The Tarot Tarts

July 2023 Decks

July 10th, 2023

Please know there is some nudity in the decks I chose this month. Also, raspberries are delicious.

No such thing as peace when in the work nook.

It has been a tough month already, with sad news, set backs, good news that means additional work and a life change, unexplained illness, and just one wrong thing after another. It’s a funny that as a kid I though of the summer season as a season to relax, to kick back and have some freedom. As an adult, and also partly due to my own life choices to be #responsible, summer has become nearly the opposite! There are too many things that need tending to that I know no matter how much I struggle to race to get them done, something will fall by the wayside! So much house work and repair needs completing before the snow flies, dying trees need to be cut down before they fall on the house, the fruit needs picking and preserving, the animals need extra outside time while its nice, someone get very sick and we don’t know why, friends and family are moving, birthdays and cook outs and bonfires and riding clinics and festival booths and and and…and don’t forget bills need to be paid, dinner must be made and god forbid if you let the laundry go too long and now you’re out of underwear!

From top, clockwise, Everyday Witch Tarot, Tarot of the Dream Enchantress, Cosma Visions Oracle, Smoke, Ash & Embers. Center Oracle of the Radiant Sun

While Tarot definitely falls low on the to-do list in the summer months, I still like to pick my monthly decks and get a few readings in! No surprise that this month I’m still dawdling in nostalgia, but I kinda feel that I’m now channeling more of my preteen and early teen love of high-fantasy.

I knew that I wanted to focus on learning, at least a little better, the Cosma Visions ~~Tarot~~ Oracle. I personally use this deck more like a tarot than an oracle, though I definitely have had past struggles and frustrations with it. But gosh darn it, it’s one of the prettiest decks I own! I find it fascinating, and I want to be able to use it as part of my regular rotation. It has some lovely magical nature themed imagery that seems to fit the colorful summer season very nicely.

I was gifted Tarot of the Dream Enchantress a few years back. When I borrowed it to give it a test run, it gave me a captivating read and my friend realized that it needed to be on my shelf as well. While there are some real loose RWS relations, this odd and clever deck takes its own spin on your typical RWS meaning. I find that every time I bust it out of its lame Lo Scarabeo tuck box, I go through the same process of confusion, contemplation, and then admiration for the cunning artist.

Did anyone else as a kid rent a million times the VHS of Kiki’s Delivery Service? My local movie rental place actually put a ban on me from checking it out every week–I could only check it out every other week. I find that I’m really drawn to that movie when I’m completely overwhelmed with my life, and oh boy am I there right now. My trusty Everyday Witch Tarot is very reminiscent of Kiki’s Delivery Service, and its got to be one of the easiest, kindest decks I own. A no-brainer for this month. I’m going to have to force myself to not just grab this deck every time I want to do a reading!

And my beloved Smoke, Ash & Ember. The deck I thought would be a gimmick and I ended up falling head over heels for. I loved dragons as a kid and clearly I still love them now. They are so magical and perfect for the summer season, and man oh man, are the decks that come out of Three Trees Tarot honest. This deck is the chicken-noodle soup of decks for me.

For the month’s oracle deck I picked Oracle of the Radiant Sun. I actually use this deck quite a bit, however I almost never include it in public readings because, well, I don’t know nor care much about astrology. I DO find the images on the cards very compelling and I like the keywords and general different-ness of the deck.

I actually asked the cards for this month to tell me how to navigate all the stuff I gotta do. For my “theme” I drew Friendship from OotRS. Yes I am a cancer. Sometimes you need a different space and a different person to show you truths about yourself. It’s easy to get into the weeds, but without outside perspective of a caring friend, you might miss the beauty and awe the world has. Now is not the time to sequester yourself in your own space and work–get out there and adventure with others. Life always has it’s problems but friends can make it easier to deal with them and realize that’s the natural ebb and flow.

Then with Tarot of the Dream Enchantress, I pulled the 9 of Swords–uh, yeah, I guess that about sums it up, doesn’t it! I really like this variation–the artist has drawn may swords, but seems unhappy with his results, seeing as he keeps doing the same thing over and over. He’s drunken himself into a stupor and now this demonic imp has arrived to haunt him. Attempting the same thing over and over with no different results is a waste of time. If you turn to escapism to solve your problems they just return 9 fold in a different form. Instead, identify the real cause of your distress rather than the feeling of inability. Ask yourself, is there anything actually wrong? What is something different I can do rather than this same defeating spiral?

From the Cosma Visions, I drew The Geomancer, or traditionally the Queen of Pentacles. I love how the eye is the same all seeing eye on the backs of the cards. She see’s all, she knows the hurts and sorrows of the world, yet here she is working on the mundane things of planting seeds for tomorrow. She gives them life and care, despite all the other rather looming troubles. Take joy and pride in the little things you have to do to make life work–do not think of them as “chores” but rather self care for your future self. Just because you can see all the problems doesn’t mean you need to abandon the necessities of life, which include the joy of growing and nurturing living things. Behind here is an old growth forest; the old and the new can live harmoniously together, both deserve your love and appreciation.

I drew the Ten of Pentacles from SA&E. So cute and lovely isn’t it? I love how the sunset seems to glow off the cardstock. You have abundance, security and love. Your earthly needs are secure. It is okay to enjoy them! Be proud of what you accomplished. There is no need to be 24/7 grinding if you don’t stop and take a moment to soak it all in. Things will come together and work out. Channel some of that inner child memory you have of summer being fun and enjoyable! You can still have that now if you only allow yourself to do so.

And then The Star makes another appearance. 17 seems to be the card that is haunting me of late; perhaps Tarot is trying to tell me not to give up! I love the Everyday Witch Star, she is actively taking what is given to her from above and putting it into use in the water. It can be hard to want to keep going when so many things look bleak, but keep using what you got and putting it to work, and making it better. Resourcefulness is a blessing. Positive attitude is a blessing. Sometimes it’s a matter of having faith and belief that things will be alright.

My month is really overwhelming, and my decks seem to be telling me to just slow down a little and seek out others for their help and comfort. Identify what the real problems are rather than just doing the same chicken-with-her-head-cut-off dance. Don’t get wrapped up in the big what ifs, tend to the little things in your control that make your life good and enjoyable. Understand cycles are a thing in life. Take it slow and relish what you do have with your loved ones, rather than what you don’t or what you’ve lost. You live a wonderful, bountiful life. And finally, have a little faith in yourself. You are able to take what you need from what you get.

