From left to right, the Eldritch Overload Tarot, the Divine Deco Tarot, the Zerner Farber Tarot (aka The Enchanted Tarot), Mystic, Augur & Sage Oracle, Diviner Definitions Oracle
May is arguably my favorite month of the year. I have been wanting to do a month of COLORFUL decks so that’s what we’re doing in this equally colorful and blossoming month! So my first concern was picking decks that really POP in colors, but also, I wanted to chose an unusual mix of deck “flavors” and general vibes. I took a little bit of an unusual path and included two oracles this month as well. Lets see what’s cooking this beautiful May!
Before we do our draw, I want to draw your attention to the black backed card—this is from an oracle called diviner definitions. It’s a very different sort of deck for me as it’s all about WORDS, their definitions but also accompanying prompts in it’s amazing LWB. The whole deck is also a rainbow spectrum that is not just alphabetical order, but rather relates to the meaning of the card. This is a weird and very cool deck.
Also, I’m feeling more confident with including runes when I share draws, so this month I grabbed two from the bag again, but one came completely off the table and thus was disqualified. However, Mannaz, a rune speaking to the greater aspects of humanity and collective memory, fell on our definitions oracle card.
Our thematic card this month is “seek” and interestingly the Mannaz fell right on this card, so I suppose I can say that I am seeking greater human connections, to see better things and do them, acting in ways that aid the greater good, and perhaps seeking wisdom? I love this color, the orange melding into a yellow hue, its strong, driven, but also happy and the tones match and pop in other cards as you will see.
On either side of seek, I drew two cards from the gorgeous Mystic, Augur & Sage (from the maker of The Journey of the Sacred Bee Tarot). I had intended to draw only one card from this oracle, but while shuffling, even though they are in numerical order, these two individually jumped out of the deck in the same shuffle (rather one that was stuck to the other). The first, Rite of Passage, speaks to mile markers in life, some we choose and others we don’t. A mile marker for me looms. Perhaps is has to do with what I seek. I’ll be progressing to the next step. A dragon fly, and also the bird of paradise flowers, go through stages of growth and they do not look like their most beautiful forms at the beginning. There is a greater potential hidden underneath that is not apparent and is now ready to come forth, perhaps even without my knowledge! It makes me wonder, what will give me wings?
The second card is Practice Patience. This comes at an appropriate time as a project I’ve been diligently working on came to a screeching halt and there is a period of rest needed before I can continue forth. I don’t know when this period will end, or if it ever will. It’s hard for me not knowing. But I can also see this as a kind and gentle reminder that “leveling up” and attaining what I seek is a journey and it cannot be rushed. It takes as long as it takes.
The Divine Deco Tarot, an absolute masterpiece of art meeting dance meeting Tarot is a deck I sorely regret not diving into sooner (it has been at least two years y’all before I finally included it in a monthly decks–it deserves better!) We have an interesting four of swords where the figure, surrounded by dancing moths/butterflies is holding out his hands as if asking for something while meditatively gazing upwards at our right of passage, a card of ascent (which also has our beloved flying insect). This kinda hammers home that to get to the next “stage” this month I need to rest, listen inward, see what the external world gives me.
The Eldrich Overload (Tarot) is an absolute fantastic deck, but despite its amazing colors and shiny bling, it is not a kind deck. Not at all. It’s the dystopian novel of my Tarot decks and it honestly intimidates me. Thank goodness the book is stellar otherwise I might feel a little overwhelmed. We see in this ace of wands a hand being held out of the fire bearing a blooming branch. Though the fire rages, we can save something beautiful from the flames. Something precious, even if it feels small and it feels like all else is lost this one thing is worth being hopeful for. Worth building from. Ooftda. I guess, take hope and grow passion from it, is what I’m getting from this card. Perhaps I need to meditate on what I do have in hand.
Then we end with the King of Swords. This King looks very battle ready, and he’s not f*cking around either. He doesn’t even have a sword! He’s going in wisely with a spear (and a really big shield) to manage his distance. He has a helm with wings to give him speed (hello Mercury), but he also has a white dove of peace. I see this as knowing when to fight (and fight well when you need to) and when to stay your hand. This King is the ultimate mastery of the mind.
I see the Ace of Wands is flanked by two swords, one looking contemplative and forward to the next step and one laser focused on the now. This is a month in need of brain power!
Together, I read this as a month of juxtapositions, to actively seek bettering my self, for my self but also for the community at large by taking what I have and making it better. But it is also a month of planned rest and understanding Roman was not built in a day. To reflect and plan my path ahead. Interesting!
Moravia as my Cleric, Into the Void as the Bard, The Lighthouse in Fog as the Monk, Runic Tarot as the Barbarian, and The Wild Unknown Archetypes as my wizard. Arguably my strangest combination of decks yet!
For 2025, I wanted to make my monthly deck choices more creative (i.e. weirder) than I’ve done in the past. Though I’ve only had this blog up and running for a couple years, my friend Val and I have been compiling monthly decks since 2020, and it’s time to mix it up! This month I wanted to take a subject near and dear to Val’s heart, D&D, and base our decks off of it. Though I personally have not done any D&D play, I have heard enough about role playing games to get the gist. I suggested that we make a “party” from our decks that exemplify various classes in D&D. We assigned the basic 12 classes to the numbers 1-12, rolled a 12 sided die five times to determine who is in our party, and we ended up with the Bard, the Cleric, the Monk, the Wizard, and the Barbarian.
I’ll explain my choices as we check out the monthly draw!
For whatever reason, I was really drawn to laying out the cards in a right-to-left order this month. Gotta keep it weird I guess!
I’ve had the Into the Void: The Black Cat Tarot since spring 2023 and this odd, cheeky deck tends to get pulled out more than I’d like to admit. It’s a simplistic, non-standard RWS deck told from a (black) cat’s perspective. But it has a certain quirkiness with the limited black, white and yellow color pallet and the comic-like images that keeps me picking it up from the shelves over and over again. When we rolled the Bard first, I knew that no matter what else, this was the deck I needed. Funny, cheeky, story teller.
Here I pulled the Seven of Wands (and tbh, this deck keeps giving me this card this month so clearly there’s something here), where a cat playfully bats at a feather wand toy. Hmm. Typically I think of the Seven of Wands as the “defend the hill to die on” card. But this kitty seems to be enjoying itself! Perhaps this is a reminder that I should practice the skills needed to defend my hill and have some fun with it! Or perhaps is asking me “what do you need to take seriously and defend? Is there an illusion of threat that isn’t real?”
For my Cleric, I chose the Moravia tarot deck. I cannot help but associate the angels and heavenly beings in this deck as having a religious inclination. This deck is quite healing in is overall feel, though it does not shy away from being brutal when called for.
I drew the sweet Six of Cups from the Moravia. I might find the opportunity to make someone else’s life nicer, and they may reciprocate this to me in turn. There’s definitely feelings of nostalgia, childlike games of pretend, and creating one’s own world. Where do you need to create your own space? How can you care for others there? Where are you playing pretend where you need to set that mindset aside?
