Deviant Moon Tarot

This is a deck I put off buying for a long time. To be honest, I found it creepy and disturbing. But, I kept noticing that other people fell in love with it once they owned it. I couldn’t help wondering if that would be the case for me as well. I knew it was possible. When I first saw The Wild Unknown Tarot I couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. Now I own all three of Kim Krans’ decks, (The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit, The Wild Unknown Tarot and The Wild Unknown Archetypes), and her book Blossom and Bones. First, second, third and subsequent impressions can indeed all be wrong. Holding a deck in your hands and working with it can change everything. That was definitely the case for me with the Deviant Moon Tarot.

The two cards pictured below sum up my experience. I battled with myself about buying the Deviant Moon Tarot. Then, when it arrived and I started spending time with the imagery rather than just flicking through the cards it started to feel quite magical. It opened me up to so many new interpretations. Some of the differences are subtle; others not so much. For example, the character on the IX of Cups had to be willing to pick up the lantern and rub it in order to have his wish granted. It didn’t happen because he was just sitting there hoping or because he’s lucky. He took some form of action.

The Deviant Moon Tarot Deck

I can’t deny that the Deviant Moon is an unusual deck on several levels. It’s creation for one. Patrick Valenza manipulated photos in order to apply them to scans of his drawings. Probably not so unusual but nevertheless I’m amazed by what he has achieved. He’s used his photos of 19th Century tombstones to create texture for the clothing and his photos of an abandoned mental asylum to form the buildings. So no, not the norm. I did wonder if the embedded imagery could have a negative impact on my psyche because thinking about old style mental asylums unnerves me. When I was at uni I started a sociology course called Madness in Society – I wish I hadn’t. But, as Michel Foucault pointed out, these places and their significance shouldn’t be hidden from view. We can learn a lot by examining what is hidden and why? Besides, isn’t that one of the reasons we turn to tarot?

I can’t comprehend some of the things people have done in the name of science and medicine yet even with that subliminal association I still fell in love with the Deviant Moon Tarot. Albeit, as I’ve already mentioned, it did take me a while. At first I tried to convince myself it was quirky rather than creepy and that I could see the funny side I’d heard about. Then, instead of that approach I began to focus on what the cards were saying to me personally. Suddenly everything clicked. I developed an entirely different perspective. I do find it interesting that I went through that process though. Once I started asking myself “What’s going on in this/ these card/s?” and “What does that stir up within me?” I found myself forming a powerful connection with them.

XII The Hanged Man, (pictured above), is similar to the RWS version and yet here I keep wondering what’s behind his back. It unnerved me for some reason which made me realise that this card suggests that maybe I need to understand what’s frightening me about the situation I’m asking about. If that’s the case, understanding what that is would definitely offer a whole new perspective.

The watch suggested that the need to stop thinking it’s too late to do something. By all means, take your time; although not too much time. Afterall, hanging upside down suspended by one ankle is going to become really, really uncomfortable pretty soon. I also find the fact that both the head and the ankle area are illuminated is a subtle yet valuable addition. It’s a reminder to examine what’s holding you back. It points you in a direction rather than just advocating for new perspectives.

Strangely, even though this card is traditionally associated with Neptune, the leg positioning, whilst quite typical, brought the symbol for Jupiter to the fore. Expanded worldview, wisdom, higher education and the idea of using knowledge from the past when creating a vision of the future, all associated with Jupiter, feel applicable to how I see this card. I believe it’s so important to listen to what comes up rather than just relying on “this is associated with this” or “this card means this” and my readings reflect that. It doesn’t mean I automatically change the meaning of the card from then on. I work on a reading to reading basis. But, back to XII The Hanged Man. On the RWS version the opposite leg is bent and I don’t feel the connection with Jupiter at all.

II The High Priestess suggests to me that secrets, like nails on a chalkboard, can be torturous. She reminds me of an angelic octopus. That probably sounds nonsensical but when I look at her, she conjures a sense of Divine connection, inky depths, and being hidden in plain sight. Patrick Valenza just describes her as a winged sentinel. I shouldn’t say just because it provides the idea of protecting knowledge. But, for me, angelic octopus it is.