I think I might need to take the time to make a s’mores now. What about you? What decks are you drawn to in July?
June 2023 Decks

June 14th, 2023

I’ve been waiting for a deck to arrive to include it in my monthly decks and…cheesus on a cracker, that took a long time to arrive! But it’s here…

The absolutely too stinking cute Mimit (and Bimit) Kickstarter Tarot decks!

So, like with most (but not all!) Kickstarters, there is good and bad with the finished product. I think this Kickstarter fell prey to the two most common trip-ups that KS decks will run into: not maxing out the cardstock quality, and choosing whiz-bang nick-knacks over a quality box. I should just do a posting regarding kickstarter decks, but I won’t belabor it here. Know that the cardstock and box (and art book) leave much to be desired, but hot d@mn if it ain’t cute as sh*t.

Clockwise from top left: Tarot of a Moon Garden, The Spacious Tarot, The Children of Litha (tarot), A Little Rain (oracle), middle Mimit (tarot), also, notice my new deck has a dented card??? Hopefully the artist will send me a replacement.

Some months I pick decks around a theme, some months I pick decks that I like the look of together, and this month, like everything else in my life, became a scattered mess and I impulsively grabbed what was itching to get off the shelf.

I knew I needed The Children of Litha tarot. I’ve had this deck well over a year (two years?!?), and I’ve used it less than ten times. I love the art work, I love the concept, I find it a really intuitive reader, but there is something (I don’t know what) that really is scary to me about this deck. To me, it’s really a raw, hard hitting deck. I had to choose it with Litha coming up though! I want us to be friends! It really feels like a “cool kids” deck.

June is also my birthday month, and the deck that I use exclusively for myself is The Spacious Tarot. I just love this deck, and it’s comforting without being smothering.

I’ve been feeling the stress and anxiety of the events going on at the world at large, and this makes me seek things that remind me of positive childhood experiences, so in that nostalgic mindset, I chose Tarot of a Moon Garden and, of course, the Mimit tarot. I will say regarding the Mimit, I am NOT a fan of small decks, so I’m going to see if I can warm up to this one.

I’ve been liking adding an oracle deck to my monthly Tarot decks, seeing as I typically don’t reach for oracles, and I wanted to test run A Little Rain Oracle by Ambisun, the same artist that made the Oriens Tarot. It’s so pretty I’ll forgive it for being one of the least intuitive deck I own.

There is quite the nature theme going on now that I see the cards laid out! I think this is the month of getting back in touch with childhood nostalgia across the board.

Okay, let’s go ahead and talk about the elephant in the room–I had to do a three card Mimit draw because, well, they’re just so little! Little with big feelings it would seem! We could go through this card by card, or I can tell you what I immediately though when I saw all three cards together: the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The Queen of Swords, to me, is the coldly logical card, the emotional represser in a way. Even if something is on paper “correct” or “truth” or “good advice,” if you cannot abide by it in your heart, then it cannot serve you. You are being dishonest with your true self and following a negative, destructive path. It would be better to explore your own reality and learn the hard way what means right and wrong for you. Its okay to get things wrong.

This beautiful Queen of Pentacles is surrounded by loving friends–the winged horse is draping its feathers around her, she herself is protecting a little white hare, and a butterfly dances around her crown. A new moon sliver hangs in the evening sky–there is much growing and much more to grow. You are rich in many ways, resources, but also friends and time. Accept kindness and give kindness.

Then I drew from the A Little Rain oracle the Orchid. This beautiful card, very reminiscent of the Queen of Pentacles, speaks about Unity, Communion, Harmony. To create something truly beautiful and wondrous takes many people working together. You have the friends, ask them for help in being your best self and realizing your goals. Share your own strengths.

Well, I guess together these two cards suggest success begets success!

The Four of Wands say that a project reaches actualization, so take the time to celebrate it! You’ve put in the work so enjoy (especially with others), even if it is ephemeral in nature. It’s good to make a big deal of things to help propel you through the rest of the hard work.

And The Chariot. Now that you’ve tasted success, it gets harder here on out. You have more to manage, and with each success more to loose, and more responsibility. It will seem as if life is trying to pull you in opposing directions; sometimes you have to learn to give in order to stay on the straightest course to your end goal. Use your opposing forces together rather than trying to divide and conquer. You can manage, you’ll go the distance!

Overall, this is a very positive reading for the month of June! Be true to thy self, include others in your journey, believe in yourself.

Also, I guess if any cards had to be bent, then I suppose the fool is appropriate for having a “bender!”
Deck Review: Oriens Tarot

May 10th, 2023

aka The David Attenborough’s Tarot, acquired 2020, first edition, independently printed, book purchased separately

Some of the really charming and cute cards in this deck!

Important Note: The card colors appear brighter (and slightly redder) on the computer screen than in real life, but they are still quite vivid in reality! I find IRL they are just the right balance of color, where they are a bit too bombastic on the screen :-).

Overall: 10/10 Animals (that the artist thoroughly researched that actually make sense with the meaning of the tarot card)? Cosmic aesthetics? Compass Rose? Vivid colors? Crazy details? HOLOGRAPHIC EDGING???? F*CKING REALISTIC AMAZING SWORDS SUIT?????! Holy Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, was this deck made for me? For a person who actually is very scientific/logical minded and maybe a little emotionally stunted, this is a 10/10 deck. For people who love animals, and looking for animal spirit guides in tarot form, this might not resonate with you because the meaning of the cards are really tied to the animals biology rather than human cultural meaning. We’ll talk more in a sec.

Card Quality: 5/5 Amazing. I read once upon a time that someone said they were disappointed with the card quality but I seriously do not get that at all. What the heck do you want out of your cards, person?!? These are perfect!

I love that this deck includes unusual animals that you won’t find in other tarot decks!

Readability: for me, 4.5/5 but I do not think this is universal. This is definitely either in your camp or not sort of thing. The card meanings graft onto the nature and behavior of the animal, NOT what is popularly represented as the animal in culture. I can imagine this feeling very alien to people. There are animals that a person who isn’t a die-hard Attenborough fan might never have encountered before–all the more delight! There definitely are cards that I really have to study (and read the artist’s notes which are copious and illustrious) to fully understand, but I did it once, and it’s second nature after that. Also, because these are animals, there’s a sense of aloofness to them that if you really dig people-centered artwork, this might make it difficult for you. The book (which I had to buy separately when this was still an indie deck) is AMAZING and is a great casual read if you want to know more about animals all on their own.

Very sword, much wow!

