Happy Lunar New Year my friends! We are entering the year of the Fire Horse, so needless to say this ought to be exciting (haha)! Horses are an integral part of human’s civilization and exist in many many cultures with various symbolism attached. Today most of us are quite removed from our equine partners, but there remains a romanticism linked with horses. But, I wanted to make a draw that gives us a more, lets say, realistic view of riding off into the sunset. I always enjoy making these prompts, so I figured I’d share what my Tarot bestie and I came up with this year:
Today I’m using, IMO, the sweetest horse Tarot deck out there, The Riderless Tarot by Nakisha. If you are a horse girl too and love this deck, you can find it here in her etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/RabbitTarot?ref=nla_listing_details.
Here are our prompts–I’m starting 1 at the 1 o’clock position:
1 Where do I find the strength to stand on my feet?
2 What is one of my roles in my herd?
3 Who is helpful in my herd?
4 What skill do I have to offer to strengthen my herd?
5 What unexpected delight makes fairy-knots in my mane? (Fairy-knots are when parts of the mane is twisted almost braid-like from playing and horsing-around.)
6 What pile of sh*t do I need to joyfully roll in? (Or: what do I need to indulge in?)
7 What’s my plastic bag? (What’s my irrational fear?)
8 What fire makes me leap into action?
9 Where can I find a moment of wild freedom?
10 What is something I need to work on, but don’t want to?
11 What horse-fly bite (i.e. annoyance) do I need to ignore?
12 Which sunset do I need to gallop off into?
Okay! 1-3:
1 Where do I find the strength to stand on my feet?
Eight of Wands, I find my strength when taking action and in movement! Doing something rather than sitting around and worrying about it is very good for the soul and relieves anxiety. That is quite a horse answer, tbh.
2 What is one of my roles in my herd?
Six of Pentacles, I am the person who allocates resources, helps those in need, helping send things down the proverbial line, bringing others the resources they need, mediating.
3 Who is helpful in my heard?
King of Pentacles, those who are well established and are willing to share resources and knowledge, and have a kindly, caring nature.
4 What skill do I have to offer to strengthen my herd?
Judgement. I can speak the truth loudly and clearly! I can hold my peers and myself accountable. I can demand change. I can use my knowledge of the past to help shape the future. I can be the change I want to see in the world.
5 What unexpected delight makes fairy-knots in my mane? (Fairy-knots are when parts of the mane is twisted almost braid-like from playing and horsing-around.)
The Empress: My well-spring of creativity brings me delight as does my ability to nurture and care for others. This nurturing is reciprocal too!
6 What pile of sh*t do I need to joyfully roll in? (Or: what do I need to indulge in?)
Ace of Swords: New ideas! And the freedoms I have. New ideas are needed to shape the world and should be indulged in, even if they don’t end up useful, its always good to be brainstorming and constantly thinking of how to make the world a better place.
7 What’s my plastic bag? (What’s my irrational fear?)
Nine of Wands. My irrational fear is that I’ll forever be tired of never ending work and battle, hyper-vigilance.
8 What fire makes me leap into action?
Justice, seeing injustices!
9 Where can I find a moment of wild freedom?
Five of Cups, even in sadness I can see beauty and the path that I look forward to, imagining a future past the hard times.
10 What is something I need to work on, but don’t want to?
Three of Cups. Establishing meaningful relationships, keeping friendships alive and active, finding time to socialize for fun and enjoyment. I’d be a homebody if I didn’t make myself get out.
11 What horse-fly bite (i.e. annoyance) do I need to ignore?
Six of Wands—I need to keep things in perspective and realize that little wins and losses must be measured all towards my end goals. Don’t get over excited due to one small victory or failure, there’s a lot more going on.
12 Which sunset do I need to gallop off into?
Strength, I need to ride into strength! I must own the quiet strength I have and form partnerships with unlikely friends who can enrich my life!
Uh oh, the mini manager came to check on me.
Lets see, three wands, two pentacles, a sword, two cups, and four majors. Seems like a very complex year ahead for me! What about you? What are you seeing ahead in this fiery equine year?
And, I’ll end with some real horse wisdom: Carpe Diem, always roll in the poo when you have the opportunity to!
Oh my gosh. I’ve done it again. A much too many decks. My desk almost looks as messy as my neighbor’s construction!
Nudity in the cards ahead! You’ve been warned.
This is an old tag I realize I actually wrote when it was first very popular on TarotTube (um, TWO springs ago!) but I never ended up publishing it because I didn’t have the time to take pictures. C’est la vie. Well, better late than never! For funsies, I’ve chosen NEWER decks in my collection rather than the same twenty old guard decks I use over and over in tags (though a few did eek through, sorry). This is too excellent and fun of a tag to let fall by the wayside!
1: What is the deck they’ll have to pry out of your cold dead hands?
The Victorian Romantic Tarot Special Large Edition. Okay, though this deck can sell for very good money I never will let go of it! I have no reason to hold onto it, I have the smaller edition I use regularly. But, I just adore getting lost in the big images. This deck is just so ridiculously beautiful I am so lucky I was able to snag a special edition of it, even if I have no real “reason” to have it.
2: What’s your guilty pleasure deck?
Along a similar vein, Forgotten Legends Tarot was a deck I at first convinced myself I didn’t need seeing as I already have way-too-many myth and legends themed tarot decks. Alas, I ended up purchasing a copy before it goes OOP (I don’t think we’re quite there yet, but soon) and I love it just as much as I do all the others. It’s a cool deck!
3: What’s the deck you wish existed?
A really great, breath of fresh air, LOTRs decks with completely illustrated minors and NO PIPS!
4: What deck would you give to a new reader?
The Moravia Tarot was a left-field purchase for me. I have always wanted to like the Ethereal Visions deck because I actually am enamored with the idea of simplistic decks, but I have always found EV…really lack-luster. The Moravia is a very muted, pastel, feminine, fairy-holo-pink gilded, anime style Art Noveau RWS with the most beautiful angels, that isn’t quite a clone but is simple, modern, beautiful, with just a touch of esoterica to make it feel like a real bona fide Tarot deck. It’s easy to read and easy on the eyes without being too “soft” in content (I mean, check out that Eight of Swords!).
5: What deck do you want to get along with but it just never clicked?
The Lover’s Path Tarot. I got this in conjuncture with a Kickstarter Tarot book set and I’ll admit, I am rather underwhelmed by both. But, the deck is everything I like in a Tarot: specific theme, water color art, a little old-timey feeling, myths and stories, interesting shape and…I cannot tell you why, I don’t like this deck! I’m going to keep it until February and see if I can use it in a romantic setting and if it will grow on me, but this may be a deck that gets re-homed, along with the books.
6: What deck do you only keep for the art?
True Black Holo (5th) Edition. Okay! I am SO attached to my OG True Black deck that I literally never reach for this deck. But it’s beautiful. And on occasion when I have a party to impress, I’ll take it out.
7: What deck did you buy because everyone else did?
