Cozy Witch Tarot

I pre-judged the Cozy Witch Tarot and in so doing I did myself and the deck a disservice. I have Amanda Lovelace’s Believe in Your Own Magic Oracle and I found a lot to love about it so I should have taken that into account. But, I didn’t. Instead, I saw the keywords and questioned whether the deck was for me. Generally I see keywords on tarot cards as distractions that can limit the meanings of the card. How wrong my assumption has proven to be.

My eye is naturally drawn to the artwork and when it does wander down to read the words beneath the title I find I turn the phrase into a question and off I go drawing out more information – not less. So now I’ve gone from, “nice but probably not for me” to seeing the Cozy Witch Tarot as my “personal cheer squad” deck. That’s a pretty huge change.

The Cozy Witch Tarot Deck

The Cozy Witch Tarot is a beginner-friendly, RWS-based deck. Amanda Lovelace writes that she, “wanted to make the kind of deck that feels like coming home to a warm and welcoming cottage on a rainy day” and that’s a great way to describe this deck. Yet, while it reminds you, “You’ve got this,” when you most need it, it also makes you accountable. The two cards, the Six and Seven of Wands, pictured above capture this so well. Yes, you are a big deal but you also need to be held accountable for your actions.

This is a distinctly feminine deck so I was surprised by the Court titles. She changed some of the names in the Major Arcana so I didn’t expect to see Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings in the Court since there is not a single male to be seen anywhere. The suits follow standard RWS nominations: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.

Name changes

Generally, I like beginner-friendly decks to stick to standard nominations because it makes the learning easily transferable. However, Amanda Lovelace did make four changes to the Major Arcana in the Cozy Witch Tarot. 0 The Fool has been renamed 0 The Cozy Witch and I think that’s fair enough. However, the other changes I’m not quite as enamoured with. X The Wheel of Fortune is now 10 Good Luck Charm and I’m really not sure how I feel about that.

It is a beautiful card and I appreciate the idea of taking charge and seeking to change an unfavourable situation. But the idea that the card represents overcoming bad luck irks me a bit. As The Wheel, it turns. Fortunes change. This too shall pass applies to both “good” and “bad” situations and I appreciate and try and remember that. However, I feel this idea is lacking with this change.

The three other name changes are 12 The Patient Witch (The Hanged Man), 13 Broom (Death), and 15 Toxic Witches (The Devil). Some of these new names limit the interpretive potentials of the cards. For example, 12 The Patient Witch suggests a hold up and in the book she talks about things happening when they are supposed to or maybe even not at all. And yes, that is one option. However, it ignores the notion of seeking a new perspective on things. Unfortunately for me, that is how I tend to see The Hanged Man so it feels like it is lacking depth. As usual though I will take the deck on its own terms because otherwise I don’t see the point in owning multiple decks.

But, labelling XV The Devil as 15 Toxic Witches suggests that something outside of ourselves is creating the issue. Albeit, the book does touch on the idea that we remain “trapped” in situations through our own actions and choices.

XIII Death becoming 13 Broom has slowly grown on me. I wasn’t a fan at all at first but now I just see it as a gentle way of saying that we need to clear out what doesn’t serve us. A full spring clean can be a daunting task and some tough decisions need to be made if we are to make the effort truly worth while. And that is how I see the card now. Things can no longer be swept under the rug. Now I see that Broom is a clever way to express the card’s message without feeling overwhelming or intimidating.

The approach taken to these more challenging cards makes this deck suitable for, and relatable to, a wide audience. The diversity found throughout serves that purpose also. It’s great to see that the people don’t look the same or dress the same. Instead you meet a collection of women at different stages of their life, with different dreams, body shapes, sizes, ethnicities, experiences and lifestyles. Plus, like the Believe in your own Magic Oracle, this deck is a poster child for body positivity. People look comfortable in their own skins so no-one looks as if they have been forced into the deck to fulfil a certain expectation.

The cards themselves are slightly larger than standard, (8 x 12.75cm), with stiff-ish matte cardstock. Their size and the cardstock make them a bit of a hand workout if you want to riffle them but I find them okay for overhand shuffling. While definitely not amongst my favourites, I find the coffee and candles on the simple, reversible card backs fits the notion that these are cards you can snuggle up with. The four swords serve as a reminder that they don’t shy away from the truth. I think this is the first time I have ever “read” a card back.

