The Mean Girls Tarot Deck and Guidebook represents a unique fusion of contemporary pop culture and the ancient practice of tarot divination. Based on the 2004 cult classic film Mean Girls, this product offers a fully illustrated, Rider-Waite-Smith style deck that reimagines the movie's characters and scenes within the traditional 78-card structure. Designed for both tarot enthusiasts and fans of the film, the deck serves as a bridge between entertainment and spiritual introspection. By translating the high-school drama, humor, and heart of the movie into archetypal imagery, the Mean Girls Tarot provides a familiar and accessible framework for exploring personal secrets, social dynamics, and future possibilities.
The deck is marketed as a tool for revisiting the cafeteria at North Shore High, allowing users to "predict the rain" or "discover who will win Spring Fling Queen" through the lens of tarot. It captures the obsession audiences have with the film's depiction of social hierarchies and emotional resilience. The product is packaged in a sturdy cardboard storage box, ensuring the longevity of the 78 cards and the accompanying instruction book. This guidebook is a crucial component, providing the necessary context to interpret the cards within the thematic framework established by the deck's creators.
Product Specifications and Physical Attributes
The Mean Girls Tarot Deck adheres to specific physical standards that ensure usability and durability. The deck consists of 78 cards, matching the standard count found in traditional tarot systems. This includes the 22 Major Arcana cards, which represent significant life themes and spiritual lessons, and the 56 Minor Arcana cards, which address daily situations and events.
The physical dimensions of the cards are 2 3/4 x 4 3/4 inches. This size is slightly smaller than some standard tarot decks but remains comfortable for shuffling and handling for most users. The card stock is described as "very strong" in user reviews, indicating a quality build that can withstand regular use. The deck is presented in a cardboard storage box, which serves both as protection and as part of the product's aesthetic presentation. The inclusion of a guidebook within the box makes it a self-contained kit for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. The product is available for order through various online retailers, with shipping times typically ranging from 2-3 business days depending on the vendor.
The Guidebook: Structure and Content
The instruction book included with the deck is a 128-page guidebook. This detailed manual is essential for understanding the specific interpretations assigned to each card within the Mean Girls context. It does not merely list meanings but explains the scene from the movie that inspired each card in the Major Arcana.
For every card in the deck, the guidebook provides both upright and reversed meanings. This dual-interpretation approach is standard in tarot practice, offering nuance to readings. The upright meaning generally reflects the conscious or positive aspect of the card's energy, while the reversed meaning may indicate blockage, resistance, or an internalized manifestation of that energy.
Furthermore, the guidebook includes instructions for "simple spreads." These are likely 1-card, 3-card, or perhaps Celtic Cross variations tailored to help users start their readings easily. By breaking down complex tarot spreads into manageable steps, the guidebook aims to make the practice accessible to those who are new to divination. The text emphasizes that the deck is suitable for both those just beginning their tarot practice and for experienced practitioners who wish to add a pop-culture themed deck to their collection.
The Major Arcana: Archetypes in High School
The Major Arcana in the Mean Girls Tarot deck translates the Fool's Journey into the social and emotional journey of high school students. Each card features a full-color illustration of a character or element from Mean Girls, mapping the film's narrative onto the archetypal journey of spiritual growth.
- The Fool: This card often represents new beginnings, innocence, and a leap of faith. In this deck, it likely features Cady Heron arriving at North Shore High, stepping into a new world with wide-eyed wonder and a lack of understanding regarding the social rules she is about to encounter.
- The Empress: The Empress symbolizes nurturing, abundance, and feminine power. It may be depicted through Cady's mother or a figure representing the "Nurturing" aspect of Cady's personality before she fully succumbs to the influence of the Plastics.
- The Emperor: Representing structure, authority, and control, this card could feature Principal Duvall or perhaps the father of the Plastics, representing the rigid structures of high school hierarchy.
- The High Priestess: This archetype represents intuition, hidden knowledge, and the subconscious. It is likely associated with Karen Smith, who possesses a unique, intuitive (albeit quirky) perspective on the world, often "predicting the rain."
- The Lovers: This card signifies choices, relationships, and alignment of values. It is almost certainly represented by the romantic tension between Cady and Aaron Samuels, or the complex, toxic "love" triangle between Cady, Regina, and Aaron.
- The Chariot: Symbolizing willpower and determination, this card likely depicts Regina George's relentless drive to maintain her status as Queen Bee, or Cady's determination to overtake her.
- Strength: This card represents courage, compassion, and inner fortitude. It may feature Gretchen Wieners trying to hold her social standing together, or Cady finding the strength to dismantle the Plastics from within.
- The Hermit: Representing introspection and soul-searching, this card might depict moments of isolation or reflection, perhaps Kevin Gnapoor studying alone or Cady realizing the emptiness of her revenge plot.
- Justice: This card signifies cause and effect, fairness, and truth. It likely represents the "Revenge Plastics" getting their comeuppance or the ultimate exposure of the "Burn Book."
- Wheel of Fortune: Representing cycles and change, this card captures the shifting alliances of North Shore High—how Regina falls from grace and Cady rises, only to face her own consequences.
