Fantasy Garden Tarot

As someone who has been drawn to the power, importance, and influence of place for as long as I can remember, the Fantasy Garden Tarot was a natural fit for me. I didn’t know that at the time though. When I went looking for “birthday decks” on Etsy I was simply looking for decks that offered something different to those I already had in my collection. Dmytro Ryzhak’s ballpoint pen drawings fit that criteria. But, this deck just kept on giving.

A Fantasy Garden Tarot card titled 4. The Emperor shows a regal figure in red robes sitting on a throne between four columns, with mountains and a bright yellow sun behind him, radiating a sense of power and authority.

When I flipped open the very brief bilingual guidebook I read that the basis for the deck was to highlight the importance of the landscape. In other words, they want you to pay attention to the setting and not just the characters. To see the impact just look back at the Page of Cups and The Emperor above. Rather than simply holding a cup, this Page has discovered it. And, what about The Emperor? Normally he dominates the landscape, but here many different interpretations are possible. For one, he would be quite exposed if the weather turned. This alone gives a different way of viewing power. It’s wonderful.

A tarot card from the Fantasy Garden Tarot titled 19. The Sun shows a bright sun in a blue sky over a golden field. A person rides a horse alongside another walking, with sunflowers, trees, and a distant building in the background.

A tarot card from the Fantasy Garden Tarot titled 14. Temperance shows a woman in a blue dress holding two vessels, standing by a waterfall and a large, lush tree with green leaves as sunlight filters through the branches.

The Fantasy Garden Tarot Deck

Set within a huge garden, the Fantasy Garden Tarot features a wide range of landscapes, all drawn using only eight ballpoint pen colours. When I look at the world he has brought to life using just those colours, and I remind myself that he did it using biros rather than fancy art supplies, I’m inspired. It takes away my excuses and shows what is possible with a vision and an intention.

In this deck, he used one limitation, (his colour palette), to change another, (what he perceived as on oft limited way of viewing the cards), and he does it oh so well.

A tarot card from the Fantasy Garden Tarot, titled The Empress, shows a woman in a flowing dress and a child standing before a lush, green forest with large trees and a castle in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

A card from the Fantasy Garden Tarot, 12. The Hanged Man shows a person diving underwater among colorful coral and tropical fish, surrounded by blue water and swimming above a vibrant yellow and orange reef.

As you look through the cards you’ll see statues and buildings; castles and arenas; lakes, oceans and waterfalls; trees, shrubs and flowers; and, on The Hanged Man, he even takes you beneath the sea. When I flip through the cards I feel as if I’m wandering through a fantastical, never-ending garden. With each card you turn another corner and discover something new so you feel compelled to keep exploring. This takes you further and further into your own “mind garden”. You start to consider what belongs and what doesn’t and why people are doing what they are doing, yourself included.

That is the real appeal of the Fantasy Garden Tarot. Rather than just seeing a person, you’re looking at people interacting with their environment. This deck feels like a people watcher’s dream. You’re not up close and personal but you’re sharing the same space, a space you’ve all been drawn to for your own reasons. Seeing what other people do in that space and how that space is affecting them makes you start to ask some important questions.

Here’s some examples.

Two figures in red and white robes face a horned, winged stone creature emerging from a cave. The card, labeled 15. The Devil, is part of the Fantasy Garden Tarot.

Example 1: XV The Devil

Take a look at The Devil above and imagine walking around a corner and seeing him rising up out of the water. He’s an imposing figure and yet there’s something vulnerable about him. That feels different. Generally when I see The Devil, I ask, “What do you need to work on?” I don’t do this to dismiss notions of addiction, co-dependency etc. Rather, I do this to focus the attention on accountability rather than victimhood.

However, when I first looked at this card I found myself thinking about how easy it is to fall for someone’s potential rather than who they are. I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s been there. But there’s a deeper issue at play here – the Saviour Complex. Victim or rescuer, either role carries a price, so there’s a need to ask what drives this behaviour in the first place. So, this Devil raised quite different questions for me without ever completely moving away from the typical meanings. This makes it a fantastic Devil card.

A person in yellow and orange clothing struggles to carry a heavy bundle of ten wooden wands, walking toward a small village beneath a pale green sky—a scene inspired by the vibrant world of Fantasy Garden Tarot.