Art: 10/5 This is right up my alley. The animals are of course incredible, the style is very unique and while portraiture-esque, there’s still movement and esoteric things of interest going on in the cards. A note—for those of us who are sword and pointy object freaks, I have mad appreciation for the artist getting the various swords and knives correct in proportion and design. OMG, much sword, very wow! Some are obviously extra decorated, but still, the artist learned the rules and tastefully broke them.

Favorite Card: There’s a TON that are amazing and I tend to change my mind a lot, but immediately I fell in love with the Ace of Cups–an adorable otter looking up from floating on his back. I also drew the Empress and the Emperor in my deck interview and they have stuck in my mind since. And the 10 of cups? Divine.

Least Favorite Card: Six of Swords—a lion fish being “impaled” but not really? I don’t find this the image of safe passage that I tend to associate with this card. The artist explains it, but the reasoning never seems to stick.

Card I identify as: I think I’ve kinda always identified with the High Priestess with this deck fairly strongly. I remember lingering with II for a long time when I first flipped through the cards. Of all the high priestess’s I’ve encountered this one felt “right” with me.

The Deck Identifies me as: Knight of Swords (I see a trend, the spirits of Tarot are trying to tell me something D:). A vermilion fly catcher (something we don’t have where I live, but if this is the animal the deck chose for me I’m not complaining) and a one handed sword with a disk pommel.

I’ve been looking for a long time for an ocean or water themed deck, but its hard to beat these incredible water critters in this deck!

Season: Winter/Summer I originally thought this was called the Orion’s deck, which here is a winter constellation, but since we get some of our most fabulous star gazing in the winter I can’t help but associate this with winter with all the stars/space theme art. But there’s also a good dose of water animals which makes me think beach time/summer!

Boxes it Checks: Animal, Swords, Aloof, Cute, Galaxy colors/Space, Intellectual, Detail-Orientated

Similar decks: Guardians of the Night Tarot, The Wild Unknown, The Crow Tarot, Spirit Song Tarot, Animal Totem Tarot, Oak Ash & Thorn Tarot, The Hush Tarot, The White Sage Tarot, Tarot Familiars, The Foragers Daughter, the Brady Tarot, the Wooden Tarot
Beltane 2023 Original Draw

May 9th, 2023

Happy belated May Day! Blessed Beltane!

Here is a draw I came up with to honor the rites of spring and to ask ourselves where our passions and energies are leading us.

1. For whom do you gather flowers? What/Who you focus on is where your energy goes–where is your focus?

2. Who do you dance around the maypole with? Many things that occur in our lives are not our choice, but we do have a choice in who/what we spend our time with–who is this person/thing? Are they helping or hindering us?

3. What will spark the flame? Beltane is a celebration of our passions–what is it that you need to alight those feelings?

4. What is the fire you need to jump over? What risk must you overcome to move on to the next part of your life?

5. What ember should you take home to your hearth? What lesson are you learning now that you will carry with you throughout the rest of your life?

6. What unexpected magic will you find? Like Samhain, there is a belief that during Beltane the veil between the magical world and the mundane is thin–what magic will appear in your life?

Today, I’m using the large Czech Shadowscapes Tarot–it is SO beautiful!

1. For whom do you gather flowers? Seven of Pentacles. My focus right now is bringing my projects and plans to fruition! Nurturing that which I’ve put in a lot of work so far. I’m not finished yet, there’s still lots to be done, but its also a good time to enjoy my labors thus far.

2. Who do you dance around the maypole with? Six of Cups. I spend my time with those who inspire my child like wonder at the world! Those who make magic happen and love me for all my strange quirks and individuality. People who “play along” with my ideas and whims. While they light my path and I enjoy their company, I need to be careful they are not overly sheltering me from reality.

3. What will spark the flame? Ace of Cups. Another example of “thanks for telling me what I already know, Tarot!” XD Being profoundly moved by emotions, experiences, the meeting of the new and novel, spiritual nourishment, profound love, dreams, pleasure, art, are the things that spark my passion! I am in love with love, girlfriend!

4. What is the fire you need to jump over? Eight of Cups. Moving on and leaving the past behind you. Sometimes there is nothing left to do other than go forward. That is where you have to gather courage and leave what you know because there’s nothing left for you here. You have your inner guiding light (star), and though you do not know what lies ahead, it will speak to a truer version of yourself.

5. What ember should you take home to your hearth? Five of Cups. How to accept and process grief and more importantly, how to release grief. Grief is a necessary gift to manage pain and loss. But like saying goodbye to a dear friend or releasing a wild animal you’ve come to love back into the wild, the real challenge is letting grief go and wash away with the tide. Maybe it will come back to visit on occasion, but healing really comes when you release it so it is no longer yours to hold and care for.

6. What unexpected magic will you find? XVII The Star. You will find that hope is not an external thing, it is a light that you carry with you and that you radiate into the world. You will find that by taking things as they come, accepting what you’ve been given in life (good or bad) you will go forth with wisdom, grace, and inspiration to make your wishes and dreams come true.

Oh, gee, well, for a fiery celebration, this draw sure tapped into the emotional water element for me! What did your cards say about your Beltane season?
May 2023 Decks

May 9th, 2023

My home turf is known for it’s apple trees. You’d be hard pressed to go without seeing one for more than half a block.

May is hands down the most beautiful month of the year, in my neck of the woods. It usually marks the beginning of “real” spring, a wondrous season that lasts about a week where all the flowers explode into a riot of color. Then the wilting, hot, humid summer arrives with its battalions of mosquitoes and biting flies and midges. But for one glorious week of perfect temperatures, and soft rain showers chasing golden sunshine with rainbows, it is heaven on earth.

Surprisingly, I didn’t have a hard time choosing decks for this month! It came really easily to me what I wanted to work with. Unsurprisingly, I am craving spring colors, and a good dose of nature (for the most part!).

Seems like purple is the theme of the month! Clockwise from top left: Eldrich Overload, the Shadowscapes Tarot (large Czech version), The Mushroom Hunter’s Tarot, The Raven’s Prophesy Tarot, The Garden of Lucid Daydreams oracle

Again, I took a pretty big leap of faith in my self and chose TWO decks I haven’t used at all (The Mushroom Hunter’s Tarot and the Eldrich Overload Tarot both Kickstarters I received recently)–so I have a big learning curve ahead of me! On the other hand, I tempered this with two decks I’m very familiar with that should come easily to me, the Shadowscapes Tarot (my first deck I was truly dedicated to learn from) and The Raven’s Prophesy Tarot (a deck I’ve had a while and used here and there but never focused with intensively). And, because it seemed to just fit perfectly, I grabbed The Garden of Lucid Daydreams oracle.

