Bee Tarot
For many reasons I love bees, so the Bee Tarot went straight on to my pre-order list. Unfortunately the extended wait time here in Australia allowed me to internally hype it to such an extent I doubt any deck could have measured up. So, surprise, surprise, it didn’t match my expectations.
Nevertheless, having given the deck and myself some time, I have developed a real appreciation for it now. I’ve learned some interesting information about bees and the artwork has expanded my approach to several cards. That alone has reversed any doubt I previously had. Now I enjoy working with it even if some cards make me squirm a little. I love bees but I don’t have any desire to be covered in them.
The Bee Tarot Deck
Kristoffer Hughes’ partner is a beekeeper and Hughes himself makes lip balms, hand creams, mead and other bee-related products. The Bee Tarot is borne from his love of bees and his desire to share his knowledge about them. This shows in a number of ways.
The deck structure
Firstly, some of the Major Arcana have been renamed to align the titles, and thus their meanings, with either bee-keeping or bee lore. The new names are as follows:
0 The Fool - 0 The Keeper
II The High Priestess - II The Melissae
V The Hierophant - V The Delphic Bee
VI The Lovers - VI The Honeymoon
VII The Chariot - VII The Barrow
XX Judgement - XX Rebirth
The thinking behind these changes is well-explained in the book and, if embraced, adds another layer to the interpretations.
The suits are Wands, Swords, Pentacles and Jars (Cups), with Princesses, Princes, Queens and Kings making up the court.
Strength is VIII and Justice is XI. Justice is a great example of an original approach that brings forth a clear message. Furthermore, if you know anything about bees, this card forces you to ask some important questions. For example, is your action/reaction worth the cost? and who’s really hurting who? are two that came to mind.
Then, since my daughter is allergic to bees, additional questions around fear, over reaction, and danger are relevant also. These aren’t standard associations yet each can impact our ability to make sound decisions. So, maybe they should be.
As far as I’m concerned, any deck that encourages me to ask new questions is a valuable addition to my collection.
Something to note
I like that Kristoffer Hughes intentionally uses specific hive structures for the suits. For Swords he uses skep hives. Hughes chose this hive because it emulates alveary hives, which are thought to predate the Romans. This to him “symbolise[s] inspiration and thought throughout the ages.” Whereas national hives, modelled on the Langstroth hive created in 1851, feature on the Jars suit. He feels this represents “the continuous emotional connection between humans and bees.” That’s a bit of a stretch maybe but I’ve learned something all the same.
Wands cards have the WBC double-walled hive developed in 1890. This hive was created to offer the bees more protection so he chose this type “as a nod to the intelligence and passion of modern beekeepers.” However, he didn’t carry this detail through to the Pentacles suit. Nor did he mention why. I checked, there were options available, but credit to him for not stretching it to include something he didn’t connect with.
Cardstock
The Bee Tarot is a standard tarot size. It measures 7cm x 11.75cm and like the Good Fortune Tarot, it is printed on Llewellyn’s current, super flexible, linen finish cardstock. It’s easy to shuffle, to fan and to flip through and its reversible backs, shown below, make it user friendly for everyone.
So, who’s this deck for?
People who love bees is a pretty obvious answer to that question. The next I struggled with a bit. I was trying to decide whether I’d consider it a good beginner’s deck.
It’s true that some of these cards are cleverly conceived and easy to relate to. Others are RWS clones which aids in familiarity. But, others don’t become clear until you’ve read the book. I don’t think that’s a bad thing but does it make it more difficult for beginners? I never want to suggest a deck that could make the learning journey more difficult than it needs to be.
In the end, the fact that the Bee Tarot is accompanied by a well-written book convinced me that it is beginner friendly. Kristoffer Hughes is a wonderful storyteller. He doesn’t treat the cards as individual entities. Instead he weaves an ongoing narrative throughout the book that simultaneously brings meaning to the cards and shares information about the life and the history of bees. This ensures the appeal for those interested in the subject matter as well.
Discussions on some individual cards
Eight of Swords & Nine of Pentacles
When I first looked at this Eight of Swords, I only noticed six swords. Where were the others? Once I “found” the additional two swords I wondered how I’d missed them. But, more importantly, I thought that my focus was all wrong. Or was it? I couldn’t quite decide. To make sense of things I considered the story of the swords suit.
Simplified, it begins with clarity that morphs into indecision that is followed by loss and the need to rest and heal. Next there’s a fight that leads to the six moving us away from the drama. That energy is positive, so why the return to the seven, eight, nine and ten?
I hadn’t really thought about this before but I realise I should have. What if the deception, often suggested by the seven, is the cause of what is to follow? What if it’s the “what if’s” and the fear of being deceived by myself or others that causes the feeling of being trapped?
And just like that the single sword appeared and my approach to the suit changed. These are helper cards. Or, more appropriately, these are accountability cards. I choose my thoughts therefore I am responsible for them. If I don’t like them, then ultimately, that’s on me. Since the energy of the swords suit is active, so is the need to do more than just think about things.
Seeing the Nine of Pentacles laying next to the Eight of Swords contributed to my understanding. The woman on the card has everything she needs. The fact this card shows different hives suggests preparation, learning, growth and choice. Preparation and action are key. Overthinking doesn’t solve, or produce, anything.
