- Deck: Good Fortune Tarot
- Author: Barbara Moore
- Illustrator: Jessica Roux
- Publisher: Llewellyn
- RRP: £36 (£27.77 Amazon UK)
- ISBN-13: 978-0738772639
- Review by: Beth Rees (Instagram – @neurosparklytarot)
- Date of Publication: July 2024 (US), 8 August 2024 (UK)
- Country of Origin: US
- Tarot system: Rider Waite Smith/Marseilles elements
The Good Fortune Tarot Deck was created by Tarot enthusiast, legend and author Barbara Moore (the creative mind behind The Steampunk Tarot, Tarot in Wonderland and Classic Tarot as well as many books) and illustrated by amazing freelance illustrator Jessica Roux (of The Woodland Wardens Oracle). It was published by Llewellyn and released in August 2024, helping us ‘to squeeze every drop of luck from even the direst situations’ so we won’t get caught off guard.
When I first saw this deck online, I was immediately drawn to it and wanted to add it to my collection. I saw the diversity and inclusivity of the whimsical artwork and loved the image of Justice depicted as a strong, regal woman of colour on the front of the box instead of the traditional white, male Fool figure. My personality generally is to try and see the world from a positive perspective and I do like to echo this in my readings if I can so this was something else that drew me to this deck. In a twist of irony, I pre-ordered this deck (all about fate and good fortune) from a certain online retailer but it didn’t show up for a month! On chasing it, they actually gave me £5 off and sent it a few days later so you could say I helped tip the scales in my favour.
As a Llewellyn deck, the packaging is great quality and the box is A5 in size (a similar size as Everyday Witch and Star Tarot decks). It has a linen finish with a magnetic clasp opening and looks like a storybook when put on a bookcase. The detailing on the interior of the box is beautiful with a quote that reads ‘Your cards don’t do anyone any good closed away in their box, even if they are wrapped in silk’. That’s me told! I was surprised at the size of the box so, as per the quote, I have decanted to a pouch in order to fit in my handbag so they don’t stay sat on the shelf looking pretty.
There’s a 272-page, A5 glossy guidebook that comes with the cards which is packed full of great insight, commentary and card meanings relating to fate, good fortune, and reversal of fortune. When I first opened the box and picked up the ‘Field Guide’ I was like ‘Wow! Lots to learn’ however, it definitely isn’t just ‘dry’ card meanings. There’s an amusing foreword, quotes and opinion from Moore’s fictional alter ego, Simone Benoit, which gives us a glimpse into Moore’s sense of humour. At first, I was like ‘Why would you get someone to write a foreword if they’re going to say her words are ‘a pile of word stew’?! I then re-read the back of the box and realised Simone wasn’t real. Some of her remarks are quite cutting and sarcastic but it just shows how Moore is willing to have fun with the Tarot tradition to connect with her readers. Throughout the book and the deck, there’s a real sense of playfulness and throwing caution to the wind which I found really engaging which Moore backs up by saying ‘I’m a crone now, so I feel free to write as I please and say what I like. Hence the heresy’.
Each card has a full-sized image and information page dedicated to it, but it’s not all about the generic card meanings (which I for one was pleased about). I like to see how others interpret the cards and in this case, how they link and relate to fate, good fortune or a reversal of that fortune. Moore includes elements of Marseilles but also astrology, qabalah and symbolism which she reassures readers that ‘familiarity with these systems is not necessary to reading modern tarot.’
Now to the exciting bit.
The 78 cards have a linen finish which makes them sturdy but flexible and great to shuffle. They don’t have any shiny edging so don’t require unsticking when you first use them. The dimensions are 7cm x 12cm which I found a good size for my smaller hands. Again, the cards are similar in size to the Everyday Witch Tarot – even as much as the card back illustrations and colours are quite similar). As mentioned, the artwork is vibrant with detailed illustrations from Jessica Roux and great representation/diversity within the deck. There are also symbols dotted throughout the deck such as bees, eggs, flying fish and the lemniscate which are great to spot and which Moore encourages us to interpret as our intuition decides.
The system used is Rider Waite Smith with ‘clever touches of Marseilles tradition’ fused into it. At first, I was a bit wary because I’m more of an RWS reader than Marseilles but from doing a deck interview and referring back to the book to read more about the interpretation, these touches add to the reading. For example, the Justice card in this deck has a subtle reference to Justice of the Marseilles, as one of the scales rests on her knee, showing that we have the power to tip the scales in our favour and relates back to the whole premise of the deck. The Fool card also remains numberless, which frees him from the system entirely – something that seems to delight Moore! Death remains unnamed like the Marseilles which ‘creates a delicious tension’ and helps the reader work out how they approach the card (especially as the depiction is a skeleton dancing in front of two bodies on the ground!)
The majors stay true to RWS imagery which is even more prominent in Roux’s illustrations with her use of light and dark throughout the deck. Each card feels like it has its own big personality which I sometimes don’t feel with more traditional decks. I felt like I had a stronger reaction to each of the 22, even the ones that don’t appear in readings as often for me (e.g. The Chariot and The Hermit).
The minors are full of familiar and animal imagery, harking back to Jessica Roux’s Woodland Wardens deck and her love for nature. The pip cards are fully illustrated and align with RWS imagery which makes this deck great for both beginners and those more advanced readers who could appreciate the hints to Marseilles within it. Again, it feels like each card’s story is amplified with even more meaning to be found.
Overall, I really like this deck. It speaks to me and draws me into it to explore more of the surprises it holds. I find it empowering to work with and have enjoyed the readings I’ve done for myself with it. I’m looking forward to using this deck with others to watch their reactions to the delightful artwork and messages that come from it and allow them to see that good fortune is what you make it.
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