The Lighthouse In Fog is a relatively new deck to me and ooftda, it is sure one wild ride of a deck! I’m loving it and it’s strange take on RWS more each time I use it. I chose this as my Monk because it has so much raw elemental power portrayed in it, and is so mystical feeling.
I drew the strange, baffling seven of cups. Typically I think of the seven of cups as “choices” some of which make sense, and others being wild dreams. This at first blush looks like a chess board so of course there’s choices to be had as to where to place your pieces strategically. But when you look closer, you see many (if not all) the pieces are transparent! It may feel like you have many choices, all of which have an impact on the game–you don’t. This is an illusion. Perhaps the choices you see are not yours to make.
Because it requires reading the book and also having a bit of Jungian knowledge (well, technically it doesn’t, but Jungian-ists, you’ll be delighted) the Wild Unknown Archetypes was my choice for the Wizard this month! Also, it’s just plain magical in the strangest way.
From Archetypes I drew a card I’ve never drawn before, which given how much I’ve used this deck, is saying something: LXXVIII Anima Mundi. If this was a Tarot deck this would be The World card. There is a vastness of the universe before you. You will see its complexities and complications. You are but a small portion of the whole, but what part will you play? How can you bring your light to the greater good? Everything is interconnected.
And the Runic Tarot. Possibly the best embodiment for the Barbarian that I have in my deck collection. I don’t feel like there is much explanation needed for this one.
The Runic Tarot gave me V The Hierophant. Usually I think of The Hierophant as the teacher card (and I certainly have several teachers this month helping guide me!), and the accompanying book that goes with this deck describes the figure as the god Forseti. But, it is hard for me to not see a Christian biblical figure in this card, who is holding a tablet of commandments. It also makes me uneasy to see the dog at his side holding a sword at the ready, and the ground splitting under the people in the foreground. With the current political upheaval, I am getting strong “submit to my god, or else vibes.” Ick!
Well, seems like a troubled month is ahead. There’s a lot of discerning I need to do, to see what really matters vs what does not, what is an illusion, and what is real. With two sevens in this draw, there’s a critical turning point I’m wavering at. It seems like there is a whole lot of “everything, everywhere, all at once” feeling, and while there is a connection to the universe at large, there is also a looming figure that, while trying to look like they are kindly and giving and holy, are actually very oppressive (I mean, duh.). I get the sense I have to defend my position without looking like I’m on the defensive, as if I have to appear like I’m “at one” with the world, but really I’m planning for the long game. Woof.
How is YOUR March looking? Have you ever made a D&D party of your decks before?
Here’s a sweet picture of my lovely elderly cat for those that stuck with me though this one:
Welcome to the Year of the Snake! I was excited for this draw a few months ago, seeing as this is my Zodiac animal, but I wish those of us in the USA are having a better start to the year. Well, a good tarot draw makes me less blue, so lets soldier on! Perhaps we can glean some insight into this year.
Sometimes I have a great deck for a themed draw, and I was intending to use my Blood Moon Tarot, seeing as it has snakes aplenty (now that I think of it, is there a snake themed tarot out there? Anyone know of one?). But I was really craving a kind deck and, well, Blood Moon isn’t exactly that! So I went with my newest love, Forest Spirit Imprints Tarot instead, and we have a nice emerald green theme that makes me think slithery snake! Perhaps, later this month it might be fun to do a deck comparison between the two.
I love the “clock” style draw for the Chinese New Years draw. You can consider it a month to month, a personal progress through the year, you can assign the actual zodiac animals to different cards or you can see it as the journey for the year ahead. I like to make twelve animal themed prompts for the year. I’ll start at 1 o’clock and work my way around!
1 What skin do I need to shed?
We start off needing to shed the Ace of Pentacles–and, after a second glance, is it just me or is this ace bleeding??? I suppose there’s some relationship to fertility, but yeesh. This year, I need to shed my idea of wealth and security. Oh boy! Maybe this is a moment to find true freedom from the material world.
2 Where do I need to conserve my energy?
I love seeing the clam in the 4 of Cups, its a much less full-of-one’s-self image I tend to see with this card. I need to conserve my energy in regards to emotionally unfulfilling things! I should turn my back on that which does not fill my cup. (I like this, “Does it fill my cup?”)
3 Where do I bask?
4 of Wands, and a very sweet four of wands at that! I can bask in my successes and positive relations! It is important to celebrate the little things and the baby steps towards our bigger goals.
4 Where must I strike with lightening speed?
The Devil, ha! I must strike down that which is tempting me with falseness and fake promises!
5 Where do I show my fangs?
The Hanged Man. This is for sure a strange Hanged Man, with the trapped fairy closing it’s eyes and praying but our protagonist onlooking. I feel there are many ways to read this one, but given the current situation: I need to show my fangs at injustices done, even when others don’t notice or want to notice them.
6 Where do I poison?
The beautiful Queen of Cups. I have the power to poison the whole ocean! I have the ability to strike right at the emotional heart of things. I must be careful though to not poison my own cup! If I let the negative ocean in around me it will harm the joyous ecosystem I’m nurturing.
7 Where do I heal?
We must remember that snakes in both east and western traditions are not only associated with their venom but also were though of as creatures who can heal (looking at you Asclepius and your staff!). Here I pulled the lovely Empress; I can heal through my creativity, femininity and good nature. I can make good things grow. I have “mom” vibes!
8 What is something I need to digest slowly?
The 2 of Wands! I need to plan my path/journey carefully. Where I want to be is at a distance, with many obstacles in the way, but I can do it with a plan! But this takes time.
9. Where do I need the help of other’s hands?
7 of Pentacles (we have a little nod to our bloody Ace of Pentacle at the beginning, don’t we?). I need the help of others to aid me in cutting the dead growth out of my life to free up the new growth so my tree flourishes. Get rid of that which doesn’t serve you and is holding you back. Again, “does it fill my cup?”
10 How to use my cunning?
Temperance makes her second appearance this month! I must use my cunning to maintain balance in my life. I must choose my battles strategically but also know when to rest and take a break. Perhaps I need to “slither-out” of situations with grace. With this particular Temperance I get a sense of taking only what you need and no more.
11 How to use my charm?
The delightful 10 of Wands. I must use my charm to get the hard work done, even when it feels like an endless task. Perhaps I convince others to help me in the labor, or perhaps I make the the chore fun and delightful for myself.
12 How does the snake help me grow?
7 of Cups. The snake helps me grow by giving me choices, but also the wisdom to make good choices. There’s a rather fantastical experience here, isn’t there? Lets remember our 2 of Wands and think over our choices before jumping into the most appealing one. (I love that we have a little snake wizard in the tree!).
This sure seems like a year of growth (and perhaps growing pains) for me! How about you? What does the Year of the Snake have in store for you?
Y’all. I’m finally doing the thing I’ve been threatening to do since I started this blog; I’m going to focus my efforts this month to studying just ONE tarot deck–and it’s a doozy of a deck.
The Citadel oracle, Lost Oracle, Terra Volatile Dark Collectors Edition tarot and pocket book (fyi it does not fit in any pockets I have), The Deck of Emblems, Apothecary Spirits Oracle
AND I thought its the perfect time to get good (er, less awful) at using my oracle decks too!
