Witches’ Wisdom Tarot
I ummed and ahhed about buying the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot because I knew the creators had taken a different approach to the Majors. For the most part, I focus on the RWS system, but in the end I relented. My curiosity, and to be frank, some of the artwork, got the better of me. Though at first, as much as I appreciated the deck, I wasn’t sure how I would work with it. Fortunately that has changed.
Much of the philosophy of the deck aligns with my own. I simplify it to “Heaven is here on Earth”. The explanation they provide is much more eloquent. Phyllis Curott points out that in the traditional RWS system, the Major Arcana moves “from the mundane preoccupations of daily life on the Earthly plane to the heavenly realms of pure consciousness, energy and transcendent Spirit. Enlightenment means leaving the Earth behind.”
The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot reverse the order of the Major Arcana to change that perception. The Fool, renamed The Pilgrim, follows ” a universal shamanic process, its direction is down into oneself.” As such, “The Pilgrim discovers that there is no split between Spirit and World, for both exist within her.” I personally believe every deck attempts to show us this. The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot just chooses a different path.
The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot Deck
The change in approach seen in the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot came to light through shamanic journeying. According to Phyllis Curott’s website, together she and Danielle Barlow undertook nearly two hundred such journeys and spent a year bringing everything together. The result is a deck that wants you to embody Spirit rather than seeing it as something that is “out there.” Instead it urges you to connect with the Earth and all its inhabitants. In the Minor Arcana it is only the Court cards that feature people. Although, they refer to these people as shapeshifters. The Major Arcana features people, plants and animals.
The big change though is that the Major Arcana is in reverse order. It moves from 0 Pilgrim to 21 Council of All Beings. To be clear, the Council of All Beings is the equivalent of 1 The Magician. The best way for me to explain how this works is to share a small part of the write up for 21 Council of All Beings.
“The Pilgrim has arrived home. It is time to make her life the prayer.” Everything is connected. “Spirit and Earth are one.” Unlike the RWS depiction that shows someone detached from Earth, they wanted to show the opposite. It is in recognising and honouring our true connection that magic is made. That magic is “the power of divine Love flowing into you and through you into the world.” That is the source of creation.
The change in order was a challenge to get my head around and to be honest I find myself often subtracting the new card number from 22 as in 22 – 21 = 1 which is The Magician, to work it out. I would like to stop this tendency but I find it helps me to ground the ideas of the card better without overly disrupting the intention of the change.
General information about the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot cards
The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot embraces many aspects of the RWS system. Nevertheless, its creators consider it to be a unique offering in the tarot space. And that it is. As such it’s hard to comment on whether this is a beginner’s deck or not. If you are new to tarot and wanting to study tarot as a system this is likely not the deck for you. For that reason I would say it isn’t for beginners. However, if you connect with the philosophy of the deck then it could be. After all, like most of us, regardless of experience, there is a learning curve with this deck and I don’t believe that is just because of the name changes. It feels different on many levels. That could be just me though.
The name changes occur across the entire deck. Since this is an elementally-based tarot, the suits are Water, Air, Fire and Earth. Messengers, Witches, Craftsmen and Goddesses make up the Court. These changes are not merely tokenistic. The Court cards have a different energy about them. For example, the Witch of Air pictured below asks, “What are your intentions for your life?” It goes on to add that “What your mind can conceive, you can bring into being. But you need to love what you envision.” This is definitely a different mindset to the standard RWS Knight of Swords that would be this cards equivalent.
Then, putting the numerical changes aside, many of the Major Arcana cards also have different titles.
| XX Judgement | 2 Initiation |
| XVI Tower | 6 Maze |
| XV Devil | 7 Ancestor |
| XIV Temperance | 8 Healing |
| XIII Death | 9 Rebirth |
| XII Hanged Man | 10 Offering |
| XI Justice | 11 Balance |
| X Wheel of Fortune | 12 Wheel of Life |
| IX Hermit | 13 Shaman |
| VII Chariot | 15 Journey |
| VI Lovers | 16 Love |
| V Hierophant | 17 Wisdom Keeper |
| IV Emperor | 18 Guardian |
| III Empress | 19 Great Mother |
| II High Priestess | 20 Priestess |
| 1 Magician | 21 Council of all Beings |
| 0 Fool | 0 Pilgrim |
Most evoke similar energies and ideas to those that are familiar, but it is well worth reading the guide book to discover the additional insights the creators share. For example The Devil doesn’t exist in this deck. This was an intentional choice because they believe the concept has no place in the world of witches. However, since Ancestor incorporates patterns, forgiveness and past traumas there are still similarities. Yet amongst its keywords, you’ll also find family, continuity, inheritance and Ancestral blessings. To read this as you would any other deck misses the point.
