The Lubanko Tarot Review (NSFW)
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Title: The Lubanko Tarot
Creator: E. Lubanko
Publisher: Llewellyn Books
Number of cards: 80
Card size: 4.5 x 2.75 in
Box size: 6.5 x 5 x 2 in approx
Guidebook pages: 244
Purchased or gifted?: Review copy provided by Llewellyn Books
Absolute favorite card: The Hierophant
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved): Seven of cups, the lovers x 3 (I’ll explain what this means later), five of swords, queen of wands, ten of cups, judgement, strength, the star, queen of pentacles
Notable detail: Matte Black sides, bonus cards
Season: Autumn
Sabbat: Samhain
Sign: Scorpio
Element: Fire
Deck compliment: Supra Oracle
Collective Pull: Ace of Cups
Guidebook with the King of Wands
First Impressions
My rep at Llewellyn suggested this one to me. I was curious because I had been looking for some sexier, spicer decks. A good friend of mine is really leaning hard into exploring her sexuality and she mentioned to me that she wished she could find a more salacious deck to work with. And I have been looking for the same.
Allow me to get really personal for a moment and say I am a Scorpio through and through when it comes to sexuality. I really believe monogamous relationships aren’t for everyone and more people would be happy if they stopped trying to fit themselves into that box. I also believe sex is something that shouldn’t be taboo. It is afterall the vehicle in which most of us were delivered to this earth so why should we feel shame about it?
I told my friend I had also wanted a more salacious deck and shortly after, Llewellyn showed me this one (ask and ye shall receive!). So I was intrigued but still on the fence. In the end my curiosity won out and I accepted it. And it is salacious and dark and kind of twisted and definitely an exploration of your inner underworld. Exactly what I was looking for. Let’s dive down into the underworld together and explore this deck in further detail.
The Packaging
Packaging is great, no surprises there. Llewellyn does tarot boxes really well. It's in the smaller size they've been using this year which I really like. I’ve mentioned this in previous reviews but if you’re new here, Llewellyn used to have these really large boxes that are beautiful but more challenging to store. This box is just as gorgeous but in a much more compact presentation that doesn’t take up as much space.
The finish is matte with a few gloss elements here and there, most notably the moon on the top of the box. Inside is also printed with a constellation motif and features a quote from the creator. Per usual there’s a platform in the bottom of the box with a ribbon to lift out the cards and guidebook.
The stand out feature however are the gilded edges! Now, I have ranted and raved for a while about Llwellyn’s lack of coloring their sides and finally—FINALLY—we get a deck with some sprayed edges. And then they go and choose these ultra sexy matte black at that. Ugh, it’s like the best christmas gift ever. Well Done Llewellyn. Well done.
The card stock is a bit thin which isn’t unusual really for Llewellyn but for some reason, these feel a little more thin than usual. But, they absolutely shuffle like a dream and while thin, I haven’t had any damage at all. No nicks so far or bending which is always a good sign. The printing is still what I call semi-gloss. I’m not sure if that’s the proper term but it’s not glossed, I can say that. It almost looks matte but it has just enough of a sheen to not be matte. I do wish they were finished with linen. There’s nothing wrong with the semi-gloss but this is such a visceral deck that a little sensation on the fingers would’ve been icing on the cake.
With deck companion
The Guidebook
I often find that decks created by artists feature guidebooks that are basically afterthoughts. They’re style over substance and offer very little in terms of deep insight. That’s not always the case however and it certainly isn’t the case here. This is a really nice guidebook. E is as much a writer as she is an artist.
I love an art deck, don’t get me wrong but I’ve been reading tarot for so long that I don’t need the guidebook to be more than basic. But I remember when I first started and I didn’t have a lot of money to spend on a deck. I had to be very selective and sometimes I would buy a deck that was gorgeous but the guidebook was overly fluffy, poetic but ultimately hollow. As a beginner, I needed real guidance and instruction, not just pretty words. I was gutted to have spent money on something I couldn’t understand and felt like I couldn’t use. That’s why I kind of make a big deal over art decks. Because the guidebook matters for some.
