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The Tarot of the Divine ^[1] is a rare treasure illustrated and designed by California-based artist Yoshi Yoshitani ^[2]. Each card is illustrated in vibrant colors and line art to depict scenes from fairy tales, folklore, and myths found all over the world. Vasilisa the Beautiful inspired the Nine of Wands, for example, and its illustration is powered by the fairy tale’s theme of resilience.

^[1]The artist’s emphasis on deities and fantastic characters gives us a different, story-centric view of each tarot card, drawing on the theme of each traditional suit and the card’s numeric value. Though some decks present narrative arcs for each suit and the major arcana, the Tarot of the Divine introduces unique stories that shape the meaning of every card and, as such, is a great deck for one-to-three card readings. For example, the King of Coins is Hah-Nu-Nah, a World Turtle drawn from Iroquois mythology, representing stability and dependability; the Page of Coins, on the other hand, is Beaivi-Nieida drawn from Sami legends, offering hope and setting plans for the future. Both upright and reversed meanings are included in the attached guidebook along with their illustrations and source material.

The production value for the Tarot of the Divine is exceptional; the paperweight is a coated linen that helps avoid wear and tear. Thematically, the color palette and vibrant designs are artful and intentional. Even the card backs look the same upright or reversed, too, so you don’t know what their position is when you shuffle face-down.

Perfect for traditional readings or to draw inspiration for your own stories, the Tarot of the Divine highlights global myths and legends to present a joyful look at our cultures and histories and what we can learn from each other. Whether you love to collect tarot decks, enjoy beautiful stories, or read tarot, the Tarot of the Divine ^[1] is artfully designed and offers something for everyone.

The Tarot of the Divine cover art and Nine of Wands depicted in this review are photos of Yoshi Yoshitani’s published work. As such, you may notice slight color differences after purchase.