Here’s my monthly draw. I wanted to mix it up a little bit; I drew my cards in reverse order, and I’ll read them in reverse order as well! I’ve been reading exclusively upright cards this year (as opposed to in the past I’d read reversals that jumped out) and I think I will continue doing this since I’m learning a lot from limiting myself to only upright readings.

(Spoiler Alert from Future Stacy: This gets all up in the feels, so if you don’t like that, move along!)

From The Raven’s Prophesy I drew 20 Judgement. Wow, talk about starting a drawing strong! So, I have to admit, I’ve not read the book series this Tarot is based off of. When I bought the deck I didn’t even know there was a related book series! I keep telling myself I’m going to read it…some day. I still plan to! Anyways, I have a love/hate relationship with the imagery in this deck. It is beautiful, thought provoking, but also very simple. I can struggle with simple. The companion book is wonderful, but the meanings (probably tied with book themes) aren’t always intuitive to me.

At first glance, I see the royal crown perched atop a book with ruffled pages and inserted notes (looks like my typical messy notebook!). The crown demands attention–you have many (unknown, perhaps) responsibilities with your glory. As the Judgement card, it makes me think of a heir who at their parent’s death must step up and become the monarch. Whether you want this or not, your life is going to change. You have the rule book, you’ve studied it and have done many things to prepare, but nothing can be learned by books only. Learning happens from doing, and now you must do.

The guide book to this tarot speaks to being at a crossroads of your own choice (rather than the crossroads in Death and The Tower which are largely places you don’t seek). You have a choice to go one way, or the other, but you must move, and from that movement, you will grow. I personally this past month made a huge life decision that will forever change my lifestyle, but I have so much to learn and I feel like I’m constantly being tested by this choice to see if I can meet the demands, yet at the same time I MUST meet demands–I have no choice! Okay, a spooky card that gets us straight to the point!

The Oracle card I drew from The Garden of Lucid Daydreams is 51, Shelter. I love this oracle because it doesn’t really make you guess at all at the meaning of the art. We see a group, a family (or community, as the guide book offers) clutching at one another to keep them all safe. Despite the challenges you are called to address in the Judgement card, you are well supported, well loved and cared for–others will not let you fail! Put faith in other’s abilities to help you, and don’t be afraid to ask for help–in fact, now is a good time to ask for what you need!

This card, being so family oriented, may also be calling on me to strengthen the rather weak connections I have in my own (broken) family. A relative of mine is passing away and it strangely gave me the opportunity to speak to individuals who I believed all but abandoned me, and it seems we kinda get along! Perhaps if I want to establish family ties, I have to stop waiting for them to get it together and instead be the first one to reach out and bridge that many years gap of exclusion.

Next (starting from the right) I drew the X of Pentacles from The Mushroom Hunter’s Tarot. Being a amateur mushroom hunting enthusiast myself, it was delightful to see this charming and well thought out deck on Kickstarter. I didn’t need to read the guide to get the gist of this one–that is a LOT of truffles! You have wealth and stability, you are comfortable and successful.

The Eight of Swords came out of the Shadowscapes Tarot. I really like this eight of swords, the swan is in real danger of being cut by all the thorns, but if she only calms and sees how the humming bird can carefully navigate, she too can free herself. But her dangers are real. That bramble witch is not a nice person, and there are the skeletons of her dead brethren beneath her that were unable to keep their wits about them and died from panic and poor problem management. Such a mood card! I too am so aware of all the bad things that can happen from this drastic lifestyle change I made, and along with all the other little problems of life in general, it can all feel very scary and overwhelming. BUT! Big picture–others manage this sort of lifestyle and so can I! I must use my head and navigate things slowly and logically and I’ll get out of any mess I may find myself in.

And finally, from the Eldrich Overload Tarot, I drew the Page of Swords. This deck is loosely RWS and this card is definitely hearkening to the more traditional RWS look and feel. The meaning as described in the Codex (guide book), is quite different though than the “standard” meaning; you will see this page has a muzzle on. She has been silenced and punished for rash actions of standing up for what she believes. But she has learned her lesson to look now before she leaps! She still is very much learning her art of war, but now she understands prudence and the importance of planing. Do not assume that because you have one bad experience, or several, that this is your fate. Life will throw difficult things your way, but you learn from them, even if you get bumps and bruises. The tenacity to keep learning and doing what you believe is right will keep you moving forward down your path.

My draw for this month acknowledges the struggles and my anxieties of changing my life. I have made the daring leap forward, but I have the community and financial support to aid me in my growth. My fears are real, but are completely navigable if I keep a cool head and use prudence to go forward. Between the swan learning from the small swift humming bird and the daring page who goes forth despite her bad experiences, there is a tone of using teachers and wisdom to grow.
Spring Cleaning: An Original Draw

April 28th, 2023
It’s been a while since we’ve done our own draw hasn’t it?

I’ll be the first to admit that when the weather is really fine, Tarot gets put on the back burner. But we always have nice rainy days I can get cozy with my cards and card friends and make up a fun draw.

I don’t know about you, but when brain storming my own draw, I tend to start with something that sounds really fun and ends up rather serious–thank goodness Val was able to keep me on track!

Here’s a simple spring draw to help you think over your priorities this season and going forwards!

For this draw, I’m using the Fantasy Garden Tarot. I find it intriguing how it uses a unique approach of focusing on the card subject in a landscape setting. It really helps give a “bigger picture” feel to each card.
1. What needs to go?
2. What needs to be brushed off?
3. What needs to be aired out? (as in, you need to leave it alone for the moment and come back to it later)
4. What needs to be given away? (something you don’t need right now but someone else close to you could use)
5. What needs to be reorganizes?
6. What needs to be polished? (what is almost finished but needs some refinement?)
Excuse the skew of the cards, I really wanted to use this scarf but had to fold it up on itself and trying to make it into a flat surface was impossible!

1. What needs to go? Knight of Swords. The constant moving and grooving, the need for immediate action and decisive decision and travel needs to stop this spring! You were moving from one barren place to another to fight the fight with little provisions and preparedness because you had to (notice how the knight has nothing but his horse and cloak! He doesn’t even have a sword!), but that is no longer needed! Time to take a break and chill out!

2. What needs to be brushed off? 3 The Empress. It’s time to brush off that child-like ability to be in wonder with your space and surroundings. It’s time to tap into your creativity and personal growth. Return to your magical happy spaces and places.

