Modern Witch Tarot

Product Information

And this deck definitely celebrates strong people of many different kinds, including LGBTQ, plus-size, and older people. As black Tarot readers and creators have had a huge influence on the practice over the years but are often overlooked, it was great to see a person of color as the main focus on the box. The strength of feminine energy is what we notice first when looking through this deck but masculine energy is not forgotten with the absence of male-forward characters.

The box slides off to reveal another box that contains the 78 cards and a small, hardback guidebook. The black and white printed guidebook includes a forward and introduction section followed by a single page for each of the major arcana cards outlining their definition and meaning, a paragraph to explain each of the minor arcana cards, a double page spread offering guidance upon carrying out readings, a section upon sample spreads and a final note offering direction upon the two extra cards included within the deck. Lisa Sterle is a Columbus, Ohio, artist who creates comics, concept art, and pop-culture illustrations. Giving to others in need won’t be a stressor for her, and confidently offers gifts of her choosing to others. It has inclusive and diverse illustrations of all kinds of women, femmes, and the gender fluid, wearing modern fashion and up-to-date styles, yet keeps the flavour of the Rider-Waite imagery.The introduction by the artist details how she came to create the deck as well as her hopes for you, the Seeker, as you use the Modern Witch Tarot. For those who want to seek inner wisdom and discover their true power, this colourful 78 card deck includes an instructional guide for those picking up the cards for the first time, or for those who are well practised in the art of reading. Paganism and Buddhists are the majority, which is probably why it’s hard to find those who identify as a witch,” Madoka explains. The Modern Witch Tarot deck aims to celebrate diversity and help us to connect with the practice of Tarot. Modern witchcraft has something of a reputation for being inclusive and thus inviting to people who often find themselves marginalised.

With its diversity and all-female celebration of womanhood, this vibrant, fashion-forward, and colorful deck brings fun and fresh air to the tarot! From here, we skip directly to the Major Arcana — each card gets its own page with a black-and-white representation, action description, and divinatory interpretation. It was at this point that Lisa began illustrating this very card, incorporating her modern ideas and flair for fashion within her work. The card asks us to step into the unknown, and the Fool infamously does not see the cliff right in front of them. My personal practice involves a lot of communion with the spirit of Gaia [the Mother Earth goddess].

If you feel that there isn't a deck for you, that there isn't a deck that gets you or includes you then perhaps The Modern Witch Tarot could be the one for you. Madoka’s experience with witchcraft began after a friend showed her Aleister Crowley’s Thoth tarot cards. Hosted by bestselling author Devin Hunter, Modern Witch celebrated ten seasons and thirteen years of podcasting in 2023!

The extra card titled Everything Is Fine is identical to the 10 of Swords, and though no divinatory meaning is assigned to it, presumably its title says it all. While the depictions of technology may put some readers off, I really like how it reflects the kind of witches and Tarot readers that exist in the world right now. The spreads included in the back of the guidebook are fine but nothing that exciting for a seasoned Tarot reader. Included within The Modern Witch Tarot are two extra cards, Lisa has added a footnote at the end of her guidebook explaining that some readers may wish to exchange the ten of swords for her alternative cards ‘Everything Is Fine’. My personal brand of magick and witchcraft incorporates principles from LaVeyan Satanism, Luciferianism and some Wiccan traditions," she says.

The deck depicts a diverse range of people from many backgrounds, with the cards using a mix of new ideas and traditional imagery. Here is a short video-walkthrough guide that I have put together further explaining The Modern Witch Tarot deck. The advice is mostly positive, but it doesn’t avoid talking about the less pleasant things that can come up in readings. It has illustrations of all kinds of women, femmes, and people who aren’t sure what their gender is.

I would also appreciate it if the guidebook contained the card keywords, as I think keywords are super useful for beginners.There is still a lovely balance of male-to-female energy by showing gender-fluid characters or women in traditionally male roles. It’s entrenched in personal empowerment and impacted by the culture that each witch is surrounded by. Known for their hatred of children (see Roald Dahl’s The Witches) and love of evil (the Wayward Sisters in Shakespeare’s Macbeth) as much as for their ability to create and heal (cue Harry Potter) , witches have always reflected the zeitgeist, whether that be society’s feelings towards women or our collective relationship to ritual and magick. The stigma around what “witchcraft” meant was still heavy and many considered it evil, especially in the Bible Belt where I grew up. This means you can find yourself in the deck and relate to the wonderful witches of the modern world!