Mindscapes Tarot

Finding a hand-drawn, classically rendered landscape deck like the Mindscapes Tarot, had been on my mental to-do list for a long time. Yet, somehow, I seem to be one of the few people in the tarot world that wasn’t aware of the original Majors only version of this deck that was released on Kickstarter. Maybe I prematurely dismissed it back then because I don’t buy Majors only decks, I’m not sure. But, I pre-ordered this mass-market, 80-card version as soon as it was listed.

When I opened the box and saw, 0 The Fool, my first thought was, “I’m going to really like this,” and I was right. I do. I like it very, very much.

A Mindscapes Tarot card labeled VII. The Chariot shows a river flowing swiftly between green banks, with a small wooden boat drifting on the water. In the distance, misty mountains are visible under a blue sky.

A Mindscapes Tarot card labeled JUDGMENT depicts a graveyard with tombstones, old buildings flanking the scene, and a vibrant, colorful sky above. The Roman numeral XX crowns the top of this evocative card.

The Mindscapes Tarot Cards

Actor, writer and artist John A Rice began drawing the Mindscapes Tarot during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Initially he intended each image to serve as a window into another world. But, he soon discovered that:

Instead these cards turned out to be a window into ourselves.

When you position yourself within the landscapes and let your thoughts and emotions flow freely you start to discover a lot about yourself and how you think very quickly. I know I did.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot titled The Hermit shows a rocky mountain path leading to a hooded figure holding a lantern near a cave, surrounded by trees and distant blue mountains with a glowing sunset on the horizon.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot labeled The Hierophant shows a small teepee-like structure made of sticks with a fire burning inside, set in a sparse forest under a sunset sky. The card has the number V at the top.

Inspired by mythology, psychology, symbology and colour theory, John A Rice took five years to complete the eighty, oil pastel landscapes that make up the Mindscapes Tarot. Although I don’t connect with the mythological aspects in this deck like I do with decks that have that specific focus such as Mythic Tarot, Llewellyn Tarot, and The Arthurian Tarot I do appreciate his intentional use of colour theory. He breaks down his approach to each colour in the guidebook so you can see exactly where he is coming from. Plus I love how rich the colours in these cards are.

A card from the Mindscapes Tarot, THE CATACOMB depicts a glowing blue underground chamber with skull-lined walls, ladders on both sides, and a locked iron gate in the center. The Roman numeral XXII appears at the top.

A Mindscapes Tarot card labeled XXIII and THE GREAT WORK shows a colorful sunset behind mountains, with a village in the illuminated valley below. Alchemical symbols adorn the card’s border.

Structure

As already mentioned, this is an 80 card deck. He has added two cards to the Major Arcana – XXII The Catacomb and XXIII The Great Work. Some of the keywords for XXII The Catacomb are family, ancestors, collective unconscious, mediumship and legacy. For XXIII The Great Work he suggests gratitude, purpose, interconnectedness and attention.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, titled The Fool, shows large sailing ships docked at a shore under a pink sky. A small figure in a red cloak stands near the ships, gazing at the water, suggesting the start of a journey.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot titled Death shows an overgrown bicycle in a lush, sunlit meadow with green trees under a blue sky. The card is labeled XIII, with Scorpio and alchemical symbols in the corners.

The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana follows the journey of a stowaway. On The Fool card you see them making their way towards their chosen ship. Then, each subsequent Major Arcana card shows the various landscapes they encounter during their travels.

In many ways, imagining each step of the adventure through the lens of the stowaway makes it much easier to connect with the card meanings. For example, consider The Fool. How would they have felt just before boarding the ship? It’s hard to imagine there wasn’t a great deal of fear and anxiety wrapped up with the excitement but they didn’t let that stop them.

It makes me think of the movie The Sea Beast I was watching with my grandkids the other day. Maisie Brumble was told numerous times that she couldn’t join the hunt for the sea monster but she didn’t let that deter her. Like The Fool, she just stowed away on board instead. The opinions of others were irrelevant to her.

