The Tarot of the Divine, created by Yoshi Yoshitani, represents a unique fusion of traditional tarot structure and global cultural narratives. This deck draws upon deities, folklore, fairy tales, and myths from around the world to illustrate the 78 cards comprising the Major and Minor Arcana. By integrating these diverse stories, the deck aims to foster an appreciation for cultural differences while highlighting the shared human experiences that transcend ethnicity, gender, and age. The imagery suggests that while the specific circumstances of life may vary, the underlying emotions—such as sorrow, victory, and joy—remain universal.
This deck operates within the established framework of the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) tarot system, ensuring that readers familiar with traditional tarot meanings can navigate the cards with ease. The artwork utilizes a distinct color palette of teal greens, pale oranges, reds, browns, black, white, and purple to create simple yet richly symbolic imagery. For individuals seeking spiritual guidance or self-reflection, the Tarot of the Divine offers a visual and narrative pathway to understanding life’s karmic lessons and daily challenges.
The Structure of the Tarot
Understanding the Tarot of the Divine requires familiarity with the fundamental structure of tarot cards. The deck consists of 78 cards, divided into two primary sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Each section plays a specific role in providing insight and reflection.
The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana comprises 22 cards that represent life’s significant karmic and spiritual lessons. These cards depict the various stages encountered during the search for greater meaning and understanding. They hold deeply meaningful lessons on a soul level, often reflecting major life themes, transformations, and pivotal moments. In the Tarot of the Divine, these cards are illustrated through stories of deities and legends, offering a narrative approach to these profound spiritual journeys.
The Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards that reflect the trials and tribulations experienced on a daily basis. These cards highlight the practical aspects of life, referring to current issues that may have a temporary or minor influence. The Minor Arcana is further divided into four suits, each representing a different aspect of daily existence:
- Cups: This suit generally relates to emotions, relationships, and matters of the heart.
- Coins (Pentacles): In the Tarot of the Divine, this suit is referred to as Coins, corresponding to the Pentacles in the RWS system. It typically represents material concerns, finances, work, and the physical world.
- Swords: This suit often deals with the mind, intellect, conflict, and challenges that require mental clarity.
- Wands: This suit symbolizes passion, creativity, and the heart. It is associated with inspiration, action, and energy.
Within the Minor Arcana, there are also 16 Court Cards. These cards represent different personality characteristics or roles that individuals may choose to express at any given time.
Cultural Narratives and Symbolism
The defining feature of the Tarot of the Divine is its incorporation of global folklore and mythology. Creator Yoshi Yoshitani selected stories from various cultures to illustrate the cards, ensuring ethnic diversity within the deck. The goal is to show that regardless of background, people experience the events and energies depicted in the tarot.
The Wands Suit: Passion and Creativity
The Wands suit in this deck is particularly noted for its use of fire and flame illustrations, which symbolize passion, creativity, and the heart. For example, the imagery may include a wand depicted as a paintbrush, drawing from a Chinese tale to symbolize art and creativity. Flowers blooming in the imagery speak to growth and vitality. Circles in the artwork may symbolize the moon, connecting the card's energy with intuition and the creation of something new and whole. These visual elements align with traditional tarot meanings while adding a layer of cultural storytelling.
Examples of Featured Legends
The deck includes a wide array of myths and legends. Some of the specific folklores and mythologies featured include: * Beauty and The Beast: A classic fairy tale often associated with seeing beyond appearances and finding inner beauty. * Sun God Ra: An Egyptian deity representing power, light, and creation. * Sita: A central figure in the Hindu epic Ramayana, symbolizing devotion, strength, and purity. * Hang Tuah: A legendary warrior in Malay folklore, known for his loyalty and skill. * The Little Mermaid: A fairy tale exploring themes of sacrifice, transformation, and longing.
Interpreting the Cards
Interpretation of the Tarot of the Divine can be approached in multiple ways, depending on the reader's background and knowledge.
For the Folklore-Knowledgeable Reader
Individuals who are well-versed in various mythologies and folklores may find that the meaning of the cards is immediately apparent. The stories depicted on the cards often coincide with the traditional meanings of the tarot. For instance, a card inspired by a tale of overcoming adversity through bravery might correspond to a Major Arcana card representing triumph or perseverance. This approach allows the reader to connect with the cards on an intuitive level through the narrative presented.
For the Traditional Tarot Reader
Readers familiar with the Rider-Waite system will find the Tarot of the Divine easy to use. Even if the specific folklore associated with a card is not recognized, the underlying symbolism and structure remain consistent with the RWS tradition. The deck serves as an alternative visualization of the standard tarot meanings, offering fresh perspectives on familiar concepts.
Artistic Interpretation
The artwork itself is designed to be evocative and symbolic. The use of specific color palettes and simple imagery encourages the reader to look at the art and interpret it in their own way. The visual language of the deck—such as the fire in Wands or the moon in intuitive cards—provides clues to the card's energy without relying solely on textual knowledge.
Companion Resources
To support the use of the deck, there are guidebooks available. The deck comes with a guidebook that is described as thin but neatly packed with information about the folklore, country of origin, and tarot card meanings. This guidebook includes upright and reversed meanings for each card, which is helpful for those learning the deck.
Additionally, there is a companion book titled Beneath the Moon, also written by Yoshi Yoshitani. This book contains 78 tales and artworks that correlate with the 78 cards in the deck. While this companion book is not necessary to use the deck, it provides deeper context for the stories and imagery, enriching the user's understanding of the cultural narratives woven into the tarot.
Conclusion
The Tarot of the Divine offers a comprehensive tool for self-reflection, intuition, and personal growth. By blending the traditional structure of the 78-card tarot deck with a diverse array of global myths and legends, it creates a space for users to explore their spiritual lessons and daily experiences. The deck validates the universality of human emotions—sorrow, joy, victory, and loss—while celebrating the unique cultural expressions of these themes. Whether approached through the lens of folklore or traditional tarot symbolism, the cards serve as a mirror to the soul and a guide to inner wisdom.