A tarot card from the Fantasy Garden Tarot labeled Ten of Wands shows a person carrying a heavy bundle of sticks, walking through a field surrounded by tall, vertical wooden wands under a blue and yellow sky.

Example 2: Ten of Wands

Then there’s the Ten of Wands. While it’s quite different artistically, my reaction is very much the same — Why would you do that? On the RWS 10 of Wands pictured above I always find myself asking that because I can’t comprehend why anyone would carry the wands in that fashion. It’s just so awkward.

With the Fantasy Garden Tarot version I asked the same question. Why would you erect ten pillars in the middle of a field that needs threshing? Or plant around the ten pillars? It makes the entire process so much more difficult. But generally when I ask this type of question it’s rhetorical. Yet this time when I sat looking at the scene laid out before me I found myself actually try to come up with answers. That is the strength of this deck.

This version makes me more curious. I figure there’s things that I’m not privy to and therefore it makes me feel less inclined to cast judgement. That’s powerful. It has changed my perception of the RWS 10 of Wands as a result. Don’t judge until you’ve walked a mile in someone else’s shoes comes to mind. I feel firmly chastised now and I deserve to be.

Two large golden cups float above two figures standing and facing each other in front of a castle-like structure, beneath a colorful sky. The Fantasy Garden Tarot card reads Two of Cups at the bottom.

Example 3: Two of Cups

Needless to say it’s nice to move on to the Two of Cups. Looking at this card you can’t help but notice the two giant cups sitting atop the identical houses. You might keep glancing down at the people, but the cups dominate the image. So what does that suggest?

Straight up I’d say that this is about entering into a relationship on equal footing. Both have the same cup and I’m hoping that they are both full because that is more comfortable than imagining two people with very empty cups coming together. But, either way, I started to wonder if they were too similar or whether there similarities made them highly compatible.

So that’s the cups and the houses but what do the people suggest? My first question is whether one is male and the other female? Why? Because then a possible interpretation could revolve around balancing masculine and feminine energies rather than prioritising one over the other or seeing one as more powerful than the other.

It’s a very simply constructed card in comparison to many others in this deck but it has just as much to say. Another idea is that everything in this image is the same size as its counterpart. But, is this normal? Or is one person keeping themselves small in order to appease the other? If so it suggests there’s a people pleasing aspect to this card. However, it could just be representing the natural tendency to mirror others in order to build connection. It all comes down to the questions we feel prompted to ask and the stories that come to mind as a result.

A Fantasy Garden Tarot card, the Five of Wands, depicts five figures with raised wands in lively conflict or competition against the backdrop of a vast, coliseum-like structure.

Example 4: Five of Wands

I’ll keep this one short. The stadium on the Five of Wands brings forth notions of competition. Nothing ground breaking there. Whether that competition is healthy or not depends on what you think is happening here. Not that I’ve ever seen the movie but Gladiator came to mind as soon as I saw this card. So, are the competitors in this contest there through choice or circumstances beyond their immediate control and how does that fit with the story you’re telling or exploring? There’s also questions around structures. Who built them and for what purpose? And, what influence does an audience have on behaviour and performance? These don’t feel like trivial questions.

Examples using cards with similar artwork

So far I’ve focused on the cards where Dmytro’s artwork breaks away from the standard RWS images. However, even the cards that are similar to their RWS counterparts have a different feel about them. I’ll give a few examples below.

Three figures stand under a stone arch with three pentacles carved above them in the Fantasy Garden Tarot. One wears a robe, another holds a scroll, and the third is in work attire, suggesting teamwork and collaboration.

Example 1: Three of Pentacles

Much about this Three of Pentacles is reminiscent of the scene I’m used to seeing but because of the “missing” roof section on the builder’s side of the structure I feel the focus is different. With no “ceiling,” glass or otherwise, to limit him, he is free to explore new ideas and new ways of doing things. I imagine this helps him to further develop his craft and to add to his expertise.

The book suggests, it could represent “the emergence of new partners” and I can see this. They could well be curious about his innovative approach. I like that for several reasons but mainly because it encourages you to learn your craft but then be brave enough to go out on your own and trust that the right people will be drawn to what you do. When you look at the card you can see it isn’t just the arch he changed.

