Wanderer's Tarot - 80 cards with characters breaking their frames
Not all tarot cards respect the rules of composition. In many classic decks, figures remain within their allotted space, neatly centred. In the Wanderer's Tarot, characters step out of their frames, look sideways, move toward the edge of the card. It gives the imagery something restless and alive at once.
The deck is designed by Pierluca Zizzi and illustrated by Michele D'Aloisio, both from Italy. D'Aloisio draws in a style closer to contemporary fantasy illustration than to traditional tarot. Deep colours, dynamic poses, landscapes that feel dreamlike rather than realistic. The back of each card shows a stylised sun.
Eighty cards instead of seventy-eight
Standard tarot decks contain 78 cards. This one counts 80. The creators added two extra cards to complete the journey of the 'Wanderer'. Which these are and why is not stated explicitly in the available information, but it gives you something extra to work with in readings.
The major arcana follow the familiar sequence and names for the most part, but the minor arcana depart in imagery. Where a Rider-Waite-Smith deck often shows static scenes, here you see figures in action, in dialogue with their surroundings. That asks for a different way of reading, more focused on what you see happening than on what you remember.
How the material feels
The cards are printed on sturdy cardstock with a matte finish. That prevents fingerprints and glare, which is useful if you work under artificial light. The size is 70 x 120 mm, slightly smaller than standard tarot cards. That makes them easier to shuffle if you have smaller hands.
The lift-top box protects the cards well. The guidebook is multilingual and contains short descriptions per card in English, French and German. No extended essays, but enough to give you direction when you get stuck.
Pay attention to the direction in which characters are looking. In many cards they face left or right, which you can use to determine whether a card points to the past or the future within a reading.
About Pierluca Zizzi and Michele D'Aloisio
Pierluca Zizzi writes and designs tarot and oracle decks with a focus on symbols outside the mainstream. Michele D'Aloisio illustrates and brings those symbols to life in a style that combines spiritual themes with a contemporary visual language. Together they create decks that do not fit in one box.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 80
- Card size: 70 x 120 mm
- Material: sturdy cardstock with matte finish
- Packaging: lift-top box
- Guidebook: multilingual (English, French, German)
- Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
- Design: Pierluca Zizzi
- Illustrations: Michele D'Aloisio
Questions we often get
Why are there 80 cards instead of 78?
The creators added two extra cards to complete the journey of the 'Wanderer'. The guidebook explains how you can use these cards, but it is not a standard tarot structure.
Does this deck follow the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition?
Partly. The major arcana follow mostly the same sequence and names, but the minor arcana depart in imagery and composition. If you are used to RWS, you will need to look differently here.
