Myriorama cards

[KiMo]

Firstly, apologies if I haven't quite put this in the right section of the forum, I had a search for the term but couldn't find any old posts covering this topic, so I chose where I thought was the best place to put it!

 

I recently read the 'Book of Dust' trilogy (the follow up to the 'His Dark Materials' trilogy by Philip Pullman) and in the second book, the main character is introduced to a deck of cards called a Myriorama. I was intrigued by the description of these cards so I looked them up to see if they were a real thing, and they are. Originally a set of cards that was used as storytelling toy or device for children, they display painted landscapes with different scenes happening on each card, designed to be able to join up when laid out and create a visual narrative. 

 

Here are some examples: 

https://www.wopc.co.uk/games/myriorama

https://collections.britishart.yale.edu/catalog/alma:99160658773408651

https://www.jennifercourt.co.uk/commissions/project-one-f5w4d-4h3xj

 

I know that there are one or two oracle decks out there that were designed to join up when laid out, but not quite so precisely and in such a continuous way as these. I find them fascinating and wondered if anyone else has come across them or has used them? Tarot and oracle cards certainly form a narrative when laid out, but these have the feeling of a journey about them which I find an interesting idea to explore.

 

 

 

 

[PathWalker]

I've just finished the book too 

I have had a set of cards like that, but in the end I found them restrictive (lack of imagination on my part perhaps) I don't get on too well with oracles at all.

 

I immediately think of this tarot though, which has some cards which exactly link with others, and can be made to read like a variety of stories

 

 

 

[Raggydoll]

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen them before, they are very cool! I wish there were more cards in a deck though! 😍

[Mi-Shell]

No idea, if this is helpful?-♥

Russian g*psy fortune telling cards make up a whole picture with all cards fitting together.

 

 

There is also a ?? Maya or Aztec?? imagery oracle, where all cards fitt together to form a large panorama....

[fire cat pickles]

1 hour ago, Mi-Shell said:

There is also a ?? Maya or Aztec?? imagery oracle, where all cards fitt together to form a large panorama....

There is also a tarot deck that does this but I can't remember which one it is...

[fire cat pickles]

8 minutes ago, fire cat pickles said:

There is also a tarot deck that does this but I can't remember which one it is...

It's the Grail Tarot, "Walking the Templar Path" by John Matthews and Giovanni Caselli

 

Review 

 

[Raggydoll]

8 hours ago, Mi-Shell said:

No idea, if this is helpful?-♥

Russian g*psy fortune telling cards make up a whole picture with all cards fitting together.

 

 

There is also a ?? Maya or Aztec?? imagery oracle, where all cards fitt together to form a large panorama....

Those fortune telling cards are based on the Russian ’Pasyans’ decks. They’re a little bit different in that they don’t have a storytelling aspect as a whole, we are meant to only read the cards where images match up. So if, for instance, Fox met with Scales, it would not be read as a combo and both cards would be disregarded altogether since they weren’t a match.
 

I think pasyans are very fun to work with, really different and playful. So in that sense, they are reminiscent of the other decks in this thread 🙂

[Sar]

I don't think I could work with the nature based decks without human interaction, but I could try. It would be fun with a more modern interpretation of these kind of decks, I have been searching for a new oracle that can be read like Lenormand/Kipper, though. I followed the buy me link of the Jennifer Court deck, but got a 404 message. Any of you got luck there?

 

 

[gregory]

Quote

There is also a ?? Maya or Aztec?? imagery oracle, where all cards fitt together to form a large panorama....

It's the Xultun.

[KiMo]

16 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen them before, they are very cool! I wish there were more cards in a deck though! 😍

Aren't they gorgeous? There's something quite evocative in those classical Victorian images, like you're walking down a path and just quietly noticing everything around you... I agree that more cards would be so fun!

 

16 hours ago, PathWalker said:

I immediately think of this tarot though, which has some cards which exactly link with others, and can be made to read like a variety of stories

 

This is an interesting deck for sure, and actually I found a modern myriorama that has a very similar theme and atmosphere (The Endless Odyssey, I'll link it below).

 

3 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

 

I think pasyans are very fun to work with, really different and playful. So in that sense, they are reminiscent of the other decks in this thread 🙂

Yes I've seen these used before @Mi-Shell, it's a fascinating system, and I like the way that it really makes you look carefully to determine which images have matched up and where. I think I'm so taken by the myriorama because of the travelling aspect, you start in one place and end up in another, if that makes sense.

 

10 hours ago, fire cat pickles said:

It's the Grail Tarot, "Walking the Templar Path" by John Matthews and Giovanni Caselli

I've seen people reference this deck before but I had no idea that the images are designed to form a panorama, interesting!

 

2 hours ago, Sar said:

I followed the buy me link of the Jennifer Court deck, but got a 404 message.

That's my bad, apologies, the deck is sold out... I wanted to link to it as an example and should have considered that people may well be interested in it! I did see on Instagram that the artist had done a reprint, so it may well be worth keeping an eye on her website in case she does another. I like it too so I'll be stalking her 😅

 

I've found some more modern versions of the game - 

 

• The Hollow Woods for a folk, fairy tale theme (surprisingly dark) - https://www.laurenceking.com/products/the-hollow-woods?_pos=1&_sid=20bbd3407&_ss=r
• The Shadow World with a sci fi vibe - https://www.laurenceking.com/products/the-shadow-world?_pos=3&_sid=20bbd3407&_ss=r
• Endless Journey illustrated by Tom Gauld - https://www.artofplay.com/products/endless-journey-myriorama-tom-gauld?srsltid=AfmBOorfQV5iFzq9MaptJbRmS33GzNQ0ugFnx92-UNa89Jms96UFm-rn
• The Endless Odyssey with a Greek myth theme (sadly a little harder to find in stock which is a shame because it looks stunning) - https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-endless-odyssey/marion-deuchars/sarah-young/9781786275172
• I know that there's also the Endless Oracle by Eric Maille.