The Witches Garden Tarot. My friend had this deck a while and I was fascinated by it! I wanted to try it too! It’s a solid deck for sure, but it isn’t a deck I reach for consistently. But, it does something special that no other deck I have seems to do—witches AND gardens! I think I particularly like that it allows me to pair my various plant related oracle decks easily with it.
8: What deck is over your head or just baffles you?
Tea Oracle Steeping in Magic. I backed this on Kickstarter before I decided I was completely against AI decks. I like the CONCEPT of this deck, but I want this to be actual human made creation. I wish there was more “meaning” baked into the art rather than having to rely on the guide book, which, at times is really baffling.
9: What deck surprised you?
The Riderless Tarot. This little horsey RWS clone is so sweet and kind! It’s a deck I reach for when the world is really feeling down and I need a gentle hand. It really speaks to my inner horse girl. Its a very playful deck and feels quite honest, even if it’s really very nice.
10: What deck doesn’t really work for you but you keep it because it’s a collectible?
Well, my truly collectible decks I do actually use—I cannot justify the cost otherwise! But a technically (but not-really) collectible deck that I almost never use but love to look at is the “museum quality” Visconti de Modrone Tarot. I imagine this is true for a lot of people who own this deck!
11: What deck is your favorite gilded deck?
I am IN LOVE with the color scheme of the new Mystic, Augur & Sage Oracle. I have always wanted a copper-edged deck, but the flaky Seed and Sickle Oracle really let me down. The combination of the other jewel tone colors in MA&S just makes the copper POP! This is a totally rad deck and I cannot wait to showcase it in a monthly favorites!
12: Which deck do you love – but hate the card stock?
Tarot Landscapes. This deck is so intriguing to me, and is one of those decks I spent hours with when I got it in hand. In other words, I spent a lot of time fondling it. But, the card stock, while thick, is very cardboard feeling, inflexible, and awkward in hand. I really want this on a linen, ultra flex core like the Moravia.
13: What deck gives you the willies?
The Nemeth Tarot. This deck repeatedly gives complex, specific, spookily accurate readings (most honestly I didn’t even realize how dead on it was until the thing happened) for both myself and my friend when we use it. It also, well, just has a certain hauntingly beautiful vibe. Don’t get me wrong, I adore this odd little deck, but it is not a deck I pick up and use lightly.
14: What’s your favorite deck for shadow work?
I’m not sure if the Tabula Mundi Tarot is my favorite shadow work deck, but it is one that I’ve been using consistently since exploring Thoth back in June. This deck is a hard hitter and the cards constantly reference each other back and forth so it is really easy to get deep into the cards quickly and go places you didn’t know needed exploring.
15: What deck do you love in theory but not in practice?
The Zerner Farber Tarot aka The Enchanted Tarot. I freaking LOVE the art in this deck. I have two different editions, I love it so much. But, I struggle to fluidly read with this deck. I often feel quite whelmed by all the textiles and prints, and as a result I tend to shy away from it when I’m searching for “the right” deck. I think I need to revisit this deck soon seeing as I’ve grown in my reading style and abilities since I last took it out in a monthly deck selection (and barely used it!).
16: What deck would you never use to read for someone else?
The Last Unicorn Tarot. I’m rather precious about this deck which has become a deck of inner child work for me. That said, I don’t really believe in “not” using a deck. So for the right person and situation I’d use it. This isn’t exactly a deck I’d bring with me to a meeting with friends though.
17: What deck would you never use for yourself?
The OG RWS, its such a mean deck! I wouldn’t use it for others either unless someone specifically asked for it.
18: What deck could you NOT bring yourself to buy?
The non-lenticular versions
I chose ultimately not to back the Exile Tarot and Monsoon Tarot Lenticular Editions that were recently on Kickstarter—I have all three of these decks in their regular form and while I ADORE the imagery, I really didn’t much care for the lenticular form of either. I like being able to have them all side-by-side!
19: What’s your favorite pip deck?
Swordswomen Tarot Cards. I’m not a fan of pip decks, but I love me some rad lady sword-fighters! Also, the backs are just gorgeous.
20: What deck slaps you with the truth?
5¢ Tarot. She’s a cold-hearted b*tch wrapped up in a cute facade. I love this deck.
21: What’s the deck that got away?
The Anna K Tarot. Many times I passed on this deck (because I didn’t it was “pretty” enough, geez I was a loser) and then it finally went out of print. But Lady-Luck recently smiled on me and it is now CAPTURED and in my collection and much beloved!
Phew! That’s a lot of decks! Have you done this tag? Did you do it last year? How have your tastes changed in Tarot since then?
Warning: artisticnudity and some mildly gory decks ahead
This introspective tag I found is by the tarottuber Exploring Tarot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii_ClehwHwI) and it asks us to share the decks that have either changed our mind about Tarot as a whole, or decks that we have changed our mind about. I, in general, don’t purchase decks I don’t care for, so I don’t have a lot of decks that I’ve done a 180 about, but since I’m rather new on my tarot journey (I only seriously started in 2015) I have a lot of decks that have shaped my experience and understanding of the Tarot systems.
I have to admit, most of these decks have been seen on this blog before—I’m sorry, a good deck is a good deck!
1. The Shadowscapes Tarot: My Foundational Deck
Czech edition
So of course I cannot do this tag without paying homage to the deck that completely changed my mind about Tarot—I had been introduced to Tarot when I was a teen, I kinda knew a little about the RWS, and knew some of the traditional RWS cards, but at that point Tarot was more of a strange card trick/game/hobby people had, rather than a tool of self reflection. But, my friend’s favorite deck, The Shadowscapes Tarot, inspired me to start paying attention to the nuances in the cards. Being my first deck I diligently used and learned the foundations of modern Tarot, I tend to constantly relate all other deck experiences back to this one. Most importantly, Shadowscapes showed me how to relate the images on the cards to my own personal self and current experiences. Of course, in each card there’s a LOT going on, which is often a criticism of the deck (and the subsequent small size of the cards), but it was great for someone just learning the tarot.
2. The Deviant Moon: Look Closer at Discomfort
This was the first deck I was brave enough to buy even though it gave me very mixed feelings. But, curiosity won out. This deck gave me an incredible and important “ah-ha” moment: images that invoke feelings (especially negative feelings) deserve our attention and study. Those feelings can actually tell us a lot about ourselves and can be a gateway to process and understand deep and profound self-truths. This in turn, shaped how I use Tarot.
3. The Spacious Tarot: Beauty in Simplicity
For a while, I struggled to use decks that were not packed to the GILLS with imagery and symbolism. To this day I tend to favor “busy” decks. But, I finally was able to understand the appeal of a simplistic and arguably minimalist deck once The Spacious Tarot came into my life. I find using this deck very effortless. That isn’t to say it isn’t a deck without depth (not at all, this is a very “deep” reader when one wishes to go there), but rather the simplicity of the imagery speaks volumes.