I’ll quick run through my choices seeing as its pretty straightforward this month: the absolutely MASSIVE Collector’s Terra Volatile arrived on my doorstep and I immediately became enamored with this artistic creation/monster, and I must learn everything I can about this deck, so its going to be my one and only Tarot for this month.
I’m not really one who believes in deck measuring, but I think we do need to appreciate and be in awe of this absolute CHONKER.
The Terra Volatile is a deck produced by an artistic duo team called Credo quia Absurdum, based in Portugal (I believe) who are not only enthusiasts of ALL Tarot esoterica and various schools of Tarot thought, but also clearly have love of all worldly esoterica and they really did their damnedest to put as much as humanly possible in each and every card. Also, the artist(s) is/are clearly classically trained, so even though this looks old-timey, it clearly is very modern and up-to-date on modern sensibilities and political doings. Oh, and not only does it have multiple cards for the same major card, often with great fresh takes on the majors, it ALSO has fresh and traditional multi takes on the minors, oh, AND it has a fifth suite of minor arcana, the Vessels, representing Aether, or the stuff of the self. So, this deck is A LOT.
Because this deck has such alchemical, classic vibes, I wanted to pick oracle decks to compliment it’s style. The duo Citadel and Emblems seemed a no-brainer. But I also wanted to bring some new oracles into the mix; the gorgeous but perplexing Lost Oracle which is completely new to me, and the just beautiful Apothecary Spirits Oracle (which is new to this blog). I will say, the Apothecary Spirits was the wild card of the deck choices, but thus far, nearly half way through the month, it shockingly plays the best with the Volatile!
On to the monthly draw!
Alright, we open with a bit of mystery! Interestingly, the first thing I notice is how there is a cut in both images. The purse has been cut (ah-hem, cut-purse? like a thief?), but the plantain is also showing a cutting wound. With the purse, we speak of what is of value to us, where do we put our efforts and money? What is hidden but also has value? The key words also suggests an unexpected windfall. The Plantain is a plant I typically think of as a noxious weed (I mean, where I live it is, often called “White-Man’s Foot” for it vigor in disturbed soils) but the amazing booklet explains that it is a plant of healing, but unusually so because it pulls out that which is unwanted, toxic, and harmful. A keyword with this card is rejection, but with a twist of YOU yourself rejecting something bad for you in order to heal. Huh. So a kind of “cut” or wound which is a windfall and leads to ultimate healing. What else do we have?
Oh boy! Well, I have to admit that my relations with my family are complicated on the best of days. The Ancestral Alchemy card asks us to honor death and the cycle which is indeed part of life. To acknowledge where our ancestors came from and the challenges they faces for us to be who we are today. It calls on us to also take the necessary actions to better the next generation. Paired with the Plantain card I definitely see this as healing generational wounds and conflicts. Interestingly, the pose of the person in the Ancestral Alchemy card mirrors the hands in the following Aspirant.
The Aspirant in the Citadel Oracle is the first card of the court cards and of all the cards in this deck, this is the one which screams “THE FOOL!” or more aptly, “THE MAIN CHARACTER!”. You are the main character of your own story–you are ready to start every day as a new story, you have goals and ambitions and will be required to go through trials and push through with fortitude. There isn’t true “failure” in this story, it’s just the wheels of life turning. Expect the unexpected, setbacks, and challenges, deviation from the path towards your goal, and know there is always more work to be done.
With these four oracles together, I get the sense of “fulfilling” something that has been waiting for a long time and the unintentional positive effects that has. What do the Tarot cards say?
Right away I see a changing disposition between man (or the human self) and his relation to nature and other men, first mastering nature passively, mastering nature forcefully, and then being in a stalemate with his fellow man.
In this particular take on The Sun, the alternative card called Poetry, we see Orpheus (a son of Apollo—a sun god) and his magical lyre enchanting all the animals, uniting predator and prey and opposing forces with balance. It seems effortless thanks to his mastery of his art. He seeks not to control anything outside of himself.
The second card we have the alternative card (again) to Fortitude, which is Strength. Pictured is Heracles during his first of his twelve great feats which is defeating the Nemean lion. Unlike the passiveness of Fortitude, this card demands action (rather than waiting for resolution). We can read the story of overcoming our own beastly desires and actions, taking feats to tame them and quell them, lest they harm ourselves or others. There’s also an element of determining moral right and wrong, and acting with rational.
The final card is an intense take on the Five of Wands (its actually the violent alternative card to a much tamer Five of Wands). It’s an all out brawl in this card! Every person is different and they chose to let these differences divide them. This is particularly volatile when the flames of passion are at an impasse and there is disagreement–strong feelings tend to have strong actions.
Taking the Tarot read together, I see this as a reminder what we have control over in our lives: we successful have control over just ourselves (and even that is in a limiting space seeing as we have a self battle to overcome), and are at our best when we are exercising that which makes us truly happy and fulfilled personally. When needing to make change, we are meet with resistance which in the self can be overcome with great exertion, but with others, well, we don’t really know how things will turn out.
Now lets look at the whole picture:
If we pair the oracles with the tarot, we see that there is great progress made with cutting out/rejecting something that will ultimately lead to a windfall–here we can remain passive and just be happy doing our best selves–our actions speak for themselves. With rejecting/removing that which prevents healing in our ancestral past, we have an arduous struggle, but it is attainable and even shall be attained! But meeting our true calling and goals with our ancestral alchemy is a messy business with many challenges and roadblocks and struggles. This month definitely feels like a journey to self realization!
It really seems like a mixed bag sort of month for me! What does your month look like?
This is a delightfully creative and excellent fall/winter Tarot tag developed by Tarot Geek on Tarotube (see original video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BKfUbLnVjM) that uses concepts from the Dark Academia aesthetic as themes to apply to our tarot decks. So, full disclosure, I actually really like the Dark Academia trends and I love me a new twist on “gothic” lifestyle, so I have been chomping at the bit to do this tag! BUT! I’ve been waiting for a specific deck to arrive because I SO BADLY wanted to include it in this list! I have it in hand, so now I get to have some fun!
1. Secret of the Library: The deck that captivates you with its mysteries and hidden depths.
Sola Busca Tarot
This deck continues to puzzle me even though I’ve had it for a very long time and I even was gifted a book about the deck to help me unravel it. It certainly is proof that esoterica is very much a product of its time and, like memes, probably makes a lot more sense to the person who was alive when it was first produced. I don’t really believe I’ll ever fully understand this deck, nor will I ever be proficient at reading with it. Nevertheless, I still regularly pull this deck from the shelf to ponder over it, or even attempt a reading for myself.
2. Inkwell and Quill: A deck that inspires you creatively, like the pages of an old leather-bound journal (your muse deck).
The Citadel Oracle and Tarot of the Abyss
Well, the prompt does say inkwell AND quill! I find these two decks drastically deviate from the typical tarot and oracle, but they also incite my imagination in a way no other decks do! And they do so in very different ways.
