Daemon Tarot - historical demonology as a tool for shadow work
Not every deck follows the Rider-Waite structure. This one does not. The Daemon Tarot consists of 69 cards with no Major or Minor Arcana, and bases itself entirely on demonology as it was recorded in the 19th century.
The foundation is formed by the woodcuts of Luis Breton, originally published in the 1863 edition of the Dictionnaire Infernal by Jacques Auguste Simon Collin de Plancy. Ariana Osborne collected these illustrations and created a usable system around them. The result is a deck that combines art history and divination.
What you see on the cards
The imagery is black and white, sharp, sometimes grotesque. Each character is a demon from the Christian hierarchy of the underworld. They carry attributes, some have wings, others stand on pedestals or thrones.
The style is that of French woodcut from the mid-19th century: detailed, theatrical, with a slight hint of satire. Breton worked with strong contrasts and a sense of drama. This makes the cards visually powerful, but also requires a guidebook to explain what you are seeing.
That guidebook is included. 160 pages that describe the background of each demon, interpret the symbolism and suggest how you might read the card in a spread. Without that book, the cards remain illustrations.
How this deck works in practice
This is not a deck for quick answers. The structure deviates from classic tarot, so you must find your own way in how you lay the cards. The guidebook offers no fixed patterns for this, only interpretations per card.
What the deck does well is shadow work. Each demon represents an aspect of human behavior we would rather not see: pride, anger, fear, manipulation, jealousy. The cards confront you with this. Not subtly, but directly.
Draw one card and read the accompanying text all the way through. Let it sit for a day or two before you draw again. The themes are heavy enough not to stack quickly in succession.
About Ariana Osborne
Ariana Osborne works as a print designer and author in Portland, Oregon. She comes from a family of designers and combines technical skill with an interest in the occult.
For this project she collected Breton's engravings, organized them and provided an interpretation that connects with modern divination. Her role is that of curator and translator: she did not create the images, but made them usable.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 69
- Card size: 76 x 102 mm
- Guidebook: 160 pages
- Language: English
- Publisher: Sterling Publishing
- Cardstock quality: Sturdy, durable cardstock
- Packaging: Robust storage box
- Illustrator: Luis Breton (1863)
- Author: Ariana Osborne
Questions we often get
Can I use this deck if I only know Rider-Waite?
Yes, but you must let go of the expectation that there are 78 cards with a fixed structure. This system works differently. The guidebook explains how to interpret the cards, but you will need to experiment with how you lay them out.
Are the themes confronting?
Yes. This is about demons, shadow sides and aspects of human behavior that can be painful to recognize. This is not a light deck.
