The Daughters of the Moon Tarot represents a distinct departure from traditional tarot structures, offering a celebration of female consciousness and Goddess-centered spirituality. Originally conceived in 1976 under the title "Matriarchal Tarot," this deck was created by artist Ffiona Morgan to serve as an archive of womanlore and knowledge. Unlike standard rectangular cards, the Daughters of the Moon utilizes a round format, a design choice intended to evoke the concept of cycles and the gradations of positive and negative energies inherent in the tarot. This deck is characterized by its inclusive representation of all races, ages, and body shapes, and its specific reimagining of traditional archetypes to align with a feminine spiritual orientation.
Deck Structure and Arcanas
The Daughters of the Moon Tarot is organized into five distinct arcanas rather than the traditional two (Major and Minor). This structure includes the aether arcana (the majors) and four suits: Flames (Wands), Cups, Blades (Swords), and Pentacles. The total number of cards in the deck is 73, comprising 21 Aether arcana (Major) and 52 other arcana (Minor).
The round cards bring the idea of cycles and gradations of positive and negative to the tarot. The deck is divided into five arcanas: the aether (majors) and those of the suits (flames, cups, blades and pentacles). This structural innovation is matched by a thematic shift in the imagery and titles of the cards.
Reimagined Major Arcana
A primary feature of the Daughters of the Moon Tarot is the removal or alteration of traditional male cards to reflect a feminine perspective. The Magician, for instance, has been transformed into the Witch. Furthermore, the deck introduces two new major cards: Pan and Coyotewoman, identified as the Trickster.
The Major Arcana cards listed in the source material include: * Dreamer * Witch (replacing The Magician) * Isis * Mawu * Aphrodite * Amazon * Strength * Wise One * Spiderwoman * Maat * Reversal * Phoenix * Temperance * Oppression * Pan or Coyotewoman (The Trickster) * Kali * Star * Yemeya * Amaterasu * Celebration * Shakti
These titles reflect a diverse pantheon of female deities and archetypes, moving away from the Eurocentric and patriarchal figures often found in traditional decks. The inclusion of figures such as Kali, Yemeya, and Amaterasu broadens the spiritual scope, offering a more global perspective on feminine power and mythology.
Court Cards and Suits
The court cards of the Daughters of the Moon Tarot have been significantly restructured. The traditional four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) are reduced to three in each suit. These three cards represent three archetypes of the Goddess: the Maiden, the Mother, and the Crone. Notably, the King is entirely absent from this deck.
The specific mapping of these archetypes to traditional roles is as follows: * Crone: Represents the Queen * Mother: Represents the Knight * Maiden: Represents the Page
This reduction serves to reinforce the deck's focus on the stages of female life and the divine feminine, rather than hierarchical or male-dominated structures.
Suit Names and Imagery
The four suits retain their traditional associations but are renamed to better fit the deck's thematic elements: * Flames: Corresponds to Wands (associated with fire, action, and creativity). * Cups: Corresponds to Cups (associated with water, emotions, and relationships). * Blades: Corresponds to Swords (associated with air, intellect, and conflict). * Pentacles: Corresponds to Pentacles (associated with earth, material world, and stability).
For the cards numbered 2 through 10 (the pip cards), the style of illustration is described as "picture scenes." This suggests that the deck relies on narrative imagery rather than simple symbolic arrangements to convey meaning, allowing for a more intuitive reading process.
Comparison with Other Feminist Decks
The Daughters of the Moon Tarot is often discussed in relation to the Motherpeace deck, as both are round, feminist tarot decks. Motherpeace was released two years prior to Daughters of the Moon. However, despite their shared format and feminist orientation, their energies are described as dissimilar. Where Motherpeace is characterized as feeling "muted and gentle," Daughters of the Moon is said to "scream female power." The latter is noted for exhorting women to embrace their power, a sentiment that was evident even in the earlier black and white edition of the deck.
Companion Resources
To support users in understanding and utilizing this unique deck, a companion book titled Daughters of the Moon Tarot by Ffiona Morgan is available. This book measures 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" and contains 105 pages (based on the 1994 11th edition, updated in 2000). Additionally, the deck includes an instruction sheet of 16 pages and offers two options for the Lovers card, further emphasizing the deck's flexibility and focus on relationship dynamics.
Conclusion
The Daughters of the Moon Tarot stands as a significant work in the realm of feminist spirituality and divination. Through its round cards, five-arcana structure, and reimagined archetypes, it challenges traditional tarot conventions. By replacing male figures with Goddess archetypes and reducing the court cards to the Maiden, Mother, and Crone, the deck creates a space for women to explore their spiritual journey through a lens of female power and cycles. Its distinct energy, described as powerful and assertive compared to its contemporaries, continues to appeal to those seeking a Goddess-centered approach to the tarot.