The Steampunk Tarot

The Steampunk Tarot, designed by Barbara Moore and illustrated by Aly Fell, is a themed tarot based on a Victorian era when archaic steam machines coexisted with mystics and spiritualist. This is not just a redressing of the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot with Victorian clothes, but instead a masterful re-imaging of the classic tarot. This unique tarot is accessible to everyone, and a definitive must-buy for tarot collectors. I have been waiting for this deck to come out since I spotted a few sample cards over the internet. I'm not a fan of the Steampunk genre other than a few movies like Steamboy , but once I got my hands on this deck I was spell bound to it for nearly an hour. If you are used to the RWS Tarot, then you are in familiar territory with this deck. The Steampunk tarot reinterprets the RWS symbolism in the light of a fantasized Victorian era. This is done so well, that at first I didn't realize these cards were labeled. A thin black border surrounds the image of each card that provides just enough space at the bottom for labeling and numbering. The back of these cards show a chalice, a rod, a sword and a pentacle arranged on top of a mechanistic background similar to the inside of a clock. The Major Arcana are numbered with 0 for the Fool and roman numerals for the rest, and labeled following the RWS convention. The imagery of most of these cards is inspired on the Steampunk theme. For example: * The Lovers - the lovers are properly clothed for the time period, * Death - Death is still on a horse but the rider is now a black winged woman, the angel of death. * The Devil - the devil is a huge mechanical golem. * The Sun - a couple dressed in time period clothes plays under the sun instead an innocent child riding on a horse under the sun. * The World - the elements of fire, air, water and earth are represented with symbols in mechanical cogs instead the head of creatures. Of course, a few images remain closer to the original RWS Tarot's scenes; The Hermit and The Moon come to mind. The Minor Arcana follow the standard suits of swords, wands, chalices and pentacles. The court cards are labeled as page, knight, queen, or king. One thing to note is that the pages and knights in this deck are mostly female characters (The Knight of Pentacles is the only male character), where all of these are male characters in the RWS Tarot. On the pips, you may expect to see a number of the suit symbols depicted within the imagery of the card. This kit includes a book, which is organized as follows: Introduction Chapter 1 Tarot Basics Chapter 2 Major Arcana Chapter 3 Minor Arcana Chapter 4 Court Cards Chapter 5 Spreads Farewell This guidebook is an important tool for learning the Tarot, but it is also a key to understanding this specific deck. I particularly enjoy reading the introduction where the origin of the Steampunk Tarot is presented. Chapter 1 is dedicated to explaining how can you use the Tarot, which is very useful for beginners. Chapter 2 to 4 present each card of this deck, starting with a key phrase, core meaning, a description with a full-page black and white image of the card, and occasional reading tips. Chapter 5 describes various spreads, including: The One-Card Wonder, Three-Card Draw, A Most Excellent and Sensible Spread (7 cards spread), Panoramic Photograph (6 cards spread), The Difference Engine (5 cards spread). The only negative about this kit is the packaging. The box is good looking, but is made out of thin cardboard and offers minimal protection. Unlike some other recent kits from Llewellyn, this box opens from the top, instead of the side (like a book) and it doesn't come with an organdy bag for the cards. Overall, this is an amazing themed tarot based on the RWS classic and an easy recommendation for beginners and Steampunk fans. This is certainly a must-have for tarot collectors.

This has got to be my hands-down favorite tarot deck in my possession. The art work is magnificent and beautiful. I'm a big fan of steampunk with its inspiring message to dream bigger and Aly Fell certainly accomplished this with his design. When I use these cards, the images pop up and my mental gears crank - the readings are extremely accurate. I actually hesitated to buy this deck based on some of the negative reviews - I say ignore them! I am SO glad that this gem arrived at my door step. Some things to note: 1. Several people have commented on the thinness of the cardboard. Yes, it is thin in comparison to some other tarot decks. I took a Bicycle Standard Playing Cards deck and found that The Steampunk Tarot is the same thickness as those. With that in mind, if you are hesitant of ordering the deck in fear of damaging it, check your gentleness level with a deck of regular playing cards. They cost two or three bucks if you don't have them in your home. If you damage the cards when you shuffle them then your style is too rough, but if they turn out just fine after a shuffle, then go ahead and purchase this deck. :) 2. Another user mentioned that they thought that cards were too small. I took out my Paulina deck as well as Deviant Moon. The Steampunk tarot is the SAME EXACT WIDTH and slightly shorter than both of those by a negligible amount in my opinion (I don't have a ruler on hand. At the most, it's half an inch shorter than Deviant Moon and only two or three centimeters shorter than Paulina). 3. I have read some other complaints about the casing that the deck arrived in. It seems to be equipped with the standard Llewellyn temporary housing - the shrink wrap is the only reason why the larger box managed to make it to your home in one piece and the 'one size fits all' shabby white box that I've seen in other decks shelled out by the same publishing company isn't all that great. Thing to keep in mind is that they are TEMPORARY HOUSING. They aren't meant to be your cards' forever home! If you really value your deck, you'll find a better place for them - a stone box, a handmade drawstring bag, et cetera. 4. The companion book written by Barbara Moore is extraordinary. She is an extremely talented writer and some of the insight that she has given for particular cards is really refreshing. PS - No little white book is included. Isn't revolutionary? ;)

