The One World Tarot

The One World Tarot - contemporary imagery with a thorough guidebook

Most tarot decks carry the visual language of medieval Europe: knights, towers, robed figures in a world that looks nothing like the present. The One World Tarot keeps the classical structure intact - 78 cards, the major and minor arcana - while replacing that imagery with something different: people who look like they belong to the world we actually live in.

The deck was conceived by Lena Rodriguez and Seanna Rose, with text by June Rifkin and illustrations by Alexandra Filipek. Four collaborators with different backgrounds worked toward a shared goal: a tarot where diversity is not an added feature but the foundation of the design. The result follows the same map as the Rider-Waite but reads as a different territory.

What you see on the cards

Filipek's illustrations are clean and restrained. Clear lines, calm colours, no visual clutter. The figures are diverse in skin tone and gender presentation, and it reads as natural rather than deliberate. The style sits closer to contemporary book illustration than to the dense symbolism of older decks. Readers used to the layered visual codes of the Rider-Waite or Thoth will notice immediately: this deck asks you to trust your first impression more than to decode hidden meanings.

A guidebook that earns its page count

The included guidebook runs to 302 pages in English. It covers the meaning of every card, multiple spreads, and the basic principles of reading. That makes this deck a strong starting point for beginners, but it does not flatten out once you know the basics. The card meanings themselves are in the book; the cards show the name and the illustration only.

This is a deck for those who want a fresh start or never felt at home in traditional tarot imagery - not for those specifically drawn to the layered symbolism of classical decks.

About the creators

Lena Rodriguez has a background in sociology and anthropology and runs the YouTube channel Tarot Down Under, which has attracted millions of viewers. Seanna Rose works as a medium and Reiki master and offers tarot readings. June Rifkin wrote the guidebook text and Alexandra Filipek created the illustrations. The deck is published by St. Martin's Essentials.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78
• Card size: approx. 70 x 114 mm
• Box size: approx. 125 x 180 mm
• Finish: laminated
• Guidebook: 302 pages, card meanings and spreads
• Guidebook language: English
• Publisher: St. Martin's Essentials
• ISBN: 9781250809315
• Designers: Lena Rodriguez, Seanna Rose
• Text: June Rifkin
• Illustrations: Alexandra Filipek

Questions we often get

Is this deck suitable for beginners?
Yes. The 302-page guidebook walks you through card meanings and spreads step by step. No prior experience is needed to start working with it.

How does this compare to the Rider-Waite?
The structure is the same: 78 cards with the same major and minor arcana. The imagery is quite different. Where the Rider-Waite relies heavily on layered symbolism, this deck uses a quieter, more modern style with diverse figures. If you are used to traditional visual codes, this deck will ask you to read differently.

Are the card meanings printed on the cards?
No. Each card shows its name and illustration. The meanings are in the accompanying guidebook, which addresses every card individually.