Deck Review: Arcanum Tarot

Renata Lechner, Arcanum Tarot. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2018. ISBN: 9780738758756. (link to publisher.)

 

The Hermit-IX card

I first used this deck in 2021 if memory serves me right, but for some reason I was not able to review it then. So I picked it up again during April 2022. 

This deck comes in a small solid box with the 78 card deck and a small paperback booklet. It's a Lo Scarabeo deck, so the booklet is written in five languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, and Russian. The English text is about 60 pages. The text includes: 

• An introduction defining the word "arcanum," "what is Tarot?" and how the booklet is organized. 
• Major Arcana. Each card gets a quote and a short interpretation. You also get keywords for upright and reversed meanings. 
• Minor Arcana. Same short and concise content as Major Arcana.
• Arcanum Tarot Spread.  A four cards spread for this deck, but you can probably use it with other decks. 

 

Two of Swords card

Jaymi Elford wrote the booklet. The text is basic and straightforward. Similar to the Thelema Tarot deck's booklet (link to my review of that deck), the card interpretations are mostly descriptions of the card imagery with a bit on the symbols. The book overall is fairly basic, and it gives you enough to get started. As I suggested for the Thelema Tarot, I'd add a good Tarot reference book to keep handy, especially for beginners. I'd say the booklet does the job, but you may want more. 

The cards on this deck are great, and the art by Renata Lechner is excellent. Colors are bright yet soft. Cards have a bit of an ethereal quality. The art is computer generated, but is it very realistic. These are cards you can spend time looking at them. The art is well within Rider Waite Smith (RWS), so if you read cards in that style then you are good to go. The colors and rich images can be a good option for intuitive readers as well. 

The deck is very similar to the Thelema Tarot, but rest assured the cards are different. Note that this deck has a border and back in brown, which can make this deck feel very earthy. The Thelema Tarot's color scheme is in green. They are not radically different. I personally like and appreciate having both decks, but some card readers may be happy with one or the other. It may be a matter of personal preference. I do like both and being able to alternate use between them. 

The cards in the Arcanum Tarot measure about 4 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches. The cards have a light glossy finish. Card stock feels flexible. The card back on this deck is reversible. Overall, the deck works well as an RWS clone. The cards are borderless except for the bottom border with the card label. 

In the end, I really like this deck, and I am glad to have it in my collection. I like it because it is accessible, very easy to read, and has beautiful art. It is a deck I can use for myself and to read for others. For folks who have the Thelema Tarot, if you liked that deck you'll very likely enjoy this one too. 

4 out of 5 stars.