- Death: This card represents transformation and the end of a cycle. In the context of the movie, it likely symbolizes the destruction of the Plastics' reign and the social death of Regina George (symbolically or literally via the bus).
- Temperance: This card signifies balance and moderation. It likely represents the resolution of the movie, where Cady finds a balance between her old self and her new experiences, and the school finds a new equilibrium.
- The Devil: Representing bondage and addiction to materialism, this card is almost certainly Regina George, embodying the toxic influence that binds the Plastics to her will.
- The Tower: This card represents sudden upheaval and the destruction of false structures. It corresponds to the moment the "Burn Book" is discovered, shattering the social order of the school.
- The Star: Symbolizing hope and inspiration, this card likely depicts the talent show or the moment of healing where the school comes together.
- The Moon: Representing illusion, fear, and the subconscious, this card might depict the paranoia and rumors that plagued the school, or the confusion Cady feels regarding her identity.
- The Sun: This card represents joy, success, and vitality. It likely depicts the Spring Fling Queen crowning moment or the general atmosphere of the final scene where everyone is dancing.
- Judgement: This card signifies absolution and self-reflection. It likely corresponds to the scene where Cady apologizes and takes responsibility for her actions during the mathletes competition.
- The World: This card represents completion and integration. It likely depicts the final scene of the movie, where the social order has been redefined and Cady has integrated her experiences into a new whole.
The Minor Arcana: Daily Drama and Social Suits
The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, typically Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles (or Coins). In the Mean Girls Tarot, these suits are populated by the characters and scenarios of the film.
- Cups (Emotions and Relationships): This suit likely focuses on the emotional dynamics of the characters. The Queen of Cups might be Cady in her nurturing phase, while the King of Cups could be Aaron Samuels. The court cards represent the different personality types navigating the waters of high school romance and friendship.
- Swords (Conflict and Intellect): The suit of Swords deals with challenges, words, and mental agility. Given the sharp dialogue of Mean Girls, this suit is particularly potent. The 10 of Swords might depict the ultimate betrayal of the Burn Book, while the Ace of Swords could represent a cutting insult or a moment of piercing truth.
- Wands (Creativity and Action): This suit represents energy, passion, and drive. It likely captures the "burn" of the Burn Book, the energy of the talent show, or the drive to become popular. The Three of Wands might represent planning for the future, such as the Plastics' plans for dominance.
- Pentacles (Material and Social Status): The suit of Pentacles deals with the physical world and security. In a high school setting, this translates to social currency. The Queen of Pentacles might be Gretchen Wieners, who is deeply concerned with status and material wealth ("My father, the inventor of Toaster Strudel...").
User Reception and Reviews
The Mean Girls Tarot Deck has been received positively by its target audience. Reviews highlight the beauty of the illustrations and the strength of the card stock. One reviewer from the United Kingdom noted, "Such a beautiful colourful deck... Deck is very strong which i like it too." The use of pink colors in the imagery is frequently mentioned as a standout feature, aligning with the movie's "On Wednesdays we wear pink" mantra.
Another review from the United States expressed satisfaction with the collection, stating, "I'm so happy to have the beautiful deck in my small collection! It means a lot to me to be a fan of the classic movie!" These testimonials suggest that the deck successfully bridges the gap between fandom and divination practice. The deck is marketed as a "great gift," packaged in a sturdy and decorative gift box, which adds to its appeal for collectors and casual fans.
Cultural Significance and Divination
While the Mean Girls Tarot is a novelty item based on a movie, it functions as a legitimate tool for introspection. Tarot works by projecting the user's subconscious concerns onto archetypal imagery. Because Mean Girls is a story about identity, social pressure, and moral choices, its imagery resonates deeply with these universal themes.
By using characters like Regina George or Cady Heron as archetypes, users can explore their own relationships with power, popularity, and peer pressure. The deck transforms the abstract Rider-Waite imagery into concrete, recognizable scenes, which can lower the barrier to entry for intuitive reading. For example, asking "How do I deal with this difficult person?" might yield a card featuring Regina George, immediately suggesting themes of manipulation and boundary-setting.
The product is described as "official," meaning the artwork and concepts have been approved by the rights holders of the film. This ensures that the imagery is consistent with the movie's aesthetic and narrative. The illustrator, Felipe Flores, is a Long Beach, California-based artist, bringing a professional cartooning background to the deck.
Conclusion
The Mean Girls Tarot Deck and Guidebook is a fully realized divination system that successfully integrates the narrative of a beloved film with the structure of traditional tarot. It offers 78 illustrated cards and a comprehensive 128-page guidebook, providing both upright and reversed meanings for every card. The deck serves as a functional tool for tarot readings while simultaneously acting as a celebration of the film's cultural impact. It is designed for a wide range of users, from those discovering tarot for the first time to experienced practitioners looking for a deck that reflects contemporary pop culture. Through its detailed illustrations and thematic guidebook, it allows users to explore their secrets and future possibilities within the familiar social landscape of North Shore High.