Goddess Tarot Set - complete tarot kit with mythological backgrounds
Most tarot decks follow the Rider-Waite tradition with medieval knights and religious symbols. This deck replaces that iconography with goddesses from different cultures. The Strength card becomes Kali, the Star becomes Nuit, the Empress becomes Freya.
Kris Waldherr has painted the 78 cards with goddesses from Greek, Egyptian, Celtic and other mythologies. The set contains the deck, an extensive guidebook and a full-color spread sheet that explains the positions of different layouts.
What you see on the cards
The cards are painted in warm, soft colors. Lots of blue, gold and green. The style recalls illustrated children's books from the eighties, but with more detail in the robes and symbolism.
Each card carries the name of a goddess and a short description at the bottom. The Major Arcana have been fully renamed: The Fool becomes The Fool (Kore), The Lovers becomes The Lovers (Freya), The Tower becomes The Tower (Kali). The Minor Arcana follow the traditional structure of wands, cups, swords and pentacles.
The cards measure 89 by 121 mm, slightly larger than standard tarot cards. The matte finish makes them shuffle smoothly without sticking.
How the guidebook works
The guidebook describes each card with attention to the story of the goddess, the traditional tarot meaning and how both connect. At the Magician card, for example, you read about Isis and how her role as magician and healer reinforces the tarot meaning of manifestation and willpower.
It also includes several spreads, from simple three-card readings to more complex layouts. The included spread sheet shows these patterns in color, so you can see directly where each card should be placed.
Start with the spread sheet at hand. It gives structure to your first readings and helps you remember the positions without constantly flipping back in the guidebook.
Who this deck is designed for
This deck is designed for beginners. The guidebook explains the basic principles of tarot, the cards carry clear titles and keywords, and the spread sheet offers direct support when practicing.
At the same time it also works for those already familiar with tarot and interested in feminine mythology. The stories of the goddesses add extra layers to the standard meanings and invite further reading in sources about these figures.
About Kris Waldherr
Kris Waldherr is an author and illustrator. She studied art at the School of Visual Arts in New York and has been publishing books on feminine spirituality and history since the nineties. Her illustration style combines classical painting techniques with an accessible, narrative approach.
In addition to the Goddess Tarot, she wrote The Book of Goddesses, an overview of goddesses from different cultures.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Card size: 89 x 121 mm
- Finish: matte card stock
- Set contents: tarot cards, extensive guidebook, full-color spread sheet
- Language: English
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
- ISBN: 9781572810662
- Author and illustrator: Kris Waldherr
Questions we often get
How does this deck differ from a classic Rider-Waite deck?
The structure is the same: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The difference lies in the imagery. Where Rider-Waite uses medieval symbolism, this deck replaces it with stories of goddesses from different cultures. The meanings remain largely the same, but are approached through feminine archetypes.
Is the guidebook suitable if you have never read tarot before?
Yes. The guidebook starts with the basics: how to shuffle the cards, how to formulate a question, how to do a simple reading. After that, the cards are explained one by one with both mythological context and practical meaning.