3. What needs to be aired out? 16 The Tower. Your past grievances and grief need airing and recognition. There’s no need to hide behind a “everything is alright” facade. Speak the truth and allow that fire burn. When it dies out, you might find useful things in the rubble and ashes.

4. What needs to be given away? Knight of Wands. Oh, the dearest Knight of Wands that has been my partner since new years! It seems like his usefulness for the moment is at an end. You can give away your brazenness and the courage that is needed to face a difficult situation head-on. Not everything can be solved with bravery. Pass this along to someone else who needs a boost. Encourage others to tap into their internal hero. You’ve learned what you can for the moment, move on to something else.

5. What needs to be reorganizes? King of Pentacles. Time to revisit your financial end-goals! Much has changed in your life, where do you want to be in 10 years? Or more years? You have a masterful grasp on the situation, so utilize this now to plan out your future. Also, consider budgeting travel! There’s much for you to see and learn from! Going unexpected places help teach you life lessons and gives you perspective.

6. What needs to be polished? 8 Strength. I love this strength. We can see the massive angel statue demonstrating a typical kind of strength, but it is only a statue after all. Beside it, this wondrous lady who has mastered a pride of lions demonstrates a different, shows us a terrifying kind of strength! So, polish your strength–you are no longer in need of that brash, primitive knightly energy. Hone and refine your feminine strength: how can your inner strength serve you now going forward?

In addition, I asked a clarifying statement to question 4 (What needs to be given away?) asking “who should I give this brave Kight of Wand energy to? This is what I pulled:

Answer: someone who has fears! Is afraid of fear itself, perhaps? A person in need of bravery. XD thanks Tarot, you really cleared that one up for me!

There seems to be a theme in this reading for me! Slow down, enjoy life, embody Spring. Let things happen, but exercise prudence. Tap into more feminine energies to re-balance from a period of aggressive forward motion. Seems like things will be a little less chaotic in my life!

What things do you need to spring clean according to your deck?
Tarot Over Tea: #DeckCrushes and More!

April 17th, 2023

uh…I may have gone a little overboard…

Have you ever started a project, with a really simple idea in mind of how it would look, but once you’re 90% of the way done with it, you decide well, hell, that was easy, lets make this twice as hard! That’s how this tag went for me. What started out as an easy, fun conversation with Val, my fellow tarot aficionado, turned into a whole afternoon of hysterical laughing and not a small measure of inappropriate conversation.

Part of why I am so late to this Tarot-tube tag is I simply went overboard. Not only did I follow the prompts of the tag, but Val and I stole additional ones from others, and made up a bunch of our own.

The Fling: A deck with which you had a short period of wild times.

The Medieval Europe Tarot

I’m grabbing on to the “wild” part of this prompt–I FORCED myself to stop using this deck because from the time I got it to about a month in, it was the ONLY deck I wanted to use. Now I try use it in pretty specific situations. It’s good in that Game of Thrones its-so-violent-you-can’t-look-away good. It’s darkly funny, has wonderful hand-feel, and kinda not nice!

Puppy Love: A deck with which you were infatuated, but couldn’t make a long-term commitment to.

The Oak Ash and Thorn

I don’t think I’ve wanted to love a deck more than I wanted to love this deck. I actually waited a YEAR before finally breaking down and getting it, but when I got it, it was NOT AT ALL a soft fluffy sort of deck! It is really blunt, gets right to the point, and nothing like I imagined it to be. Its a great deck, make no mistake, but I’m still a little butt-hurt it wasn’t what I imagined.

Friends with Benefits: A deck you care about, but sometimes get extremely passionate for.

The Llewellyn Tarot

When I have really vulnerable emotional questions for Tarot, I typically reach for my Llewellyn Tarot. It’s truthful like a friend, but gentle like a good lover. I find that really does it’s job well AND I will linger with it for a long time. What might be a three card reading turns into a multi long spread that I spend time with soaking up the various imagery and thoughts that come from the spread. I also tend to find its readings are eerily true.

Love At First Sight: A deck you loved from the start. (Self explanatory)

Seasonal Fox Tarot

That was the shortest amount of time I’ve ever took to think of purchasing a deck! It just includes so many things that I love, it was a no-brainer. Foxes? Check. Japanese myth and cultural references? Check. Bright colors? Check. TWO DECKS IN ONE WITH A DARK AND LIGHT VERSION??? Yes ma’am! Corresponding seasons with the various major and minor arcana that can make a panorama? OH HELL YEAH!

One Night Stand: A deck you tried out, but moved on from almost immediately. Sometimes, you still think about that deck.

The Threads of Fate Oracle

It was so beautiful. I tried to love it! I tried for nearly three years, but I couldn’t. I just did not connect with the imagery nor the keywords nor the messages. I sent it to a long deserved loving home.

“We Were On a Break!”: A deck you’re separated from for any reason.

Moonlight Tarot by Inessa Bondarenko

We shouldn’t be on a break! I don’t know why we are–I think I was trying to use other decks more and set this one aside. I freaking love this deck! It’s going into my April monthly decks!

Marriage Material: A deck that has proven its value to you.

Ask The Witch Tarot

I feel like I have an unfair amount of decks that I can slot into this category! Even though I’ve had this deck for a very short time and I haven’t used it nearly as extensively as other decks, AND the cardstock leaves much to be desired, I just cannot get over how wonderfully unique the art of this deck is. It marches proudly to its own beat even though it is still traditional enough to be a super easy and blunt reader. I find this deck both fascinating and down to earth and very funny. It is a deck I could bring on a three month vacation and never get tired of it.

Happily Ever After: Your true love in a deck.

The Slavic Legends Tarot

Its beautiful, it feels GREAT, it’s compassionate, its complex, its a little mysterious, it’s the deck out of fairy tales! I could spend hours looking at all the art and images and am always wanting more. I’ve heard there’s a fan who is compiling all the stories she’s familiar with and I’m ecstatic to read them one day!

And this is where the official tag ends and we became unhinged. Val and I had such a good time with this tag, we borrowed some suggestions others made and came up with several of our own:

Friendly Ex: A deck who is still a reliable friend even though you are no longer in love.

Trionfi della Luna, Illustrated pips edition

I purchased this deck last year and I was just OBSESSED with its silly, devil may care attitude. I loved it so much I got both the standard and the black inverse edition. It has such a shameless humor it makes me smile even when the reading is bad. While I’ve moved on in my obsessions, it is still very dear to me, and it always brightens my day when I use it.

Soul Connection: The deck you thought was only a crush and ended up connecting more deeply with.

