Modern Spellcaster's Tarot - tarot and magic in one deck
Some tarot cards are made for reading. Others for working with. This deck does both, without compromise.
Melanie Marquis, founder of United Witches, designed the Modern Spellcaster's Tarot as a working tool. The guidebook gives not only meanings but also magical applications for each card. Every major and minor arcana receives a double treatment: what the card says in a reading, and how you can use it in spells or rituals.
What you see on the cards
Scott Murphy draws characters who do not all look the same. The imagery ranges from medieval scenes to modern city settings, with people of different backgrounds and body types. That is deliberate. The deck is consciously designed to be inclusive.
The cards are borderless, so the illustrations run all the way to the edge. Colours are saturated and warm. The symbolism remains classic: swords, wands, cups and pentacles are clearly recognizable, but enriched with pagan and nature-magic elements such as herbs, moons and seasonal attributes.
The cardstock is flexible with a satin finish. The cards shuffle smoothly, even with prolonged use. The storage box closes with a magnet and keeps everything together.
How you work with it
This deck is designed for two kinds of use. You can lay it out like any other tarot deck: pull a card, lay out a spread, read patterns. The meanings in the guidebook are clear and follow the Rider-Waite tradition.
But you can also choose a card to strengthen an intention. Want to let something go? Take Death. Want to build something? Choose the Ten of Pentacles. The guidebook describes for each card how you can use it in a spell or ritual, which moon or seasonal phase fits, and which herbs or colours support the working.
Place a card on your altar during a specific moon phase. Leave it there until the cycle is complete. The imagery is strong enough to serve as a focal point.
Who this works for
This deck works for beginners interested in both tarot and magic. The guidebook explains both sides without assuming too much prior knowledge. At the same time it offers enough depth for those already working with tarot or spellcraft.
If you use tarot only for divination and have no interest in magical work, you can still use this deck for that purpose. The cards function perfectly well as standalone tarot. But the added value lies in the combination.
About Melanie Marquis and Scott Murphy
Melanie Marquis has written more than twenty books on modern witchcraft and founded United Witches, a network for practitioners of different magical traditions. Her approach is practical and inclusive. She writes for people who apply magic in a contemporary context.
Scott Murphy illustrates. His work for this deck is characterized by vibrant compositions and a diversity of characters that reflects the modern world.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Language: English
- Material: Flexible satin cardstock
- Finish: Borderless
- Packaging: Sturdy box with magnetic closure
- Included: Comprehensive guidebook with card meanings and magical applications
- Author: Melanie Marquis
- Illustrator: Scott Murphy
Questions we often get
Do I need experience with witchcraft to use this deck?
No. The guidebook explains both the tarot meanings and the magical applications. You can use the deck for divination only, magic only, or both. Each track stands on its own.
How does this deck differ from a classic Rider-Waite deck?
The symbolism is based on Rider-Waite, but expanded with pagan and nature-magic elements. The imagery is more inclusive and diverse. And each card receives both a divinatory meaning and a magical application.
