The Biblical Tarot Review and Deck Interview

A Biblical Tarot deck may not exactly be the kind of deck you’d expect someone who has spent a lot of time and effort recovering from Religious Trauma Syndrome to purchase. Does this mean I’m sliding back into the clutches of religion and dogma? No! It means that I’m testing how far along I am on my healing journey I am in terms of having the freedom to love what I love unapologetically.

There will always be elements of Christianity that I love and I do not feel I have to deprive myself of them in spite of identifying as spiritual rather than religious. The stories in the Bible are just as riveting as the Greek Myths and Norse Sagas and I know them well. Seeing them so beautifully portrayed in The Biblical Tarot (affiliate link) by Krasimir Kalin and with such great emotional resonance in the stories chosen for each card made my heart sing with joy. I instantly knew this deck would read extremely well for me.

Additionally, I am devoted to Mother Mary and I feel this deck can help me work more closely with her.

Biblical Tarot Video Flip-through

I already shared the video flip through below on most of my social media channels. It received some positive comments about the artwork. You can see why for yourself:

The Basics

The Biblical Tarot deck arrived from across the pond one week after I placed my order on Amazon UK. Sadly the packaging wasn’t super secure. Because of this, the otherwise sturdy magnetic flip-top box has a couple of small dents. No big deal. It’s happened before and will happen again. None of the cards were harmed and that’s the main thing.

The inside of the box has a beautiful design and uplifting message.

Whether we like it not, those of us who were raised in (secularised) Christian countries still have Christian roots. I never intended my healing journey to be one of killing those roots but of understanding how to nurture them without all-black-or-white CPTSD-induced thinking. I have a strong feeling this Tarot deck can help with that.

On the side of a box, you have a scripture reference:

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10

The Structure of the Deck

The Biblical Tarot is a glossy standard-sized deck. The card stock is quite thin but feels sturdy enough to last. It follows a traditional structure with some alternative titles and suit names:

• Wands = Candles
• Cups = Chalices
• Swords = Feathers
• Pentacles = Grains

The alternative Major Arcana titles are:

• The Fool = The Soul
• The Wheel of Fortune = Wheel Within a Wheel

A nice, helpful quirk of this deck is that the Court Cards are numbered at the top of the card as per the Tarot Numerology system I use and teach for calculating the quint:

• Pages = 11
• Knights = 12
• Queens = 13
• Kings = 14

The Little White Book and the Expanded Guidebook

A LWB is included with the deck (see video above). It has basic meanings and no explanation of the Biblical context. However, you can download an in-depth free guidebook titled ‘The Divine Patterns of Biblical Tarot.’ This download is available even if you have not yet purchased the deck so you can preview it by clicking the link.

I was curious to see if the expanded guidebook would correct the misprint on the 8 of Grains (Pentacles) that cites John 4:4. For those of us who know the Bible, this mistake is obvious. I knew the verse was from the Old Testament and a quick Google search helped me find it:

“So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.”
– Exodus 36:1

Other than this tiny mistake and the fact that the 194-page expanded guidebook is not hyperlinked, I cannot fault the Divine Patterns of Biblical Tarot companion book. It renders both upright and reversed meanings, provides a summary of the related Bible story and contains several useful variations of a five-card cross layout spread. You can also buy a hardcopy of this book HERE (affiliate link).

There is a downloadable LWB that is hyperlinked which could be useful to any Tarot beginners. Fingers crossed that the expanded version will eventually become hyperlinked and downloadable.

Biblical Tarot Deck Interview

1. Describe yourself in three words or less.

Queen of Pentacles (Queen of Grains/Proverbs 31 Woman)

BT: Embodied, hard-working

Me: Wow, I love the synchronicity of this card showing up in the same position as it did in my most decent deck interview with the Unveiling the Golden Age Tarot deck. Can you comment on the significance of this.

BT: Sure! There is perfect symmetry here and an opportunity to bridge extremes by reconciling them in practical ways through daily rituals and practices using both decks.

Me: That sounds wonderful. I love the idea of both and replacing any lingering, trauma-related all-black-or-white thinking…!

2. How would your best friend describe you in three words or less?

9 of Swords (9 of Feathers/Peter Denies Jesus)

BT: Healing after betrayal

Me: Ohhh… can you elaborate on this, please?

BT: Many of my ‘friends’ accuse me of betraying the faith by using Tarot cards. As you may be aware, the Tarot is widely condemned by mainstream religion, including the largest Christian denomination, the Catholic Church. But I have also had to take in the neck from people who hate Christ and Christianity. I couldn’t begin to tell you how many times I have been betrayed. So this deck is for anyone who has experienced betrayal, whether on the giving or receiving end. Healing is always possible.

3. What gift do you bring?

King of Pentacles (King of Grains/Joseph in Charge of Egypt)

BT: I help you make the most of any mundane opportunities, for the Highest Good of All, through relatable story-telling. Remember that Joseph, though a practical man, had a strong oracular gift–You do too! You can use it to improve your standard of living. That way you are also better able to support others.

Me: This is what I’m talking about! I’ve never felt a strong connection to the King of Pentacles archetype before but I love the story about Joseph and now this is one of my favourite cards!

4. What do you expect in return?

The Emperor (King Solomon)

BT: That you take charge of your life and level up as the wise and proactive co-creator of your destiny.

5. How can you help me serve?

7 of Pentacles (7 of Grains/Parable of the Sower)

BT: I can help you take a step back to assess the situation before you make any decisions. With my help, you can appreciate how the past brought you to exactly where you need to be right now for the best and highest good.

Me: Thank you. I’m tired of always beating myself up for past mistakes.

6. Is there anything else you would like to tell me about yourself?

9 of Pentacles (9 of Grains/Queen of Sheba visits Solomon)

BT: I bring in beauty and abundance for those who are willing to align with cosmic law and harness the power of ancient wisdom. There is a harmony of the divine feminine and the divine masculine already in place through me, by virtue of combining patriarchal religion with the divine feminine oracular arts. It really is an unbeatable combination for transcending any limitations you have placed on your existence.

Me: Yeah, I can feel the truth of this in my bones… and in my heart! I’m a bit blown away by the Elemental Balance here. Four out of six cards are from the suit of Grains/Pentacles. Could you please comment on that before we close this session?

BT: Sure. This dominance of Grain cards represents Shekhinah (Holy Spirit/Divine Presence) in Malkuth (Earth/Pentacles), the sphere of the Kingdom on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Like Yeshua, I am here to teach you how to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to Earth. There is no room for spiritual fluff here. We roll up our sleeves, look around and start serving our brothers and sisters!

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