This guidebook includes:
An Introduction
How to use the deck which is quite a thorough section
And one spread
But the how to use this deck is really detailed. You can tell E thought about how she wanted this deck to be used. She offers many, many questions, lots of thoughts about shadow work, and my favorite of all: what is said and unsaid. I’ve talked about the unsaid portions of a reading in my membership for a while now and honestly, E is the first person other than me that I’ve seen talking about this. I’m not saying no one else is but it’s definitely something that needs more airtime.
I also love the section about telling stories, something I have also leaned into a lot more recently. It’s still an unpopular opinion but I don’t believe tarot is a predictive tool. Sorry. I believe it helps you to unveil connections, to understand a situation, to understand yourself and to give you a sense of where you’re headed. But I don’t think it can predict the future, at least not with any guarantees. But it can help you to tell a narrative so seeing this section in the guidebook made my tarot creator heart so happy. E is clearly a master deck creator. She isn’t looking for the fluff or the surface level. She’s looking for the people who are serious about using tarot for real, meaningful conversations and evolution. I genuinely hope she has another project in the works.
I also want to point out how detailed the writing is, especially with the major arcana. The minors aren’t anywhere near as glorious as the majors but that’s ok. The writing for the majors are so detailed that I really don’t mind the minors being on the shorter side.
Theme
There is no obvious theme in this deck, something I came to appreciate after reading the entire guidebook. The creator mentions that the earlier version of this deck has been said to be good for shadow work but she has always considered shadow work to just be work. It’s not separate from any other work you do, it’s just a piece. I liked that perspective a lot. For a while now, I’ve been saying that shadow work isn’t just something to do in October. That your grief, your shame, your anger isn’t going to wait for Autumn to be triggered so that you can work with it during the “shadow season.” Shadow work is often romanticized as an aesthetic or talked about as a spiritual obligation rather than a path towards self-acceptance. Or it's used as justification for behaviors many are unwilling to examine fully.
I don’t see that in this deck. What I see is a person who is fully ok with asking hard questions and exploring their shadows in a way that feels authentic and honest. You may not choose to use this deck for that purpose but if I had to choose a theme, I would say it’s truth. It’s a tool to ask yourself questions that actually make a difference. Questions like:
Am I really a victim or am I using that as an excuse to gain sympathy?
Do I really need their approval?
Do I really want to be friends with them still or am I holding on out of comfort or fear?
Why do I find it so hard to motivate myself?
What is this comfort zone/addiction/self-sabotage offering me that I don’t actually want to let go of?
These are hard questions with even tougher answers and I think this deck is perfect for that. Yes, that’s a big part of shadow work but it is also THE WORK as the creator has said.
Three different Lovers cards
The Artwork
Oh man, this art is intense. That is actually the world the creator uses and I agree. I don’t mind the intensity though, I actually really love it. This is a Scorpio deck—100%! Every image kind of sends a chill down your spine. A “should I be using this?” sort of feeling. It feels taboo to touch it, to work with it and that’s what I love most about it. It feels dark and dangerous even though it’s not. But the things that scare us are often the things we need most. The things we’re afraid to look at too long at are often what we need to confront.
My favorite card is the Hierophant. I LOVE the figure taking off the mask. I mean what a great way to portray this card. It’s one of the more challenging cards to interpret and I find people really struggle with it. I know I did for a long time. At its root, it represents conditioning, plain and simple. It represents structures, rules, and social norms we’ve learned to keep us firmly rooted in conformity with those around us.
“This deck makes room for the difficulties of reconciling our experiences and memories with the stories that society or authority tells us. It is an attempt to shine the light on those differences and allow us to echolocate through our reality and try to see it for what it is rather than blur it through the lens of what others tell us it must be.”
Things like religion, what kind of job is deemed acceptable, what’s right versus wrong, etc. But it also represents a moment to ask “Why am I following this rule and why does any one person or group get to be the authority on what’s right or wrong?” This card invites you to question rather than follow blindly. To contemplate the deeper motivations behind social constructs.
That’s why I love the mask. Often organizations like religion put on a warm face forward while they hid sinister intentions beneath. They gatekeep information while telling you you’re unworthy of it. They control by manipulating truths and creating alternative narratives, bending rules to their needs like wearing different masks when it suits them best.
Ok, so I can talk about this card on and on but I want to get to some of the others like the seven of cups. This card is so compelling. It doesn’t look anything like the traditional seven of cups but I absolutely love what I believe to be Charon ferrying souls across the river Styx. I liked the guidebook entry too. It’s a really interesting interpretation of this card; one I’m not sure I’ve seen before.