The Citadel Oracle is ultimately a deck of archetypes, but those you typically find in fantasy/medieval stories. I personally find this just a delightful way to think of archetypes, and it’s always a surprise to see the simple yet intriguing art on the cards. This deck really gives me space to interpret the name and role on the cards, and it pairs well with just about all of my decks in my collection, so it ends up being a bit of a workhorse.
The Tarot of the Abyss is in a way polar opposite in that it’s oddly specific in its complex card depictions. But, this deck really distills the emotional meaning of the tarot in a very potent sort of way that hits me in the feels every time I use it, even when I end up doing a rather “mundane” reading for myself! I always am left feeling like there is more to tarot that I’ll ever be able to learn after using this deck.
3. Eternal Autumn: A deck that captures the melancholy and beauty of fall, embodying the bittersweet nature of change.
Heartwood Tarot
The month of December was the first real stint of time I spent using this deck and it still feels very new and strange to me. That said, there is something so dream-like about this deck that sets it apart from other decks Three Trees has made. It is beautiful, like all their decks, but it’s very (aptly) haunting. I think “melancholy” is a perfect descriptor for Heartwood! And the nature of decay and change are apparent everywhere in every image. The feeling of entering darkness in the transition from fall to winter seems to be a central theme we see over and over again in these cards in a variety of different ways.
4. Philosophers Stone: A deck that aids in mental transformation.
The Terra Volatile Tarot
This was the deck I was waiting for. I held off purchasing this very strange, five-minor arcana deck (that is a blend of RWS, Thoth and Marseille systems!) for SOOOO long because I was really worried the standard size cards would be too small for my eyes to appreciate all the details. I JUMPED out of my chair when I saw the preorder for their large collector edition this past summer. Though it did not turn out to be what the creators hoped, I was still stoked to get a copy and let me tell you what, I’m so glad to have this (ridiculously) huge deck, and the wonderful companion book.
The creators of this deck, in case you are unfamiliar, are very inclusive of esoterica from around the world, so every time I draw a card and read the book I do feel like I’m learning and improving my tarot. The edition of a fifth minor arcana (Vessles, representing aether, or the spirit of self) also really makes me use my noggin when drawing from this deck!
5. Candlelight in the Shadows: A deck that is ideal for reading by candlelight late at night.
The Nameless One
So…I have a lot of decks I could slot into this category. And, I was determined not to pull out The Nameless One for this tag. But. Well, I can’t help myself. I am an insomniac, and I do read tarot at night when I can’t sleep (I actually do many of my readings when I can’t sleep), and I do more often than other decks, grab this deck if I wake up in the wee hours and can’t go back to sleep. I just love it’s versatility, it is straightforward, but you get SO MUCH from reading the book too. It very witchy without being “kitschy” and the art is beautiful and very natural feeling. I’m a little embarrassed I have all these other awesome decks, and I keep showing y’all this one.
6. Ghosts of the Past: A sentimental deck
The Bloody Tears Tarot
I was such a wanna-be-goth kid when I was in middle and high school! This deck would have been teen me’s perfect deck and I love it for that! It seems to encompass a gothic story in its images and there are various people who reappear in multiple cards over and over. The time and place are very fluid and undefined (could be anywhere from early medieval to early modern judging from the clothing), and the whole “story” is seems a bit fast and loose with the details, but I love it all the more because that’s how teen me would have made such a deck.
7. Scholarly pursuits: A tarot deck you use to study, learn, and gain a deeper comprehension of the cards.
The Mary El Tarot
This deck is so complex, beautiful, wild and in a league of its own. While I struggle with it, I still am determined to learn it and become a reader who can use it!
8. Moonlit Daydream: The deck that reminds you of forgotten fantasies that linger in your head at midnight.
Gothic Literature Tarot
I was a dumb dumb and passed this up on its Kickstarter campaign because I wanted to see all the cards. I liked what I saw, but I was being stubborn and wanted to see ALL THE MINORS. Mostly I remember passing on the The Literary Tarot Kickstarter a couple years ago and I felt like I dodged a bullet because it was a rocky production and I mostly don’t agree with the choices of books they put with many of the cards—what can I say, English was my undergrad. BUT! I do LOVE in this deck the character choices for the majors, and while the minors are rather simple, the major characters do reappear in the minors and I love the general ghosty spooky vibes this whole deck has. It is very romantic and dark and a little disturbing and I’m here for it.
9. Wuthering Heights: A deck that stirs intense emotions, like a gothic romance novel.
Bohemian Gothic Tarot
I mean, is there anything that needs to be said for this one? This contradictory deck has BIG feelings whether it be silly or sad.
10. The Ivy-Covered Tower: This deck evokes the spirit of your most beloved mentor.
The Woven Path Tarot
Perhaps my favorite college teachers was my Advanced Literary Studies professor. But his niche of studies was old English. And he had an unwavering passion for stories of all kinds, spoken in all voices. He perhaps was the reason that I made it through my rigorous degree path. He helped me remember why it is I love to write and read, and he also taught me how to think about and enjoy stories that I normally wouldn’t bother to read. This deck, with its multitude of artists and individual card stories reminds me of him and how he went about in the academic world.
11. Golden Sunset: Which deck reminds you of the last pleasures you get to endure during the summer’s waning hours? A liminal deck.
Golden Wheel Tarot
This deck is really a gem in the tarot world. It is so beautiful and has such strong end-of-harvest vibes that I sometimes find it difficult to use it in the winter because I am longing for the summer days after using a reading with it. It gives very distinct readings. The art is “folksy” and a bit historic, which hearkens to that feeling of a time gone past where life was simpler (of course, we know this is an illusion, but one we can still play pretend and enjoy). While this is a RWS deck, there does feel like there is a sort of depth and complexity in the art that brings it beyond a simple clone deck.
12. Whispers under the Oak Tree: Which deck makes you think of the timeless truths that lurk and hide in the depths of our souls?
Blood Moon Tarot
I could not help but immediately think of my beloved Blood Moon Tarot for this final prompt. Personally, this deck feels like it represents my (and human’s) base-nature. It is a very primitive-feeling sort of deck, and it does tend to read heavy-handedly. Every card’s emotions are amplified and the meanings seem to be reduced to their essential basic form. This isn’t exactly a “kind” deck, which, I tend to think of oak trees as “kind” in the way they support many organic forms of life, but this deck does not in any way mask the truth. Like an oak’s wood, there’s a hardness to it, but also a sort of timelessness.
Have you done this tag? Do you have a deck that feels like it falls beautifully into the Dark Academia trend?
Left to right, starting from bottom left corner: Anna.K Tarotindie second edition, The European Goddesses and Spirits Oracle Deck, Heartwood tarot, FörhäxaTarot(aka The Enchanted FörhäxaTarot), The Slavic Legends Tarot
Nudity and salaciousness portrayed in the cards ahead. So much for a G-rated Holidays draw!
This December I want to really slow down with my decks and focus on doing thoughtful readings. It is very dark, and a stuck-indoors time of year here, so I wanted that to be reflected in my deck choices. I’d say the theme of this month is “cozy and introspective,” perfect for the winter season! So, grab a warm cup of tea and hunker down for a looong winded reading!
