Tarot of the Goddesses - revised edition of the Universal Goddess Tarot
This deck has a history. It first appeared as the Universal Goddess Tarot and has now been reissued as Tarot of the Goddesses, with renewed texts and interpretations. The foundation remains the same: each tarot card is given a goddess from a specific culture or mythology.
The Strength card, for example, does not simply show a woman with a lion, but the Indian goddess Durga on a tiger. The Empress is Hathor, the Egyptian sky goddess. The Tower becomes Kali. Every tarot archetype receives a name and a story from an existing mythology.
What you see on the cards
Antonella Platano draws in a style you recognise instantly as Lo Scarabeo: rich colour, dynamic movement, clear outlines. The goddesses are placed centrally, often facing forward, with their attributes arranged around them. The backgrounds are full: symbols, animals, plants, patterns.
The colours are warm. Plenty of gold, red, orange, turquoise. The cards have a glossy finish, which makes the colours appear even more saturated. The format is compact: 65 × 118 mm.
The 128-page guidebook describes for each card which goddess is depicted, which culture she comes from, and what her story is. The tarot interpretation follows. This pattern repeats for all 78 cards.
Who this deck works for
This deck is designed for those who already understand how tarot works and are interested in mythology. The cards follow the Rider-Waite structure, so the tarot archetypes are recognisable. What is new is the layer of mythology placed over them.
If you like working with stories, or if you want to deepen a reading by looking at which goddess appears, this deck can offer that. The guidebook provides enough context per card to understand the link between myth and tarot.
Before your first reading, look up the cards you draw in the guidebook. The myths often add an extra layer not immediately visible in the image alone.
About the creators
Antonella Platano illustrates for several Lo Scarabeo decks. Her style is decorative and colourful, with strong attention to costumes and attributes.
Jessica di Fraia, also known as Stregadellemele, writes the texts. She selects which goddess matches which card and explains the connection between myth and tarot meaning.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Card size: 65 × 118 mm
- Guidebook: 128 pages, multilingual
- Card language: no text on the cards
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- ISBN: 9788865279816
- Weight: 289 g
- Illustrator: Antonella Platano
- Author: Jessica di Fraia (Stregadellemele)
Questions we often get
What is the difference from the Universal Goddess Tarot?
This is a revised edition. The illustrations are the same, but the texts in the guidebook have been rewritten and expanded. The title and packaging have also been updated.
Do I need to know the myths already to use this deck?
No. The guidebook provides a description of the goddess and her background for each card. You can use the deck without prior knowledge, though an interest in mythology does help with remembering the cards.
