Deck Review: Runic Tarot

Jack Sephiroth, et.al., Runic Tarot. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021. ISBN: 9780738770734. (link to publisher)  

Genre: Tarot decks

Subgenre: vikings, Norse

Format: Kit with companion book and deck

Source: I own this one  

 

The Fool-0 

Up front, if you liked the Heaven and Earth Tarot deck (link to my review), you might like this one. JackSephiroth, artist and author of the Heaven and Earth Tarot, is the artist and author for the Runic Tarot. The art style here is similar to his other deck, which is a reason why I picked up this kit. Allen Dempter also worked on the deck's concept and did the runes research. Jaymi Elford wrote the book. A book by Elford is another good reason to pick up a deck kit. So we are off to a good start. 

The deck kit includes the companion book and the 78-card deck. The book is arranged as follows: 

• Runic Tarot. A small runic meditation to set up mood and get started working with the deck. 
• Introduction to Tarot. Briefly introduces the deck's concept combining runes and Tarot. We also get a short overview of Tarot structure. 
• Introduction to Runes. A brief overview to runes. We also get a table of runes. 
• Unlocking the Meanings. Some advice on using the book as starting point for your journey with the Tarot and runes. 
• Major Arcana. First we get a table showing which Nordic deities and runes connect to Major Arcana cards. Then you get the Major Arcana entries. Each entry includes a full color illustration of the card, image description, meanings, keyword for upright and reversed interpretation, and interpreting the runes. 
• Minor Arcana. Entries are arranged by suits. Note each suit draws from different runes. For example, runes in the suit of horns (cups) are drawn from the Medieval Futhark.  The card entries here lack illustrations. You get image description, meanings, keywords upright and reversed, and interpreting the runes. The text is shorter than in the Major Arcana entries, but you get enough to work with the cards. 
• Reading Tarot. This includes brief instruction on using the cards, runic spreads featuring 3 spreads, and a list of steps to do your first reading. If you're experienced you might skip the last page, but I'd say try the steps anyway to reinforce learning. 

The book is accessible and relatively easy to read. When it comes to the runes, you get the basics. If you know runes and/or work with runes, you may appreciate the integration with Tarot better. If you come with no knowledge, and you are curious, you may want to seek some supplementary reading on runes. Still you can use the deck and book just fine even if your knowledge of runes is limited. 

Eight of Shields (Pentacles) 

The card art is beautiful with a bit of an ethereal quality. If you like vikings, Nordic mythology and imagery, you'll probably like this deck. The deck has some Rider Waite Smith (RWS) elements, but much of the art offers unique elements that can add to your readings and interpretations. 

The cards are fully illustrated. They feature images that you can take your time looking at them. They are rich in detail and expressive. They are colorful with grey tones predominant. I'd say this is a good deck to use during the winter season. Of course, you can use it any time of year, but for me it works well in winter. If you work within the RWS system, this deck can work for you. The deck can work well for intuitives given the rich and expressive art. 

Each image in the deck features one rune or more. A small issue is the artist drew some of the runes too small or hid them too well in the art. There are one or two cards I could not see the runes; I realized a rune was there after reading a card description. I found this is a significant issue on some cards. 

On a side note, there is a mini-edition of this deck available, so if you cannot see some runes on the standard size deck, the issue may be worse in the smaller size. Despite that, I may get the small edition for my work office. 

Overall I love the deck. I found it to be a solid reader, reliable, and responsive. It works for me, In addition, it has made me more curious about runes, so I will start studying them down the road. I am gathering some study resources already. 

If you like Runic, viking, Norse art and beliefs, and you read Tarot, this is a deck for you. If you work with runes, this deck may be for you too. I do highly recommend it. It is one I'd consider getting a back up copy. 

5 out of 5 stars.

 

This deck kit qualifies for the following 2026 Reading Challenge: