Tarot de las Mujeres Sabias - nature magic with branches and leaves in the borders
This deck is also known as Tarot of the Old Path. The name refers to the traditions of wicca and nature magic, the path that stems from a time when the seasons and the elements formed the core of spiritual practice.
The deck was designed by illustrator Sylvia Gainsford and written by Howard Rodway. For its creation they worked together with eight experienced witches. That collaboration ensures that the symbolism is not only beautiful but also thoughtful and rooted in a living tradition.
What you see on the cards
The images are expressive and colourful. Many cards show figures surrounded by natural settings, with animals, plants and ritual objects. Each card is framed with branches, leaves and flowers that vary according to the theme.
Those borders are more than decoration. They reinforce the meaning of the card. A card about growth gets young shoots, a card about change gets falling leaves.
The style is detailed and warm. No minimalism, no abstraction. This is a deck that invites you to look at the cards for a long time and discover new details each time.
The guidebook and the structure
The accompanying booklet is in Spanish and contains card meanings and spreads. The explanations explore the symbolism of elements, seasons and feminine archetypes. It also describes how you can use the deck for introspection and personal growth.
The cards follow the traditional tarot structure: 22 cards in the Major Arcana and 56 cards divided across four elements. This makes the deck accessible to anyone with some tarot experience, even if you do not speak Spanish. The images are clear enough to work with intuitively.
When laying out cards, look also at the natural details in the border. The plant or animal that appears often gives a second layer of meaning.
About Sylvia Gainsford and Howard Rodway
Sylvia Gainsford is an artist with a symbolic and detailed style. Her work for this deck is characterised by warmth and attention to the small elements that complete an image.
Howard Rodway wrote the texts and developed the structure. He is an expert in esotericism and ensured that the collaboration with eight witches resulted in a deck that respects the spiritual essence of nature magic.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Card size: 70 x 120 mm
- Language: Spanish (cards and guidebook)
- Card quality: sturdy cardstock with light gloss
- Publisher: U.S. Games Systems
- Illustrator: Sylvia Gainsford
- Author: Howard Rodway
- Includes: sturdy box and guidebook with meanings and spreads
Questions we often get
Can I use this deck if I do not speak Spanish?
Yes. The images are expressive and symbolic enough to work without text. The guidebook does contain useful background information, but the cards speak intuitively.
How does this deck differ from a classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck?
The symbolism lies closer to nature magic and wicca than to the traditional Christian and Kabbalistic influences of the RWS deck. The borders with plants and the focus on feminine archetypes make it a different type of deck.