 

There's an interesting passage in the third book where the main character is encouraged to speak a story out loud as she lays down each card. I thought this was quite an interesting mechanism; telling a story out loud, sequentially, without putting too much thought into it and seeing what comes out. So almost a bit like automatic writing, but vocally and with a visual prompt. 

 

 

[Sar]

1 hour ago, KiMo said:

That's my bad, apologies, the deck is sold out... I wanted to link to it as an example and should have considered that people may well be interested in it! I did see on Instagram that the artist had done a reprint, so it may well be worth keeping an eye on her website in case she does another. I like it too so I'll be stalking her

 

Yeah, I think I might do that too.

Love trying out new systems.

[Nemia]

Fascinating! I might try to order some of these decks. They're wonderful for playing, and I'm sure also as an oracle. I have story cubes but find their scope a bit limited. These decks are gorgeous as well, and I like decks without humans, landscape decks, the Tyldwick. 

 

Why didn't i know about these decks earlier??? 

[KiMo]

36 minutes ago, Nemia said:

Why didn't i know about these decks earlier??? 

I've been asking myself that same question! I know from reading your posts that you're an art historian, I'm in the first stages of an undergrad degree in Art History so I can absolutely relate to the feeling of these being a lovely rabbit hole of study to go down 🤓

 

I've just found this article by a lady who blogs about creative writing, in it she states that Philip Pullman actually has a set of myriorama cards that he uses as writing prompts. She also has a printable set on offer, and covers a little bit of the history of the cards - 

 

https://www.eadeverell.com/myriorama/

 

Slightly veering off topic, but this might interest you @PathWalker (and anyone else who has read the books), this lady has also created a set of Alethiometer cards 🤩

 

https://www.eadeverell.com/alethiometer/

[Ferrea]

10 hours ago, Sar said:

[...] I have been searching for a new oracle that can be read like Lenormand/Kipper, though. [...]

 

 

 

Maybe you want to check out The Playing Card Oracles or Katina Deste. The latter occasionally pops up on eBay. 

[Ferrea]

There is also another deck, I think it's even a double deck; french, quite colourful with fantastic imagery ... dang! Might come back. 

 

Edit: Found it. Le tarot de la Marelle & Le Tarot du Labyrinthe. 

Edited January 18 by Ferrea

[Nemia]

The Katina Deste deck is beautiful. There are lots of information about it on the Internet, which is good because the cards and book are available in either Greek or Turkish. I have the Greek version and actually should take it out more often. 

 

Thank you for the link to the Myriorama and Alethiometer cards, @KiMo! I have downloaded them and would love to get them printed somewhere. I'll look for a print shop. 

 

And I like Ana Cortez' deck and book as well. 

 

Isn't it amazing, the many, many ways we can work with cards, and each cartomancy system is unique. I find tarot the most accessible system for my reading style but the whole world of Lenormand and playing cards is fascinating. 

[Sar]

11 hours ago, Ferrea said:

 

Maybe you want to check out The Playing Card Oracles or Katina Deste. The latter occasionally pops up on eBay. 

 

11 hours ago, Ferrea said:

There is also another deck, I think it's even a double deck; french, quite colourful with fantastic imagery ... dang! Might come back. 

 

Edit: Found it. Le tarot de la Marelle & Le Tarot du Labyrinthe. 

thank you for links, both seems interesting. 

[KiMo]

14 hours ago, Nemia said:

Thank you for the link to the Myriorama and Alethiometer cards, @KiMo! I have downloaded them and would love to get them printed somewhere. I'll look for a print shop.

Let us know how you get on, I've also downloaded them and will have to think of a good way of having them printed up.

[KiMo]

So having seen the Ancient Greek themed myriorama cards used on Instagram, I decided I really wanted a set and tracked down what seems like one of the last copies available. I'm really impressed with it, there are only twenty cards (not many compared to the average oracle deck of course) but the illustrations and range of themes included are lovely. They're a good deal larger than standard tarot cards and are much thicker, however are still very much usable. 

 

 

[KiMo]

Some more images to show the scale, and maybe one of my favourite depictions of Artemis that I've come across so far...

[Nemia]

Wow, these cards are beautiful!!! I love them. 

[Natural Mystic Guide]

1 hour ago, Nemia said:

Wow, these cards are beautiful!!! I

Yes, I love them too!  Congratulations on your special acquisition.  Are they designed to be used as an oracle deck.  Is there a book with them?

[KiMo]

On 2/13/2026 at 7:34 AM, Nemia said:

Wow, these cards are beautiful!!! I love them. 

Aren't they? I'm so happy I took a chance on them, I'm delighted with the quality and how evocative the images are... I can definitely see myself using them quite a bit.

 

On 2/13/2026 at 9:33 AM, Natural Mystic Guide said:

Are they designed to be used as an oracle deck.  Is there a book with them?

So they're designed to be a storytelling game / toy, but I felt they'd work wonderfully as an oracle. There isn't a guidebook as such, a pamphlet is included with ideas for game structures but there are also titles for each card and descriptive notes that are great jumping off points - 

 

 

Hopefully you can read the notes, I'm sure you could zoom in on the images if necessary.

[Sar]

@KiMo

Who is that wonderful artist who illustrated that deck?

[KiMo]

Great question @Sar, it looks to be a lady called Sarah Young based in the UK.

 

And I kind of wish I hadn't looked her up now as she has some beautiful works that I'm sorely tempted to invest in!!

 

https://www.sarahyoung.co.uk/

 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/sarahyoung5