4. The Brady Tarot: An Animal Deck that Felt Real
It is no secret I am an animal lover, but often I struggled with animal decks because many feel overly-gentle and “fluffy” and very unlike the complex and sometimes vicious behavior animals tend to have which is needed for their survival. I also struggle when human’s own mythos and meaning of an animal can get overly caught-up in the meaning the tarot card has for an animal. But the Brady Tarot really and truly flipped this narrative on its head. This incredible deck does not pull punches in the least and it was (and arguably still is) one of my most brutal readers. It added a level of discomfort I had not encountered in a deck and perhaps highlights the rather frivolous nature of life in a very real way. This deck demands sitting with your shock and taught me not to be so squeamish with the brutalities nature has in store.
5. The Broken Mirror Tarot: Seeing Things from Other’s Point of View
Fourth edition
Up until I purchased the Broken Mirror Tarot, I tried my best to ignore cardstock and hand-feel entirely, and focus my attentions only on the imagery of the cards. But this deck did two important things that shaped how I view and treat tarot: firstly, it taught me that how a deck feels in hand is, despite my most noble ideals, actually very important.
Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, this deck was the second that I had which was not created by a more “western” artist (of course, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, creator of Shadowscapes uses themes and inspiration from all over the world) and I could sense even though the art “felt” European in nature, the themes and general feel of the deck was very, very different than what I had experienced before. This was fascinating and really eye opening that the Tarot system can be used across culture with similar but also different imagery. There is a lot to be learned from seeing things from a different perspective.
6. The True Black Tarot: The Body Feels the Truth
The True Black was a gift from my husband, but this deck became an important turning point in my Tarot education. The imagery in this incredible deck is very evocative of the senses, not just the visual! Not only did the otherworldly perfection of the bodies that appear in this deck help me get over “oh no, naked people in the cards!” embarrassment, the imagery in this deck really demands the viewer feel the cards in a way that is outside of the norm. Look at how the wind blows through the triumphant lion’s mane and the water pelts the king of cups. What about the little, champagne like bubbles rising around the baby squid in the six of cups? What about the eerie stillness of Temperance with her long locks of hair ribbon-ing around her? These are all wonderful imaginary feelings that the cards offer to the reader.
7. The Sola Busca Tarot and the Game of Saturn Book: Tarot History is Complicated
I am a lover of history, so of course as I started learning Tarot, the history of Tarot fascinated me! Many sources told me early on that there were no illustrated pips until the RWS, which is simply not true on many accounts. There also is repeatedly mentioned that Tarot was used in the long past as a means of divination (which I think there is far too much evidence to say otherwise) but then there’s people who claim to have this old knowledge, and I’ll be frank, I think most is at best guess work. The Sola Busca is considered the oldest example of a fully illustrated deck, and there are several reproductions out there if any collector wishes to have their own copy. It’s clear that the deck had much deeper meaning in the card images than what the typical card game of the time detonates, but despite the delightful and researched theories that Peter Adams makes in his very large book The Game of Saturn, it is clear that the esoterica of the past may very well remain largely in the past.
8. The Trionfi Della Luna: There is No Reason not to Laugh at Your Cards
Where as The Deviant Moon really made me focus on getting *serious* about my tarot, the sister Trionfi reminds me that sometimes, you just gotta laugh! This deck (especially the fantastical illustrated pips version) isn’t afraid to make fart jokes, snicker in the open, and in general make totally inappropriate fun of the situation. While this would never be a deck I use to read for others (other than a tarot lover perhaps) this is the deck that taught me to lighten the hell up a little!
For the longest time I had difficulty with “Art Decks” or Tarot decks that are made from preexisting art. Well, to be honest, I still kinda do have difficulty with them! But Baba’s Fantastic Menagerie really showed me how you can take preexisting art and make is fit into Tarot SO. GOOD! J. J. Grandville may have been a comic artist from nearly 200 years ago, but his art still hits that funny satire mark. But there was an important lesson I learned from using this deck that broadened my Tarot horizons–the themes of human existence depicted in Tarot are so universal we can see tarot “meanings” in things that aren’t even meant to be card decks. And that, if you ask me, is pretty cool.
10. Children of Litha Tarot: A Deck that’s Changed My Mind. Twice
The Children of Litha Tarot is a deck I held off buying for years and years because I was truly unsure of the art. After my friend loaned it to me for a few very good, complex readings, and waffling a bit more, I broke down and bought it.
I actually hated it, and didn’t use it for a good year.
Buuuut, after sitting down and purposefully using it and getting to learn the deck, I’ve finally come around. This is a very cool deck, even if it isn’t something I was immediately in love with. So, here’s the deck that I actually changed my mind about. Several times.
11. The Nameless One Tarot and Grimoire: Modern Esotericism Exists
There was a post on Tarot Reddit once that caught my eye. The post was something along the lines of “What Tarot decks are very esoteric?” So I offered what I thought were some particularly esoteric decks (I think I mentioned The Mary El), but the poster scoffed and made it clear that in their mind, only particularly old decks could be considered “esoteric”!
This interaction stuck in my head, and I for a while wondered if all our card esoterica came from the RWS or the Thoth, 1900’s esoteric visions.
But upon getting a copy of The Nameless One and its absolutely MASSIVE companion tomb, it became abundantly clear that esoterica exists in the modern world, having developed its own unique meanings and flavor. After all, historic Tarot, which was rooted very much in Renaissance Catholicism esoterica and imagery, has now been claimed into the modern practice of witchcraft, Wicca, and various pagan practices. We have new esotericism that is constantly evolving around our cultures.
12. The Heartscapes Tarot: I Personally Don’t Like AI Decks
I debated even posting this one seeing as the subject is so very contentious and for good reason. But, I think it’s worth talking about. This is my second AI deck (the first was The Golden Journey, a very early AI deck on Kickstarter) and its the first deck that fooled me into thinking it was human made, not AI. It wasn’t until I got it in hand and had my friend look it over that I had to admit I was duped.
Despite the glaring things wrong in the images that give this away as AI, it is a beautiful deck. But, after using it several times, my mind was made up that giving money to a product that reaps the benefit of other, real people’s hard work and does not give them due credit is, to my mind, wrong.
13. The Tabula Mundi Tarot: The Thoth System is Actually Pretty Rad
I won’t belabor this one too much seeing as I did a whole month of working with Thoth, BUT! After looking at many Thoth decks, and failing to be able to read with the gorgeous Mary-El for many years, I finally broke down and got the much more accessible (and frankly fun and trippy) Tabula Mundi deck and accompanying book. I went from feeling like I’d never learn the Thoth to “hey, I can’t wait to pick this up again!” I still have a long way to go before I feel comfortable with this system, but at least it feels attainable!
14. Anna K. Tarot: Beauty Is As Beauty Does
I am a little embarrassed about this one. I suspect that I’m not alone in this boat either. I knew of the Anna K Tarot since I started my Tarot journey in 2015–it has had several waves of popularity, and it was a common deck sold in stores (though recently it is OOP both its mass market and indie editions). But every time I looked at it I cringed at the “cabbage patch” faces of the people in the cards.