The cards themselves are large. Measuring 9 x 13 cm they are more “oracle-sized” than tarot and with the addition of the thicker card stock they are a handful to shuffle. I find them too big and too stiff to riffle. The book actually says not to riffle them but it doesn’t offer an explanation as to why. Too hard comes to mind though. The card backs are reversible but in the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot guidebook they say to read it upright. Albeit, as always, what you do is up to you.
Discussions on some individual cards
8 of Water & Craftsman of Air
When I began trying to work with Witches’ Wisdom Tarot I saw its beauty but I was tempted to return to what I know – the RWS system. In that alone there is always more to learn. However, as I was giving it a good shuffle, something I do before I put a deck away, the 8 of Water and the Craftsman of Air “jumped” together. This urged me to reconsider. I don’t select my cards during readings by shuffling for “jumpers” as I see many do on You Tube, but I do pay attention to them when they appear. In this instance, how could I ignore the message to move away from what I know in order to study this new deck?
There is much to discover if I’m willing to take the time to learn and make sense of their ideas. I’m glad I listened. This deck had something I needed to consider. Something I really needed to connect with. I just didn’t realise quite how much at the time. As I’ve come to work with it more I am beginning to see more clearly and strangely, I’m beginning to feel heard. It’s listening to thoughts and ideas I didn’t realise I was sharing and it’s talking back to me. I’m comfortable with that now. There’s a time I would not have been and I probably wouldn’t have heard.
5 of Water & 14 Strength
Seeing polar bears in this vulnerable position, which is very similar to one of the cards in Tarot Landscapes, hits hard. Whenever I am struggling and in need of protection and support Polar Bear shows up for me. So, seeing the 5 of Water speaks to me on many levels. Some, in a way that I feel I can’t actually articulate. The sense of isolation and the possible causes on both a physical and metaphoric level are heart breaking for me.
Then I see the Strength card and I feel restored. It speaks to me, in part, about potential, possibility and promise. As I look at the two cards side by side I see the polar bear making her way to the gathering. Her voice, her plight, and her strength added to the conversation.
In the book, Phyllis Curott writes, “Act even if you feel afraid and you will become strong. Leap, and on the other side you’ll find your courage. Face the worst and it will bring out your best. You’ll discover what you believe in and that you have power to do what’s right, even if it seems to put you on the losing side. Stand strong, stand for what’s right, speak from your heart.” This is something that is so on point for me at the moment. Polar Bear has never let me down.
2 of Earth & 11 Balance
I love this depiction of the 2 of Pentacles, here the 2 of Earth. Rather than trying to juggle everything, rest. Take time out to evaluate what you are doing so you can decide what stays and what goes. Or, at the very least, to understand why you are trying to keep so many things up in the air. This is obviously me layering previous knowledge onto the card rather than just interpreting it as it appears. But, one of the keywords given in the book is self-care.
When considered alongside 11 Balance, I feel the messages becomes even stronger. Together they suggest to “come to the party,” when it makes sense to do so. I said earlier that the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot is listening to my thoughts and answering questions I wasn’t aware I was asking. Here, as I write this, I can hear it speaking to me loud and clear about a situation I am currently experiencing. When I put together the order I would discuss the cards this morning I had no idea what was going to unfold for me personally. I am so grateful that this happens.
6 of Air & 16 Love
One of the things I really appreciate about the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot is that it takes you out of either-or thinking. As the two previous pairings and this one show, nothing is all this or all that. These two cards present two very different impressions of the fox. Neither are incorrect. This 6 of Air takes a different approach to the one I am used to. However, I can see my usual interpretation still represented in the artwork. The message the creators wanted to portray here though is that sometimes we need to let things grow before we move into areas we are not ready or mature enough to face. I find the energy of this card really peaceful. Maybe because the advice is more passive in nature. Give yourself time. Don’t rush. If you do the fox is there to maintain the balance. Balance is actually the card’s keyword.
In 16 Love rather appearing as a threat, the fox is very much an ally. This makes a lot of sense since Fox was one of the guides and teachers that helped in the creation of the deck. Knowing that makes its presence here feel intuitive and natural. After all, this deck is trying to guide us towards love. I look at this card and I hear the words, “I see you” and to me, when openly felt and expressed, those are three of the most magical words we can say to one another. To be truly seen is the greatest gift we can bestow on each other.
