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Title: Tarot Chimera
Created by: Nitasia Roland
Publisher: Weiser Books
Number of cards: 83
Card size: 4.75 x 2.75 in
Box size: 7.5 x 5.5 x 2 in approx
Guidebook pages: 200
Purchased or gifted?: review copy gifted by Weiser Books
Absolute favorite card: Three of Pentacles
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved): Wheel of Fortune, Justice, Ten of Wands, The Moon, The Hermit
Notable detail: Bonus cards
Season: Winter
Sabbat: Samhain
Sign: Scorpio
Element: Spirit (The Void)
Deck compliment: Coven Oracle
Collective Pull: The High Priestess

Add to Your Altar

First Impressions

I was immediately intrigued when Weiser first approached me about reviewing this deck. I love a monochromatic deck. I like colorful decks too but my favorites are the ones that are muted and subdued. Color can be rich with symbolism of course but there’s something about a minimal deck that feels like it gets to the heart of the card and doesn’t need a lot of extras to be meaningful. Reviewing this one was an easy yes for me.

Then I got it in the mail and it felt strange. I looked through it and kept feeling like “should I be using this deck?” I don’t mind a dark, shadowy deck at all but I do pass on demonic things and stuff like that. This is not a demonic deck at all but it does kind of feel like it. The art is very strange and dark both literally and figuratively. But things start to make sense once you read the background of the deck which I’ll explain later. On a first pass though, I found myself approaching this deck with caution. So let’s dig in and see what it's all about and if this is one you’ll add to your altar.

The Packaging

The packaging is great although very similar to other publishers. The box is exactly the same as the Seasons of the Witch: Winter Tarot box for reference which is my deck through Rockpool Publishing. Weiser seems to be experimenting with different packaging. They don’t have a consistent size or style and while it is very similar to other brands, I do really like this size and style.

It’s a matte print on a two piece box and has a platform to hold the cards inside. You’ll also find the cards are wrapped with a black strip of paper and there is a yellowish string to lift out the cards and guidebook.

The cards are printed in semi-gloss and are gilded with a nice bright gold. Usually I think gold is a little boring but it’s so striking against the black and white here. Especially because much of the black shades in the deck are a very warm, brownish tone black and much of the white shades are also very warm. You’ll see a lot of ivory and light butter tones. Both the warm blacks and yellowish white pick up on that gold quite nicely. The box is an especially rich, warm, brownish black.

The cards don’t feel thin until you shuffle them. When you pick them up, they feel pretty solid but I have noticed they are a little susceptible to damage while shuffling so be careful with these.

The Guidebook

The guidebook is excellent. It has everything you’d want in a guidebook. It has an explanation about the source of the idea and why it's named Tarot Chimera.

There’s a section on Odilon Redon who is the artist who actually created the images you see on the cards. Nitasia, the creator of this deck used Redon’s art (which is now in the public domain), cleaning it up and restoring it to be used for the print of this tarot.

The guidebook also has a section about the chimera and its influence to Redon and this deck. And there’s some information about the symbolist art movement. In addition to all of that, you also get:

An introduction
Three tarot spreads
How to consecrate your deck
Keywords for the suits and court cards
And of course the card meanings

This isn’t the largest guidebook ever but it absolutely has what you need to know. Last year, I talked a lot about how so many creators don’t tell you anything about why a deck exists. What makes your deck special? Why do I need this over another deck? I’ve also talked about how tired I am of seeing art decks that are pretty to look at but the guidebook feels like an afterthought, just thrown in there because you felt obligated to do it.

This is the rare artist created deck which actually has substance. It may seem like a small thing but knowing the motivation behind a deck contributes to one’s understanding of it. Yes you have your intuition but let us remember that intuition is meant to work in partnership with the logical mind. You can know the practical details of a project and still have a deeper understanding of it on an intuitive level. So knowing more about the project just adds more layers in my opinion.

I especially loved reading about Odilon Redon and how he used art to portray his understanding of the void, dreams, and visions. He was drawn to the darkness and came to learn about the difference between angelicized demons and daemons that are both good and bad, just like humans. Without this bit of information, I don’t know that I would’ve used this deck. Before I told you it felt strange and a bit too taboo. But after reading all of the guidebook, I began to find a deep resonance with the work, Odilon Redon, and finding beauty in the darkness.

Sure, we want people to rely on their intuition but the truth is that it's exhausting to have to check in with your intuition for every single thing. Sometimes you just want things to be clear without feeling like you have to second guess what your inner being is telling you. Or sometimes you just want validation that this is something you actually want to work with.

Theme

First and foremost, I believe this deck’s theme is to represent the artwork of Odilon Redon as the imagery is taken entirely from his work. But beyond that, this deck is about working with the void and the deeper, darker parts of your subconscious. These images are meant to help you face fears and to confront the mysterious beings we have been taught to fear. It’s a way to peek into the darkest corners of your mind so that you can explore them with curiosity rather than judgment.

