Modern witchcraft is a contemporary spiritual practice that draws inspiration from historical witchcraft traditions, but incorporates contemporary beliefs and practices. This modern form of witchcraft, often known as "Wicca" or "Witchcraft," emerged in the mid-20th century and has since grown in popularity. Modern witchcraft emphasizes the worship of nature and the Earth, and practitioners often see themselves as stewards of the planet. Many modern witches believe in the concept of "magick," which is the use of focused intention and energy to bring about change in the world. This magick is often practiced through rituals, spells, and divination. One of the central tenets of modern witchcraft is the belief in a divine feminine energy, often called the Goddess.
Since then Sterle’s tarot deck has become an incredibly inclusive fresh take on a tradition that’s been exclusionary to many folks. In the Modern Witch Tarot, more folks are able to see themselves in the cards, building deeper relationships with their practice. Sterle intended this deck to be a source of power for women and girls, clearly evident in the art choices she makes throughout the deck.
What sold this project to me was Sterle s amazing version of The Magician card featuring a young Black girl- something I d frankly never seen in before. What sold this project to me was Sterle s amazing version of The Magician card featuring a young Black girl- something I d frankly never seen in before.
One of the central tenets of modern witchcraft is the belief in a divine feminine energy, often called the Goddess. This energy is seen as a representation of the Earth and all of its natural cycles, including birth, death, and rebirth. Many modern witches also believe in a divine masculine energy, often called the God, which represents the sun, light, and the life force.
Tarot of the QTPOC Deck Review: Modern Witch Tarot
The Modern Witch Tarot is a fresh take on an ancient tradition.
It all began with the creation of the Ten of Swords card which was posted to Twitter by Lisa Sterle and immediately sparked the interest of tarot readers everywhere. It was clear even then there was something special about this new relatable rendition of the tarot.
What sold this project to me was Sterle’s amazing version of The Magician card featuring a young Black girl- something I’d frankly never seen in before. This was just around the beginning of the indie tarot deck boom, and we were yet to be spoiled by an influx of inclusive decks that crowdsourcing made possible.
Since then Sterle’s tarot deck has become an incredibly inclusive fresh take on a tradition that’s been exclusionary to many folks. In the Modern Witch Tarot, more folks are able to see themselves in the cards, building deeper relationships with their practice. Sterle intended this deck to be a source of power for women and girls, clearly evident in the art choices she makes throughout the deck.
The idea that there’s this wealth of power within you, that you just need to trust yourself to tap into, is an inspiring thought that also definitely ties into feminism for me. — An Interview with Lisa Sterle (Liminal 11)
Aces, from the Modern Witch Tarot
Look & Feel:
The production quality of this deck is outstanding.
It comes with a gorgeous velvet tarot bag that would be almost unnecessary if it wasn’t embroidered so wonderfully because the box holding the deck is rock solid. The colorfully illustrated, two-piece box is blessedly easy to open and close and securely holds both the deck and guidebook with no issue. It’s got wonderful details, with the interior of both pieces covered in suit symbols- it’s details like this that charm, and you’ll find more attention to detail throughout the deck itself.
The deck’s guidebook is sized to fit in the box which y’all know by now is always a point of hallelujah for me. While the hardcover (yes, a hardcover LWB) is full color, the pages are black and white which doesn’t take away from the whole package in any way.
The card stock is #thicc.
When holding the deck in hand, you feel a substantial difference that usually only shows up in decks with larger-sized cards. I’ll note that it didn’t hinder me and my tiny hands from shuffling the deck because while the cardstock is hefty, the cards are standard sized and fit easily in my palms.
My one qualm with the card stock is that its glossy- but that is a teeny tiny qualm. Especially since that was probably an artistic choice to really bring out the pop art/comic book color palette and style Sterle uses throughout the deck. The gloss makes it so the cards sometimes stick together but because of the thickness of the card stock, they are easy to separate with little issue. Honestly, not enough of an issue to worry about it and with regular use, that stickiness should dissipate if not completely disappear.
All in all, the quality of this deck is undeniable and unquestionably intentional. You get the sense that there was thought in every little detail, which I can’t help but deeply appreciate.
a selection of favorite cards, from the Modern Witch Tarot
Imagery & Content:
The art speaks for itself.
It’s gorgeous, color rich, and modern with a touch of vintage charm. Mixed in with known tarot symbols are modern accoutrements like cellphones and laptops. These additions don’t take away from the card meanings, if anything I find they add to the cards.
I think it’s brilliant that a new generation of tarot readers will be able to access the tradition with symbology that looks like their reality, not just those of the past. That mix of modern and traditional makes this a unique deck to read with. I can’t help but wish that I had a deck like this when I first started tarot- honestly my resistance to the RWS might have been substantially eased had I been able to see more of myself in the cards.
And that’s really the core of the Modern Witch Tarot, for women and femmes to see themselves represented in the cards; a deck that looks like its readers- across ages, bodies, races, and gender expressions. Sterle makes an interesting choice with gender, I noted. This deck is an ode to the feminine- all expressions of it, including non-binary iterations. It is an intentional prioritization and I don’t think that Sterle ever makes that ambiguous in any part of this deck.