I can’t help but notice though that the trees have grown taller on the side of the more typical architecture suggesting it has stood the test of time and therefore is worthy of respect. There is much to learn from what has come before. As I sit and write about these cards I am reminded over and over again of how good the Fantasy Garden Tarot is.

A Fantasy Garden Tarot card, the Eight of Pentacles shows a person seated on a stool, carving a pentacle into gold, while seven other pentacles are displayed around them against a building with purple and yellow tones.

Example 2: Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles came up in a reading I did recently and it had a lot to say. Firstly, I noticed that the pentacles are getting bigger and the lines are becoming more distinct showing that he’s perfecting his craft. It suggests with a slow and steady approach you will increase your skills. That in itself is pretty standard.

Yet you can’t help but notice the solid rectilinear building behind him. There are no curves or soft edges. It is a rigid structure. But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Structured learning has its place and it is incredibly valuable. Nevertheless ultimately you need to do something with what you’ve learned.

The pattern on the tiles suggest the way forward, a way to play the “game”. Drill down, move forward, drill down, move forward. In other words, focus on learning and practicing a skill then integrate it into your work. Practice that for a while and then learn the next skill, and practice it, integrate it, and work with that for a while and so on. This is an effective approach suitable across a wide range of applications. Baby steps can build a solid, dependable skill set that continues to grow over time. It may seem slow but it is never static.

A colorful Fantasy Garden Tarot card depicts a chariot drawn by two horses under a large stone arch. A figure in armor rides the chariot, with a bright sun and rays above. Text at the bottom reads, 7. The Chariot.

A Fantasy Garden Tarot card titled 18. The Moon shows a yellow moon in a blue sky between two towers, with a yellow path winding through the landscape. Two animals, one white and one black, sit by a pond as a red crayfish emerges.

Examples 3 & 4: The Chariot and The Moon

These are very familiar scenes, especially The Moon, yet they too feel very different. When I look at The Chariot my first thought is “get out of the way or you’re going to get run over.” I’m right there. The horses might try and go around me but I’m not stopping this chariot. So this version speaks to me about not letting others change your course and not trying to change someone else’s. The structure dominates the landscape but there is always a path through social constructs that are woven into the system itself. We just need to be brave enough to follow our own path.

While most of the cards in the Fantasy Garden Tarot give you an overall perspective The Moon card takes you up close. This isn’t an image I’m looking at. It is a scene I’m standing within. I’m at the edge of the water, with the path visible on the other side. I look at the water and I see a fried egg. There are numerous inferences I can draw here. Add the path leading into the dark forest and fairy tales ripe with meaning come to mind. This is yet another fantastic card.

I could continue with example after example but I’ll stop there and move on to the physical aspects of the cards.

A person in a long robe stands with arms raised between three tall wands, facing a colorful sky of swirling blue, purple, and yellow in the Fantasy Garden Tarot. The ground is yellow, and the card reads “Three of Wands” at the bottom.

A tarot card from the Fantasy Garden Tarot titled 21. The World shows a person sitting under a large tree, holding a globe, with distant buildings and trees in the background beneath a bright sky.

About the Fantasy Garden Tarot cards

The Fantasy Garden Tarot cards measure 6.5 x 11.75cm and it riffles like a dream. But it’s a bit clunky when it comes to overhand shuffling and it doesn’t fan very well. According to the the website, it is printed on 350 GSM stock and it has a UV-coating. Fortunately it isn’t overly reflective. However, if I really try I can see my finger prints on some cards. Laid out in a spread they are imperceptible though so it isn’t an issue.

A yellow card with ornate, symmetrical brown designs and a central circular symbol featuring runic markings, this Fantasy Garden Tarot card back resembles an old, decorative tarot or playing card.

A person rows a small boat across blue water toward a distant island, with six swords standing upright in the background. Yellow and blue tones dominate this Fantasy Garden Tarot scene. The text at the bottom reads Six of Swords.

I really love the backs but, as you can see above, they aren’t reversible. This may be different on the upcoming second edition but there is no mention about that.

Upcoming second edition

The Fantasy Garden Tarot first edition featured here is currently sold out. However, a second edition is due to launch on Kickstarter soon. However, there will be a few changes.