Now, look back at the Death card landscape. Here you can see the remnants of war being slowly overtaken by nature. What that then brings to mind is up to you. I doubt it will be only one thought.

An illustrated Mindscapes Tarot card labeled Ace of Branches shows a single young tree with sparse branches standing on a grassy hill under a clear blue sky.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot labeled TEN of BRANCHES features a lush, green forest scene with tall trees and sunlight filtering through the leafy canopy, casting dappled light on the forest floor.

The Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana suits are Branches (Wands), Stones (Pentacles), Spires (Swords) and Tides (Cups). Each suit shows a specific landscape transitioning over time. For example, the Ace of Branches shows a single sapling whereas on the Ten of Branches the landscape has transitioned into a mature forest. The interpretive scope is broad and is as open to change over time as the landscape.

The Stones suit takes you from a vast desert landscape, through the construction of a city, and culminates in an archaeological dig of its ruins. I love that idea for the Ten of Stones. Again its interpretive possibilities are expansive.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot titled Queen of Stones shows an ornate, blue and gold room with rich patterned decor, a patterned rug, and an open archway looking out onto a garden with flowers and trees.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, titled Knight of Branches, shows the view from inside a tent looking out at a campfire surrounded by trees in a forest. The card’s border is white with the title at the bottom.

I really like his approach to the Court cards as well. There may have been a temptation to break from the landscapes, but he didn’t. Instead he presents various dwellings set in their respective landscapes, (the city for Stones, the forest for Branches, a seascape for Tides, or the mountains of the Spire suit), and asks you to imagine the people that would inhabit those spaces. Again it is surprisingly easy to form an impression of each person’s personality, appearance, abilities and traits. Take a look at the cards above and see for yourself.

Two of the many cards that stood out to me

Two of Spires

I love this Two of Spires for the same reason I love the Druidcraft Tarot version – you have to make a choice. You can’t just keep standing, (or sitting), there looking at the fork in the path. Unlike in the Druidcraft version, in the Mindscapes Tarot there is a clear third option — go back to where you came from. That is indeed an option. But looking at this card, that seems like a strange choice given the possibilities.

It also shows me a lot about myself. As I sat and looked at this card I found myself wondering what I might miss out on if I choose the “wrong” path. And that’s just from looking at a drawing. How often do I become paralysed by this fear in my day to day life? Here at least I’m confronted with the truth. I’d miss out altogether if I just turned around and went back the way I came. Besides, in this instance I know if I was standing there I would consciously make a choice.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, titled The Wheel of Fortune, shows a spider at the center of a glowing web spun between tree branches over a blue stream, with the Roman numeral X and mystical symbols on the corners.

X The Wheel of Fortune

Normally, when I looked at this card I would have focused on the spider and the web and considered the implications – which I still do. But, knowing that he intentionally chose each colour based on colour theory I took this into account as well.

Normally when I’m considering colours I look to what I associate them with at the time based on their tone, the part of the image they’re colouring, and their chakral associations. However, according to his notes in the book, blue is associated with truth and devotion and green is linked to nature and growth so I added these ideas as well. When taken altogether, (the colouring, the spider and web, the trees, and the water), it expanded how I view change and cycles and notions of destiny and fate.

Overall this deck has changed how I see place in general which is huge considering place has always been an important area of intellectual exploration for me.

A Mindscapes Tarot card featuring abstract artwork of a dark blue sky and a large, turbulent ocean wave with white foam. A small figure stands at the shoreline, emphasizing the wave’s power and mystery.

Tarot card The Lovers from the Mindscapes Tarot shows a lush garden with stone steps leading up to a white gazebo, surrounded by vibrant flowers and greenery. The card features the Roman numeral VI and Gemini symbol at the bottom.