2 of Air & 4 of Water
The 2 of Air is simply rendered but everything speaks so clearly. I see dandelions in different phases of the cycle and think of wishes and the stage they’re at. The lung-shape of the tree foliage tells me to just breathe. Relax. Breathe in. Breathe out. Repeat. The book asks us to trust that things will work out. As scary as it might feel, just like the hedgehog, you need to let yourself be vulnerable. If he doesn’t unfurl himself he cannot move forward. Because I find this such a beautiful card, it gives me the sense that whatever happens, somehow it will be okay.
This is what I have to do with the 4 of Water. The keyword for this card is Beauty and it is indeed a beautiful card. Yet, I’m not sure what will come up when it appears in a reading. When I look at it I see connection and grace. But the book keywords ask you to “Open your heart, Grieve, Reach out, Rejoice.”
This aligns with the RWS general meanings but I don’t see that when I look at the card. I just see a beautiful watercolour painting. When I try and connect with the ideas in the book I can bring to mind the impact we’ve had on whale populations and the emotions flow. I also sense the relief that slowly this is changing. Plus I know how wonderful it feels to see the whales pass close by our coastline during their annual migration and to share the joy with others who’ve come in the hope of a sighting. What will come out during a reading though, I will have to wait and see.
10 of Earth & 10 Offering
I wouldn’t normally discuss so many individual cards but I couldn’t ignore this pairing. For me it sums up the sentiment of the deck. It is about connection – connection of, and to, all things. Both of these cards make me think of the book, The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben If you haven’t read it I would suggest you consider doing so. It’s fascinating. And it’s a wonderful example of scientific writing done well. It is the first in a series of three books that provide proof of the unseen connections that exist all around us. My husband isn’t an avid reader yet he felt compelled to tell people about it. Just like this deck has done to me, this is a book that touches you.
The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot Guidebook
The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot comes with a 159-paged guidebook. It has a linen-feel cover that makes it stand out from the crowd. But, with the exception of monotone reproductions of the Aces at the beginning of the suit sections, there are no card images in the book. I would have appreciated their inclusion, even if only in black and white. It would have added to the already well-written book. Many books are not essential reading for those already well versed with tarot. This book however is an essential component of the deck.
Preamble
The Introduction shares both the story of Phyllis Curott’s transition to becoming a witch and the story of the deck’s creation. Also, through the Introduction we learn about both Phyllis Curott and the illustrator, Danielle Barlow. This created a sense of familiarity and connection from the outset even though my life and lifestyle is very different from theirs. That’s good writing!
My sense of connection continued when I read in the “Working with the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot” section, “Look into it and it will show you who you are and who you can be.” This is followed by, “The more you work with the deck, the more you’ll come to know that fate is what you make it, or what you make of it. The deck will help you create the future you want.” This is very much my approach when it comes to tarot readings.
Many tips and guidelines are provided in the Working with the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot section that are helpful for those starting out in tarot and for working with this deck. Other sections walk you through a Guided Visualisation, Journeying, Meditation, Invocation and Spellcasting.
Spreads
The book includes three spreads:
- Single Card Divination (1 card)
- Three Card Spread (3 cards)
- The Compass Rose Reading and Spell (11 cards)
Before I tried it I wasn’t sure about the Compass Rose Reading but to be honest doing that spread really connected me with the deck. The detail given for each spread position helps you to draw out so much information from the reading. I will definitely revisit this spread in the future.
Additional information
To help ease the confusion created by reversing and renaming the Major Arcana a table is provided that that shows the corresponding RWS titles and numbering. You’ll find the standard numbering in brackets in Roman Numerals in the card meaning section as well. For example, 3 (XIX) Sun.
Card meaning sections
To make the card meanings easier to navigate, they are broken into four sections: Wisdom, Essence, Counsel and Magic. Wisdom explains the imagery; Essence provides keywords / key phrases; Counsel provides advice; and Magic offers a spell, potion or other magical process associated with the card. The layout is the same for both the Major and Minor Arcana albeit the Major Arcana write ups span two pages whereas the Minors are covered in one. The only other difference is that the Minor Arcana pips are each given a keyword or keyword phrase.
Example
Using the 10 of Air pictured below for an example. Under Wisdom it begins, “There’s a wondrous spectacle in the invisible Air where everything is connected: a Murmuration of Starlings has appeared to fill the Autumn sky with blissful whirling. … the shapeshifting flocks are filling the world with their magic, every bird connected to every other bird by a mystery. They are rippling, spinning, plunging, and ascending in unison, the pattern transformed in an instant as 100,000 Starlings turn together as one.”
