This is my purely personal gallery of Tarot/Oracle decks I consider exceptional for their beautiful and/or unique artwork (images below). For a more in-depth discussion on this subject, see my blog posting. As the list of decks is an ever-changing work-in-progress (all the new releases is one factor), I felt it deserved its own page here.
The importance of Tarot/Oracle art is clear - the art is the key to the rabbit hole, so to speak and querents and readers alike are guided and affected by what they view on the cards. An image can lead one way or another and can make a huge difference in what the reader and querent gets from any spread. For me, if I don't "get" anything from the imagery of a particular deck - if it's too cutesy, void of real meaning, sterile, distracting or distractingly inept, then I certainly won't use it - or like it, for that matter. There are numerous decks which contain individual cards I really love - sometimes one or two, sometimes a number more - however, if the majority of the cards don't move me, then the decks didn't make this cut. I do have an extensive Unusual Tarot Cards board on Pinterest, with over 3000 images from a large selection of decks, so do visit! There I include exceptional individual images from decks that I felt weren't otherwise consistent in totality.
So, for what it's worth and without further prognostication, here are my votes for the most beautiful and/or unusual Tarot/Oracle/Lenormand decks. Some are out of print and difficult to find, others haven't been released yet, others are easily found on Amazon and elsewhere. They don't necessarily reflect accuracy of artistic interpretation as compared to standard RWS or Thoth meanings, but their inclusion here is based solely on appearance and/or ingenuity and is not in any order of preference. This list is ongoing and new additions will be added. If anyone has a deck or decks you feel should be mentioned, please let me know! Here goes:
1. Victorian Romantic Tarot, Baba Studio (2nd Edition in print)
2. Tarot Illuminati, Kim Huggens , Erik C. Dunne
3. Oracle of Visions, Ciro Marchetti
4. Gilded Reverie Lenormand, Ciro Marchetti
5. Alice Tarot, Baba Studio
6. Tarot of the Zirkus Magi by Doug Thornsjo
7. Chrysalis Tarot , Holly Sierra, Toney Brooks
8. Star Tarot, Cathy McClelland (not yet released)
9. Amanda Palmer Tarot (OOP)
10. Urban Tarot, Robert Scott
11. Victoria Regina Tarot Created by George Patterson, Sarah Ovenall (OOP)
12. Tarot de St. Croix, Devera Publishing, created by Lisa St. Croix
13. Alchemical Tarot by Robert M. Place, 4th Edition available
14. Bohemian Gothic Tarot, Baba Studio (3rd Edition in print)
15. Tarot of Prague, Baba Studio (OOP)
16. Stella's Tarot, Created by Stella Kaoruko, Takako Hoei
The importance of Tarot/Oracle art is clear - the art is the key to the rabbit hole, so to speak and querents and readers alike are guided and affected by what they view on the cards. An image can lead one way or another and can make a huge difference in what the reader and querent gets from any spread. For me, if I don't "get" anything from the imagery of a particular deck - if it's too cutesy, void of real meaning, sterile, distracting or distractingly inept, then I certainly won't use it - or like it, for that matter. There are numerous decks which contain individual cards I really love - sometimes one or two, sometimes a number more - however, if the majority of the cards don't move me, then the decks didn't make this cut. I do have an extensive Unusual Tarot Cards board on Pinterest, with over 3000 images from a large selection of decks, so do visit! There I include exceptional individual images from decks that I felt weren't otherwise consistent in totality.
So, for what it's worth and without further prognostication, here are my votes for the most beautiful and/or unusual Tarot/Oracle/Lenormand decks. Some are out of print and difficult to find, others haven't been released yet, others are easily found on Amazon and elsewhere. They don't necessarily reflect accuracy of artistic interpretation as compared to standard RWS or Thoth meanings, but their inclusion here is based solely on appearance and/or ingenuity and is not in any order of preference. This list is ongoing and new additions will be added. If anyone has a deck or decks you feel should be mentioned, please let me know! Here goes:
1. Victorian Romantic Tarot, Baba Studio (2nd Edition in print)
2. Tarot Illuminati, Kim Huggens , Erik C. Dunne
3. Oracle of Visions, Ciro Marchetti
4. Gilded Reverie Lenormand, Ciro Marchetti
5. Alice Tarot, Baba Studio
6. Tarot of the Zirkus Magi by Doug Thornsjo
7. Chrysalis Tarot , Holly Sierra, Toney Brooks
8. Star Tarot, Cathy McClelland (not yet released)
9. Amanda Palmer Tarot (OOP)
10. Urban Tarot, Robert Scott
11. Victoria Regina Tarot Created by George Patterson, Sarah Ovenall (OOP)
12. Tarot de St. Croix, Devera Publishing, created by Lisa St. Croix
13. Alchemical Tarot by Robert M. Place, 4th Edition available
14. Bohemian Gothic Tarot, Baba Studio (3rd Edition in print)
15. Tarot of Prague, Baba Studio (OOP)
16. Stella's Tarot, Created by Stella Kaoruko, Takako Hoei