The Anna.K Tarot, despite its huge feelings and emotions, is a very cozy deck to me! It is a straight shooter, uncomplicated, honest, and kind. If there was a deck that had “hobbits of the shire” feel, it’s totally this deck. I also get strong feelings of family and community from this deck which I think are on point with the holiday season.
European Goddesses and Spirits Oracle Deck is a bit of a wild-card choice I made for this month. I didn’t have a deck dedicated to Goddesses (seeing as it isn’t something I intentionally practice or utilize when I use Tarot), but I backed this on Kickstarter because I LOVED the art and I loved that the author made a full sized book covering myths about these Goddesses. For a month of slowing down, I figured it might be worth taking the time to learn about a few of them! Sadly, I am traveling and I forgot the big book, so I’ll have to rift off of the smaller guidebook that partners with the deck.
The newest deck from the fantastic Three Trees Tarot indie creators and publishers, the Heartwood Tarot is very moody compared to their other creations, and I haven’t had the opportunity to use it much. I’ve been waiting in anticipation to really dig into it! This deck definitely fits the “introspective” part of this month! It has a dark fairy tale vibe, almost haunted house (well, cottage) feel. Except, all the cards are from the point of view of the critters that live in the abandoned cottage! This is a very unusual deck in my collection.
The Förhäxa Tarot has been an old-faithful deck for me since it first came out. It definitely has some strong matriarchal vibes and an intuitiveness about nature that really draws me in. The art style is very different from anything I have in my collection so it does stand out as rather unique on my shelf. It’s very busy with a lot of imagery, so it isn’t an “easy” deck to just pull out willy-nilly, but the cards all leave a very strong impression! It is one of those rare decks that even though I’ve used it a lot, every time I mindlessly flip through the cards, I see something new and different. I do tend to pick this as a winter deck because the seasons are represented, but more importantly the bright colors are uplifting on grey days.
Did anyone read Jan Brett books as a child? I did, and I still have several of them. I bring them out for the holidays and page through them, and like magic they bring me back to being a kid on a cold winter’s evening looking at the beautifully illustrated images under the colored lights of the Christmas tree! The Slavic Legends Tarot deck reminds me of those beautifully illustrated books. Not only is the art folkloric and intricate and colorful and gorgeous, there is a story told with each image. Slavic Legends is the perfect deck when you want to really sit with an image and think about it!
Enough reminiscing, onward with the draw!
So, I drew this in a different order than I am going to read it. I drew an oracle first, then the Anna.K, two jumpers from the Slavic Legends, a card from Heartwood, and two jumpers from Förhäxa. Given what the oracle card is, I decided to read this in a wheel form (center, 12oclock and clockwise).
I knew when I drew The Norns that this was not going to be the monthly draw I was hoping for (but lets be real, are they ever?!?). The Norns are Nordic Goddesses who, similar the Greek three fates (Moirai), decide a person’s destiny and path in life. In a way, it’s a very fatalist point of view–the fates, or Norns, have total control over a person’s life so your individual “choices” have little to do with the outcome of a situation. The guidebooks key word is “Acceptance” or in other words, accept that there is a whole lot out of your control. Your situation isn’t necessarily a direct relation to your own actions. The way the art is done here (have I mentioned I absolutely DIG the art of this purple edged deck???) it also makes me think of the three cycles of women–Maiden, Mother, Crone–of the cycles of change, and the three graces (or, at least their foil!).
XV The Devil and the Five of Cups—OOFTDA! So, I almost always think of The Devil as control, or desire for control. Ah, makes sense following the Norns. To control ones destiny (which we are preemptively reminded we don’t have control over that), to control by manipulation others, to have control over getting one’s desires, etc. This particular Devil really seems to heavily lean into the excess of desires with lots of lust going on; lust for others, for wealth, for food and drink, for battle, yeesh. I think these actions are misguided attempts to control one’s life, but ultimately become lack of control when done in excess, which in turn can lead to addiction. Interestingly, there’s actually a lot of people in this orgy of desires card, usually The Devil is portrayed with three figures in a card.
And followed up by the beautiful but pensive Five of Cups. I have to admit, I get some Star energy out of this Five of Cups! I love how the Maiden seems to have a gown made of moss that is growing out of the forest floor! She’s stuck in her wallowing! How long has she sat here mourning the loss of her cups? I also like how though the maiden has lost three out of her five cups, the reflection of the cups in the water make it appear like the loss is far worse than it actually is in reality. I can’t help but wonder if she disentangled her gown from the forest floor if she could just, you know, wade into the pond to get her cups? Maybe because they are filled with swamp water she doesn’t want them any more, I dunno.
Taken together, I’d say that so far this is a warning that excess on one’s part can lead to a loss on another’s. This can be one person (or persons) lusting and taking too much and a different individual loosing out (and perhaps blaming themselves when it was out of their hands) OR this could be read as a self reflection; I have taken excessively in one part of my own life, and now I feel loss in the other, or if not loss, a lack of wholeness and feeling like I’m missing out. The feeding of the lust doesn’t fulfill the soul. The loss is real but also part of an illusion–it is made out, or felt, to be greater than it actually is, and perhaps I am lingering in the loss too much and not being proactive enough. The relation between the Devil and the Five of Cups might not be apparent given how we have a determined fate seen in The Norns. Or perhaps this rise from the high in The Devil and fall into the Five of Cups is predestined? Lets keep looking:
Ooooh! Two Tens, the Ten of Fire (Wands) and the X Wheel of Fortune. I could not help but at this point in my drawing of the cards think of a cycle, hence the desire to have this read in wheel-fashion. With the XV and the 5 we had twenty, and now twenty again which brings about thoughts of Judgement–how are these two situations judged? How are they both related to Judgement? Hmm….
This fairy in the Ten of Fire is (according to the delightful book) saving dragon’s eggs. It clearly is a thankless chore, and it is an active card! The fairy looks over-burdened, tired, and we are unsure if they can get back up. It seems like dire straights, with volcanoes in the background, burning dragon eggs, and too much in the basket all at once! But I remember in the five of cups, how the water makes the cups and loss greater than it actually is. What can this fairy do? Will they solider on, give up, or something else? Must they bear this burden all on their own? What will you do when your feet are to the fire? At least we have some movement and action after the immovable, lamenting Five of Cups. What is your end goal with this toil? Does your work and suffering define you as a person?
X Wheel of Fortune: this is a very passive and quiet Wheel of Fortune. It is perhaps a good reminder that things change, even with no one to see, while mice sleep. Change is the only sure thing in the world. Is there Karmatic destiny after all the struggles in the first cards? Or is life just a teeter-totter of ups and downs? What change will happen?
I’d also like to take a moment and compare the XV The Devil to it’s opposite card, 10 Wheel of Fortune: The actions in The Devil are short lived and unsustainable in the long term. Change will happen no matter what! That for sure is a safe bet if one is considering that all is predetermined and out of ones hands! Also, if we take the fifteen from the devil plus the five of the Cups minus the ten of the Fire and minus the ten of the wheel we land at 0, or the Fool, the beginning, much like the clock striking midnight or 00:00 in the Wheel of Fortune card. Perhaps this is a marker of starting over?
