Quiet Rebel Tarot
Sometimes you see a deck and you just know it’s for you. That’s how I felt the very first time I saw the Quiet Rebel Oracle even though I’m not nearly as drawn to oracle decks as I am to tarot. You can imagine how happy I was to discover there was a Quiet Rebel Tarot. Fortunately for me, or maybe for Lyn, she offers them as a package. So rather than having to decide which deck, I just bought them both. But this post is focused on the tarot deck. I’ll warn you now that I love everything about these decks — the approach, the artwork, the humour — so expect some fangirling.
To put it into some perspective, if I was putting together a list of my Top 10 Indie Decks it would be there. I’d even go so far as to say if I was doing my Top 3 it would be on that list as well. Yes it’s true I’m going through a bit of collage phase at the moment that doesn’t seem to be waning. Sorry Shaney 😉. But I believe even without my current obsession this deck would retain its position. But enough about me, let’s get on to the deck.
The Quiet Rebel Tarot Deck
The Quiet Rebel Tarot is full of sass and it urges you to take up space in your own life. As the title suggests that doesn’t mean you have to be loud. Rather it encourages you to live your life your way, just like Lyn Thurman has created an RWS based tarot deck her way. It’s original, it’s funny, and it’s direct.
Using digital collage in a similar fashion to the Rosebud Tarot, yet creating a very different feel, Lyn sets black and white photographs of people against colourful backgrounds. But these people aren’t subdued, small, or dare I say, bland. Rather, they bring the elements around them to life. They might not be loud but they definitely make a difference.
Deck philosophy
Now, if you’ve read many of my posts, you’ll already know that, apart from the card meanings, I don’t usually quote extensively from the book. But, Lyn’s explanation of the philosophy of the Quiet Rebel Tarot is so wonderfully written I wanted to share it word for word.
The Quiet Rebel Tarot was created for those who don't always resonate with tradition — for those who question the rules, trust their own timing, and sense that transformation begins from within.
This isn't a deck about shouting louder or making yourself fit. It's about honouring your own rhythm, your own way of seeing, and recognising the quiet but persistent voice that says there's more to life than this. That voice — the one that urges you to change, reflect, grow, or simply pause — is the heart of this tarot.
Maybe it’s because of the deck itself or maybe it’s just me but this post already feels quite different to others I’ve written.
The card titles
Normally when creators rename cards I’ll provide a list of the changes. Since every card in the Quiet Rebel Tarot has been given a new title that seems excessive especially since the standard title is printed below. But they do deserve some attention.
The Third Eye Spy
Take The Third Eye Spy for The High Priestess. Lyn writes, “Intuition holds the answers logic can’t reach.” Maybe it’s hidden for a reason. It’s not there for all to see but that doesn’t mean it’s not available to you. Just like a spy, you simply have to deploy different tools to access it and trust in your ability to do so.
Even though this section is about the titles, I want to quickly discuss the artwork as well. I’ll start with the lava lamps. I’m going to need a thesaurus before this post is over because I can’t keep using the word perfect. Yet that is how I see them. Original and completely on point. Lava lamps feature blobs of wax that melt and float to the surface before solidifying and drifting back down. Here fish replace the wax suggesting our intuition works in the same way. We just need to create the environment to allow the information to float to the surface.
I also find myself wondering what it is The High Priestess is holding. No doubt influenced by the title, all I came up with is that it’s like some secret spy gadget that tunes into the signals floating around in the ether. Her smile makes me think that it’s all for show. She knows she doesn’t need it but hey let’s pretend. It’s what people expect. It reminds that we don’t need special props to tap into the messages, just a willingness to listen.
The Wish Granted
Even on the cards whose titles may initially seem prescriptive, there’s always something in the image to counter that. Take The Wish Granted card as an example. Yes people often see this card in that way but every card’s meaning is multifaceted. Here it is no different. The tag on the “tea bag” serves as a reminder that there are ‘terms and conditions’ we should consider. For example, we’ve all heard the phrase, “Be careful what you wish for.” But it goes further than that for me. A pot of tea doesn’t just make itself. For a wish to be granted we have to contribute something.
I could give you example after example but I’m sure you get the idea already. Though what I will say is that I intentionally went through the entire deck to see if I felt comfortable incorporating each title into the card meaning. I did. For me, they act like keywords without limiting the potential scope of the cards. They’re great. Hats off to Lyn for taking the time to create seventy-eight unique titles that complement the artwork so well. (Yes I did initially write perfectly!)
