Deck Review: Wildwood Tarot

Mark Ryan, Will Worthington, and John Matthews, The Wildwood Tarot: Wherein wisdom resides. New York: Sterling Ethos, 2011. ISBN: 9781402781063. 

Genre: Tarot deck

Subgenre: Celtic, shamanism, pagan

Format: Kit with 78-card deck and companion book

Source: I own this one. 

 

I first used this deck in March 2025. The deck kit includes a companion book and the 78-card deck. The deck has pre-Celtic mythology and shamanic mysteries theme. Will Worthington does the art; he also did the art for the Druidcraft Tarot (link to my review). Part of the reason I chose this deck is the art, which is very good. 

The book is substantial and offers some depth. It is arranged as follows: 

• "Return to the Green." This is Mark Ryan's Preface. Ryan explains how this deck came about and is a successor of the now rare and out of print Greenwood Tarot deck. I've heard of the Greenwood Tarot deck like you hear about some rare antiquarian tome that you are not sure is real or not. Anyhow, can't comment on the previous deck or how it may compare to this one. 
• "The Wildwood Song." This is John Matthews's Preface. He also recalls the Greenwood Tarot. He also writes a bit about his connection to forests and woods. 
• Part One: Into the Green. Mark Ryan writes his introduction. This section looks at the concept and composition of the deck. It goes over how to meditate with the cards. It also explains how the Wheel of the Year underlies the deck's system.
• Part Two: The Path Through the Forest-- The Cards and Their Meanings. This includes the card meanings for the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana by suits: arrows (swords), bows (wands), vessels (cups), and stones (pentacles). The Major Arcana card entries include: Card name, black and white card image, card's position on the Wheel, card description, meaning, reading points, and a small list of Roots and Branches (keywords). Minor Arcana entries include: Card name, a card keyword, black and white card image, card description, card meaning, and reading points. 
• Part Three: Finding your Way-- Working with the Deck. This section includes some tips for using and laying the cards. It also includes 3 spreads to use with the deck: the 3-card Pathway Spread, the 7-card Bow Spread, and the 8-card World Tree Spread. 

 

The Hooded Man-9

I know card readers often skip reading companion books, but I strongly suggest reading the book before using this deck. The book is informative. The deck is partially within Rider Waite Smith (RWS) tradition, but it has some significant differences in meanings and images, so reading the book, in my humble opinion, is essential. The book is also interesting to read overall. Once you read it, I would keep it handy as I work with the deck. 

Worthington's art is excellent. It evokes nature and the pre-Celtic culture well. The images are colorful, bright, and expressive. Some intuitives might be able to read the deck intuitively, but most of us may want to study the book and images before working with the deck. Having said that, I found the deck responsive for readings. I found I was able to use it and get messages and advice well. I did consult the book here or there, but as you master the cards, you can keep the book on stand-by. 

The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 3 inches. The deck is fully illustrated, and each card is truly a work of art. Each card has a white border. Each card is labeled. The card back is dark green with a reversible Celtic tree design. The border is not an issue for me, but I can see certain Tarotistas wanting to trim it. I am fine with the cards as they are. The cards have a very soft gloss finish, and they shuffle with ease. 

Overall I love this deck, and I can appreciate why many folks see it as a classic. If you want a nature-themed deck, this is a good option. If you want a Celtic-themed deck, this is a good option. It is a deck that you need to study, but it is well worth the effort. This is a deck I would use again, and I am glad to have it in my collection. I'd buy a back up copy. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

This kit qualifies for the following 2025 Reading Challenge: