Tarot: a current list

Photo by Sergi Viladesau
on Unsplash

I figured I’d better make a central list, as it’s getting a bit out of hand. Some of these descriptions are ones I wrote on this blog previously.

1 — Shakespearean Tarot — Bought in 1999 from a remainder store, cards measure 2.5" x 4.5". Came as part of a kit with a proper book. Lovely images, with quotes, all fully illustrated. I bought this one just for its art, with no intention of using it as tarot. Nice stiff cards, silky coating. The images are not traditional — instead, they draw from Shakespeare’s works — so they don’t always tell you much, making this is a deck better suited to someone who already knows their tarot.

2 — Vertigo Tarot — Bought February 2009 from Amazon, cards measure 2.75" x 5". The beginning of my downfall *grin* I got this re-release new, so full price — again, bought for their art (I’m a massive Dave McKean fan), but following a freaky experience at a psychic fair over New Year’s holiday I found myself more open to their uses! Anyway, this also came in a box with a book (well-written and a work of art in itself) and a velvety bag for their storage. They’re tall and smooth but on pretty thin stock. The imagery is amazing, but it might be difficult for someone who didn’t know what they were representing to tell what they mean — there are clues, but you have to know what you’re looking for.

3 — Aquarian Tarot — Bought in 2009 secondhand from the St. Lawrence North Market, cards measure 3" x 4.9375". Simple deck with LWB. Got this one less than a week after receiving my Vertigo deck. This one’s original from 1970 with a little wear but in otherwise excellent condition, in the original lidded box (with original advertisement inserts and LWB — “In this age of aquarius…”). The absolutely gorgeous artwork is in a lovely art nouveau style with solid lines, muted colours, and lightly drawn faces; the imagery is a little more close-up than the Rider-Waite, so some symbolism is a little different but it’s mostly as expected.

4–5 — Tarot Nova pocket and mini sizes — Bought in 2009 from World’s Biggest Bookstore, pocket-sized measuring 2.5" X 3.125" and mini-sized measuring .625" X 1.125". Both come with proper books. I bought the two for myself and another set of the two for a friend. Got them brand new two days after my Aquarian deck. The mini deck… let’s face it, I’ll probably never use or even separate (they’re all attached in accordion-style) as they’re really small, like under an inch, in a teeny little box, but they’re super cute and they come with a wee hardcover book. The pocket deck, on the other hand, is a bit of a surprise — it’s a full deck with fun, simple imagery that might just hint at the meaning of the card, but are totally usable once you’ve got your basics down. They came in a box with a book too, more expanded than an LWB. They’re a good weight of card, but the laminate is really sticky so they need to be scuffed up to be usable without frustration.

6 — Morgan-Greer Tarot — Bought in 2009 from The Occult Shop, cards measure 2.75" X 4.75". Got this one new about a week after the little decks. Simple deck with a foldy box and an LWB. The artwork on this one is also gorgeous, and the imagery reminds me of the Aquarian, with similar symbolism and the close focus, but the style is different — the Aquarian deck is muted in colour, while this one is vibrant. The images also bleed off the edge of the card, which is interesting. They’re lovely.

7 — Necronomicon Tarot — Bought in 2009 from BMV, cards measure 2.75" X 4.625". You all know I’m a recovering goth, right? I got this really for that reason, I’m not fully recovered yet. Passed them up at first, but then obsessed over them for a week so went back for them. The entire idea of this deck is one that I wouldn’t use for a tarot reading, it’s all incredibly dark, but man is it cool! In a box, with a full book and a black organza bag for storage. Secondhand. In the end, they freaked me out a bit, so I gave them to a friend of mine for whom they seemed a perfect match. A few years later a freak electrical fire (wiring in the smoke detector, how creepy is that?) gutted his place while he was out. I don’t know if the cards went with the fire...

8 — Tarot of Atlantis — Bought in 2009 from BMV, cards measure 2.625" X 4.75". Came in a foldy box with an LWB. Great imagery, kind of graphic novel-ish. It’s a good size to use. All the cups cards have people sexin’ it up, not in an ‘erotic deck’ way, but you know. 10 of cups is a giant orgy. Ahem. Gave them to a lovely lady while on vacation in Ireland in 2016.

