The Lyewellyn Tarot
By: Anne-Marie Ferguson
Illustrated by: Anne-Marie Ferguson
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
ISBN: 978-0-7387-0299-5
Book Size: 5.125″ x 8″
Book Pages: 264
Card Size: 3.25″ x 4.625″
Release Date: 2006 – (This is 14th printing – 2022)
Purchased or Gifted : Purchased
Price: Package marked at $31.99 retail.
Favorite: The visual tone feels romantic and mystical rather than hyper-realistic, which enhances the deck’s storytelling atmosphere and emotional impact.
Description of Deck:
From the moment you open the box, the deck feels welcoming. The artwork is soft and luminous, filled with misty landscapes, ancient forests, and figures that seem to carry stories in their eyes. There’s a gentle, timeless quality to the imagery that makes each card feel like a page from an old legend rather than a symbol to decode.
One of the deck’s greatest strengths is its balance between familiarity and innovation. The minor arcana closely follow the Rider–Waite–Smith (RWS) tradition, making the deck intuitive and accessible, while the major arcana reimagines tarot archetypes through Welsh mythology and legendary figures.
This fusion allows readers to move seamlessly between traditional tarot meanings and mythological symbolism, offering both clarity and depth.
Layout of Book:
The Llewellyn Tarot Guidebook
Each of the Major Arcana is depicted with major deities and mythical figures from Welsh legend, along with a story of each.
Each page of the Major Arcana has a black and white picture of the card.
The Major Arcana:
- Title
- Description
- Deity or mythical figure’s story
- Upright and Reversed Meanings
Each page of the Minor Arcana has a small black and white image of the card and the text all on one page.
Minor Arcana
- Title
- Meaning
- Reversed
The Minor Arcana’s Suits order:
- Wands
- Swords
- Cups
- Pentacles
The Minor Arcana’s card order
- Ace – Ten
- Page
- Knight
- Queen
- King
Also included:
- Glossary
- Pronunciation Key
- Bibliography
- Index
Packaging:
The book and cards are packed into a nice, heavy duty, one piece box that has a magnet side closure. The book is printed on matte heavy paper which I like.
Final Thoughts:
✨ Strengths
- Beginner-friendly yet deep: Familiar RWS structure combined with mythic storytelling.
- Stunning artwork: Soft, evocative watercolor imagery with strong emotional tone.
- Rich companion text: Mythology and symbolism add layers to readings.
- Timeless appeal: Ancient myths presented in a way that feels relevant to modern readers.
⚖️ Potential Limitations
- Those unfamiliar with Celtic lore may need extra time to absorb the cultural references—though many find this part of the charm.
- Readers who prefer strictly traditional symbolism may find the mythological overlays slightly distracting.
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