I got this deck about two weeks ago and find it to be a very beautiful deck. The images, while dark (in content not in appearence), really speak to me and make it easy to remember the symbolism. I have tried to learn Tarot with a traditional Rider-Waite deck and had a hard time connecting with the images on the cards. This deck, which is a steampunk reimagining of the Rider-Waite, really lets me form a "relationship" with each card. Many have commented on the quality of the card stock, saying it is thin. I really cant tell you what other decks card stock is like, but the stock of this deck is about the same as a bicycle deck of playing cards and doesnt really bother me. The Commentors that stated that the image quality is bad are just plain stupid. This deck is ment to convey a Victorian theme and the images are printed to reflect that. So, in my opinion, the "duller" colors really bring that out. I think the colors were chosen specifically because of this. But as to the sharpness of each image, the deck seems crisp to me. As for those who think this is just a novelty deck and cant be used for readings I say to each their own. Different decks work for different people. While i am by no means a Tarot expert, in fact i am just a beginner, I can say that readings using this deck are not only possible, but very revealing. At least for me. The Book that comes with the deck is absolutely fantastic and may be the best introduction to Tarot that i have found so far. But, i have not finished reading it yet so I hope im not jumping ahead of myself by saying this. But so far i think the individual card descriptions and the exersizes for getting to know the cards at the beginning of the book are really opening my eyes to how a tarot deck is used for a reading. All in all I would say this is a great deck and a great book. It is really helping me toward gaining a fuller understanding of the Tarot in general.

Absolutely stunning artistry and I love that the companion book is "normal" sized for those of us with visual challenges... I also love the intonation and meanings the artist puts forth as it gives a different perspective and additional meaning to whatever you already interpret the tarot to mean as those who read know, we all have a basic understanding, but interpret differently in how these cards appear and what they mean to the individual reader. As a huge fan of steampunk? I love, love, love the aesthetic of the deck AND I appreciate the light, but sturdy card stock. They were very easy to shuffle and manipulate right off... and seeing as I have an actual blister on my finger from another deck I just got? I am very happy indeed to not have to "struggle" with this deck. Overall, if on the fence? Get it already. It IS worth it!

The art on these cards is beautiful. The book that it comes with deeply illustrates every card and the story behind it, from the point of view of the steampunk-themed art. One thing the book doesn't do is illustrate many common spreads- just a couple- but that's not a huge issue, because spreads can be found anywhere. The cards are bigger than the ones my friend uses, but that's no problem for me either. I'm just a beginner with this, so I'm hoping to get better with it. The book is excellent. Five stars for that- except for one card that I just did not click with when it came to the description: the Four of Pentacles. I seem to pull the justice card a lot even after shuffling forever. This deck already knows the main thing I'm about, haha. Edit (10-24-12): I've had some months to use these cards and I have noticed some things that I have issues with now. First off, I noticed people are complaining about the cardboard box the cards came in. It certainly is very flimsy. The cards were packed tightly in wrap, though, so mine were undamaged. The cards and their edges are beginning to wear. I have no problem with that as I think items such as these, which are meant to be flipped and handled, look better when they are worn. I know that not everyone will share that view. I for one HATE when other items (electronics, etc.) get worn or scratched. I'm noticing I have trouble doing relationship spreads with these cards. Family, friends, and love interest questions just don't click with the art in this deck. The Lovers and Two of Cups are actually very lovely, but you don't always pull those in relationship spreads. When I ask about relationships, I always get funny answers... maybe it's just me, but I can never seem to get it right. This deck works better for me with logic, facts... things that don't have to do with human-to-human interaction. For relationships I just ordered the Paulina deck, which will be my second deck. Also, uh, I'm wondering who the spammer is who called all 5 star reviews towards the back "unhelpful".

