Aisling Tarot - dream imagery with a choice of two traditions
Few tarot decks offer the reader an explicit choice between two traditions. The Aisling Tarot does: alongside the standard 78 cards, the box contains seven additional cards that allow you to work within either the Marseille tradition or the Rider-Waite method. That is not a decorative gesture - it is a considered decision by the makers.
The deck is published by WohStudio as part of the Vermilion Collection. 'Aisling' is an Irish word for dream or vision, and that name was not chosen at random. The imagery carries a dreamy, hermetic quality without becoming inaccessible.
What you see when you hold the cards
The cards are printed on 330 gsm card stock with a black core, which prevents show-through. The edges have a matte gold finish, and the air-cushion coating gives a light grip when shuffling. The packaging is hexagonal, which differs from the usual rectangular box. The visual style is rich and detailed: deep colours, layered compositions, and a high level of detail on every card.
The seven extra cards
The 85 cards consist of the standard 78 plus seven additional cards. Six major arcana appear twice in the box: Death, Strength and Justice in Rider-Waite style, and The Fool, The Lovers and The Tower as alternative versions. The seventh is a standalone bonus card, Love & Peace. The functional difference is most significant with Strength and Justice: in the Marseille tradition these cards occupy different numbered positions than in Rider-Waite, and the doubled cards let you choose which system you follow.
Who this deck is for
This is not a starter deck for someone picking up tarot for the first time. The visual language is rich and assumes some familiarity with tarot symbolism to work with effectively. For those who already have experience with the Marseille tradition or the Rider-Waite method - and want to be able to move between them - this deck offers something concrete.
Seven extra cards sounds like a detail, but in practice it means you can align this deck with your own working method rather than the other way around.
Specifications
- Name: Aisling Tarot
- Publisher: WohStudio (Vermilion Collection)
- Number of cards: 85 (78 standard + 6 alternative major arcana + 1 bonus card)
- Guidebook: included
- Card stock: 330 gsm, black core
- Finish: matte gold edges, air-cushion
- Packaging: hexagonal box
- Card language: English
Questions we often get
Do I need to know both tarot systems to use this deck?
Not necessarily. You can use the deck with only the Rider-Waite system or only the Marseille system. The extra cards are there for those who know both traditions and want to choose between them, but they are not a requirement to get started with the deck.
Is the guidebook enough for a beginner?
The guidebook is included, but the visual style and symbolism of this deck are layered. Someone entirely new to tarot will likely need additional study material alongside the guidebook to read the imagery with confidence.