The Oriens Tarot

This animal deck just really tickled a lot of my fancies in art and tarot. It is not what I’d consider an easy reader, but it really helped me develop my tarot reading skills and bring them to the next level. I find that of all my decks, this one is the most accurate reader and it’s very neutral and beautiful. I would never have guessed that I’d so completely fall for this deck.

It’s Not You, It’s Me: The deck whose value you see, but just cannot connect with.

Visconti di Modrone Tarot

This deck is arguably the most beautiful deck I own, and, I’ll be honest, I dislike pip decks. I thought that its historical intrigue and significance would lead me to start learning it and push through the difficulties like I did with the Sola Busca, but I just can’t. I like to look at it, and I’ll ask it financial related queries, but that’s about it.

Platonic Love Pact: The “if we’re still single at 40 we’ll get married” deck XD!

The Spacious Tarot

I am so fond of this deck, loyal, simple, honest, it’s my Samwise Gamgee deck. While I’m not head over heels in love with it, it’s so reliable and personable, I’ll certainly have it at 40!

Enemies to Lovers: A deck you hated, now love

The True Black Tarot

I really loved it when I first saw it, my husband bought it as a gift to me and my first reading with it was SO TRUE AND SO MEAN! It took me some diligent work and time, but now I freaking love this deck. It would be a deck I save from a house fire no doubt.

The Failed Relationship: A deck you had such high hopes for but it let you down in every way imaginable–its not you, its THEM!

Sefriot Tarot

I feel like I need to write a whole rant review about this fricking deck/game/Kickstarter fail. This deck had such potential and promise that I put good money into, and the developers just totally dropped the ball and as a result it’s a POS that I vindictively hang on to so as to write a review some day. The art work is great, but everything else was such a huge FAIL it’s hard to get over.

The One That Got Away: You had a chance to get this deck, but you didn’t and you regret not taking a chance.

See here: https://baba-store.com/collections/tarot-of-prague

Baba Studio’s Tarot of Prague

I mean, the title is pretty self-explanatory. I waffled because I’d never had a deck that was so quirky. Major loss on my part.

The Widow Deck: The deck you got because you lost a person in your real life, or the deck reminded you of them or otherwise helped you move on from a relationship ending.

The Forhaxa Tarot

This strong, feminine deck helped me process and move on from my mother’s death. I still think of it as a “Mom” deck.

The Slow Burn: A deck that takes a lot of time to get you “warmed up” but is well worth the wait!

The Nameless One Tarot

I’ll keep saying it, this deck requires time and effort, but it is so worth it! A wonderful, witchy, symbolic-rich deck that still is rather simple in its imagery. It’s definitely not a deck you can do a “quick-ie” reading with, but if you need something deep late at night to help you get to sleep with a clear head, this is my deck.

Out of My League: A deck that you’re simply not a skilled enough as a reader yet to grasp.

The Mary El

Maybe one day! In a way, I’m glad I have this deck because it reminds me that there is a point in which I give up trying to understand a deck, and this reminder prevents me from buying other modern, heavy handed esoteric decks I really want to be able to read but won’t put in the effort to learn.

The Toxic Relationship: A deck that you’ve done stupid things for or because of, or has otherwise elicited bad emotions/behaviors.

The Fyodor Pavlov

Let me explain myself…I wanted this deck SO BAD, and I was not using Kickstarter when it was on Kickstarter, so I had to buy it when it was limited indie print released prior to US Games releasing the deck. The decks sold INSTANTLY on Etsy, and thank goodness he did staggered releases because I’d hit the refresh and it would say SOLD OUT. It took me FOUR tries, setting my alarm to get up or set aside my work and try to snag a copy. Honestly, while the indie version is slightly nicer cardstock, I should have just waited for the mass market release.

Left You at the Alter: A deck that consistently leaves you hanging unresolved in a reading no matter how many cards you pull.

The Cosma Visions Tarot

Okay so perhaps I haven’t dedicated the time to learning this decks own unique structure, but that is due to, at least in part, the fact that this beautiful tarot/oracle deck never gives me even a remotely straight answer! It’s so fricking whimsy and all over the place and not at all rooted in any system I’m familiar with and so handwave-y, every reading I do I end up feeling frustrated and let down. But it’s SO beautiful!

Look but don’t touch!: The deck you have fantasies of using, but understand its very surface level and risks turning into a fling.

See here: http://www.tabulamundi.com/

The Tabula Mundi Tarot

I’m not a Thoth gal. I have only minimal Thoth decks (ah-hem, Mary El), and it’s not exactly a system I’m chomping at the bit to learn, but gosh darn it am I so intrigued with the Tabula Mundi!

The Kink: A deck that toes the line of too edgy for you to feel totally comfortable with, but you still like using to experiment.

The Lost Hollow Tarot

This is a deck of radical acceptance and totally turns traditional ideas of gender and sexuality on its head. I find it a deck that asks me “but what if…” and I love it for that! And it does suggest various “kink” flavors in a very respectful way. It’s kind of a bad ass deck, imo.

The Hot and Cold Lover: A deck that waffles between extremes and you are uncertain what it will give you.

The Fantastic Menagerie

I mean, this should not surprise anyone. This wry deck spares no one from its scathing remarks, but it also is dead honest and isn’t afraid to tell you good job, and when you hear that, it means all the more because you know how nasty it can get.

I Can’t Take You Anywhere!: A deck that is so over the top dramatic you don’t feel comfortable using it for reading for others.

The Bloodmoon Tarot

I love this deck. A lot. Perhaps more than I should. But I’ll be honest, it is so raw and over the top that I cannot use this in the public sphere. It hits so hard in every card, I could easily see this deck making someone cry. Not for the faint of heart at all.

My Secret Lover: A deck you don’t want to share with anyone and are even hesitant to tell others you have.

The Lubanko Tarot

Like the Bloodmoon Tarot, this deck is very raw. To me, it’s almost as if the deck means the reversal or “dark” meanings to all the cards. It’s the shadow-self deck in a way. It really challenges me and lets me safely explore, but it is very edgy and I feel like I might be judged by other tarot nerds if I mention I have it and use it.

You Could Do Better: A deck that is undeserving and you’ve probably already ditched.

The Tarot of Cloister (knock off)

I don’t have this in my possession any more, but I purchased this knock-off deck through Etsy. I learned a valuable lesson: if a deck price is too good to be true, it probably is a knock off. Yep, I got scammed! I can do better than that ;-).

First Love: The first deck that made you fall in love with Tarot.