9 — Lo Scarabeo Anniversary Tarot (my favourite deck) — Bought in 2009 from Seekers, cards measure 2.625" X 4.75". Lo Scarabeo is a well-known company from Italy that makes, guess what, Tarot cards and other oracular and new-age items — and for their 20th anniversary they decided to make an anniversary deck that combined Tarot de Marseilles, Thoth, and Rider-Waite imagery, so I find it really easy to read. It didn’t come with a book beyond the LWB, but it did come with a gorgeous bag — lined in gold satin, black velvet exterior, embroidered in gold with the Lo Scarabeo logo (a scarab, what else). They feel good too. The LWB had an interesting spread in it too — I now notice that all the LWBs from Lo Scarabeo have their own specific spread created for the deck they accompany, such a great touch.

10 — Tarot of the Magical Forest — Bought March 2009 from Amazon, cards measure 2.5" X 4.75". Okay, I wouldn’t normally be one for cutesy woodland animals, but this one was just so amazing I couldn’t help myself! They are based around Rider-Waite imagery, all with giant heads and huge staring eyes that really suck you in, very Taiwanese. Every time I look at them my throat gets sore from going ‘aaaw!’ in a really high-pitched voice *grin*. LWB and foldy-box.

11 — Circle of Life Tarot — Bought March 2009 from Amazon, cards measure 4.2" in diameter (circular cards). I thought the art on this one was quite pretty, although there’s a few too many fairies in it for my taste. It’s nice though, only the LWB for instructions with a complicated reading method. Also came with a satin bag (embroidered with a yellow sun on sky blue with contrasting yellow lining), and it’s ROUND! Yep, I wanted a round deck, and this was the nicest one available (Tarot of the Cloisters is no longer in print) so I got it. Not the easiest to read though. Ended up giving it to a lovely lady while on vacation in Ireland in 2016.

12 — Grail Tarot — Bought in 2009 from BMV, cards measure 3" X 4.75". Not to be confused with the Oracle of the Grail or the Tarot of the Holy Grail. To be honest, this one was an impulse purchase. The religious overtones are heavy, but the cards are beautiful. Interestingly, if you lay the major arcana all side-by-side, they look like one long panorama. Came with a book printed in sepiatone.

13 — Universal Waite: Tiny Keyring — Bought June 2009 from Amazon, cards measure .8125" X 1.375". Simple deck with LWB in plastic case on Keyring. Traditional cards, done teeny tiny. Realized I wouldn’t be able to use them at all, and since I already have the Tarot Nova Mini (which is even smaller!) I wouldn’t need these — so passed them on to my best friend J*, but then they came back to me in a swap, so I figured I must be meant to keep them.

14 — Epicurean Tarot — Bought June 2009 from Amazon, cards measure 5" X 7". Came in recipe card box. Sort of a ‘stunt’ deck, it really can’t be used as proper tarot. It has all the cards, but they’re really all recipe cards with the card printed to the side. A little thought was put into trying to match the recipe up with a card that might have something to do with it, but it doesn’t really succeed. Still, fun for the collection. However, in the end I realized I’d never read with them, and since my place is small I passed them on to a friend.

15 — Secret Tarot (pocket) — Bought in 2009 from Llewellyn, cards measure 1.75" X 3.125". Simple deck with LWB. Some of these have traditional imagery, some are quite different. But they’re all beautiful — a little comic-bookey. Lots of dark overtones (the Magician is a vampire, for example). Smaller than palm-sized, which is what I was looking for. Nice stock, easy to shuffle.

16 — World Spirit Tarot — Bought in 2009 from Llewellyn, cards measure 3.25" X 4.75". Came as part of a kit with a proper book and customizable folded box. I wanted this one for a while — very cool woodcut look, vibrant colours, and multicultural. But they’re just too big for me to properly read with, so I passed them on to a friend of a friend.

17 — Sharman-Caselli Tarot — Bought in 2009 from BMV, cards measure 2.75" X 4.75". Simple deck with LWB. Traditional Rider-Waite imagery, in coloured pencil. Easy to read, but I feel like I need something more from a deck. Anyway, the stock is good.

