Folkloric Forest Tarot

I was inspired to buy the Folkloric Forest Tarot after I saw it over on the temperanceandtruth Instagram page. If you’re not familiar with this page, I’d suggest taking a look when you get a chance. In the Energy of the Week posts she showcases several versions of the same card and I thoroughly enjoy flicking through the selections she puts together. She has a wonderful tarot collection to draw from.

But back to this indie deck published by Lennox Rees. It too is curated. But, rather than drawing from a selection of tarot decks to tell an individual story, Lennox Rees has drawn from antique art available on the public domain to build an actual tarot deck. Set in the natural environment of the forest and based in Finnish and Northern European folklore, Folkloric Forest Tarot captures the essence and reality of the natural world with all its beauty and drama.

About the Folkloric Forest Tarot Cards

Originally launched on Kickstarter at the urging of her followers, Folkloric Forest Tarot, is a divergence from Lennox Rees’ usual collage-style decks. Though it is to be part of a series. She is hoping to launch the Folkloric Water Tarot by the end of this year (2025). I look forward to that one too but I digress again. Back to this deck.

For me, this deck, in the same vein as the Time Tarot and Kat Black’s Golden Tarot, albeit with a completely different feel, allow me to imagine myself in one of my happy places — an art gallery. So, this deck was always going to appeal to me.

The art

IX The Hermit & V The Elder

Some cards, like IX The Hermit and V The Elder pictured above show the complete original painting. On others, such as the Two of Fire and the Ten of Air, also included above, she has simply zoomed in a bit to really draw your attention to what she considers the focal point. I say simply but this is how I see the change, not in reference to the actual work involved. I’m sure there is much that I am overlooking.

From watching her YouTube videos about craft, I know Lennox Rees pays a lot of attention to even the slightest detail. She shares in the guidebook that she Photoshopped every image to ensure it aligned with the world she was building.

VIII Strength & King of Air

So on other cards she chose only a small section of a painting to tell the story. One such example of this is on the VIII Strength card. As you can see above, the witch riding the goat, is only one of the many components that make up Cornelis Saftleven’s, A Witches’ Sabbath. For other cards she has changed the appearance of the artwork through various means. For example, on the King of Air which you can see below, she has flipped, cropped and “touched up” Ferdinand von Wright’s, White-tailed Eagle with its Prey which I believe gives it a very different feel. I like that the eagle is now looking to the future rather than the past.

His actions seem more purposeful. And, with the clarity Lennox Rees’ editing has brought to the image, they also feel clearer. This is a reminder to pay attention to the details. The results are worth the effort. The bird on the King of Air is almost unrecognisable. Therefore to me he says, edit, edit, edit. This doesn’t have to refer purely to writing. After all, it doesn’t here. It can refer to anything. The trick is to come up with something that is as clear as possible without compromising the original premise.

King of Earth and XI Justice

While others, such as the King of Earth and XI Justice, (below) I thought were heavily cropped images until I read their respective titles, Study of a Moose and Three Sword Hilts. When I initially saw the King of Earth I imagined the moose was part of a bigger scene because, a) I was influenced by the fact other paintings had been cropped and b) because it fit with the story that flashed in my mind — no-one becomes the King of Earth on their own. There’s always a bigger story even if it’s been hidden, forgotten, or overlooked.

For a similar reason I thought the Justice card was only a fragment of a larger painting. It made me realise how easy it is to jump to conclusions based on previous experiences and ways of thinking. I thought Justice was highlighting that we don’t always see the full story. Now, armed with more “facts” I see it as urging me to block out distractions when weighing up decisions. Yet I’m sure when it appears in a spread, part of me is going to feel that I’m missing something. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I hope I also remember how easy it is to jump to conclusions though.

In the second paragraph of her Justice write up Lennox Rees wrote, ”Each of these swords, in its own way, reflects the depth and complexity of Justice. It’s a reminder that true justice isn’t only about finding a verdict. There are three sides to every story. It’s about uncovering the truth, bearing the burden of consequences, and piercing through layers of intention.’ This brought everything together for me.

Knight of Earth

Some cards I don’t overly connect with. One such example is the Knight of Earth pictured above. I usually interpret this Knight as driven but without the need for showiness or aggression. Therefore I didn’t expect to see a wolf baring its teeth. That can be a good thing. I’m sure it will have a lot to say to me when it appears in a reading

XIII Death

Others, such as XIII Death hit me at a visceral level. It brings so many stories to mind. One that sticks with me even though I’d rather it didn’t occurred fairly recently. On a motorway not far from where I live, a man and his dog, Rosa, were involved in a terrible car accident. The man sustained serious injuries and was transported to hospital. No-one was able to ascertain the level of Rosa’s injuries though because she took off. But, I kept reading that she was often seen back at the crash site. Every time I heard this I felt sick because, while a beautiful display of loyalty, this particular road is a six lane expressway with a 110km/hr (nearly 70mph) speed limit, flanked on both sides by bush.