The Artwork

The artwork is entirely in shades of black and white. You have cooler shades of black and white and you have warmer shades of black and white but that’s the only color variation you get. This deck reminds me a lot of an old deck called the Davinci Enigma Tarot which is not completely monochromatic but it's pretty close. Both decks have this rigid, almost cold quality about them. But Tarot Chimera is what I imagine the planet Pluto would be in a deck. It’s dark and scary but has a softness to it too.

My favorite card is the three of pentacles. I love the main figure taking up the vast majority of the image. The three of pentacles is about working together in a partnership with others but I think everyone to some degree, feels like their idea or way of doing things is the best and that everyone else should agree. That’s what I get out of this image. You see two people down towards the bottom but the main figure is very clearly the subject and perhaps the most important piece here. The two smaller figures are looking up at the larger one as if in awe or perhaps looking for guidance. It doesn’t show an equality like the three of pentacles typically does but I think this image is actually more realistic for the card.

“In Symbolism these artists saw a new outlook that opposed the rise of science, was a reaction against mediocrity, and exalted the spiritual over the material while finding refuge in fantasy and medieval and Renaissance symbolism.”

I also really love the ten of wands. I love that the figure isn’t carrying anything. It looks like he’s burdened with grief or feeling like he’s drifting more so than being burdened with tasks. And I think that’s perhaps more accurate to modern life as well. We carry so much emotionally and mentally in today’s world. It can feel like you’re weighed down by things you can’t even see. This image feels like what it might look like inside my mind when I’m stressed and overwhelmed so it really resonated with me.

I also want to point out the inclusion of five bonus cards: The Visionary, Chimera, Genius Loci, Trickster, and the Muse. Bonus cards are always a nice touch.

Own Tarot Chimera

Reading With this Deck

This deck may be steeped in darkness and mystery but I have actually found reading with it to be quite cheerful. I’ve mostly pulled very positive cards and very affirming ones too. This deck doesn’t feel aggressive in its approach in fact, it feels almost reserved. I get the sense that this deck just tells you what you need to hear without drama or embellishment. It doesn’t smack you over the head with cold, hard truths in any way but it gives you just enough to understand. I haven’t felt as though I needed to pull any follow up questions while working with this deck.

I pulled The Hierophant for the deck’s personality and I can see that. The fact that the artwork is old and that the meanings don’t stray away from the traditional tarot meanings for the most part feels like the Hierophant’s energy. It feels solid and dependable without a lot of fuss.

Collective Pull

I pulled The High Priestess for you. The High Priestess guides you to trust in yourself, your intuition and to follow your heart. This is not a week for making choices through logic. If something feels off, trust that feeling and ask yourself WHY? What is this feeling attached to? And have you been feeling this way for a long time but chose to ignore it? Whatever situation you find yourself in this week, know that the answer is within you. Embrace your intuition and let it show you what needs to be done next. Additionally, the High Priestess guides you to deepen your awareness. Answers may come in unexpected ways. Pay attention to what's around you and train yourself to see the subtle clues that will guide you to your destiny.

Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat

I chose winter for the season which seemed like the most natural choice to me. The lack of color immediately makes me think of the cold, harshness of winter, specifically around January and into early February. I chose Scorpio for the sign because of the association to the void, darkness, and the subconscious mind. There is a lot of talk in this deck about confronting your fears as well which is 100% Scorpio’s domain. Likewise, Samhain seemed like a great fit for this deck for the same reasons. There is a clear connection between this deck and crossing over into the void and no sabbat represents this energy quite like Samhain. Finally, I chose spirit for the element again for the connection to the void, zero point field, unconsciousness or whatever you chose to call it.

Who is this deck for?

For one, if you’re a fan of minimal art or the Symbolist art movement then this deck should feel like an instant winner. It isn’t bright and colorful but still rich in artwork and symbolism. Scorpios might also have a natural affinity for this deck as I did as well as Pisces. If you’re interested in things that feel taboo or flirt with darker elements then you’ll probably enjoy this deck.

Deck Companion

I happened to have the Coven Oracle sitting nearby because it's on my schedule to review. Now I’ve had this oracle on my desk for a while, wondering which tarot would go well with it and I was coming up blank. But then I sat down to review Tarot Chimera and after really getting a chance to work with it, I immediately thought of the Coven Oracle and decided to give it a try. And I really like the pairing. For one because they are both monochromatic which means they won’t compete with each other in style or color. But I also think the Coven Oracle has a bit of that taboo, “should I shouldn’t I” sort of energy. The Coven Oracle softens Tarot Chimera a bit as well.

Coven Oracle

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