So now I’m thinking of the path I tend to take when I myself succumb to my own inner Devil: self pity, followed by throwing myself into my work excessively as if this will be my penance for my shortcoming! But there is change, what happens?
What a beautiful Two of Water! I love this take on the Two of Cups; with true authentic relationships there is little that can’t be done. Though these mermaids’ seem to flow from different sources and they are pulled in two different directions, they still can make a real connection and celebrate the beauty in life! They can share the same lovely pond in harmony and not be in competition for its resources. How can I cultivate my sense of space to ensure everyone has enough? (As juxtaposed with the excessive Devil?)? How can I cultivate my relationship with others to ensure security for all?
And with the lovely Six of Coins I feel as if we’ve come full circle to the Devil. Rather than spending our wealth on desires, we are now giving it to others in need, or conversely, receiving wealth when we feel we have nothing. The winter landscape is beautiful but barren–there is nothing to be had, and the man has nothing to offer, but a queenly lady in an ornate house thinks nothing of giving. How do we combat lust and greed? Perhaps to give without expectation–without a direct idea of investment but rather as a means to change (perhaps to create safe space for all to exist like in the Two of Water). There is something here that does catch my attention–they lady gives but it seems to affect her not at all with all her wealth. Again, we go back to the “actual vs perceived loss” and I should ask myself how much have I actually lost? How much does one really need to live a good life? How do I see myself in this card as the giver and what can I give to others? How do I see myself as the beggar? What do I need others to give me for me to feel satisfied and fulfilled?
Seeing as my goal this month is to be more thoughtful in my readings, lets go ahead and go the extra mile and compare the cards on the left and right edges. The Six of Coins we can compared to the Five of Cups, maybe we can think of it as generosity vs sorrow. Well, we know sorrow doesn’t “solve” generosity, but being generous can help heal sorrow (especially self pity). Then we have Two of Water and Ten of Fire–harmony with others vs an arduous solo task. Asking for the help of others (which is seen in both the Two of Water AND the Six of Coins) can relieve the burden of trying to do a difficult task by one’s self. Where in my life do I need to ask others for their assistance? This vulnerability and honesty can cultivate secure relations with others.
Well, I guess this draw came closer to A Christmas Carol than I had intended! Perhaps one way to read the whole spread is the realization of actual wealth vs perceived wealth. When you are in possession of actual wealth it is easier to give rather than take. Rather than describing wealth as something that fulfills desires, instead we can think of it as the ability to better our world. Wealth is found in the cultivation of good, wholesome relationships and connections and the understanding that change is ever constant even if we personally don’t feel its immediate effect.
Wow. What do the cards say you all are working on in December?
Starting at the left, clockwise, Le Tarot Arthurien, Forgotten Legends Tarot, Asphodelon Mythos Tarot, The Oracle of 11, Legendarium Tarot
When the season is turning noticeably darker, I love returning to the stories I was read as a kid, or read as an adult, or stories in general. I love to read, but often I find I am too busy in the long summer days to linger in a book. Late fall really gives me that chance that I crave. With the anxiety of the tumultuous elections in the USA, I more than ever need a place of solace and stories are that for me. It shouldn’t be a surprise then that one of my favorite “themes” in the Tarot world are decks about stories, or that tell stories, and I wanted to dedicate a whole month (at least!) to decks that are all about myths and legends. I may need to return to this theme seeing as I have so many decks that fit this category!
Look at the variety of gold edging!And the “helper” doing her best to keep out of the way!
This month I wanted to choose decks that are not only myths and legends, but of those decks, ones I’ve used the least. Almost all of these are a year or less in my collection so I’m pleased to get the chance (and challenge!) of really digging in deep to get to know them better.
At the top is the The Oracle of 11, made by the brilliant Ambi Sun, who is the creator of my much beloved Oriens Tarot. This oracle deck is representing South East Asian stories (I believe it was originally called The Oracle of SEAS). This enchanting deck really packs a wallop, as you’ll see shortly. The art is of course just stellar, but I will say that the colors of the card faces are quite a bit darker than the backing and box suggest. In any case, this is a really different and fun deck to use!
The Legendarium Tarot gave me two jumpers for this month. This deck so surpassed all expectations I had of it! It’s very clear that D&D had a huge influence over the card images and keywords, and it deviates at times rather drastically from the RWS, but it’s structure and general “Fool’s journey” is delightful and fresh. I could easily see traveling with this deck for months on end and never getting bored of it! This is a total “cool kids” deck. The art is quirky, charming, and a very interesting nod to traditional Marseilles Tarot and playing card art. The creator is the same who made Tarot of the Golden Wheel and currently has another Kickstarter deck, a sister deck to Legendarium, that is just wrapping up it’s funding! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/montenzicollabs/the-clouds-of-destiny-tarot
The Forgotten Legends Tarot was a last moment purchase. I knew of it for a while, and like many many decks I admired it from afar and told myself I already have Yoshi Yoshitani’s Tarot of the Divine. The art between the two decks are very similar, and obviously the theme of legends and myths is exactly the same, but Forgotten Legends is muted in color pallet and overall has a rather darker tone in many of the cards. I was so surprised when I got it in hand how very different it feels compared to the Divine, and I absolutely love it. It is certainly much more Euro-centric in its choices of myths and imagery, but this deck is very complex, and is a perfect, moody winter deck.
I was gifted the beautiful Le Tarot Arthurien for Christmas last winter, and I’ve used it through out the year but have held off including it in a monthly deck collection. I adore this beautiful and emotionally evocative deck and I must say that Ana Tourian really is becoming one of my favorite deck makers. I was hoping that I’d be able to acquire the English version of the book that accompanies this deck, but I don’t think its been published quite yet.
And finally, the Asphodelon Mythos Tarot, a deck that has been long in the making. I bought the majors from the artists personal shop years ago and was so stoked to see that she decided to finish this awesome Greek inspired deck! I’ve had this deck for most of this year but really haven’t used it all that much so I’m really enjoying the discovery time I have with it! I really like that there are certain myths I know quite well, but others that are totally new to me, albeit this means that when I sit down with this deck to do a reading I need to budget a little more time in case I get sucked down a story rabbit-hole!
This month I did my monthly draw with my Tarot friend and I wanted to take the opportunity to share with the small audience I have on here how she really helped me become more engaged with my cards and think of my reading with fresh eyes. Like with any art, it’s easy to get stuck in a formulaic structure that works well for you, but this can limit your growth when you neglect to try new things. This is a great example of how you can choose to make your reading more creative, and become more engaged with your cards–include your friends in your draw!
So, I’ll first give a short version of my first reading with these cards as seen above, then we’ll talk about Val’s hot take!
We open with the month’s theme represented by the Puteri Walinong Sari story–a beautiful princess has so many suitors due to her looks and power, and she isn’t really interested in marrying them. She herself is an accomplished martial artist, so veils herself and says that she’ll marry the suitor that is able to fight and beat her–well, of course she kicks all their butts! Then a humble man from out of no-where talks to her and, you know, takes a real interest in her. He too is a martial art mat-rat and they inevitably decide to spar and he is winning! In a last ditch attempt she removes her veil and stuns him with her beauty and is able to defeat him and *poof!* he disappears! It is said she was whisked away with him to a far away mountain top and is reunited with him, neither ever seen again.
