Universal Monsters Tarot Deck

I got this as a birthday gift along with last week's Classic Horror Oracle deck. Horroracle?

 

As you might think based on the name, this tarot deck is packed with all the big names in Universal Monsters.

 

 Here's the card back design, guidebook, and the coffin (box) the cards rest in. The box design is a nice touch. Not something they had to do but it adds a lot to the set.

 

The art on the cards is fang-tastic! It's like a modern take on classic horror comics from the 50s/60s. There's a particular brand of comic it's reminding me of but the name just is not coming to me.

 

 The classic tarot suits have been replaced: Wands are Candles, Cups are Crypts, Swords are Claws, and Pentacles are Castles. The guidebook has a few suggested layout spreads with themed names like Van Helsing's Cross and The Wolf's Moon.

 

 Speaking of the guidebook, my hat is off to author Casey Gilly. Most guidebooks give a standard vanilla explanation of the card meanings. Gilly went way above and beyond with her descriptions, tying each into the image on the card further solidifying the theming. 

 

Whether or not you're into tarot, this is an excellent piece for any Universal Monster fan for the art alone. 

 

Be sure to check out all the Countdown bloggers by clicking the link below.

 

Alice in Wonderland Tarot Deck

 While I was shooting pics for last week's Spooky Tarot post, I happened to glance over and see this deck that I got for my birthday. Having a birthday right before the Countdown to Halloween kicks off, I sometimes forget to show off birthday loot.

I have to admit I haven't see the movie a lot but I'm very much enamored with the idea of Wonderland itself and all the craziness that goes with it.

 

Let's go down the rabbit hole!

The deck is definitely inspired by the Disney version of Alice, in case the logo on the box didn't clue you in. While the inspiration comes from the movie, the cards have their own art style that fits well with Wonderland. It's like a fairy tale comic book.

The Spooky Tarot by Ryan Caskey

Earlier this year, I backed The Spooky Tarot on Kickstarter and although I didn't get it in time to post as part of the Countdown to Halloween, I just couldn't wait to share it! Even though there's no "official" 13 Days of Creepmas going, it still lives on!.

If you've been around for a bit, you know I collect playing card decks for the art. I do have a few Tarot card decks as well for the same reason but it's a small fraction compared to the number of playing cards I have. One look at this one and it was an instant back for me!

 

Spooky Tarot on Kickstarter

 Already at double it's funding goal with 22 days left, Ryan Caskey's Spooky Tarot looks to be a real treat for the Halloween fans! 

 

If you've been around here, it's no surprise that this was an insta-back for me when it went live. The artwork on the cards is both gorgeous and terrifying at the same time.

The traditional Tarot suits have been swapped for Pumpkins, Cats, Spirits, and Worms!

Head on over to the Kickstarter to sell your soul for this wicked Tarot deck. Or, maybe just 35 bucks if you don't want to give up your precious soul.

 

Also follow Ryan on Instagram for more spooky goodness!

Halloween Tarot and Playing Cards

We've got a two-for for you today from US Gaming Systems, Inc. 

First up is their Halloween Tarot Deck & Book set. 

I used to be into this kind of stuff but more as a collector than anything else. I have a couple of tarot decks, a set of runestones that I actually used for divination in my late teens/early 20s and countless books. My best bud and I kind of got a rep in high school because we'd openly be reading the Necronomicon and Satanic Bible in school. 

I was interested in it all and really liked having what I now call a "Watcher's Bookshelf" with all kinds of books about fortune telling, witchcraft, and the occult. Today, most of the "Watcher's Bookshelf" is about hunting various monsters. I'll have to post a photo this month.

Book not pictured

I got this deck much later in life, mainly because of the amazing Halloween artwork in it. The four suits in the Minor Arcana are Pumpkins, Bats, Ghosts and Imps. Each card has the corresponding number of objects in the artwork. For example, the Six of Pumpkins has six pumpkins on it.

The Major Arcana is stacked with wonderful Halloween images as well. As you can see above, they incorporated Frankenstein's Monster and the Bride but went with a more Nosferatu-like vampire. There's also a black cat that seems to be the mascot as he appears on every card in the deck.

If you're not comfortable having Tarot cards in your home, you can go with their deck of Halloween playing cards. It uses the same art as the Tarot deck but it's cropped to fit within an oval design. Because there are fewer cards in a regular deck of cards, you also don't get all the artwork. It's really almost a crime that they only use part of the full artwork from the Tarot deck because those cards are really wonderful.

Be sure to visit the other bloggers that have their porch lights on by clicking below. 

They're waiting for you!