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Seasons of the Witch Autumn Tarot, by Lorraine Anderson and Tijana Lukovic

Seasons of the Witch Autumn Tarot: A journey through Mabon and Samhain, by Lorraine Anderson with illustrations by Tijana Lukovic
Rockpool Publishing, 1923208748, 128 pages, 78 cards, August 2026

There is something inherently magical about the transition into autumn: the world seems to slow down, the days grow shorter, and nature begins its beautiful process of letting go. It’s my favorite time of the year! Seasons of the Witch Autumn Tarot: A Journey Through Mabon and Sanhaim by Lorriane Anderson with illustrations by Tijana Lukovic captures the season’s liminal quality beautifully, inviting readers to experience the traditional tarot through the shifting energies of autumn.

This 78-card tarot deck is a continuation of the beloved Seasons of the Witch collection. Anderson reimagines the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) system through the themes of Mabon and Samhain when the Wheel of the Year turns to the darker times. Harvest, gratitude, balance, transition, release, shadow work, death, rebirth, and the wisdom that comes from turning inward all become part of the reading experience, fostering new insights within the structure of traditional tarot meanings.

From the second I held this deck, I felt a magnetic pull towards it. The energy was just radiating the essence of fall. And while I am enjoying the end of summer, this deck has gotten me so excited for the shift of summer into autumn. For me, this is the magic of the Seasons of the Witch collection; the decks really foster an alignment with the season.

As soon as I opened the box, I was absolutely taken with the gilded orange edges filled with captivating images that are much more relatable for me than the traditional RWS imagery. The artwork by Tijana Lukovic highlights the warmth and coziness of Mabon with the mysterious, rustling atmosphere associated with Samhain. The palette of warm oranges, reds, browns, and autumnal golds makes the deck feel like stepping into a crisp October evening.

Shuffling through the deck, there are golden leaves, pumpkins, candles, woodland settings, witches, spirits, ghosts, and shadowy figures, which transport readers into the liminal space of autumn. There’s spookiness, enchantment, solace, and magic all within the artwork.

I see cards with a woman grieving, women together doing a spell, a woman gazing out the window reading a book, and one simply enjoying a steaming cup of something delicious I’m sure. Essentially, I see many versions of myself in the deck, which is why I feel like I resonate with it so readily.

Yet at the same time, there’s an otherworldly, fairy-tale-like quality to the deck that invites a feeling of whimsy too. This dance between the mundane and the mystical, where daily ritual becomes a portal for wider connection is so apparent in this deck. Lukovic just has a truly remarkable ability to capture the soulfulness of each season. I can’t get enough of all her expressive images!

Further reflecting the autumn energy is the revisioning of the suits, which puts the tarot cards into a different archetypal perspective. Cups become jack-o’-lanterns, representing emotional warmth and light in the darkness; Wands become broomsticks, emphasizing cleansing and sweeping away what is no longer needed; Swords take the form of branches, connecting the suit with resilience and nature’s wisdom; and Pentacles become mirrors, turning attention toward self-worth, material relationships, and the reflection between our inner and outer worlds.

Anderson also makes some changes to the traditional tarot terminology to further immerse the reader in the seasonal world of autumn. For instance, the Sun becomes Sunset, the Moon becomes The Waning Moon, the World becomes Descending Into Winter.  The last change to the traditional RWS design is reimaging the Court Cards. Anderson calls Initiates (Pages), Seekers (Knights), Shepherds (Queens), and Keepers (Kings). According to the guidebook, this terminology will continue for all of the Seasons of the Witch tarot decks. These changes give the familiar tarot symbolism an entirely new atmosphere while maintaining recognizable connections to the familiar system.

All of the deck descriptions I’ve mentioned can be found in the guidebook, which is quite informative. Following an introduction by Anderson, there’s a page with themes for autumn, along with a passage about the seasons as archetypes. Anderson offers guidance for working with the deck, including how to do cleansing and dedication, situations to use the deck beyond the time of Autumn, and combining tarot with oracle cards. I especially appreciated her method for reading reversals with the deck, which was an emphasis on the card rather than an inverted meaning. From here, Anderson shares spreads for readers. They range from one-card pulls to a full 10-card spread to get to know the deck.

As for the cards’ guidebook entries, all of them follow the same format. First, there’s an image of the card followed by a description of the artwork. This is very valuable because it highlights the imagery, giving readers’ perspective they might have otherwise not noticed. This is followed by a divinatory message, which I noticed aligns with the message from the traditional tarot card represented. The final section of the entry is a list of additional meanings for the cards; this is very helpful for expanding the message for readers to consider alternative possibilities.

As an example, I was doing a one-card pull and drew The Autumn High Priest. This is one of the cards that differs a bit from traditional tarot, making it much more resonant and approachable for me. The imagery shows women whispering counsel into the ear of a woman veiled in a white gown. The description reads, “The presence of each of these women emphasizes community, tradition, and the transfer of knowledge from teacher to student.”1 What a wonderful framing of the energy!

Anderson does go on to explain the energy, mentioning how it relates to the traditional Hierophant card, while also keeping a nature-based, spiritual connection present in the message. The additional meanings include things such as honoring seasonal practices that keep us rooted, working within a hierarchy, formal study or initiation into a new discipline, and family influence on one’s love life. The different ways this card can be read allow for plenty of flexibility, allowing for readers to apply the essence of the card to find meaningful insight into their personal situation.

All in all, for readers who already love the Seasons of the Witch oracle decks, Autumn Tarot feels like a natural expansion of the collection. Though, it also works beautifully as a standalone deck for anyone who loves seasonal spirituality, witchcraft, nature-based practices, or tarot with a strong archetypal atmosphere. For those who find spiritual meaning in the turning of the Wheel of the Year or simply love the introspective magic of autumn, this is a beautiful invitation to slow down, look inward, and listen to what the season has to teach us. I love it so much!!

Tarot of the Unconscious, by Aliza Einhorn

Tarot of the Unconscious: Uncovering the Hidden Link Between Psychoanalysis and the Cards, by Aliza Einhorn
Weiser Books, 157863895X, 224 pages, June 2026

Tarot of the Unconscious: Uncovering the Hidden Link Between Psychoanalysis and the Cards is a very niche perspective on the tarot, examining how to read tarot through the lens for self-reflection, drawing on the work and legacy of Sigmund Freud. As a depth psychologist, I was intrigued by this approach, especially since most decks focus rather on Carl Jung’s work, leaning into archetypes, synchronicity, and the collective unconscious. I was curious to see the intersection between Freudian psychology and tarot wisdom.