The Shadowscapes Tarot

I had to pick the lovely large Czech version to highlight here. I was introduced to this deck by Val, and after watching her for years use it, I received a copy from my partner and then my obsession for tarot and card art began!

Did anyone else do this tag? What decks are you crushing for these days?
April 2023 Decks

April 4th, 2023

Clockwise from top left: The Yokai Yochi Tarot, Moonlight Tarot, The Wild Child Oracle, Fantasy Garden Tarot, Into The Void: The Black Cat Tarot

April is the month of the Trickster. At least in my world. While I don’t take April Fool’s day seriously, it apparently takes ME very seriously. Already my month and plans have been totally upended. This is by no means a new thing for me–every April seems to be just full of the unexpected, for good and bad. This year is no exception. BUT that means I have an excuse to bring out some really fun decks! Several of these I’ve been waiting ALL FRICKING WINTER LONG to use them and now I wait no more!

Apparently its the month of black and yellow decks… Front to back, Yokai Yochi, Fantasy Garden, Into The Void, Wild Child Oracle, Moonlight

This month, from working on the #DeckCrush tag, I was reminded of my much beloved Moonlight Tarot. This little-known, loosely RWS deck that is made by a Ukrainian artist and is only available from her Etsy page (https://www.etsy.com/shop/Ilisvidess) it possibly the most underrated deck I know of. It reminds me of the 90’s and has some major unexpected twists on the meaning of cards. I just love this deck to pieces, and even went so far as to edge it in black (poorly). From this deck I drew possibly the raddest 7 of Wands ever, and man-oh-man is it a properly timed 7 of Wands; this bloodied rose faced an opponent and though it is fragile its thorns defends its gate from intruders–defend and fight for what is rightfully yours! Don’t give up in the face of adversity.

Then I was so pleased to choose the Into the Void tarot, a minimalist, hilarious deck of just black cats and all their antics. I feel like because this deck is so simple it can be a challenge to use, but at the same time, if you know cats you’ll just “get” some of the more puzzling cards! Are cats not the ultimate tricksters? For this month (also very appropriate) I pulled 10 Wheel of Fortune. Remember that you have little control how things go in life, good things and bad things come to pass, it is important to be able to roll with whatever the situation brings. I love on this wheel how it feels very much like The World with reference to the four elements.

Then, to cool things off a little, I added The Wild Child Oracle into the mix because I’ve been itching to use it. I pulled the beautiful XXXI Reverie–remember to keep dreaming, if you get too caught up in just putting out fires and going from one thing to the next, you’ll lose your guiding star. Be mindful of self care and set aside mental breaks during the day and to treat your sleep time as important rest periods. Like, turn your phone off before bed!

I wanted to throw a happy, bright, spring deck in the mix, so I added this newly arrived Kickstarter deck, The Fantasy Garden Tarot. It’s exactly as it sounds; a semi RWS clone with a fantasy twist. This deck is by the same artist that did the Bloody Tears Tarot, and they stuck with their Bic pen sketches. I’m realizing I really love the unfinished feeling of this art style, and again, I get some 90’s fantasy vibes from this deck! While it’s FAR more traditional than their Bloody Tears deck, The Fantasy Tarot does take its own sort of unusual twist on the standard RWS meanings. It’s a very calm deck, all considering. I drew the page of swords from this deck and it’s a very peaceful page of swords indeed! I do like how he has a chaperon wrapped around his head, it reminds me of the famous sketch of Fiore dei Liberi, the sword master from the early Renaissance. With that in mind, my deck seems to be reminding me that while I’m perhaps not as active right now, I still need to be mindful of my student role in my various studies–bad-assery was never accomplished by passive learning!

Last but certainly not least, I have the beautiful Yokai Yochi Tarot. This was the first deck I KNEW I needed to have in this months line up. Yokai, local Japanese spirits and supernatural beings, cavort across its cards doing various nefarious or silly things. With its charming, minimalist, and very Japanese sensibility, this puzzling deck takes the meanings of RWS and turns them upside down, almost like a shadow-self of the meanings, but in a very don’t-take-yourself-too-seriously kind of way. The mysterious three legged crow in the sun card that I drew for this month is indeed a portent–a myth based on a literal crow that calls to predict the future! It brings good tidings, but a reminder that we often manifest what we believe the future will bring in self-fulfilling prophesies, whether we mean to or not. I have to admit, this card is one of my favorites in the whole deck and I’m quite happy to see it!

My month’s reading is all over the place! Stand your ground even against the things that change without your permission. Retreat and find guidance in your dreams and wishes, be ever a mindful student even if you don’t exactly know what you’re doing, and expect success even if that isn’t what you are seeing or experiencing!

What about YOUR April? Do you have certain experiences in this month? Are you drawn to a certain deck?
Ostara 2023 Draw

March 27th, 2023
Happy belated Ostara!

While the spring equinox was last week, you sure couldn’t tell here in the frozen north! The “first day of spring” was snowing, freezing rain, and generally sucked. HOWEVER today is starting to feel like a serious turn in the weather! The sun is SO WARM! The snow piles are actually shorter than me! There’s some straggly grass appearing! The pastures are turning into poop soup! Ah, spring! How we’ve missed you!

This draw was suggested by Val, taken from the Ostara Vernal Equinox draw by The Word Witch (found here: https://www.thewordwitchtarot.com/post/tarot-spread-for-ostara-spring-equinox). I’ve taken the draw word for word, so full credit goes to The Word Witch. Go check out their site and all their tarot goodness they have to offer!
1. THE YOLK: What has been gestating all winter, ready to be born?
2. THE SHELL: What limiting beliefs or old structures am I ready to break through & leave behind?
3. THE CRACK: How do I break through the shell and open to transformation & rebirth?
4. THE SUN: What awakens & nourishes me this season?
5. THE SONG: How to speak my truth & embody my light this season.
6. THE WING: What new journey or opportunity invites me this Spring?
I’ll be using the Seasonal Fox Tarot, both the day and night decks in conjunction, because a) I absolutely love this deck and b) I love the way “seasons” have been integrated into the majors and minors and it seems appropriate to incorporate a seasonal theme given the equinox.

1. THE YOLK: Queen of Swords, Day. This queen of swords seems so care free here, with the wind in her face and spring coming to her, almost as if it’s blowing the winter and clouds away. Hardy butterflies who don’t seem to mind the cold flit around her. You patience has paid off, you are free now to use your skills you’ve honed, and to use your thought and judgement freely in pursuit of a new life. Don’t doubt yourself, you’ve proven your grit by getting through the worst of it and coming out a better person (with great and inspiring friends!). A new metaphorical spring is on your horizon!

