The Heart's Path Tarot

The Heart’s Path Tarot is the latest addition to Liz Dean’s already extensive collection of tarot titles. The focus of this deck is to help people “return to heart-centred wisdom.” Having read that, the first thing I jotted down was, “What does that actually mean?” I decided to let the cards shed some light on the question. The three cards I drew were the Ace of Cups, the Knight of Cups and the Page of Cups. I kid you not. Now, I see the beauty in this, but I still wondered how I’d find working with the deck because, for me, logic and intellect have a place as well. I needn’t have worried.

A woman in a white dress stands by a tree, surrounded by animals including a deer, two foxes, a rabbit, and a mouse. She wears a flower crown, and young wands with leaves sprout around her. This enchanting scene is captured in The Heart’s Path Tarot deck on the card labeled 6 of Wands.

A person in an orange dress sits under a tree with pink fruit, offering some to a gray squirrel. A basket of fruit rests beside them. Rolling green hills are in the background. The card reads 6 of Pentacles from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

The Heart’s Path Tarot Cards

The Structure

I feel the best way to talk about this deck is by discussing some individual cards. But before I do I’ll quickly comment on the structure and the deck’s overall appearance.

I’ll start with the structure. The Heart’s Path Tarot follows the RWS system albeit Liz Dean and Kat Fedora have reimagined many of the images. The suits are Cups, Wands, Pentacles and Swords with Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages making up the Court. Strength is 8 and Justice is 11.

A figure in a red robe holds a glowing lantern in a dark, grassy landscape near water. A snake and small purple plants are visible. The card is labeled 9 The Hermit, from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

A woman kneels on a garden path, petting an orange cat. Six cups are placed on the grass around her. A white gate and flowers are in the background under a bright sky. This gentle scene is illustrated in The Heart’s Path Tarot. The card reads 6 of Cups.

Appearance

Now onto the appearance. I’ve always been drawn to decks with watercolour and ink artwork and illustrator Kat Fedora’s work doesn’t disappoint. This is a beautiful deck to flip through. I love the colour palette and Kat’s simple line work and uncluttered compositions give the illustrations an open feel. This ensures the individual elements stand out.

Take The Hermit pictured above as an example. Here the snake and its shed skin, and the choice of the moon rather than the oft used star to light the lantern stand out. Then, the inclusion of the water, her red robe, her grey hair, the purple flowers, and the vague suggestion of a crossroad provide further information. I always find that uncomplicated artwork adds gravitas to each element. If it’s there, it’s there for a reason.

Artwork, like Kat’s here on the Heart’s Path Tarot feels like it gives me time. Time to sit with the colours, the individual components, the thoughts that come up, the memories, and so on. For example on the 6 of Cups I’m reminded of my childhood cat Kitty. She arrived at the house one day and chose me as her person. I could write a full post on the memories floating around in my head and the thoughts they are creating but here I’ll just say that it’s making me view aspects of my childhood in new ways. However, the cups aren’t circling around the girl and the cat. They lead towards the gate as if to remind us that memories are wonderful but they are a place to visit, not to reside.

These cards have a lot to offer.

A green background with watercolor texture, leafy border on top and bottom, and four small leaves forming a cross in the center evokes a tranquil, nature-inspired design—perfect for The Heart’s Path Tarot.

A person rides a wooden chariot pulled by a black horse and a white horse along a river, with green hills and a bright yellow sun rising in the background. The card reads 7 The Chariot from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

Physical aspects

The waxy feel on the matte cardstock used for The Heart’s Path Tarot helps it glide better than many matte decks. For me this is a plus. It makes them easy to flip through although the larger size, 8.75 x 12.75cm, makes them a bit of a handful. As far as shuffling goes, as long as you can get your hands around them I think you’ll find they’re okay to shuffle in any manner. Not great but workable. In all honesty, given the thickness of the cardstock, the deck was much easier to riffle than I expected.

Finally, if you look closely at the card backs you’ll see that they are not truly reversible but I believe they are close enough for it not to be an issue. Although I am not the best to comment on this since I don’t read with reversals. If you do, I’d love to hear what you think.

A serene figure in white and red meditates by a lily pond, hands in prayer. A glowing halo and sacred symbols surround them, with a forest and mountains in the background. Card reads 5 The High Priest from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

Two people dressed in white walk hand in hand through a colorful field. A heart with wings floats above them, and an apple hangs from a branch nearby. The card reads, 6 The Heart’s Path from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

The Major Arcana

Now onto the cards themselves. Firstly, as you can see above, Liz Dean has renamed two of the Major Arcana. The Hierophant is The High Priest and as a nod to the name and focus of the deck, The Lovers is now The Heart’s Path.

My initial response to the High Priest was that whilst many ideas are represented it feels like he is gatekeeping the path. Although, since there are no acolytes, it also suggests taking a personal journey to find what feels right for you. I also see that rather than a particular path, it is during stillness that the portal appears. I feel I need to sit quietly with this card. The more I look at it, the more personal it feels, so I’ll move on to Strength and The Moon. I doubt I will come across any card that doesn’t feel personal when I go to write about it though.

A woman in white gently embraces a wolf in a forest, both surrounded by green foliage and red berries. Sunbeams shine and three distant wolves stand in the background. Inspired by The Heart’s Path Tarot, the card reads 8 Strength.

A woman and a cat sit on a riverbank under a full moon, facing a tiger across stepping stones. The night sky is starry, and fireflies glow amid lush greenery. The card reads 18 The Moon from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

8 Strength & 18 The Moon

This is one of the most beautiful and powerful Strength cards in my collection. One interpretation I see suggests having the strength to leave the pack and be where you feel you belong.

It also reminds me of my dog. I have a thirteen year old German Shepherd called Asher who today, like every other day, is sitting only a few feet from me. Over the years he’s brought me so much comfort and I like to think I’ve done the same for him. Though as I write this tears are forming as I’m aware our time together is drawing to a close.

How I’ll navigate that time when it comes is hard to comprehend. In this instance I see the dogs on the hill as those that have gone before him — Bowie and Dharma and Gemma and BoJay as well as the family dogs I had growing up, Sasha, Bron, Sache, Sheba and Delilah — that I hope will be there to great him.

When seen through this lens, the card changes to speaking about having the strength to endure, to love, to be vulnerable and to not look away when things get hard. That too is a powerful message.

The Moon delivers another. I love Liz Dean’s unique take here. This for me symbolises meeting yourself where you’re at; of the willingness to sit and see what comes up and potentially of discovering the strength that lies within if we’re prepared to face the wilder, less tamed, sides of ourselves.

A woman with a seal’s tail hugs a seal on the rocky shore under a full moon. Eight golden cups float in the water, reflecting subtle light. The sky is starry and plants grow among the rocks. Inspired by The Heart’s Path Tarot, this card reads 8 of Cups.

A person sits on a dock fishing, looking down sadly at three cups. In the water, colorful fish jump around a glowing fourth cup in the distance. Mountains and blue sky are in the background. “4 of Cups” is written at the bottom, reflecting the gentle introspection found in The Heart’s Path Tarot.

The Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana received just as much thought and attention as the Majors. I really appreciate that she continued to draw out the emotional essence of each card. Starting with Cups, I’ll move on to share examples from each suit.

Cups

With the exception of the 6 of Cups shown earlier, each card features water. I’m curious as to why she chose not to incorporate water on that card but it didn’t stop me from feeling all sorts of things I wasn’t expecting, so it seems it wasn’t necessary. I’m still curious though. But I’ll move on.

8 of Cups

I find the appearance of the selkie on the 8 of Cups interesting. It’s beautiful but it’s not how I generally see this card. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. For me, the 8 of Cups often refers to moving away from something that, whilst not necessarily bad, is not what you actually want. In most versions the layout of the cups suggests something is missing. With the selkie there’s a suggestion of moving back and forth, between two worlds, two options. But ultimately if you are trying to live two separate lives eventually something has to give. You need to make a choice about where you truly belong. In this sense it aligns with the typical meaning but it feels very different, possibly because here you see what she is leaving behind.

Since initially writing this, the appearance of this card in a personal reading has changed my perspective. It reminded me of what I found powerful in Charlie Claire Burgess’s writing for the Fifth Spirit Tarot — the need to be able to accept two things at once. I don’t need to be all this or all that. In my reading, the moon became the focus. What fears are driving me to turn away from one option in favour of the “safer” option? What if I let myself enjoy both “worlds” I want to inhabit? Does one need to negate the other? So many thoughts come to mind, as does a sense of relief. All or nothing thinking is exhausting. This is a wonderful deck!

4 of Cups

This 4 of Cups provides a more specific interpretation than many other versions of the card. Here she is fishing in stagnant water oblivious to her surroundings. It is hard to put a positive spin, such as contemplation or receiving a new offer. It feels more same, same, nothing different. That doesn’t make it negative. Quite the opposite really. It suggests a new approach, quite possibly only a small tweak, could really change the situation.

