- Deck Name: Swagatam Tarot
- Author: Pankhuri Agarwal
- Illustrator: Aishwarya Ravichandran
- Publisher: REDFeather Mind, Body, Spirit – Product Webpage
- RRP: $34.99
- Publication: June 28, 2023, India
- Pages: 200 page book, 92 art cards
- ISBN: 978-0-764364792
- Reviewed by: D A Rehman (Maya)
About the author: Pankhuri Agarwal is a healing and divination expert who has been reading Tarot for the past 18 years. Originally from India and currently living in London, she has drawn on her knowledge of Hinduism, healing, and Tarot to create this unique deck. She is active on Instagram and can be reached at her handle, @pankhuri_r.healer. Her creations include Swagatam Tarot, Wisdom From The Epics of Hind oracle cards, and the upcoming I Am Perfect Oracle. https://www.instagram.com/pankhuri_r.healer/
The illustrator, Aishwarya Ravichandran, is an Indian illustrator known for her vibrant, detailed artwork that merges fantasy with realism. Her work often explores themes of nature, mythology, and cultural storytelling through rich colours and intricate designs. https://www.instagram.com/aishrillustrations/?hl=en
The first time I saw this deck was in July, and I didn’t entertain the idea of exploring it, mainly due to the green colour of the box and the image of a tiger staring at me. I came across the deck again recently, and I had a very different experience. Let’s start with the box: it’s a decent size and safe for storing the cards. I like to keep my cards in their original boxes as much as possible, so for me, that’s a box ticked.
Now, let’s talk about the guidebook. It’s printed on high-quality textured paper. It’s a decent-sized book, easy to hold and work with. The book’s title is adorned with “Empress” in all her glory, drawing you in and enticing you to open the book and start your journey. The copyright details are in black on a charcoal grey page, making it nearly impossible to read the information, so I had to use details from the publisher’s website. After this grey page, we find a verse (prayer) to praise Lord Vishnu in Sanskrit. After praising Lord Vishnu, there’s a short introduction, followed by two interesting spreads: the elemental and lifestyle.
The book is easy and simple to use, with card images on the left and descriptions on the right page. The images in the book are clear and give the feel of holding the cards, with the descriptions following. It was interesting to see that the descriptions are just one page per card. Another notable point is that the minors are linked by numbers rather than elements. In the book, we see Aces, 2s, and 3s as sets, linked to various objects and explained. So, as soon as you open the book and want to know about the Aces, you have all five Aces (since the deck has five suits) in the book.
The Deck:
The first thing that stands out is that the cards are borderless, which is amazing. Once spread, these majors are stunning and help form the bigger picture.
Most of the majors have a black background with colourful images that stand out, with a few exceptions: red (The High Priestess), pink (Strength), orange (Justice), turquoise green (The Hanged Man), rustic orange (The Devil), and pastel sand (The Moon). The majors are labelled according to the tarot theme, starting from The Fool (Aatma) to The World (Param Ananda). The images deviate from traditional tarot systems like Rider-Waite, Marseille, or Thoth. This deck invites the individual to step into the unknown and engage in soul-searching, with a strong philosophical underpinning. The deck leans more toward divination with Indian/Hindi relevance.
There are similarities in some major cards with other RWS tarot decks, such as The Hierophant with a book, and Justice, The Hanged Man, Temperance, and The Tower.
What makes these majors unique are a few key details. The cards are not numbered but are labelled with tarot names followed by their Sanskrit/Hindi equivalents. I’ll go through some details of the first few cards to give you a sense of the flavour.
The Fool (Aatma), starting the journey, is not a standard Fool card. In a traditional deck, we expect to see the Fool with a companion (dog or animal). This Fool card features faces, chariots, cats, and the number 22 written on the card. According to the author, the soul can take any shape at birth, so this card suggests some of the possibilities. The Magician (Maya) represents the realisation that reality is an illusion, setting the stage for finding the truth hidden behind perception. From here, the journey continues. The path to The World (realisation) follows a divination theme using the tarot pathway.
The High Priestess is a beautiful card, with contrasting colours and images that represent the heart and mind, symbolising the power of manifestation. It’s not a standard Priestess card, though it retains some similarities to traditional meanings. The card reflects the material versus the philosophical, the known versus the unknown, and the light versus the dark—light and shadow are the right words. The Empress, Emperor, and Hierophant are not standard cards either. Each figure holds representations of female, male, and a book, evoking intense imagery and colours typically associated with Hindu culture. This makes the deck somewhat abstract, allowing for deeper exploration. These are just a few examples of the majors.