To me, the Freudian approach to the unconscious is messy, intimate, and quite uncomfortable at times, if I’m being honest. But Einhorn delves into this unconscious realm with ease. Showing how the cards can reveal internal contradictions, compulsions, grief, projection, and other emotional truths, the tarot becomes a tool for examining and reflecting on your own unconscious mind.

“A far more personal approach exists here: Freud’s notion that your unconscious is a reflection of you.”2

This book is a merging of Einhorn’s two worlds as a tarot reader and trained psychoanalyst. Throughout the book, she often references experiences from her training or teaching. I was actually a little surprised by how interconnected the material was with Einhorn’s world: I could feel the New York buzz, envision her encounters, and hear her teaching her tarot students. This was a nice personal touch, making the book much more than simply route descriptions of the cards.

Tarot of the Unconscious begins with an introduction where Einhorn explains the background of the tarot, Freud, and how she discovers they converge. She writes, “I began to feel that Tarot and psychoanalysis were a natural pair, like garlic and olive oil, like New York City and the subway system, like Freud and the mysteries of the psyche.”3

I like this quote because it highlights Einhorn’s style of writing: grounded with emotional realism. This is refreshing in a realm that can quickly get heady yet esoteric. Her approach is perfect for initiating readers into this realm of psychological honesty without getting submerged in the depth or losing the plot; she keeps things engaging yet brings accountability to the work.

The book then turns to the cards themselves. Beginning with the Major Arcana, Einhorn examines each one through an overarching lens of psychoanalysis and Freud. For all of them, she draws in Freud’s work, biography, or personality to highlight the card’s message. With the Devil, Einhorn discusses Freud’s “legendary cigar-smoking habit”[/efn_note]page 74[/efn_note], while for the Moon card readers learn about Freud’s interest in omens. I’m not going to lie, it’s a LOT about Freud, so I do caution readers with this because if you’re not really into learning about him then this book could be a bit….. much!

Einhorn also provides meanings for each Major Arcana card both upright and reversed. Additionally, there’s a tarot spread for every card too.

This general format continues on in the next section focusing on Minor Arcana cards. Similar to the Major Arcana, there’s plenty of tarot studies from Einhorn’s personal experience. What’s different in the guidance for this section is that for each card Einhorn offers what she believes Freud would say about the card. So, readers are still getting plenty of insight into his work with this fanciful and creative twist.

The card’s meaning, upright and reversed, is also explained along with a spread to be used for a specific type of self-reflection.The Four of Cups spread is to shine light on what you dare not see, while the Six of Swords spread is for when “all you need is a way out of town.”4

Now here’s another interesting thing about Einhorn’s Tarot of the Unconscious method: the Aces and Court cards are read differently, corresponding to their element. I’m not going to give away her special method – you can read the book yourself for that! But I will say that it’s an interesting approach that also leaves plenty of room for your own free associations with the cards too.

The final section includes additional ways to work with the cards. Einhorn covers journaling in a tarot diary, creating your own spreads, and a telepathy game to aid readers in sinking into the stream of their unconscious.

While I did enjoy reading this book, by the end I was kind of over all the Freud facts. His work was interesting but he has never been my favorite psychologist, and Einhorn brings back every single tarot card (except Aces and Court Cards) to him which got to be a bit overzealous. This said, I did appreciate learning more about psychoanalysis and the history of the time it emerged. But I would have appreciated more of Einhorn’s insights from her own practice and teaching tarot; I guess I should go check out her other books for that!

Overall, Tarot of the Unconscious is an interesting approach to the cards. Einhorn’s passion for both tarot and Freud is very apparent on each page, and she certainly has a unique perspective when it comes to seeing parallels between the two. I’d recommend this book for those interested in exploring a psychoanalytic lens when reading tarot or those who are seeking ways to work with the tarot for self-reflection. There is good material on how symbolism and psyche come together through reading the cards; the deck serves as a mirror for unconscious material, filled with a symbolic language for emotional excavation.

Tarot Divinatorium, by André Sanchez

Tarot Divinatorium, by André Sanchez
Rockpool Publishing, 1923208470, 176 pages, 76 cards, April 2026

Art lovers rejoice in the stunning Tarot Divinatorium by André Sanchez! This elegant deck, designed to honor the history of tarot, transforms the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) structure into a lavish visual language of art, symbolism, and beauty. Through intricate digital collage and classical art aesthetics, Sanchez invites readers into a time “where gentle noblemen and women await your queries with open hearts and reassuring insights.”5

At first glance, the deck is breathtaking. Rich gilded borders frame each card like museum masterpieces, while layers of Renaissance and Baroque imagery create an atmosphere that feels both timeless and surreal. Rather than simply reproducing Pamela Colman Smith’s iconic scenes, Sanchez reconstructs them using fragments of historical paintings, religious iconography, botanical motifs, and celestial symbolism. The result is a deck that feels luxurious and elegant.

What’s even cooler is that Sanchez had depicted classical paintings into every card. On the border, there are two paintings, representing the positive aspects (left side) and negative aspects (right side). These painting vignettes give readers a whole other layer of symbolism to work with, as you can go learn about the painting/artist, research it, and look at that too for further intuitive insights. For those who love art or art history, this is an amazing element of this deck; it’s something I’ve never seen done before.

I find it very fascinating to think about the time and dedication Sanchez put into creating this deck, meditating on the different meanings of the tarot cards and finding not just one but two paintings to represent the polarities of the cards’ meanings. It’s so neat to see these little paintings within Sanchez’s own original artwork, bringing such fascinating layers of meaning to the deck. This is definitely one of the most creative interpretations of tarot that I’ve seen.

Looking at this deck gives me the same feelings I felt walking around Philadelphia Museum of Art just the other day: awe and inspiration. The energy of this deck is regal, majestic, romantic, opulent, contemplative, and sacred all at once. There’s a luminous, timeless feeling that comes from gazing at the tarot archetypes depicted with Sanchez’s artistry, with each card hinting at hidden wisdom and every frame inviting closer inspection. I like how Sanchez didn’t do all borders the same way, so placement of the painting vignettes varies, giving the eyes an adventure of finding the little details. I could gaze at these cards all day long!

As for the guidebook, it’s well illustrated, colored, and easy to hold in one’s hand. For each entry, Sanchez provides insight into the meaning while also explaining the card’s imagery for further clarity. He also shares information about the left and right vignette, so readers know the paintings depicted and gain knowledge about how it represents the message of the card.

There’s a headlined subtext for each card too, which is useful for those who want quick guidance. For example, it reads “New Spiritual Power”6 under the Magician, and “Exciting Invitations”7 under the Knight of Cups. I appreciate these quick descriptions because they make it easy to piece messages from spreads that have multiple cards.

