Paulina Tarot - Rider-Waite with Victorian fantasy and fine detail
Some tarot cards you read at a glance. Not these. The Paulina Tarot by artist Paulina Cassidy follows the classic Rider-Waite structure, but every card is packed with details that reveal themselves over time.
The style is recognisably Victorian-fantastical: figures in ornate clothing, birds in the margins, butterflies on the edges, patterns in fabric that carry meaning. The colours are soft, pastel, and the linework is fine. Cassidy draws as if she is building a world where every element has a function.
What you see on the cards
The 78 cards follow the standard Rider-Waite division. Major Arcana, four suits of Minor Arcana. The structure is familiar, but the imagery is not.
Cassidy chooses a soft, sometimes airy quality, even for traditionally heavy cards. The Swords feel less threatening because of the pastel colours and the fairytale-like figures. Emotional cards, such as the Cups, gain extra layers through small details: a stray butterfly, a pattern that is just visible.
Every character looks as though they have stepped out of a carnival or an old picture book. That makes the cards accessible for those who value imagination, but it may take some adjustment if you expect strict symbolism.
How you work with them
This deck asks for time. Pull a card in a few seconds and you miss half of it. Look at the background, the edges, the small elements Cassidy adds. Those details are not decoration. They carry meaning.
The guidebook is written by Paulina Cassidy herself. She explains the cards in a way that fits her visual language. It also includes a spread she designed specifically for this deck.
Pull one card each morning and find the smallest detail that catches your eye: a bird, a pattern, a colour. That detail often tells you something about what matters to you that day.
About Paulina Cassidy
Paulina Cassidy, also known as Paulina Fae, is an American artist with a whimsical, detail-rich drawing style. Alongside the Paulina Tarot, she created the Joie de Vivre Tarot and the Witchlings Deck and Book Set.
Her work always has a fairytale quality. Characters and worlds look as though they have stepped out of an old storybook. That style attracts people who love rich imagery and are not looking for strict, traditional symbolism.
Specifications
- Author and illustrator: Paulina Cassidy (Paulina Fae)
- Number of cards: 78
- Language: English
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems
- ISBN: 9781572816299
- Weight: 250 g
- Dimensions: 70 x 120 mm
- Finish: Light gloss
- Guidebook: Little White Book with meanings and a spread, written by the creator
Questions we often get
Does this deck work for beginners?
The structure is classic Rider-Waite, so if you know that layout a little, you will find your way. The style is very distinctive, though. If you are used to traditional tarot imagery, this deck will ask for some adjustment. The guidebook explains the cards in a way that fits the images.
What language are the cards and guidebook in?
The cards have titles in English. The guidebook is also in English and written by Paulina Cassidy herself. It contains card meanings and a special spread she designed for this deck.