Then under Counsel:
It’s time to let go of the need for explanations, reasons, and rational understanding. There’s wisdom in your heart that’s longing to be free. You’re on a journey to awareness beyond the self, inspired by something mysterious and beautiful that is part of you and greater than you. Stand in awe of the divinity beyond explanation. Let your Spirit soar.
This is quite different to the way the 10 of Swords is usually presented. Yet I believe there is merit in embracing the energy of this approach next time I’m looking at somebody lying down with ten swords in their back. However, one thing I will add is that the keyword Murmuration seems a strange choice. I see the obvious link to the artwork. However, even though Phyllis Curott has suggested under the Magic heading to “Find a Murmuration near you – starlings flocking, a school of flashing fish, trees moving in the wind, heavy snowfall, o rock concert” and to move with it, I feel a clearer keyword could have been chosen. To be fair though, I don’t tend to approach tarot with keywords in mind. I don’t think, “Oh, 10 of Air Murmuration or 7 of Fire Benevolence” so it isn’t a big issue. Merely an observation.
Wrapping it all up
This deck eased its way into my affections. Slowly but surely it has continued to reward my initial curiosity and I feel more and more comfortable working with it. Now I can see a place for it in my practice.
In trying to define the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot, I’d say it’s a healing deck. The healing comes through establishing or re-establishing a sense of connection both with yourself and the living world that surround us. As a tarot reader I wouldn’t say this is a beginner’s deck but for someone seeking what it has to offer it is perfect for any level.
Summaries
The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot Cards
| Artist | Danielle Barlow |
| Card Size | 9 x 13cm |
| Card Stock | Satin finish |
| Shuffle | Large cards so mainly overhand |
| Fan & Flip Through | Clumpy to fan and flip through |
| Suits | Air, Earth, Fire, Water |
| Court | Messenger, Witch, Craftsman, Goddess |
| Strength / Justice | Strength 14 & Balance (Justice) 11 |
| Miscellaneous | Major Arcana is presented in reverse. Comes with a calico deck bag. Solid box with magnetic closure. |
The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot Guidebook
| Written by | Phyllis Curott |
| Pages | 159 pages |
| Appearance | Linen feel cover, B & W, |
| Contents | Introduction Witches’ Wisdom – Tarot — Meaning and Magic – The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot – The Gift of Sight Working with the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot – Divination — Messages and Magic – Make the Deck Yours – Quick Pointers for Reading the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot – Divination — Method and Mastery – The Magic of the Witches’ Wisdom Tarot -Witches’ Wisdom Tarot Spreads Interpretation of the Cards (each card is listed with individual page numbers given) – The Minor Arcana – The Major Arcana Major Arcana Card Order Keep in Touch About the Author About the Artist |
| Spreads | Single Card Divination (1 card) Three Card Spread (3 cards) The Compass Rose Reading and Spell (11 cards) |
Publishing Details
Created by:
Phyllis Curott & Danielle Barlow
Pictured Version:
Published by Hay House in November 2023
Websites:
2 Comments
Ann OShaughnessy
Thank you for this beautiful, in-depth review of Witches Wisdom. I am tried to work with the RWS system in my life but it never “took” as a companion. That is to say I’ve benefited from many readings done for me, but I’ve never connected with it as something to consult daily as I would a friend. The first time I worked with the Witches Wisdom deck I felt an opening in my heart and tears welled up. I felt warm and grounded. This was very different from RWS sensations up in my head and spirit. I think Currott and Barlow’s description of RWS as being a bit like the “water we swim in.” The “water” is this inheritance of “Abrahamic theology and thinking” that presents the spiritual journey as “ascension” — leaving the “mundane preoccupations of daily life” behind. In so much of our spiritual work today there is this goal of rising away from the material world. They point to the RWS card “The World XXI” as a powerful representation of this orientation.
So, I am not critiquing the RWS system because it has been and remains such a powerful tool, but I thought it was worth a mention that this turning upside down of what we’ve known feels like such an important bit of work for us humans today. Thank you again for this beautiful offering.
Mel
Thank you so much for your kind words.
I try to write about a wide variety of decks, (but only those I connect with in some way), because I truly believe there is a deck for everyone, it’s just a matter of finding it. When you do, as you have so beautifully described, it is such a magical feeling. I’m so glad you’ve found a deck that you can connect with intimately. And, thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sure others will benefit from reading your comment.