The Rainbow Moon Tarot by Samantha West (Rook) is an unexpected gem of a tarot deck, and one that keeps classic Rider-Waite-Smith images without their gendered focus.
Its description says that it’s meant for “inclusivity, whimsy, and humour.” However, it’s also meant for modern readings that embrace they/them pronouns and LGBTQI+ readings.
The retailer, though mainstream, only had one shelf labelled ESOTERIC and a very limited selection. The Stranger Things Tarot, The Friends Tarot, and The Meryl Streep Tarot definitely wasn’t what I was looking for… Eventually, I found The Rainbow Moon Tarot on the bottom shelf between Draw Your Own Tarot Deck and an Astrology Kit.
The Rainbow Moon Tarot does away with heavily gendered traditional tarot imagery: The High Priestess becomes Divine, and the Empress is expressed as The Creator. Simultaneously the deck still keeps some of the classic Rider-Waite-Smith images so you’re not lost for meanings if that’s the deck style you’re used to.
Cards-backs contain a cosmic, rainbow eye (because why not?), and the sides they are a-glowin’ like special edition foil trading cards. It’s a cool detail. As a tip, give your cards a quick corn flour dusting and wipe them to give cards the glide you’re looking for – new decks, including this one, tend to feel like they’ve been glued together for the first while.
There are some surprises that you’ll have to get used to, like the suit of Crystals – and the deck using Page, Knight, Chancellor and Warden instead.
There’s a 144 page guidebook, too. Definitions are thoroughly explained and the differences between traditional imagery and Rainbow Moon are duly noted.
Art easily reminds of animated web shows, and in a good way.
Samantha West is an illustrator and artist, and also created the Cosmic C*nt Tarot. Some of her creations have been launched via crowd-funding – including The Peony Clown Tarot (ongoing) and Bellus the Sweet: The Plushie Demon.
Alex J. Coyne 