So, from this I get the “true beauty is within” but also “don’t settle for less.” There’s a lesson of needing to fight the good fight to get what you are worth. Expect there to be resistance. Huh.
Then I have the Two of Coins with the keyword “Rope-Walker” and the Ace of Cups with a charming Nereid. Though you go through this time with a knowing grin, you are playing a balancing game. Things are not as easy as they may appear to others. Nevertheless, you must keep your eyes (see that creepy eye on the chalice? ) and heart open for the genuine and true (similar vibes to our oracle card I think).
And then we end with a pretty exhausted 10 of Wands, a jousting 5 de Batons (Wands), and the cute Page of Cups. You have much bounty but to harvest it is a great chore and perhaps too big for one person, but you have no choice but to persevere. There is a challenge, and neither party is ready to take it on, though there is a “winner,” both knights have no tack and are certainly falling off their mounts. And we end with Hebe, who is carrying the ambrosia of the Gods. You are tasked with an important responsibility, but this doesn’t require you to leave your child self behind–see the world through the eyes of a child, let yourself play and try to find joy and meaning in what you do.
Now, my friend took these cards and did something really simple but interesting with them and pointed out some visual cues:
She pointed out in the oracle card, we have two figures, male and female, who are clearly warring with one another, but we know in their story they end up as dearest lovers.
We see the jester juggling in the Two of Coins the sun and moon, two drastically opposing forces.
In the 5 of Wands, we have on the left the chestnut-horse rider the 10 of Wands (also in warm brown tones), and the opposite black-horse rider is paired with the black haired Page of Cups. She explained that if it was her draw, she sees the Chestnut-riding knight the work-a-holic person fighting the childlike play that is the Black-riding knight.
But, we finish with a mermaid, who is, despite all natural order, is a half human and half fish–two opposites that seem impossible to get along, combined to something new and fresh. So, how can you (me) think of taking these two different approaches to responsibility and marry them together into something that is strange, but beautiful and new? How can you integrate these two parts of yourself harmoniously?
Wow! I was so taken by this interpretation! You can see how just thinking of the cards and what they depict in a different way can completely set a different tone with a draw. I feel like both readings are spot on for me this past month, and I was so pleased I had her with to look deeper at imagery and think critically at the whole of the draw!
How about you? Do you read Tarot with friends? What new ideas do they inspire in you?
The work desk chaos as I’m writing the monthly decks of October–there is a cup of sanity tea buried in there!
So, October in my neck of the woods definitely has a vibe to it—not only is my particular neighborhood really invested in Halloween, it also has quite a large population of Wicca and Pagan practitioners, many of whom celebrate Samhain with vigor. One would be hard pressed to not want to get into the spooky feel of things! The weather in October typically starts to go from the balmy early fall to really cold, really quick. This sudden change often coincides with fantastic leaf colors (and don’t get me wrong, we’re getting fantastic colors this year!) and the desire to get cozy. However, as I finally get around to writing this monthly deck draw, it’s a sweltering 80F something in my office and we are maybe thinking of getting cooler in a few days. Maybe.
This is all to say, it’s rather hard for me to want to get into my typical dark and gritty decks that I start to bring out for October and the coming dark months. Both myself and by Tarot BFF decided that we will do something a little different this year, we will stick with the spook, but make it lighthearted (sorta)! For October, we’re choosing decks that are witch-themed.
From left clock wise: Ask The Witch Tarot, The Botan Tarot (second edition), The Nameless One Oracle and Tarot, Under the Oak Tarot, The Solitary Witch Oracle
It seems like the color theme this month are black, blue, and silver! Full disclosure–I actually have a lot of witch themed decks, but I wanted to pick a mixture of different flavors, and decks I haven’t used too recently, with the exception of the Under the Oak Tarot, which I used part way through September. I am not ready to put it on the back shelf just yet—I adore this deck!
I’ve had The Solitary Witch Oracle since it was first released, though I have not used it in my monthly decks at all. This is an oracle that is very gentle and kind, and I am in love with the images, though I do honestly think it’s a bit unbalanced being so nice.
To counteract that sweetness I had to include The Nameless One, a deck that I mention a lot on this blog, which, while not “mean” can be blunt and harsh and is oh-so-witchy (and it’s just one of my favorite decks so, any excuse…).
Ask the Witch Tarot is another deck that is no stranger to the monthly decks, but it is so odd and quirky that it is a great non-traditional tarot for the month that also matches the global warming trend with it’s bright, summery colors!
And finally, I just acquired the Botan Tarot end of last month and not only is it gorgeous, it has some serious magic and brings a non-European witch flavor to the roundup.
Lets review what the cards said this month had in store for me:
Well, how perfect for the witchy month to have a witch gathering! This card is pretty straight forward: you will have interactions with many of your friend group and perhaps others outside of it. You may be called to help others in a way that only you can fulfill, or perhaps you yourself need to ask others for help. There is a theme of community, empowerment through helping others, and social support. There also is a suggestion of festivities (hello Halloween!) and acknowledgment of seasonal cycles with the rabbit and the fox. What “season” do I find myself in now? How does that compare with my friends? How can I best support my friends, and in turn have them support me?
Ah. From the Nameless One I picked both a tarot card and an oracle card. The tarot card is the Ten of Branches (Wands), and if that isn’t a reference to Atlas having to carry the world I don’t know what is. This card speaks to having success but the burdens that come with it. It’s hard to celebrate when you have many responsibilities. The labor of love is a constant uphill battle. Our pretty butterflies remind us carpe diem, it’s good to put the load down every once in a while to look back at what we accomplished. And then from the oracle we have XIX The Energetic Flyer (get it? cause the birds are humming birds?). This is the second-wind card! You are full of energy and enthusiasm to begin either something new or go that last push to finish something! It warns I should be careful to direct that energy to a good outlet.
So far, these three cards together I get the sense that I’m going to have to help bear some social burdens, however I’ll have plenty of chutzpah to do it! What else do we have?
From the Ask the Witch I drew that page of wands. Here’s a curious youthful witch who is wondering how to use the tools at hand to their best advantage. Fresh ideas may spring up out of otherwise dead wood! I may start to see things in a different way, see possibilities that I didn’t before in various things or situations. There’s a bounding rabbit behind them as well, who knows where it’s going.
The Botan Tarot gave me the beautiful Star, quite a different take on the typical RWS Star! You’ve been searching a barren desert for a long time, here’s your big “sign” you’ve been looking for! This is the start of the hopeful journey—there’s no need to be lost anymore, don’t second guess yourself!
And the Under the Oak gave me the 3 of Wands, a wonderfully active and witchy three of wands at that! You’ve got the idea, try it out! It doesn’t matter if you don’t do things perfectly, try. Fail. Go back and try again. This is a card about doing, taking that first action after the first thought and plan. It probably wouldn’t hurt to be a little scientific about how you proceed; what worked, what didn’t. What do you want to try next time?