The End Game
I’ve talked about the titles and the artwork around the titles and I have to admit that the title on 13. Death did trigger some thoughts for me. But it was the artwork that hit me. It made me smile. It made me sad. Most importantly it made me feel. Recently I wrote an essay comparing life to a video game inspired by the appearance of the chessboard motif in tarot decks which I canned. So firstly this card made me think that was a good idea. “Game over Try again.” I’d already had that thought so this was confirmation and hence the smile.
But for me the skeleton appears to be laughing. There he is listening to her telling her story and he’s thinking, “Ha ha, yep I thought I’d do it soon too.”
The reality of that hit home on many levels. As I write that a deep sadness wells up inside me. Sometimes all you have left is to talk to a memory. But maybe some of the things that need to end are the skeletons of the past we carry with us — the words unsaid, the opportunities missed, the words we did say that we wished we hadn’t. The snakes reiterate the message to shed the things that restrict our growth.
The Mad Scientist
The Mad Scientist is another card that evoked a somewhat unusual reaction. My first thought when I saw this card was, “Not my circus, not my monkeys.” This is the first time I have ever thought that about the Temperance card. But it led me to think about its position between Death and The Devil in the Major Arcana and I wondered why not. I don’t need to get drawn into dramas from the past that are over, nor do I need to get lured into situations that are harmful to my wellbeing. What I can do is focus on combining the elements that serve me to create something balanced and new.
Nevertheless the card’s neighbours do have something valuable to contribute here since they suggest two extremes — walking away from everything and feeling unable to walk away. So, what is the middle ground that can allow us to create a wonderful new reality? Where does that truly lay? This is The Mad Scientist so it might well take a few attempts to work that out but that’s okay. After all, every failed experiment still teaches us something if we allow it to.
I could give multiple examples here as well but I’ll move on to the cards themselves.
Physical aspects
The Quiet Rebel Tarot is printed on thick cardstock. I am not a cardstock aficionado so I can’t tell you if my deck is printed on the “410gsm Tusker Black Cored Heavy-Duty Playing Card Stock” listed on the original Kickstarter campaign. But I’m guessing so since my deck came packaged in the solid two part box mentioned there.
The deck available on the Etsy shop now comes in a tuckbox so I’m not sure if it will be the same. While I’m mentioning that change it makes sense to pass on that both the Quiet Rebel Tarot and Oracle come in a pocket size as well. Mine is the full size, approximately 7cm x 12cm, version. I find them fine to shuffle in any manner and an absolute dream to fan.
Finally, the card backs. I’m not always drawn to really bright card backs, but I love the inclusion of the “truth bomb” here. It’s a great addition. For me it’s a reminder of what’s to come when you flip the card. Plus, as you can see the card backs are fully reversible which is important since the guidebook gives meanings for reversed presentations.
The Quiet Rebel Tarot Guidebook
The deck itself comes packaged with an “8-paged” fold out sheet that gives single sentence meanings. For example The Time Capsule (6 of Cups) reads, “The past holds keys to present truth and warmth.” And The Free Radical (0 The Fool) reads, “A leap of faith into the unknown, trusting instinct over logic.” Given the card titles and how intuitive this deck is, I believe it’s enough. However, there is also a QR code that takes you to Lyn’s website so you can download the 182-paged guidebook. Further, for those of you like me that prefer a physical guidebook, you can order one from Amazon. So she has all bases covered.
From now on I will be referring to the full guidebook. Just so you know, the downloadable guidebook is in colour whereas the paperback is black and white. I don’t regret buying my book though. I love Lyn’s writing style and I found myself highlighting certain sentences because they felt like the pep talk I needed.
Guidebook layout
The book opens with a short introduction, much that I quoted earlier, and I’m going to add another quote here because it is so important.
The guidebook is here to support your readings, not to define them.
As much as I enjoyed reading this book, as I’m sure others will too, this is such an important message. As you have no doubt noticed, when I read cards, I do tend to go off script a bit, (hopefully without ever fully ignoring the underlying message of the card). The Quiet Rebel Tarot seems to naturally support that though. You could say it encourages it. Nevertheless the book is well worth reading.
