Otherkin Tarot Review

The Otherkin Tarot is a 78 card Tarot deck by Siolo Thompson. The deck is published by Llewellyn Worldwide and the cards measure approximately 2.75 x 4.75 inches.

Quality:
This deck is packaged in a durable magnet clasp box and includes a full-size companion book. I like that the illustration from the Two of Cups is printed on the bottom of the insert that holds the cards. It’s a nice touch. In my experience, Llewellyn’s cardstock tends to be prone to warping, and this deck, like many of my other Llewellyn decks, arrived a bit bowed. The cardstock is a medium thickness and the finish is a semi-gloss. I think that many users will appreciate that the cards are borderless and that they are a good size for shuffling and handling. 

Extra Materials (guidebook):
The 288-page guidebook, Meeting the Otherkin, includes an introduction to reading cards, a few basic spreads, and detailed entries for each card in the deck. The entries explore the potential meanings of the card in different contexts, such as love and finances, as well as possibilities for when the card is reversed or ill-dignified.

Thompson’s writing style is conversational without lacking professionalism. I appreciate that the book avoids recent trends of exclamations in all caps, Internet lingo, and swearing. Instead, witty and enjoyable parenthetical tidbits, including a Skyrim reference, provide humor while keeping it classy.

The book is attractively laid out and an illustration of the card accompanies each entry. The glossy pages make a nice presentation, but they do create a glare that I find a bit bothersome when reading.

Artwork:
The artwork for this deck is distinct and expressive. Thompson makes use of symbolism while keeping the illustrations straightforward and accessible. A color palette of muted, blues, greens, and yellows are carried throughout the imagery, and splashes of red, magenta, and orange jump out from several cards to shake things up. The deck feels earthy, yet whimsical, and there is a dignified essence that makes it feel like the figures are characters from a storybook for adults. This juxtaposition makes the deck a serious working deck that’s still refreshing and fun.

I appreciate the way that Thompson’s style harmonizes function, innovation, and collectible appeal. Some of the cards have familiar compositions, such as the 5 of Wands with its squabbling characters, while others illustrate the card’s themes in intriguing new ways, like the Devil’s depiction of sensuous, self-imposed bondage.

Content:
Thompson is both the writer and illustrator for this deck, so the details in the cards are explained and highlighted in the book, and the intentions with the imagery are made clear. I love it when the guidebook is closely aligned with the deck’s illustrations. I think this makes it easier to work with the cards and it demonstrates the thoughtfulness behind the deck’s creation.

Many of the guidebook’s entries discuss how the interpretations of a card are influenced by neighboring cards. For example, Thompson states that when the reversed 4 of Wands appears along with a reversed Death or Hanged Man, it could indicate trouble accepting the end of a cycle. I think examples like these are always helpful in guidebooks, especially since it is rare (outside of single card draws) for a card to be read in isolation. These extra samples and insights are treats that don’t typically fit in a smaller booklet.

The Otherkin Tarot’s foundation is built upon familiar Rider Waite concepts, but it goes beyond and takes that inspiration to some fresh, yet logical places. The use of animal and mythological symbolism to convey Tarot themes – such as a protective mother bear or the dual nature of a winged mermaid – is both effective and user friendly, especially for highly visual readers.

Conclusion:
If you are looking for a deck that blends traditional themes with fresh imagery and ideas, the Otherkin Tarot is a great choice. Anyone looking to branch out from a Rider Waite based practice into something a bit different without pioneering an altogether new frontier will probably be pleased with the “happy medium” that this deck offers in terms of familiarity and ingenuity. If you enjoy animals, anthropomorphism, and/or watercolor artwork, this deck would be a great addition to your collection. I highly recommend it!

More like this… Linestrider Tarot, Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle, The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck, Shadowscapes Tarot

Quality: ****
Extra Materials: ****
Artwork: ****
Content: ****
Overall Score: 4 out of 5

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