XX Judgment and IV of Pentacles, both pictured above, helped me to see the humour others had mentioned. Yes, it’s possibly a tad dark but it’s there nonetheless. On the Judgment card I see the man’s drunken slumber being shattered by a horn blasting only centimetres from his head. He looks disorientated, confused and overwhelmed. I imagine he’s wondering what’s going on and how he came to be in that situation. I also see a disapproving mother-in-law holding her grandchild and a pleading partner. However, it isn’t the others and their attitudes that will change him. It’s the wake up call. The horn and the hangover make him accountable for his actions. Today may just be the day he sees the light for himself. That is up to him.

The booklet says the IV of Pentacles is a demon leading the miser to the fires of damnation. Okay then, but I see a young trophy wife with her wealthy older man. So many scenarios play out in my mind from there. Don’t be fooled by initial impressions and appearances for one. They can hold you back whilst simultaneously leading you astray. And what’s the significance of the watch? Who’s time will come? It’s so open to interpretation. Fortunately, surrounding cards and the question asked will add the necessary context.

Having tossed up on which version of the Deviant Moon Tarot I wanted, I finally settled on the Borderless Edition. People said the bordered edition had better card stock but I don’t mind thinner cards. Often flimsier card stock makes the deck easier to shuffle and that’s definitely the case here. However, I have to mention that it’s a strange shape. Whilst at 6.5cm x 13cm it’s only slightly narrow and slightly taller than usual, when combined together it feels very different in my hands. When I first began working with the cards, they felt much larger than they actually are. I’m used to it now so apart from an initial, ooh that feels a bit odd, I don’t think much about it. Maybe that initial unsettling was the intention???

I like that he kept the Suits as Wands, Cups, Pentacles and Swords because there is already enough going on in the deck. The Major Arcana also maintains traditional nominations. However, he has chosen to number Justice VIII and Strength XI. All card numbering is in Roman numerals. Only the Aces, the Court, (Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages), and the Major Arcana have titles. Therefore the suit is disclosed in the image. This is fairly quick and easy to discern though.

The Deviant Moon Tarot Book

The Deviant Moon Tarot only comes with a Little White Book (LWB). It opens with two pages on ‘The Creation of the Deviant Moon Tarot’ before launching straight into the card meanings. These too are brief and yet effective. The card number and title is followed by a summary of the card image, which, although only a couple of sentences, adds depth to the meaning. I always find a story creates a much deeper understanding. The Queen of Cups, pictured above, ‘is careful to catch any drop of water that might spill’ whilst ‘in the background a lighthouse serves as a guiding beacon.’ This gives form to the upright meaning that she’s ‘kind and caring’, ‘devoted’, and ‘a guiding personality’. Her clothing suggests a whole lot more. Reversed keywords are also provided. All cards are presented in this way.

Another thing I like in this book is each suit’s opening paragraph. For example, he writes, ‘The family of swords is a powerful clan, yet its members are troubled with conflict. In spite of their problems, they persevere through strength and fortitude.’ For pentacles he writes, ‘Those who dwell in the city of pentacles are hardworking and industrious. However, they sometimes pay the price for placing material gain over spiritual well-being.’ I really enjoy this approach. It makes me keen to buy the separate hardcover companion book. It’s a pity it’s more than double the price I paid for the cards. But, as someone fascinated by the creative process and other people’s interpretations and insights, even more so when they’re the creator’s, I’m sure this book will find its way into my collection sooner rather than later. Until then, that’s pretty much all I can tell you.

Spreads

Only one spread is included in the LWB:

• The Lunatic Spread (10 cards)

When I first looked at this spread it seemed very much like a Celtic Cross variation but I was probably a bit quick to judge as there are more differences than just the shape. I’m not always a fan of circular layouts but I did like how this one read. Maybe that’s because I’m quite enamoured by this deck overall.

Even though it initially felt dark, I no longer feel that. Instead I find it to be a really honest deck that tells a great story. As someone who believes in the power of story and the necessity in discovering, uncovering and editing our personal stories where necessary, I find this deck to be a really useful tool. Normally I choose decks based on whether the artwork draws me in and yet as I’ve already admitted, that wasn’t the case in this instance. However, I’m so glad I listened to the ravings of others and took the plunge myself, because once I forged a connection, I haven’t looked back. It has well and truly drawn me in now.

Publishing Details

Deck Creator:

Patrick Valenza

Pictured Version:

Borderless Edition published by US Games in 2014