XIII Death & 0 The Keeper
Sometimes though you just need to let go of things. This is a beautiful Death card. What stands out is the two different floral displays. We have a choice about how we walk away. One is a huge floral tribute that overshadows the headstone. I read several things into that and how I feel about that is bound to be context related. But, it is the small bunch of white flowers that catches my eye the most. Sometimes a small action is all that is needed.
The bushes on either side of the church feel claustrophobic. I wonder how much light can enter and I wonder what else is being hidden from view. This isn’t a Death card I could skim over if it appeared in a reading. Its beauty doesn’t undermine its messages. Rather, it allows you to take the time to sit with the image and allow the thoughts that need to surface to do so. And so many do. This is not a new gravesite. What is being remembered? respected? reflected upon?
Following on then with The Fool, in this instance The Keeper, adds another level. I see that coming to the edge of a cliff and having the confidence to jump could be exhilarating. It could also be irresponsible or downright dangerous. In my case, as I look at this combination, I am forced to consider how many times I have ended things simply because I got bored.
This Keeper has worn a path to the edge, but also one to his bees. Does a new beginning have to be an either/or proposition? The Nine of Pentacles above with her multiple hives suggests no. In that case, what does the leap into the Death card suggest? Short answer, so so much.
Four of Wands & Six of Wands
I went to write a whole spiel on these two cards together too but it came down to this. Create your own definition for success and live life accordingly.
The Bee Tarot Guide Book
Into the Hive is the 285-paged, full-colour guide book written by Kristoffer Hughes. The book elevates the deck because it draws together the imagery with the information about the bees to create a relatable overall meaning. Sometimes it may become a little too flowery, but his enthusiasm for his subject and his ability to connect everything with our everyday lived experiences makes it an enjoyable and accessible read.
The book opens with an Introduction and then is divided into six chapters:
- Into the Hive – The Magical World of Bees provides information on the history of beekeeping and discusses bees in mythology.
- Beyond the Hive – The Magical World of Tarot gives RWS and tarot history and includes a Major Arcana and a numerology table, plus quick guides for the suits and the court cards.
- The Waggle Dance – How to Read Tarot explains that the waggle dance “is a complex form of communication and storytelling that helps guide other bees to a particular destination.” How apt for the title of a chapter offering guidance on how to read tarot.
- The Major Arcana
- The Minor Arcana
- Spreads
- There are six themed spreads.
The card entries for both the Major and Minor Arcana are treated with equal respect. Each has a full colour, full page image of the card. Then two pages of information follow. After three “Buzzwords” he provides a couple of paragraphs to describe the image and how it relates to the card meanings. Next are explanations for both upright and reversed presentations.
Major Arcana
Reading through the Major Arcana explanations takes you on a journey through a selection of myths with a strong bee element and provides general bee related information also. For example the entry for VI The Honeymoon, pictured above, explains how it links “to the European tradition of gifting the married couple with mead to last an entire cycle of the moon.” In keeping with this approach, this Lovers card relates to relationships, harmony and self love more so than choice.
Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana write-ups are more focused on the story of the image, with some entries spanning three paragraphs. For example, the opening paragraph of the Six of Pentacles, pictured above, points out that, “The dresser is arranged in a hierarchical fashion that expresses the attitude humans have toward the wider world of bees.” The bottom shelf has a wasp and a hornet plaque. The second shows a triangle of bee plaques which clearly displays the hierarchy between even just the bees. To the left is the worker, to the right the drone with the queen perched on top. Each insect depicted, including the fly on the bottom shelf, fulfils an important role, yet we do not tend to appreciate them equally.
I like that he clearly reinforces this aspect. Oftentimes I feel this idea is glossed over in discussions about the Six of Pentacles. Here he doesn’t shy away from it.
Overall the book offers the reader a lot to work with. I’ll leave off with a final word from Kristoffer Hughes.
In truth,
a tarot reading
should not tell you anything
that you don’t already know in your heart of hearts.
If you’d like to buy your own copy of the Bee Tarot you can find it here.
Summaries
Bee Tarot Cards
| Artist | Nadia Turner |
| Card Size | 7cm x 11.75cm |
| Card Stock | Linen finish |
| Shuffle | Easy to shuffle in any manner |
| Fan & Flip Through | Easy fan and flip through |
| Suits | Jars, Wands, Pentacles, Swords |
| Court | King, Queen, Prince, Princess |
| Strength / Justice | Strength VIII; Justice XI |
| Miscellaneous | Solid one piece box with magnetic closure |
Bee Tarot Guidebook
| Written by | Kristoffer Hughes |
| Pages | 285 pages |
| Appearance | Full-colour |
| Contents | Introduction Into the Hive Beyond the Hive The Waggle Dance The Major Arcana The Minor Arcana Spreads Conclusion Acknowledgements |
| Spreads | The Four Bee Spread (4 cards) The Forager Spread (6 cards) The Hive and Flower Spread (10 cards) The Waggle Dance (24 cards) The Meadow Spread (readers choice) The Caste Spread (up to 36 cards) |
Publishing Details
Created by:
Kristoffer Hughes with artwork by Nadia Turner
Pictured Version:
Published in 2024 by Llewellyn Publications
Websites:
