Crystal Keys Tarot

Some decks have a theme you can really relate to. Others have artwork that speaks to you, or a guidebook that makes you feel like your sitting down talking all things tarot with a close friend. And some decks, well they combine all three. For me, the Crystal Keys Tarot is one such deck.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot titled Nine of Pentacles – Bumblebee Jasper shows nine gold pentacles among grapevines and leaves, with a bright yellow-orange sun and bee above a river and mountains in the background.

Some general information

Packaging

Now I have a lot of decks but there are only a few that have made me gush over the packaging. But, from the moment I pulled the Crystal Keys Tarot from the bag I was impressed. My initial notes read “Packaging – stunning.” The colouring, the artwork, the spot gloss accents, and how solid the two part box felt in my hands, all made a powerful first impression. Then when I opened the box I was hit with the beauty of the guidebook cover. Beneath the book the cards lay nestled in a mottled purple and black surround with a turquoise ribbon that tied the colour scheme of the packaging together beautifully.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot, titled Seven of Pentacles – Ocean Jasper, shows seven pentacles with star symbols on green and blue stones, set against a landscape with a mountain, yellow field, and blue sky.

Tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot featuring a bright, glowing sun with crystal-like rays at the top, surrounded by five sparkling sunflowers below. The card is labeled XIX. The Sun ♦ Citrine in radiant yellow and gold hues.

Card stock

But we don’t buy decks for the packaging. So what about the cards? Well, let the gushing continue. I generally have a take it or leave it approach to gilding but I love the royal purple chosen for this deck. Set against the black, non-reversible backs, it adds a lift without being gaudy and whilst I’m on the fence about the white borders it works well there too. Unfortunately I’m not sure how long the gilding will last because it is already starting to chip. I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts and then I’ll probably just trim the borders. So, in a strange way it’s a win-win.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot titled Five of Pentacles – Chiastolite shows two hands in prayer, adorned with beaded bracelets, against a textured brown stone background with five pentacles arranged in a cross pattern.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot, titled Ten of Wands - Black Kyanite, shows a bundle of black kyanite crystals bound together, with two gray, branch-like arms wrapped tightly around the bundle as dark rays radiate outward.

However, before I go on with some more fan-girling there is one thing that did bother me and it bothered me a lot. Initially the deck was nearly impossible to flip through. I’d either get clumps or nothing at all. The only way I could move through the deck a card at a time was to place them one by one on my desk which was a slow process. I know that matte card stock is often clumpy but for some reason the Crystal Keys Tarot was next level. Fortunately, after working with it constantly, it has freed up a lot. I’m so relieved because, in all honesty, as much as I love the deck, it would have limited how often I reached for it.

Surprisingly it shuffles fine straight out of the box. It’s a bit clumpy when shuffling overhand but it’s still effective and it riffles nicely. Although, as you’ve probably guessed, it doesn’t fan well.

The cards themselves are standard tarot size – 7cm x 12cm. Albeit that’s about all that’s standard.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot featuring a golden, arched stained glass window with three pentacles in a triangular pattern above. Light casts three shadowy figures below. The text at the bottom reads: Three of Pentacles ♦ Zincite.

A greenish hand hovers above six pentacle coins arranged in a downward line on a textured, green stone background. The card reads Six of Pentacles – Green Calcite at the bottom, part of the enchanting Crystal Keys Tarot.

Philosophy

This is very much a crystal deck. It’s not just a deck with some pretty crystals on it. For Dina Rosenberg crystals were her “”gateway drug” into the world of metaphysical woo-woo.” Then in 1995 she was given her first tarot deck. However, while she found crystal-related information easy to retain that wasn’t her experience with tarot. For her it always felt like there was just too much to remember. Then it came to her. Since both crystals and tarot are “all about relating meaning back to our lives,” she could combine them. So she did. And, that thought-to-action approach and energy carries through the cards. For me it’s their strength.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot labeled The Fool – Golden Labradorite features a yellow abstract figure and open doors, beside a crystal wand adorned with labradorite and turquoise on a black background.

Also, since the cards can be used to increase your crystal knowledge or your crystal knowledge can be used to deepen your tarot knowledge, this deck is a wonderful learning tool as well. Those reciprocal benefits should not be ignored. For example, I discovered that what I thought was yellow/golden labradorite isn’t. Yellow labradorite, aka bytownite, is actually a transparent stone that resembles citrine or topaz rather than a dark labradorite that flashes yellow like my wand above.

