Tarot of the Vampires

Tarot of the Vampires - vampire symbolism on a Rider-Waite structure

There are plenty of gothic tarot decks. This one is different because the vampire theme does not stop at the visual layer. Charles B. Harrington writes in the guidebook how the perspective of the vampire, the outsider living between worlds, becomes a lens for traditional tarot meanings.

The 78 cards follow the Rider-Waite-Smith system completely, with all major and minor arcana. Illustrator Craig Maher drew every figure as a vampire or nocturnal being. The characters have diverse skin tones, which makes the feeling of being an outsider more universal than in many classic decks.

What you see on the cards

The drawing style is cinematic. Dark scenes, rich colours, figures frozen in a dramatic moment. Each card looks like a film still: intense gazes, heavy shadows, decorations that tell a story.

The cards have a glossy finish and shuffle smoothly. The size is standard. Craig Maher handles the details in such a way that you only see them when you really look. Moving quickly through the cards does not work with this deck.

How the guidebook works

240 pages in colour. Each card has a thematic explanation that follows four recurring motifs: power, conflict, romance and adventure. Harrington explains how the vampire perspective connects with the traditional meaning.

The tone is dark but clear. No poetry for poetry's sake. You get concrete starting points for questions about personal boundaries, hidden motives, and what is happening in relationships that is not immediately visible.

Try this: draw three cards for 'What draws me in?', 'What drains my energy?' and 'What boundary do I need to protect?'. Then read the guidebook and notice how the vampire theme sharpens the question.

Who this deck works for

You do not have to be a vampire fan, but you do need to be comfortable with symbols that are dark. This is not a light deck. It works well for those who already have experience with RWS tarot and are looking for a different angle on familiar cards.

Beginners can work with it thanks to the extensive guidebook, but the dark theme requires you to be willing to look at shadow sides of yourself and others.

About Charles B. Harrington and Craig Maher

Charles B. Harrington has worked as a tarot reader and teacher for 25 years, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He previously wrote the guidebooks for the Murder of Crows Tarot and Tarot V. His writing style is thematic but practical.

Craig Maher studied at the Kubert School and won 'Best In Show' at GenCon. He specialises in fantasy and tarot art. His work has appeared in major publications on contemporary fantasy art.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9780738766287
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Weight: 1048 g
• Dimensions: 143.0 x 52.3 x 211.1 mm
• Guidebook: 240 pages, full colour
• Text: Charles B. Harrington
• Illustrations: Craig Maher
• Finish: Glossy

Questions we often get

Do you need tarot experience to use this deck?
The structure is Rider-Waite-Smith, so if you know that system it is immediately familiar. The 240-page guidebook explains the vampire theme card by card. Without experience you can work with it, but the dark register does require you to be comfortable thinking in symbols.

How does this differ from other gothic tarot cards?
Many gothic decks use dark imagery as decoration. Here the vampire theme is directly linked to the card meanings. Harrington connects the perspective of the outsider to traditional interpretations, so that theme and meaning really work together.