Product Review: Alice in Wonderland Tarot Deck and Guidebook
Disney Alice in Wonderland Tarot Deck and Guidebook will be on sale March 29. The offering celebrates the 70th anniversary of Disney’s original “Alice in Wonderland” film. Authored by Minerva Siegel and illustrated by Lisa Vannini, deck is the first official tarot deck featuring the iconic aesthetic and characters of the 1951 classic.
Tarot decks are having a moment right now for many reasons, particularly because those who may have look askance at the practice of asking questions to a card, cleansing a deck with crystals or moonlight, or gathering friends for a reading are experiencing a change of heart. Whether due to uncertainty and discontent brought out by the soon to be third year of isolation, or by the beautiful art and escapist whimsy the decks employ, skeptics are now drawn to tarot for answers and escape.
I am one such skeptic, but loved trying out this deck. The guidebook, as written by Minerva Siegel, is extremely easy to follow. Siegel has previously authored the guidebooks for themed decks of “The Nightmare before Christmas” and “Supernatural,” in addition to the book “Tarot for Self-Care: How to Use Tarot to Manifest Your Best Self.” Her guidebook is clearly written, and acknowledges the different attitudes and questions one can approach a reading with. She includes some background on tarot, introductions to each of the Major and Minor Arcana, some suggested spreads and instructions for maintaining the deck. All 78 cards have suggested interpretations for Upright and Reverse draws.
The art of the deck, illustrated by Lisa Vannini, is a beautiful take on the iconic images. The Major Arcana, counted from 0 to XX, follows The Fool (Alice) on a harrowing journey to enlightenment. This deck features illustrations of Alice along with the other iconic characters of “Alice in Wonderland.” The four classic suits of the Minor Arcana of Wands, Pentacles, Swords and Cups have been replaced by Flowers, Hedgehogs, Spears and Teacups. Vannini’s art is a whimsical update, influenced by Japanese styles that create a fresh watercolor look.
The “Alice in Wonderland Tarot Deck and Guidebook” is a gorgeous, accessible and reasonably priced introduction for those looking to try tarot reading for the first time, or extension for the more experienced reader.
*This post contains affiliate links, as an Amazon Associate the site earns from qualifying purchases.
It’s not a good starter deck because the minor arcana don’t have any real images on them. They don’t visually show the meaning of the card. It just shows “10 swords”. This deck neglects the minor arcana and that makes it harder to remember them. The art is cool, but the minor arcana deserve consideration as well.