The 21st century witchcraft tarot is a modern interpretation of the traditional tarot deck, incorporating elements of contemporary witchcraft practices. This tarot deck aims to provide a unique and empowering tool for individuals seeking spiritual guidance and self-discovery. Unlike the traditional tarot deck, the 21st century witchcraft tarot embraces a more diverse range of imagery, symbolism, and themes. It draws inspiration from various witchcraft traditions, including Wicca, ceremonial magic, and modern witchcraft movements. The deck embraces the idea of personal empowerment and encourages users to tap into their own intuitive abilities. Each card in the 21st century witchcraft tarot is infused with contemporary witchcraft symbolism.
To this end, Gamble—along with co-curators Liv Thurley, Laurence Philomene of feminist art collective The Coven, and Isabella Podpadec from the British-Icelandic punk-pop band Dream Wife—have brought together over 70 known and unknown young artists to reimagine the tarot deck for the 21st century.
Even as we move inexorably towards a neoliberal, late-capitalist view of society a view based on Enlightenment ideals of masculine rationality and bolstered by the astonishing technological advances of recent decades many pull away towards spiritual pursuits conventionally gendered as female. When we think about the Tarot as a divinatory art, we employ a mode of channeling to perhaps connect with our guides and call on Source energy to help us receive and divine messages within the cards.
Each card in the 21st century witchcraft tarot is infused with contemporary witchcraft symbolism. The Major Arcana cards, which represent major life events and archetypal energies, feature goddesses from different cultures, modern witches, and symbols associated with spiritual and magical practices. The Minor Arcana cards, which represent everyday experiences and different aspects of life, are also reimagined in this deck.
The Artists Recreating the Tarot Deck for the 21st Century
A team of four female curators brought over 70 artists together to create a new, more diverse tarot deck for an upcoming London exhibition. See exclusive images from the deck.
January 5, 2017, 2:11pm"I feel like a lot of women in their mid-late twenties have this nostalgia for witchcraft or the occult, and it's partly due to growing up with films like The Craft or shows about being a teen witch," explains Ione Gamble, the co-curator of a forthcoming tarot-inspired art show and the editor-in-chief of Polyester magazine. "Witchcraft and being a teen witch was weirdly aspirational for so many of us growing up. Like, you're only a real outcast if you're a witch."
AdvertisementI've asked Gamble to explain why so many women are turning to alternate forms of spirituality: the occult, the tarot, sex magic, and regular old witchcraft. Even as we move inexorably towards a neoliberal, late-capitalist view of society—a view based on Enlightenment ideals of masculine rationality and bolstered by the astonishing technological advances of recent decades—many pull away towards spiritual pursuits conventionally gendered as female.
"I don't think that people who are interested in witchcraft or the tarot necessarily believe in it," Gamble argues. "It's more about women and other marginalized groups coming together and looking outside traditional patriarchal ways of viewing the world."
Ace of Swords, by Laurence Philomene
To this end, Gamble—along with co-curators Liv Thurley, Laurence Philomene of feminist art collective The Coven, and Isabella Podpadec from the British-Icelandic punk-pop band Dream Wife—have brought together over 70 known and unknown young artists to reimagine the tarot deck for the 21st century.
The resulting exhibition, What Does Our Future Hold?, features work from artists and designers such as Maisie Cousins, Hobbes Ginsberg, Clio Peppiatt, and Grace Miceli. Opening in London this weekend, we caught up with Gamble from her South London base to find out what the tarot can teach us about 2017, and had a look at some exclusive images from the forthcoming show.
Five of Cups, by Ava Asaadi
AdvertisementBROADLY: Hi Ione, thanks for speaking with us. What made you choose tarot?
Ione Gamble: My co-curator Isabella [Thurley] has practiced tarot throughout her life, as has Laurence [Philomene], and Isabella particularly is someone who'll bring her tarot cards out at parties and start reading for everyone. I feel that tarot is a way for women to talk and share their lives, even if they don't necessarily believe in it. It's not about reading your future so much as a way of talking about your experiences and what's happening to you. But—although the main tarot deck was created for women—the cards haven't been updated for such a long time. We're still working with really old imagery.
Page of Cups, by Jon Estwards
Tarot offers an opportunity for self-reflection. How important was it for you to integrate a political awareness in the exhibition, going into 2017?
It feels like a good time in general for self-reflection, given everything that happened politically in 2016. A lot of artists began to think about what place their art should have in the world, given how turbulent everything is right now. There's also so much negativity at the moment: People saying, "What's the point of making art," or feeling downtrodden and sad. It felt like a nice gesture to bring together a community of artists, in the same way you'd come together with your friends if you were reading tarot cards.
The World, by Tayler Smith
How did you choose the artists for the show?
We wanted a mix of more established artist and then newer talent. We also wanted to be diverse both in terms of the artists—having different genders and races. Diversity was really central to the exhibition: When we briefed the artists to create the cards we asked them to design with diversity in mind, so that the actual tarot deck itself would be representative of a broad range of people. In terms of the deck itself, we've matched each card to a particular artist—the hope is that people will literally be able to purchase it and use it themselves.
Six of Swords, by Lora Mathis
Why do you think it's important to embrace the occult, witchcraft, and alternate models of female spirituality?
One thing I like about this renewed interest in witchcraft and the occult is that we're coming to recognize more broadly that women aren't always inherently good or nice. The occult allows women to embrace their darker sides, and the idea of the sociopathic or evil women can be powerful. It's good for feminist rhetoric to move away from the idea that to be a feminist you have to be nice all the time. It's important to accept there are evil, nasty women in the world who aren't that perfect version of femininity.
Five of Pentacles by Nicolette Clara Iles
The show only runs for one night—is this down to financial reasons? The shortage of affordable art spaces in London is well-known.
It's really fucking difficult to find spaces in London. People see all these group shows which have drinks sponsorship and they think it's easy to put on a DIY space, but it's so hard. The exhibition only runs for one night because we don't have the money to pay for extended periods in galleries. There's a huge lack of accessible spaces in London, and the same can probably be said for cities all over.
What Does Our Future Hold? opens for one night only, on Saturday 7 January at Dye House 451. Any proceeds from print and tarot deck sales will go to anti-domestic violence campaigners Sisters Uncut.
Each suit (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles) is given a unique interpretation that reflects the modern witchcraft approach. The 21st century witchcraft tarot can be used for a variety of purposes, including divination, meditation, and personal growth. It offers a fresh perspective on the traditional tarot, making it more accessible and relatable to individuals living in the modern world. With its emphasis on empowerment, intuition, and self-discovery, the 21st century witchcraft tarot is a valuable tool for those seeking to explore their spiritual path, connect with their inner selves, and navigate the complexities of life in the 21st century. Whether you are a seasoned tarot reader or a curious beginner, this modern interpretation of the tarot can provide guidance, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of yourself and the world around you..
Reviews for "The Language of Tarot: Translating Ancient Wisdom for the 21st Century Witch"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the 21st Century Witchcraft Tarot. Firstly, the artwork was not what I expected. It had a very modern style which clashed with the traditional tarot symbolism. Secondly, the guidebook that came with the deck was poorly written and lacking in depth. It didn't provide much insight or interpretation for the cards. Overall, I found this deck to be unappealing and not useful for my tarot practice.
2. Mark - 1/5 stars - This tarot deck was a complete letdown for me. The 21st Century Witchcraft Tarot claimed to combine witchcraft and modern themes, but it felt more like a cheap attempt to cater to a trend. The illustrations were lackluster and lacked the depth and symbolism I expect from a tarot deck. The accompanying guidebook was no better, providing shallow interpretations that didn't resonate with me. I would not recommend this deck to serious tarot practitioners.
3. Rebecca - 2/5 stars - As someone who is deeply interested in tarot, I was eager to explore the 21st Century Witchcraft Tarot. Unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The artwork was visually appealing but lacked the traditional symbolism I value in a tarot deck. The interpretations in the guidebook felt shallow and superficial, and failed to provide the depth of insight I seek when working with tarot cards. Overall, I found this deck to be a disappointment and wouldn't recommend it to serious tarot enthusiasts.
4. Jason - 2/5 stars - The 21st Century Witchcraft Tarot was not what I was hoping for. The artwork seemed more focused on being trendy and modern, rather than capturing the timeless spiritual aspects of tarot. The interpretations in the guidebook were vague and didn't provide enough guidance for someone new to tarot. I found myself struggling to connect with the cards and the messages they were trying to convey. Overall, I didn't find this deck to be authentic or useful for my tarot practice.