My take on some individual cards

0 The Cozy Witch & 4 The Emperor

The Cozy Witch has similar energy to the Out of Hand Tarot Fool – adventure awaits on the other side of the front door. Jamie Sawyer says, “Plan plans, not results” and Amanda Lovelace reminds that “success isn’t always the point of the journey. Sometimes the self-discovery that happens along the way is the point.” That is how I feel about the tarot. I see learning tarot as the Fool’s journey – a journey of discovery and finding my way.

This deck is like an Agony Aunt deck. It’s full of comforting, practical advice. The Emperor cautions that while fun and spontaneity are great sometimes we need to assess the risks before committing. We also need a back up plan or two. Fool energy can be intoxicating but we need to remember that like the Aces we need to do something tangible with the energy otherwise we can find ourselves lost and purposeless.

Two of Wands & Eight of Swords

Both the Two of Wands and the Eight of Swords further the idea that this deck, while gentle, also expects you to act. There is nothing passive about it. Given that realisation, I can now see the relevance of the 10 Good Luck Charm within this deck. In the Two of Wands, there is no suggestion that the best plan of action is to sit back and wait until someone or something tells you what to do. I love that because it is such an important message. It is not up to a set of cards or a crystal ball to choose the way forward. That decision lays purely with the individual.

The Eight of Swords shows why we can struggle with this. As the card shows, more often it is our thoughts and limiting beliefs that trap us rather than external factors. The other day I was watching a podcast, I can’t remember which one, and they said that 100% certainty is only ever available in hindsight. That really hit me. Whilst intellectually obvious, it isn’t something I have applied too often. The number of times I have wanted to be sure before I made a decision seems crazy now. This Eight of Swords seeks to urge you forward.

Ten of Pentacles & King of Pentacles

One of the most powerful aspects of The Cozy Witch Tarot is that it isn’t prescriptive. Rather, as the two cards above reiterate, it seeks to encourage you to follow your own path and to acknowledge that success looks different to everyone. This really stood out to me. Plus, it ensures that this deck feels inclusive, non-judgemental, and supportive as the creator intended.

Even though logically I acknowledge these ideas I still judge myself harshly at times for not following more traditional success pathways. Knowing through experience that these pathways aren’t for me doesn’t automatically erase the self-doubt so cards like this are a blessing. In a roundabout way, they’re my “Keep going” cards.

Ace of Wands & King of Wands

Finally, I love the transition from the Ace of Wands to the King of Wands. The Ace of Wands shows the initial flame. There’s something magical about it. The scene is alive and full of energy. Couple that with the key phrase reminder that when we are lit up about something we glow and it becomes easier to internalise the magic.

Then taking into account the Two of Wands featured earlier it becomes even more clear that we are the magic, not what is being offered. This is reinforced when you get to the King. This is a very grounded scene. She’s not looking out from some glistening white or pink fairy castle. She has come to the door of a timber cottage to share her light with whoever has come knocking. It is clear she has mastered her passion and now she’s ready to guide others as necessary. You can see she is not trying to balance a candle on her hand, as was the case on the Ace. She has it conveniently positioned in a holder suggesting she has turned her initial inspiration into something practical, viable and sustainable.

The Cozy Witch Tarot Deck Guidebook

Just like the deck, the guidebook is very encouraging and nurturing for those just starting out with tarot. Amanda Lovelace writes “You don’t learn tarot once and move on with your life. You’re always going to be discovering new things about the cards.” I wholeheartedly agree with this. After more than twenty-five years I continue to learn new things from both tarot and non-tarot sources that add nuance to the card meanings. The ongoing learning aspect is very high on my “List of Things I Love About Tarot”.

As with everything else I’ve learned over the years, I can’t tell you when things just clicked and jargon and meanings that once felt overwhelming became second nature. All I can say is that it happens. This book reassures you of that.

Preamble

In the Cozy Witch Tarot Guidebook, she gives a clear and accessible breakdown of tarot structure, all the while almost holding your hand through the process. She encourages readers to learn the basics with the intention of ultimately creating personal associations with the cards. This is awesome advice and something I cannot encourage enough. The personal takes I share as part of these reviews is in service to that very aim. Amanda Lovelace adds, “But there’s absolutely no rush here” and I can’t agree more. As Rachel Pollack points out in Tarot Wisdom, you can learn the keywords and associations etc but the card’s meanings come out in a spread.

