The Living Wheel Astrology Cards

The Living Wheel Astrology Cards - hand-painted astrology oracle with 24-karat gold leaf

Astrology card decks are common. This one works differently. Patrick J. Fogarty paints planets and constellations not as symbols, but as they truly appear in the sky. The result is a visual tool that is both astronomically accurate and astrologically useful.

Each of the 55 cards is made with liquid graphite and 24-karat gold leaf. This gives the images a dark, alchemical quality in which gold literally lights up against the black. The design follows the rhythm of seasons, moon phases and the zodiac.

What you see on the cards

The illustrations are realistic. Planets have their true colour and texture, constellations are depicted as you would see them in the night sky. Fogarty draws the moon in all its phases, from new moon to full moon, each with accurate shadow work.

The cards show planets, zodiac signs, houses and moon phases. This makes the deck usable for different purposes: as an oracle, as a visual aid when reading a birth chart, or as a physical representation of a current planetary position.

The included keyword booklet gives short astrological keywords per card. No lengthy explanations, just starting points to work with.

How you use this deck

This is not a card game with fixed spreads. You can use the deck as an oracle by drawing a card at random, but also to visually lay out a birth chart. Lay down the cards that correspond to someone's sun, moon and ascendant, and you have a physical representation of the most important astrological forces in a chart.

Also suitable for those who work with moon phases. Draw the card of the current moon phase and place it on your altar or workspace.

Draw a card every Monday to see which astrological energy colours the week. Or place the card of your own zodiac sign in front of you during meditation.

About Patrick J. Fogarty

Patrick J. Fogarty is an artist and astrologer. His work combines technical knowledge of the cosmos with hand-painted art. For this deck he used liquid graphite and real gold leaf, materials you normally encounter in fine art rather than in card decks.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 55
• Language: English
• Cardstock quality: 400 gsm
• Finish: satin-matte with vintage stardust gold edges
• Size: 62 x 85 mm
• Includes: sturdy storage box with gold foil and keyword booklet
• Creator: Patrick J. Fogarty

Questions we often get

Do you need astrological knowledge to use this deck?
No, but it helps. The keyword booklet gives short starting points, enough to begin with. Those who already know what an ascendant or a lunar mansion is will get more out of it.

How does this differ from a tarot deck?
Tarot follows a fixed system of 78 cards with arcana and elements. This deck focuses solely on astrological archetypes: planets, signs, houses and moon phases. It is a specialised tool, not a general oracle.