The Druid Craft Tarot - built from within two living traditions
Most nature-themed tarot decks are illustration projects: an artist selects an atmosphere and the symbolism follows from there. The Druid Craft Tarot works differently. Philip Carr-Gomm led the largest international druid organisation for nearly thirty years, Stephanie Carr-Gomm administers its training programme, and illustrator Will Worthington is himself a Grove leader within the same Order. This is not an outside interpretation of Druidry and Wicca - it is made from within.
The fact that all three makers actively practise the traditions they depict shapes the way the deck is structured. The classic tarot framework - Major and Minor Arcana, four suits - remains intact, but the imagery is rooted in the seasonal cycle, Celtic mythology, and the symbolism shared by Druidry and Wicca. The deck was first published in 2005; this Red Wheel edition was published in June 2021.
What you see on the cards
Will Worthington has worked as an illustrator for three decades, and his interest in the ancient Celtic past and Arthurian mythology is present throughout. Scenes unfold in a nature-dominated world: forests, water, seasonal transitions. The figures are set within landscapes that carry meaning rather than serve as decoration - the season or setting participates in the reading. The style is figurative and warm, without the austerity that older Celtic decks sometimes carry.
Who this deck is for
The included 80-page guidebook is compact but gives enough grounding for people new to tarot as well as for more experienced readers who want to understand the Druidic and Wicca symbolism. Those already familiar with the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition will recognise the structure immediately. Those who work from a Druidry or Wicca background will find a card set that takes that context seriously rather than visualising it superficially.
This deck rewards those who see nature not as backdrop but as a system of meaning - and who want that system to be present in the cards they draw.
About the creators
Philip Carr-Gomm is the author of several works on Druidry and served as Chief of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids for nearly thirty years. Stephanie Carr-Gomm studied at Bath Academy of Art, worked as a scenic artist for theatre, opera and ballet companies, and administers the Order's training programme. Will Worthington is an illustrator specialising in Celtic and Arthurian themes and serves as a Grove leader within the Order.
Specifications
- Authors: Philip Carr-Gomm and Stephanie Carr-Gomm
- Illustrator: Will Worthington
- Publisher: Red Wheel
- Publication date: 18 June 2021
- ISBN: 9781590035221
- Language: English
- Number of cards: 78
- Guidebook: 80 pages
- Dimensions: 102 x 46 x 146 mm
- Weight: 1050 g
Questions we often get
Is this a good first tarot deck?
The structure follows the classic 78-card layout and the guidebook walks through the cards in a way that works for beginners. That said, the Druidic and Wicca symbolism lands most naturally if you already have some affinity with those traditions. If you are looking purely for a neutral starting point with no particular spiritual background, you may find a more straightforward entry-level deck elsewhere.
What is the difference between Druidry and Wicca, and how does this deck combine them?
Druidry is rooted in Celtic culture, with an emphasis on the natural cycle, ancestral wisdom and poetic insight. Wicca is a modern witchcraft tradition that works with the forces of nature, seasonal cycles and ritual. Both share a deep respect for the natural world and its rhythms - and that shared core is the foundation of this deck. The imagery is chosen to resonate with both traditions without reducing either one.
