Fantasy World Tarot by Vera Petruk

Reading the tarot is an art that grows with time. The basics are easy to learn, but truly mastering this concentrate of symbols takes a great deal of experience and practice.

To enter this magical world you need to study, do many readings and learn from your mistakes. Above all, you need to be in tune with your tool: the tarot deck.

Not all tarot decks are the same. The imagery, the placement of the symbols, the quality of the cards, their style: all of these must "resonate" deep within the person using the deck.

Fantasy World Tarot

Here we want to introduce a truly unique tarot deck with a magical inspiration: the Fantasy World Tarot.

It is a small masterpiece created by the artist Vera Petruk and published by Silver Cat Editions, cared for in every detail to enhance its magic.

In the limited edition in a wooden box, the box is painted by hand with a technique that gives it an aged look, so every copy is a little different from the others.

The imagery comes from the world of fantasy, and every Arcanum is portrayed by a fantastic figure hand-drawn by Vera Petruk.

With this deck you can immerse yourself in the world of fantasy and magic in a truly extraordinary atmosphere.

Each card shows the number, the card title, the name of the character and the matching zodiac symbol. On the Temperance card, for example, you will find the number XIV, the word "Temperance", the character "Sea Nymph" and the symbol of Sagittarius.

Petruk's artwork shows a beautiful long-haired nymph surrounded by the waves of the sea, with a huge full moon and gentle clouds behind her.

It is clear from the very first look that this deck was created by true enthusiasts with a deep knowledge of the tarot, of mythology and of fairy tales.

Each card keeps the symbolic function of the tarot, enriched by artwork that opens the door to a particularly rich imagination.

Divination with the Fantasy World Tarot

Divination is an ancient tradition, and its essence cannot change. This beautiful deck does not overturn the ancient tradition: the Arcana are the same, only the artwork and the aesthetics change.

So you will find the Magician, the young figure who is about to begin a journey. In the Fantasy World Tarot the Magician is portrayed as a Warlock, from the imagery of Dungeons & Dragons.

The High Priestess, linked to Taurus and a symbol of clarity and wisdom, is shown as a clairvoyant holding a crystal ball.

The Empress is the goddess Kali, while the Emperor takes us to Ancient Egypt with the figure of the Sphinx. The Hierophant is a Voodoo-style Warlock.

The Lovers card shows a Succubus, a female demon who, in tradition, makes love to men while they dream.

The seventh card, the Chariot, is a splendid centaur, while Justice is a beautiful Valkyrie.

The Hermit is the mysterious Yeti of the snows, while the Wheel of Fortune recalls the grim days of the Inquisition.

Strength is linked to the Manticore, the mythical creature with a human-like head, the body of a lion and the tail of a scorpion.

In the artist's imagination the Hanged Man has become an Imp, a cross between a little devil and a genie, while Death offers a classic vision of the Grim Reaper on a boat.

Temperance, as we have seen, is a beautiful nymph, while the Devil is drawn as a disturbing demon.

On the Tower the artist placed what you would expect to find on a tall building in a fantasy world: a Gargoyle.

The Star is the lovely Tooth Fairy, while the Moon shows a fierce werewolf coming through a wide-open door.

The Sun features a Phoenix, while Judgement shows the frightening figure of Cerberus, the mythological monster.

The World is represented by an ancient mystical figure: the Ouroboros, the winged serpent that eats its own tail and forms an 8.

The twenty-second and last card, considered here as number zero, is of course the Fool. Vera Petruk chose a joker and juggler for this fundamental card.

Picking at random from the Minor Arcana, we find the beautiful angel of the 5 of Swords, the 4 with a vaguely romantic vampire scene, and the colourful Pegasus of the 8 of the same suit.

A terrible dragon roams through a magical atmosphere in the 10 of Wands, while the Queen of that suit is a rather diabolical Lilith. The 7 of Wands takes us to the Egypt of the mummies.

The 5 of Cups shows a beautiful mermaid among waves that recall Hokusai's "Great Wave off Kanagawa".

The King of Cups is a fearsome ogre armed with an axe, while the 3 of the same suit shows a beautiful witch preparing her potion.

The Ace of Pentacles features a plant with a rather dark reputation: the mandrake. The 2 of the same suit shows a young elf about to loose an arrow.

The 8 of Pentacles offers an ironic image of a zombie bride, with an axe stuck in her head, walking through a cemetery under the full moon with a head in her hand.

Editions of the Fantasy World Tarot

The Fantasy World Tarot is a complete 78-card deck with a booklet, with cards measuring 7 × 12 cm (2.8 × 4.7 in). It is available in three versions:

• Limited edition of 1000 copies in a wooden box, hand-painted, with a lucky charm and a numbered certificate of authenticity
• Numbered limited edition of 890 copies
• Digital download