Steampunk Tarot Review
Steampunk Tarot
by: Barbara Moore and Aly Fell
While I do prefer the classic Rider-Waite imagery, I enjoy exploring an artist’s interpretation of card meanings through conceptual art. I also have a particular fondness for anything steampunk.
I own the smaller 4-inch version of this deck, which came in a paper box without a guidebook. The cards are made of the typical thinner playing card stock, which might be different from the larger version.
I particularly love the Two of Cups in this deck, which features two inquisitive scientists merging their efforts to create a magical chemical reaction that forms a perfect yin and yang symbol.
In the Four of Wands, women are depicted preparing the stage for a grand celebration, with the sun shining through their flowing, sheer skirts.
Steampunk, with its blend of alchemy, mechanics, and mystery, has always fascinated me, especially the theme of clocks and gears and the rhythmic “tick, tick, tick” that comes to mind. The Wheel of Fortune card captures my personal vision of Steampunk perfectly, and I find it incredibly fitting. The Devil card portrays two figures as puppets controlled by a sinister mechanical devil. Meanwhile, The Tower card illustrates an intricate treehouse being struck by lightning in a dramatic display of destruction.
The Four of Pentacles, symbolizing financial security and saving, is beautifully represented by a charming wind-up piggy bank. The Three of Swords, depicting emotional anguish, features a mechanical heart pierced by three swords. The Eight of Swords, illustrating a sense of victimhood, shows a bound and blindfolded woman in a corseted gown sitting on a booby-trapped chair surrounded by eight swords on gears, yet the path forward remains clear.
If you’re a fan of steampunk or enjoy exploring unique artistic interpretations of tarot, this deck is sure to captivate you.