Modern Tarot Renaissance: Indie Deck Explosion (2010s-Present)
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BY NICOLE LAU
The 2010s-present witnessed an unprecedented explosion of independent tarot deck creation. Thousands of artists, freed by digital tools and crowdfunding platforms, created decks representing every culture, identity, aesthetic, and vision imaginable. This indie tarot renaissance democratized tarot creation, shattered representation barriers, and proved that tarot belongs to everyone.
The Perfect Storm: Why Now?
Digital Tools: Affordable design software, digital art tablets, print-on-demand services made deck creation accessible to anyone.
Crowdfunding: Kickstarter (2009) and Indiegogo enabled artists to fund decks without publishers or gatekeepers.
Social Media: Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok provided free marketing and community building.
Print-on-Demand: Services like MakePlayingCards, Printer Studio allowed small print runs without huge upfront costs.
Spiritual Hunger: Millennials and Gen Z seeking meaning outside traditional religion turned to tarot.
The Kickstarter Revolution
Kickstarter transformed tarot publishing:
Direct to Consumer: Artists could sell directly to buyers, keeping creative control and profits.
Community Funding: Fans became investors, creating passionate communities around decks.
Viral Success: Some campaigns raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, proving indie tarot's commercial viability.
No Gatekeepers: Publishers couldn't reject diverse, unconventional, or niche decks anymore.
Representation Revolution
Indie decks finally represented everyone:
BIPOC Creators: Decks centering Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latinx, and other marginalized communities.
Examples:
- Dust II Onyx (Courtney Alexander, 2020) - centering Black and brown bodies
- Hoodoo Tarot (Tayannah Lee McQuillar, 2020) - African American spiritual tradition
- Afro Goddess Tarot Chronicles (Abiola Abrams, 2021)
LGBTQ+ Decks: Queer, trans, non-binary representation finally visible.
Examples:
- The Numinous Tarot (Cedar McCloud, 2018) - gender-fluid imagery
- Queer Tarot (Ash + Chess, 2020)
- The Slow Holler Tarot (2017) - Appalachian queer culture
Body Diversity: Fat bodies, disabled bodies, aging bodies, all bodies celebrated.
Cultural Specificity: Decks rooted in specific traditions - Korean, Mexican, Indigenous, Jewish, Islamic-inspired.
Aesthetic Explosion
Every art style imaginable:
Minimalist: Simple line art, clean designs (The Fountain Tarot, 2014).
Maximalist: Incredibly detailed, layered imagery (The Prisma Visions Tarot, 2016).
Vintage Collage: Victorian imagery, antique aesthetics (The Antique Anatomy Tarot, 2017).
Photography: Photographic tarot decks (The Next World Tarot, 2017).
Digital Art: Bold digital illustration (The Spacious Tarot, 2019).
Watercolor: Soft, dreamy paintings (The Starchild Tarot, 2016).
Abstract: Non-representational, conceptual (The Alleyman's Tarot, 2016).
Thematic Innovation
Decks exploring specific themes:
- Plants and herbalism
- Animals and nature
- Cities and urban life
- Food and cooking
- Music and sound
- Science and technology
- Mental health and healing
- Social justice and activism
The Instagram Effect
Instagram became tarot's primary platform:
#Tarot: Millions of posts, daily card pulls, deck photos, reading offers.
Deck Reviews: Influencers reviewing indie decks, driving sales.
Community: Artists and readers connecting globally, sharing work, supporting each other.
Visual Culture: Tarot's aesthetic appeal perfect for Instagram's visual platform.
The Challenges
Market Saturation: Thousands of decks competing for attention.
Quality Variation: Not all indie decks are well-designed or printed.
Cultural Appropriation: Some creators borrowing from cultures not their own without respect or understanding.
Economic Pressure: Hard for artists to make living wage from deck sales.
Burnout: Creating 78 cards is exhausting; many artists struggle to complete projects.
The Victories
Democratization: Anyone can create tarot now, not just established publishers.
Representation: Finally, tarot reflects humanity's diversity.
Innovation: Artistic and thematic creativity exploding.
Community: Global tarot community supporting independent artists.
Economic Opportunity: Some artists making full-time living from tarot.
Notable Indie Success Stories
The Wild Unknown (Kim Krans, 2012): One of the first indie mega-successes, sold millions of copies.
Modern Witch Tarot (Lisa Sterle, 2019): Diverse, contemporary RWS reimagining, huge commercial success.
The Spacious Tarot (Carrie Mallon, 2019): Bold, inclusive, body-positive, widely beloved.
The Future of Indie Tarot
Continued Growth: More creators, more diversity, more innovation.
Technology: AR tarot, NFT decks, digital-only releases.
Sustainability: Eco-friendly printing, ethical production.
Accessibility: Decks for blind/low-vision users, neurodivergent-friendly designs.
Global Voices: More non-Western creators sharing their cultural perspectives.
Supporting Indie Tarot
Buy Direct: Purchase from artists' websites or Kickstarters when possible.
Share Work: Amplify indie creators on social media.
Leave Reviews: Help others discover great indie decks.
Commission Art: Support artists by commissioning custom work.
Respect Pricing: Understand that fair prices support artists' livelihoods.
Bringing Indie Tarot Into Your Practice
Explore Diversity: Try decks from creators of different backgrounds and perspectives.
Support Living Artists: Your purchase directly supports independent creators.
Display Beautifully: Honor indie artists' work. Our Tarot Tapestries can feature indie deck imagery.
Sacred Space: Create space that celebrates tarot's diversity. Our Sacred Geometry Tapestries and Ritual Candles honor all tarot traditions.
The Renaissance Continues
The indie tarot explosion isn't slowing - it's accelerating. Every day, new artists launch campaigns, share work, and add their voices to tarot's ever-expanding chorus.
What was once controlled by a few publishers is now created by thousands. What was once limited to white Western imagery now represents every culture and identity. What was once inaccessible is now democratic.
This is tarot's true golden age - not because of one perfect deck, but because of infinite perfect decks, each reflecting its creator's unique vision and voice.
From gatekeepers to creators. From scarcity to abundance. The renaissance continues.
For those drawn to deepening their personal tarot practice, the 52-Week Tarot Journey offers a full year of weekly spreads and daily pulls for reflection, while the 30-Day Tarot Practice Workbook builds confidence through structured daily exercises. To explore the archetypal foundations behind the cards, Jung and the Archetype bridges tarot with the unconscious mind, and Shadow Work Tarot guides deeper internal exploration. For journaling alongside any deck, Tarot Journaling Prompts provides 100 questions for self-discovery.