18 — Crystal Tarot — Bought in 2009 from Llewellyn, cards measure 2.625" X 4.75". Simple deck with LWB. So beautiful, looks like stained glass. Also sort of looks like the artist surrounded herself with Klimt.

19 — Arcus Arcanum Tarot — Bought in 2009 from BMV, cards measure 2.75" X 4.25". An interesting deck, visually it has a very 70s comic book feel to it. Graphic meanings are straightforward and traditional to my eye. Nice stock, they slide well in the hands, a little bigger than a playing card deck but not too big to use. They don’t really speak to me though. The LWB is pretty thick — and entirely in French, so of no help to me. Planning to pass it along.

20 — Tarot de Paris — Bought in 2010 from BMV. What a gorgeous set! Photographic in nature, the artist took his inspiration from sculpture and the result is truly beautiful. He has reinterpreted the major arcana into new ideas (The Fool becomes The Source for example, and Death becomes The Crossing); the Court cards eschew Pages and Knights for Spirits and Stallions; and the suits are now named for their corresponding elements — Matter (Earth), Water, Fire, and Air. The accompanying book is substantial, hardbound and printed single-colour, and its explanations are nice — going by number for the minors (“Threes are generative...,” “Eights represent the challenges of maturity...,” etc.). The kit also comes with a beautiful rose-window reading cloth. Large cards, nice texture. But I think I should pass them along to someone who will get better use from them.

21 — Truth-Seeker’s Tarot — Bought in 2010 from BMV. These are pretty, gilded cards, with colourful illustrations using non-traditional imagery — number cards show backgrounds and landscapes rather than the expected tableaus. A good size, with a smooth plastic-y feel to them (good if you like that but not my cup of tea). The book isn’t bad, goes into detail to make the minors make more sense. I passed this set on to Xognya so she would have something pretty to practice with.

22–23 — Sharman-Caselli Tarot and My Tarot — Bought in 2010 from BMV. Complete Tarot Pack (including a complete Sharman-Caselli deck plus ‘My Tarot,’ the same deck but in outline form on matte stock, ready to be coloured in) — Nice kit! The two decks are the same size, just slightly larger than playing cards, and it comes with a one-colour book with full interpretations and exercises, plus a little pamphlet with hints on colour interpretation and how to use this in personalizing the outlined deck. As for the complete deck, the illustration style is not quite my cup of tea, but it’s nice all the same. I sent these away to a family who wanted to learn.

24 — Druid Craft Tarot — Bought in 2010 from BMV. Came as part of a kit with a proper book. Not sure what to say about these, they’re completely gorgeous but a bit large for my liking, and the more I look at the imagery the less I feel it speaks to me. They’re beautifully illustrated in coloured pencil, following Wicca and Druidic imagery. A few of these cards (The Magician card, for example) have a definite aura to them, certainly. Passed them along to a friend of a friend.

25 — The Tarot Deck (Tarot De Marseilles) — Bought in 2010 from BMV. Large, with a gorgeous feel, but a super-abbreviated LWB. And I really don’t think I can read with them, but the historical graphics make me happy. Gave it to a lovely lady while on vacation in Ireland in 2016.

26 — Voyager Tarot — Bought in 2010 from BMV. Such an interesting deck! Large-ish (both tall and wide) so not the easiest for me to work with, but the imagery is so different — photographic collage packed with symbols, reflecting (as they put it) ‘a revolutionary new blend of traditional tarot, astrology, numerology, i ching, mythology, nature, and technology.’ Call it Fred as far as I’m concerned, I think they’re beautiful. The back is even a DNA strand multiplied and rotated to create a brilliant mandala. Some of the cards have new names (Temperance is now Art; Judgement is Time/Space; courts are now Sage, Child, Woman, and Man; and Crystals and Worlds replace Swords and Coins/Pentacles), but their meanings are still there to be interpreted. The kit came with the Voyager Handbook, not quite a book per se but at 88 pages this is no LWB. I’m thinking of passing these along to someone who will get more use from them.