But there is something else that stood out to me here. From our external viewpoint it is easy to see both the problem and the solution. It seems so obvious. But we are not the person sitting on the jetty. If she could see what we see and she felt able she would have made the change. Yet sometimes even when we know what we need to do, we can’t summon the energy, the belief, or the will to do what needs to be done. That is a difficult place to be. So this card for me is a call for us to show empathy and compassion for that woman, whether she represents ourselves or someone else. I have never felt this from other versions of this card. I feel that in writing about this deck I’m beginning to understand the heart-centred approach a lot more.

A person in a yellow shirt and jeans stands outdoors, holding a wand in each hand. The sun shines brightly in a colorful sky, surrounded by plants and trees—a scene reminiscent of The Heart’s Path Tarot. Text at the bottom reads 2 of Wands.

Eight cats ride flying broomsticks over autumn-colored trees, against a bright yellow sky. In the whimsical world of The Heart’s Path Tarot, this card is labeled 8 of Wands.

Wands

This deck is a mixed bag. There’s a selkie on the 8 of Cups, a fairy on the 6 of Wands, and cats riding brooms, (or more accurately besoms), on the 8 of Wands. But it works. This is a storybook world. You feel there’s a happy ending just around the corner. I know some people dismiss these types of decks citing a lack of balance, and calling them fluffy, and even toxic in some instances. I’m not in that camp.

For me decks such as The Heart’s Path Tarot focus on helping us see a way forward, a mindset, a way of being. That doesn’t mean we need to dismiss or gloss over the difficulties we all face. Rather, in true wands style the emphasis is to act. Bad times don’t last indefinitely, or at least how we feel and think about them hopefully doesn’t. This is an agentic deck.

2 of Wands & 8 of Wands

Take a look at the 2 of Wands. I love that he’s mapping the landscape to help him decide which path to take. This is an active card. The bright sun mirrors this energy. It’s not just about considering our options. I doubt the intention is for him to stay standing where he is. It’s about making plans and then acting on them.

And, while the typical perspective of movement over water isn’t shown on the 8 of Wands, I like this card. Liz Dean writes of the cats carrying messages between households which I’ll admit isn’t my first, second, or ever thought. I do focus on the cats but I am more drawn to the fact that, in both appearance and posture, they are all different. Therefore I came up with a few different interpretations.

For one I see the card as representing multiple messages or possibly the need to consider different viewpoints. Other people’s ideas or inputs can expedite things. Or, since they’re cats, maybe the need for independent thought despite what others are thinking or doing is required. Another thought that came to mind is spiritual communication and the need to take note of anything that seems out of the ordinary.

This reaffirms that this isn’t a bury your head in rose-coloured sand and wait for the fairies and unicorns to arrive and solve your problems kind of deck. But it is about acknowledging that you have options and with options come choices.

A woman in yellow juggles two pentacles, each inside a red apple, with a winding path and hills behind her. An infinity symbol floats above her head. The card reads 2 of Pentacles from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

A woman and child huddle under a blanket, looking sad, surrounded by five pentacles. Above them, a wolf peers over rocky terrain under a starry night sky with a crescent moon. Text reads 5 of Pentacles from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

2 of Pentacles & 5 of Pentacles

When I first looked at the 2 of Pentacles my initial thought was that both paths lead to the same point and it seems more rocky there than anywhere else in the scene. But then I wondered whether she has turned her back on her path because she can’t decide which one to take or she fears it will be too hard to take either. The fact she’s juggling two apples combined with the expression on her face gives me same old, same old vibes. Does she feel as if neither path will lead her anywhere productive or that they will be too productive and she will have even more to juggle? In a spread I’d take particular notice if there was a card positioned in her line of sight.

I notice the bee circling above and that its journey seems to have come from the direction of the 5 of Pentacles. Is that the issue? She lacks the resources to do what it is she wants to do. The clouds shrouding the end of the path suggest she can’t see a way forward. These cards sitting side by side suggests she is trying to work out how to juggle her finances so she doesn’t find herself in a dire situation. But when I look at the 5 of Pentacles I notice the heart in the dog’s mouth and I hear “take heart”. Make a choice and trust that you will find the help you need a long the way even if you are that help.

An elderly figure in a light blue robe leans over a tree, tending to a nest with four white swords. Brown leaves blow in the wind, and the scene feels peaceful and protective, echoing the gentle wisdom found in The Heart’s Path Tarot. The card reads 4 of Swords.

