Why Your Tarot Deck Choice Actually Changes the Read

because traditional interpretations don't have all the info

Shining Tribe Tarot

Although I know tarot well, about 80% of my readings are based on the energy of the cards. How do they feel, what elements did the artist use, and - most importantly - do they answer the question.

Traditional readers typically default to Rider-Waite, regardless of the deck. But for today, let’s jump off the Fool’s cliff, follow the energy and the imagery and see how much we can learn.

The Question: What time of year would it be best to leave on a road trip? (BTW, this is a real question from a real person)

I randomly drew the 4 of Swords as the answer, then pulled that card from four other decks. Let’s try to answer the road trip question.

Deck One: Shining Tribe Tarot (pictured above)

With that big sun and the yellow cliffside, my immediate response was ‘sometime around Summer Solstice’. However, Birds (Pollack’s name for Swords) clearly denotes something about ‘thinking’ (birds=swords=air=mind).

To me, it almost looks like that person with the bird mask has already done the trip and is now resting, post-laundry and mail catch-up.

This doesn’t give me a season, but it does tell me the trip will be to a place the traveler has visited in the past (the resting person). What about the birds? The places I’ve seen birds like this are Colorado and Wyoming. That doesn’t give me a season either, but for me the message is that the road trip is to one or both of those states - and most likely in Summer.

Deck Two: Lubanko Tarot

Lubanko Tarot

Here, the yellow still stands out - which is a Summer color. So perhaps I’m getting the same message. But yellow is surrounded by dark blues, greys, and black. Those colors are definitely Winter for me. Even the hilts of the swords are done in blue. The figure appears to be styling her hair, or is she is deep contemplation?

But as a timeframe for the trip? The best I can do is split the difference between Summer (yellow) and Winter (blue) and say the best time is Fall.

Deck Three: Sawyer’s Path Tarot

Sawyer’s Path Tarot

Going totally on the energy of the card from Sawyer’s Path Tarot, it feels very wintery. However, the woman is dressed in pink - typically a Spring color, along with pale blue with tiny flowers. She’s also wearing pink lipstick. The flowers in the stained glass are more Spring than Summer. But - once again - I look at the dark sky and the clouds that remind me of snow - both Winter energy.

However, and I’m digging deep here, the woman is enclosed in the flowery frame, happily dreaming away. So two thoughts: 1) based on her dress and the flowers, I’d have to say Spring; 2) based on the beautiful starry sky, I’d say Summer - the time when the Summer Triangle dominates. These are the stars Vega (in Lyra the Harp), Deneb (in Cygnus the Swan), and Altair (in Aquila the Eagle).

In thinking about it, I guess there’s an option three. The Winter sky is also striking with Orion the Hunter, Canis Major (Big Dog), and the Seven Sisters (Pleaides).

Goodness. This card doesn’t tell me a season at all, but if I had focused on the woman and her clothes, I’d settle on Spring.

Deck Four: Rhythm and Soul Tarot

Rhythm and Soul Tarot by Stacey Williams-Ng

Now this is interesting. All that orange-red feels like Fall, but the musician is sleeping! Does that mean she’s going to sleep until another season rolls around?

But then look at the guitar; she’s holding it as her mind is processing music even in semi-sleep. Her gown is kind of purple - a color I associate with Fall or Winter. But you don’t see a lot of street musicians out in cold weather, unless you live in sunny climates. Hmmmm, what made me think she was a street musician?

One last thing. The bed has a headboard. That doesn’t feel like she lives in the West; a headboard on a bed feels quite Midwest or Southern. Does that change my answer? Not really, just something to consider.

Card Five: Tarocchi Delle Dee Contemporanee

Dee Contemporanee (this is the Italian version - there is one in English)

All the colors here look like Spring, don’t they? For me, there’s nothing in this card that leads me to an answer other than the Spring season. With her red/pink skirt, blue-green top, white curtain, and green-purple clouds - doesn’t this feel like springtime?

Or, do the purple clouds and purple/gold swords and gold bench point to Winter? Such a conundrum.

What’s the answer?

So far, we have cards indicating Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring. What would our client think about that? The most definitive answers were Summer (Shining Tribe) and Winter (Lubanko). The iffiest ones were Spring and Fall.

But here’s where, as a tarot reader, you stop and consider one important clue. This is the 4 of Swords. It’s the card that tells us the mind (Swords) is overwhelmed with information. Most importantly, this simply isn’t a good time to make a decision about the road trip.

Now that seems like a cop-out as Rider-Waite could have told us the same thing. Right?

But wait. You can answer the question using whichever deck you used. The most accurate answer right now is to wait, while adding:

• Shining Tribe: It looks like Colorado and Wyoming would be a good choice, especially to places you’ve been. Also, look for an animal or bird sanctuary. I think you’d really love it. Be careful going through the mountains - wait until you’re rested.

• Lubanko Tarot: Although it looks like Fall, there may be a delay into Winter as something in your house will need your attention. (The curtain, windows, chair, ceiling). If it turns out Winter works better for you, stay out of cold country. (Notice the bare shoulder clothes).

• Sawyer’s Path: I’m going to go out on a limb here and ask if you’ve been drawn to stargazing. If so, find the season with the most spectacular viewing along with cooperative weather. If you don’t care that much about the stars, wait now and start researching great spa resorts. I think a spa on your road trip will be perfect. (She looks like she’s in a spa - at least to me).

• Rhythm and Soul Tarot: Although I think Fall is the best time, don’t decide today. Instead, see if there’s a concert you really want to attend and book tickets - even if it’s months away. For you, the road trip really needs to hinge around music.

• Tarocchi Delle Dee Contemporanee: Dear client, you’re not even relaxing on that bench. You’re dressed like you’re waiting for an Uber to pull up outside. Although Spring comes through strongly in your card, I’d suggest postponing until Spring a year from now. If you jump into a decision (just like you’re getting ready to jump into the Uber) you’re going to spend your whole time away just wanting to sleep. This kind of high energy readiness can also lead to getting sick. Dear, you’re slamming your immune system.

Maybe the 4 of Swords is always going to give the same answer, but I hope you can see with these examples, how much more you can get from a card than the standard interpretation.

Dear Tarot Friend - please leave a comment and tell me your answer to the question - and which deck you used.