27 — Tarot Art Nouveau (deluxe edition) — Bought in 2010 from BMV, cards measure 2.6" X 4.7". I’ve wanted this one for a while, this is the Antonella Castelli set (there are several ‘art nouveau’ decks out there, this is the most stunning one). Gorgeous watercolour images, the cards feel nice, and it comes with an embroidered bag for storage and an LWB.

28 — Manara Erotic Tarot (deluxe edition) — Bought in 2010 from BMV. Another one I’ve been looking for. Milo Manara is well known in the comics world for his erotic illustrations and this deck lives up to the expectation of beauty very nicely. With an embroidered velvet bag for storage and an LWB.

29 — Gilded Tarot (‘Easy Tarot Kit’) — Bought in 2010 from BMV. The cards in this kit are a nice size, slide well, and are bright with computer-generated realistic imagery. Also included is a 200+ page detailed book and a layout sheet, which is interesting — printed on folded glossy paper, it illustrates the Celtic Cross spread and indicates the different positions and meanings. Sent them to a family who wanted to learn.

30 — Pagan Tarot — Bought in 2010 from BMV. Coloured-pencil illustrations and a nice size and feel, but I’m thinking they’re not really speaking to me, it’s all a bit too Wiccan for me (I realize I’m using these words to describe a tarot deck, yes). The new court card designations (Elemental, Novice, Initiate, Elder) are interesting though, and I really like a few of the individual cards, beautiful. The accompanying book is a good size with lots of detail and suggested spreads, and a nice satin bag is included.

31 — Tarot of the Dead — Bought in 2010 from BMV. Another set from Llewellyn similar to the World Spirit Tarot, this includes a box to decorate and an organza bag. The LWB is basic but good and the cards are a good size but VERY slippy so be careful dealing! The illustrations are cheeky and bright. The suits are new (Pens, Coffins, Pistols, and Reels) with pips for the minors, which is too bad. Decided to pass it on to a friend.

32 — Revelations Tarot — Bought in 2010 from BMV. I don’t read reversals, but if I did this deck would make it easier! Upright and reverse meanings are recorded in the stained-glass-like graphics of the cards, which are bright and gorgeous and a great size with a nice feel too. From Llewellyn, it comes with a blank box to decorate, a black organza bag, and a large 200 page book. Did I mention they’re gorgeous?

33 — The Art of Tarot — Bought in 2010 from BMV. These are a nice size and have a good feel in the hand, the colour palette is earthy and natural, but the naive illustrations just don’t speak to me — the minors are pips, which for me is a bit of a minus. The accompanying book, while thin, is full colour inside, which you don’t often see with a kit like this. Gave to a friend.

34 — Hanson-Roberts Tarot Deck — Bought in 2011 from BMV. I’d seen a few of the cards online and thought they looked nice, and everyone goes on and on about this deck, so I thought I’d pick it up and see what the fuss was about. Well I’m glad I did, it’s a lovely deck. Good size, good feel — a bit sticky from the gloss, I’ll have to scuff them up to be able to use them properly. The imagery is traditional Rider-Waite so easy to follow for a beginner. I like the illustration style, the heavy black outlines and soft coloured pencil shading works well. The LWB is more detailed than usual.

35 — The Secret Tarot (‘Renaissance Tarot’) — Bought in 2011 from BMV. Previously known as the Renaissance Tarot, I must say this was intriguing right from the start. The cards are photographs of sculpted images in gold tones, which I think is an interesting twist. The minors are pips though, which doesn't help. Somewhat large but they slide nicely through the hands. The book that comes with the kit is pretty detailed too, so that’s a good bonus. Gave this to a new friend who seemed to really appreciate it.

36 — The Vampire Tarot — Bought in 2012 from World’s Biggest Bookstore. Came as part of a kit with proper book. Decided to pass it along to a friend.

37 — The Sacred Rose Tarot Deck — Bought in 2012 from BMV. Simple deck with LWB — for some reason, the Fool card is missing, though I’m sure it was there when I bought it because I always count them! Which means it’s lost somewhere in the Fortress of Koshkatude. I really hope I can find it, because I’d really like to use it again!

38 — Zombie Tarot — Bought in 2012 from BMV. Came as part of a kit with proper book. Fun vintage imagery, with a lifty-lid box that looks like it holds bullets.

