An Other Tarot - a graphic rewrite of the Major Arcana
Not every deck wants to tell you how to read the cards. Some designers choose to throw open the visual language entirely and start again. An Other Tarot by Mathilde Morinière belongs to that second group.
This deck contains only the 22 Major Arcana and largely abandons traditional symbolism. Instead of thrones, wands and priestesses you see fragments of bodies, geometric planes and stylised technological elements. These are cards that ask you to make the connections yourself, without the guidance of elaborate scenes.
What you see on the cards
The style is graphic and minimalist. Lots of space, sharp contrasts, and a focus on movement and form rather than narrative. Where a classic deck shows you a figure in a particular action, Morinière often shows only a contour, a hand gesture or a schematic object.
Colour use is restrained. The silver hot foil details catch the light in a way that makes the card change depending on the angle you view it from. The blue cotton paper feels heavier than standard card stock and has a slight texture.
The cards are large: 100 × 150 mm. That format gives the graphic compositions room to breathe, but makes shuffling a bit more difficult if you have small hands.
What sets this deck apart
Morinière has explicitly chosen to move away from medieval hierarchies and fixed roles. Titles such as Emperor or Empress take on a different charge here, or are absent altogether. The emphasis is on physicality, technology, space and autonomy.
This is not a deck that guides you with fixed meanings. The companion booklet (in English) does provide context, but do not expect detailed interpretations. You will have to look, feel and formulate for yourself what a card means to you in a specific reading.
Draw a card and look first only at the shape and the space around it, without immediately searching for meaning. Let the image work on you before you open the booklet.
Who this works for
This deck asks for active engagement. If you are used to clear symbolism and elaborate scenes, you will have to shift gears here. That can be refreshing, but this is not a starter deck if you have never worked with tarot before.
Many people use An Other Tarot for short, focused readings. One card as a daily opener, or three cards for a question that asks for a clear answer. The absence of the Minor Arcana keeps the focus on big themes and existential questions.
The deck also lends itself well to journaling. The abstraction leaves room for associations that are not immediately obvious.
About Mathilde Morinière
Mathilde Morinière designed and published this deck independently. Her background is in graphic design, and that shows in the tight compositions and the deliberate use of empty space. She wanted to create a tarot that does not guide with pre-digested stories, but asks for interpretation.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 22 (Major Arcana)
- Card size: 100 × 150 mm
- Material: blue cotton paper with silver hot foil details
- Packaging: magnetic box
- Language of companion booklet: English
- Designer: Mathilde Morinière
Questions we often get
Can I combine this deck with another deck that does have the Minor Arcana?
Yes. Many people use An Other Tarot as an anchor in a reading and fill in with another deck for the details. The graphic style often contrasts strongly with classic decks, which can produce interesting insights.
Are the cards easy to shuffle despite the large format?
That depends on your hand size. The format requires a slightly different shuffling technique than standard tarot cards. Some people lay the cards out on a table and mix them there, rather than shuffling in the classic way.