A woman in white is tied to a tree wrapped in webs, black birds fly away, and rocks and hills surround her. The sky is clear. At the bottom, text reads 8 of Swords from The Heart’s Path Tarot.

4 of Swords & 8 of Swords

Another card combination that really stood out to me was the 4 and 8 of Swords. The 4 of Swords speaks to me of protection. Noticeably though she’s not shielding the chicks from the wind. Rather she’s letting them face what they need to face without abandoning them completely. This card diverges from the standard RWS interpretation but it delivers such an important message. As much as we might want to shield those we care about from difficulty, doing so prevents them from developing resilience and a sense of self belief.

The 8 of Swords suggests what happens if we do seek shelter for too long. This speaks to me of the danger of comfort zones. Although the circling flight pattern of the birds does suggest some other interpretations. For one I thought of circling vultures and their victims. Depending on the context much can be drawn from that. The less dramatic was the idea that while we are going around in circles we aren’t actually going anywhere.

There is always so much that can be written about each of these cards but I’ll stop there and move on to the guidebook.

The King of Cups from The Heart’s Path Tarot shows a crowned man in a blue robe sitting on a green throne by the water, holding a golden chalice with an octopus resting in the waves beside him.

A watercolor illustration from The Heart’s Path Tarot showing a knight in a red cape riding a white tiger through snow, holding a raised sword, with the text Knight of Swords at the bottom.

The Heart’s Path Tarot Guidebook

Normally I talk about the book at length as well but this is already a long post and for me the cards are the stand out aspect of this deck so I’ll keep this brief. The Heart’s Path Tarot comes with a 222-paged, perfect bound, card-sized book. It opens with an Introduction that includes a brief history of tarot before moving on to 30+ pages of suggestions on how to work with the deck.

In this section you will find five spreads:

4 Three-card spread versions
The Heart’s Path Reading (6 cards)

I like that they are beginner friendly and that they are readily adaptable.

Card Meanings

The card meanings are divided into four sections:

Keywords
Description
In your reading
The Heart’s Path guidance

While both the Major and Minor Arcana meanings follow this format, the write up for the Minor Arcana is shorter. Since I haven’t spoken about the Court cards I’ll reproduced the Knight of Pentacles entry as the example.

Knight of Pentacles

Planning, security, loyalty, hard work, patience, investments, trust, routine

Description

A hiker follows a path through fields of orderly sunflowers. He stops to gaze at the territory ahead, deciding where to plant his coin.

In Your Reading

As a person

Loyal and hardworking, this Knight commits to work, relationships, and projects with all his heart. He appreciates routine and sees the long-term future. He may not be dynamic, but he will reach his goal.

As a situation

In finances and property matters, this card indicates growing prosperity. You manage money well and make wise choices that ensures future security. In your career and projects, you may be working hard to build up savings and work your way up the ladder.

In relationships, the card reveals a solid, loyal partnership that brings you happiness.

The Heart’s Path Guidance

Be patient with yourself – your dedication will pay off. Appreciate how far you have come.

As you can see, while not long, the entries offer you enough information to get a feel for the card. Plus, I think she manages to demystify the Court cards.

A person in a blue dress sits in a stream under a large star, with a white bird flying nearby and the text 17 The Star at the bottom of The Heart’s Path Tarot.

An elderly person with long white hair sits on a tree stump in a forest, holding a bowl from The Heart’s Path Tarot that reflects a face and features an orange phoenix emblem, with the text 20 Judgment at the bottom.

Wrapping it all up

Creator, Liz Dean, wanted to create a heart-centred deck that invited you to walk within the card. Yet, while I connect with the scenes, I do so more on an empathetic level than as an embodied experience. I don’t feel that’s a bad thing. It’s just my personal perspective.

I look at the cards and I seek to learn from and understand the experiences of those pictured. Some decks, such as the Fantasy Garden Tarot, draw me into the card but that is not the case with The Heart’s Path Tarot. For me, this deck is great at drawing out both how I truly feel about what I’m questioning and the deep seated fears that are influencing my thinking. In my opinion that makes it a wonderful deck and one that I need to work with more often.

Back cover of The Heart’s Path Tarot box featuring a blurb, four card illustrations, a barcode, and pricing, standing on a green patterned cloth with a dark polished stone and a clear crystal on either side.

Publishing Details

Created by:

Liz Dean with artwork by Kat Fedora

Published by:

Hay House in 2026

ISBN-13:

978-1-83782-414-4