THE STEAMPUNK TAROT Journey into a world that is like no other. The Steampunk Tarot is a very unusual deck. It is based in the world that is slightly 1800's Victorian England and slightly mechanical, gears and industrial. If you have ever seen a depiction of a Steampunk world, it is very cool to look at. Top hats and umbrellas, gears and ancient pilot goggles - I love all things steampunk.So, this deck was definitely a great fit for me. We all have those decks that we gravitate to. This is my go-to deck. If I don't have a deck in mind, I will always grab this one. I totally resonate with it. Love it! The Steampunk Tarot is a Rider-Waite based deck with the artwork by English artist, Aly Fell. If you have never heard of the Rider-Waite deck, you must be living under a rock or have never picked up a deck in the last two decades. A lot of decks these days are based on the original tarot deck, that is now published by U.S.Games Systems, Inc. It is the old-school tarot that many people still use and love. But a lot of tarot makers don't vary much from the original depictions of the cards that Pamela Colman Smith created in 1909. But of course, everyone puts their own spin on the cards. The Steampunk deck is no different. Fell has provided what looks like digital artwork for the cards. And if you are not a fan of digitsl, stand back and take a new look. You're gonna love this artwork. It's all in a bit of an amber/brown cast that truly brings about the steampunk genre. The companion book is a massive 298 page tome written by my favorite tarot book author, Barbara Moore. (Yes, I'm a fan girl. Can authors have fan girls?) I always suggest any books written by her to people who are new and wanting to learn tarot and know the definitions as I learned them. It is awesome and definitely worth picking up along with the deck itself. Mine came together... love, love, love that. As far as descriptions of the card and divination info you get a small black and white photo of each card and a good bit of text that sometimes can run two or three pages. Most tarot decks have court cards, which can or may not depict actual physical people. The usual deck will only have women depicted as the Queens. But it is a toss up to figure out what gender is a king, a queen, a knight or a page. And that doesn't bother me at all, but it will bother some. If you are looking for an unusual deck that is very unique and stands out, then this deck is definitely for you.

This is a great deck! I own about 2 dozen tarot and oracle decks, and this one is unique and beautiful. While I'm not as enthusiastic about Steampunk as a lot of other people out there, I find it an interesting subculture, and this deck does a great job of capturing the feel of Steampunk. The images tell a great story and have some similarities to the Rider Waite deck without being a copy, and it interprets tarot in its own unique way. I particularly love the Lovers card, which shows a Chemical Wedding between technology and nature. Good tarot decks can be read without even picking up the book, though the included book to the Steampunk tarot adds background and story to already very lifelike cards. Bottom line, if you like Steampunk or even Victorian-style decks, this a great deck. If you just like to collect decks, this is also a great deck, but it is also a useful deck. It would be a great primary deck. The deck also came very quickly, and it is very well packaged. In contrast, I also got the Gothic Tarot deck at the same time, and this is definitely a superior deck. My only criticism is that the pictures are very, very dark, so if you do readings with these, make sure they are in a very brightly lit room. Good deck for a beginner if you are looking for a beautiful alternative to the Rider Waite deck.

Beautifully nuanced deck! The fluid yet mechanical aesthetic of retro-tech/Steampunk style is well-expressed in every illustration, sometimes drifting into the Art Deco here and there. Aly Fell's artistic talent and stamina is to be praised: maintaining a theme yet keeping every composition original is no small feat. Every card has an interesting twist to the classic Rider-Waite-Smith style deck - one that adds subtle yet rich layers to interpretation. There is also a strong feminine presence in the illustrations, all the Pages and 3 out of 4 Knights are women, as are many of the classically male characters in the Minor Arcana. Barbara Moore's accompanying Steampunk Tarot Manual is a full-size book written in her delightfully approachable style. More than skeletal descriptions of the cards, Moore invites the reader to get to know the character of the card personally. Originally, I purchased this deck to be a clarifying deck, but quickly it became my go-to for my personal readings. As you may be able to tell in the pictures, the edges of the cards have been well-loved since purchase; the cardstock is an average weight glossy cardstock, thick enough to "riffle" without permanently bending out of shape. Overall this deck has been a compelling addition to my collection - a joy to work with!