A tarot card with an orange-yellow hue shows two spiral wands standing upright. A hand holds a glowing crystal sphere in the background. Text at the bottom reads: Two of Wands • Tangerine Quartz from Crystal Keys Tarot.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot titled Six of Swords • Larimar shows six swords standing upright in a boat, all rendered in cool blue tones that evoke water and calmness. The background and boat are textured with water-like patterns.

The Crystal Keys Tarot Cards

On every Crystal Keys Tarot card the crystal predominates. Nevertheless, this is still very much an RWS based deck, albeit a pip-ish one. Yet, for the most part, there is enough in each image to work with if you are not familiar with the chosen crystal. Take the Six of Swords and the Two of Wands pictured above as examples. The way these, and several other cards focus in on one particular symbolic element reminds me of the Erenberg Tarot. However in this case every artistic choice focuses on showcasing the crystal. For good reason.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot shows three swords piercing a stone heart, set against a dark, cloudy background. The card is labeled Three of Swords and Apache Tears at the bottom.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot labeled Five of Cups • Rhodochrosite shows three overturned cups spilling red liquid and two upright cups, set against pink and red abstract, crystal-like patterns in the background.

Examples: Three of Swords & Five of Cups

Take the Three of Swords pictured above as an example. The crystal Dina chose is Apache Tears. Julie at Moonrise Crystals writes that Apache Tears is “a crystal that encourages us to grieve honestly and then to release the grief when we are ready.” I like that because this is a swords card after all. Dina adds that “Apache Tears cannot remove the trauma and grief of betrayal, but they can assist in processing and integration.” Therein lies the way forward and that is what this deck does so well — it encourages action, even if sometimes that action is to be still.

The Five of Cups provides another example. As you can see this artwork focuses in on the bridge. But it isn’t just a matter of “build a bridge and get over it”. Not at all. The thing that stood out to me in the artwork of this card is the pathway. Rhodochrosite has such a gentle healing energy. But, before you attempt to move on you need to acknowledge how you’re feeling.

During my deck interview I heard, “I can’t make you or anyone else cross the bridge. Besides, I would rather you dip your toe in the emotional waters rather than trying to ignore the feelings and what caused them. Otherwise you will carry the emotional fragments from one side of the bridge to the other.” Seems obvious but we don’t always do obvious well.

On the other hand, Dina suggests you consider whether your emotional response is in proportion to what has happened. I see that in the pathway too. Sometimes we treat a series of small hurts and frustrations as if they were all one. She adds, “There is a fine line between processing pain and being consumed by it. … There will come a time when it’s time to step out of your healing cocoon. And when you do, you’ll see that life still holds possibilities”. Hence the two cups on the other side of the river.

A Crystal Keys Tarot card illustration shows a hand holding a black circular stone, radiating bright lines outward. The card is labeled XV. The Devil ♦ Black Obsidian at the bottom.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot featuring two hands with cracked, yellow, stone-like skin holding a similarly cracked egg. A dark butterfly emerges from the egg. The card reads XX. Judgement ♦ Septarian.

XV The Devil and XX Judgement

Nevertheless, there are a few cards I didn’t click with immediately. I’ll start with The Devil. I baulked at the choice of black obsidian because I link it to overcoming negative energy rather than representing darker energies. However, my reaction is on me. Dina writes that, for her, obsidian “reflects back to us our own shadow.” When I read that I completely understood why she found this one of the easiest cards to assign a crystal.

She adds that, “The Devil isn’t about pointing the blame finger at the scary _______________. It is about empowering yourself with the ability to remove the chains, look at the circumstances for what they are, and begin to take steps to change.” There’s bound to be some negative energy to navigate along the way. Obsidian can offer a sense of support and protection.

In regards to Judgement, I don’t know which crystal I would have used, but septarian was never going to be my first, second or third choice. That’s because I have absolutely no experience working with it. This made me acutely aware of something. Some people might not connect with certain crystal choices for the same reasons. Ultimately though, this is great because it allows you add to your knowledge base.

In my case, based purely on appearances and without actually thinking about it, I have always thought of septarian as a grounding stone. Now, having seen it featured here, I find that a tad strange especially since yellow calcite, one of its primary inclusions, promotes personal power and self confidence. So, after nearly forty years of working with crystals, not only have I learned something new, the Judgement card has alerted me to a crystal I now really want to work with.

A tarot card from Crystal Keys Tarot features a golden horse rearing up on its hind legs, holding a twisted staff. The fiery orange background enhances its energy. The card is labeled “KNIGHT OF WANDS ♦ ORANGE KYANITE” at the bottom.

A Crystal Keys Tarot card featuring a horse with moss agate patterns, a pentacle coin above, and green trees in the background. The card is labeled Knight of Pentacles • Moss Agate.

