Manara Tarot - erotic art meets astrological symbolism
Some tarot decks hint subtly. This one shows. All 78 cards are drawn by Milo Manara, an Italian comic artist known for his refined erotic art. The result is a tarot in which nudity and sexuality are not veiled, but form part of the symbolic language.
The structure follows the traditional tarot with 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, but the imagery departs significantly from Rider-Waite. Some cards carry different names: The Hanged Man becomes The Punishment, the Wheel of Fortune becomes The Mirror. The core of the archetypes remains recognizable, but Manara translates them into his own visual world.
What you see on the cards
Manara draws with a clear line. His style is comic-like, but realistic enough to capture emotions and body language sharply. The cards show a lot of skin, often in explicit poses. That is not meant decoratively. The eroticism works as a language that says something about power, desire, vulnerability and control.
Each card contains astrological symbols. The Minor Arcana are built around the four elements: fire, water, air and earth. These elements recur in the backgrounds and attributes, giving the cards an extra layer of interpretation alongside the figurative representation.
The finish is glossy. This enhances the colors and makes the cards smooth to shuffle, but they can also reflect in bright light.
Who this works for
This deck requires you to be comfortable with explicit imagery. If nudity or erotic art distracts you or makes you uncomfortable, it becomes difficult to work with these cards. They are made for adult readers who can see that aspect as part of the symbolism, not as the only thing there is.
It also helps if you already have some tarot experience. The divergent names and the emphasis on astrology make this not an easy deck to start with. Many readers use it specifically for readings about relationships, sexuality and shadow work.
Pull one card when you want to look at a hidden dynamic in a relationship. The cards are direct and leave little room for evasive answers.
About Milo Manara
Milo Manara is an Italian comic artist who made his name from the 1970s onward with erotic graphic novels. His work is known for the elegant lines with which he draws the female body, and for the way he captures emotion and body language. He also worked on projects for Marvel and illustrated stories by Federico Fellini and Alejandro Jodorowsky.
This tarot deck is one of his few excursions outside the comic genre. It shows how his visual language relates to a traditional symbolic system.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana)
- Card size: 70 x 120 mm
- Paper quality: 350 GSM
- Finish: Glossy
- Language: Multilingual, including English, Dutch, French, German, Spanish
- ISBN: 9780738700229
- Illustrator: Milo Manara
- Guidebook: Multilingual guide with meanings
Questions we often get
How explicit are the cards exactly?
There is full nudity and sexual acts are depicted. The art is stylized, but the images are clear. This deck is intended for adults only.
Can I use this deck if I have not worked with tarot for long?
You can work with it, but the divergent symbolism and the adapted names make it more difficult than a traditional deck. If you are still looking for a foundation, there are more accessible options.
