*This page may contain affiliate links which may allow us to collect a commission when you click and make a purchase through the links on our site. There is no additional cost to you for doing so.*

Title: Wicked Moon Tarot
Author: Giorgia Farano
Artwork: Lunastorta
Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
Number of cards: 78
Card size: 4.75 x 2.75 in
Box size: 5 x 3.25 x 2.25 in approx
Guidebook pages: 126 (69 in english)
Purchased or gifted?: review copy gifted by Llewellyn
Absolute favorite card: The Sun
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved): The Moon, Ace of Wands, The Magician, King of Pentacles, Nine of Swords, Queen of Pentacles, Death, The Fool, King of Wands
Notable detail: Silver edges
Season: Summer
Sabbat: Lammas
Sign: Leo
Element: Fire
Deck compliment: Wisdom of the Wild Things Oracle
Collective Pull: The Sun

Add to Your Altar

First Impressions

My first thought is that this is a very interesting deck. It kind of reminds me of a really cheery, cartoony version of the Wicker Man. It definitely feels like you’ve walked into this mystical fair of some kind. It also reminds me of an older deck called Deviant Moon Tarot. I definitely think it’s a very specific vibe. This is not the type of deck that I think will be super mainstream which I actually appreciate. In fact, I was just talking to a tarot friend of mine about how publishers push people to make decks that can be as popular as possible. Makes sense right? We live in a capitalist society and that’s just the truth of things. Obviously a publisher wants to sell as much as they can. But I think that dilutes the value of many decks. This deck is very unique and quite niche too. But the right people who will love this deck are really going to love it and I think that’s how it should be. So let’s see if you’re one of those people and dive in.

The Packaging

The packaging is a pretty nice quality on this one. Most notably is the cardstock which is super thick. In fact, it's quite challenging to shuffle because the cards are so heavy. They’re also gilded in a really nice silver. I haven’t seen silver edges on a deck for a while now so this was a nice surprise and it matches the deck well.

What I don’t like is the box. It's one of those that lifts up from the top. I have a few Lo Scarabeo decks like this and I don’t like them because I tend to grab boxes from the top and the bottom always slips out and sends cards flying everywhere. Is it just me? Do you grab the box in a different way and this doesn’t affect you at all? I genuinely want to know.

The box is also nice and compact so it's very easy to store. And of course everything fits neatly inside. It’s also printed in all of the places that matter. It isn’t printed in the interior of the box but you can barely see that part so it makes total sense not to have anything printed there. There are also matte silver details and the finish of everything from the box to the cards is in matte also.

The Guidebook

Like most Lo Scarabeo decks, this guidebook has four languages so only the first 69 pages are in English. It’s a small guidebook but they’ve managed to pack a decent amount inside. You get:

An introduction explaining the theme of the deck
How to use the deck
Three spreads
And the card meanings

I really appreciate the introduction. It explains the concept behind the deck although it doesn’t really explain why it's called Wicked Moon. I could take a guess but I do find myself wishing deck’s names actually foretold what the deck is about in a more obvious way. Lately it kind of feels like decks are getting random names that don’t really land. However, there is a cute story about the main character of this deck whose name is Lunaria so there is some connection even if the “wicked” part isn’t super obvious.

You get just what you need for the readings. If you have other Lo Scarabeo decks or the older US Games decks then this guidebook is about the same as those little white booklets. Not a whole lot to blow your mind open but certainly enough to get a solid reading.

Theme

The deck is about a young witch named Lunaria who is undergoing magical training. Part of this training is to visit the “realms of the Wheel of the Year” where she meets all manner of mystical creatures. She learns about natural cycles and how the world of magic. And you definitely get the sense that you are in a magical world as you look through the cards. I don’t think the Wheel of the Year is as apparent but you can definitely see the influence of the four seasons.

The Artwork

As I mentioned earlier, the art reminds me of a cartoon version of the Wicker Man. It really feels like a folk horror film but done in a more bright and cheery way. Anybody watch Gen V? You know the kid who sees puppets? It’s like that. Where it feels youthful and fun but there’s a clear note of something darker underneath. Now I’m not saying this is a malicious deck because it isn’t. Some of the cards like the king of wands may seem scary but remember that Lunaria is traveling through a mystical land. These creatures are different, more so than evil.

My favorite card is the sun. I don’t know what this creature is but it looks like a mystical dog with wings. It's sweet and soft almost. This card still feels warm and youthful but without the baby image which I have never liked about the sun. The creature looks happy or at least content.

“Ultimately, it will be up to you to trace the common thread that will allow you to interpret and contextualize the profound messages that these beautiful cards will bring into your life.”

I also like the moon a lot. I love how the moon has two faces and there’s shooting stars going by. Sometimes the moon cards look really peaceful when really, this card is about lack of clarity. This moon looks worried and confused which I think represents the card quite well.