The Crystal Keys Tarot Court cards

I have to admit that the Court cards are some of my favourite in the deck. Not only are they beautiful to look at, they also convey the card’s personality well. Take a look at the Knights pictured above. There is no confusion about who’s in a hurry and who’s stable and dependable. However, I am aware that I am viewing the cards through the lens of my existing knowledge of both the crystals and the tarot. So whilst some are clear others may be a little challenging for beginners.

That being said, I don’t see this as a deck for beginners who have no knowledge of either tarot or crystals. Trying to take in and incorporate two knowledge bases could feel like information overload. Although, if you’re drawn to both it might be a great introduction.

Some of my favourite cards

Though before I move on to the guidebook and how it can help in the process, I want to share a few of my favourite cards.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot featuring a purple-toned house with four cups in front and two on the roof, surrounded by abstract, geometric patterns. The card reads Six of Cups and Kunzite at the bottom.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot features a wolf howling at a large, dark moon in a cloudy night sky, its reflection shimmering on a calm lake below. Trees frame the mystical scene. The card reads “XVIII. The Moon • Black Moonstone.”.

Six of Cups & XVIII The Moon

The first two, the Six of Cups and XVIII The Moon, both pictured above, make the list simply because I love the artwork. The more I look at them though, the more I feel they have a lot to say to me. They draw me in and I find it hard to look away. That feeling is especially strong with the Six of Cups.

A vibrant tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot titled VI. The Lovers • Ametrine shows two hands—one yellow, one pink—reaching toward each other under a radiant, colorful sunburst, with a background of purple and yellow crystals.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot titled King of Cups | Rhodonite shows a large cup pouring water onto a blossoming crown-shaped flower over pink, rippling water, with a small ship sailing in the distant background.

VI The Lovers & King of Cups

The next two are on the list because of the crystal choices. Ametrine, a combination of both amethyst’s high vibration and soothing energy and citrine’s radiant, abundant energy perfectly portrays how I see The Lovers card. Choice isn’t about either/or. It’s about how two things can work together including the various sides of ourselves.

Connecting the King of Cups with rhodonite changed my understanding in a profound way. I’d always associated him with being in control of your emotions without being detached from them. I still do. But, thanks to my daughter and rhodonite, it’s deeper than that now.

Rhodonite was my daughter’s first crystal. Many, many, many moons ago I was due to start work as a massage therapist and my then young daughter was finding it hard to adjust to the idea. So I took her to a local crystal shop and let her pick a crystal she could hold while I was working.

Long story short, having sat on the floor carefully sifting through a huge basket of mixed tumbled stones she eventually chose a small sliver of rhodonite. This was definitely not the prettiest stone she could have picked but it was the perfect choice. Rhodonite is said to help alleviate anxiety and balance emotions. My daughter didn’t know that intellectually, nor had she heard it — at only three, maybe just four, she felt it.

So now, having seen the King of Cups paired with rhodonite, I see that dealing with emotions has nothing to do with control. Rather it’s about being willing to both trust them and be guided by them.

A Crystal Keys Tarot card titled The Tower with Moldavite below, depicting a green crystal explosion with bright yellow and green energy beams, debris flying, and a shattered structure at the base.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot, titled Four of Pentacles - Petrified Wood, features four circular pentacles with star symbols, set in textured, cracked wood radiating outward in earthy brown and gold tones.

XVI The Tower & Four of Pentacles

Even though there are so many more I could include, these last two I chose because of the artistic choices. XVI The Tower literally shows a meteorite obliterating the structure. There’s no fluffing about in this rendering. Though there is something beautiful about this image. I just can’t quite put my finger on what that something is. For me this serves as a reminder that The Tower moment isn’t just blowing up our life for no reason. We just may not be able to see that reason at the time.

The other card is the Four of Pentacles. In part the message for me is in the title — petrified. How often do we try and hold on to something because we are scared to let go? However, the true power of this card is in the artwork. The person is almost completely blurred. All you can see clearly is that their arms are wrapped tightly around the largest pentacle. In trying to hold on to something that feels secure they have lost themselves.

I just consciously noticed the two cards I put together here. Whilst completely unintentional it seems pertinent. Sometimes you just have to let go and trust. This is a thread that runs beneath this entire deck. Trust in your ability to get through. The crystals can provide energetic support but ultimately we are the ones that have to recognise what we are capable of and act accordingly.

The cover of Crystal Keys Tarot: Guide to the Cards features a blue-toned, crystal-encrusted female figure set against a rocky background. The title Crystal Keys Tarot appears above the authors, Dina Rosenberg and Amalia Drewes, listed at the bottom.