Yep, that’s right. I passed on this deck because I thought it was ugly.
Many times I watched others use this deck or watched a flip through, but I couldn’t get over the faces in these cards. Finally, just last year I held a deck in person and I realized I’d been prejudice of this art work–the faces were not classically perfect or beautiful, but they captured perfect emotion and feelings and, well, real people perfectly! This deck very quickly became one of my favorite decks to use for any reading.
15. The Last Unicorn Tarot: Tarot and the Inner Child
I am not a person who is terribly attracted to “cutesy” or “childish” decks. In fact, there are many decks that are too childish/overly cute for my personal tastes. I also only have a handful of decks that really bring my Inner Child to the surface (namely, Smoke Ash & Embers and the Tarot of the Abyss). I find that these decks tend to be too much emotionally charged to use in frequent readings for myself (Tarot of the Abyss) or tend to be a little too soft in its readings to have a completely neutral feeling deck (SA&E).
I came across the Last Unicorn Tarot several years ago (not that long after it’s successful kickstarter) and it was sold out and I talked myself into thinking that my childhood obsession with The Last Unicorn movie and book(s) ought to stay in my childhood past, with all the rest of the trauma (don’t do this folks, its bad for your health). But, this deck seemed to keep popping up in my life, I kept coming back to look at it, and even though I promise not to be suckered into tarot decks based off franchises (though will someone PLEASE make a kick ass fully illustrated LOTR decks?), I decided to try this deck.
I was shocked to find in hand this deck truly made me feel like a kid again. I had no idea how many complex feelings I had wrapped up in this story. Obviously, not everyone is like me and grew up loving and fearing this film, but I realized that it’s okay to get a tarot deck just because you have feelings about it–you don’t need to justify those feelings. AND! I also learned its totally okay to work on the Inner Child in your tarot practice!
Clockwise from top left to right: Le Tarot Arthurien, Mirra Visions, Anna K Tarot (indie 2nd edition), Tabula Mundi Tarot and accompanying book, Oracle of the Radiant Sun, Eldritch Overload: Fantasy Cyberpunk Tarot. Center, The Last Unicorn Tarot (wooden box), City Labyrinth Tarot, The Flow Tarot. Not shown, The Bohemian Gothic Tarotlarge print limited edition from Baba Studio (it was hiding behind me on the shelf, being spooky).
Here was another fun tag by Fairylight tarot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5gzHhrvji8)! Apparently, this was started last year, so I’m really late to the game, but, still great fun! Though I feel I have many decks that would fit several of these categories I tried to keep to newer decks I have received in the last year or two to keep things fresh.
Best Screenplay: a deck with a great guidebook that stands out in a sea of boring Little White Books
Eldritch Overload: Fantasy Cyberpunk Tarot
I was sorely tempted to put The Nameless One in this category because, whoa man, is that big book BIG! BUT! I adore the guide book that comes with the Eldritch Overload—it’s a story in and of itself. While the deck is loosely RWS, it really does its own thing and owns it 100%. The book is icing on top! It is so much more than a tarot guide, it’s a book of lore all on its own. There is so much extra stuff other than just what is in the tarot card. And, it’s a beautiful book! It is bright, playful, colorful and completely blinged out.
Best Special FX: a deck that is visually out of this world
Mirra Visions
I mean, words on a blog cannot do this deck justice. These lenticular, image-shifting cards are more vibrant and more amazing than either of the original decks. They are soft and flexible in hand. They look metallic! They look unreal. The images mesh together in an incredible way. They are truly magical, and I do not know if any other deck will ever compare. It a “you have to see it to believe it” sort of thing.
Best Costume Design: a deck that shows outstanding attention to details.
Bohemian Gothic Tarot Limited Edition
There are too many decks I feel I own that can fill this category, so I took it in a very literal sense! The kitchy costumes seen in the characters in this deck are *chefs kiss* and half the fun of this deck IMO! Like everything Baba Barock Studio’s produces the attention to every little detail is astonishing, and bordering on madness.
When I do readings with this deck I typically reach for the standard version but on the large version you really can see all the minutia that goes into each image.
Best Photography: a deck that has achieved an outstanding result in capturing the images
The Flow Tarot
Another category I took at face value, this is my only deck comprising of photos! I’m not a fan of photo decks, but I just fell in LOVE with this emotional wishy-washy (pun intended) water themed deck. I am saving it for a summer special use! I especially appreciate the RWS system in a very specific way that relates to water themes and the key words that were chosen for each card (key words are another thing that I tend to really struggle with). I will admit the change of minor suit names did throw me for a loop, but once you look at the picture and key word it’s obvious what card you’re looking at. I can tell that this will become a very special deck in my collection with very specific use case scenarios.
Best Actor (non-gender specific) in a Leading Role: a Tarot deck that is most prominent in expressing human nature
Anna K. Tarot
I have a long history with the Anna K. I considered purchasing the indie version for a long time, but was always on the fence; the Empress is a bit of a bee in my bonnet, but in a good way—it really makes me think hard, and sometimes I don’t wanna think too hard with my decks! By the time I decided I wanted this deck, the indie version was sold out and I didn’t care for the mass market, so I waited around for an affordable used version. And before I knew it, the mass market was gone too! But then my affordable secondary sale came around and I am only now getting the pleasure of using this deck.
I picked it for this category because there is something really profoundly human about the people in the art of the cards—I really resonate with the readings I get and I can tell that this will be a top five read-for-others deck its that good!
Best Actor (non-gender specific) in a Supporting Role: an Oracle deck that is most prominent in expressing human nature
Oracle of The Radiant Sun
This is a deck I have been using for several years, but without fail I find that the cards I draw always bring an intriguing view into a tarot spread. It’s not a deck I can use on its own, nor do I find it plays particularly well with other oracles, BUT it really brings up unusual and sometimes uncomfortable subject matter with tarot that allows deeper and more focused exploration. Astrology isn’t really something that I practice or use in my cartomancy, but I still find the images and words incredibly relevant when working with Tarot.
Best Documentary: a deck that excels in portraying the everyday life
City Labyrinth Tarot
Another literal choice. I just received this deck and I cannot wait to use it! I had to play with it immediately. Living in a city myself (albeit a much smaller one that New York City), I feel like many of these images resonate with being in close contact with strangers every day. The characters in each card seem to have very personal and profound stories, almost like they were modeled after a real person. I love that about this deck.
Best Director: a creator that has shown outstanding results in the coordination of the entire production, from card stock to artstyle to guidebook
Tabula Mundi Tarot
I so SO want to learn basic Toth Tarot decks, but the OG Toth deck doesn’t visually appeal to me (also, I struggle with pip decks), and I find the Mary El, while very beautiful and magical, is a challenge for me.
I’ve been eyeing up the Tabula Mundi for several years and finally bit the bullet. I feel like I intuitively understand the quirky imagery, but the book (that you can buy separately) is both a companion for the deck, but also a general Toth guide. This deck is so thoroughly researched, so thoughtfully created and the creator seems so humble and yet invested in this system I believe it will be just the thing I need to take the plunge into this tarot system!
