The Tarot of Curious Creatures SALE

The Tarot of Curious Creatures - surreal tarot with colour and character

Not every tarot deck takes itself equally seriously. This one does, but with a wink. Chris-Anne draws creatures that look as if they have just stepped out of a dream: vivid colours, odd proportions, characters that look at you with an expression that knows something you do not yet know.

The structure is classic: 78 cards, Major and Minor Arcana, recognisable positions and themes. But where you would see human figures in a traditional deck, here you find beasts, dragons, foxes, owls and creatures that do not immediately have a name. Each has its own energy and each looks straight at you.

What you see on the cards

The style is expressive and colourful. Warm reds and oranges dominate, with occasional bursts of blue or purple. The lines are sharp, the backgrounds are often filled with patterns or abstract shapes. It is not realistic, but neither is it childlike.

The cards have rounded corners and a matte finish. The format is large: 89 x 127 mm. That gives space to the details, but also asks for a bit more hand strength when shuffling. The matte coating helps: the cards glide smoothly past one another.

The 144-page guidebook includes a description for each card, with upright and reversed meanings. A few spreads are also included. The tone is accessible without oversimplifying.

How it works in practice

This deck is designed for beginners and experienced readers. The symbolism is contemporary but not vague. The creatures behave like characters: they have a posture, a gaze, a mood. That makes it easier to get a feeling for a card, even if you do not know the classic meaning by heart.

The guidebook supports this. There are no long esoteric treatises, but there are concrete pointers you can use directly during a reading.

Draw one card and look first at the creature itself. What is it doing? Where is it looking? What posture does it take? Only then read the text. That order works surprisingly well with this deck.

About Chris-Anne

Chris-Anne is an artist and creator of several tarot decks, including the Light Seer's Tarot and The Muse Tarot. Her style is contemporary and expressive. She combines classic tarot structures with idiosyncratic imagery, and that makes her work recognisable.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78
• Card size: 89 x 127 mm
• Finish: Matte, rounded corners
• Guidebook: 144 pages, full colour
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781401970765
• Publisher: Hay House
• Artist: Chris-Anne

Questions we often get

Does this deck follow the Rider-Waite structure?
Yes. The cards have the same numbering, names and positions as a classic RWS deck. What differs is the imagery: instead of human figures you see fantasy creatures.

Is the large format a problem when shuffling?
That depends on your hand size. The matte finish helps, but if you have small hands or struggle with large cards, this deck may feel a bit unwieldy. Most people get used to it after a few times.