When is a pip deck not really a pip deck? In this video, I argue that many popular decks we hear people mention as pip decks are really examples of minimalist symbolic RWS imagery. In what I’m calling a flashcard deck, there may not be people; the scenes might be…
Category: Art & Aesthetics
Art & Aesthetics
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Overdue Review #2: Black is Art Tarot by noweyesee (aka That Witch Lou)
Black is Art Tarot by noweyesee (Vieux Monde Press) is a unique deck in many ways: Portraiture decks and I have not always gotten along, and with the weird pips, I wrote this deck off at first as something I couldn’t read with. But after watching Mims’ video a second…
Decks for Halloween Readings?
I’m having a conundrum about which decks to take with me for Halloween readings this year. In the past I’ve used Patrick Valenza’s Trionfi Della Luna in a negative-blue colorway (cute and spooky), The Grateful Dead Tarot by Erin Cadigan and Elizabeth Jezorski (skeletons, of course!), and Tarot of the…
Fandom Decks: Does layering pop culture create deeper meanings?
Fandom decks are all the rage these days – at least if you go into any big bookstore. Your favorite animated film, TV show or fantasy movie from the 1990’s is bound to have a themed tarot to go with it, thanks in large part to the work of Insight…
Art & Aesthetics
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Overdue Review #1: Mary Packard’s Tarot de Marseille kit
I was feeling shy about reviewing publications (decks, books, etc) that are not new. But then, I figured we can’t all know everything, the cartomantic publication field is very hot and crowded these last few years, and there may be some gems buried in there that could use another moment…
Mid-Year Collection Update 2026
I don’t like to do collection videos too often but was inspired by ScholarBot’s recent update. I’m not following any particular set of prompts, but want to share: New acquisitions in 2026: Gifts The Modern Goth Tarot, Natalie Foss, Skittledog Press, 2024 The Magic Lantern Sibilla: Learn to read the…
Buddhist Decks: The problem of image appropriation, and what I use instead
Tarot and cartomancy enthusiasts have been seeing it for decades: the use and cooption of culturally-significant imagery, terminology, so-called “representation”, in the name of commercial profitability. Removing the sacred from its context, “simplifying” it to make it more “accessible” for a general audience, and selling it as some sort of talisman or solution to an undefined problem. As a formal student of Tibetan Buddhism, it pains me to see people selling, buying, and using imagery that the have no context or respect for in ways that it was never intended.
Art & Aesthetics
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Pride Decks for You, Me, and Everyone
First, let me wish you a happy Pride Month, and a wish that you are able to live your life and express yourself, in all your complexities, however you feel comfortable, and feel safe and supported in doing that. I recognize not everyone is in that position right now, either…
Art & Aesthetics
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Recolored Historic Tarots
When I first realized that tarot predated the Smith-Waite deck of 1908 I was immediately excited to start collecting historic decks… and then quickly put off by the crude, primary color woodblock style of Tarots de Marseille. After additional research I started to find recolored and redrawn decks that I…
Historic Deck Producers: My favorites and more
When I first started getting interested in historic tarots, I didn’t realize how much I would enjoy reading with them. Over the last 5 years I’ve refined my taste in what I look for and wanted to share my favorites. I’ll talk about why I want my historic tarot esthetics…