The Big List of Diverse Decks

[Hedera]

Another one that isn't completely diverse in gender (in that there are, I think, no men in it) but very diverse in virtually every other way is the Sacred Sisterhood tarot.

 

The publisher's website won't open, so a link to a YT walkthrough:

 

 

I was a bit hesitant about it at first because a lot of the images are so simple, but it works very well for certain kinds of readings, and I just love the feel of it: very warm and calm.

Edited September 24, 2022 by Hedera

[Niobium]

I'm back and forth about single-gender decks being considered diverse. As long as we're willing to consider a deck of only men which is similarly inclusive (i.e. it has men of color, disabled men, fat men, trans men) diverse, then we can do that for this one too.

[Grandma]

48 minutes ago, Niobium said:

I'm back and forth about single-gender decks being considered diverse.

I guess it depends on the specificity of diversity one hopes to achieve.  Does every variant need to be included every time?  I don't think it's necessary.  This is a deck of diverse women, making it a deck of diversity by definition.  You might as well say that the Buckland Romani is not diverse because the only ethnic group it includes is the Romani - the factor of diversity is the Romani, that's the point of the deck.  The decks of this thread, all listed in the first comment, display all sorts of diversity.

 

According to Merriam Webster, 

diverse

adjective
di·verse | \ dī-ˈvərs  , də-ˈvərs, ˈdī-ˌvərs \
Definition of diverse
1: differing from one another : UNLIKE
people with diverse interests
2: composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities
a diverse population

 

And according to Raggydoll in the introductory post on this thread (the bold font is mine),

There have been so many discussions lately around the topic of diversity (and the lack thereof) when it comes to tarot and oracle decks. Its an important one and its a topic that we here at TT&M care greatly about. That is why I am hoping that you will all want to help me compile a massive list of decks that are diverse (in any way). I am talking about the decks that are inclusive when it comes to skin color/ethnicity/culture, age, body shapes, sexual orientation, gender variance, physical disabilities and so on.

 

I love this deck and have added it to my wishlist!

Edited September 24, 2022 by Grandma

[Niobium]

@Grandma I definitely don't disagree with any of that, and also agree that it meets the thread's stated goal. Really, it's more of a personal view, which of course doesn't make the deck not diverse, it just means it doesn't meet a personal standard I have (so I'd be disinclined to recommend it--but as someone said earlier about New Chapter, that doesn't make it not okay for the list).

Edited September 24, 2022 by Niobium

[Raggydoll]

@Hedera Thank you for mentioning this deck, it is now on the list! 😀 It looks awesome! 

 

We do have decks on the list that are male-centric (st Jinx come to mind, I believe there are more) and they definitely qualify. I understand if personal preference is for mixed gendered decks, that’s perfectly fine. But for this particular resource, we will stick to the description that @Grandma so nicely summed up 💜

[Niobium]

... Of course after all the drama surrounding how to get the R. Black Deck, I forgot to mention it for inclusion here.

https://rblack.org/tarot/

 

[Raggydoll]

22 minutes ago, Niobium said:

... Of course after all the drama surrounding how to get the R. Black Deck, I forgot to mention it for inclusion here.

https://rblack.org/tarot/

 

Thank you !

[Hedera]

 

Cool! 🙂

 

While I suspect the intention of the artist was to only portray women (not sure of that, only leafed through the guidebook so far; I prefer to develop my own ideas about the images first), there are plenty of figures that are pretty ambiguous - not unlike some of those in Pamela Colman Smith's artwork.

Some of them might easily be seen as male.

[Niobium]

On 9/25/2022 at 10:04 AM, Hedera said:

 

Cool! 🙂

 

While I suspect the intention of the artist was to only portray women (not sure of that, only leafed through the guidebook so far; I prefer to develop my own ideas about the images first), there are plenty of figures that are pretty ambiguous - not unlike some of those in Pamela Colman Smith's artwork.

Some of them might easily be seen as male.

 

tbh I felt this way about Ironwing as well. She insisted it was all women but so many of the figures could easily have been interpreted as men I often went with that. (And then I traded it for a Slow Holler.)

[KiMo]

I recently received a deck that I hope can be included on this list! It's The Tarot of the Toiling Hands, an indie deck by artist Esme Baker.

 

 

 

It's a stunning deck that includes a broad range of skin tones and cultures, and is fluid in its representation of gender roles. This applies to both the imagery and the key phrases written on each of the cards.

 

I was intrigued by it for a long time and decided to give it a try when the opportunity came up, I'm so glad I did as I've just loved it since it came through the letterbox! 

[Raggydoll]

4 hours ago, KiMo said:

I recently received a deck that I hope can be included on this list! It's The Tarot of the Toiling Hands, an indie deck by artist Esme Baker.

 

 

 

It's a stunning deck that includes a broad range of skin tones and cultures, and is fluid in its representation of gender roles. This applies to both the imagery and the key phrases written on each of the cards.