Physical aspects of the cards

Both the titles and borders are hand drawn which, together with the drawing used for the card backs, (pictured above), adds to the overall aesthetic of the deck. The backs are non-reversible but given the nature of the Mindscapes Tarot, I don’t see that as an issue. Everything comes together so nicely. I mean how apt is the title of the card back drawing, “Leaving Safe Harbour”?

The cards measure 7 x 12cm and are printed on a thicker than usual cardstock that has a waxy feel about it. Given its thickness I was surprised to find that it’s still easy to riffle shuffle. And, even though fanning is a bit clumpy, it doesn’t take much fiddling to spread the deck out for those like myself who draw cards in this manner. It’s also okay to flip through. Though, being a thicker deck I did find it started to feel like a lot of cards to hold on to.

My interpretations of some random pairings

A card from the Mindscapes Tarot featuring a serene image of trees and a wheelbarrow.

Tarot card titled The Magician from the Mindscapes Tarot shows a mystical cave with cascading waterfalls, two ladders, and a lantern by a pool of water. The card has a blue border and features the Roman numeral I.

Four of Branches & I The Magician

This is by no means a standard interpretation for the Four of Branches but then again this isn’t a standard deck. I see harvesting the fruits of your labours, so a level of success, but my eye is drawn to the gap in the trees. What’s missing? On I The Magician, the gaps provide a way for the light to get in so maybe the magic is to be found in the spaces in between, in the gaps, or in recognising what is missing.

I was extremely claustrophobic. Now I’d say I’m quite claustrophobic, (I can be driven into an underground carpark without trying to extricate myself from a moving vehicle now), but the Magician’s cave looks so appealing to me. Therefore another interpretation that comes to mind is don’t let past success or ways of thinking and being trap you. Keep moving, keep believing in new possibilities, and keep the magic of discovery alive.

A Mindscapes Tarot card titled KING of SPIRES shows a snowy mountain, a red tent in the left foreground, and a red flag with a white design on a pole to the right.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot labeled XIX and THE SUN shows a bright sky, a path lined with sunflowers, a white fence, and green trees, symbolizing warmth, happiness, and positivity.

King of Spires & XIX The Sun

The first thing I noticed in this pairing was the red flag and the red kite. John A Rice wanted the tilt of the flag and the crescent moons and the butterfly to stand out but I focused on the “red flag”. That’s the problem with, and the power of, symbols. They are so open to interpretation. Because of the “red flag” I looked for the warning so my mind focused on how isolated the King was. That’s not a bad thing, just not the creator’s intention.

But, moving on, I see that the King of Spires has achieved something challenging. Nevertheless he still hasn’t reached the top so there’s still more to do. This can be thrilling and reaching the peak would no doubt bring a huge sense of satisfaction. But the children on The Sun card are enjoying the simple pleasures life has to offer. They don’t seem to need more.

Besides, the King, being at the top of his game has probably learned that life isn’t lived at the top of the mountain. He can’t stay where he is. But that doesn’t lessen the experience or the knowledge he has to share. Nor how inspirational his achievements are.

My take home from this pairing is to consider what lights me up and to go after it, without getting caught up in the idea that something has to be a huge undertaking to be deemed worthwhile.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot labeled Ace of Spires shows a green hill with bright yellow rays of light shining from its peak against a blue, partly cloudy sky.

A Mindscapes Tarot card titled The Star shows a bright shooting star in a blue night sky above a canyon with colorful cliffs, trees, a stream, and a small deer standing near the water. The card number XVII is at the top.

The Mindscapes Tarot Guidebook

The Mindscapes Tarot comes with a 199-paged, perfect bound, black-and-white book written by the artist John A. Rice. He opens with a personal account of his journey creating the deck during the Covid lockdown and it sets the tone for the entire introductory sections of the book.

Introduction

Shares the story of the creation of the deck from the initial Majors only Kickstarter project to the fully realised 80-card deck.

Imagery and Symbols

Provides an explanation of the structure of the deck, the colour meanings and a discussion on sigils.

Reading the cards

Here he discusses the relevance of the Major Arcana and an explanation of the suits of the Minor Arcana.

Spreads

Clarity Spread (4 cards)

Window Pane Spread (5 cards)

Major Arcana

Minor Arcana

Conclusion

How he felt having completed the deck and his hopes for those that use it.

Acknowledgements

About the Artist

Card meanings: The Major Arcana

The information for the Major Arcana is laid out as follows: Card number; Title; Keywords; Planet/Zodiac; Element; Symbols; a paragraph of various lengths describing the art and what it means; Action.

I’ll use II The High Priestess as an example.

A card from the Mindscapes Tarot, The High Priestess depicts a woman in a blue and white gown standing by a glowing circus tent at night beneath the full moon and dark trees.

II The High Priestess

Keywords: Intuition; Hidden mysteries; Sacred knowledge; Psychic insight; Spiritual illumination; Divine feminine; Subconscious mind

Planet / Zodiac: Moon

Element: Water

Symbols: Full moon; Forest; Candle and string lights; All-seeing eye; Child in formal dress; Crystal ball; Purple shadows

Unassuming and curious, a child wanders away from the crowds at a carnival and finds themself at the edge of the fairgrounds, in front of a large tent with strange markings. Under the full moon’s peculiar light, the child lifts the veil and enters a world unknown yet full of compelling insight, inspiration and self-awareness. Here resides the stuff of mystery and mysticism, intuition and sacred knowledge, profound clarity and spiritual illumination. On this night, the child has not only discovered the psychic in their place of power, but also the psychic within. Will you follow?

Action: For one week keep a dream journal next to your bed and pay attention to your dreams to explore their symbolism and messages. Record your dreams upon waking and reflect on their significance and insights.

An illustrated tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, titled Seven of Stones, shows a moonlit cityscape with white stone buildings, scaffolding, and towers beneath a starry blue night sky.

The Minor Arcana

The information for the Minor Arcana follows the same format as the Major Arcana with one exception. Rather than an action the Minors wrap up with five journal prompts. The prompts for the Seven of Stones, pictured above, are as follows:

My ideal vision for my future self is . . .
What are my top priorities right now?
How do my current actions align with my values?
What obstacles am I currently facing in achieving my goals?
How can I adjust my plans to overcome these obstacles?

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, the Knight of Stones, shows the view from inside a stone stable, looking out an open door toward a sunlit courtyard with a distant horse. A pitchfork leans against the wall near the door.

The Court cards meanings

Once again these follow the same layout as the rest of the deck except the final section offers five affirmations. For example, the Knight of Stones Affirmations are as follows:

Affirmations

Consistency in my efforts leads to growth.
I trust in the process of gradual improvement.
I celebrate the progress I make each day, no matter how small it may seem.
I recognize the importance of both consistency and spontaneity in my journey.
I give myself permission to explore new paths and experiences beyond my routine.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, titled Page of Tides, depicts a natural archway formed by rocky cliffs, with blue ocean water flowing beneath and a view of the distant sea through the opening.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, the Six of Branches depicts a sunlit forest scene with six tall, leafy trees and blooming flowers. The vibrant art features lush shades of green, blue, and touches of purple.

I have heard that John is very approachable and having read this guidebook that doesn’t surprise me. He is very generous and open about his experiences. The only thing I slightly baulked at was that he and I assign different astrological signs to the Court cards.

He aligns the court with the quadrants. So he believes the Page of Stones represents Taurus, the Knight of Stones Virgo and the King and Queen of Stones Capricorn, whereas I link them to the modalities – cardinal, fixed and mutable. Therefore, for me, the Page of Stone is Earth, the Knight of Stones (mutable) is Virgo, the Queen of Stones (cardinal) is Capricorn and the King of Stones (fixed) is Taurus. However, this is a small point, especially since overall we agree astrologically on all the other cards.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, titled King of Stones, shows a view through an arched window overlooking a distant tower. On the windowsill are a clock, coins, gemstones, and paper, all bathed in soft, natural light.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot labeled King of Branches shows a vibrant watermill scene, with a large wooden water wheel turning beside a flowing river and lush greenery in the background.

