Decks Used

The Wild Unknown Tarot

78-card Tarot deck drawn in a pen-and-ink sketch style by Kim Krans, 2018

Much of this deck is drawn in black ink with occasional pops of color. The Wild Unknown Tarot features illustrations that are anything but traditional. The feel of the deck is more serious, more pointed than the 78 Tarot Nautical (above). I highly recommend that you spring for the set if you’re interested in this deck–the Guidebook is beautifully handwritten and is what truly drew me to the Wild Unknown Tarot. Kim’s book adds a simple yet profound perspective to the card meanings.

Kim Krans Tarot Deck, pen-and-ink Tarot Deck, hand drawn Tarot Deck

The Vagabond Wild Tarot

78-card Tarot deck by Tiffany Sosa of Boho and Indie Wild, 1st edition (out of print)

The simple abstract backgrounds allow me to focus on the main image in each card. The 2nd edition is available for purchase. This is my 2nd deck from Boho and Indie Wild, another vibrantly-colored deck with fantastic holographic edges. Check out the Boho and Indie Wild Etsy Shop for readings and her other beautiful decks.

Arcana Iris Sacra Tarot

78-card vintage-style Tarot deck by Tina Gong of Labyrinthos Academy, 2019

Arcana Iris Sacra translates roughly to “Mysteries of the Sacred Rainbow”, according to the creator. This Tarot deck is modeled after the Golden Dawn tradition, rather than the more widely-known Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot style. The symbolism draws from astrology, the Kabbalah, and Hermes Trismegistus’ teachings. I received this deck as a gift after expressing an interest in deepening my Tarot knowledge. See the Claves Astrologicae companion deck below.

Labyrinthos Tarot, Golden Dawn Tarot, Vintage Style Tarot Deck

Thoth Tarot: The Book of Thoth

78-card Tarot deck by Aleister Crowley and Lady Freida Harris, Large edition

Creator Aleister Crowley and illustrator Lady Freida Harris worked together on the Thoth Tarot, also known as the Book of Thoth, from 1938-1943. It was completed and published in 1969 after their deaths. Crowley published a companion book of the same name in 1944. This deck relies heavily on Egyptian and astrological symbols. The center image of 8 cards below is from the Magick Cauldron, https://www.magickcauldron.com/product/thoth-tarot-large-by-aleister-crowley/.

Crowley Tarot, Crowley Thoth Tarot, Golden Dawn Tarot, Vintage Tarot Deck, Hermes Trismegistus Tarot, Book of Thoth Tarot Deck

Everyday Tarot

78-card Tarot deck from Biddy Tarot

Tarot teacher and author Brigit Esselmont and illustrator Eleanor Grosch created a deck that is both modern, think clean lines and a simple color palette, and traditional, including the most relevant symbols. For this deck, Brigit updated her Tarot card meanings from those initially listed on her website Biddy Tarot. The small size, lovely illustrations, and easy-to-read images make the Everyday Tarot an easy favorite for readings on the go or around the house outside my reading space.

Biddy Tarot Deck, Daily Tarot Deck

Seventh Sphere Lenormand

36-card Lenormand deck by Tina Gong of Labyrinthos Academy, 2017

This modern Lenormand deck has clean lines on smooth card stock made from recycled plastic. While the feel of the cards is different, it is pleasant. This was my first deck from Labyrinthos. One of the ways Lenormand differs from Tarot is that only the main symbol or illustration on the card is important. This deck succeeds at focusing your attention. Lenormand cards are read in pairs or strings (multiple cards that form a sort of sentence). See the card images, along with Lenormand combination meanings.

The Awakened Soul Oracle Deck

50-card oracle deck by Ethony* Dawn, 2016 and reprinted in 2020

This inclusive, vibrantly-colored deck is “for people who want to see and connect with imagery that resonates with their life”. The rich colors and interesting details draw me in. The Guide Book adds layers of meaning to each card. See Ethony*’s Full Walkthrough video. Ethony* is the author of Your Tarot Court: Read Any Deck with Confidence.

Sacred Self-Care Rituals Oracle Deck

55-card oracle deck by Jill Pyle of Goddess Provisions and Tatiana Vedenkina, 1st edition (out of print), 2019

I received this self-care deck in with my fabulous Goddess Box subscription from Goddess Provisions. These cards serve as single-card oracles that prompt us to slow down, breathe, and look after ourselves well. The rainbow-pastel images are visually soothing. I like including a self-care card in my readings since many of us would do well to practice more self-care. My apologies for the difficult-to-see center cards in my photos. The 2nd edition is available.

44-card mystical oracle deck (out of print) by Michelle Black, revised 1st edition, 2017

The Universal Mind Oracle features nature and space images that are photo-realistic with dream-like artistic overlays. Creator Michelle Black states she’s “inspired by fantasy, flowers, wildlife, and dreams”. My favorite use of this deck is to draw one card to set the tone for a Tarot reading. This was my very first deck of any kind. Working with these amazing cards inspired me to learn more about cartomancy. The glossy finish made it difficult for me to get clear photos of this gorgeous deck, so please see this great review and photos from Pink Stardust Tarot.

Indie Wild Rune Oracle Deck

24-card rune deck by Tiffany Sosa of Boho and Indie Wild, out of print, 2018?

The Indie Wild Rune Oracle presents each of the 24 traditional Elder Futhark Runes along with a whimsical illustration in card form. While I also have a wonderful set of runestones, the cards are uniformly shaped and sized, allowing me to choose intuitively rather than by the physical feel of the stones. I prefer the cards for some readings, especially when reading for others. This is my 3rd deck from Boho and Indie Wild, another thoughtfully-illustrated deck with lovely cosmic backgrounds. Check out the Boho and Indie Wild Etsy Shop for readings and her other beautiful decks.

Money Magic Manifestation Cards

48-card affirmation deck by Ethony* Dawn, 2nd edition

The Money Magic Manifestation deck offers healing words to increase your abundance mindset. Each small, rainbow-colored card has a simple yet powerful message to improve your financial outlook. The Money Magic deck may be used for an entire reading, or for a single-card draw–which is how I most often use them, usually as an affirmation for a financial or career reading. Our financial beliefs and fears are so often tied to many aspects of our lives and histories. Ethony* is the author of Your Tarot Court: Read Any Deck with Confidence. See Ethony*’s other available decks in her Etsy shop.