Newly published tarot and oracle decks arrive on Amazon, Etsy, crowd-funding platforms, and in bookstores every month. Today there are literally thousands of decks to choose from, including out-of-print decks as well as published ones. Reviewing a deck is a subjective judgement intended to help readers determine if they want to own the deck. The critical review of a deck for AskAstrology involves looking at the quality and size of the cards, visual accessibility of the art, quality of the companion book or booklet, and potential usefulness in professional practice. This month I have chosen to review the Real Talk Tarot by Juanita Londoño Gaviria.
The Cards
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From the Publisher (Becker and Mayer Books):
Let’s be real; modern life can feel surreal and disorienting sometimes. This tarot deck, updated from the classic Rider Waite version, is perfect for everyone from novice to expert who is looking for guidance in today’s world, which often feels like it’s on fire.
Each of the 78 cards is connected to today’s world by characters and situations you might encounter any day. Some of the illustrations are lighthearted, like the King of Cups depicted as a handsome barista, and some are less so, such as the Seven of Wands represented by a heated political protest in the streets, but each card is true to the experience of life today while staying true to its original tarot meaning.
The beautifully illustrated, highly giftable deck comes with an interpretation guidebook so beginners and experts alike can read the cards. The deck and book come in a beautiful keepsake box.
Whether you are looking to add a unique deck to your collection or are just beginning your tarot journey, Real Talk Tarot is the fresh take on tarot that you need right now.
About the Author:
Juanita was born in Columbia, and has always lived in a house up in a hill amidst the mountains, surrounded by nature, birds, and flowers. She has never quite liked staying in one place, so she travels around satisfying that drive of learning from new cultures and trying new food. She believes what led her to illustration was bedtime stories. And she wouldn’t go to sleep if her parents didn’t read from a storybook. She studied fashion design in her hometown, Medellin, and graduated in Concept Art from Vancouver Film School in 2018 and has been freelancing as an illustrator and textile designer since then.
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Card Stock and Shuffling
Printed on medium duty card stock, these cards have a slightly glossy finish with curved edges. They will be shuffle fairly easy when you first get them out of the box, though they may present a challenge if you have small hands. They are slightly larger than the standard size for tarot cards.
Artwork and the Visual Accessibility of the Real Talk Tarot by Juanita Londoño Gaviria
The artwork is not very sophisticated, but the cleverness of the designs is very, very good. Other decks have much more stunning and beautiful art, but lack the visual accessibility to the meaning of the cards that is so evident in her work. Themes are very current and very modern; the frame of the cards looks like the front of an iPhone.
Even though the images are modern, the structure of the deck is traditional – 78 cards, 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, in four suits. She uses the traditional suit names (cups, pentacles, swords, and wands), but opts for modern representations (glasses, coins, knives, and vehicles). She gives the basic concepts of the traditional cards modern interpretations that make all the cards more visually accessible than most any other decks.
Major Arcana 8 – Strength
From the Booklet: The Strength card represents self-guidance and self-confidence. It’s time to summon your courage and determination to get the situation under control. Remember to act with grace and sensitivity rather than using brute force (14).
Four of Cups
From the Booklet: If you are looking for a relationship, the Four of Cups shows disillusion. This card often comes up if you have been hurt in the past and protect yourself with a checklist, instantly rejecting anyone who does not live up to your exacting standards – its time to risk opening up emotionally again (22).
Seven of Pentacles
From the Booklet: There’s a goal in sight, and you are close to achieving it – but now is not the time stop and reflect. The Seven of Pentacles is the card of doing, not philosophizing, so keep your focus on what you want and believe you can achieve it (31).
Explanation of the Cards
The Real Talk Tarot by Juanita Londoño Gaviria does have a companion book; it is larger than a booklet, which is what you normally get with decks in simple boxes that basically hold just the cards. Each card gets a phrase and two paragraphs of explanation, one for when the card is upright and one for when it is reversed.
Usefulness of the Real Talk Tarot by Juanita Londoño Gaviria
As a professional reader, I can say that this deck is a very good one for reading in public where people who have never had a tarot reading might want to get one. Because of the modern, somewhat cartoonist art style and visual/meaning accessibility, even the harshest cards in the deck (Death, the Tower, 9 of Swords, and so on) are not overwhelming.
I would recommend the deck for personal use, collecting, and public professional use. This deck is rather fun, and not intimidating. The guidebook that comes with the deck is above average and quite useful.
Rating
The deck is a mixed visually, the art style is just okay. The visual ideas are great! The booklet is very good, and the card size is slightly larger, but not too large. I give this deck four out of five stars.
Where to Buy this Deck
If you like the Real Talk Tarot by Juanita Londoño Gaviria and wish to purchase a copy; you can do so.
