The This Might Hurt Tarot Guidebook by Isabella Rotman

My take: Listen to and read what people have to say ( Shuffle Tarot’s video is good to start with)but in the end you have to make up your own mind whether this is an issue for you or not. As this deck was created during the 70s (80s), the author and artist weren’t aware of this. The normal Hermit is the Crone in this deck.Įdited to add: A big issue with Motherpeace is that the figures in the High Priestess and the Temperance cards wear clothing that’s worn during FGM rituals. I know a LOT of people who started with this deck.Ī couple of things to note: The court card names are Shamans (Kings), Priestesses (Queens), Sons (Knights) and Daughters (Pages). Although I didn’t learn to read with this deck, there’s a chance that it will speak to you. I myself don’t use this deck that much, but I honor the historic value of Motherpeace as the first unapologetically feminist deck. The original version came out in the 70s. If you participate in any Goddess-centered activities that involve tarot, I can almost guarantee that someone is going to either bring this deck or state that they learned how to read using this deck. Here are a few from my collection that I’d recommend if you were looking through my stash and told me you wanted to start reading cards*.

Some of the decks I recommend below correct these issues.Īt last count I own about 100 decks. But I also believe that you have to learn the “rules” to break them. Yes, some of the original imagery is problematic it lacks diversity and is extremely heteronormative. In my opinion, an RWS or RWS-based deck should be your first deck if possible. Others are based on the Marseilles tarot deck, which is out of scope for this post. It’s also known as the “Smith Waite” deck, “Rider Waite” deck and other name combinations. It was published by the Rider Company in 1901 (or 1909). Waite and created by Pamela Colman Smith. The Rider Waite Smith (RWS) deck was commissioned by A.E. I discovered that Renaissance Tarot was based on the “Rider Waite Smith” deck, so I bought a copy. And I certainly didn’t understand why the Fool card was a court jester with a guitar. I didn’t get the figure with its back turned standing on top of five coins (Five of Pentacles). I didn’t understand why one card showed a minotaur sitting on a throne on top of a box embossed with two people kneeling (the Hierophant). It’s also hard as hell for a beginner to work with. Minimalist while sumptuous at the same time, it is a 78-card love story to Renaissance art.

I’d originally purchased it as a prop for a story when I was in TV news, but wound up keeping it for myself. My first tarot deck was The Renaissance Tarot by Jane Lyle and Helen Jones.

The This Might Hurt Tarot Guidebook by Isabella Rotman