For days I’d see comments on Facebook sharing news about Rosa sightings as people who specialise in doing so, tried to catch her. Yet despite everyone’s best efforts this story didn’t have a happy ending. It was heart breaking so I feel emotional anytime something, such as this card, triggers the memory of this event. But it also serves as a stark warning about the potential dangers of both not being able to let go and of the possible consequences of running away from those trying to help you. This is a different energy to how I normally sense the Death card but it is powerful and important because unfortunately it can be related to so many scenarios.

But I’ll leave it there and move on.

Deck structure

This is an RWS-based deck. However rather than Swords, Wands, Cups and Pentacles the suits are Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. Some of the Major Arcana have been renamed also. The changes are as follows:

• II The Seer (High Priestess)
• III The Maiden (The Empress)
• IV The Guardian (The Emperor)
• V The Elder (The Hierophant)
• X The Wheel (The Wheel of Fortune)
• XII The Sacrifice (The Hanged Man)

They are all quite straightforward although I’m not a fan of The Hanged Man being renamed The Sacrifice. Nevertheless, I can see that even when ascribed the notion of changing perceptions, one perception is sacrificed in order for a new one to take its place. But I don’t attach that wording generally. I prefer surrender. But that’s a personal thing.

The court retains the standard nominations: king, queen, knight and page. However, as you have probably noticed, animals represent the court. That makes sense in a deck of this kind. The Wildwood Tarot does the same thing but since that deck is peopled I don’t quite get the intention there, but I appreciate the deck all the same.

Physical aspects

Speaking of appreciation, I really, really, really appreciate the Folkloric Forest Tarot cardstock too. I would love every deck in my collection to be printed on it. So would my hands. It’s super flexible and yet it springs back perfectly every time which makes it a dream to shuffle. On the website, Lennox Rees lists that it is 330 gsm German black core paper with a matte UV coating and a linen finish. I don’t normally geek out on cardstock but I’m finding myself becoming fussier about it and so when I find something I absolutely love I want to share everything about it. For a matte deck it fans better than most.

To top it all off gold foil features on both the front and the back of these cards and they are edged in a stunning matte forest green. When combined with non-reversible card backs that match the aesthetic perfectly, it all comes together beautifully.

Nevertheless, there are a couple of things I want to point out. Firstly, as you may have noticed, some of the titles can be difficult to read when laying flat on the desk because they too are in the gold foiling.

However, as you can see above, if you change the card angle slightly the gold catches the light and becomes easy to read. The other thing is that I found photographing this deck really difficult. This might be simply due to my set up, but I think it could make using it for online readings challenging.

Though for personal use I think it is wonderful and I look forward to exploring the paintings, the forest, and the folklore on a much deeper level.

The Folkloric Forest Tarot Guidebook

Part of that journey begins with the 100-paged, perfect-bound guidebook. In the opening pages Lennox Rees shares what inspired the deck, her creative process, the role she ascribes to the folklore, and a brief overview of the deck structure. She doesn’t include any card images in the book which I understand. Given their dark colouring I don’t think many would reproduce well in black and white. Although it would have been nice to see a spread or two included. There are none.

But I do enjoy reading her card explanations and I am glad that she has included the details for each of the paintings as part of the card’s write up. However, rather than describe her approach to the card meanings I’ll share the entry for the Ace of Air in full because it will give you an understanding for how she interprets the deck. She gives the same attention to both the Major and Minor Arcana which is good.

Ace of Air

Inevitable – Rationality – Communication

Tucked carefully between the bands of black ribbon the letters lie motionless, but their messages are alive with potential. Decisions are made when the quill touches the parchment. The air swirls around the quill with precision and purpose of truth as it opens possibilities for new perspectives.

The Ace of Air begins not with blustery commotion but with the quiet gathering of thoughts. A matter of intent waiting to take shape. There is no battle yet, but the conflict is brewing. The mind must be as sharp as any blade, ready for decisive action. 

Truth can be a force of extraordinary power, although brutal. Figures like Väinämöinen (Finnish) and Odin (Norse) wielded knowledge with integrity, drawing strength from mental clarity and understanding while using their wit to lead.

A Trompe l'Oeil of Various Documents, Parchment Scrolls, Sheet Music, a Feather Quill and a Stick of Sealing Wax Pinned to a Deal Board with Two Strips of Material (1697) Martinus Nellius (Dutch, 1621-1719)

Wrapping it all up

Obviously, this is a nature-based deck, but it’s much more than that to me. I look at a card like the Three of Earth painted in 1813 by Finnish painter, Aleksander and I feel connected. Curated decks such as these serve as a potent reminder that we have always told stories in one form or another and in some way we always will. And that’s a wonderful thing.

Publishing details

Created by: Lennox Rees

Websites: Lennox Rees / Ivyly

Socials: Instagram YouTube

Pictured version: 1st edition published by Lennox Rees in 2024

Packaging: Tactile tuckbox with gold foil detail.