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Diversity and the Lie that is “Traditional” Tarot
TLDR: representation matters, “traditional” as a concept in tarot is BS, and performative diversity is awkward. I’m Italian & Chinese. In the past, I struggled with my identity; though I grew up culturally Italian, speaking the language, and was raised in Italy by an Italian mother, not everyone considered me Italian. I was told I “didn’t look like it.” My eyes were “too slanted.” Naturally, it gave me quite a complex! I resented my Asian heritage. I felt like it was an obstacle to popularity, recognition, and even romance. I did everything I could to prove my “whiteness.” Thankfully, I’ve…
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A Spread Demo from Mathers’s Tarot with Soler’s Waite Smith
Fabricio Soler’s Waite Smith is a welcome treat to the body of RWS reconstructions. Unsurprisingly, I haven’t seen many English-speaking reviews or tarot readers showcase this deck, so I’m excited to show it in action and perhaps inspire folks to look beyond European and US markets. I became aware of Soler’s work through his Instagram, illustrarot. I lack the language to describe the art style; thankfully, I can take photos. Hopefully, you can help me find the right descriptors! Many of y’all are likely familiar with the Rider-Waite-Smith, so I put it to work using a (modified) spread from an…
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How to Tell Fortunes with Cards by Wenzell Brown
I was recently gifted How to Tell Fortunes with Cards, a guide published in the early 60s by Wenzell Brown. It is a cute manual for reading playing cards, covering card meanings, holistic reading of a spread, and sample readings. Oh, and it has the cutest cover. I love the vintage look… The book is a quick read, with each “chapter” consisting of a few paragraphs; the bulk of the chapters being individual card meanings. At first glance, it feels very run-of-the-mill. But I was pleasantly surprised by the guidance, advice, and techniques it included. Like most cartomancy books, Brown…
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Tarot Tableau Revolution by Maria Alviz Hernando
Tarot Tableau Revolution by Maria Alviz Hernando is a much-needed book for the tarot community, blending the open reading method of traditional cartomancy with the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Whereas most tarot spreads consist of card positions with “fixed meanings” (think Celtic Cross), the tableau is more dynamic, where cards are read in combinations, and the larger landscape of a question is explored. Maria doesn’t shy away from old-school fortunetelling: the book focuses on answering everyday questions and the art of prediction. It’s a refreshing change from the psychological bent found in some tarot circles. She even dedicates the last five chapters…
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The Lubanko Tarot by E. Lubanko
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…
