Step Into Holly Black’s Faerie Tarot
Welcome to the Realm of Faerie
You may have glimpsed it out of the corner of your eye but dismissed it—after all, you know better. Maybe as a child you were drawn toward some dark part of the woods near your home before your parents sensibly pulled you back. It is even possible that you have visited in a dream. The realm of Faerie is a world just beyond our own where the Folk are free to do as they please and where mortals may journey if they are clever—or foolish—enough to know the way.
If your idea of these creatures is some cute caricature from an old cartoon or a delightful statue you saw in your grandmother’s garden, you may be surprised by what you find. The inhabitants of the Faerie realm and the Court of Elfhame may be beautiful, but that beauty is often cruel. Though they may draw you in with their promise of delights beyond mortal understanding, you must always be on your guard, for this is a land of shadows and deceit.
The rules are different than in the mortal realm. Even time itself moves in its own way here, and human morality is left at the door. You cannot trust the food you eat, the faces you see; there are times you cannot trust your own desires. Within this world’s forest, sea, and sky dwell creatures with the ability to curse you or bless you. It takes cunning to navigate, intelligence to survive, and strength to thrive as a mortal in a world so unlike our own.
One tool that can help you is the ancient art of tarot. Though the cards were allegedly created by humans, there are some rumors to the contrary. Just as one looks at a physical map to navigate the material world, a magical map may be the best way for one to navigate Faerie. When you find yourself turned around or at a crossroads, the cards can be a useful guide.
Within these cards you will find faces and scenes both familiar and unfamiliar, strange and comforting. This deck has been conjured up for use by those new to this realm, as well as those who have been exploring its farthest reaches for quite some time. Employ it as a game or a weapon in your arsenal; it makes no difference to the Folk. Let these cards be your allies as you solve riddles, determine whom you can trust, and forge a path to victory (perhaps even snagging a crown in the process).
About This Deck
If you are a seasoned tarot reader, then you will notice this particular deck is meant to immerse you in the Faerie worlds of Holly Black. We have changed the names of some cards, as well as suits, and have imbued each card with characters, scenes, and themes from The Folk of the Air, as well as the Modern Faerie Tales, The Darkest Part of the Forest, and other stories from this magical realm.
Just as a more traditional tarot deck is packed with imagery and symbolism that can help you better understand the meaning of each card, this deck is filled with references and depictions that will be familiar to you if you are a fan of these books. Being able to relate cards to moments from the novels will help you spin a story of your own and can make some of the more esoteric card meanings more relatable.
However, even if you have not yet discovered Holly Black’s books, you will still find rich meaning in these cards and the figures adorning them. Faerie lore and faeries themselves are even older than tarot and rich with metaphor. This deck is a portal to a world of mystery, danger, and magic. While using traditional tarot interpretations might be a helpful way to begin reading this deck, we recommend letting your mind run wild. Allow yourself to be taken down a new and shadowy path to see what you might find.
Card Meanings
Every card in the tarot has its own unique meaning and interpretation. While each card has its assigned definition, you will find that as you read, you will begin to associate different cards with different ideas, archetypes, moments from your own life, and even scenes from movies and books. This is a sign that your intuition is activated. Paying attention to this, as well as to patterns that routinely come up in your readings, will help you create interpretations that make sense to you. While the definitions here are a great starting point, don’t feel like you have to stick to them too strictly if new meanings come to you.
In addition to the individual cards’ meanings, each suit (Moths, Goblets, Swords, and Toadstools) has an element associated with it, as well as related topics and issues. These can be a useful indication of themes within a person or problem you are reading for.
The themes of each suit are as follows: Moths represent the element of fire, as their beautiful, delicate wings are as elusive as the flames they are drawn to, and tend to deal with matters of passion, innovation, and material projects. Goblets, whether empty and lonely or spilling over with good drink, represent the element of water and speak to emotions and matters of the heart. Swords are ruled by the element they most cleanly cut through—air—and point to thoughts, mental health, and issues of the mind. Finally, Toadstools, close to the cool, dark soil where all life springs from, represent earth and are concerned with matters of money, resources, and the material world beneath your feet.
While these are broad categories, you will find cards whose meanings stand out or overlap in each suit. Remember that tarot is a tool that helps us see the workings in our world as part of a big, beautiful story, and every card’s meaning will change slightly based on how it shows up in a reading and the interpretation you bring to it.
Explore the Cards
The Fool
At the start of a new journey, we each begin as a fool. Whether driven by a new job, new relationship, or newly discovered royal bloodline, whenever we set off in pursuit of our destiny, we are all ignorant of the challenges and triumphs that await us. In the search for who we are, what we want, and how we relate to the world around us, we will travel to distant lands and meet with dangers and delights along the way. Don’t beat yourself up if you make mistakes or missteps. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your heart fixed on your goal, and all will be well.
On the Card: Oak traveling north, The Stolen Heir
Queen of Toadstools
Being in a position of power is about more than ordering people around, wearing a crown, or commanding a room with your voice. Much of being powerful is about owning your own sense of authority and having surety that where you are is where you are meant to be. This is an inner power that takes time to cultivate, likely with many missteps along the way. In the end you will be able to stand tall, your foes vanquished and your place secure. This card asks you to tend less to outward expressions that make you seem powerful and focus more on identifying what allows you to feel powerful from within.
On the Card: High Queen Jude
King of Swords
As you grow into a smart, powerful person, try not to let it make you cruel. Sometimes, we can forget how hard it once was for us when we were naïve and powerless and can turn on others once those are qualities we have moved past. Do not allow yourself to become a tyrant. Alternatively, this card could represent a powerful, intelligent person in your life who is currently wielding power over you—perhaps a boss, family member, or teacher. This person might not think, or care, that they are cruel, but nevertheless you may feel cut by their words and regard. Guard yourself around them and try to protect your peace in their presence.
On the Card: Madoc
Ace of Moths
You are suddenly filled with inspiration and drive to start a new creative venture. This could be a business, a book, an inventive plot to overthrow an aging king, a song. Whatever it is, don’t let it go. This small flame needs to be cultivated and nurtured to become a fire that can sustain itself. Passion alone cannot bring our ideas into reality; we also need hard work and discipline. However, nothing truly great can be accomplished unless we are passionate about it.
Holly Black x Running Press
Featured Titles
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Holly Black’s Faerie Tarot Deck and Guidebook
$32.00
$42.00 CAD
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Holly Black’s Isles of Elfhame 1,000-Piece Puzzle
$22.00
$29.00 CAD
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Holly Black’s Faerie Coloring Postcards
$20.00
$26.00 CAD