The initial Kickstarter information states that the second edition includes 18 new cards:

Two, Three, Six, Ten, Ace and Queen of Cups;
Three, Five, Six, Seven, Nine, Ace and Knight of Wands;
Four, Six, Nine and Queen of Swords
Wheel of Fortune

I’m keen to see all the new versions because even though I love my edition I do like the changes I’ve seen. When the Kickstarter goes live I will update this post, and share the information on the Facebook page.

A colorful Fantasy Garden Tarot card titled “10. Wheel of Fortune” shows a woman in red sitting on golden fabric before a grand old watermill, with trees and houses in the background under a clear blue sky.

A Fantasy Garden Tarot card, titled 13. Death, shows a woman in pale clothing sitting under a twisted, leafless tree beside a lifeless figure. A red sun glows above, with distant shadowy figures in the background.

The Fantasy Garden Tarot Guidebook

The Fantasy Garden Tarot comes with a 62-paged, smaller than card-sized, bilingual (English and Ukrainian) guidebook. There’s no spreads or card images, just a single introductory page followed by the card meanings. These meanings are best described as brief.

I don’t know if the meanings given are overly beginner friendly as they differ from what you’d generally see in keyword style guidebooks. That’s not to say I don’t like the ideas they propose, just that they may not be as transferable to other decks as they could be. This isn’t the case for all cards though. I’ll share examples for a Major and Minor Arcana, and a Court card so you can see what I mean.

8. Strength

When upright, the card signifies platonic love, recovery, restoration of the body’s vital reserves, fearlessness, harmony, willingness to take responsibility and action.

When reversed, the card indicates despotism, tyranny, detachment, defeat. The card represents an unbalanced person near you who can negatively affect your life.

Two of Swords

The upright card signifies your strength, willingness to defeat the enemy. You have already passed through a difficult period and there are some improvements ahead of you.

The reversed card indicates fraud and trickery, betrayal, quarrel and sorting things out, promiscuity in relations.

Page of Pentacles

The upright card signifies obtaining some new knowledge, new acquaintances, and changes for the better.

The reversed card indicates disorganization and careless spending.

A person sits under a large tree with arms crossed, looking down, as three cups rest on the grass nearby and a fourth cup floats in the air. The card reads “Four of Cups” from the Fantasy Garden Tarot.

An illustrated Fantasy Garden Tarot card labeled Justice shows a tall, blindfolded woman holding scales and a staff. Two people shake hands below her, with trees and a castle in the background, all in vivid, colorful tones.

Ideally I would love the Fantasy Garden Tarot to have come with a more detailed guidebook. It is such a well put together deck so I would have loved to have read about the thinking behind the images. At the very least it would have been nice to see a deck specific spread or two included. Fingers crossed for at least the latter in the second edition.

A Fantasy Garden Tarot card labeled 2. The High Priestess shows a woman in white standing on a bridge over a blue stream, surrounded by trees, a temple, and a night sky filled with glowing lights.

Tarot card illustration from the Fantasy Garden Tarot titled 17. The Star, showing a woman kneeling by water, pouring water from two vessels, with domed buildings, tall trees, and a starry night sky in the background.

Wrapping it all up

I love the focus on the landscapes. I also love the artwork itself. There are some truly beautiful cards in this deck. But for me the mark of a great deck is how well it reads and let me tell you, it reads remarkably well. The Fantasy Garden Tarot has really highlighted some areas where I’d been kidding myself, which, while not necessarily pleasant, was necessary. Therefore I would say that for those looking, this could also be a wonderful deck for shadow work. I look forward to seeing the new edition. From what I’ve seen I won’t be disappointed.

The back cover of the Fantasy Garden Tarot deck sits amid illustrated flowers and leaves. The blurb describes the Fantasy Garden Tarot’s features, with an artist’s signature and ISBN barcode at the bottom.

Publishing details

Created by: Mykola Taradaiko with art by Dmytro Ryzhak

Independently published by: Pentagram Publishing in 2023

ISBN: 978-627-95119-1-1

Website: Pentagram Publishing

Publishing details for RWS 10 of Wands featured in this post

Smith-Waite Tarot Deck Published by US Games Inc, 2017, ISBN 978-1-57281-883-5