- Creator: Lissa Sévigné (Instagram: | @the.ebony.tarot.deck)
- Publisher: self-published, Gestion Production SL Studio, Inc. (The Ebony Tarot)
- Publication Date: June 2026 (second edition)
- RRP: US$ 65
- ISBN: 978-2-9822944-1-7
- Reviewed by: Cadence (IG: @temperanceandtruth)
One of the fun aspects of being in the tarot community and a part of tarot groups is the opportunity to admire each other’s collections and learn about new decks. While this could obviously be difficult on one’s wallet, we are thankfully blessed with a vast number of tarot trade groups, particularly on facebook. I recently had a few decks listed for sale or trade on one such group, and the creator of The Ebony Tarot, Lissa Sévigné, reached out to see if I’d be interested in trading for one of her decks. I couldn’t believe my luck! I’ve admired the imagery from Lissa’s deck for a long time, and her deck was on my wish list.
As described by the creator, “The Ebony Tarot is a one-of-a-kind deck, designed and created in Montreal in collaboration with local Afro-descendant artists.” The deck and guidebook are bilingual French-English, and the images are photographs taken in and around Montreal. What first comes to mind when looking at the imagery is how large an endeavour it must have been to create the 78 images. All the scenes are staged with people in different landscapes using costume and props and animal assistants and natural- and human-made structures. People are in turn riding horses, wading in lakes, naked on the shore, standing in the snow, canoeing…all recreations of RWS scenes. The effort that went into the photographs represents over 100 photoshoots, per the creator’s Instagram. It was clearly a large-scale, collaborative effort, and the results are phenomenal.
I asked the artist about her creative process, specifically regarding how she was able to add in aspects such as the lion in the Strength card. She explained that she used photo composites in a minimal way for animals that couldn’t be photographed directly in the desired context. In addition, some of the post-production photo editing included enhancing the colors of the sky in some cases to create a consistent look throughout the imagery, specifically in regard to, “the soft pink atmosphere that defines the project’s distinctive mood”, which was necessary since photos were taken at different times of day and in different seasons. She noted that the alterations, “were integrated carefully to maintain authenticity, artistic integrity, and the overall visual harmony of the deck, helping each image flow more naturally into the next.” This really works, as the deck is beautifully cohesive and maintains the same tone throughout.
Let’s look at a few of my favorite images. I love the Hermit (card 9). Look, I’m not gonna lie, the model is pretty easy on the eyes. That said, I love the way in which the scene is such a great parallel to the RWS card in photographic format: the lantern, the robes, the staff. The rock wall in the background is analogous to the mountain in the RWS card. And the moonlight through the trees is a great prequel to the Moon card (18/9). Similarly, I love the way the Judgement card mirrors the RWS card. The naked people on the shoreline, the water, their arms raised towards the sky, the clouds. Instead of Archangel Gabriel representing resurrection, we have a solar eclipse which is also a symbol of rebirth or resurrection. It’s an impressive reflection of RWS imagery brought to life in a photograph.
My favorite card in the deck is the Eight of Pentacles. At its most basic level in the RWS tradition, the card refers to putting in the effort, dedication to a project, and/or making a ritual out of a routine task. In the Ebony Tarot imagery, there are four women on a covered porch, all looking serene and focused. They are clothed in pretty dresses and are taking care of each other’s hair. It’s an intimate scene; it feels caring and intentional and generous, all aspects of the Eight of Pentacles. This is no clone of the RWS imagery, but it works beautifully in this reimagined archetype. We feel the effort in the physical realm as well as the attention to detail, the love of the work for its own sake. While it is a modern photo, we also feel the cultural context honored in the image.
The deck comes housed in a sturdy, two-piece box with a compact, basic guidebook. The card stock is thick with a non-sticky, rose-petal finish. The stock is a bit stiff at first for riffle-shuffling, but it loosens up nicely with use. The cards are reversible and are gilded in a gorgeous rose tone. The entire package feels luxe. The velvety card stock really makes the images pop, giving the softness and feel of an oil painting.
Whenever I receive a new deck, I do a deck interview of my own creation consisting of five prompts:
1: A card to describe our relationship (Nine of Cups)
2: Something I can learn from you (Wheel of Fortune)
3: When should I use you (High Priestess*)
4: Something I can do to strengthen our relationship (King of Pentacles)
5: Something I should know (Empress)
After pulling my cards, I write a little phrase that identifies what sort of deck/reader it is for me. For The Ebony Tarot, I wrote, ‘a temperance deck’…which is probably self-explanatory. But just in case, I meant that the deck is a means for me to feel centered. It’s like an anchor, stillness bringing balance to opposing forces. The Ebony Tarot is a fantastic reader for me, and I am thankful to have it in my collection. If you are drawn to the imagery, I encourage you to visit the artist’s social media and Etsy shop.
*Pictured is the creator, Lissa, as The High Priestess!
About the creator: Lissa Sévigné is a Haitian-Canadian artist, psychosocial worker, and photographer based in Montreal. Her work highlights identity, representation, and story-telling using a visual language. You can find out more about Lissa and her work at: https://letarotebene.com
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