The Modern Witch Tarot is a traditional Rider Waite style design. It has 78 cards and 1 card that the reader can add/remove depending on their mood or taste. The Major Arcana contains 22 cards and the Minor Arcana consists of 57 cards. The Extra card called Everything Is Fine, which is identical to the 10 Of Swords, has no divinatory meaning, but its title seems to say it all. It can also be used to replace 10 of Swords. The Minor Arcana can be divided into four types: Wands, Cups and Swords, as well as Pentacles. There are 10 number cards and 4 court cards. Page, Knights, Queens, and Kings are the Court cards. The Major Arcana is based on A. E. Waite’s structure and titles. A top card is available with a message from the deck’s creator. You can leave it in as either a wildcard, or you can leave it out entirely.

They measure 70 x 120 mm. This is a standard size for tarot card cards. However, they are neither too long nor too wide. The card stock is thick and heavy with little flexibility. The deck is noticeably thick and heavy, which can make it difficult for some to use. The cards have a super smooth finish with a high gloss coating that makes them very slippery and, despite the deck’s density, easy to shuffle. High gloss decks can peel, so be careful if you’re a heavy hand with your cards.

This deck can be used to shuffle. Excellent print quality. The artwork style is difficult to print mistakes, making it all the more impressive. The images are crisp and clear with no blurring or bleeds.

Lisa Sterle‘s style is a delightful mix of graphic and popular art. This deck requires precise line work with minimal shading and block colours. It is a demanding job that demands flawless execution. Waite-Smith imagery is used, but without some of the fussy or hectic details that are common in older designs. It’s updated to reflect modern life. Although it may seem like ‘comic-book’ art, some people might find it somewhat similar. However, each character is unique and has subtle details that define their expressions and appearance.

Sterle’s use of a wide range of solid colours echo Pamela Coleman Smith’s: bright blues and yellows; mustard and tan; candy pink, coral; and dove gray. The images are enclosed with a narrow black frame with white borders. All cards have their titles written underneath the illustration.

MODERN WITCH TAROT DECK CARD DETAILS

The back of the cards features an all-seeing eyes, a compass and symbols from the suits. The image is balanced, symmetrical, and can be reverted.

The cards are packaged in a sturdy upright box with a slide-off lid/top. The card and accompanying guidebook fit comfortably inside. The box is predominantly made of white, with images taken from the deck and a short description about the Modern Witch Tarot and details about the publisher. The box’s bottom half is black, and it has an MW ambigram printed on it. The lid and base boxes are lined with white-on-black magical symbols. This shows great attention to detail. It is a sturdy box that protects the guidebook and cards inside. This can be easily slipped into a backpack, or shoulder bag. It is important to note that this cardboard box can sustain damage from being handled rough.

Lisa Sterle wrote the guidebook. It is 56 pages long. The same white-on-black print is used on the endpapers as the card box.

Vita Alaya’s Forward introduces the Seeker both to the deck’s concepts and its purpose. The artist’s introduction explains how she created the deck and her hopes for you as the Seeker as you use the Modern Witch Tarot.

We now move on to the Major Arcana. Each card has its page, which includes a small black-and white reproduction of the card and a description of what is happening. There are also divinatory meanings.

The Minor Arcana gets a little less attention. There are no descriptions or images of the card. It is just the interpretation. You should note that neither the Major nor Minor Arcana can be reversed.

Although the language used for the descriptions and interpretations is modern, divinatory meanings aren’t fundamentally different from traditional meanings. They are updated and relevant to 21st century living. Although the advice is generally positive, it does not ignore the more difficult issues that may arise from readings.

The book ends with instructions on how to store and care for cards, how you can prepare for a reading, what to do if you have a question and how to layout. There are several spreads: the one-card draw, two 4-card layouts and The Four Powers spread. Also included is The Cunning Path spread. The Inner Wheel layout, which contains nine cards, is more complicated.

This deck is unusual, powerful, and extremely funky. It is inclusive and, in that sense, extremely positive. The Modern Witch Tarot may be the right deck for you if you feel there isn’t one that is right for you. The Modern Witch Tarot offers a fresh take on an old favorite. It’s funny without being stupid, easy to use without being boring, and unique without being too precious.