Transparent Tarot

The Transparent Tarot (not to be confused with Universal Transparent Tarot) is remarkable. This complete re-imagining of the tarot encourages users to actually layer the cards. For example, the featured image above combines two Major Arcana cards – 14 Temperance and 20 Judgement. The depths of the insights brought to the fore are incredible. If you’re looking for a deck to inspire, spark, or assist you with your creative endeavours and take them to an entirely new level, I would say you’ve found it. As the book says, “The Transparent Tarot offers a completely fresh perspective and ways of using the cards that have never before been possible.”

The Deck

To describe these cards as transparent plastic cards with uncomplicated imagery designed to be read in layers ignores the fact that I consider them pure creative genius. The images can best be described as ‘visual keywords’ that when put together create something magical. These cards and the way they can be used really engage the imagination in ways I haven’t experienced before. They are inspirational for so many reasons.

The attention to detail is incredible. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence the way the Aces, pictured above, line up together. But, it’s not just the Aces. The Devil and The Lovers (pictured below) align perfectly as well and together share a powerful message. These are just two examples. As you move through this overview, you’ll discover many more.

Normally I work on a black background, but that isn’t feasible with this deck. Fortunately it comes packaged with a white reading cloth ensuring it can be used anywhere without inconvenience.

The Majors are labelled purely by number which is located at either the top or the bottom of the card. Don’t be concerned if you aren’t familiar with the number of each of the Major Arcana, the images provide a clear starting point. Nevertheless, the first page of the books contents provides quick access to the name associated with the number if need be.

For the Minor Arcana, their number or whether they are the King, Queen, Knight or Page is in the left margin and a small picture representing the suit is in the right. In addition, the Minor Arcana is signified by colour. Wands are red, Cups are blue, Swords are dark purple and Pentacles are green.

The cards themselves measure 8½ x 12cm which makes them a bit wider than a standard tarot deck but they are still easy enough to handle. To be honest I haven’t settled on the best way to shuffle them. I like a combination of riffle and overhand shuffling generally, but my cards were bowed when I took them out of the box so overhand shuffling isn’t as smooth as it could be. I have tried to flatten them but I don’t think I left them long enough so I will try again. You can see the bow in the photos but it isn’t effecting how they layer too much.

The Book

The book is 304 pages of full colour inspiration, encouragement and information. This is an impressive book. I love how she really emphasizes that once you own the deck it’s yours. Seems obvious but the point she makes repeatedly is that it’s yours to interpret and to use however you see fit. She encourages you to develop your own thoughts, meanings and ideas before you taint them with the impressions she presents in the book. If I could print anything at the front of every tarot deck’s guide book it would be along those lines. The book adds to your interpretations. It should never define them or make you dismiss what a card invokes in you.

Emily Carding words it this way:

… this deck of cards is now yours. It is your tool, and so it is for you, not I, to decide how it will be used and what various things may or may not mean.

YES!!!! Even if the book stopped there I’d be happy, but it doesn’t. It also includes a brief overview of what tarot is and how it has evolved. The card meanings are comprehensive. Traditional meanings are provided as well as the creator’s personal insights and interpretations which is proof that she treats tarot in the same way she encourages everyone else to.

Since this deck is unique she makes some suggestions that are only possible with these cards. For example, she suggests considering which cards combine really well together and which don’t and what that might mean. What do you make of the combination of 1 The Magician with the Ace of Cups below? It seems like a pretty enlightened message to me.

For the Major Arcana she shares what you would typically find on the Rider Waite deck and then why she chose to represent the card in the way she did. I find this always gives me a greater sense of meaning than anything else the books provide. If this isn’t the case for you, don’t worry, she has you covered. She follows her explanation with the divinatory meaning and an example of three layered cards complete with a possible interpretation. Herein she shows the amazing capabilities of this deck.

The Minor Arcana is grouped numerically. At the beginning of this section she suggests ten questions readers could ask themselves about the cards. These questions are a fantastic and well thought out addition as they help you delve into what the cards mean to you personally. Again for each card she describes what she has drawn followed by a divinatory meaning.

The final section covers how to use the cards. This includes some spread ideas that spruce up the typical versions followed by suggestions on how this deck can be combined with both her Transparent Oracle (the second edition is now available for pre-order on Book Depository), and the Tarot of the Sidhe. Of course you can layer it with any deck you choose as well.

The book concludes with a handy quick reference section and ideas on others uses for the cards. Here you’ll find keyword tables that cover every card followed by information about elemental combinations. This section is great. In keeping it succinct she made it easy to understand and therefore more likely to be naturally infused into readings.

In the section on other uses she suggests meditation and magick, creating sigils (including tips on how to do so), and brainstorming. Under brainstorming she includes an additional spread called Ripples of Consequence, which can also be used as a Wheel of the Year Spread. This spread uses 27 cards.

She ends the section with a wonderful reminder – there are infinite possibilities available to you with this deck. I wholeheartedly agree.

Spreads

Four spreads are included in the book:

• Cards of the Day (3 cards)
• 3 position spread (up to 9 cards)
• Celtic Cross (10 cards generally)
  • She suggests doing it as a triple layer (26 cards)
    • The Significator and the Situation cards (positions 1 and 2) are layered over each other and then the rest of the positions have 3 cards layered)
• Ripples of Consequence / Wheel of the Year Spread (27 cards)

When I did the cards of the day it created a beautiful scene when I slightly offset the cards. There is nothing saying that each card must be stacked directly on top of each other after all. In stacking the cards for each of the spreads it’s like a way of clarifying and expanding the meanings without using a separate deck. It does take out a lot of cards on the bigger spreads though.

Put simply, this is an amazing deck. The possibilities are endless. It inspires creativity and reinforces the idea that things don’t have to be complex to be beneficial. This is not a cheap deck but I believe it is worth the price.

Publishing Details

Deck Creator:

Emily Carding

Pictured Version:

Published by Red Feather (Imprint of Schiffer Publishing), 2nd Edition, 2020