This goes to show that while there’s a lot of artistic complexity and symbolism within the deck,  the guidebook distills it quite nicely, making it accessible for all readers to find meaning. The familiar RWS framework ensures that experienced tarot readers will immediately recognize the narrative and symbolism of each card, while newcomers could still comfortably learn the traditional system without feeling overwhelmed. The imagery expands upon the original card meanings rather than obscuring them, making the deck equally suitable for intuitive readings and deeper symbolic exploration.

One of my favorite cards in the deck is The Devil. In the card, a semi-transparent veiled naked woman looms standing on a crescent moon with a black goat at her heels and snake wrapping around her leg. She has black wings and a crown of black and red flowers. Looking at it carefully, one notices black candles burning on each side too. Sanchez highlights all these symbolic elements in the guidebook entry, writing:

“There is an energy of obsession and jealousy surrounding this situation: the need for others to be obedient and bow to your will and the need to control. An element of weakness when faced with temptation is indicated.”8

Very potent! And the paintings associated with it are Portrait de Bacchus by Peter Paul Rubens (positive aspect) and Temptation of Saint Anthony by Joos van Craesbeeck (negative aspect). I really enjoyed going and spending time looking at these images as well.

Overall, this riveting deck is filled with avenues to explore. Sanchez preserves the symbolic integrity of the RWS system while presenting it through a contemporary artistic lens rooted in classical mastery and beauty. The result is a tarot deck that feels both familiar and refreshingly original. This is a collector’s deck that is equally capable of serving as a practical reading tool.

Whether displayed as an art piece or used for daily divination, Tarot Divinatorium offers an immersive experience that reminds us tarot is not only a system of symbols but also a visual language capable of transcending time through artistic legacy. Readers who appreciate fine art, layered symbolism, and intricate design will enjoy this deck. There’s so much to explore, and it’s a very compelling deck to work with time and time again for inspiration, creative appreciation, and discerning wisdom.

From Accountability to Absolute Peace, by Cariabella

From Accountability to Absolute Peace:
How Justice Opens the Gateway to the High Priestess

Working with the Tarot is far more than an exercise in fortune-telling; it is a profound map for clearing subconscious blockages, unlocking spiritual growth, and aligning your energy to manifest both spiritual fulfillment and material desires.

To achieve this spiritual awakening, we can view the Major Arcana in two distinct phases. First, the cards from The Magician to The Hermit represent the conscious goals we strive to reach. Second, the cards from The Wheel of Fortune to The Moon represent the profound process of shadow work. 

In this article, we map out a vital evolutionary step: how actively working with the objective energy of Justice bridges the internal gap, clearing the path to the absolute, intuitive peace of The High Priestess.

To achieve true fulfillment and manifest your desires, you must dive deep into your subconscious mind. Famed psychologist Carl Jung noted that it is precisely through the tension of opposites—polarities—that we connect with the subconscious.

This duality is beautifully illustrated by the two pillars—one black, one white—standing beside The High Priestess. By actively working with these opposing forces, we bridge the gap between our conscious and subconscious minds, granting ourselves permission to step behind her veil and access the deep, flowing waters of divine intuition.

But how do we cross that threshold? We do it by executing the structural work of The Justice Card.

1. Analyze and Weigh Your Attitude

The figure on the Justice card looks directly at you. Her unyielding, piercing gaze signifies raw awareness and radical discernment. We cannot grow while lying to ourselves; healing begins only when we see the absolute truth of our lives and take total ownership of our reality. While you cannot always control external events, you have absolute control over your reactions.

Sit on your own metaphorical stone throne, hold up her scales, and objectively analyze your attitude toward your health, wealth, emotions, and self-esteem by answering three core questions:

• What happened? Look at the triggering event objectively, stripping away all drama, blame, or distortion.

• How did it affect you? Identify the exact thoughts, physical sensations, and emotions it triggered.

• What area of life is it impacting? Pinpoint the root. Are you fighting about a bill because of a subconscious fear of scarcity? Did someone embarrass you, piercing an unhealed wound in your self-esteem?

Answering these questions allows us to identify the exact opposites we need to work on. In any given situation, you might uncover one or more pairs of conflicting polarities. Once identified, we take these pairs and run them through the next step of the process.

2. Bridge the Opposites: The 7 Subconscious Laws

It is time to wield the Sword of Justice. Our ultimate goal is to balance the conscious and unconscious minds. True mastery over our knee-jerk emotional reactions happens when we apply the Seven Key Subconscious Principles. These principles are represented by the imagery on the High Priestess’s veil—the palms and pomegranates—and are implemented by the Sword of Justice.

1. The Law of Similarity – Using a past, successful parallel to solve a current conflict.

2. The Law of Contrast – Flipping the script when you hit a psychological wall.

3. The Law of Recency – Using your freshest emotional memory as a behavioral guide.

4. The Law of Repetition – Building the muscle memory of psychological balance.

5. The Law of Intensity – Using an emotional wake-up call to cement a permanent rule.

6. The Law of Multiplicity – Allowing a single point of friction to spark multiple creative solutions.

7. The Law of Structure – Organizing internal chaos into a usable, external system.

The Laws in Action: Balancing the Scales of Wealth

To see these laws in action, let’s examine a universal human friction point: Saving Money (Security) vs. Spending Money (Living in the Present). If you only save, you live in anxiety and deprivation. If you only spend, you face financial ruin.

Here is how the seven laws navigate that tension to bring you into perfect balance:

1. Similarity: You are torn between buying a plane ticket for a friend’s wedding or keeping that money in your emergency fund. To break the deadlock, you look for a similar tension you successfully resolved in the past. You remember being torn over buying a gym membership; you eventually realized health was an investment, bought it, and never regretted it. 

2. Contrast: For six months, you have been on a hyper-strict budget, tracking every single cent. You now feel miserable, exhausted, and resentful. To flip the script, you consciously choose to treat yourself to a beautiful dinner out, recognizing that occasional indulgence is the necessary, healthy contrast required to sustain long-term financial discipline.

3. Recency: You are standing in a store staring at an expensive designer jacket, locked in a mental tug-of-war. Suddenly, you recall yesterday afternoon, when you logged into your bank account and felt a deep, profound sense of peace seeing your savings grow. That fresh memory anchors you, giving you the strength to walk away.

4. Repetition: The first time you say “no” to a luxury item, it feels painful. The first time you say “yes” to a vacation, you feel guilty. Yet, you keep practicing this balance month after month. Over time, repetition rewires your brain, transforming financial anxiety into an effortless, steady rhythm.

