Igniting
Curiosity.
SACRED SPIRITS TAROT
A 78-Card Journey Into Animal Archetypes, Intuition, and Storytelling.
Background
Sacred Spirits Tarot is an independent artist-led watercolor project that reimagines the traditional 78-card tarot deck through folklore, mythology, and cultural symbolism of forest animals and woodland creatures. Inspired by the structure of the Rider-Waite Tarot while introducing an original visual language, the collection explores themes of intuition, self-discovery, transformation, and the interconnected relationship between nature and human experience. Rather than positioning tarot as something rigid or exclusive, Sacred Spirits Tarot invites viewers to connect with the artwork first, allowing curiosity, emotion, and personal interpretation to guide the journey.
Problem Statement
Traditional tarot imagery can feel visually inaccessible or culturally distant to modern audiences. The challenge was to reinterpret familiar archetypes through a cohesive visual language that preserved the symbolic depth of tarot while making each card more intuitive, immersive, and emotionally approachable.
Process
Every design decision began with research rather than illustration. Before sketching a card, I studied its meaning in both the upright and reversed positions to understand the emotional journey it represents. From there, I researched woodland animals and their symbolic significance across different cultures, selecting species whose natural behaviors and folklore aligned with the card’s archetype.
Rather than assigning a single symbol to each card, I developed layered visual narratives where every element contributes meaning. Numbers, plants, gemstones, celestial objects, alchemical symbols, and companion animals were intentionally chosen to reinforce the card’s emotional themes. This approach transformed each illustration into a system of interconnected symbols that invites viewers to discover new layers of meaning over time.
While the symbolism evolved from extensive research, the visual composition remained grounded in the traditions of the Rider-Waite Tarot. Familiar elements including posture, lighting, and iconic objects provides visual continuity, while original watercolor illustrations established a distinct artistic voice. This balance allowed the deck to honor tarot’s history without simply recreating it.
Color also became part of the storytelling. Carefully selected complementary palettes reinforced each card’s emotional atmosphere, while watercolor’s organic textures introduced a sense of unpredictability and intuition that echoed the experience of tarot itself. After each painting was completed, gold foil Roman numerals and alchemical symbols were added to strengthen the deck’s handcrafted, antiquarian character.
The Hermit illustrates this design philosophy particularly well. A downward-facing fox represents a reflective and possibly isolating nature, the bluebird reflects guidance and harmony, moths symbolize intuition and transformation, blackberry thorns represent grief and concealment, sapphire gemstones evoke wisdom, and the surrounding starlight becomes both a literal and metaphorical guide toward enlightenment. Individually these symbols carry meaning, and together they create a richer visual interpretation of reflection, introspection, and self-discovery.
Results
The Sacred Spirits Tarot deck transforms traditional tarot into a cohesive visual storytelling system rooted in folklore, symbolism, and nature. By combining extensive research with handcrafted illustration, the project creates an experience that encourages curiosity and repeated exploration, allowing viewers to uncover deeper meaning with each reading while remaining accessible to both experienced practitioners and newcomers alike.