General Thoughts About The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck

[TheLoracular]

I'm excited that I finished up a different project this morning and I can start working on this study group.  I really hope others will join and explore this deck with me.

The Wild Unknown was hyper-popular for a while shortly after its publication in 2011.   That was around the same time that I finished up my third and final bout of working for a tarot reading service, providing readings via phone and went on a long sabbatical from both Internet life and reading/collecting tarot decks.  So for me, the Wild Unknown Tarot is brand new and I'm just starting to read the guide books (official and unofficial) and really taking a good look at the cards.  

What I really like about TWU tarot

 

1) The subtle use of color :  I am fascinated with the way that Kim Krans uses color to accent her drawings in a very "elemental" way.  It makes the cards "subtle" which is a word that the occultists of the 19th century often used to talk about the spirits and spiritual energy; something present but ephemeral and easily missed if you were not sensitive.  I feel like every color was carefully chosen and rich in symbolism when it appears, but in a way that encourages the reader to apply their own imagination and experiences to what it means.

2)  The choice of animals:  owls, foxes, snake, stags....  all of them come with a lot of symbolism attached and they are drawn in (usually) very compelling ways that again, let's the reader rely heavily on their imagination to decide what it all means.   The lack of humans of any kind was still pretty novel at the time (except for Cat decks) as I remember?  It was definitely novel for a deck this stark and serious.

3) The over-all mood:  I just called TWU a stark and serious deck.  It is not a deck I'd suggest to a novice reader for a bunch of reasons.  It is also not a deck that I would personally carry in my bag and use for casual reading for anyone/everyone.  I think of this as better suited as an "introspection" deck, something to do personal self-development with or incorporate into a practice that was centered in neo-pagan readings for neo-pagan querents.  If I had to cut my collection down to 12 tarot decks?  It would probably be on the list.  If I had to cut my collection down to 6?  It  wouldn't be.  

What I'm critical about

 

1) Some of the animal drawings: There are a few, like the fox on the 5 of cups, that are mediocre compared to the rest imo.

2) Choice of font:  Even if it fits the feel of the deck, I'm not a fan of that specific font and find it a little hard to read, especially on some of the Roman numerals.  

 

[vulprix]

What a great thread to have for the study group, @TheLoracular. I am a big fan of TWU, and it is a typical choice for my grand, once-a-season forecast readings.

 

I got the deck from…wait for it… an Urban Outfitters(!) right before its popularity really hit the fan. I remember opening it up outside and not really knowing what to expect, diving into the cards with sheer wonder and awe! Nowadays some of the images are a little corny to me (the lion holding the rose in their mouth for Strength), but I still can’t deny their beauty.

 

Kim Krans’s linework is just gorgeous. Some people say that they could have drawn it, due to its sketchy quality. To that I say, why didn’t you? The deck has a cohesion in its presentation of animals and pip arrangements.  Also, her draftsmanship is really quite great. I always feel as though I am looking at a “real” animal when I look at a Wild Unknown card, not a cartoon. Generally, her art is skilled and respectful. The black and white is still unusual to find on the market,  and she really took the bits of color added to the next level with all of the bright hues across the rainbow’s spectrum.

 

In short, the deck is iconic.

 

Even though it has been a trendy deck, I feel as though it deserves its popularity and that it is not diminished by its broad use.

 

It is a fantastic reader. Many layers, and yes, great for introspection. I would actually say I could see it working for a dedicated beginner!

 

Never got the guidebook; saw some of the text online and didn’t find it to be any more insightful than the images themselves.

 

Overall my impressions of the deck are as positive as they were at the start. It is a favorite and will stand the test of time, while being right on time as well.

Edited September 20, 2021 by vulprix

[stephanelli]

9 hours ago, TheLoracular said:

1) Some of the animal drawings: There are a few, like the fox on the 5 of cups, that are mediocre compared to the rest imo.

Isn't the 5 of Cups a Horse?

[TheLoracular]

11 hours ago, stephanelli said:

Isn't the 5 of Cups a Horse?

Yes!  According to guide books it is a horse, which I will take as confirmation to myself and for myself about this particular drawing isn't as great as most of the others.  Because i definitely didn't see a horse head when I glanced at it, I saw a fox with its muzzle tilted down, a black ear and black feet.  Even knowing its a horse, my brain is going "that's kinda more.. cow/calf.."   😛

 

[stephanelli]

1 hour ago, TheLoracular said:

Yes!  According to guide books it is a horse, which I will take as confirmation to myself and for myself about this particular drawing isn't as great as most of the others.  Because i definitely didn't see a horse head when I glanced at it, I saw a fox with its muzzle tilted down, a black ear and black feet.  Even knowing its a horse, my brain is going "that's kinda more.. cow/calf.."   😛

 

See, I never saw it as anything else. It looks exactly like one of the horses I rode at the riding school I went to add a child.