Best Movie in a Foreign Language: a deck that excels in all the categories presented and that is awarded for lifetime achievement
Le Arthurian Tarot
Literal choice #4. I know I already talked about this one in the past few months, but I’m obsessed with this French deck. It’s SO beautiful and mystical! I’d expect nothing less from Tourian. The book is written in French, thank goodness for google translate and for the best French friend! There are whispers this will be published in English as well–I may need to get the English book but I love the look of the French titles.
Best Movie (English Language): a deck that excels in all the categories presented and that is awarded for lifetime achievement (English Language)
The Last Unicorn Tarot
The Last Unicorn was perhaps my favorite childhood movie and really shaped how I think of myself. I’m quite sure I’m not alone in this. I didn’t read the book until I was well into my 20’s (I didn’t know there was a book and when I learned I literally left my work to get a used copy), and I love that too. It is a story that ages with you, and now in my 30’s I’ve embraced my nerdy love for this story.
The deck has been on and off out of print and I believe this is the only tarot deck that is directly based off a movie that I own. Not only is this a luxury deck with all the bells and whistles, it also does excellent justice to the Tarot system with direct references to the movie. Also, it was on the leading edge of getting the author his rights back in the court system!
What decks do you own that would fit these categories?
By the way, HAPPY SPRING!Blessed Ostara for the pagan children out there.
FairyLightsTarot (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsoXmlsSSPw) I believe, came out with this brilliant tag, in part due to fans’ suggestions. It is really easy to talk about the decks one loves and adores the most, but it’s a whole ‘nother ball game to reveal that there are decks you spent good money on and don’t use! Some of these I simply just don’t know how to use, some I haven’t dedicated the time to learn the internal system, and some I just plain-old don’t like!
The decks of shame.
The Waite-Smith Centennial Tarot
Well, I won’t belabor this one seeing as I recently posted a full review of this deck. This is a deck that tenuously stays in my collection as a reference sheet. My copy of this deck is mean, and it has earned at this point a permanent time-out.
The Mary-El Tarot
I am so intimidated by this deck! I LOVE the weird and bright artwork, but I picked it up having done ZERO Toth studies. This is one of those things where it’s all on me—I haven’t put in the time. I think once I do (Esoteric June, maybe?) I’ll reach for it! Those of you who are proficient in more than one tarot system, how did you do it? Did you just nose to the grindstone? Was learning the second system easier, or was it harder because your prior knowledge was getting in the way?
Visconti di Modrone Tarot
I am a history lover. Prior to this deck I purchased and became obsessed with The Sola Busca Tarot (and my dearest partner bought me The Game of Saturn that I spent months pouring over). I figured that if I could tackle the Sola Busca, this old pip deck should be no problem.
Me. I. I’m the problem, it’s me. I don’t know how to read pips all that well seeing as I’ve not spent any time with Marseille-esque decks. Maybe that’s an August or later theme??? There’s no way I can do a Toth month back-to-back with a Marseille-esque month, my head would explode!
I want to be able to use historic decks—it’s a really romantic image I have in my head that I haven’t been able to manifest into a reality yet.
The Mythical Creatures by Baba Studio
Another pip deck. While I occasionally use this deck, being it’s so pretty and ornate and the large companion book is the bosses sauce, I’d really like to reach for it more than a few times a year. I find the pips in this deck easy to get lost in, and I’d love to have this as a reader I use for others who’d like a pip deck. I wanna be functional at pips! How do you Marseille readers do it???
The Tarot of the Broken Mirror 5 Edition: Sapphire/Marseille
I backed this deck on Kickstarter for two reasons: 1) I ADORE my IV edition Broken Mirror Tarot, and 2) I wanted a gateway deck to learn Marseille. Unfortunately, I believe the little pictures in the minors meant to help those of us who are stunted in the Marseille department, are not necessarily Marseille meanings, but RWS meanings! Does anyone else have this deck? Is that true? Or are the pictures Marseille in nature and there’s simply overlap?
The Mushroom Hunter’s Tarot
I honestly couldn’t tell you why I don’t reach for this one because I love foraging and I love mushrooms and I think this deck is cute as all-get-out. Obviously mushrooms and fungi are rather niche subject matters so it isn’t “oh duh, perfect deck for this question” unless its cooking related. I think though that I can and should apply it beyond its face value. It needs to be in my next month’s deck list, I think. How do you use decks that are rather “niche” in nature?
Sefriot Tarot
I know perfectly well why I don’t use this deck. I have some serious bad blood between the Kickstarter campaign and the horrible quality of what they took a lot of money to make. While the feel in hand makes me cringe, and the coloring is really poor, the art is still pretty and I’m hoping that if I do a monthly theme for pip decks (which it is apparent at this point that I need to do) I’ll include this deck and see if there’s any saving it at this point.
Tarot Minchiate by Amparo Cortes
On the total flipside of Sefriot, this deck is FAR more finely-crafted than I thought it would be! The cards are absolutely lux. This deck is primarily meant to be a deck for the Tarot Minchiate game. I have yet to learn it! I think that the instruction manual is a bit too vague for me (I really need to watch someone play a game to understand it). I think the only way I’m going to learn this is to actively seek out another group of people who already know the game.
Divine Deco Tarot
I think this is a cool deck. I love the subject of dancers. I have yet to use it. Even once. I don’t know why. Maybe like The Mushroom Hunter Tarot it’s a bit too niche for me to think of it when I’m looking for a deck in particular.
The Arthur Rackham Oracle (2nd edition)
This one I used quite a bit when I first got it. It was my third oracle deck and seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, but for whatever reason, I stopped using it and it got covered at the back of the shelf. It’s a rather strange oracle, and the words with the images don’t always seem to go together or seem to resonate with a tarot pairing. I’d love to hear how y’all would use this quirky deck because I rather like it and would like to put it to work!
Alright, those are the decks I never reach for, and some tentative plans to fix that. What about YOU? Is there a deck that you just can’t seem to make yourself pick up and use?
I really got a kick making a draw for the year of the Rabbit in 2023, and I 100% have been waiting to do a Dragon 2024 draw for this lunar year! A Google told me that people born in the year of the dragon have “natural courage, tenacity, and intelligence, often displaying enthusiasm and confidence.” Seeing as I don’t personally know any scaly dragons to model actual animal behavior and wisdom after, I’ll have to take the G’s advice about the Chinese Zodiac system to help structure my questions. Let’s get to it!
Of course I had to bring out my beloved Smoke, Ash & Embers Tarot deck! I love that this deck is RWS, but it takes a very different, practical and holistic approach to modern tarot. In their version of the LWB they label the Wands as our spirit, the Pentacles as our material world, the Swords our thoughts, and the Cups our emotions. While this is pretty typical in RWS decks, I’ll especially be paying attention to this during this draw.
What great magical thing will start your year?
What frightening obstacle will block your path forward?
How best to show courage?
What will try your patience?
How to show tenacity and perseverance?
What riddle will puzzle you?
How best to outsmart it?
How do we show enthusiasm when we’ve lost our mojo?
Where should we cultivate confidence?
When should we be tender?
When do we need to be fierce?
Where will I find unexpected luck?
1.What great magical thing will start your year? Three of Pentacles. You will have help in building your nest egg! In a project or financial adventure, you will find a willing and eager partner. Perhaps they will help teach you, and you in turn can teach them. This is now the second recent draw that I’ve had a 3 of Pen show up, I gotta start paying attention.
2. What frightening obstacle will block your path forward? The Hanged Man. You will face uncertainty and a change of view—things are not as you thought, but if you take a moment, you will see there is something to be gained here that you’d not be able to get otherwise.
3. How best to show courage? Ace of Swords. Pay attention! Use your head. Use your sense of observation to understand and learn to go forth strongly! Success is at hand, but you need to take the sword and practice the skills it takes to get there. Listen to mentors (this also seems to be a reoccurring theme).
4. What will try your patience? Eight of Swords. The constant hard work, grind, and, well, patience! Accomplishing something is never a linear journey and sometimes it feels as if you are getting nowhere, fast. Keep at it! Don’t worry about needing to get your hands dirty every once in a while.
5. How to show tenacity and perseverance? Two of Swords. This is a very different take on the two of swords than I’m used to. Counter intuitively, sometimes you need to take a fricking nap! When things get overwhelming and seem to lack progress, take a break, try something new, enjoy the flowers of your successes you have made. Also, don’t stand up too fast!
6. What riddle will puzzle you? Page of Cups. A new person, feeling, idea, or opportunity will come out of nowhere and completely take you off guard!
7. How best to outsmart it? Six of Pentacles. Be kind. You will find reward for your kindness in unexpected ways. Be a force that brings others together. Realize what a person really wants when they give you something. Put offerings/gifts in context; if someone is giving you something, what, if anything do they expect in return?
8. How do we show enthusiasm when we’ve lost our mojo? Page of Pentacles. Keep things practical; look at what you have already accomplished, and look at where you want to be. What will it take to get there? Make a list, write it down. How can you allocate your resources right now to get to where you want to be? Start there. Go back to the fundamentals. Once you get moving, you’ll get your chutzpah back!
9. Where should we cultivate confidence? XIX The Sun! Be confident in what you know you do well and are successful at! Duh! Do that! When you are happy and joyful, you exude confidence, so first ensure you are having a good time.
10. When should we be tender? Page of Wands (holy mole, we got some Page energy today!). Treat the imagination and the joy of newness tenderly—this is where great things happen and negatively criticizing ideas prematurely will help no one. Help yourself and others grow to be their best by believing in your/their vision!
11. When do we need to be fierce? Ten of Cups. When it comes to your family-of-choice and those you love, you get involved! They are your people! It’s up to you to help make sure they are secure and they in turn watch out for you. It really does take teamwork to make the dream work.
12. Where will I find unexpected luck? Nine of Wands. When you are feeling like you are at the end of your game and you have no more strength to persevere, you will find unexpected luck.
And, just for fun, I drew from The Thistle Down oracle deck a card for “advice for this lunar year.”
Don’t forget to take moments to collect yourself, live in the moment, and smell the flowers, even if you’re a little bit of a grouch *wink*.
So, I see lots of pentacles and pages, so I have a lunar year of learning and practicing my arts and skills. Can’t ask for anything better in the year of the Dragon!
Technically Tarot over Turkish Coffee and a Valentine’s cookie!
This is a bit belated. I wanted to let 2023 sink in so I could look back with a more critical eye rather than rushing onward towards the new year, which I am wont to do!
This is a tag I fist watched Coyote Tarot post (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyU7z6IUtIM) and I think it’s a great end of year summation. I believe there are many Tarot-Tubers out there that have done this tag, so go watch a few!
So, unless I’m doing a deck review and am referencing specific cards, I randomly draw cards to share. I feel this is fair to the decks rather than letting my bias show through. However, upon reflection, one of these cards is not like the other and that devastating Knight of Wands feels a little, violently, out of place.
Deck you used the most: The Slavic Legends Tarot
I will admit it took me a while to break down and buy The Dark Mansion Tarot deck, but once I got a copy in hand, I fell absolutely head over heels and it remains to this day my favorite read- for-others deck. When I heard the same makers and publishing house was ready to release a new deck, I didn’t even have to see any specs or sample images to know I was going to pre-order The Slavic Legends Tarot; but don’t get me wrong, I spent an hour drooling over the card photos they had released! I knew was going to love this to pieces, and I could not help myself but use it continuously throughout the year. It’s so lush, both in artwork and in cardstock that it’s hard to NOT reach for it! The deck is conscious of the seasons so no matter the time of year you’ll find seasonal themes represented in various cards throughout the majors and minors. I love that the images all are very consistent in art style and theme and are extremely detailed—in fact, I’d worry that the standard size version might lose some of that fine work! It is RWS without feeling boring or clone-like. This deck is not nearly as jovial as the Dark Mansion, and there are some heavier themes of war, fears, challenges, etc, but it also has a lighthearted moments. There are rumors that a collection of all the various legends and myths that are represented in the cards are being compiled, which would have to be my one gripe with this deck. It would be great to have a card by card explanation or better yet, BIG BOOK telling us all about the stories portrayed. I’d say this is my Deck of 2023!
Deck you didn’t use at all (in 2023): The Endless Oracle
I focused in January using this deck, but given my excitement to see it arrive once the Kickstarter ended, I was shocked I didn’t seem to find the time to work with it in 2023! This was not at all a case of I didn’t like this deck, to the contrary, I think it’s a really neat deck, but rather I had so many other things planned for the year it kinda fell off the to-do list, oops. I am a huge fan of Maille’s art, so of course I enjoy this deck, but I will admit that it was a challenge for me to use it seeing as it was so outside of my normal “oracle” style deck. I really enjoyed it though and now feel quite confident pulling it off the shelf!
Most recent addition: 1999 Bizarre Summer Lenormand
This weird little deck cracks me up, and really is the reason I decided I need to up my Lenormand game. The premise is looking back at the age between child and teen, as a girl growing up in the weird, turn of the 21st century. That would be me! So there are some funny, retro-manga style images that really hit home. Oh, and the deck has a MINI version, and rocking cardstock. What else can you ask for? It is not at all a “traditional” Lenormand image-wise, but it feels very accessible and I cannot wait for the creators to release their tarot they have in the works!
Deck you re-homed (or put in purgatory): Threads of Fate Oracle
Ah, I wish I would have taken more pictures of this deck. There were a handful of beautiful cards in this deck, but it really did not speak to me and also made me a bit Oracle-scared for several years after my failure with it. It was gifted to someone else who LOVES it and has a better home!
Favorite pairing: The original Citadel Deck with literally any other deck
A variety of different decks paired with The Citadel.
So I had some serious salty feelings when I saw Liminal 11 was coming out with a rebooted, bigger better spot-lighted Citadel (oracle) Deck. I aggressively used my “limited print” version I got with their special fancy-pantsy Seed and Sickle oracle as much as I could to try and convince myself I didn’t need the new edition. I discovered I really, REALLY dig this deck; I love how it will read with ANYTHING, and I really like its structure and the companion booklet. I eventually broke down and bought the newer, fuller edition and I love that as well, but there’s something funky and special about this little do-it-all deck.
Favorite mod or bag made (or any accessory): I made a Tarot reading/wrap cloth for a friend’s birthday!
That’s five different pieces of fabric! I’m really pleased with how well I was able to get it to turn out, especially how sewing is NOT my forte!
What deck do you want for Christmas: Le Authurien Tarot!
I had NO IDEA Ana Tourian had released this deck until I read her newsletter in December. I immediately had to share with my French bestie seeing as she’s a tarot enthusiast as well. She was immediately on the ball, and snagged me a copy in France! What a wonderful gift!
I have yet to work much with this deck, but I already am in love with it—it is not at all your typical RWS, and I find the images very intriguing, like all of Tourian’s art. The Arthurian theme is perhaps over-done in tarot, but somehow this is very fresh feeling. This deck may well be a favorite, if not THE favorite of 2024!
Deck you’d gift others: Ephemere Tarot
As I was an early-bird Kickstarter backer, I was able to snag a second deck on discount and it went to my bestie (see above) for her holiday gift. This is certainly NOT a deck for just anyone, nor an easy or “beginner” deck, nor does it even follow a traditional system (Arthur Wang really remade the system for himself and I love it), but it IS a great gift for the seasoned tarot reader who has it all. Its simple, lux, beautiful, haunting, ethereal, and unique.
Deck you fell in love with: Silver Acorn Tarot
I mean, don’t call me shallow, but one would have to seriously work hard to not fall in love with this deck. It was a deck I bought because it was so dang cute, but it is a great RWS reader. It makes me laugh every time I take it out. It is sweet, and wholesome, and doesn’t have a mean bone in its body. What more can you want?
Which card sums up this year as a whole: Knight of Wands
This one, that’s the bastard right there!
I pulled this card continuously in the early start of last year and it continued to haunt me (still does, tbh). Let me tell you, it was spot on. I’ve been charging forth on new adventures left and right all year—it’s been exhausting!
Pull a card for the new year: Knight of Cups
Oh boy…I seem to be in my Knight phase! Year three of knights! At least this one is calmed down!
Please be aware there is nudity in the tarot cards selected for this post!
Originally made by the Youtuber Candy Soul and Soil, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phoo8_BSTK8), this is a creative, fun, holiday tarot tag that’s quite a bit out of the norm, but very relatable!
Prompts:
1: The Dusty Attic Deck …a deck that feels like a dusty attic full of treasure and secrets
Well, it’s hardly dusty seeing as it just arrived in the mail two weeks ago, but it definitely has that old photograph, vintage, and slightly campy vibe! It’s Baba Studio’s Bohemian Gothic Tarot! Like the old photo albums you might find in the attic, it’s been around awhile, but I have yet to explore it in any depth. It will be a fun holiday treasure to spend some time flipping through and taking for a few fun, silly holiday readings!
2: The Christmas Tree Structure Deck….tell me about the key tarot structure you love
I do love my RWS decks, BUT! I like very original takes on the RWS and I especially like decks that are internally very cohesive! I could choose at least a dozen decks that are RWS but really shake up the meanings in their own way, but I am feeling The Runic Tarot for the winter time of the year! What’s more different and unique than blood-lusty Vikings, channeling that Krumpus holiday spirit in the RWS structure?
3: The Tinsel Deck…. a deck you get wrapped up in and using it can make you forget about other decks.
The Prisma Visions Deck is one of those decks that can eat up all your time! It doesn’t help that I have the giant book that goes with it and its brother deck and I can really get lost in the sauce reading it. Prisma Visions is so unique and mystic; even though I’ve had it and used it extensively for years I still feel like I’m learning it and it still feels a bit like a stranger when I pick it up. Its on one hand very grounded in the seasons of the suites and profound nature imagery, but on the other hand it’s very ethereal with the art forms suggesting people and beings. I find Prisma is the “cool kids” deck that I always want to get better at using!
4: The Bauble Deck…. a deck that keeps rolling around and turns up over and over in your practice as you reach for it all the time
This one is easy; the Moonlight Tarot by Inessa Bondarenko! I love this deck to pieces, even though it follow a little bit of the RWS and a little bit Toth. It seems to fit “just right” throughout the year and I find when I have a question for a deck (or more often, a “I feel this way what do I do” sort of noncommittal question!) that I can’t imagine using any other deck, this is the one I reach for. It’s the Band-Aid deck when nothing else will do.
5: The Snowman Deck…. a deck that melts your heart
Introducing The Wild Child Tarot!
You know, I tend not to buy soft decks. I have recently looked several times at The Cozy Witch Tarot and I balk because there isn’t enough tension in the deck to feel balanced for me. I purchased the Oak Ash & Thorn with the intention of this being a soft deck, but IT IS NOT! It’s a pretty savage reader, and though gentle, it does not hold punches.
I really enjoyed the Wild Child Oracle that was a bit of an afterthought purchase when I bought the Seasonal Fox Tarot, and I had no idea that there was a sister Tarot deck, The Wild Child Tarot, until the tarot was completely sold out—well, they reprinted both the oracle and the tarot and I snatched up the tarot. It is the sweetest, kindest tarot I think I’ve ever used! But, its gentle and soulful without feeling cloying or coddling. It doesn’t hide difficulties behind “positive vibes” but rather frames them as part of nature and the ebb and flow of life.
6: The Handmade Deck… a deck that’s made extra special because of who made it or a deck that feels particularly hand made.
My best friend and co-Tarot reader and cartomancy enthusiast made her own deck (she has made several, but this is my favorite)—so obviously this has to be my most adored handmade treasure! I pick this up when I’m feeling stuck in a rut, because it’s cute as heck and always stirs the imagination. I call it Val’s Little Deck of Stories. There are several different pictures that are two by two cards across that tell a little story, but the images mixed together are quite interesting!
7: The Mistletoe Deck…. a deck that makes you think about love in the holiday season
I love this deck, it’s so beautiful and magical and mystical and lovely and awe-inspiring and seems to speak to times that feel just out of reach. While it’s not in particular a Yule deck nor even a winter deck, The Slavic Legends Tarot is probably the deck that for me encompasses the winter holiday spirit. I can easily imagine little me looking through this deck like I used to look through the pages of a fairy tale book, or the beautiful Jan Brett books on Christmas Eve.
8: The Fairy Lights Deck …..a deck that sparkles
I had a bit of trouble with this prompt. On one hand, I have a bunch of decks that are very ornate and/or glittery. With spot-gloss or foil accents, or really shiny edging. Some I’ve already included in this selection.
