Okay, so, I’ve been wanting to make my own tarot deck for a while now. It just seemed like a fun project, and also a cool way to, like, get deeper into tarot, you know?
First things first, I had to decide how I wanted to actually make the cards. I’m not much of a traditional artist, so I thought about using a computer program. There are tons of them out there, but I didn’t really know where to start. Then it hit me: I could use some of those online courses. I found some design courses that were pretty cheap, and I figured, why not? So I spent a few days going through tutorials and got a good grip on how to use the software.
After getting comfortable with the tools, I started sketching out some ideas. I spent a lot of time just brainstorming. I made a lot of sketches of each card, trying out different styles and compositions. Some days, I’d just stare at a blank page, totally stuck. But then other days, the ideas would just flow, and I’d fill up pages with different concepts. I experimented with different things—photos, collage, even tried making little clay figures and photographing them. But I didn’t feel comfortable with these methods.
Once I had a rough idea for each card, I started refining the designs. This was probably the longest part of the process. I’d draw something, then redraw it, then tweak it a little more. I’d get feedback from friends, make some changes, then get more feedback. It was a whole back-and-forth process.
After finalizing the designs, I had to figure out how to actually print them. I decided to go with a print-on-demand service I found online. It was a bit of a learning curve, figuring out the right file formats and all that, but eventually, I got it sorted.
The Deck Itself
Now for the fun part – figuring out the cards. I decided to stick with the traditional 78-card structure, but I wanted each card to feel personal. I did this cool exercise where I pulled a card each day for a month and wrote down my thoughts. I used a guidebook to help me understand the meanings, but I also focused on my own feelings and impressions. It was super interesting to see how my understanding of the cards changed over time. There are 78 cards, so I just introduce 9 of them as an example.
- The Fool: I went for a whimsical, carefree vibe. Think of a jester dancing on a cliff edge, totally oblivious to the danger.
- The Magician: This one was all about power and control. I imagined a figure with all the tools of the elements laid out before them, ready to create.
- The High Priestess: She had to be mysterious and intuitive. I pictured her sitting between two pillars, guarding ancient secrets.
- The Lovers: Okay, this one had to be romantic. I chose to design them as two different birds singing together.
- The Chariot: A cool-looking chariot pulled by two horses was drawn.
- Strength: I painted a girl who is petting a lion.
- Wheel of Fortune: A wheel was designed with symbols of different animals.
- Justice: This card needs to be solemn. I painted a woman with a balance.
- The Hanged Man: A man was drawn who is hanging on a tree.
Finally, I got the printed cards in the mail. It was such a thrill to hold them in my hands! It took a good few months from start to finish, but it was totally worth it. Now I have a tarot deck that’s completely unique and personal to me. And let me tell you, using my own deck for readings feels way more meaningful. I can’t wait to share it with others and see what kind of connections they make with it.
So yeah, that’s my tarot card design journey. It was a lot of work, but also a ton of fun. If you’re thinking about doing something similar, I say go for it! Just be prepared to put in the time and effort, and don’t be afraid to experiment. You might surprise yourself with what you create.
