Tarot is having a moment, and for good reason. Modern tarot as a practice is about creative and personal discovery; the cards themselves can be appreciated for their artistry and personality (from animals and nature themes to feminist icons to highly stylized patterns and iconography, there’s a deck for everyone). Tarot has become a part of many writers’ and makers’ creative processes—thread cards together for the ultimate prompt, or pull one and see what strikes you.
It’s no surprise that graphic designers are getting in on the fun.
Art of Play, a maker of artful amusements, just launched “Tarot of Oxalia: A Guide for Storytelling & Self-Discovery,” a unique tarot deck that combines the allure of Greek mythology with the wonder of science fiction. Designed by renowned art director and illustrator Kelly Thorn (Young Jerks), this modern tarot interpretation promises to evoke a new kind of creative play.
The Tarot of Oxalia takes the classic imagery of the iconic Rider-Waite tarot deck and sprinkles in a little cosmic fantasy. Folding science fiction, mythology, and elemental astrology into one vibrant deck, Thorn invites us to explore the outer limits of imagination and harness personal intuition through tarot.
Thorn describes her influences throughout her creative process on the Art of Play blog: traditional tarot symbology to 20th-century occult mystics like Hilma af Klint and personal experience, like a walk in the Memphis heat.
Whether you are a tarot newbie or a seasoned reader, you will find something to love in the 80 works of art in The Tarot of Oxalia deck.
People often believe tarot is about predicting the future, but it can also help tremendously to understand the present and the past. Once you let yourself be led by the cards, a conversation between you and the tarot begins, and you can fully understand where you’re coming from and where you might go.
Kelly Thorn, the artist behind Tarot of Oxalia
The Tarot of Oxalia has blown through its Kickstarter fundraising goal on Kickstarter. Check out the campaign, running through Thursday, September 12.