This is a colorful deck for sure. You get everything from purple to pinks to orange to blues and blacks but everything is done in a somewhat muted palette. It’s quite feminine and playful too. Lunaria is supposed to be a young witch and I think this style would definitely be ideal for a teenager or younger adult.

Own Wicked Moon Tarot

Reading With this Deck

I have really been struggling this month. My mother has had a significant health scare and even though she’s on the road to recovery, I keep feeling like the other shoe is going to drop. Emotionally, I have been a dumpster fire. Crying frequently, losing sleep and literally, physically worrying myself sick. Not the best frame of mind to do readings if I’m honest.

But I needed to sit with this deck to finish this review so I pushed myself and pulled cards that weren’t what I wanted to see. Not because they were bad but because they reminded me to get a handle on my emotions. To stop crying basically and step into a bigger role within my family that I have been all too happy to avoid.

The cards mirrored what I already knew to be true but haven’t really wanted to look too closely at. I needed to see these cards for sure and in working with this deck, I can say this is one of those that won’t deliver things to you in the kindest way, at least not my copy. Cards have literally flown out of this deck every single time I’ve used it. They are whipping themselves out like they’re trying to scream at me.

I have several decks like this which is fine. A deck is going to be what it is. I had assumed because the art is cartoony and bright that this deck would be more gentle and man was I wrong. But that’s my fault for making an assumption without getting to know the deck first.

Collective Pull

I pulled The Sun for you. The sun is a reminder to focus on what is good and happy and content in your life. Perhaps that is a struggle after what has felt like an extended period of darkness. Let this card serve as your sign that the light has truly returned, even if only for a short while. Relish whatever warmth you can find. Learn to seek out joy rather than waiting for the other show to drop. You are allowed to stand in a positive place whenever and however you can kind it.

Don’t question the joys when they come. Instead, do your best to be present. There will surely come a day when the storms return again and in those moments, you’ll wish you had made the best of the good times.

This card also guides you to be positive as much as you can. To try your best not to dwell on what is wrong or what could go wrong. A sunny outlook often leads to sunny results, even if you can’t see it at the moment.

Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat

I chose summer for the season. There are some obvious winter and fall cards but the overall tone of the deck felt like summer. It feels warm and bright. There’s also a lushness to it that feels like summer abundance. I went with Lammas mostly because I really truly see that Wicker Man energy here which I have always associated with Lammas or that time of the year. I think it’s because Lammas to me represents a turning point. It feels like the shadow of summer I guess. It occurs when it's the hottest and most uncomfortable part of summer but you also start to feel that autumn energy creeping in too.

I chose fire for the element again because of how warm the deck is. And fire was the first thing that came to mind with this deck. A lot of the cards feel quite high energy. There’s a lot of movement or a lot of elements that support that constant movement of fire. Finally I went with Leo for the sign. Leo is perhaps the most expressive of the signs and I see that mirrored here. Again, there’s a lot of energy and a lot of youthfulness and perhaps some recklessness to Lunaria too. I feel like she’s a Leo just because she’s bold and clearly determined to complete her goals.

Who is this deck for?

This deck is for the reader who’s drawn to color, folklore, and playful imagery. If you love decks that feel like a midsummer fair at dusk—music still playing, lanterns lit, something feral pacing just beyond the tents—this one will speak to you.

I also think this deck shines in the hands of younger or newer readers who are ready to be challenged early—to learn that tarot isn’t always gentle just because it’s pretty.

Wicked Moon is niche, opinionated, and a little feral. If you like your decks with personality—and a tendency to shove the truth into your lap whether you asked for it nicely or not—this may be one you’ll form a long, complicated relationship with.

Deck Companion

I chose the Wisdom of the Wild Things Oracle. It was actually a happy accident. I had been using this deck for my monthly pulls in November and hadn’t put it away. I happened to glance at it while I was reviewing Wicked Moon Tarot and immediately thought, YES! Both decks feature these bizarre creatures that feel like extensions of each other. There was a combined strangeness that felt too good to overlook. So I paired them together and instantly loved them. I can’t think of another oracle deck that matches Wicked Moon quite like this. I can think of a few tarot decks but as far as oracles go, I think the pairing is super solid.

Buy Wisdom of the Wild Things

Thanks for reading. If you're ready to move beyond collecting decks and into actual seasonal practice - the kind that changes how you move through your days, not just how your altar looks - The Unfolding is where that work happens.

It's where I share the unglamorous, embodied truth about living seasonally: the rituals that actually shift something, the shadow work the Instagram posts don't mention, and the framework for building a life that feels like yours

Here, we focus on real emotions and not just poetic ones. We work with things like exhaustion, resentment, loneliness and the feeling of shrinking. We acknowledge our experience while taking steps to transform them into empowered emotions such as groundedness, having a sense of direction and real—not performative—gratitude.

Learn more or join here

And if there's a deck you'd like me to review, drop a comment or email me at hello@spiritelement.co.