• Author:                        Avalon Cameron
• Artist:                           Ana Cristina Tourian
• Publisher:                    Blue Angel Publishing Australia.
• RRP:                           AUD $49.95 / GBP £25.00
• ISBN:                           978-1-922574-47-3
• Date of publication:     November 2025
• Country of publication: Australia
• Reviewed by:              Kim Goldsmith Cosmic Snail Tarot

The Bonestone and Earthflesh Tarot deck was not something I would naturally gravitate towards, but I am so glad it is now part of my collection. It was originally released as an indie deck in 2018, and there was a bit of hype around it since the creation process was shared through live YouTube sessions. There also appears to be a little controversy too, with delays in printing as well as some people claiming in various forums online that the deck culturally appropriates in a way that is misleading and inaccurate. I like to form my own opinions and give people the benefit of the doubt, so I am coming to this deck with fresh eyes. The Blue Angel version had changes made to address some of these issues – hence the subtitle ‘The Reawakening’.

The creation of the deck was collaborative with Ana and Avalon meeting live and in forums to discuss ideas for the deck, and they welcomed and incorporated feedback from their live audience community. Ana Tourian works with both traditional and digital illustration tools to create artwork inspired by fantasy and fairy tale worlds. Her artwork has brought to life several tarot and oracle decks: Tarot of the Abyss, Tarot of Echoes, Oracle of Echoes, Clair De Lune Lenormand and Hidden Waters Tarot, and Le Tarot Arthurien. She also reads tarot and has a short course on the basics which you can join through her website. Avalon Cameron is a Brazilian hereditary witch based in Australia, who focuses on many sacred practices, including familial folk magic. She is an avid tarot deck collector and tarot reader (as well as other forms of cartomancy) and has a wide presence on social media. Her Youtube channel  is an amazing resource and also includes recordings of the live streamed sessions with Ana Tourian as they discuss and create the cards for the original Indie version of The Bonestone and Earthflesh Tarot. Ana Tourian produced all hand drawn and coloured watercolours on paper. The style is gestural and colourful, and each card is brimming with tiny hidden symbols and images which spark the imagination during a reading. The deck is primarily figurative.

Glancing across the images of the court cards, you can see there is diversity in the ages and appearances of the characters populating this deck, who are derived from history, myth and fantasy. I am actually not sure why Cameron and Tourian didn’t create completely new characters for their Bonestone and Earthflesh universe, as that may have bypassed a lot of the criticism of cultural misappropriation. However, I do think the narrative descriptions of the cards written by Avalon Cameron are intentionally vague enough, leaving room for you to interpret them how you want, or to research to find out more detailed information.

This is a Rider-Waite-Smith deck, with a few tweaks. The minor suits are referred to as ‘Kingdoms’ and each individual card has a subtitle, e.g. Page of Swords ‘Young Merlin the Apprentice’. This is because each card has its own ‘narrative’ or back story within or beyond the Bonestone and Earthflesh world. There is also a bonus card ‘The Bruxa’ who is a diviner character of the deck. I see it as a mirror card for the tarot reader using this deck.

The cards are standard tarot size, and have a waxy feel. They are a little stiff and get a little stuck when I overhand shuffle. The card backs are reversible and feature the quill artwork from the Ace of Swords .There is no edging, the cards are borderless, and titles are discreetly written on the bottom on what looks like a torn piece of brown paper. All packaging is designed using details from the deck artwork. It is not a portable box, so I recommend putting your cards in a pouch for travel.

The guidebook is very comprehensive and thick at 364 pages, and includes colour images of all cards. You can tell this is a well loved and respected deck just from the fact that Benebell Wen has written a glowing Foreword for the cards. I really like referring to this guidebook – it is like a storybook or history of the deck and its inhabitants. It somehow reminds me of the  ‘Neverending Story’ that writes itself in different ways according to the reader, but also has its own life when it is not being read. Isn’t that kind of what a good tarot deck is – a living thing between creator, reader, and seeker?

Right now I am surrounded by boxes, waiting to move house. I feel I am leaving my old life, and starting a new one and I sit very uncomfortably in this liminal zone. I tried all four readings in the guidebook to address my feelings about change and to see what I could do to sit more easily in this transition, and the resulting spread really made an impact on me. The five-card spread “Soul’s Loving Embrace” was particularly interesting as it asked me to “focus from outside of yourself back onto yourself”. It is kind of a healing and self-care reading.

Here are my cards:

13 Death (The Fallen Warrior) as an “Embrace” card, reminds me that all things inevitably end, and letting go of fear of change creates space for flow and new beginnings. 

The Five of Pentacles (Storm-Swept Family) in the position of “Affection” tells me that in this tough time where I am feeling a little unsure and ‘homeless’, my friends, family and partner are all here to provide the love and support I need to keep me grounded.

Six of Wands Reversed (The Sovereign Self) in the position of “Comfort” tells me that victory in life is an internal pursuit. Comfort comes when you accept and value yourself instead of relying on external validation. Having my own house and space to make art and read tarot is a gift that will enable me to live life how I wish.

8 Strength (Aadya) viewed as a card of “Nurture” suggests self-discipline as a coping strategy at this time. Taming the ‘lion within’ or the struggle between resistance and acceptance of change will enable me to see peace in a time of upheaval.

Ace of Pentacles (Mandrake Spirit and the Skull of the Old One) as a “Radiance” card suggests I must let go of my old way of life and in doing so, I will allow space for renewed energy and excitement when preparing my new home. Ultimately, ‘radiance’ and happiness will come from this new chapter.

The cards I received were really challenging and seemed initially at odds with the placements in the spread. I don’t want to be embraced by the Death card! Yet this contrast led me to think how I can use this card’s energy more positively, and led to a more powerful reading than anticipated. The journal prompts for each card were excellent in guiding me to recognise why I may feel discomfort in this transitional phase of life.

The Bonestone and Earthflesh Tarot deck is well worth a place in your tarot collection. The level of detail and complexity in both the card artwork and companion book will expand your ways of seeing everyday life. For the blocked creative, the journal prompts and stories related to each card could be the key to help you recover your drive and passion. I could see any one of these cards as a character in a book or the inspiration for a work of art. Whether historic or mythic, misrepresented or reimagined, the characters have voices that will speak to many of you. If you enjoy decks like The Wildwood Tarot that build their own world for you to enter, and you love nature, journaling  and stories, then this deck is a must have.

Bonestone and Earthflesh Tarot is available from Blue Angel Publishing Australia.