Transient Light Tarot Cards - gender-neutral tarot with abstract imagery
Most tarot cards show people. This one does not. Ari Wisner chose objects, shapes and elements. No faces, no traditional role divisions, no stereotypical poses.
It is a reinterpretation of the Rider-Waite-Smith system, but the imagery is completely redrawn. The colours are limited to inky blue, black and white. The forms are minimalist and leave room for projection.
What you see on the cards
Where a classic deck shows an emperor or empress, here you find geometric shapes, plants or light reflections. The major arcana remain recognisable in meaning, but the imagery is abstract enough to stand apart from fixed identities.
The use of colour is restrained. Blue dominates, sometimes lifted with white, sometimes deepened with black. The illustrations are graphic and sharp, no soft transitions or romantic tints. It feels more urban than pastoral.
The cards are printed on 350 gsm smooth card stock with an eco-friendly varnish. No plastic, fully recyclable. The box is sturdy, two-piece, and keeps the deck together well.
Why 81 cards
The standard tarot deck has 78 cards. This one has 81. Three extra cards have been added to further develop the themes of transience and polarity. Which ones exactly is explained in the guidebook.
The guidebook contains poetic texts by Fausta Joly. No fixed meanings, but text fragments that invite you to make your own connections. That fits the abstract imagery: the deck gives direction but does not tell you how to interpret.
Draw one card and lay it in front of you without reaching for the guidebook straight away. Notice what the form, colour and composition bring up before you read the text.
Who this deck works for
This deck is designed with inclusivity as its starting point. Wisner revised the traditionally gendered cards and sought alternatives that anyone can recognise. That makes the deck suitable for people who do not see themselves in the classic imagery of tarot.
The minimalist style does ask something of you. You need to be willing to fill in what you see yourself. Those who prefer concrete images with clear storylines may find this deck too open.
About Ari Wisner and Fausta Joly
Ari Wisner is an artist who focuses on representing diverse identities within the spiritual world. That translates into work that stands apart from stereotypical roles and fixed expectations.
Fausta Joly wrote the texts for the guidebook. Her poetry gives the cards a textual layer that works associatively, not instructively.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 81
- Card size: 70 x 120 mm
- Material: 350 gsm recyclable smooth card stock
- Finish: Eco-friendly varnish, plastic-free
- Packaging: Two-piece storage box
- Language: English
- Publisher: Hay House
- Artist: Ari Wisner
- Guidebook author: Fausta Joly
Questions we often get
What about the three extra cards?
The deck has 81 cards instead of 78. The three extra cards have been added to further explore specific themes such as transience and the relationship between opposites. The guidebook explains the intention behind each card.
Is this deck suitable if you already know the Rider-Waite-Smith system?
Yes. The structure remains the same, but the imagery is radically different. It can help loosen your interpretations from the classic images and work more from symbols and forms.