One card I particularly loved is The Lovers. It’s black, with images of two figures embracing, symbolising union as one. According to the author, it represents Moa or attachment, which creates abundance through connection rather than mere linkage. The variation in cards continues throughout the remaining majors. While we see traditional similarities in Justice, The Star, The Tower, and Temperance, other cards are very different, leaving it up to the seeker to interpret them.
The card I enjoyed most is The Hanged Man. Unlike other versions I’ve seen, this individual is suspended in a yoga posture, with their hands joined in a perfect position, upside down. This posture suggests gaining perspective through detachment from reality and looking within for truths that we don’t usually see because we only focus on what is immediately in front of us.
The majors are not numbered, and the images enable us to create our own path. The way the cards are named can be either a benefit or a challenge. If one is unfamiliar with Sanskrit and the cultural context, they will need to familiarise themselves with the terms, philosophy, and relevance of the deck.
All the 5 suits start with Mudras (hand gestures), with the suggestion of meditation through these gestures. The Mudras are depicted with beautiful hands adorned with henna tattoos on the fingers. The minor suits continue the existing theme of solid colour backgrounds. However, in the minors, the images are contained within smaller shapes such as circles and squares.
The minor cards (pips and court cards) are associated with a wide range of symbolic objects, including Mudras, jewellery, tastes, colours (natural dyes), weapons, festivals, geography, trees, flowers, seasons, dancers, instruments, animals, and koshas. In the minors, we see the full relevance of rich Indian culture and heritage. All the associated objects have significance, and within each category, every card has a different object linked to it. For instance, the 2s are associated with jewellery.
- 2 of Cups: Bajuband (armlets)
- 2 of Coins: Payal (anklets)
- 2 of Swords: Nath (nose ornament)
- 2 of Wands: Kardhani (hip belt)
- 2 of Smoke: Maang Tikka (head ornament)
Each piece of jewellery represents a specific cultural purpose. Armlets are associated with romantic love, as they press points on the arm that aid heart health, hence their relation to the 2 of Cups. Anklets, usually made of silver but not limited to it, are considered a good conductor of earth energy and are therefore related to the 2 of Coins. The Kardhani, a hip belt, is beautifully worn and enhances the shape of the female body. It carries subtle sexual symbolism in traditional Indian aesthetics. The waist and hips are considered symbols of fertility, femininity, and sensual beauty in Indian culture. Wearing a hip belt enhances the beauty of the female figure and embodies cultural symbolism, making it fitting for the 2 of Wands. Similarly, for the 2 of Smoke, the Maang Tikka or head ornament is linked to the 3rd eye and crown chakras.
Additional Suit – Smoke: This deck introduces an additional suit, “Smoke,” which represents the ether/spirit, considered the 5th element, joining fire, air, earth, and water. In this deck, the objects in this suit relate to purity, cleansing, rebirth, and renewal. From the author’s perspective, the addition of this suit makes sense. However, for users, it’s important to read the full suit, including the court cards, to grasp the philosophy behind the symbols before applying them to personal readings and life situations.
I can understand why the peacock is the Queen of Smoke. This beautiful creature is associated with gods such as Kartikeya, Saraswati, and Krishna. From an elemental perspective, the peacock represents beauty, grace, enlightenment, and spiritual growth.
I am still uncertain about the 5 of Smoke. Vishkanya, or the poison women, is an ancient concept where chosen women were trained in the use of poison from an early age to become political and religious weapons. I’m unsure how it relates to the soul and ascension. Perhaps this card serves as a reminder to refrain from temptation and lust or to be mindful of traps and deceit. It may also suggest that one should avoid superficial pursuits that don’t contribute to the true meaning of life and soul growth. Ultimately, it’s up to the user to interpret this card.
The card I particularly like in the Smoke suit is Saffron. A precious spice, grown and cultivated with love and care, saffron is expensive and holds a ceremonial place in culinary delights. The overall concept of saffron reminds us that hard work and attention to detail pay off and lead us to glory.
Overall, I think it’s a lovely deck, especially with the combination of the guidebook and the cards. The deck is very usable and makes a great starting point for new tarot readers, helping them learn both the deck itself and the philosophy it carries. It’s also suitable for those with a deeper understanding of Hindu philosophy. The deck offers flexibility, allowing users to interpret the abstract images and mandalas in their own way.
While the deck is closely tied to Indian culture and philosophy, which may limit some users, it is beautifully designed and easily relatable for those who are open to exploring new ideas or enjoy a challenge. The cards are of good quality, and the full deck is quite chunky. They are slightly wider than a standard deck, so people with smaller hands may find it difficult to hold the entire deck in one hand, but this shouldn’t be an issue for dedicated users.
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