A Darisa Tarot: The Lomisht Review
A Darisa Tarot: The Lomisht is a nontraditional Tarot deck created by Draque Thompson and Karen Swartz. The deck was published via crowdfunding efforts on Kickstarter. The cards measure 4.75 by 2.75 inches.
Quality:
This deck arrives in a standard tuckbox and a link to a PDF guidebook can be found on one of the extra cards. The cardstock is a pleasant quality. It’s easy to shuffle, neither too thin nor too thick, and the lamination is the lower gloss sort that I tend to favor. The 222 page guidebook is thorough and includes color illustrations of the cards. There are a few typos, but overall it is well-edited and it contains a wellspring of information about the deck.
Extra Materials (guidebook):
The guidebook contains a section that describes the deck when it’s used as a traditional Tarot and a section for when it’s used according to Darisa tradition (removing the suit of Ground and incorporating the additional trump and “0” cards from the suits). Each card receives its own entry with possible meanings and a description of its symbolism. Cards that are used in both traditional and Darisa reading methods have an entry in both sections. Some card interpretations are consistent across both systems, and others vary.
In both the Tarot and Darisa sections of the book the trumps are placed in various themed groupings and discussed. These groupings and their analysis are interesting to explore, and I appreciated the extra effort that Thompson put into describing connections among the cards and themes.
Two spreads (one for traditional and one for Darisa style readings) and a notes section are also included. The notes section discusses Thompson’s intent for each card and describes how traditional Tarot and the mythos of Darisa came together to form a deck that honored both systems. Because some cards have different meanings based on which reading method that you are using, it was interesting to read about how the creators developed designs that could successfully embody both traditions.
Artwork:
I love the art style of this deck. It is colorful and polished. Swartz is skilled at creating artwork that feels lush and full of life and movement. Bringing fantasy characters to life can be challenging, especially rendering them in believable poses and proportions, but Swartz did a masterful job. A few of my favorite cards are The 8 of Water, 9 of Ground, The Wanderer, and The Sun.
Content:
A Darisa Tarot is designed to be read in a traditional Tarot format, or according to the mythos of the world of Darisa, which is also created by Thompson. Admittedly, this Tarot is my introduction to Darisa, therefore I cannot speak about how someone well versed in the lore of Darisa would regard this deck. My thoughts on the content will focus more on the Tarot perspective.
This deck draws upon themes and symbolism from The Rider Waite, Thoth, and Marseille Tarots. It is thoughtful, researched, and quite readable. The compositions and ideas are fresh, but accessible with or without a knowledge of Darisa lore. Recurring symbols and characters add to the cohesive and workable nature of this deck. Many of the symbols, both unique and recurring, are explored in the guidebook for added clarity. Elemental correspondences for the trumps stray from the Golden Dawn tradition, and because Darisa is its own world, astrology and other familiar occult associations are not inherently a part of this deck (though you could still use them if you desired). The additional trumps cards for this deck are: Dance, The Fugitive, and The Cave. One could certainly use this expanded set of trumps with traditional reading methods (I know I will!).
Although it is not essential, some knowledge of Darisa lore would deepen one’s understanding of the deck and add flexibility to interpretations. As mentioned previously, the guidebook does explain the symbols, meanings, and characters in the cards according to both Tarot and Darisa traditions, though I think I would have been able to absorb some Darisa concepts more fully if a few of the myths had been transcribed in their entirety. (I’m sure that browsing Thompson’s other work on Darisa would supply additional information.)
A Darisa Tarot is effortlessly and consistently gender neutral, which provides new perspectives on many cards and opens up additional possibilities for court card interpretation. Decks with creative and engaging court cards are almost always winners for me, and I was pleased to see such a unique, yet natural twist in this deck. The court progression is Princet, Knight, Vizier, and Liege. A Darisa Tarot follows traditional themes of increased mastery and expertise within the court, but the alternate titles and depictions allow the characters to break free from some of the more gendered interpretations.
Conclusion:
A Darisa Tarot is innovative, thoughtfully designed, and attractive. It offers fresh ideas and representations of Tarot themes while remaining readable and incorporating many traditional Tarot elements. This deck is an excellent choice for those seeking a gender-neutral Tarot, lovers of fantasy decks, and those with reading techniques that emphasize visual details. Highly recommended.
More like this… Dreams of Gaia Tarot (nontraditional), Tarot of the Magical Forest (somewhat gender neutral)
Quality: ****
Extra Materials: ****
Artwork: *****
Content: *****
Overall Score: 4.5 out of 5
Order A Darisa Tarot: The Lomisht on Etsy here.