The Tarot of Curious Creatures
The Tarot of Curious Creatures is creator, Chris-Anne’s, latest offering. In this deck she ‘welcome[s] [you] to the world of curious creatures, peculiar guides and unfamiliar familiars.’ I have to admit it took me a while to decide I wanted to enter this world. But, now that I have, I can’t see why I hesitated. It’s different and I like different. Although the meanings align with traditional RWS expectations, this deck has a unique way of communicating them. For those interested in pathworking this deck is well worth a look. The attached guidebook encourages you to adopt this practice. Although, somewhat unsurprisingly, it’s pathworking with a twist.
The Tarot of Curious Creatures Deck
The The Tarot of Curious Creatures has a 50s vibe. In part because of the clothing, but also in the colouring. It reminds me in this sense of The Housewives Tarot. I wouldn’t so much say it’s a “pretty” deck. Although XVIII The Moon and The Ace of Cups, both pictured above, challenge that.
The images are uncluttered which makes every detail feel relevant. For example, why is the cup offset and what is the relevance of the octopus tentacle and the swans on the Ace of Cups? And, what about the mermaid? Why is she hiding within the overflowing water? They all have something to say. So too does the colouring. Its overall use feels like an important component in The Tarot of Curious Creatures. If working with colour is strong component of your tarot reading toolkit, you’ll love working with this deck.
This is such a wonderful deck. There are just so many elements to love. Rather than anthropomorphising animals, she changes the dynamic. Seeing people with animal heads has a powerful impact. Firstly, it’s a wonderful reminder that it’s okay to be different. Afterall, this is a quirky deck. Secondly, it reminds us to get in touch with the natural world and the insights it has to share. Animals don’t act against their nature. They remain true to themselves. Yes they evolve, but a horse will never try and feed itself by lying in wait beneath a body of water like a crocodile would.
Just the idea of that statement sounds preposterous. There’s so many arguments against it. How could I compare the two when one is a carnivore and one a herbivore? I agree. But what about if I was to compare a moose and a horse. They’re both herbivores. But would a horse dive to the bottom of a lake to feed on the underwater grasses like a moose would? That idea seems just as strange. Yet how often do we try and do something that someone else does even though we know it doesn’t align with who we truly are?
This in part why The Tarot of Curious Creatures works so well. Looking at the 8 of Swords pictured above, for me it’s the horse’s head that drives the message home. I always see horses as indicative of personal power. To see her eyes blindfolded and her arms crossed agitates me. All I keep thinking is “Why have you given up your power?”
As you move through the images you’ll notice that in each card, with the exception of the 8 of Swords and The Fool, the character/s are stepping outside the frame that contains them. In the case of The Fool he is in the act of leaping so whilst he’s not there yet, you know he’s going to escape his. This strengthens both cards even more. It is these attentions to detail that make The Tarot of Curious Creatures shine.
Another masterstroke is to encourage people to use a form of pathworking tailored to this deck. I engaged with the male crocodile from the 10 of Pentacles. I have done pathworking before but taking Chris-Anne’s approach and inviting the crocodile into my office changed how I see my space. More importantly, it encouraged me to take the necessary steps to make it more in keeping with who I am and what I want to achieve. I have always loved my office but that has now elevated to a whole new level. This deck really can take you where you need to go and help you to see what you need to see. Better still, it encourages you to act on what you discover.
The messages are so clear with The Tarot of Curious Creatures and many of the cards quickly become favourites. The 2 of Wands pictured above is one that draws me in. I like that even though she holds both the lock and the key, she’s taking the time to consider what’s holding her there. However, it’s also showing that while things are great where she is – suggested by all that golden yellow – there’s another option open to her. There’s another doorway she can step through, another way she can frame her life. What draws your attention in any given reading will determine how you interpret the card. Has it become an uncomfortable comfort zone? I love it.
The 2 of Wands alongside VII The Chariot is a fantastic combination. It’s hard to ignore the repeat motifs and what they may mean. There’s such a strong sense of freedom with these cards. However, while the 2 of Wands has the potential, the VII The Chariot has taken action and that action is positive. Coupled with the green background and the presence of the prominent star, suggests success. It urges you to go for it, whatever “it” is. There’s such a sense of joy as he rides along the path. In this rendering of VII The Chariot he provides the impetus which clarifies the meaning.
In many animal-themed decks each main animal only appears once. That isn’t the case here so it encourages you to consider the connections. An example is the King of Cups and I The Magician pictured below. Connecting these two strengthens the meaning of each. Most people will tell you there is a definite link between emotions and manifestation. The King of Cups suggests we should take it further and consider whether what we are seeking to manifest truly aligns with us and what impact it will really have. Taking a heart-centred approach is more likely to ensure that what we create isn’t based upon the expectations of others or how we view success. The King of Cups measures success differently to the King of Pentacles.