5. Intensity: Your car unexpectedly breaks down, leaving you with a $1,500 repair bill. Because you practiced the Justice Protocol and saved money, you pay the bill easily. The relief you feel is incredibly intense, cementing a lifelong rule to always maintain an emergency fund. Conversely, you vividly remember the raw panic of an emergency years ago when you had zero savings—an intense memory that keeps you accountable.

6. Multiplicity: You sit down, frustrated by the constant tug-of-war between wanting to eat out with friends and wanting to build your savings. Instead of treating it as a rigid “yes or no” choice, you let that tension stretch your creativity. You host a potluck, start a cooking club, or find a side hustle that funds your social life, creating multiple wins from a single friction point.

7. Structure: Struggling with daily anxiety over whether you are spending too much or saving enough is chaotic. To fix it, you apply physical structure. You download a budgeting app or create a spreadsheet utilizing a clear framework, like the 50/30/20 rule (50% Needs, 30% Wants, 20% Savings), transforming emotional overwhelm into organized clarity.

Step Behind the Veil

By implementing the Justice Protocol and mastering these seven laws, you successfully clear the mental debris and emotional static of your life. Only when the scales of Justice are balanced can you naturally step into the quiet, sacred domain of The High Priestess.

In her lap sits the scroll marked “TORA”—the divine law and memory containing the record of all human experience, accessible through symbols, myths, and dreams.

Because she is perfectly connected to the subconscious, she acts as your ultimate gateway to the collective unconscious. By doing the heavy lifting of Justice, you earn the right to step past the noise of the external world, pull back the veil, and bathe in the infinite wisdom of the universe.

Riding the Cosmic Cycle, by Cariabella

Riding the Cosmic Cycle:
How Navigating the Wheel of Fortune Makes You the Magician

Working with the Tarot can clear subconscious blockages and catalyze deep spiritual growth, ultimately leading to personal fulfillment and the manifestation of your material desires.

To achieve this spiritual awakening, we can view the Major Arcana in two distinct phases. First, the cards from The Magician to The Hermit represent the conscious goals we strive to reach. Second, the cards from The Wheel of Fortune to The Moon represent the profound process of shadow work. 

In this article, we will explore how navigating the lessons of The Wheel ultimately leads us back to the mastery of The Magician—which is precisely where our journey begins.

We’ve all been there. You wake up on top of the world, ready to conquer the day. Then, an unpleasant interaction occurs—someone speaks to you rudely, or a sudden crisis disrupts your reality—and your mood plummets. You spend the rest of the day ruminating, replaying the scenario until you are mentally and emotionally exhausted. Just like that, a single external moment has hijacked your consciousness and drained your vital energy.

When this happens, you are being tossed around on the chaotic outer rim of The Wheel of Fortune.

Many people spend their entire lives reacting to the spin of this wheel, completely unaware that this chaotic rotation is actually the first step in necessary shadow work and inner transformation. The ultimate goal of the self-awakening paradigm is to move from the helpless spinning of the Wheel to the absolute mastery of The Magician.

But how do we bridge that gap? The secret lies in a precise, three-step psychological and spiritual process of assessing and balancing the four core elements of our psyche.

Step 1: Accept the Reality of the Spin

The first step is a shift in perspective. The Wheel of Fortune represents the eternal truth that change is the only constant. It illustrates a simultaneous descent and ascent: as the wheel rotates, what is on top moves downward, and what is below moves upward.

This continuous flow is governed by a hidden spiritual law woven into nature, famously spelled out by the letters on the wheel itself: ROTA TARO ORAT TORA ATOR (“The Wheel of Tarot speaks the Law of Hathor”).

Look closely at the card’s symbology:

  • On the right, a yellow serpent descends, expressing divine will in action. It reminds us that everything happening to you is happening for a reason—to make you grow spiritually.
  • On the left, Hermanubis ascends, symbolizing the evolution of human consciousness from lower to higher states.

Every time you stop fighting the external rotation and instead choose to overcome the event, your consciousness expands and you become stronger from within.

Step 2: The Four-Element Trigger Audit

When something happens that triggers you, the instinctual response is to react blindly. The spiritual path demands that you pause, recognize the trigger, and analyze how it is affecting the four classical elements within your psyche.

On the Wheel of Fortune card, these are represented by the Hebrew letters of the Tetragrammaton (Yod, Heh, Vav, Heh) on the outer circle, as well as the four mystical creatures in the corners. Carl Jung beautifully mapped these four elements onto the foundational cognitive functions of the human mind.

When a crisis hits, perform a sudden audit of these four areas:

  • • Earth (Sensation / Final Heh): How is your connection to the physical world? Are your five senses overwhelmed? Is your body physically tense or grounded?
  • • Water (Feeling / Heh): What does your emotional landscape look like? How is this event threatening your internal values or interpersonal relationships?
  • • Air (Thinking / Vav): Is your logic and intellect spinning out of control? Are you trapped in an obsessive, rationalizing mind-loop, or can you look at the problem with objective analysis?
  • • Fire (Intuition / Yod): Have you lost your connection to your higher vision and inspiration? What do your gut feelings and spontaneous understandings tell you about the future possibilities of this situation?

By stepping back to observe and categorize your reaction, you take the first step toward self-consciousness—the objective, directing part of the mind.

Step 3: Step Into the Center and Run the Alchemy

At the center of the wheel rests the symbols for Mercury, Sulphur, Water, and Salt—the universal mechanics of alchemical transformation. Water, in particular, represents dissolution: the necessary breaking down of our rigid ego structures.

To move from the spinning rim to the still center of the wheel, you must consciously undergo the four primary psychological phases of Carl Jung’s alchemical Magnum Opus (Great Work):

  1. Nigredo (The Blackening): You confront your Shadow. Instead of distracting yourself from the trigger, you face the painful breakdown, the darkness, and the repressed trauma head-on.
  2. Albedo (The Whitening): The stage of purification and catharsis. You bring objective detachment and balance, sorting through your inner polarities.
  3. Citrinitas (The Yellowing): The dawn of higher consciousness. You become illuminated by wisdom, insight, and true spiritual awakening.
  4. Rubedo (The Reddening): The final synthesis where conscious and unconscious aspects permanently unite, culminating in the realization of the True Self.

The Result: Becoming The Magician

When you balance the four elements by undergoing this rigorous alchemical process, you achieve the metaphorical “Fifth Element”—the unified, awakened Self. This state of integration is represented on the Wheel of Fortune card by the Sphinx seated majestically and immutably at the very apex of the wheel.

