The Tarot Tarts

January 2023 Decks

January 30th, 2023

Stacy’s Decks

January is probably the toughest month for me. It is not that it is particularly more dark than December (December and February here are really miserably dark months) but it historically becomes bitterly cold. It gets so cold that I don’t want to be outdoors, and I suffer when I cannot be outside.

I find it is natural when you’re trapped inside swaddled in sweaters to end up spending quite a bit of time doing retrospective thinking, and planning. To stave off some of the seriousness that is involved with this rumination, I usually indulge in reading a fantasy book or two, the likes of which I used to read as a kid. This month I wanted to actively focus on treating the inner child with kindness. It’s been a rough couple years and said inner child has been neglected, and boy oh boy can tarot help with that journey.

To that end, I think I picked a set of decks to use for this month that are actually perfect, and I must say that the month’s reading is also right on point! I set the intention to be kind and loving to my child-self and the cards did not disappoint in our first read!

January decks starting from the upper left clockwise: the Monsoon Tarot (Kickstarter edition), Tarot of the Abyss, The Brady Tarot (second edition), Tarot of the Divine, center The Drifting Moon Tarot (Kickstarter majors edition). Reading cloth is from The Tarot of Sorts Kickstarter.

The first deck is the new Kickstarter release of the Monsoon Tarot by Woh Studios. This is certainly a dark horse deck, and I was really on the fence backing it, but man-oh-man am I glad I did! This sweet yet eerily surreal deck seems to take on the premise of what would the world look like if there was a great flood. It’s very loosely based on RWS but really has its own internal workings and is a stellar emotional reader. I haven’t had it long, but I’ve been using it quite a bit already and I really like how gentle, yet stern and serious it’s artwork is. There is an uncanny depth to this deck that I just love. It has a pale, pastel sort of coloration that seems to be very dream-like. For January’s fruition, this deck gave me the Six of Air (Swords) where a little girl that is floating helplessly on her bed finds a cheerful rabbit family–finally you have found safety.

The second deck is Tarot of the Abyss. I bought this deck last year because it immediately spoke to my inner child. I’ve actually found myself avoiding it because it really stirs my emotions, but now is the time! The deck agrees with me because it gave me the stunning spiritual metamorphoses XX Awakening card for January’s Inspiration, and that really warms my heart.

The third deck is the Brady Tarot–an animal deck of wood cut beauty, it’s hard not to fall head over heels all the details and inspiring images and homage to nature and wild life. I must admit though that I find this deck very challenging since it does not sugar coat the harsh realities of life. I can wax on about this deck, but the art speaks for itself. As a child, I loved (and lets be real, I still do!) all that is the natural world and this deck invokes that sense of wonder. For my monthly obstacle I got the Three of Feathers/Vantage (Wands). The leopard is planning its next move. Yes, already we’ve been struggling to see ahead and plan for our next five, ten years!

And, as I planned from the very get go of monthly decks, the fourth deck I’ll be working with is the famous Yoshi Yoshitani’s Tarot of the Divine. All children love stories and I’ve always loved telling and writing a good yarn! The colors are wonderful and images so clear yet thought provoking, and I love relearning or learning for the first time new tales from other cultures. Perfect for the cold days of January. For ingenuity of the month, I drew XXI The World–the world awaits and you have everything you need to figure it out. This fun world card also suggests partnership–I can share my adventures with my husband and loved ones!

Finally, in addition, I’ll be using the majors tarot The Drifting Moon (from a recent Kickstarter) as a supplement deck–the sweet story book images seem to really fit the feeling of the rest of the decks.

What decks are you using this month?

PS also, my tarot challenge of the month is I am going to read ONLY upright cards! I want to try it! Maybe I’ll continue a while with uprights only, we’ll see how the month goes.
Lunar New Year, Year of the Rabbit Tarot Draw

January 28th, 2023

While traditional Chinese new years fortunes and the 12 (year) animal zodiac correspondences aren’t exactly related to tarot, we can still have plenty of fun doing a lunar new year reading! This year, we are in the year of the rabbit!

Rabbits are no stranger in the tarot world, nor is the imagery of rabbits and the moon.

Right to left, The Oriens Tarot, Star Spinner Tarot, Oak, Ash & Thorn Tarot

Ever heard of the man in the moon? Well, in many eastern myths there’s a rabbit in the moon (can you see the bunny in the dark lunar maria?)! Of course, if you own a yard that is frequented by rabbits, you will also be well aware that most of their antics happen at night, when the moon is out. I know my local bunnies have disco parties under the full moon!

