- Author: Jen Sankey (STARDUST WANDERER TAROT)
- Artist: Carol Phillips (https://www.instagram.com/carolphillipsart/)
- Publisher: US Games, Inc. U.S. Games Systems, Inc. > Tarot & Inspiration > Stardust Wanderer Tarot
- Publication Date: July 2026 (US) / August 2026 (UK)
- RRP: $26.95 USD / £31.00 GBP
- Reviewer: Cadence (IG: @temperanceandtruth)
Spoiler alert: I absolutely love this deck despite my not being a SciFi or Fantasy person per se.
Jen Sankey is also the creator of The Enchanted Forest Felines tarot as well as an author. The artist of Stardust Wanderer is Carol Phillips, though you have to do a bit of work to learn her identity, as it’s hidden in the back of the guidebook. I’m never sure if this is intentional or not when I see this setup in a deck…is it a choice by the artist or some arrangement worked out with the creator? (Maybe someone knowledgeable could enlighten me.)
The deck revolves around the story of Mena and her “odyssey of self-discovery” as she travels through the galaxy with Poe, her three-eyed Raven, on her Fool’s Journey, encountering space pirates, gods, goddesses, and commoners along the way. She falls in love, makes friends, learns about her personal history, and experiences challenges that help her come into her own power.
Each guidebook entry begins with the story narrative followed by upright meanings (“Avast Ye”, meaning pay attention) and reversed meanings (“Batten down the hatches”). The deck follows the RWS system. The Minor Arcana suits are: Oars/Wands; Chalices/Cups; Swords; and Coins/Pentacles. Each card shows the astrological/planetary correspondence symbol next to the title, which is not only a welcome addition, but is also perfectly aligned with the deck theme.
Let’s look at a few of my favorite images. We see Mena as the Fool and her raven companion, Poe, as the Magician, both cards featuring gorgeous aurora-like skies. Persephone is the High Priestess and Hekate is the Empress. I love the choice of Juno for the Hierophant. Juno was a strong and protective Roman goddess, as well as the goddess of marriage. Marriage is one of the traditional meanings associated with the Hierophant. The guidebook states: “Juno is here to impart the sacred knowledge of life and will only reveal it when she believes you are ready to advance”.
In the Minor Arcana, the Oars explore Mena’s personal power; the Chalices see Mena falling in love; in the Swords, Mena explores her past, particularly as it relates to her parents [her father is the pirate, Blackbeard, and her mother is Selene, goddess of the moon]; and the Coins explore the lives of the ‘commoners’. Cups/Chalices are usually my least favorite suit in a deck, but in Stardust Wanderer, they are my favorite. I particularly love the Three of Chalices, showing Mena and her friends drinking wine and enjoying each other, and Five of Chalices, when she is engulfed in grief, loyal Poe resting on her shoulder.
The deck comes housed in a sturdy two-piece box. The cards are glossy but not sticky, and the deck is gilded in gold. The cardstock is flexible but feels durable, and the deck can be riffle-shuffled. I always love the US Games cardstock. The guidebook is small but substantial and really serves the narrative of this deck well. It’s clear that the story and presentation were well-thought out.
Again, this is not a theme I’d normally gravitate towards, but I think this deck is so smart and fun. The inclusion of gods and goddesses through the Major Arcana is a fantastic and unexpected bonus. The storyline is light but meaningful. To me, this is a perfect summer deck, something that you’d want to tote around like a great beach read, enjoying the fantastical world and all the bright, saturated colors. Having said that, I know that I will be using this deck year-round.
If you are drawn to fantasy, space, pirates, and the realm of Greek/Roman gods and goddesses, this deck is for you. Highly recommend!
Creator Bio:
Author Jen Sankey is a tarot reader, author, professional witch, and teacher. She’s been slinging cards since she bought a deck with her babysitting money when she was fourteen. Tarot has been a big part of her life ever since. Jen is also the director of the World Spiritual Association, and has been featured in many publications. She collaborated with artist Carol Phillips to bring her Stardust Wanderer Tarot vision to life.
For those in the US, Stardust Wanderer Tarot can be purchased direct from USGAMES INC. here:
https://www.usgamesinc.com/stardust-wanderer-tarot
And from all good online bookstores in the UK from August 2026
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