By mastering the elements, you step off the wheel of reaction and step into the card of The Magician.

The Magician doesn’t get tossed around by external circumstances because he possesses absolute mastery over his mind. You unlock the iconic posture of the Magician: one hand raised aloft holding a wand toward the heavens, the other pointing down to the earth.

You embody the ancient Hermetic axiom: “As above, so below.” You realize you are a divine conduit—a messenger through whom higher spiritual energy flows down into material reality. You possess the active agency to direct cosmic energy to manifest your desires.

The Endless Cycle of Renewal

This spiritual alignment is never a static, “one-and-done” achievement. It is a lifelong, ongoing practice. This continuous evolution is vividly illustrated by the Ouroboros—the serpent biting its own tail clasped around the Magician’s waist.

It reminds us that creation, destruction, and renewal are eternal. To stay in your power, you must continually shed your old skins, letting the ego dissolve so your highest Self can be perpetually reborn.

Stop fighting the spin of the wheel. Embrace the rotation, audit your triggers, run your inner alchemy, and step into your true power as the conscious creator of your reality.

Celtic Elemental Tarot, by Ayn Cates Sullivan and Belle Crow duCray

Celtic Elemental Tarot, by Ayn Cates Sullivan and illustrated by Belle Crow duCray
Findhorn Press, 979-8888502808, 320 pages, December 2025

Ayn Cates Sullivan’s Celtic Elemental Tarot, beautifully illustrated by Belle Crow duCray, is a richly layered and thoughtfully crafted deck that offers far more than a standard tarot experience. Rooted in Celtic mythology, Arthurian legend, elemental wisdom, and spiritual  symbolism, this deck invites readers into a living world of mystery, landscape, and sacred  imagination. It is both a divinatory tool and an immersive journey into one of the most  enduring spiritual and mythic traditions of the Western world.

From the moment the box is opened, the care and craftsmanship behind this set are evident. The presentation is elegant and substantial, with a sturdy lift-top box that feels  designed for long-term use rather than disposable novelty. Inside, the deck is housed with  intention and visual beauty, creating the sense that one is opening a treasured keepsake rather than simply another card set. The cards themselves are printed on quality cardstock  with a satisfying weight and finish, durable enough for regular readings while still easy to  handle and shuffle. 

One of the most striking aesthetic choices is the use of bold white borders around the  artwork. In many decks, borders can feel distracting or unnecessary, but here they serve an important visual purpose. They frame each image like a sacred icon or illuminated  manuscript panel, allowing the artwork to stand out with clarity and reverence. The contrast between the vivid illustrations and the clean white space gives each card a  timeless, gallery-like quality. Rather than limiting the images, the borders elevate them. 

Belle Crow duCray’s artwork is one of the great strengths of this deck. Rendered with  grace, symbolism, and meticulous attention to detail, the cards are filled with natural  beauty, mythic presence, and spiritual atmosphere. Animals, plants, landscapes,  seasonal cues, and sacred objects all contribute to a visual language that feels deeply  connected to the land and to the unseen worlds of Celtic lore. The illustrations are not merely decorative—they are initiatory. Each card contains layers that reveal themselves  over time, rewarding repeated use and contemplative study.

Especially impressive is the subtle integration of astrological symbolism throughout the  deck. Rather than mechanically repeating familiar esoteric correspondences, the creators  have reimagined these associations in ways that better reflect the card meanings and the  Celtic worldview. This gives the deck an originality that feels intelligent rather than arbitrary. It demonstrates a willingness to honor tradition while allowing it to evolve through another cultural lens. Readers interested in astrology, symbolism, or comparative  esotericism will find much to appreciate here. 

The structure of the deck also offers fresh insight. While remaining recognizable to tarot  readers, the system expands the Major Arcana into categories such as allies, challenges,  virtues, and cosmic forces, while the Minor Arcana follows the elemental suits of Earth, Air,  Water, and Fire. This elemental framework feels especially natural within a Celtic context,  where land, weather, seasonal cycles, and the powers of nature are central to spiritual  understanding. The result is a deck that feels coherent, purposeful, and alive. 

Sullivan’s guidebook deserves special praise. At 318 pages, it is substantial enough to function as a standalone spiritual text in its own right. Far more than a booklet of keywords,  it provides mythological background, symbolic interpretation, practical guidance, and  multiple card spreads that encourage ongoing exploration. The inclusion of varied reading  methods makes the deck highly usable for both beginners and advanced practitioners.  Whether one seeks a daily draw, deeper pathworking, or a more ceremonial spread, the  book offers meaningful ways to engage. 

What makes Celtic Elemental Tarot particularly compelling is the depth of its atmosphere.This is not a superficial “theme deck” that borrows Celtic imagery for decoration. It feels  informed by genuine reverence for the mythology, history, and spiritual imagination behind  its source material. There is a palpable sense of place throughout the deck—the hills,  forests, waters, and ancient stories of the Celtic lands seem to breathe through the cards.  For those with ancestral ties to these traditions, the experience may feel especially  resonant. For others, it offers an inviting gateway into a wisdom path centered on nature,  courage, sovereignty, and sacred relationship with the world. 

This deck will appeal to tarot readers, pagans, myth enthusiasts, spiritual seekers, and  anyone drawn to earth-based traditions. It is equally suited for divination, meditation,  seasonal ritual, and devotional practice. It adds depth to readings not by complication, but  by richness—bringing history, symbol, and spirit into meaningful conversation. 

Overall, Celtic Elemental Tarot is a stunning achievement. It is beautiful in construction,  profound in symbolism, generous in teaching, and deeply evocative in spirit. Few decks  manage to feel this expansive while remaining practical and accessible. For anyone  seeking a tarot deck infused with mythic intelligence, natural spirituality, and artistic  excellence, this is a remarkable and welcome addition to the tarot world.

The Green Witchery Tarot, by Cerridwen Greenleaf

The Green Witchery Tarot, by Cerridwen Greenleaf
CICO Books, 1800655916, 78 cards, 64 pages, March 2026

Where tarot offers a mirror for the soul, green witchcraft grounds this insight into the living world through flowers blooming in their season, herbs gathered with intention, moonlit rituals, and the steady guidance of the Earth itself. Together, they create a practice that is both mystical and deeply embodied: one that invites us not only to seek answers, but to reconnect with the rhythms of our intuition, our environment, and our own inner magic. The Green Witchery Tarot by Cerridwen Greenleaf weaves these paths together, creating a deck where the whispers of the natural world nurture the wisdom already growing within you.

