Elemental North Tarot - runes and North American nature symbolism in one deck
Not every tarot deck layers symbolism the way this one does. Elemental North Tarot by Amanda Noteman places runes, astrology, numerology and the flora and fauna of North America over the Rider-Waite structure. Each card therefore contains multiple entry points.
This is a deck for those who want to work with several systems at once. The major and minor arcana follow the classic structure, but the imagery draws everything from nature. Reindeer, bears, pines, birches. No medieval figures or abstract scenes, but landscapes and living creatures from the north.
What you see on the cards
Amanda Noteman draws with fine lines and works in muted, natural colours. Brown, green, ochre yellow, sometimes a touch of red. No bright contrasts. The cards breathe calm, even when the meaning is heavy.
Each card contains a rune symbol. Not a loose decoration, but a symbol that strengthens or nuances the meaning of the card. The guidebook explains which rune belongs to which card and what the relationship is. There are also astrological symbols and numbers connected to the numerological value of the card.
This makes the deck visually calmer than many other symbolic decks, but informationally denser. You do not just look at what is happening on the card, but also at which rune is present, which number, which astrological sign.
How the guidebook works
The guidebook runs to 148 pages. For each card you get the classic meaning, the rune connection, the astrological link and the numerological value. There are also suggestions for spellwork and manifestation exercises that belong specifically to that card.
That is more than you find in a standard tarot booklet. It is designed to use the cards as a working tool, not just as a spread. If you draw the Strength card, you read not only what the card means, but also how you can activate its energy with a small ritual or visualisation.
Use the rune on a card as a meditation focus. Draw a card, look at the rune, let the symbol sit for a while and notice what comes up. The rune works as a second layer beneath the card meaning.
Who this works for
This deck assumes you already know the basics of tarot. There is no extensive explanation of the structure of tarot or what a Celtic Cross is. The focus is on the additional symbolism: the runes, the astrology, the numerology.
People who already work with runes will recognise the symbols immediately. For those new to runes, there is enough explanation in the guidebook to get started. The same applies to the astrological signs and the numbers. You do not need to be an expert, but some curiosity helps.
About Amanda Noteman
Amanda Noteman is an artist based in the United States. Her work is inspired by the nature of North America and by ancient symbolic systems such as runes and astrology. For Elemental North Tarot she drew all the cards by hand.
This is her first published tarot deck. U.S. Games Systems released it in 2024.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Guidebook: 148 pages
- Language: English
- Card size: 69.85 x 114.3 mm
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems Inc.
- ISBN: 9781646712199
- Artist: Amanda Noteman
Questions we often get
Do I need to have worked with runes before to use this deck?
No. The guidebook explains which rune belongs to which card and what the symbol means. You can use the runes as extra information or ignore them at first and just look at the card meaning.
Are the astrological and numerological symbols visually present on the cards?
The runes are on the cards themselves. The astrological and numerological information is in the guidebook, not on the card imagery.