I have been eyeing up these cards for some time; not sure if they were really my style. However, I took the plunge and ordered them and I received them this weekend. They are absolutely beautiful. I love this set. The box is good quality and the book has some really good interpretations/meanings for the cards. I definitely recommend these tarot cards.

I have to say, I’m barely ever lacking words but this piece of art left me speechless. I’ve never really been into tarot or steampunk. I started playing with tarot recently, purely because I’m a huge Ciro Marchetti fan and I wanted to own one of his decks. Then I discovered the whole tarot world, however I struggled finding another deck that would catch my eye. I didn’t want traditional pictures, or angels, or vampires, or fairies, or goth-I’m-so-gloomy variations. Steampunk tarot stood out in the flood of apps so I bought the app and I was blown away by the pictures and some alternative card meanings that suited better my first instincts. (For instance I struggled a lot with seven of swords, and I finally found out why!) Since it was honestly the only deck, aside from Marchetti’s, that spoke to me, I ordered the “real” one. And I was simply speechless when I unpacked it. The box is already beautiful, with magnetic closure. Then you see the book and a black string. When you pull it, the book goes up and you see the cards, packed neatly in the carved space. And even though the space is conveniently designed to pull the cards out, still you can pull the string once again to pop them out! ♥️ I mean, the whole thing is so thoughtfully done, with such attention to details, that it’s worth any price. And at last, but certainly not least, I found this amazing farewell at the end of the book... I think I might’ve shed a few tears at this point 😉 It is a piece of art and I can’t find words to express how it feels to find such a gem!

Simplemente me encantó. Desde que lo tuve en mis manos me fascinó, es un trabajo en el que se cuida hasta el último detalle, está hecho con amor y dedicación artística. Las imágenes de cada una de las cartas nos introducen en un mundo mágico donde cualquier fantasía puede conectar con nuestra vida y volverse realidad, en un entorno que existe más allá de los límites del tiempo y el espacio. Podrían generarse infinitas historias en las que todo es posible, historias donde prevalece el optimismo porque siempre se busca una solución creativa ante circunstancias que parecen salirse de nuestro control. No le encuentro defectos por ningún lado, y aunque tengo mis favoritas, ¡todas las cartas me fascinan! Sentí una gran conexión con este oráculo desde la primera vez que lo vi, y hoy, gracias a Amazon, es parte de mi. El libro es muy ilustrativo y a medida que voy leyendo me genera querer saber más y más sobre este fascinante mundo del tarot y del steampunk, conocer a fondo la personalidad de cada carta y su relación con las demás, su significado. Totalmente satisfecho, sin duda es el producto que más me gustó de los cinco que compré en esta primera ocasión con Amazon. ¡Felicidades a los autores! ¡Excelente trabajo!

Das Set kommt mit einem sehr ausführlichen Buch daher und ist für Anfänger geeignet, da es eine recht ausführliche Einführung ins Tarot gibt: Wie ist ein Tarot-Deck aufgebaut und warum? Wie und wozu kann man die Karten nutzen? Wie „lernt“ man die Karten zu lesen? Wie lernt man die Bedeutungen? usw. Danach folgen die Kartenbedeutungen, die auch recht ausführlich gehalten sind. Zum Schluss werden dann noch ein paar Legesysteme vorgestellt, die für Anfänger auch bewältigbar sind. Alles in allem 294 Seiten. Der Text stammt von Barbara Moore, die sich seit über 20 Jahren mit dem Tarot auseinandersetzt. Ich finde die Beschreibungen jedenfalls sehr passend und ausreichend für den Anfang bzw. Anfänger. Die Karten gefallen oder gefallen nicht, jedenfalls sind sie klar erkennbar an’s Rider Waite angelehnt. Wenn man schon viele Decks besitzt, dann fängt man irgendwann an, nach der besonderen, neuen Darstellung zu suchen, einer Darstellung, die ein neues Licht auf die Karte wirft. Ich finde, dies ist dem Deck über weite Strecken sehr gelungen. Qualität: Das Buch ist gebunden und geleimt und wird sicher nicht so schnell aus dem Leim gehen. Die Kartenqualität ist ok. Es gibt dünnere Decks. Der Rand ist schwarz, was er nach einiger Zeit sicher nicht mehr sein wird, aber das ist bei fast allen schwarz umrandeten Decks so. Qualität des Sets insgesamt 4,5 - also gut;-)

Beautiful book Beautiful illustrations The cards sure yes are a little thin So must be handled with care ☺ I have no complaints It's a fine product