Perfect for Pagan readers, The Green Witchery Tarot carries the energy of nature reverence, offering gentle guidance and botanical ritual inspiration. The design of the deck and format of the guidebook make it quite accessible for readers of all levels. There’s a simplicity to the deck, as only the Major Arcana and Court Cards have illustrations of people or animals on them. The Minor Arcana cards have a different color and plant background for each suit and feature just the number of the suit symbol (crystal (pentacles), athamae (swords), goblet (cups), and wands). I appreciated this design choice because it decenters humans and invites the energies of nature to come front and center.

As for the aesthetic, the Court Cards and Major Arcana look a bit like a storybook version of medieval tapestries. The illustrations are flat, stylized, and a little stiff in their posture, which remind me of iconography. There’s whimsy, but it’s structured. I was a little surprised by the images at first, as many nature-inspired decks tend to have softer illustrations, but there’s something about the images that works well for the energy of the deck. It gives the cards a timeless, old-world magical feeling, bringing forth unique symbols to draw from as you read the cards. 

The illustrations stick pretty close to the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck though, so people already familiar with those images will easily be able to read with this deck. Similarly, this deck is a suitable one for beginners learning the traditional card imagery that isn’t the standard RWS deck, great for those who want to infuse their practice with some earth-based magic. It’s pretty neat how the Major Arcana cards are “accompanied by trees, herbs, and flowers, as well as tools of green witchery” to further bring dimensions to the meaning of each card.

Referencing the guidebook is a great way to get acquainted with the subtleties of this deck. The full-color book is nice and big, easy to hold in one’s hand and read. There’s a table of contents, so readers can quickly find the card they’re looking for. Greenleaf provides a bit of direction for working with the deck and offers spreads to get started with.

As for the card entries, for the Major Arcana cards entries Greenleaf offers insight into the symbolism, the meaning, one-sentence guidance, and a practice that can be done. This is a really nice combination because it offers practical advice, symbolism to contemplate, and an action that can be done to integrate the energy. The practices are varied too, ranging from gazing at a white flower and thinking about the good things ahead (The Fool) to creating a magical ink to boost your self-esteem (The Lovers) to removing negative energy by placing a bowl of salt and a bowl of water on your altar (The Tower).

The Minor Arcana card entries are a bit shorter, only sharing the card’s meaning and practice. However, this was more than enough to continue to work with the cards in a magical way. The Eight of Athames suggests lighting sandalwood incense, while the Ace of Goblets encourages carving a heart into a lavender-scented candle. For the magically-minded that like to do hands on crafting or spellwork, the guidebook has 78 ideas of how to incorporate the tarot into meaningful practices! This is definitely what makes the deck so valuable to me.

Here’s an example of how I utilized one of the practices recently: I had a blessing for my new daughter, which included a community maypole dance. My family and my husband’s family are both entirely Catholic, nevertheless we decided to have the ceremony in alignment with our own spirituality (opening a circle, blessing my daughter with all the elements, Pagan prayers, and of course, the maypole).

I was a bit nervous about how it would go, so I pulled a card for guidance. The card I got was Seven of Athames. Greenleaf’s guidebook entry reads:

“Customarily, this card warns of opposition and urges you to protect your beliefs with resilience. Find courage under pressure and swap doubt for determination.”9

While the message alone was enough to give me the encouragement I needed to be true to my own beliefs, it was the practice that really helped me get out of my head and back into my magical sense of trust. The practice Greenleaf suggests for this card is holding an obsidian stone and visualizing a shield around you to bolster your resolve and defend intellectual territory. Doing this practice before the blessing ritual definitely gave me the energy I needed to tune out the judgement of others (specifically my staunchly “religious” father-in-law) and be in my own high priestess energy.

Overall, The Green Witchery Tarot is a multifaceted tool that one can use for both divination and magical practices. This combination of oracle wisdom and Earth-based magic, which is reflective of the tarot energies, make for a very well-rounded deck. Readers gain insight into plant symbolism while also seeing the traditional tarot energies from a new perspective.

I would definitely recommend this deck for those interested in plant magic. It’s a deck that quickly becomes a ritual companion, as it’s easy to integrate into one’s daily life. Working with this deck attunes readers to the magic of the natural world and reminds us of the special energies we can tap into to ground our tarot readings.

New Moon Life Design, by Yesbelt Fernandez

New Moon Life Design: Manifest the Life You Want Using Lunar Cycles, Tarot, and Astrology, by Yesbelt Fernandez
Weiser Books, 1578638747, 256 pages, April 2026

Syncing with lunar cycles, astrology, AND tarot? Talk about a powerhouse of manifestation. New Moon Life Design: Manifest the Life You Want Using Lunar Cycles, Tarot, and Astrology, by Yesbelt Fernandez covers the trifecta for those seeking to align with ever-changing energies of the universe to set intentions and see them through to fulfillment.

“This system weaves lunar cycles, tarot, and astrology into a rhythm you can actually live by. A rhythm that helps you reflect, choose, act, and grow–with clarity and meaning.”10

Following a heartfelt introduction in which Fernandez shares her background and encourages readers to have the confidence and courage to live the life they desire, the book begins with “Part One: The Big Three: Lunar Cycles, Astrology, and Tarot”. Each modality has its own chapter in which Fernandez gives an overview of the basics. While it’s a condensed version of each modality, as they can take years to study and learn on their own, Fernandez distills the most important aspects and shares enough for readers to understand the system being presented in subsequent chapters. She covers topics such as key phases of the moon and seasons; planets, zodiac signs, and houses; and the different types of cards in the tarot (Major Arcana, Minor Arcana, Court Cards, Aces).

It is within the first part of the book she also introduces us to a core concept in this tri-system: moonths. Fernandez explains these are “twenty-nine-and-a-half-day lunar cycles that offer us a cosmic way to measure time.”11 The main premise of the book is how to attune to the energy of each moonth by considering astrologically the zodiac sign, modality, element, house ruler, area of life in one’s chart, and energy of the placement, along with the corresponding tarot card.

While it seems like a lot to integrate, the way Fernandez breaks it all down in “Part Two: Synchronicity: Tools for the Spiritual Journey” grounds the wisdom of these modalities into a format that makes it streamlined to learn and apply to one’s life. She even discusses how she specifically designed this method with SMART goals in mind–specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.

Within four chapters based on the seasons, Fernandez guides readers through all the moonths. She associated the seasons with the four moon phases too–winter is akin to a new moon, spring the waxing moon, summer a full moon, and autumn the waning moon–once again embedding layers within layers of this spiral pathway.