In the description of the court cards, Sterle only uses ‘she’ and ‘they’ form of pronouns with the Page & Queen referred to with ‘she’ and the Knight and King referred to as ‘they’. Not to say that non-women or non-femmes can’t read with the deck, not at all, just pointing out that there is a particular project in the Modern Witch Tarot: a spotlight on the power of women and femmes to reflect and affect both their destinies and that of the world.
art that asks questions, from the Modern Witch Tarot
I do have to admit that there were cards that I didn’t at all take to. Particularly the Strength card. Seeing Black or dark-skinned femmes of color in this card is very “florals for spring, how groundbreaking” for me. Devil Wears Prada references aside, it’s actually a pretty disturbing trend in tarot decks that I’ve painfully noticed.
In fact, I think I’ll have to write up a post examining this issue across decks more closely because it really is shocking how often this happens-look through your own collection and see- even with the best of intentions. The conflation of Black women and Strength (and also the suits of Wands and Pentacles) stemming from the “strong black woman” stereotype is harmful. It dehumanizes us, robs us of the space to be vulnerable and positions us as the world’s burden bearers.
I know it may sound like those of us asking for representation are constantly moving the finish line but is that really a bad thing?
How far is too far to ask for our humanity to be represented without harm? We’re slowly moving from whitewashing and tokenism, and now that we’re here it’s still imperative to improve. The work is not done until it’s done.
Despite my visceral reaction to the Strength card, I will say that Sterle does include cards that rarely if ever have Black or dark-skinned femmes like The Magician and Temperance, to name just a few. In fact, it was The Magician that first drew me to this deck- a version of Black girl magic that didn’t feel token or gimmicky. I’m glad that there are more decks working to be inclusive- I am also asking that creators continue to do better with nuances.
a selection of the Courts, from the Modern Witch Tarot
What sold this project to me was Sterle’s amazing version of The Magician card featuring a young Black girl- something I’d frankly never seen in before. This was just around the beginning of the indie tarot deck boom, and we were yet to be spoiled by an influx of inclusive decks that crowdsourcing made possible.
In modern witchcraft, practitioners often celebrate and honor the changing seasons and lunar cycles. They mark the solstices and equinoxes, as well as the phases of the moon, with rituals and celebrations. These practices help to connect practitioners with the cycles of nature and the divine. Modern witchcraft is a highly individualized practice, and practitioners often create their own rituals and spells to suit their personal beliefs and intentions. However, there are also many books and resources available that provide guidance and inspiration. Some modern witches also choose to work with herbs, crystals, and other natural objects as part of their spiritual practice. They believe that these objects contain their own unique energies and can be used to enhance their spells and rituals. While modern witchcraft has gained greater acceptance and understanding in recent years, there is still some stigma and misunderstanding surrounding the practice. Many people hold misconceptions about witchcraft and mistakenly associate it with dark magic or evil. However, modern witchcraft is a peaceful and nature-based spiritual practice that promotes self-discovery, personal growth, and connection with the divine. In conclusion, modern witchcraft is a contemporary spiritual practice that draws inspiration from historical witchcraft traditions while incorporating contemporary beliefs and practices. It emphasizes the worship of nature, the use of magick, and the celebration of the divine feminine and masculine energies. Modern witchcraft is a highly individualized practice that encourages self-discovery and personal growth. Despite misconceptions and stigma, modern witchcraft is a peaceful and nature-based spiritual path..
Reviews for "Exploring the Modern Witch Taeot Community: Rituals and Gatherings"
1. Emily - 2/5 - I was really looking forward to reading "Modern witch taeot" as I am a fan of witchcraft and modern-day settings. However, I was really disappointed by this book. The plot was weak and disjointed, and the characters felt underdeveloped. The writing style was also not engaging, making it difficult for me to connect with the story. Overall, I found the book to be lacking depth and substance.
2. John - 1/5 - I found "Modern witch taeot" to be a complete waste of time. The storyline was confusing and all over the place. There were too many unnecessary subplots that didn't add anything to the main story. The characters were one-dimensional and uninteresting. The writing itself was choppy and filled with clichés. I couldn't wait to finish this book and I certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
3. Megan - 3/5 - While "Modern witch taeot" had some interesting moments, it ultimately fell short for me. The concept of modern witches is intriguing, but the execution in this book was not satisfying. The pacing was slow, and the world-building was lacking. There were too many unanswered questions and loose ends. However, I did appreciate the diverse representation in the characters and the unique magical elements. Overall, it was an okay read, but it didn't live up to my expectations.
4. David - 2/5 - I struggled to get through "Modern witch taeot". The writing style was overly descriptive and weighed down the narrative. The plot had potential, but it was overshadowed by unnecessary details and long-winded descriptions. The characters lacked depth and their motivations were unclear. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it didn't deliver. I wouldn't recommend it unless you enjoy slow-paced and overly descriptive storytelling.