To me it's just as good as all the others.

[katrinka]

This? I'm seeing a horse, too, kind of a shaggy, gentle one.

 

But I'm trying to understand where you're seeing feet, @TheLoracular. Is there some kind of optical trick I'm missing, like that old rabbit-duck illusion?

[TheLoracular]

I totally see the horse in that picture and now that it is there, I can look at my own card (the black isn't as deep, the contrast isn't as good) and its a horse and remains a horse.  Thank you.

 

[ladedadedum]

I really love the imagery in this deck, however I can't really get "connected" to it. I've done a couple of personal readings with it and it always felt "off" if that makes sense.

 

Some of the cards are absolutely beautiful though. One of my personal favorites it the 2 of Pentacles. The 6 of Cups is also a personal favorite in this deck.

 

I really wish I could get into this deck, but I can't.

[GeoLund]

On 9/21/2021 at 9:16 PM, katrinka said:

Is there some kind of optical trick I'm missing, like that old rabbit-duck illusion?

Yes!!! I think that is what is going on! When I first looked, I couldn't see any animal clearly - other than a calf head with skeleton teeth. Yuck!

When folks mentioned a horse head, it took a bit of staring, but finally it appeared, clear as day - with neck and mane.

 

So I think if you look for the horse, starting from the upper left, you will see it.

In order to see the other image (whatever it may be) try covering up the neck and mane and just look at the face, and imagine the eye is on the opposite side of the head. What do you see now?

[katrinka]

I can see the horse fine. Just no fox. 

Or calf head with skeleton teeth. 

It's a horse.

[QueenOfCusp]

This is one of my favorite decks. I just happened upon it at a store that doesn't normally carry tarot cards. I felt like it was meant to be mine. I had read a lot of negative reviews of it on Amazon, people said they felt like the deck had "dark energy" and not many liked it. I think the problem is the deck is quite stark, but that's one of the reasons I like. I disagree about the negative energy! I think the deck is very honest, if not a little arrogant, but it does lean more serious. 

[Karrma]

I accidentally ordered this deck thinking it was the Wildwood, and it was one of the best Serendipity momements.  I have always lived on the west coast and love the outdoors.  I know the plants and trees and animals in this deck instinctually and it is my go to intuitive deck.  

 

[gregory]

On 10/11/2021 at 11:17 PM, GeoLund said:

Yes!!! I think that is what is going on! When I first looked, I couldn't see any animal clearly - other than a calf head with skeleton teeth. Yuck!

When folks mentioned a horse head, it took a bit of staring, but finally it appeared, clear as day - with neck and mane.

 

So I think if you look for the horse, starting from the upper left, you will see it.

In order to see the other image (whatever it may be) try covering up the neck and mane and just look at the face, and imagine the eye is on the opposite side of the head. What do you see now?

 

Good lord - I CAN see a dog (not a fox) - but I can't imagine seeing that FIRST. It took Hard Work !

[Arania]

I got this deck with the other decks of the artist, and I kind of think they all go together really well. I love decks like these, with few colors and the possibility to see a lot of differentr things in the lines. I bought them after rqaving reviews on a discord server.

 

Maybe we can get this forujm revived a bit, i haven't done much with the cards yet as I currently read little for others.

[DanielJUK]

Please do add your own thoughts, discussions on the decks and threads on each card @Arania. The study groups are there for members adding what they want to the section and exploring each card.

[Guest]

Even when it was very ubiquitous, I really liked it. I appreciate the small swatches of color amidst the otherwise minimalist art. It also shuffles like a dream. Don't care much for animal-themed decks but this one is an exception. 

[Rootwood]

Happy to have found this thread. (is it a thread?)
The Wild Unknown was the 2nd deck I bought.
I love the minimalist look with limited use of colour.  I gravitate to this look. Clean. Spare. Uncluttered. Homogenous. This is why collage decks generally give me a panic attack, or decks with many artists where none of it is congruent. While I appreciate the work of collaboration and the surprise of multiple creators, those decks are not something I would purchase.