Card meanings
Both the Major and Minor Arcana receive the same attention which always gets a big tick from me. For each you’ll find the card title, the card image, and the traditional title. Then beneath are six sections: Quiet Rebel Insight, Core Message, Shadow Side, Keywords Upright, Keywords Reversed, and Truth Bombs.
Now normally, where possible, I would present an example in full, but here I thought I’d share snippets from multiple cards and various sections to give you a real feel for Lyn’s approach. I’ll start with two Major Arcana cards, The Rule Breaker (IV The Emperor) and The ‘Oh Crap’ Moment (XVI The Tower).
The Rule Breaker – 4. The Emperor
This is a short quote taken from the Core Message section:
He's the rebel with a vision, the one who has mastered the art of structure — but only be designing it himself. When this card appears, it's time to stop asking for validation and start commanding your own space.
And, this is the Truth Bomb:
Where in my life am I still waiting for permission?
As you can see from this Truth Bomb, these make for wonderful journaling prompts.
If you were to choose not to download the guidebook, the meaning given on the sheet booklet is “Take charge and lead by your own design.”
The ‘Oh Crap’ Moment – 16. The Tower
For this card I’ll share the Insight because I think it’s fantastic:
When everything falls apart, don't just rebuild — reinvent.
The sheet meaning is, “Collapse clears the way for real change.”
The Plot Hole – 4 of Cups
For this card I’ll start with the Insight then I’ll share an excerpt from the Core Message section.
Insight:
Dissatisfaction isn't failure — it's a sign your soul wants more than the script you've been handed.
Core Message:
You might be drifting through the motions, knowing something's off, but not quite sure what. This card doesn't point to a lack of opportunity—it points to a lack of resonance. You're being invited to pause, reflect, and ask: "Is this really what I want, or just what I've been taught to want?" Sometimes dissatisfaction is a sign of growth. What used to fit no longer does.
The Seed Sower – Page of Pentacles
The meaning given on the sheet is, “Plant new potential and tend it with care.”
Quiet Rebel Insight:
You don't need the whole plan — just the courage to start. The first step plants the future. Honour that beginning like it matters. Because it does.
Truth Bomb:
What small, deliberate step can I take today toward long-term growth?
Spreads
The sheet doesn’t include any spreads but the book has several. The first suggestion is a daily draw. I love that in this section she gives a gentle reminder that, “Daily draws are meant to support you, not stress you. If you skip a day, or draw a card that confuses or annoys you, it’s OK. The cards aren’t here to control your life — they’re here to help you listen to it more deeply.”
Next are 6 spreads:
- The Gentle Revolt (3 cards)
- I love the card positions in this spread
- The Sacred Pause (3 cards)
- The Alignment Check (3 cards)
- The Rebel’s Next Step (3 cards)
- The Quiet Path Forward (5 cards)
- The Quiet Reclamation (10 cards)
Often I will like the spreads in a book but they don’t make it into my general practice. But these are different. I intend to incorporate them in some way. They feel more friendly, more personal, and more possible.
I’ll give you some examples. Rather than the typical “What do I need to let go of?” it’s “What’s taking up too much space in my mind or heart?” or “What no longer sits right with me?” This creates a completely different feel. Another is, “What’s the next brave move — even if it’s small?” Baby steps seem manageable. Lyn obviously recognises that because a few prompts inquire about the next small step.
These spreads aren’t token inclusions. They’re fantastic and totally connected to the overall feel of the Quiet Rebel Tarot. The final card position in the Gentle Revolt spread, “What’s my first small act of rebellion?” provides a perfect example.
Wrapping it all up
My typical approach to writing these posts is to work with the deck for quite a while before I consider writing about it. It gives me an opportunity to get a real feel for the deck and to understand how it speaks to me and whether I do truly enjoy working with it or not. From the moment I opened both the Quiet Rebel Tarot and the Quiet Rebel Oracle I wanted them to be my next post. But I waited. Once I did start to write it was hard to stop. The post you have just read is less than half of what I initially wrote. Just like the deck I found I had so much to say.
Nevertheless, it’s important for me to create a slight sense of balance. I might love this deck but my daughter doesn’t see it the way I do. So I do recognise that not everyone is going to feel the same way. But I can’t speak for others. Only myself. And, for me, this is a wonderfully supportive deck that makes me smile, and yes makes me cry. But, most importantly, it serves as a constant reminder that it’s okay to be myself and do things my way.
Publishing Details
Created and published by:
Lyn Thurman and available on Etsy
Website:
