals along with balance in my life, rather than the “success” focus I saw last year. There’s the concept of knowing one’s self, being honest and true with oneself, and using the outside world to learn and teach me to become a better person. In a way, the only measure of one’s life is what a person has already done (you are your own yardstick), so I see this as a call to use what I’ve learned to become my best person this year! This seems like a yearly thematic draw, to be honest!

From The Book of Whispers, my January draw is concluded with the advice “Walk boldly and excitedly towards something new.” It better mean a new year, cause I have zero spoons for a new hobby!
Tarot Over Tea: The Christmas Tree Tarot Tag

December 25th, 2023

Show me your baubles!

Please be aware there is nudity in the tarot cards selected for this post!

Originally made by the Youtuber Candy Soul and Soil, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phoo8_BSTK8), this is a creative, fun, holiday tarot tag that’s quite a bit out of the norm, but very relatable!

Prompts:

1: The Dusty Attic Deck …a deck that feels like a dusty attic full of treasure and secrets

Well, it’s hardly dusty seeing as it just arrived in the mail two weeks ago, but it definitely has that old photograph, vintage, and slightly campy vibe! It’s Baba Studio’s Bohemian Gothic Tarot! Like the old photo albums you might find in the attic, it’s been around awhile, but I have yet to explore it in any depth. It will be a fun holiday treasure to spend some time flipping through and taking for a few fun, silly holiday readings!

2: The Christmas Tree Structure Deck….tell me about the key tarot structure you love

I do love my RWS decks, BUT! I like very original takes on the RWS and I especially like decks that are internally very cohesive! I could choose at least a dozen decks that are RWS but really shake up the meanings in their own way, but I am feeling The Runic Tarot for the winter time of the year! What’s more different and unique than blood-lusty Vikings, channeling that Krumpus holiday spirit in the RWS structure?

3: The Tinsel Deck…. a deck you get wrapped up in and using it can make you forget about other decks.

The Prisma Visions Deck is one of those decks that can eat up all your time! It doesn’t help that I have the giant book that goes with it and its brother deck and I can really get lost in the sauce reading it. Prisma Visions is so unique and mystic; even though I’ve had it and used it extensively for years I still feel like I’m learning it and it still feels a bit like a stranger when I pick it up. Its on one hand very grounded in the seasons of the suites and profound nature imagery, but on the other hand it’s very ethereal with the art forms suggesting people and beings. I find Prisma is the “cool kids” deck that I always want to get better at using!

4: The Bauble Deck…. a deck that keeps rolling around and turns up over and over in your practice as you reach for it all the time

This one is easy; the Moonlight Tarot by Inessa Bondarenko! I love this deck to pieces, even though it follow a little bit of the RWS and a little bit Toth. It seems to fit “just right” throughout the year and I find when I have a question for a deck (or more often, a “I feel this way what do I do” sort of noncommittal question!) that I can’t imagine using any other deck, this is the one I reach for. It’s the Band-Aid deck when nothing else will do.

5: The Snowman Deck…. a deck that melts your heart

Introducing The Wild Child Tarot!

You know, I tend not to buy soft decks. I have recently looked several times at The Cozy Witch Tarot and I balk because there isn’t enough tension in the deck to feel balanced for me. I purchased the Oak Ash & Thorn with the intention of this being a soft deck, but IT IS NOT! It’s a pretty savage reader, and though gentle, it does not hold punches.

I really enjoyed the Wild Child Oracle that was a bit of an afterthought purchase when I bought the Seasonal Fox Tarot, and I had no idea that there was a sister Tarot deck, The Wild Child Tarot, until the tarot was completely sold out—well, they reprinted both the oracle and the tarot and I snatched up the tarot. It is the sweetest, kindest tarot I think I’ve ever used! But, its gentle and soulful without feeling cloying or coddling. It doesn’t hide difficulties behind “positive vibes” but rather frames them as part of nature and the ebb and flow of life.

6: The Handmade Deck… a deck that’s made extra special because of who made it or a deck that feels particularly hand made.

My best friend and co-Tarot reader and cartomancy enthusiast made her own deck (she has made several, but this is my favorite)—so obviously this has to be my most adored handmade treasure! I pick this up when I’m feeling stuck in a rut, because it’s cute as heck and always stirs the imagination. I call it Val’s Little Deck of Stories. There are several different pictures that are two by two cards across that tell a little story, but the images mixed together are quite interesting!

7: The Mistletoe Deck…. a deck that makes you think about love in the holiday season

I love this deck, it’s so beautiful and magical and mystical and lovely and awe-inspiring and seems to speak to times that feel just out of reach. While it’s not in particular a Yule deck nor even a winter deck, The Slavic Legends Tarot is probably the deck that for me encompasses the winter holiday spirit. I can easily imagine little me looking through this deck like I used to look through the pages of a fairy tale book, or the beautiful Jan Brett books on Christmas Eve.

8: The Fairy Lights Deck …..a deck that sparkles

I had a bit of trouble with this prompt. On one hand, I have a bunch of decks that are very ornate and/or glittery. With spot-gloss or foil accents, or really shiny edging. Some I’ve already included in this selection.

But, I must say there is something really *fashionable* and a smidgen avant-garde about the Divine Feminine Deck by Cocorrina that seems so ethereally beautiful and perfect. I have not used this deck much at all (it’s in next year’s list!) but I think I can introduce it here as the exceptionally, sparkly, mysterious beauty!

9: The Tree Topper Deck… tell me about your tree topper and find a deck that reminds you of it.

We don’t have a Christmas tree! So I don’t have a tree topper, but my favorite ornament which would be a top contender for a potential tree topper is “The Missile-Toad!”

There is only one deck that encompasses the spirit of the Missile Toad, and that would be The Medieval Europe Deck—silly, slightly violent, and tongue in cheek! ‘Nough said.

Now! What are your Christmas Tree Decks? What decks do you connect with during the holidays?