Cosmic Tribe Tarot - digital photomontage with neopagan imagery
This is not a drawn tarot. Stevee Postman built the Cosmic Tribe Tarot from photographic material: naked bodies, nature, psychedelic patterns. The cards are large, brightly coloured and openly sensual.
The deck appeared in 1998 through Destiny Books and grew into a cult piece within neopagan and queer-spiritual circles. The reason: it merges sexuality and spirituality without taboo. Three different versions of The Lovers come as standard in the set, each showing a different relationship constellation.
What you see on the cards
The images are built from photo collages. Human bodies take centre stage, often naked, always in motion. Backgrounds are cosmic: stars, spirals, golden beams of light. Colours are saturated, sometimes almost fluorescent.
The symbolism follows the Rider-Waite structure but translates it into contemporary language. The Fool does not walk off a cliff but floats through a kaleidoscope of light. The Tower shows a body in ecstasy, not in destruction.
The cards measure 89 by 140 millimetres. That is larger than standard tarot format. They feel solid, the finish is glossy.
How the guidebook works
Eric Ganther wrote the texts in the 208-page guidebook. Each card receives an extensive description: symbolism, mythological roots, psychological layer. The tone is direct and not academic.
Ganther also explains the spiritual background: how this deck combines neopagan traditions, tantra and Jungian psychology. There are no fixed spreads, but there are suggestions for ritual applications.
Before you start a reading, look at all three versions of The Lovers and choose the card that feels right for you now. That alone tells you something.
Who this deck is not for
The images are explicit. Nudity, eroticism and physicality are not a suggestion but the core. If that is an obstacle for you, choose a different deck.
This is also not a contemplative deck. It shouts, it challenges, it confronts. Those looking for calm or minimalism will not find it here.
About Stevee Postman and Eric Ganther
Stevee Postman is an American artist who made a name in the 1990s with digital photomontages. His work appeared in underground magazines and spiritual publications. The Cosmic Tribe Tarot was his first complete tarot project.
Eric Ganther wrote the texts. He specialises in neopagan spirituality and worked with Postman to translate the images into readable symbolism.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78 (plus three versions of The Lovers, 80 cards total in the box)
- Card dimensions: 89 x 140 mm
- Language: English (cards and guidebook)
- Guidebook: 208 pages
- Publisher: Destiny Books
- First published: 1998
- Artist: Stevee Postman
- Guidebook author: Eric Ganther
- Finish: Glossy cards, sturdy storage box
- Style: Digital photomontage, psychedelic, neopagan
Questions we often get
Why are there three different Lovers cards in the deck?
Postman wanted to show diversity. One card shows a heterosexual relationship, one a lesbian relationship, one a gay relationship. You choose which one to use in your reading, or rotate depending on the question.
Are the images suitable for working with in public?
That depends on your environment. The cards show nudity and eroticism explicitly. In a private setting no problem, at a busy market stall perhaps yes.