2. THE SHELL: XIX The Sun, Night. Oh I just LOVE this deck and all the strange things that come up when using two decks together like this! I need to leave behind the old belief that in order for there to be light in my life there must be darkness. While it is true that life gives both joy and sorrow, I (and I suspect many others) have this belief that sorrow is required to feel joy; NO! I can feel lightness and joy in my situation DESPITE the darkness, not BECAUSE of it.

3. THE CRACK: XVII The Star, Day. To achieve your next breakthrough, keep following your dreams, guiding principles, and your hopes! Even when they are difficult to pin down and see, do not doubt that they are there leading you on to a better self. You know in your heart what is right and wrong for you, no one else.

4. THE SUN: King of Wands, Day (very Sun energy, much wow). Your creative vision, execution of your passion, dedication, and honoring yourself by sticking to your plan will get your butt into action and keep you going this season! Graduate from the knight of wands you were seeing earlier this month and be your own fire. Be your own leader of your own life!

5. THE SONG: Page of Pentacles, Night. To speak your truth and embody your own light, be ever the student, eager and willing to learn, to try their hand at something new even at the expense of possible failure. Cleverness comes at the cost of times failed. Try, try, and try again until you get it right–the experience is not only rewarding but worth it’s weight in gold. You may feel alone in your journey, but that shouldn’t stop you from attempting new ideas nor celebrating your successes.

6. THE WING: I The Magician, Night. Now is the journey of yourself! You are free, unfettered, you have all the tools you need to succeed, and all the help you need to safely venture forth. You are now the master of your fate. Dawn is around the corner; be ready to start the new day!

What a gung-ho reading! With three major arcana, and three court cards, with it being evenly split between day and night, this deck seems to want me to embrace my spring future.

Have you done a spring reading? What did your decks have to say?
Deck Review: Star Spinner Tarot

March 14th, 2023

When you’re kawaii on the outside, but metal AF on the inside. Purchased 2020

Overall: 8/10 This was my first deck I purchased for myself—I saw someone using it on YouTube and I HAD TO HAVE IT! Who knew the artist and I live in the same city—that just made it all the more appealing and I bought a copy for my friend too to support local art! Adventurous and sweet it has a SUPER KAWAII! color pallet that would make this unpalatably fluffy if it wasn’t steeped in dark worldly fairy tales. I find this a very gregarious deck, approachable, with a very good sense of humor, like your friend who’s down for brunch or bar food at any time of the day. It’s incredibly friendly and very personal, but happy to lay on bad news when it needs to (and it will deliver in the cutest way possible!).

I take issue with some of the wand cards being pip-ish, and I wish there were as cohesive “stories” in the wands that we see in the pentacles, swords, and chalices. But after using this for such a long time, this feels like a very minor complaint because the wands do have their own subtle story, if you pay attention.

I have to admit, that when I need a pick-me-up I reach for this deck–it’s such a happy, vibrant deck that even when it lays on the bad news, I still leave the reading feeling uplifted.

Card Quality: 3/5 Better than the standard Llewellyn. The edges tend to want to fray a bit, but the back has a metallic lavender pearly sheen that is quite pretty, and the silk finish matting is easy to shuffle. There was some very minor damage when my new, unopened cards came but I didn’t bother asking for an exchange because I knew with use this would be no longer noticeable.

The Star Spinner has some of the most beautiful backs of all my decks! I just love it!

Readability: 4/5 Okay, so the wands feels like the neglected suite of the cards since nearly everything else has quite a rich fairy tale vibe if not direct reference and interesting color story. It’s really easy to interpret the standard meaning from the artistic spin, with the exception of the wand which is the suite dominated by fairies. They don’t have the same sort of story and detail dedicated to each card, and to me that’s a huge let down. The chalices seem to be the most integrated, following just the singular (dark) story of the little mermaid, while the swords and pentacles draw from a variety of different folk lore. There’s plenty of things to notice and observe in each card to help make the reading very intuitive.

The Wand Court; one of these things is color-theme not like the others…

Art 5/5: I got a lot to say here so hold on! This is an inclusive deck with a LGTBQ focus and I love using all the lovers cards. I do think the variety of cards makes me focus on what parts of my masculinity/femininity are in play. This deck has received some criticism for not having “enough” representation (perhaps in light of the Modern Witch Tarot?), but I guess I was very pleased with the representations, and I don’t think the artist should be faulted here. Also, I view most of the mermaids to be “thicc” women, and I don’t think people are seeing them in that light.

The colors are stunning, very fluffy, expressive, and rather bombastic which works well with the otherwise simple art style. There’s a lot of symbology, but not nearly as much as Shadowscapes, but certainly enough for me to work well with. People who are very organized and sensitive to color-use will be mad that the king of wands is a different color scheme than the rest of the suit–I noticed it right away but it didn’t bother me, but it DOES piss my friend off.

Favorite Card: So far its a tie between the charming Page of Chalices, a mermaid speaking to a puppy with a sunset and mountain cabin in the background, and the Knight of Swords. This amazing knight is very feminine with wings starting intensely at their longsword—I sense a trend of loving sharp pointy things…

Least Favorite Card: The Eight of wands—I need something here, I feel this was a “I give up” on the artist’s part.

Card I identify as: I have to say, I feel really drawn to the 4 variations of the lovers–I feel as if all these iterations speak to my inner female/male duality and how this plays out in the world with my relationships–I really “get” the art.

Card the deck identifies me as: The Queen of Swords—she’s very unnerving, with a white snake of wisdom draped over her shoulders (my Chinese zodiac, and also a common eastern witches’ familiar) she’s BITING PETALS OFF A ROSE! JEEZUS THAT’S METAL A.F.! She’s also the scariest card, maybe followed by the seven of swords which is delightfully dastardly.

Boxes it Checks: Fairy tale, Mermaids, Cute, Bold, Feminine, Bright, Diverse, Simple, Love Readings, Personal

Seasons: Late Winter/Early Spring: the pastels and brilliant colors really make me think happy Ostara thoughts!

Similar Decks: Cosmic Slumber Tarot, The Tarot of the Divine, The Modern Witch Tarot, R.Black Tarot, Silicon Dawn Tarot, Next Word Tarot, Fairy Tale Tarot (Korean publisher), The Ellis Deck Tarot, The Wandering Star Tarot, The Luna Sol Tarot

I do my best not to judge a deck by it’s box, but lets just take a moment to appreciate this incredible art!