- Creators: Created by Diane Wilkes, Art by Lola Airaghi
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo – Llewellyn Worldwide (US Market)
- Publication Date: December 2025 – April 2026 US Market
- RRP: EUR 25,00 / US $28.95 / GB £27.00
- ISBN: 9788883956072 / 978-0738783888
- Reviewed by: Mary du Plessis
The Jane Austen Tarot is a blend of the traditional Rider Waite Smith tarot structure, with renamed suits, and the characters and scenes from Jane Austen’s classic stories. The deck, created by Diane Wilkes, is designed to appeal to fans of Austen’s literature, who are also tarot readers. Each card depicts a specific scene or character from one of her novels, with the intention of aligning literary themes with tarot archetypes. Readers who are familiar with the stories may find added depth and understanding when they connect the two.
What Works (for me):
The physical aesthetic of the deck is a strong selling point. The satin finish on the borderless cards (huge plus in my book) creates a pleasant shuffling experience. The two-piece box is sturdy and slides open easily. The artwork is very pretty and engaging, reminiscent of book illustrations that set the tone of an English garden in the springtime. I very much enjoyed revisiting my favorite (and not so favorite) characters and stories, many of which I haven’t thought of in years. The card backs are not mirrored, which may present a problem for those who read reversals, as it’s easy to tell which are upright when shuffling.
I enjoy narrative driven tarot readings and found that by using the description in the small but sufficient guidebook, which directed me to the specific novel and the characters portrayed, I was able to uncover an added layer of meaning in the card, in most cases.
What Doesn’t Work (also for me):
Two of the suits are renamed to fit the Austen-era world: Candles (Wands), and Quills (Swords). Coins are Pentacles, so that’s not specifically renamed. The Court Cards have also been renamed as Maiden (Page), Lady (Queen) and Lord (King), with the Knight staying unchanged. This is more of a personal pet-peeve, and this naming sequence is easy enough to figure out. I understand the intent of connecting the period of the novels to the tarot, but I would have preferred more clarity in the connection of the suits, over clever naming.
I found it difficult to connect a lot of the illustrations, lovely as they are, to their corresponding tarot symbolism, without referring to the guidebook.
In addition, I found the chemical odour characteristic of most Lo Scarabeo decks to be annoyingly present. Even though it gradually fades over time, it is always an unpleasant experience for me.
In Summary:
While I was a bit disappointed (but not really surprised) that this won’t be a ‘go to’ deck for regular readings, I am a huge fan of Jane Austen and will use this clever, niche creation from time to time when I want a reading to address human relationships, because her work is an excellent tool for understanding the nuances and struggles of our relationships. You may find this delightful deck helpful for that purpose. More so if you connect with any of Jane Austen’s stories.
I’ve included a three-card reading in the photos, consulting the guidebook included:
The Chariot – Three of Cups – Lord of Coins. The Chariot and the Three of Cups are scenes from Mansfield Park, featuring Mary Crawford and her friends. The Lord of Coins is Colonel Brandon from Sense and Sensibility. I had hoped to draw three cards from the same novel but here goes my attempt at connecting the novel to a present day reading:
You may be in a hurry to escape the tedium of day-to-day life, such as earning a living to pay the bills, but someone has to do it, and you left them behind. Maybe next time, include them in your plans. After all, your friends are fun (and at least one of them is probably single).
Your mileage may vary!
0 Comments