Despite its very different feel, for the most part The Tarot of Curious Creatures follows the standard RWS meanings. Unlike one of Chris-Anne’s other decks, The Muse Tarot, here she retains standard nominations. The suits are Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles with Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings making up the court. Strength is VIII and Justice is XI.
In regards to the cards themselves, apart from the actual titles, there is little to distinguish the Major and Minor Arcana. The only distinction is that in the small circle above the title, the Minors have a symbol representing their suit and the Majors have the card number. Most card titles are printed in white, however, for ease of reading, some, such as XVIII The Moon pictured earlier, are printed in black. Finally, at 7 x 12cm the cards are easy to handle and the card stock makes them a joy to shuffle.
Actually, I should also mention that with addition of The Fool 2.0, The Tarot of Curious Creatures is a 79-card tarot deck. The intention is for The Fool cards to bookend the Major Arcana to mark, ‘both a beginning and an end.’ We are always learning. Thus The Fool 2.0 has the lemniscate rather than a number.
The Tarot of Curious Creatures Book
The Tarot of Curious Creatures comes with a 163-paged, card-sized guide book. From the outset you’re encouraged to choose a card to be your guide. From then on your guide is your personal cheer leader. Whenever it appears in a reding it augurs a positive answer/outcome. This is a unique approach.
The book urges you to connect with, and believe in, your own intuition. Most books do this in some way but the overall approach taken in this book nurtures this idea. Furthermore, Chris-Anne advocates that the messages you receive from the cards always trump book meanings. And, even though she makes suggestions for how to work with The Tarot of Curious Creatures she adds, ‘ if you prefer to do your readings the old-fashioned way, you can always just shuffle and read the cards as you always have. You do you. These cards work either way.’ Just because she has tailored the deck to a certain approach doesn’t mean you have to follow it.
Since pathworking is encouraged, it’s explained in the opening pages. Here Chris-Anne points out that in standard pathworking you imagine yourself entering the card so as to interact with the characters in their environment. But as I’ve already mentioned, in this deck the characters are stepping out to meet you. Therefore, the conversation can easily take place in either your realm or theirs. As I shared earlier, inviting the crocodile into my environment had a profound effect, so it’s pretty obvious I love this inclusion.
This book encourages you to recognise that every situation is an opportunity for increased awareness and growth. Some may say that is too Pollyanna-ish but don’t be too quick to judge. For example, the first two keyword meanings for the 5 of Swords pictured above are ‘an opportunity to let go of disagreements’ and ‘a need to build you skills and your confidence.’ Yet also listed are stress, being an underdog, winning at all costs, conflict, an unfair advantage, stiff competition, losing an impossible battle, insecurities.’ The card imagery clearly depicts all these ideas. (I can’t help but notice the repeated colours on the two swords cards pictured above. It isn’t hard to imagine how they connect.)
Questions are raised in the “Conversations” section that closes out each card’s meaning. Using I The Magician as an example, one of the questions is, ‘Are you manifesting with will, desire, belief and flexibility?’ This question follows on from the earlier advice that, ‘we need to be flexible with how our futures arrive in order to thrive.’ This may seem repetitive but how often do we read or “know” something but fail to consider how it actually applies to ourselves. A little reminder to do so can’t hurt.
In addition, a QR code is included both in the book and inside the box. This takes you through to Chris-Anne’s website. Here you can access additional materials for The Tarot of Curious Creatures and her other decks – The Light Seers Tarot, The Muse Tarot and The Sacred Creators Oracle.
My only complaint about the book is a production/layout issue. The text carries over quite close to the centre gutter and so you need to constantly change the angle when trying to read the book. And, because of its size and thickness, it’s hard to keep open on your table if necessary, such as when trying the included spreads. This is a pity since the spreads are great.
Spreads
Five spreads are included in the deck:
- Everyday Curiosities Spread (1 card)
- Earth Steward Spread (3 cards)
- Taking Action Spread (3 cards)
- Mating Season Spread (3 cards)
- Guide Guidance Spread (5 cards)
Each is a well-worded spread that helps you to delve into your situation. I like the focus of the Everyday Curiosities Spread – ‘What should I remember about ……..?’ and the Guide Guidance Spread works really well. It really cuts through any resistance which really enables you to connect you with the information. I find this an incredibly empowering deck. Taking action based upon new understandings feels like such a natural part of the reading. There is just something about the way The Tarot of Curious Creatures speaks to you.
This is a fun deck. It’s full of humour but as you’ve no doubt gathered, that doesn’t lessen its impact in any way. I’d recommend this deck to anyone but especially for those drawn to animal decks or looking for a different way to approach their readings. I’m definitely glad I’ve added it to my collection.
Publishing Details
Created by:
Chris-Anne
Pictured Version:
Published in 2021 by Hay House.
Creator’s Website:
