The Tarot de St. Croix book by Lisa de St. Croix showcases a cover with a silhouette holding a glowing orb, surrounded by large sunflowers against a vibrant, fiery background.
Tarot decks

Tarot de St. Croix

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Tarot de St. Croix healed what was lacking in my day when I pulled it off the shelf. I was feeling pretty flat so I wanted to work with a deck that I knew would bring a smile to my face. Logic told me it was going to be Way of the Panda Tarot because it is such a joyful deck, but as I reached out my hand to grab it, there sitting beside it was this deck and something made me select it instead. I can’t tell you what that was, but it was right.

I haven’t worked with Tarot de St. Croix much since I bought it second-hand from my local Facebook Tarot Buy Swap and Sell so I had forgotten what the card backs looked like. Imagine my surprise when I saw that the backs aligned with the new colour scheme I had chosen for the website the day before. Then I knew that there was nothing random about choosing this deck. Therefore I was really keen to discover what the card pairings and the spreads were going to say. I expected it to be relevant to where my head was currently at. What I didn’t expect was how much I was going to vibe with this deck.

A figure with long hair rides a white horse under a full moon in the Tarot de St. Croix, passing between four burning torches on a green hillside with stones or structures in the background.
A tarot card from the Tarot de St. Croix, the Nine of Pentacles features a woman with wavy brown hair sitting cross-legged on red rocks, holding sunflowers with pentacles at their centers. A bird perches on her shoulder against blue water and greenery.

About the Tarot de St. Croix cards

I have many digital art decks that I love but I do favour decks with hand drawn or hand painted artwork like this one. Lisa de St Croix’s oil paintings are rich and vibrant and bursting with energy. There’s a rawness about them; or maybe they bring out a rawness in me. A desire to be unedited and real and free. That’s the wonderful, yet unexpected feeling, I found myself working with.

A colorful Tarot de St. Croix card titled The Fool shows a figure in black-and-white stripes wearing a wolf mask, making shadow puppets of animals on a wall. A moonlit path and a boat on water are visible in the background.
A tarot card labeled 1 THE MAGICIAN from the Tarot de St. Croix shows a figure in a blue robe and red pointed hat, with cards floating in the air. A bright sun shines above, and large cards lie on the ground in a red, surreal landscape.

Koshare, the Pueblo Indian Sacred Clown, Rumi, Isis, the Dalai Lama, a curandera and a host of others sit alongside animals and everyday people including Lisa herself. But these aren’t random choices chosen for their ability to represent ideas. Many are linked to Lisa de St. Croix’s own experiences and therefore are ripe with story. In courageously sharing her own stories, whether joyful or sad, inspiring or darker in nature, she makes space for readers to do the same.

As someone focused on uncovering and discovering the stories that lie hidden deep within this is inspirational for me. Lisa doesn’t hide and she urges you to take a leap of faith and let your true self be seen. Therefore, for the most part this is a positive deck. Not because it glosses over things. Rather because it shines a light on them and suggests what that light might also reveal.

A woman in a purple dress lounges on a green sofa, joyfully raising a cup. Several angels with cups fly above her against a blue sky. The card reads Nine of Cups at the bottom, from the Tarot de St. Croix deck.
A group of Indigenous warriors in traditional attire stand holding long staffs against a green leafy background. Bold colors highlight their clothing and headdresses on this Tarot de St. Croix Seven of Wands card.

Some examples

Take a look at the Nine of Cups and the Seven of Wands. On the Nine of Cups, a likeness of Lisa de St. Croix raises her cup to be filled by the angels. This is joyful. There’s an expectation of “ask and it shall be given” but it’s more than that. Look at the angels. They also look like Lisa. So, happiness is to be found by realising we can fill our own cup is another possible interpretation. And this Seven of Wands reminds that we don’t always have to stand alone. Generally there are others like us that believe in what we believe in and will stand alongside us even if only figuratively. We all have a tribe even if we haven’t quite found them yet.

A Tarot de St. Croix card titled Five of Swords shows a man in a suit holding a sword, a woman in a black dress with arms crossed, and a child between them on a checkered floor, with swords in the background.
A Tarot de St. Croix card, the Six of Wands, depicts a woman in a red dress and floral crown holding a white candle, surrounded by five figures offering her lit candles, set against a green field and cloudy sky.

This Five of Swords is a devastating card on so many levels, none of which I feel I need to explain. If you know you know. Unfortunately way too many of us have been there in some way at some time, whether that be linked to our childhood, our experiences at school or work, or even in our close personal relationships. The Six of Wands shows an alternative. What a beautiful message. The sentiment expressed here makes this rendering one of my all time favourite versions of this card. It captures a version of success that is worthy of aspiration.

