The Lubanko Tarot was initially released in 2020, with a second printing in 2022. The deck went out of print (to the dismay of many, including me!). The artist, Emily, spent time seeking a publisher to make it available to more people. Eventually, Llewellyn picked it up, and the mass market edition was released in October.
The deck maintains the common tarot deck structure, with 22 trumps/majors and the four suits of Wands, Pentacles, Swords, and Cups. In addition to the 22 majors, the deck features two additional options for the Lovers. Some found the original Lovers card a little racy, so the new additions give options for everyone. Personally, I love the OG!
Differences
Along with the three Lovers card, the box is large and sturdy, with an expanded guidebook written by the author and a “card altar.” Because of the bigger size, Emily was able to expand on the meanings and provide more context about the art itself.
The borders were removed from the cards. Borderless cards are trendy, but they can sometimes be hit or miss. In this case, the art has more room to express itself, so lots of kudos to all involved in that decision! You’ll notice, too, that the colors feel brighter—I believe Emily said it was truer to the original art than the indie printing, but I could just be making it up.
The cards are still gilded, but this time the gilding is matte black rather than the original silver. The other change was the cardstock. This is not surprising and typical when a deck goes from indie to mass market. It was controversial, but more on that later.
Mood and Style
The Lubanko Tarot is intense and gloriously queer. It manages to be both on an “art” deck (typically for collecting purposes) and a practical one (accessible and intended for use). The cards are dramatic and poetic. Some perhaps may describe it as “dark,” but I think a more accurate descriptor would be “introspective.” Imagine closing your eyes, scrying into the vast beauty of darkness, and conjuring images/feelings that naturally surface from deep within your bones and heart. Not dark, but profoundly and intrinsically you.
Some of the cards can have more muted tones, while others are bright and explosive. Check out the Magician and the High Priestess, for instance. The Magician is very active, and the card has a lot of movement—you can really feel the magic and energy! Conversely, the High Priestess is more contained, still maintaining intensity, but “tamer.” In all cases, Emily did a great job encompassing the human experience.
The cards in each suit display the same variety of intensities. The cards contract and expand throughout the suit’s narrative. Consider the Swords, for instance. We start with the Ace, shattering what appears to be glass. The colors are lighter, and the lines are more defined. Transitioning to the Two of Swords, the lines lose definition, the colors darken, and the atmosphere quietens. The Three of Swords returns to boldness, only to follow the Four of Swords, which is again contained and reserved. This contraction and expansion carry on throughout the rest of the suit.
The Cups have a fun take on the common Rider-Waite-Smith equivalents. Take the Six of Cups, for example, which style mimics the childlike nature of the card’s usual “meaning.”
Out of all the Wands cards, I adore the courts. They are sorcerous, bursting with the power found in the body and the drive of witches and magical practitioners.
The Pentacles really display Emily’s artistic talent. Compare the Queen and King; though they share a common thread, their styles are drastically different. The Queen has bolder colors and linework than the King’s.
The Majors blow my mind. That Hierophant is a lot more terrifying than the Pope found in the original RWS. The card encapsulates the dread of organized religion and the Mysteries behind a spiritual teacher.
The interpretations here on Judgement and the World are fresh takes. On Judgement, Emily writes, “A great pillar of light rises toward the heavens, casting the earth in a blinding flash of newness. The world flickers and morphs in an abstract state, molten and strange and changing.” You can almost hear the chaos in Judgement.
Production Quality
I’m sure you are less concerned with the box and the guidebook (they are nice!), so lemme get to the meat and potatoes.
Cardstock.
If you read online reviews, you’ll find some pointed criticisms of the cardstock. When I read them, I had hesitancies about purchasing the deck! But I thought, “whatever,” and chose to buy the deck anyway. The cards are indeed thinner than the indie edition; from a usability perspective, it was a wise choice. Because they can bend more easily, it’s a good option for riffle shuffling. If you want to keep cards in pristine condition, then I would suggest sticking to an indie version; it’s a collectible anyway. I’ve used my deck regularly over the past two months, and I have no problems with how it’s held up. They haven’t warped, and they are perfectly usable. Yeah, the gilding gets scuffed up. I personally am not a stickler for worn gilding (I actually prefer non-gilded decks). If anything, it shows character!
If there is anything I’d change about the set, I’d ditch the card altar. Most readers aren’t fans of branded items, and the altar doesn’t really feel like it added much value.
Reading
I went ahead and used the only spread provided in the book. It’s an alternative to the standard past-present-future spread:
- Where I was: What is a theme that I should meditate on as it pertains to my past?
- Where I am: What is something that should be further examined now?
- Where I may go: What should I keep in mind as I move forward?
All these Cups—I’m not complaining! The Page of Cups is open, big-eyed, and excited. Notice how they move toward the Ten of Cups, where a “holy rain” falls from the sky. The empty chalice in the Page’s hand catches the downpour. Best to keep my cup overflowing and take all the blessings I can get, just like the Nine of Cups.
If you’re thinking of purchasing the deck, grab it from Llewellyn! Buying direct is always best for creators.
Wishing everyone good things, no matter how you observe (or not observe!) this season. Xoxo