- Zeke’s Arcana Tarot, by Zeke’s Lunchbox (Julia Rich)
- Website Zeke’s Lunchbox
- Prices vary, see website
- Reviewed by Carolyn Dougherty
I found out about this deck last year from a woman in my Tarot study group, who was very excited about it when the project was announced on Kickstarter, and I could see why. I immediately supported the project, and received my deck and other ‘goodies’ associated with it in due course; it did not disappoint.
On her Kickstarter page Australian artist Julia Rich’s work is described as ‘strange, unearthly and prismatic’, and that just about sums it up! The deck is a standard 78-card RWS Tarot, but Rich has put her own distinct stamp on every card. The pip cards are illustrated with landscapes or charming and whimsical animals, plants, fish, birds and insects. Suits are differentiated by background colour, something I always appreciate in a deck. The court card Pages and Queens in are portrait heads, the Knights are small figures atop fantastical animals, and the Kings are represented by animal heads.
The Major Arcana are where Zeke comes into her own. Each figure is a vividly coloured fantastical body, some human, some semi-human, some pure fantasy. All are in motion and all are deliriously surreal. Zeke’s debt to the RWS is clear in each image, but they are all definitely her own personal interpretations. As a result of achieving her Kickstarter goals, Zeke included two additional cards–The Maker, a representation of herself as a blue-skinned Kali with arms holding brushes and a palette, and The Patron, a mirror for us to include ourselves in the deck as supporters of her work.
The deck and accessories are now available in a variety of configurations on Zeke’s website, where you can buy the deck as well as prints, hangings, stickers and pins (I wear my Three of Swords enamel pin with pride). Zeke is currently working on an oracle deck featuring more of her animal creations; stickers of the first few animals created for this deck are available on the website.
The cards are borderless, the same size as a standard RWS deck. The cardstock of the first Kickstarter printing is matte and slightly rough, and thinner than a standard deck. Edges are trimmed in metallic pink; I haven’t used this deck a lot, but the edging is starting to rub off slightly. The deck comes in a large sturdy decorated box, along with a well-printed 80-page colour booklet which contains basic information, images and interpretations for each card, spreads (including one developed specifically for this deck), and some information and images about the artist and her creative process.
I find this deck delightful and joyous, and have had some fun using it in readings—querents are sometimes a bit startled at first when I pull out this set of shiny vivid pink cards, but end up being charmed by the figures. It may not be for the most serious among us, but it could give your whole collection a lift.
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