Wrapping it all up

There is something about landscape-based decks (Tarot Landscapes is another in my collection) that I just click with. They speak to me in different ways. For example, when I conducted the deck interview, part of the message that came through was “I exist in place and you have forgotten to exist in yours.” I really didn’t expect that. Subsequently, this deck started to show me the places I no longer want to belong in as well as the places I want to reacquaint myself with. So this is the deck I’ll reach for when I need to go and sit with myself for a while.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot, the Ace of Stones depicts a dry, rocky landscape with sparse plants, distant mountains, and a small stone building in the foreground beneath a pale, pastel sky.

The Mindscapes Tarot card titled Page of Stones shows an open window overlooking sunlit buildings and mountains. On the windowsill are papers, a rolled scroll, a golden goblet, and ink jars.

Publishing details

Created by: John A. Rice

Website: www.jarstudionyc.com

Pictured version: Published by Hay House in 2025

ISBN 13: 978-1-4019-7698-9

Packaging: Solid two-part box.

A Mindscapes Tarot card labeled “TEMPERANCE (XIV)” shows a serene landscape with a river, a tree, and a volcano in the background erupting smoke, while colorful streams blend into the water.

A tarot card from the Mindscapes Tarot titled THE HANGED ONE shows a snowy, icy landscape with a lone polar bear on ice floes. A mountain rises in the background under a blue sky shimmering with aurora lights. The Roman numeral XII is at the top.

6 Comments

Alli

21 November 2025 at 2:16 pm Reply

I was interested in this deck for the art, then decided not to get it for some reason. Then this week someone mentioned it and I had to give it another look. After a quick flip through, I bought it. I’m blown away by the depth and expansiveness it has. I haven’t done any readings yet, but just looking through the whole deck was a great experience. I don’t love Hay House cardstock, but it’s worth putting up with for this deck. The guide looks incredible too – I especially love when guides provide questions I can use for journaling or as spread prompts.

I enjoyed reading your review and seeing some things pointed out that I hadn’t noticed yet! It’s made me even more excited to start working with the deck.
- Mel
  
  21 November 2025 at 5:39 pm Reply
  
  Hi Alli,
  It’s a wonderful deck. I love both that it is hand drawn and John Rice’s approach to the Minors. Together they add another dimension to the readings. There is something special that comes across with hand drawn decks. A feeling? An intimacy? I can’t quite put my finger on what it is but they feel more personal and that comes through in readings in various ways. I hope you enjoy working with it as much as I do.
sbe

18 September 2025 at 2:36 am Reply

I loved reading your thoughts on this. It’s such an incredible deck. We’re so inundated with digital art these days that it feels like a real luxury to see analog art. Just gorgeous, so special! That Wheel of Fortune card is one of my favorites from this deck. And I love the first person perspective of the courts…just genius! The guidebook really opens my mind to different ways of thinking about the cards. I haven’t read the entire thing yet, but I’m enjoying getting to know it. Just beautiful!
- Mel
  
  19 September 2025 at 1:57 pm Reply
  
  Thank Shaney. Traditional art gives a deck such a different feel. Luxurious is a great way to describe it. They feel special. And I think they read differently. Obviously the style of this deck was always going to ensure that was the case but in general I think it applies to all traditional art decks. As polished as they may be they still have a rawness about them that feels more human and more relatable.
Winterlady

15 September 2025 at 12:06 am Reply

I’m really glad you reviewed this deck. I picked it up, but I haven’t started working with it just yet, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.
I always appreciate your thoughtful commentary.
- Mel
  
  15 September 2025 at 7:08 am Reply
  
  This deck is artistically stunning and I think you’ll enjoy spending time with it. If you’re happy to share, I would love to hear how you find working with it and how you use it. I always love hearing about other people’s experiences with, and approaches to decks, but I’m especially curious about this one.
  
  Have a wonderful day.