The Housewives Tarot
When I first saw this deck there was something about it I loved straight up. But, I thought it would be more a deck for my collection rather than one I would seriously use. That’s not the case. It has some powerful messages to share in a way that is incredibly relatable. This isn’t just a kitschy deck with no substance. It’s true The Housewives Tarot is full of humour but underneath the laughs is a serious message. To me, this deck is the stand-up comedian of the Tarot world.
The Housewives Tarot Deck
Before I get onto the cards themselves, I have to comment on the packaging. I love it. It’s sturdy, original and so in keeping with the deck. It’s presentation makes it the perfect deck to sit on your desk ready to draw a card of the day. Although, individual cards are not that easy to pull out of the box which is probably a good thing.
Anyhow, I wouldn’t normally go on about the packaging, the Golden Tarot being an exception, so on to the cards themselves. The cards are small at only 7cm x 11cm, thin yet durable, and matt, which along with the retro colour palette gives them a distinctly 1950s feel. I’m often not a fan of borders but in this deck they work well. Each suit has a different colour border which makes it easy to see at a glance if any one suit dominates.
The deck is fairly traditional in that the suits are Wands, Cups, Pentacles and Swords, albeit their representations are different. For example brooms, mops etc represent wands and frequently dinnerware depict pentacles. The only noticeable change is in the numbering of the Major Arcana even though Strength is still VIII, and Justice XI. The titles align with the Rider Waite nominations; however, the Empress is II, The Emperor III, and The High Priestess is IV. Especially, since this deck represents domestic situations it makes sense for The Empress and The Emperor and The High Priestess and The Hierophant to sit side by side. It aligns well when considered along side the 3 of Cups.
Make of that as you will. There are some other interpretations in the deck that move slightly away from the norm without totally dismissing the oft slated message. The Magician, (pictured below) focuses more on the negative aspects the card can represent – illusion, deception, sales pitches that are too good to be true. Then for others there are the usual messages expressed in vey direct ways. For example the Judgment card (also pictured below) reads, “The time has come to weigh the facts – and yourself! Judgment is about abandoning bad habits and accepting yourself for who you really are. Don’t be modest; take credit for all your good deeds and valuable traits. Shed the negative thoughts that weigh you down with their high calorie burdens. True happiness is more about eliminating low self-esteem than losing those pesky five pounds.” I love it.
The Housewives Tarot Book
The accompanying book, though only card-sized, is definitely worth a read. It begins with “the Legend of the Mystical Housewives Tarot, which includes a powerful directive:
Make no mistake: The Housewives Tarot can’t give you direct answers to all life’s problems … they can only empower you to find your own answers, and inspire you to make your own fortune.
It goes on,
They cannot foretell or control the future … You must act upon the wisdom of the tarot to create and shape your own future.
Amen to that.
For both the Major and Minor Arcana an aspect of the card is illustrated, (it isn’t simply a reproduction of the full card), followed by keywords and often what best could be described as an analogous domestic situation that relays the cards meaning really well. In this way it stays true to the character of the deck. Deeper meanings are shown through every day relatable experiences which makes this a very accessible deck. The cards imagery obviously does too. How awesome is the Death card?
Spreads
Several spreads are included in the book.
- Neapolitan (3 cards)
- The Dinette (10 cards)
- The Clothesline of Life (7 cards)
- The Martini (13 cards)
I love The Dinette, The Clothesline and The Martini and what they represent and I will use them again. The Neapolitan is a past, present, future spread but the way it is expressed gives it additional meaning. Every thing about this deck has been thought out. It definitely doesn’t feel like a deck that has just been created to cash in on the tarot craze. It sheds light on our every day situations making it easy to see the relationship between the cards and our lived experience. Just like the 3 of Pentacles pictured below, they suggest ways of how to get on with doing what needs to be done.
Publishing Details
Deck Creators:
Paul Kepple & Jude Buffum
Pictured Version:
Published by Quirk Books in 2004