Now, with a few more decks in my collection I do not reach for TWU very often. But still, when I do, it's like finding old friends again. 
Except for the Justice card.
Why? Why the ghastly, in-your-face colours and cats grasping a globe with their tails? What's that all about? Ewww, no. Make it stop! 

When looking at flip throughs the Justice card really matters to me. It is a card I often judge with more weight.  I have to be impressed with the Justice card and this one? It just makes me sad and hurts my eyes. 

Also the Devil. Not the best. Not the worst but .... left me a little mystified. 
I have no clue good card stock from bad. This is quite thin and flexible and I like it. Like the size. 

Thank you for this discussion on TWU.
 

[Rootwood]

Is there somewhere where each TWU card is discussed individually? I can't find that thread !  I would like to discuss the Judgement card with others. 

[DanielJUK]

@Rootwood this is a study group for this deck. Start a thread to discuss each card in this Wild Unknown area. Just put the card in the title in this area. Later on we can make an index of them all in an order.

When you have got a card thread going and given your views and ideas, other members might add theirs or start other cards in future 🙂 .

 

here is an example of how it works for another deck -

https://www.thetarotforum.com/forums/forum/195-deviant-moon/

 

 

[Karrma]

Here is a picture of the first edition Justice card.  I don’t have her newer editions but did read about some of the reasons Kim added color to her newer Justice cards.  

[Rootwood]

@Karrma thank you for the pic. I like your Justice card so much better.  To me that depicts what (I feel) Justice means.  Your card is clean, clear, sensible.  All the added colour in the newer card is just too much and I think makes a weighty card, frivolous.

[Laura Borealis]

I like the original version better artistically, but symbolically I like the colored one better, as those are the progress pride flag colors.

 

[xStardustx]

I had several decks sitting in my Amazon and systematically removed them as my interest waned until this was the only one left. 

 

I have most of her decks and love them all. The Hermetic and The Wild Unknown are two of my favorite decks. I love the black/white aesthetic. 

 

I love the use of animals but I also love how she makes the animals front and center. It takes me think about the qualities of those specific animals, how they behave and how they relate to the suits. 

 

Snakes for the suit of wands. They could be living near you for years and you'd never know until you stepped near it, saw it or heard it moving around. Approach it and it will warn you before attacking. 

 

Not to mention, some of them are very venomous and can take you down in one bite. I never thought of them as fiery creatures but when I came across this deck, it changed my whole perspective. 

 

Swans for Cups! Elegant, graceful and serene on the surface but paddling like hell underneath! 

 

Owls for Swords. Wise. Perceptive. Intelligent. Nocturnal. 

 

Deer for Pentacles! I see deer all the time where I live. They are so beautiful, graceful and the little fawns!

 

I like the splashes of color for emphasis. Not too much, not too little. Some decks can have too much imagery or they can just have images that do not really connect or make sense. 

 

I love her art - it is so amazing. 

[geoxena]

IIRC, the first edition was totally black and white and it wasn't until the second edition came out that color was added.  I remember lots of people saying that they didn't like the addition of color.  When I bought mine, the color version was the only one available. 

 

I love my Wild Unknown deck.  I agree with whoever called it iconic.  It's well thought out and the artwork is impressive in its ability to convey a great deal of meaning.  And I say that as someone who normally isn't drawn to animal-themed decks and usually "needs" detailed imagery that tells a story in order to read with a deck.  I never expected to connect so well with a deck that has such spare imagery.  Even the cards that just have sticks in the picture, without any animals, I can read.  I think that has something to do with how she drew the light source in addition to how the objects are arranged.  I can understand why some people cannot connect to it, but to me, it's brilliantly done and quite potent to read with.

Edited December 16, 2024 by geoxena

[Rose Lalonde]

6 hours ago, geoxena said:

as someone who normally isn't drawn to animal-themed decks and usually "needs" detailed imagery that tells a story in order to read with a deck.  I never expected to connect so well with a deck that has such spare imagery.  Even the cards that just have sticks in the picture, without any animals, I can read. 

Yes, this. I bought WU in 2012 when I was experimenting with ways of reading. I'm glad I did, because if I saw it for sale now, I wouldn't think to get it. It's not my usual at all. But when I do read with it, it's clear.  I agree with you about the lighting, and also I think the imagery calls back to meanings with which I'm familiar, but in a way that leaves a lot of open space for interpretation., making it easy for it to mesh with more individual perspectives on the cards that we collect over the years. 

 

--

(I'm glad I have the b&w Justice now that I've just seen the colorful version.)