The Tarot of Loka SALE

The Tarot of Loka - three tarot traditions in one deck

Most tarot decks choose a line: Marseille, Rider-Waite-Smith, or Thoth. This deck does the opposite. It takes elements from all three and fuses them into a single visual language.

Mark McElroy developed the concept, Anna Lazzarini drew the cards. The result is a deck in which you see a geometric form from Marseille in one reading, a scene from RWS, and an esoteric symbol from the Thoth tradition. Whether you find that useful depends on whether you are looking for that cross-pollination, or whether you prefer to keep one tradition pure.

What you see on the cards

The style is clear and figurative, with much attention to detail. Anna Lazzarini works with light colours and defined contours. The images are recognisable enough to read quickly, but each card contains multiple layers of symbolism.

Some cards lean heavily on RWS iconography, others draw their strength from the schematic structure of Marseille. Still other cards contain astrological or Kabbalistic symbols taken directly from the Thoth tradition.

This makes the deck interesting for those who want to study how different traditions approach the same archetype. It can also be confusing if you are just starting out and have no reference frame yet.

Who this deck works for

This deck is designed for people who already have some experience with tarot and want to compare the three traditions without buying three separate decks. It is a study tool in the form of a working deck.

If you want to learn one system well, a pure Marseille, RWS or Thoth deck is a better choice. If you want to see where those systems overlap and differ, this deck offers a direct comparison in a single reading.

Draw a card and try to identify which element comes from which tradition. That sharpens your eye for symbolism and helps you understand the distinctiveness of each system better.

About Mark McElroy and Anna Lazzarini

Mark McElroy writes about tarot and divination and is known for a pragmatic approach to card reading. He developed the concept for this deck from the idea that traditions can strengthen rather than exclude each other.

Anna Lazzarini illustrated the cards. Her work for Lo Scarabeo is characterised by clarity and an expressive yet accessible style.

Specifications

• Number of cards: 78 (22 Major Arcana, 56 Minor Arcana)
• Card size: 66 x 120 mm
• Weight: 238 g
• Card quality: sturdy, durable cardstock
• Guidebook language: multilingual (English, Italian, French, Spanish, German)
• ISBN: 9788883956959
• Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
• Concept: Mark McElroy
• Illustrations: Anna Lazzarini

Questions we often get

Is this deck suitable if you are new to tarot?
The images are clear enough to work with, but you are given three different symbolic languages at once. That can be enriching, but also overwhelming. A pure RWS deck gives you more grounding if you are still building the basics.

How does this deck differ from a standard Rider-Waite-Smith?
You see RWS scenes, but also geometric forms from the Marseille tradition and astrological symbols from Thoth. Each card combines multiple influences, whereas a classic RWS deck maintains one clear line.