39 — Titania’s Star Tarot — Bought in 2012 from BMV. Came as part of a kit with a proper book. Great modern imagery and vibrant colours. Gave to a lovely friend to brighten her home.

40 — New Age Tarot (Wegmueller) — Bought in 2013 from BMV. Simple deck with an LWB. Gave it to a lovely lady while on vacation in Ireland in 2016.

41 — Etruscan Tarot (Minetti/Alasia) — Bought in 2013 from BMV. Simple deck with LWB.

42 — Tarot of the Renaissance (pocket) — Bought in 2013 from BMV. Simple deck with LWB.

43 — Manga Tarot (pocket) — Bought in 2013 from BMV. Simple deck with LWB.

44 — Housewives Tarot — My best friend J* had this and I always wanted it, in the end she gave it to me in 2013. Vintage imagery in a collage style, cheeky. Came as part of a kit with a proper book.

45 — Intuitive Tarot — Bought in 2013 from BMV. Came as part of a kit with a proper book. Giving it to a friend when we can all see each other again!

46 — Wishcraft Mystical Tarot Kit — Bought in 2013 from the games store at The Pen Centre. Came as part of a kit with proper book and spread sheet. Kind of silly, with very youth-skewed imagery and hot pink colours, but actually good to learn with. Sent them to a family member so she could learn.

47 — Babylonian Tarot — Bought in 2014 from World’s Biggest Bookstore. Came as part of a kit with a proper book. Passed along to a friend.

48 — Penny Dreadful Tarot — Bought in 2014 from HMV, after seeing Eva Green use them in the show. Simple line drawings on a purple field, not traditional but still interesting. Simple deck with an LWB.

49 — Victorian Steampunk Tarot — Bought in 2016 from BMV. There are so many steampunk-themed decks now, but I liked this one the most. Came as part of a kit with a proper book.

50 — Klimt Tarot: Pocket Golden Edition — Bought in 2016 from Moonflower’s at the Metaphysical Show. Gilded deck with a small bound book in a lidded box.

51 — Harmonious Tarot (pocket) — Bought in 2016 from Moonflower’s at the Metaphysical Show. Simple deck with an LWB.

52 — Radiant Rider-Waite Tarot — Bought in 2016 from the Metaphysical Show. Simple deck with an LWB, secondhand. Identical to the original Rider-Waite, but with brighter colours. Gave to a lovely friend, they made me think of her.

53 — Law of Attraction Tarot — Bought in 2016 from BMV. Kit with full colour book. Thinking of passing them along.

54 — The Sherlock Holmes Tarot — Bought in 2016 from BMV. Kit with monochromatic book. Thinking of passing them along.

55 — Cachet Tarot — Bought in 2016 from Indigo. Kit with MASSIVE cards (seriously, how could anyone read with these?) and a full-colour book. Giving it to a friend when we can see each other again!

56 — Night Sun Tarot — Bought in 2017 from BMV. Interesting dramatic imagery. Nice foldy box with an LWB, secondhand.

57 — The English Magic Tarot — Bought in 2017 from Indigo. Kit with book. Gave it to a friend as it wasn’t speaking to me.

58 — Welcome To Night Vale Tarot — Bought in 2017 from Toronto Library store on Free Comic Book Day, delightful. In velvety bag, no LWB.

59 — Golden Botticelli Tarot — A gift from an old friend in 2017, showed up in the mail quite by surprise and was just what I needed at the time. Nice foldy box with LWB.

60 — The Fae And The Ferns Tarot — Bought at the 2018 FanExpo from the artist (Samantha Sawyer) — lovely purples and pinks! In a pouch.

61 — Everyday Tarot — Bought December 2018 from Midocco on Bloor. Nice purple and gold deck with rounded corners and soft touch AQ and a little book. For something so mass-produced feeling, it is surprisingly easy to read with. Love it.

62 — Game of Thrones Tarot — Bought first week of June 2019 from BMV on Bloor. Good sized cards with beautiful illustrations and a small hardcover book.

63 — Mystic Mondays Tarot: A Deck For The Modern Mystic — Bought June 2019 from BMV on Bloor. Gorgeous saturated illustrations, good sized cards, the edges of the cards are holographic! Comes with a book. I had planned to buy it earlier but was balking at the price, and then BMV came through for me. Meant to be!