As well as information on reversals and suggestions for ways to cleanse your deck, she also provides 12 tips and suggestions:

1. Manage your expectations
2. Keep a tarot diary
3. Trust your intuition
4. Bond with your deck daily
   • I’m iffy on this one. Even though I work with cards daily, I don’t think this is necessary. There’s no way I could bond with each of my decks every day.
5. Crystals help but they’re optional
6. Ask then pull
7. Avoid yes/no questions
8. Accept the first answer
9. Give it time to unfold
10. Don’t become tarot obsessed
    • Here she’s referring to asking the same question over and over again in the hope of getting a different answer
11. Put yourself first
12. The cards have many uses
    • One use she suggests is as a writing prompt.

For the most part I think this is sound advice. I also like that she suggests before a reading to, “Ask yourself, “Am I experiencing any emotions that may impact the accuracy of my reading?”” This is a good way to check in and a great filter to run the reading through. I know that many people suggest not reaching for your cards when you’re feeling agitated etc but I have found that when I have acknowledged how I’m feeling and look at the impact that is having on my readings I have learned a lot.

Card meanings

The card meanings are presented the same for both the Major and Minor Arcana. There is a black and white thumbnail of the card followed by the title, the key phrase from the card, and two short paragraphs. One paragraph for upright meanings and the other for reversals.

Sample card meaning

I have typed the card meaning for 19 The Sun pictured above below. Please be aware that in the Cozy Witch Tarot capital letters are like men; they are nowhere to be found. It is obviously a stylistic choice but my English degree sensibilities struggle with it. Initially I put them in but then I went back and took them out so you could see the meaning as they are presented in the book.

19 the sun

“give yourself permission to experience joy”

when this witch was but a mere witchling, she easily found joy everywhere, but she’s been so busy doing this adult thing for years that she’s forgotten what that’s like. today, she’s decided to purposely seek out joyful experiences to connect with her inner child. if you pull this card, it could mean you will soon have a reason to be happy, or it could be asking you to go find something to do that brings our your silly, playful, & carefree side. while it may not be possible for you to wander away & frolic in a sunflower field like our witch here, i’m sure you can come up with something just as good! stop at nothing until you find the sweetness in life & savour every bit of it.

reversed: toxic positivity is making it hard for you to see reality for what it is. always choosing to see the good in every person or situation is at best naïve & at worst extremely dangerous. have plenty of healthy optimism but make sure it’s grounded in reality.

Wrapping it all up

The Cozy Witch Tarot feels like a friend you’ve had since childhood that knows you a little too well. She knows when you’re making excuses, when you need a hug, or when you need a need a stern talking to that only a close friend can deliver. She’s also the friend that’s welcoming to everyone while still having room for those who have been around for a while. It’s a nice feeling. I am so glad I overcame my initial bias and added this deck to my collection. It has been just what I’ve needed over the last few weeks.

Summaries

The Cozy Witch Tarot Cards

Artist	Janaina Medeiros
Card Size	8 x 12.75 cm
Card Stock	Fairly rigid, matte
Shuffle	Easy to overhand, stiff to riffle
Fan & Flip Through	A bit clumpy to fan and flip through
Suits	Cups, Pentacles, Swords, Wands
Court	Page, Knight, Queen, King
Strength / Justice	Strength VIII; Justice XI
Miscellaneous	Solid two part box

The Cozy Witch Tarot Guidebook

Written by	Amanda Lovelace
Pages	127 pages
Appearance	Black and white with colour cover
Contents	No actual contents page – Introduction – Cozy Witch Basics – Using Cozy Witch Tarot – More Crazy Witch Spreads – The Major Arcana Cards – The Minor Arcana Cards – Special Acknowledgements – About the Author – About the Artist
Spreads	Deck Interview Spread (7 cards) Daily 1-card pull Daily 3-card pull Weekly Spread (5 cards) Storybook Spread (4 cards) Cozy Night In Spread (5 cards)

Publishing Details

Created by:

Amanda Lovelace with artwork by Janaina Medeiros

Pictured Version:

Published by Andrews McMeel Publishing on 4 October 2023

Creators’ Websites:

Amanda Lovelace

Janaina Medeiros