But, I must say there is something really *fashionable* and a smidgen avant-garde about the Divine Feminine Deck by Cocorrina that seems so ethereally beautiful and perfect. I have not used this deck much at all (it’s in next year’s list!) but I think I can introduce it here as the exceptionally, sparkly, mysterious beauty!
9: The Tree Topper Deck… tell me about your tree topper and find a deck that reminds you of it.
We don’t have a Christmas tree! So I don’t have a tree topper, but my favorite ornament which would be a top contender for a potential tree topper is “The Missile-Toad!”
There is only one deck that encompasses the spirit of the Missile Toad, and that would be The Medieval Europe Deck—silly, slightly violent, and tongue in cheek! ‘Nough said.
Now! What are your Christmas Tree Decks? What decks do you connect with during the holidays?
Ooohh! I love this Tarot Tube tag! Tarot of Exception. Originally started here I believe, https://youtube.com/shorts/JAEFVD_c2U0?si=0H4K2gjhWz43RSs4, from Cozy Core Craft, the prompt of this tag asks what are decks that have “wormed their way into my heart” despite having characteristics that I usually loath? Lets do it!
1. Anthropomorphized Animal Decks: I usually think anthropomorphized animal art is distracting. I am an animal lover and seeing animals look and behave like humans can really throw me for a loop. I’ve turned down a lot of decks that I otherwise love (I really really adore The Northern Animal Tarot : https://wilderheartsstudio.com/) but cannot take the imaginative leap). I do have some notable decks though that I use and am perfectly fine with which feature animals acting like humans! They are of course the infamous Fantastic Menagerie, the Mimit Tarot decks, and The Silver Acorn Tarot.
I think The Fantastic Menagerie break the rule because the anthropomorphized animal tells a human story (represented by cultural ideas of animal characteristics) that is very relatable and takes me out of the animal mind-set. I also understand the historical context of the comics that were chosen for this deck.
The Mimit/Bimit Tarot really reminds me of my love of the Redwall Series I had as a kid (and got to explore as an adult). I find the mice a vehicle for my childhood spirit of adventure.
In a similar vein, the Silver Acorn Tarot is everything I wanted my Halloween to be when I was a kid. Many things, like holidays, were very lacking when I was growing up and this deck really filled a need for spooky season endearment that I did not know I had.
2. Decks with Multiple Artists that do not utilize the same art style: I originally titled this as “Decks lacking visual cohesion” but I found I actually have many MANY decks that are collage style but have the same art style and thus work wonderfully together (like The Victorian Romantic Tarot, W.I.T.C.H. oracle, and so forth). But I really struggle with decks that are a collaboration between many different artists (like the various 78 Tarot decks out there). There is ONE mighty exception to that rule, which is a deck I followed for years before it finally came to Kickstarter.
The Woven Path Tarot feels thematically fantastical enough that I find the differing images to be like separate voices narrating a different part of a story. I get serious Canterbury Tales vibes from this deck! Hey tarot artists! Someone please make me a Canterbury Tales deck please! I’m here for it.
3. Pip Decks: It is true, I’m not a Marseille lover. I even waffled about getting the Trionfi della Luna, and my waffling paid off because they finally printed illustrated minors. Numbers and me just don’t really get along, what can I say. Alas, I still have decks that are plenty pipish.
The Mythical Creatures Tarot has very ornate and quite illustrated pips but they are pips nonetheless. I also have The Tarot of the Broken Mirror, Marseille (5th ed) that DOES use pips. Both of these deck have little cheater RWS imagery to help those of us that are Marseilles or generally number challenged (cries).
4. Landscape Decks: I love landscape art, I really do. There’s some famous decks out there using awesome paintings or pictures or drawings, but I don’t really get vibes from a specific place. On a really frontal brain level I get a place is supposed to be scary or imposing, but I simply don’ t really associate a space with being these things–awesome, unrealistic, or interesting, sure, but rarely any sort of strong negative feelings I typically will associate with some of the traditional tarot cards.
The one, admittedly soft exception to this rule which is I love, is The Spacious Tarot. I don’t think this deck is explicitly a “landscape” deck, seeing as there are many still life moments, zoomed in moment, and the occasional animal thrown in, but I really do feel like I’ve been thrown into the picture and get caught in the moment of it.
5. Animal and Human Hybrids: I considered putting this into the category of anthropomorphization, but I feel like there’s a bit of difference between the two. I am okay with classical mythical creatures like mermaids, centaurs, angels, satyr etc, but other wacky hybrids are again rather distracting to me.
I waffled for YEARS before buying The Children of Litha because the human/animal combinations kinda freak me out, but finally my curiosity got the better of me and I took the plunge. I still feel like I’m warming up to this deck, but it really is beautiful and a fantastic take on the RWS (also, it does come across a little pipish, hmm…).
6. Tarot with Keywords: I like art to speak for itself, that’s perhaps my golden rule for buying a tarot deck. I can tolerate one or two cards being meh, but most have to make a statement of some sort. It’s strange because you’d think being a writer I’d live for the words, but not in the case of the cards!
I finally broke down though and purchased a copy of the 5¢ Tarot. It’s actually a new edition to my collection and I’m in love! Kitschy, old–time-y animals and objects? Fantastical and fun? A deck that doesn’t take itself too seriously? There is something just thematically correct with the use of keywords in this deck (hello old school encyclopedia!) and now I’m thinking that I have to go back to using reversals.
PS this deck is so fun its out on loan!
7. Franchised Themed Decks: I’m really really not into decks that center around a movie or book. Though I’d love a great LotR deck, but I don’t care for the one out there, which also has pips–I mean, you mean to tell me that in the entire LotR’s books you couldn’t find enough imagery to illustrate the minors?!? Failure.
I have one deck which is the exception to that rule, and that is by and large because I wasn’t even aware there was a franchise before I purchased the deck. Enter The Raven’s Prophesy Tarot. It is based on a popular book series; I still haven’t read any of the books, but love the deck!
8. Art Decks: I feel like this can be taken in many different ways–there’s art decks where existing art from either a time period or a specific style is cherry picked for a deck (like Baba Studio’s Victorian Romantic Tarot) which I’m COMPLETELY fine with, but then other decks which are a singular artist who have art which was not intended for making into a deck that is then forced into a Tarot structure. As much as I really really want to be okay with these sorts of decks, I’m not, and I struggle with some of the images feeling “off” to me when I try to read them.
But I DO have an oracle deck that breaks this rule, The Original Arthur Rackham Oracle printed by Duck Soup, (that now I realize also breaks my no keywords pet peeve). Perhaps this is an exception because being an oracle it does not have to adhere to the more strict structure of a Tarot deck, and also the words paired with the images are very specific and can be rather unusual. I find this old school fairy tale oracle to be wonderfully cheeky and on-point.
Do you own decks that are a exception to your deck preferences?
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.
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.
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?
The Tarot Tarts 