At the start of each seasonal chapter, Fernandez provides an overview of this time of the year , noting the general energy, meaning of the solstice or equinox that heralds its arrival, and the corresponding tarot cards. Next, the three zodiac signs are covered that comprise the season. Each zodiac profile is very detailed, featuring a message from the sign,information about the planetary ruler, overall themes of the moon, keywords, moon progression through the cycle, meaning of the moon in each house, and tarot profiles for the sign, also featuring directives for each phase of the moon.

Throughout, there were a few times I felt the text could have used a bit more information. For instance, the system is designed based on 12 moonths, but sometimes a new moon or full moon can happen in the same sign twice in a year. While there’s only one new moon in each zodiac sign in 2026, in 2027 there’s two new moons in the sign of Virgo happening on August 2nd and August 31st. Since there wasn’t much guidance on how to accurately track the moon, readers might get confused with the placement of the moon for each moonth.

Similarly, for each zodiac sign, Fernandez describes the transits of the moon cycle with words such as “Aries Waxing Moon” and “Aries Full Moon” and this was very confusing for me as an astrologer. This wording is so off-base from an astrological point of view because the full moon is most of the time in the opposite sign as the new moon, while the waxing and waning moon also occur when the moon is in a different sign. For instance following an Aries new moon, the waxing moon would be in Cancer, full moon in Libra, and waning moon in Capricorn. However, Fernandez moves through the moon phase by describing it as “Aries Waxing Moon”, “Aries Full Moon”, and “Aries Waning Moon”, which I ultimately presumed meant the phases of the moon that occur in that particular moonth but don’t actually correspond to the astrology.

It’s for this reason that I think the book is best suited for those whose tarot and astrology knowledge is between a beginner and intermediate level. When I first learned to manifest with the moon, I only worked with the new moon sign and the phases, so there’s a lot to be gained from Fernandez’s methodology. But those who already have an astrological practice might be confused by the presentation of the information, as it’s definitely geared towards those who are new to the modality.

The final section “Part Three: The Spiritual Practice: Weaving Intentions into Life’s Cycles” is where the real exploration of manifestation occurs. Focusing on the spiral path, Fernandez discusses the eight dimensions of wellness, encouraging readers to check in and see how fulfilled they feel in each area. Then she once again moves through the phases of the moon, teaching which aligned actions to take throughout the course of each moonth, utilizing tools such as tracking the zodiac energy, setting meaningful intentions, tarot spreads, and journaling. The final part focuses on making this a group process with ideas for structuring gatherings to share in this work with others.

Overall, New Moon Life Design is a structured spiritual practice that honors the ebbs and flows of the moon cycles and seasons. Blending lunar cycles, astrology, and tarot into a cyclical system for manifestation and self-reflection, Fenandez centers on the idea that growth is not linear but spiral in nature. Instead of treating astrology, tarot, and lunar timing as separate systems, Fernandez shows how they overlap and reinforce each other, creating a cohesive framework. What’s best about it, throughout, is that it’s less about quick manifestation and more about building a relationship with time, cycles, and self-awareness, creating a meaningful practice that can truly reoriented your life.

The Beginner’s Guide to Divination, by Kirsten Riddle

The Beginner’s Guide to Divination: How to reveal the future, from crystal balls and palm reading to tarot, runes, tea leaves, and more, by Kirsten Riddle
CICO Books, 1800655908, 144 pages, February 2026

Ever feel like you have intuitive abilities or psychic sensitivity but aren’t sure how to start developing these traits? The Beginner’s Guide to Divination by Kirsten Riddle is perfect for this, providing a visually appealing, novice-friendly survey of divination systems. Think of this book as a special roadmap into the variety of ways you can hone your divination skills, intended to spark curiosity and build confidence on your magical path.

Riddle begins the book with the basics of energy work. She teaches readers how to build their psychic workspace, read for themselves and others, and tune into energy. The main divination covered in this chapter is the pendulum which can be used for yes or no answers as well as clearing energetic space.

The next chapter covers scrying, or casting your gaze into something to see what emerges while in a meditative state. Riddle covers scrying all types of objects: clouds, nature, crystal balls, mirror, smoke, and even ink! All throughout she provides tips to enhance your technique, answers common questions, and provides clear step-by-step instructions for each process.

The following chapter delves into cleromancy, which is when items are cast for divination. Riddle details the most popular items used to cast a divinatory read: runes, sticks, charms, and dice. For each rune, there is a visual of the symbol and a short description of the meaning. Riddle even shares instructions for making your own runes! I especially found the stick throwing section interesting, as this was one I hadn’t heard of before. As with the runes, Riddle shares how to make your own sticks and shares a graphic about different tree energies.

After this, Riddle moves onto body reading, writing “Each individual is unique, so it makes sense that their physical makeup could reveal facts about their personality, traits, and gifts, and also their approach to life.”12 Despite my years of magical study, this is an area of divination I know almost nothing about, so I was quite excited to dive in. The types of readings covered—all with amazing graphics!—include palmistry (the lines and mounts of the hand), solestry (foot shape and size, including what the toes can reveal), and aura reading. I’m going to be putting my new skills to use this summer once everyone’s feet come out in their sandals! Lol.

The next chapter focuses on cartomancy, divination with cards. While playing cards can be used, Riddle focuses specifically on tarot and oracle cards in this section. She offers a quick meaning for every single tarot card as well as guidance on how to do a three-card spread and manifest with tarot cards too. As for oracle cards, she offers step-by-step instructions for reading them and how to create your own oracle deck.

The final chapter covers tasseomancy, or divination with coffee and tea leaves. Riddle once again offers instructions to perform this type of divination, as well as offering how to do it with herbs rather than coffee or tea, if it’s not your thing. This was definitely something I’d never heard of being done before, so I appreciated this useful alternative approach. There’s a list of possible symbols one might see in their reading and the meaning of each.

Throughout the book, Riddle shares important techniques for doing this type of work, including grounding, breathing, and protection rituals. She also offers the ancient history of each divination technique, which is nice because it gives perspective about how long these forms of fortune-telling have existed. While each section is short, there’s a broad spectrum covered, which allows readers to dip their toes in and see what method calls out to them for further study.

Riddle’s writing style is gentle and encouraging, presenting information clearly and directly. And her text is also greatly aided visually by the illustrations in this book. The variety of colorful text boxes, designs, and figure drawings help to absorb the material presented. The aesthetic keeps the reading light, even though it’s quite descriptive content.

Overall, I’d recommend The Beginner’s Guide to Divination for beginners unsure where to start, those going through an intuitive awakening that want to learn more about different divination modalities, and people interested in casual spiritual learning. This entry-level spiritual guidebook could be likened to a “sampler platter” of divination arts, providing readers enough to get a taste of multiple methodologies for a varied and engaging practice.

Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul, by Mariana Louis

Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul: Exploring the Archetypal Mirrors of the Psyche, by Mariana Louis
Weiser Books, 1578638984, 320 pages, March 2026

People are drawn to tarot cards for all kinds of reasons. Some come to tarot out of curiosity or a desire for guidance during uncertain moments, while others are pulled in by the imagery, symbolism, or a deeper spiritual calling. That range of motivations is exactly what makes tarot such a versatile tool, and Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul by Mariana Louis takes this a step further by redefining what the cards can offer.

In Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul, Louis  does not position tarot as an oracular tool, but rather as a mirror of the inner world. Coming from the lens of depth psychology, she frames the cards as archetypal symbols that reflect both conscious patterns and unconscious material, inviting readers into ongoing inner work rather than one-off readings.

“In this approach, which you will be guided through in this book, we do not read the cards for predictive divination or even encouraging self-care, but as a tool to support our individuation, the psych-spiritual process of self-becoming.”13

Following an engaging introduction that establishes the foundation of the book, the content is divided into four parts. “Part 1: Depth Psychology and the Analytical Approach” covers the basics of depth psychology: individuation, the strata of psyche, and archetypes, synchronicity. Louis also presents the framework for working with the cards archetypally, teaching readers how to build a relationship with the cards, strengthen their intuition, and form questions that draw the best response. Techniques shared, such as active imagination and shadow work, are portals for deeper self-excavation. Louis has a knack for making these complex topics approachable, ensuring concepts are well defined and clear to readers before building on the information she’s presenting.

“Part 2: The Minor Arcana” begins to get deeper into the cards themselves. Louis explains, “the Minor Arcana show us the dynamics of our psyches, revealing its inner conflicts, strengths, processes, and neuroses.”14 She draws a parallel between the four suits and Carl Jung’s theory of personality which focuses on the four functions we all possess (thinking, feeling, sensation, and intuition). She then proceeds to delve into archetypal numerology and applies Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey to the Pips, which was totally fascinating in my opinion and one of my favorite sections!

From here, Louis moves through both the Minor Arcana and Court Cards, providing insights of the traditional meanings from the perspective of depth psychology. She moves suit by suit, she covers both the upright and reversed guidance the cards have to offer. As mentioned prior, Louis’ insights are not predictive, so the focus is on the inner workings of the reader. For instance, part of the Five of Wands entry reads:

“We often find ourselves involved in a battle between our contrary drives, perspectives, and complexes. One part of us fights to focus on career, while another demands we face our self-doubt, while yet another begs for relaxation. Rather than be riled to the point of explosive frustration, we must make room for each of the voices within us to speak and release its energy.”15

Before covering the Court Cards, the chapter “The Many Faces of the Tarot Court” covers additional depth psychological concepts, such as projection, persona, typological maturity, and complexes. Whereas the interpretations for the Minor Arcana cards are written in the first-person “we” form, the Court Card descriptions are in third person, presenting each one as an individual to be identified as a part of our whole self. Louis uses mythology and fairy tales to highlight the nature of the Court Cards, further providing a way for readers to connect with each card’s archetypal energy.

In “Part 3: The Major Arcana”, Louis shows readers how the Major Arcana reflects the entire journey of individuation. Beginning with the Magician and ending with the Fool (such an illuminating layout), she guides readers through the archetypal tarot framework. For each card, she gives an overview of the symbolism, often relating it to alchemy, mythology, and even pop culture (Yoda and Gandalf energy comes through!) as well as including insights from well known depth psychologists (James Hillman, Marion Woodman).

The whole archetypal journey moves from the primordial powers to the birth of the Self through the emergence of the shadow to finally arrive at wholeness. Simply reading this section is very inspiring, introducing a deeply meaningful philosophy of life as mirrored in the Major Arcana. The interpretations Louis provides for the card appearing in a reading–both upright and reverse–shed light on the parts of yourself and life journey that are calling for acknowledgement, pointing the way towards integration of the energy.

Louis’ presentation of each card from a psychological lens really hits home. She perfectly captures the balance between esoteric and mundane, honoring the liminal spaces where the psyche speaks. I could feel the messages in the heart as I read them, and some even brought me to tears. Here’s a few lines from one of my favorite cards, the Star, when it appears in a reading:

“The Star comes to remind us of our potential and higher purpose. Now is the moment to claim–without a word of rebuttal–I am special and I have meaning in this world. With the Star risen before us, we are invited to develop the security that only comes when we are at peace with ourselves.”16

The final part, “Reading with a Psycho-Spiritual Lens”, guides readers through the ritual of reading tarot and offers archetypal spreads. Louis lists steps for preparing for a reading and then interpreting the cards. The spreads offered focus on synthesizing this content in the book thus far, offering card placements that reflect depth psychology themes: tension of opposites, inner work, and unconscious/conscious/higher calling. While there’s many directions one could build from with this book, this section is a great starting point for the journey.

Overall, Tarot and the Psychology of the Soul is just a true gem for cultivating a relationship with the psyche. Rather than teaching how to memorize rigid meanings or predict the future, Louis teaches readers how to use tarot as an access point into the on-going, life-long work of becoming whole. She gives structure to inner work practices that can often be abstract, helping readers engage with their psyche in a tangible way.

As someone who spent many years studying both depth psychology and tarot, I was genuinely impressed by the scope and content of this book. Louis’ insightful intelligence shines through every page. The time she’s dedicated to cultivating this approach, bridging these two potent systems for self-reflection, is evident.

Those with an interest in psychology, particularly archetypal studies, will find a wonderful introduction to the tarot cards, while people with a tarot background are in for a real treat with the comprehensive approach Louis offers, sure to enhance anyone’s reading style. By grounding tarot in archetypal and depth psychology concepts, Louis offers a language that will resonate with modern spiritual seekers who want to explore their inner workings more fully. This style of working with the tarot is perfect for self-guided healing and introspection.

About the Author

Mariana Louis is a contemporary tarot teacher and scholar known for her psychologically oriented approach to the cards. She transitioned from a background in musical theater into the world of tarot, eventually becoming a recognized voice in the space, with a strong online following and teaching presence. Her work is deeply influenced by depth psychology and archetypal studies. Beyond this book, Louis shares offerings through her platform Persephone’s Sister and spreads her wisdom on her podcast Soror Mystica, co-hosted with Cristina Farella. I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re interested in this topic. I did a deep dive into the podcast and loved it!