The Crystal Keys Tarot Guidebook

The Crystal Keys Tarot comes with a 176-paged, full colour guidebook. A brief introductory section, followed by a single 7-card spread, (The Crystal Grid Manifestation Spread), sets the tone and then it’s straight on to the card meanings.

Some cards have one page of information, other have two. This isn’t based on whether the cards are Major or Minor Arcana. I like that Dina Rosenberg shares what she has to say rather than trying to conform to a strict space limit in her write ups.

She does follow the same layout though. Each entry includes a small full colour image of the card next to the title and the crystal. The opening paragraph sets the scene, then a few paragraphs tie in the card meanings. Another couple link the crystal and suggest how to work with its energy. This is followed by an affirmation and a few keywords. Rounding out the entry is a single, sentence about the crystal. That this is printed in the crystal’s colour adds a nice touch.

Each entry is too long for me to share in full but I will use sections from the Eight of Cups to give you an idea of Dina’s approach.

An artistic tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot shows eight cups on a swirling pink and yellow landscape under a cloudy sky with a moon. The text reads Eight of Cups and Pink Opal.

Eight of Cups – Pink Opal

You ever wonder why human beings are so stubborn? We stay in relationships too long, the job too long, the friendship too long. We know we've outgrown it. There's that nagging feeling that something isn't right. Worse, everything can be "paper right" — you know what I'm talking about. The pay is good, the apartment is in the right location, your partner checks all the boxes. Yet, the magick, the vibe — it's just off.

The Eight of Cups is confirmation that you're right — the vibes are off. Maybe on the outside everything looks fine. And sure, you could ignore that whisper inside, push it down, keep going. But you know. Deep down, you know. This phase of your life has run its course.

It isn't easy to walk away from something that, to everyone else, seems good — especially when there's no dramatic fallout, no explosion, no breaking point. But as some point, you become conscious of the whispers of your soul. You realize that you are not where you are meant to be.

...

Pink Opal assists in following the whispers of the heart toward your true, authentic path. As a crystal of renewal, it reconnects you with yourself and what you truly want on a soul level. While it reminds you of who you are, it brings peace, soothing calm, and relaxation so as not to overwhelm the nervous system when difficult choices must be made.

... The truth is, the emotional fulfilment you seek will occur when you come home to your true self.

Affirmation: I trust the whispers of my soul. I release what no longer serves me and step forward with peace and certainty.

In a reading: Soul alignment - Courageous departure

Pink Opal, a crystal of renewal
reconnects you with yourself.

Every entry is written in that vein. Then the book concludes with About the Author and About the Illustrator.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot shows ten cups arching over a radiant, pink, wave-like design with a glowing star at the center. The card has soft pink and peach tones and is labeled Ten of Cups – Morganite at the bottom.

A tarot card from the Crystal Keys Tarot depicts two hands crafting pentacles with a hammer and chisel. Six pentacles are arranged vertically on the right, while two rest on a workbench. The card is labeled Eight of Pentacles • Flower Agate.

Wrapping it all up

Like Dina, crystals were my first foray into the metaphysical world. I bought my first crystal, a piece of tumbled jasper, ten years before I ever contemplated a tarot deck. Now I sit surrounded by both, so the Crystal Keys Tarot appealed to me from the moment I became aware of it.

Then, during my very first flip through I found myself nodding and thinking, “what a perfect choice” for card after card after card. The year it took Dina to match the crystals with the cards has definitely paid off. As a pip-ish, or as I recently saw on a friend’s Instagram, a pip-plus deck, there is a learning curve if you are new to tarot. But, if the crystals drew you to the Crystal Keys Tarot I’m confident it will be an enjoyable and enlightening process. Now that the cards have loosened up I can honestly say that I thoroughly enjoy working with this deck.

A vibrant Crystal Keys Tarot card shows a hand holding a glowing lantern with a flame inside. The swirling blue, purple, yellow, and orange background dazzles. The card reads, IX. The Hermit ♦ Labradorite.

A tarot card titled Queen of Pentacles – Malachite from the Crystal Keys Tarot shows a large, ornate throne made of green malachite with a star symbol, surrounded by lush, green, swirling patterns resembling leaves and crystals.

Publishing details

Deck Creators:

Dina Rosenberg n& Amalia Drewes (illustrator)

Pictured version published by:

Weiser Books an imprint of Red Wheel/Weiser in 2026

Websites:

Dina Rosenberg

Amalia Drewes

Red Wheel/Weiser

I was fortunate enough to be sent this deck by the publishers however that hasn’t effected how I view the deck. I have a strict policy that I make known in advance that if I don’t connect with a deck I am sent I won’t write about it. So, the words you have read constitute my honest opinion of the deck.