Kaleidoscopic Tarot - geometry and colour based on Rider-Waite-Smith
Some decks hold on to traditional imagery. This one breaks it open. Maddalena Ghidoni redraws the full Rider-Waite-Smith structure in strict geometric shapes, colour planes and light refraction.
The result is a deck you do not read the way you read other cards. The abstraction forces you to look differently, feel more, recognise less. That makes it both accessible and challenging.
What you see on the cards
Each card consists of geometric patterns that represent the essence of the archetype. No faces, no landscapes, no figures in the traditional sense. But you do get recognisable structures in shape and colour.
The colours are vivid and contrast strongly. Red, blue, yellow, green, purple, orange: all primary and secondary hues are present. The symmetry and repetition create movement on the card, as if you are looking through a kaleidoscope that turns slowly.
The format is compact: 65 x 118 mm. The cards sit comfortably in your hand and shuffle easily. The cardstock is sturdy, as you expect from Lo Scarabeo.
How you work with it
This deck follows the classic RWS structure, so you can apply all standard meanings. But the abstract imagery asks for a different way of reading.
Instead of looking for details in clothing or facial expressions, you work with colour, direction and shape. Which colour dominates? Where does the movement go? Which form repeats itself?
Many people notice they enter a meditative state faster with this deck. The patterns are both calming and hypnotic.
Try softening your gaze during a reading. Let the sharp lines blur and notice what comes forward for you. The symmetry works as a visual trigger for your intuition.
Who this deck works for
This deck is designed for people who know the RWS structure but are tired of the traditional imagery. You do not need years of experience, but some tarot foundation helps to place the abstraction.
Beginners can use this deck with the included guidebook. It contains clear interpretations per card and explains the connection between the geometric forms and the traditional meanings.
About Maddalena Ghidoni
Maddalena Ghidoni is an Italian illustrator who specialises in geometric patterns and colour planes. Her work balances between graphic design and spiritual symbolism.
With the Kaleidoscopic Tarot, she has built a bridge between modern design and classic tarot structure. This is not a minimalist deck: it maximises visual stimuli to reach a meditative state.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana)
- Format: 65 x 118 mm
- Guidebook language: multilingual (English, Italian, Spanish, French, German)
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- Illustrator: Maddalena Ghidoni
- Style: geometric, abstract, based on Rider-Waite-Smith
- Cardstock quality: sturdy, matte finish
Questions we often get
Can you read this deck without knowing the traditional meanings?
It depends. The images are abstract, so you have no visual anchors as in a classic RWS deck. The guidebook does give clear interpretations per card, so beginners can work with it. But some basic tarot knowledge makes reading smoother.
Does this deck work for daily card draws?
Yes. The compact format and clear colour planes make it suitable for quick readings. The abstraction prevents you from getting stuck in details, which actually helps with short, intuitive readings.
