Wanderer's Tarot (black w. silver edges) - hand-drawn deck with nature symbolism
Black cards with white linework are not the most common colour scheme in tarot. They stand out. The Wanderer's Tarot chooses this contrast deliberately and adds silver-edged borders.
Casey Zabala drew all 78 cards by hand. The style is graphic, minimal, without much detail. No landscapes, no elaborate scenes. You see lines, shapes, symbols. The space on the card helps determine what you read into it.
What sets this deck apart
The traditional tarot names for the minor arcana have been replaced. Cups become Moons, pentacles become Stones, swords become Knives and wands become Feathers. The major arcana follow the classical numbering and names.
This choice changes how you read the cards. Instead of stable earthy pentacles you get Stones, something you can literally pick up and hold. Instead of chalices full of emotion you get Moons, cyclical and shifting in light.
The guide sheet explains each card briefly. No extended stories, no spreads. Just the basics.
How this deck feels
The cards are heavy, sturdy cardstock with a matte finish. They glide smoothly through each other. The silver edges give visual weight to the deck when you lay it on the table.
The size is 70 x 120 mm, slightly narrower than standard tarot cards. For many hands this makes them easier to shuffle. The magnetic box closes firmly and protects the cards well.
Lay a card on white paper instead of a dark surface. The white lines on black will stand out more sharply.
Who this works for
This deck assumes you can form your own meanings. The images give direction, not instructions. If you are used to detailed RWS scenes with many visual cues, this is a different way of working.
The absence of colour means you are less easily distracted by symbolic details. You look at shapes, at proportions, at what is and is not drawn.
About Casey Zabala
Casey Zabala has been reading tarot for over twenty years and has a background in philosophy and cosmology. She founded the Modern Witches Confluence, a platform for women working with ritual and symbolism.
Her focus lies on autonomy in spiritual practice. You see this reflected in the visual language of this deck: little told, much room to fill in yourself.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 78
- Card size: 70 x 120 mm
- Language: English (cards and guide sheet)
- Finish: Black cardstock with white linework, silver edges, matte coating
- Packaging: Magnetic box
- Extra: Fold-out guide sheet with basic meanings
- Creator: Casey Zabala
- Suit names: Moons (cups), Stones (pentacles), Knives (swords), Feathers (wands)
Questions we often get
Why are the suits renamed?
Casey Zabala chose natural symbols closer to ritual and seasonal cycles. Moons, Stones, Knives and Feathers replace the traditional cups, pentacles, swords and wands. The basic meanings remain largely comparable.
Is this a suitable first tarot deck?
That depends on how you learn. If you need visual stories and detailed scenes, a classic RWS-based deck is more accessible. This deck asks for your own interpretation and works best if you already have some experience or consciously choose a more minimal approach.
