Tarot of the Magical Forest - 78 RWS cards with animals as characters
No human figure appears on these cards. Animals have taken over, and that shifts the atmosphere of the entire system. The Strength card shows a lamb and a lion resting their heads together. The Sun card places a baby kangaroo in its mother's pouch, waving a small red flag in a field of sunflowers beneath a wide, warm sun.
The deck follows the Rider-Waite-Smith structure faithfully. Illustrator Leo Tang preserved the original symbolism and built a world around it that feels harmonious and soft, without abandoning what the cards mean.
Which animal belongs to which suit
The Minor Arcana assigns a specific animal to each suit. Cups have rabbits, Pentacles have foxes, Wands have frogs and Swords have cats. These are not arbitrary choices. Foxes carry associations of sharpness and cunning, cats of intelligence and emotional distance, rabbits of warmth, frogs of playfulness.
The Four of Cups shows a rabbit under a tree, eyes closed, while a hand extends a cup from a cloud. Anyone familiar with the RWS knows this composition immediately. The animal version adds a different layer: the rabbit radiates calm rather than apathy.
What happens to the Major Arcana
The Major Arcana uses a varied cast of animals: sheep, lions, bears, pigs, hedgehogs and kangaroos replace the traditional human figures. Compositions and proportions remain recognisable to anyone who knows the RWS system. The tone is friendlier, the palette lighter.
This is not a dark or heavy deck. The imagery consistently chooses warmth. That is a deliberate decision, and it shapes how the cards feel to use.
If you already work with a classic RWS deck, try placing the Strength cards side by side. Same symbolism, completely different atmosphere. That gap says a great deal about what this deck does differently.
About Hsu Chi Chun and Leo Tang
The deck was put together by Hsu Chi Chun, with illustrations by Leo Tang. The available information does not include further biographical details, but the work is consistent: Tang translated the RWS structure into an animal system without losing its layers of meaning.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Language: Multilingual
- ISBN: 9780738714127
- Dimensions: 66 x 120 mm
- Weight: 227 g
- Author: Hsu Chi Chun
- Illustrator: Leo Tang
- Contents: 78 cards and instructions
Questions we often get
Does this deck follow the Rider-Waite-Smith structure?
Yes. The compositions and symbolism are based on the RWS system. Anyone who knows that system will recognise the layout of each card. Animals replace the human figures, but the meanings remain intact.
What languages are the cards and instructions in?
This is a multilingual edition. The specific languages are not listed in the available product information. If in doubt, check the packaging or contact us directly.