Interestingly we have two other references to rabbits (or hares, who’s to say?), both in the Page of Wands and the Three of Wands (which has two rabbits) along with the Gathering oracle card. I’m wondering if there is something that needs to be created or reproduced in my friend group?
These three together I see as motivation to take the next steps! I’m confident in my direction now I need to do the thing! The stars have aligned and all I have left is to take the first step and action. Enter with a curious and open mind.
All together, I’d say that this month I’m going to be very socially active; my calendar will be filled (seeing as I drew this twenty days ago I can attest that this was very true indeed)! It’s also a month where I’m going to try different things with my friends, share new ideas and just “go for it!”
What about you? What have the cards told you this October?
My bestie and fellow Tarot aficionado Val and I chose complimentary decks for the first Spooky season month and we swapped our decks with each other for the latter half of this September! But, these are decks the other has never used! So this later part of September is totally dedicated to learning fun new decks we already know are great readers. We each chose a dark themed deck, a light themed deck, an otherworldly deck, a wild fae deck, and a super cute deck! Here are the decks my friend chose and I am now using:
Val chose The Unfolding Path Tarot (indie Kickstarter edition!) for her light tarot, an excellent choice seeing as it is so inclusive and kind! There is now a mass market printing of this deck available. For her wild fae she chose the Tarot at the End of the Rainbow, an absolute hilarious and quirky deck of leprechauns, fairies, mermaids and all sorts of mischievous woodland fae and critters! I love this deck and I’m happy I get a chance to use it. Her cute deck had to be The Kawaii Tarot, a deck I’ve watch in action being equal parts adorable and hard core merciless reader! So, I approach the cutsie backs with caution. The otherworldly deck she swapped with me is her second edition Dream Visions deck, a absolutely stunning deck I’ve used a handful of times and watched be used many many more. And for her dark deck, it is none other that the multi artist Kickstarter deck, the Corrupted Tarot. This deck for sure is a hard hitter and rather devilish to boot!
Clockwise: Corrupted Tarot, Dream Visions Tarot, The Unfolding Path Tarot, Tarot at the End of the Rainbow, center Kawaii Tarot
So, I am mirroring the draw I did with my chosen decks for the beginning of this month with Val’s decks now for the later half! The too cute Kawaii Tarot gave me the Four of Swords. Our mama sloth has her work cut out for her! She needed a break, to rest and enjoy the flowers and take a step back from the little sloths’ shenanigans! Yes, indeed I had a quantifiable very-much going on this early September that suddenly came to a halt. Many things I’ve been toiling at have reached their conclusion and now I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labors (or really, take a effing nap!).
Uh, I think the Tarot gods are trying to tell me something! Both the Tarot at the End of the Rainbow and The Unfolding Path produced III The Empress. We see the wheat is ready to harvest with both these beautiful Empresses; one is certainly the lady boss and the other is the creative mother. One is vulnerable and one is protected, they are very different Empresses! Now is a good time to change gears and think about what is ready for my hands to make into something real and bring into the world. With the change of seasons comes a change of pace and a change of mindset. Build off of what you’ve already sown into the world.
From the Corrupted Tarot I pulled the very creepy High Priestess. Being the deck is about the negative meanings of cards, this one speaks to others trying to influence you through gossip, claiming to be gurus and truth know-ers when in reality they are just shutting down your intuition. Maybe what feels like insecurity is just others tamping down your inner voice. Don’t stifle your inner-voice and gut feelings–they are there for a reason!
And Dream Visions gave me the beautiful Death! For me this is really a “rebirth” card. The snake reminds me of Aesculapius’s healing staff (especially with the lovely rose), and the skull is half buried–what has ended has ended, and now its time to move on from the rest and find healing.
This is really a lovely reading! The later half of this month I’ll find some peace and a well of creative source! I’ll be challenged with others trying to sway my vision, but I will once and for all put those negative untruths to rest!
Have you ever swapped a tarot deck with a friend? What did you learn?
It is September! While the hot weather screams summer, for me, this is the first month of Spooky Season! We’re going to do something a little different this month; my bestie and I, who are both avid tarot readers and collectors, will take an assortment of five decks that are drastically contrasting one another, use them for half the month, then switch these decks with each other–themes stay the same, decks change! And we’re only using decks the other doesn’t have. Lets jump on in!
The contrasting themes of the decks we were looking for are: a dark deck with strong negative meanings, a light deck with strong positive meanings, otherworldly, wild fae, and something super cute! For my dark deck I’ve been using The Lubanko Tarot, a rather sought-after visceral deck that gives me the spookies. My light deck had to of course be The Light Seer’s Tarot. Otherworldly will be my newly arrived Starborn Arcana Tarot (a delightful deck, cannot recommend this one enough). The strange and wonderful Under the Oak Tarot fills the requirement for wild fae. This is a deck I may consider doing a full month long deep dive on. And, my retro and folks-y Tarot Nova will be my cute deck! What do the cards say I have in store this month???
Upper left to right clockwise: The Lubanko Tarot, Starborn Arcana Tarot, The Light Seer’s Tarot, Under the Oak Tarot, center Tarot Nova
The Tarot Nova took many years for me to make heads or tales of this deck. I still wonder how RWS it is, but I try instead to just riff off the images and what they inspire in me. This three of wands has the three represented by the two temples of a pair of glasses and what looks like an old fashion fountain pen OR a whittling knife (but both are actually growing wands, very clever). The glasses remind me of the Harry Potter books that I enjoyed as a kid! We also look like we have either three matches or perhaps three pieces of pencils.
So full disclosure; I’ve been using these decks extensively since the start of September so I had plenty of use under my belt by the time I’m getting around to writing this. HOWEVER the three of wands I’ve pulled over and over and OVER again, so there’s a clear theme here. This three of wands: I’m looking carefully at what to do next, but I also have all the tools I need to make it happen! Use what you got.
From the quirky and charming Under the Oak is the strange 5 of Wands. Are the animals competing to impress the odd god rising from the fire or are they making a sacrifice or are they summoning or…? Hmm!
Light Seer’s gives me the beautiful 2 of Cups. Ah! A magical connection. I see–between the two, we have healthy competition! Meeting new people in a sport or other competitive hobby. Alright. Perhaps being overwhelmed but having a great support network. Learning something with another that is a bit of a struggle (like exchanging tarot decks perhaps???).
The Lubanko gives us the King of Pentacles. For this deck, this card is quite soft and bright and not seeming to seek a reaction. I feel a reiteration of the idea that you have vast and great resources. You are a master of balancing things to get the best outcome. You have stability and prosperity and no matter where you look the sun is shining on you!
The King of Pentacles is paired with The Starborn’s Magician! This Magician gives strong two of pentacle vibes, doesn’t it? You got the whole world in your hand, and you know exactly where you want to be. You get to make it happen, or be the total destroyer–your choice!
This monthly draw has some serious movement and energy! I seem to be taking the next steps on an adventure. While there is struggle, I’m amply prepared to meet it! I’ll make friends and have the potential to become the best version of myself if I play my cards right and use my sensibility!
Seems like an exciting month ahead! Can’t wait to do our deck swap!
The Tarot Tarts 