Draw suggestions: Lay out the draw in a circle. Like a clock, place the first card on the one o’clock space position, second card in two o’clock, etc.

1. Productivity: Rabbits are notoriously fertile creatures and their species’ success relies on their shot gun approach to reproduction–ask yourself, How will I be wildly productive this year?

2. Creativity: Along similar lines, how can you channel creativity this year? Rabbits are clever creatures and owe much of their success to solving problems creatively.

3. Concerns of the Family: Rabbits have large families, what is a concern your family will face this year?

4. Concerns of the Home: Rabbits burrow and can create complex warrens to live in with or without their families. What should I pay attention to in my physical home space?

5. Health: Rabbits rely on a healthy diet and regular exercise to be their best bunny self. What can I be mindful of regarding my eating and exercise?

6. Goals: Rabbits are fast little critters! What will speed me towards my goals this year?

7. Self Improvement: There’s many a story out there about the quick, clever rabbit who became arrogant about his speed and ends up losing the race to someone much slower! What is something that I’m arrogant about that I should be careful not to over look?

8. Introducing Novelty: Rabbits have fast, ever-growing teeth! They constantly need to be chewing them to wear them down. What is something new that I can “cut my teeth on” this year?

9. Conflict: Rabbits are masters of Freeze and Flight in dangerous situations–what is a situation that would be best to run away from?

10. Releasing Old Energy: On the flip-side, rabbits can run away without reason as a type of escapism that prolongs the inevitable. What am I doing that is practicing unnecessary escapism? (For example, I scroll through my phone rather than take care of a responsibility)

11. Social Habits: Rabbits are incredible social creatures–what is something I can do to liven up my social life?

12. Live in the Moment: Here’s our “full rabbit moon”–rabbits live short lives, but they certainly know how to live it up! What can you do to let your hair down and have some fun and live in the moment?

Stacy’s Draw

The Star Spinner Tarot, by Trungles

While I didn’t have the perfect deck for this draw (but Val sure does!), I wanted a deck with a bit of mythic flare and sensibility with a good dose of celebratory bright colors to perk up the stint of grey we’ve been having, and what better deck than the Star Spinner?

1.Productivity: 7 of Chalices I can be productive by choosing projects that speak to my heart, and eliminate the others.

2. Creativity: VI The Lovers Channel creativity with love! Do what you love, with the ones you love.

3. Concerns of the Family: 7 of Coins Its time for your family to consider long term investments. You need to plan how and when and where to do this. “Cultivate resources responsibility” says Trungles. Be prepared for the moment you need to take action.

4. Concerns of the Home: Knight of Wands Your physical home is your oyster! Have fun, show personality, be bold!

5. Health: Page of Chalices Remember kindness towards yourself–you’re body is always changing and growing. Approach change with curiosity! Also, if you take care of your dogs’ physical needs, that will take care of yourself as well.

6. Goals: 10 of Chalices Self love and general emotional wholeness and wellness and balance will speed you to your goal. People experience success and happy endings differently, there is no single road map.

7. Self Improvement: 4 of Chalices You are determined to do it all on your own! It’s okay to take the low handing fruit and enjoy what you have every once and a while. Be aware of moving goal posts–take the time to celebrate the little victories so you’re not disappointed in your seeming lack of accomplishments.

8. Introducing Novelty: 0 The Fool Try being completely new student at something! It’s time to free yourself of imagined outcomes.

9. Conflict: Ace of Wands Run away from taking on any more passion-projects! You have enough to do on your plate.

10. Releasing Old Energy: XII The Hanged Man I practice escapism by saying something is not my problem when perhaps I should take action! Be more discerning on what is and is not my problem.

11. Social Habits: 9 of Chalices To improve my social life don’t be afraid to take center stage every now and then. Enjoy the fruits of your journey, dance for fun!

12. Live in the Moment: X The Wheel of Fate To enjoy and live in the moment, just accept things as they come and go! It’s okay that there are ups and downs.

And for fun, I did my typical end of a reading draw where I take the top card of the deck as an answer to Where am I coming from? and the bottom of the deck card to Where am I going?

Where are you coming from? Queen of Wands

Where are you going? 10 of Pentacles

I’m going from a young, vivacious woman with a big cat frolicking outside in a field of sun flowers, to an old man with a dog inside a house, looking at a big fucking castle! Just kidding! I’m going from a state of meeting challenges with determination and passion, and being a high achiever to being satisfied and content with my work and their results. I’m living in abundance and stability.