64 — The Rider Tarot Deck — It’s so bizarre that it took me this long to get the deck that’s the one most people get first. Came across it at Niagara Falls Comic Con in the dealer’s room June 2019. Classic size, extensive LWB.

65 — Tarot Cards (aka ‘Dollar Tree Tarot’) — From Value Village, July 2019. Super weird — good illustrations for the majors (which are not numbered) and the court cards and aces, but beyond that a) it’s a pip card deck, and 2) those pips are 1–7. Yes, 1 when there’s already an ace, and no 8, 9, or 10. But extra useless cards that mirror the words on the placement sheet. And an LWB that doesn’t tell you anything. Huh. Thinking of passing them along.

66 — Tarot of the Cloisters — Finally, a round deck to replace the one with all the fairies! Turned to Amazon for these in January 2020, after searching for it at a reasonable price forever. They’re beautiful and come in a foldy box, but with no LWB — a download link is included instead.

67 — The Fountain Tarot — Same deal as Tarot of the Cloisters, I also had to get these from Amazon January 2020. Again, no LWB but a download link instead.

68 — Dali Tarot — Gorgeous flocked box, with book and cards that are a bit too big, but who cares? I’ve had these in my mind for a while, so to come across them by chance, secondhand, must have been a sign. From BMV Yonge & Eglinton, February 2020.

69 — Royo Dark Tarot — March 2020, BMV Yonge & Eglinton. Pocket-sized with an LWB. A good size to hold and the cards slide nicely.

70 — Mythic Tarot — OK, this one is a mystery to me. I have the book, well-used but in good shape, and I have the deck, and even a matching spread cloth. But I have absolutely NO RECOLLECTION of acquiring it, so I don’t know where it falls in this order — some time after 2016 for sure, but when and where? Not from BMV, or there would be pencil marks on the inside cover. Was it at a swap maybe? The situation is kind of bizarre. Anyway, they’re a good size and slide nicely in hand.

71 — Tarot of Curious Creatures — March 2022, BMV Yonge & Eglinton. A fun collage-style deck with animal heads and people bodies in a box with a lifting lid and a thick guidebook. Plus it has an extra card — the Fool 2.0! A good size, matte coating makes it slide really nicely.

72 — Spiritsong Tarot — March 2022 from Value Village. Pretty average size leaning towards long, but not overly big; the stock is excellent, and they slide nicely in hand. An absolutely stunning deck produced by US Games, with animals as spiritual guides. Paulina Cassidy’s artwork is gorgeous, pen and ink style with fine detailed lines and subtle watercolour accents. Suits are acorns, feathers, shells, and crystals, and some cards have been renamed, but are still recognizable. No box with these, but they did come with the book — which is a small size but really packed with information written by the creator. Wanted this one for a while, and the thrifting elements offered them up to me!

73 — Kawaii Tarot (Lopez) — April 2022 from Value Village. Adorable kit with full deck of cards and guide book.

74 — The Wild Unknown Tarot — May 2022. Chanced across this at the Value Village while visiting friends — full hardbound guidebook, plus full deck and HALF of the box (the lifting lid is missing).

75 — My Garden Deck — Value Village, June 2022. Sweet little square deck in a foldy box, but missing its LWB.

76 — ‘Tarot’ (Grimaud-Ducale Tarot, SMIR edition, ‘jeux de Societe — accessoires cartes anciennes et de collection’) — Value Village, June 2022. ‘The Game of Tarot’ in a foldy box with fold-out sheet instructions, all in French. An interesting deck.

77 — Tattoo Tarot — Ink & Intuition (Megamunden) — From a vendor at the Meta Show, July 2022. Traditional tattoo style in a foldy box; the box mentions the LWB but there isn’t one inside, strange.

78 — Movie Tarot — From Book City at the Carrot Common, August 2022. Stylish cards, good size, though the minors are pips other than the aces. With a guide.

79 — Witches Tarot (Dugan/Evans) — From Value Village, August 2022. Photographic deck, nice size. No box or LWB, I'll have to keep them in a pouch.