 

I was intrigued by it for a long time and decided to give it a try when the opportunity came up, I'm so glad I did as I've just loved it since it came through the letterbox! 

Thank you! It looks really unique! 

[KiMo]

@Raggydoll the creator, Esme Baker, is a tattoo artist. She decided to make a tarot deck to raise funds in order to keep her tattoo parlour afloat when it had to be closed during covid. When looking at flip throughs and images online I was concerned that the images might be a bit busy but actually, when they're in front of you they're striking and easy to read. 

[Raggydoll]

2 hours ago, KiMo said:

@Raggydoll the creator, Esme Baker, is a tattoo artist. She decided to make a tarot deck to raise funds in order to keep her tattoo parlour afloat when it had to be closed during covid. When looking at flip throughs and images online I was concerned that the images might be a bit busy but actually, when they're in front of you they're striking and easy to read. 

How resourceful of her! And I find the cards intriguing to look at! 

[Natural Mystic Guide]

On 11/1/2019 at 1:05 AM, iofthebeholder said:

Here's an Imgur gallery I put up just today to highlight this deck additionally as a work of art with a "vaporwave" aesthetic ( specifically the cool blues an purples, collage technique, and early CGI / classical themes ).

Very interesting deck.  Thanks for bringing this to my attention.  Art.

[gregory]

On 9/25/2022 at 6:04 PM, Hedera said:

 

Cool! 🙂

 

While I suspect the intention of the artist was to only portray women (not sure of that, only leafed through the guidebook so far; I prefer to develop my own ideas about the images first), there are plenty of figures that are pretty ambiguous - not unlike some of those in Pamela Colman Smith's artwork.

Some of them might easily be seen as male.

 

You know - I don't like being TOLD that a deck intends to portray only women, only gay people, only PoC, whatever. I like a deck to speak for itself. I can SEE the images. Curious concept maybe ? (not to diss a thread like this, which is users reporting on what the deck says to hem.)

[DanielJUK]

For some people, they might need a diverse deck in their lives. Sometimes someone might feel not included or represented in any deck 🙂

 

[gregory]

Oh sure, many people need them these days - though everyone used to cope when they didn't exist. It's the trumpeting I dislike. "LOOK my deck ONLY has women in WHEELCHAIRS so it is special for all those readers out there who are women in wheelchairs." Shortly to be followed by "Well, I'VE made one with ONLY people with prosthetic limbs." Remember that DREADFUL one on kickstarter that overdid it to the extent that EVERY group she tried to cover took offence - as did the ones she had "missed" ?

 

It's all part of the splintering groups that divide society that I rail about all the time. under it all, we are all human. How does some one read with a women only deck, when the client is an ultra-male type ? (Actually, I guess, the same way as I read with the Gay deck at times.) But do't we needs decks that include everyone, so that we can all read for everyone - or are we then to restrict who we read for ? I'm into including, not specialism. This isn't really the thread for this actually, as it was designed as a list !

[Sar]

I own the new orleans tarot and besides that I do not think any of my decks are ethnically diverse.

[Raggydoll]

11 hours ago, gregory said:

This isn't really the thread for this actually, as it was designed as a list !

Thank you, that is correct. This is just a list, not a place for discussion 

[Ferrea]

Some potential additions to the list:

OMNI Tarot  

Many pictures can be found here.

Tarot of the Human Experience

Exotic Dancer Tarot

 

Supernova Tarot

 

[Ferrea]

Second post due to link limit.

 

Nosotras Tarot (currently out of stock) 

 

Our Tarot

 

Gold Lyre Tarot 

 

Gorgon's Tarot

Edited August 23, 2024 by Ferrea

[Saturn Celeste]

I have a diverse deck to add.  Sadly, it is pricey or else I would own it.   It's the Divine Diversity Tarot on Etsy. 

[katrinka]

I just discovered this one and ordered it. I love old tattoo flash and this is the only deck I've seen that really nails the style.
I don't know yet how racially diverse it is, but:

"Embark on a journey of liberation, self-discovery and growth with this queer, modern spin on traditional tarot deck imagery and symbolism. These gorgeous gender-inclusive cards buck heteronormativity and gender norms and aid you in empowering yourself to make positive changes in your life, seek greater insight into your inner self and celebrate healing and self-transformation. Finding inspiration in vintage flash tattoo subjects and techniques, Vintage Tattoo Tarot marries modern subjects with vintage art for a deck that assists you in learning from the past and looking to the future."
 

Vintage Tattoo Tarot

ETA: This deck gets a big fat YES from me. You get the gender spectrum, there's some plus size ladies (can't post them here: nudes), and there's some racial diversity but it never feels forced. The diversity looks almost effortless, these are the people you might see around town.

 

 

 

Edited April 3 by katrinka