A Tarot de St. Croix card labeled King of Swords depicts a crowned man in red robes holding a sword, seated on a wooden boat with a blue lake and green hills in the background.
A woman in a red dress and crown sits by a flowing waterfall, holding a golden cup. Surrounded by lush green leaves and water, she embodies the serene spirit of the Tarot de St. Croix. The card is labeled QUEEN OF CUPS at the bottom.

Court Cards

Each of the Court cards speak clearly too. This isn’t surprising since they are modelled on either historical, mythological, or legendary figures, or people Lisa knows personally. The King of Swords shows Arthur receiving Excalibur from the Lady of the Lake. If you are even slightly aware of the Arthurian legend you will easily form an impression of this King and the form of leadership this deck advocates.

This Queen of Cups, which I find more accessible than many depictions, is based on Lisa’s friend — “a wise and introspective woman.” This card feels more relatable than a woman holding an overly ornate cup. You can imagine a variety of scenarios, heavy rain, a long dry spell, a glorious sunny day, knowing that the advice is the same — you need to sit with whatever it is you are experiencing.

A Tarot de St. Croix card titled 3 THE EMPRESS shows an empress in ornate red and gold robes among blooming flowers, with a woman in a blue kimono holding her hand. The sky is blue, adorned with branches and blossoms above.
A Tarot de St. Croix card labeled Eight of Cups shows a cascading waterfall with eight distinct pools, set against red canyon walls and trees with golden leaves under a bright blue sky.

Physical aspects

I love the Tarot de St. Croix cardstock. It’s matte and yet it glides as I fan it across my desk. It’s also robust and holds up to a solid shuffle with ease. While it riffles easily I still find mine to be a bit stiff to bridge but that doesn’t bother me because for the most part, unless I feel my deck needs a really good mix, I only shuffle like that for the purpose of the review.

A Tarot de St. Croix card with a mirrored design: a central orange door in a tower among pink clouds, with a full moon and intricate black shapes above and below, creating a symmetrical, dreamy scene.
A woman in a long black dress stands between orange rock formations, holding a white and blue staff. She looks to the side. The card reads 9 THE HERMIT at the bottom, from the Tarot de St. Croix deck.

The cards measure 7 x 11 cm so it’s slightly shorter than a standard tarot deck which those with smaller hands may really appreciate. And as can be seen above the backs are fully reversible and the font choice and colour are nice and easy to read.

Just for reference, the version I own is the borderless edition released in 2021.

The suits are your standard Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles with Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages making up the court. Strength is 8, Justice is 11 and she has retained the typical nominations for the Major Arcana as well.

My interpretations of some card pairings

A Tarot de St. Croix card, the Knight of Swords, shows a knight in black armor with a blue cape on red ground, raising his sword to a bright yellow starburst in a dark, cloudy sky.
A Tarot de St. Croix card titled Ace of Cups shows a tall, overflowing golden cup with water splashing out, set against a large ocean wave and a bright full moon in a purple sky.

Knight of Swords & Ace of Cups

Straight up the message that came through from this pairing was, the easiest way to cut through the confusion is to focus on what you love. Even though the blue of his cape represents the sky, (he is part of the air family after all), I connected it with the colour of the waves which softened the energy. It didn’t seem like too big a stretch since after a heavy storm it is nice to see a crisp blue sky.

It initially seemed random but I don’t ignore what I see when I’m reading so I’ll share it here. The sun /light reminded me of an echidna peering over a rock. From that I gleaned that in going after what he wants he, or the situation itself, might be a bit prickly at times. This stopped this pairing from tripping over into a toxic positivity that everything will always work out if you just go after what you love.

A Tarot de St. Croix card titled Three of Swords shows a red heart pierced by three swords, with flames rising from the heart and a dark background.
A tarot card from the Tarot de St. Croix labeled 8 Strength shows a woman with long, wavy hair facing a lion. Both are on a red background, looking at each other calmly, symbolizing courage and inner strength.

Three of Swords & 8 Strength

This pairing suggests that being prepared to look at what has caused you pain and what has been lost along the way can be a source of strength. The middle sword is actually a needle that is in the process of mending the broken heart. The path of the tear goes from one sword to the next. The first sword reminds me of an atom path — a path that just keeps going, while the second is bejewelled. Finding the beauty in what has caused you pain is part of the healing journey.

Facing what caused you pain and acknowledging your thoughts about it, (after all this is an air card — intellectual rather than emotional), can give you the strength to go on. It also begs the question, are you giving strength to the hurt or yourself?

An illustration of the Ace of Wands tarot card from Tarot de St. Croix, showing a wooden wand with white flowers and green leaves, its tip ablaze with orange flames, set against a vibrant blue and yellow background.
A Tarot de St. Croix card titled Five of Cups shows a figure in dark clothing near a river, gazing at three spilled cups while two upright cups remain behind them. The pale, minimalistic background enhances the card’s sense of loss and hope.

Ace of Wands & Five of Cups

Generally I wouldn’t want to see these two cards together because I’d see it as lost will through focusing on what is gone or just generally the “wrong” thing. But the presence of the birds in the spilled liquid make this card unlike many other Five of Cups. For me the birds suggest that when she is ready to stop mourning what is lost, she will realise that she will be truly free to focus on the two cups that remain.

What you really want to connect with requires you to cross the emotional divide, but the water that separates her doesn’t require her to find a bridge. It is as simple as saying good bye to what was, turning around and taking a step towards what you truly want to connect with. This was a very timely message for me.

It’s funny how things pan out. Lisa de St Croix says the birds for her represent an empty nest, her sons leaving home, and I remember that feeling well. I also remember the freedom that came with it. Now one of my birds has returned home and brought her four fledglings with her and my thinking has come full circle. This is a powerful card and a potent reminder to appreciate what is rather than what was. That, for me is the ultimate take away from this pairing.

Six charming characters—including a bear, rabbit, girl, boy, black cat, and red-haired figure—gather around a green table sharing tea and treats. Inspired by Tarot de St. Croix, this illustration is labeled SIX OF CUPS at the bottom.
A Tarot de St. Croix card labeled Ten of Wands shows a person carrying a heavy bundle of sticks under a night sky with stars and a blue moon, crossing into daylight with a radiant sun and bare tree.

The Tarot de St. Croix guidebook

The Tarot de St. Croix comes with a 100-paged, (not that the pages are numbered), full-colour, card-sized, guidebook that is an absolute pleasure to read. In the introductory pages Lisa de St Croix shares how she came to be interested in tarot, as well as information about the shamanic journey that led her to create the deck, and her process for creating it. This section started to draw me into Lisa’s world which in turn helped me connect more deeply with cards.

Also in this opening section, having shared her ideas around reading the cards, she suggests visual journaling which isn’t something you generally see. Another suggestions she makes is to consider writing your spreads as actual stories. I really like both these ideas.

A Tarot de St. Croix card labeled 18 THE MOON shows a person diving into dark water, creating a splash. Two large lotus flowers float at the water’s edge as a crescent moon and its reflection glow in the blue-purple sky and water.
A robed figure stands by an arched opening with a wand in each hand, one pointed at a leafy bush and the other at a globe, against a starry sky. The Tarot de St. Croix card reads TWO OF WANDS at the bottom.

Card meanings

However, where this book really shines for me is in the card meanings. I love a good memoir so I really enjoyed how she wove her personal experiences and/or the story around the card’s creation. Not only do you get to know the deck, you’re understanding of Lisa de St Croix and where she was coming from while creating this deck, draws you into what I see as the true magic of tarot.

Tarot speaks our stories back to us.

I love how candid she is as she shares her stories.

The Major Arcana comes first with the Minor Arcana grouped by card rather than suit. I like this approach. Each is accompanied by a full colour image however the Major Arcana receives more attention. For the Majors she provides three paragraphs of information followed by a section titled Meanings and then beneath the card image is an aphorism. The Minors have a sentence or two followed by a brief meaning although the Court cards do receive a little more.

A man in a white robe and laurel wreath stands before a grand stone aqueduct, holding a scroll. The card reads 4 THE EMPEROR at the bottom, from the Tarot de St. Croix deck.

Example: Major Arcana

4 The Emperor

The Emperor is the strong masculine archetype. He represents the father, bringing structure and guidance.

This Roman Emperor holds out the plan for an aqueduct; he is the architect of progress. In the background are great crowds who have assembled to witness this new idea that brings control to the natural flow of life. The Emperor is a visionary leader. The wreath on his head signifies success.

After my divorce I pulled this card over and over again as I built my new life. I embraced the qualities of the Emperor: learning how to be a confident, visionary leader in my workshops; planning, creating and putting out my tarot deck; and how to manage my finances and make major decisions on my own. I am grateful for the protection and wise counsel this archetype provides me.

Meaning

This is a card of empowerment. When we share our skills we are able to lead others towards their own achievements.

LEAD THE WAY

A person sits under a tree looking out at the sea during sunset, with three cups on the ground nearby and one cup set apart. From the Tarot de St. Croix deck, this card reads Four of Cups.

Example: Minor Arcana

Four of Cups

A man enjoys watching the sunset over the ocean, turning his back on what no longer satisfies him. This card was inspired by my late brother JP.