I also want to point out the Lovers as there are three lovers cards. These are among the most sexually explicit of the whole deck and if you found this review on Instagram, I didn’t include the photos because I’m sure Instagram will have a fit so don’t miss scrolling through to see them.
My absolute favorite card
Reading With this Deck
Reading with this deck is intense, just like the artwork. It has regularly thrown cards out at me, given me 3 or 4 cards for every one question, and hit me with some pretty complex readings. I will say that this deck makes you think a lot. It’s really challenged my perception of a lot of cards. It’s made me dive deeper and I think I was already down pretty deep to begin with. I always make it a point to read from the guidebook when I do these reviews rather than relying on my own intuition. Mostly because I want the author’s perspective and I want to use this deck the way readers will use it.
Oftentimes I don’t feel like I’ve learned anything new (I have over 300 decks afterall) but here, I found myself questioning so much about so many cards. The art is incredibly rich and the guidebook is too. I find myself contemplating the meanings more than I have in a long time. I don’t like using this deck when I’m in a rush. This isn’t ideal for a quick pull at all. But it is super engaging and thought provoking. I’m actually blown away by how much my understanding of tarot has expanded since working with this deck.
I definitely can’t use this deck all of the time. I’d love to sit it by my reading desk but I think it’s too intense for that. But it is one that I will come back to again and again.
Collective Pull
Collective Pull
I pulled Ace of Cups for you. The card is the first drop that becomes an ocean. It’s the trembling moment when your heart cracks open and something larger than you begins to move through you—love, intuition, grief, grace. This card is not a promise of comfort but a call to feel more deeply, to let yourself be permeable to beauty and pain alike.
It marks the beginning of emotional truth, a stirring that demands recognition. Here is the chalice extended to you—brimming, shimmering, waiting. The question is not whether you will drink, but whether you will allow yourself to be changed by what flows through it.
Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat
This deck is 100% Scorpio all day long. The sex, the darkness, the aggression, the taboos and the power dynamics all scream Scorpio energy. If you’re looking for a deck that challenges you to explore your inner underworld then this is it. And likewise, Autumn is the perfect time to use it. Shadows aren’t uniquely an Autumn theme but the truth is that fall is most resonant with shadow energy. October into November feels like an excellent time to work with this deck.
I’ve included Beltane for the sabbat though because of the sexual nature in some of the cards however there are only a few sexual cards so Samhain of course is a great choice too and perhaps more appropriate than Beltane. But I wanted to highlight Beltane’s shadowy nature too. And finally I went with Fire for the element because of the deck’s intensity though I could easily make the case for water as well.
Who is this deck for?
This deck isn’t for the casual card puller or the reader who wants soft imagery and gentle affirmations. It’s for those willing to descend into their own underworld and ask questions most decks—and most people—shy away from. If you crave intensity, if you’re unafraid of taboo subjects, if you see sexuality, grief, shame, and power as doorways rather than roadblocks, this deck will meet you where you are and pull you deeper.
It’s perfect for seasoned readers who are tired of surface-level interpretations and want to be challenged to rethink cards they thought they already understood. It’s also a fit for anyone doing serious shadow work—or as the creator frames it, simply the work. You’ll find yourself not just reading cards, but confronting uncomfortable truths, dismantling old conditioning, and piecing together stories that illuminate the rawest corners of your life.
This is a Scorpio’s deck, through and through: intense, salacious, and unapologetically dark. If you’re looking for a tool that pushes you, unsettles you, and ultimately expands your understanding of tarot and of yourself, this one belongs in your collection.
Deck Companion
I chose the Supra Oracle for the companion. I love Supra because it's also intense but because it's monochrome, I feel like it can hold a much more intense deck without competing with it. Many of the energies I’ve found in the Lubanko Tarot are present throughout the art or names of the Supra Oracle and it just felt like a really strong pairing.
Thanks for reading all the way through. If you found this review to be helpful, informative or entertaining in any way, please be sure to leave a comment down below. It really helps me know what you’re enjoying so that I can provide more content based on what you love. In the meantime, please enjoy a variety of photos from this deck.
And of course, if there is something you’d like me to consider reviewing, please comment below or email me at hello@spiritelement.co
Sexually explicit cards
Black card Sides
