Tarot of the Sweet Twilight

Tarot of the Sweet Twilight - surrealist tarot on the border between dream and feeling

Twilight is not an ending. It is the moment when light and dark hold equal weight, and that balance runs through every card in this deck. Tarot of the Sweet Twilight was illustrated by Italian artist Cristina Benintende and published by Lo Scarabeo.

The imagery is surrealist: scenes that resist logic, figures that exist somewhere between dream and waking life. At the same time, there is a real emotional directness to the work. The characters are vulnerable, human, sometimes melancholic. That sets this deck apart from decks that prioritise symbolic clarity or brightness.

What you see on the cards

Benintende works with a rich colour palette and dreamlike compositions. The 78 cards follow the classical tarot structure across Major and Minor Arcana, but the execution is personal and distinctive. Familiar symbolism is present, embedded in scenes that invite interpretation rather than deliver it.

The figures rarely strike heroic poses. They stand still, look away, hold something close. That pulls the reading toward feeling rather than analysis.

Guidebook and use

The deck comes with a compact multilingual guidebook in English, Spanish, French, Italian and German. It covers keywords and the core meaning of each card, but does not include detailed spreads or step-by-step instructions. There is plenty of room for personal interpretation.

The cards measure 66 x 120 mm, printed on sturdy cardstock with a matte finish. That size sits well in the hand when shuffling.

When drawing a daily card, take a moment with the image before reaching for the guidebook. Benintende's illustrations often say something before you have read a single word.

About Cristina Benintende

Cristina Benintende is an Italian illustrator. This deck is her best-known tarot work. Her style brings together expressive imagery and a dreamlike atmosphere, with human emotion as the central subject.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (Major and Minor Arcana)
• Dimensions: 66 x 120 mm
• Finish: Matte finish, sturdy cardstock
• Guidebook language: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German
• Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
• ISBN: 9788883958786
• Illustrator: Cristina Benintende

Questions we often get

What languages does the guidebook come in?
The guidebook is multilingual: English, Spanish, French, Italian and German. No Dutch text is included.

How detailed is the guidebook?
It is compact. Each card gets keywords and a short description of its core meaning. Detailed spreads or step-by-step instructions are not included.