Meaning

Being able to discern when you have had enough.
A person in a blue beanie and tank top draws the golden ratio spiral and math equations on a blackboard. The card, from Tarot de St. Croix, reads Page of Swords at the bottom. The background features tones of blue and black.

Example: Court card

Page of Swords

My son Simon, a college student, draws the Golden Mean on a blackboard with a sword. The Golden Section/Mean is the universal law in nature. Its harmonious symmetry and proportions are often used in architecture and art.

Meaning

Open your mind to new ideas. Messages come through learning that offer a catalyst for change.
A skeleton dances within a tunnel of interconnected orange spheres, reaching toward a glowing white orb. The card, from the Tarot de St. Croix deck, is labeled 13 DEATH at the bottom.
A young girl builds sandcastles on the beach under a clear blue sky, placing golden coins atop four sandcastles. The sea waves roll in the background. From the Tarot de St. Croix, the card reads Four of Pentacles at the bottom.

Final thoughts

When this deck first arrived I remember feeling a tad underwhelmed when I flicked through it. I must have been having a really, really bad day because there is nothing underwhelming about this deck. Tarot de St. Croix delivers on all fronts. It’s unique, it’s celebratory, and it delivers its messages clearly and directly. I’m now a fan.

Also, as can be seen in the Four of Cups card meaning included earlier, Lisa de St Croix isn’t concerned with going off script but she doesn’t take it too far. In truth what she manages to do is focus in on a particular aspect of the story without limiting its range. This ensures that this deck remains both beginner friendly and open to interpretation. However, if thoughts don’t flow, there is no need to worry, because Tarot de St. Croix is well supported through both the guidebook and Lisa’s website.

Put simply, this deck delivers on all fronts.

A Tarot de St. Croix card labeled 18 THE MOON shows a person diving into a dark, moonlit pool. Two red lotuses float on the water, while a crescent moon shines above, casting reflections across the rippling surface.
A person in a black-and-white striped outfit holds five swords while looking back; two swords are stuck in the ground. The background is red and purple with a crescent moon, in this Tarot de St. Croix Seven of Swords scene.

Summaries

Tarot de St. Croix cards

ArtistLisa de St. Croix
Card Size7cm x 11cm
Card StockMatte
ShuffleHolds its shape well
Fan & Flip ThroughSmooth to fan and flip through
SuitsPentacles, Swords, Cups and Wands
CourtKing, Queen, Knight and Page
Strength / JusticeStrength 8, Justice 11
MiscellaneousSolid clam shell with a magnetic closure

Tarot de St Croix Guidebook

Written byLisa de St Croix
Pages100 pp
AppearanceFull colour, card-sized
SpreadsThree card spread
Five card spread
Nine card spread
A deck of Tarot de St. Croix cards is spread out beside its box, which displays a silhouette holding a glowing orb amid large sunflowers. The background and top edge are adorned with vibrant sunflowers, capturing the essence of Tarot de St. Croix.

Publishing Details

Created by:

Lisa de St Croix

Pictured Version:

Borderless edition published in 2021 by Lisa de St. Croix

I SBN 13: 978-0-9858321-9-3

Websites:

Lisa de St. Croix

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2 Comments

  • sbe

    2 July 2025 at 6:45 am Reply

    Mel, this is one of my absolute favorite decks! It screams summer to me (which I realize is not relevant to you at the moment). I am beginning a new practice today of trying to work with a set group of decks for a month to reacquaint myself with decks that have been neglected. Anyway, this is one of the decks for July. I love everything about this deck: the size, the colors, the hand-painted images, the guidebook. I love that she works from a numerological perspective. It’s just wonderful. I edged mine in black a while back. The Hermit is one of my favorite Hermit cards ever…I love the Hermit in general, and it’s one I look to when I’m checking out a deck. I’m glad it grabbed your attention again! 🧡

    • Mel

      2 July 2025 at 4:36 pm Reply

      Hi Shaney, I’m not surprised. This is a wonderful deck, so I really don’t know why it didn’t grab me at first except to say I definitely think decks talk to you when they are meant to. That’s one of the reasons I don’t write reviews about decks I don’t connect with immediately.

      Like you I think it is important to have a practice that encourages you to revisit decks you haven’t worked with for a while. My current approach is to close my eyes and grab a random deck off the shelf whenever I want to clarify something in a reading. I still use whatever deck I feel drawn to use when asking the initial question though. This morning I randomly selected the Traditional Manga Tarot, a deck I don’t think I have reached for since I swapped it out of one of my boxes, and I had the pleasure of remembering how happy it makes me feel. There seems to be a real theme around that for me at the moment and I’m beginning to feel that the message is slowly sinking in.

      I love the Hermit too. One of my all time favourites is the one from The Forest of Enchantment Tarot.

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