Review of the Dark Tarot

On By benebellIn deck review, promotional, tarot

Dark Tarot 01 Majors I

The Dark Tarot is a Tarot de Marseille based deck designed by M. over at darktarot.com. I say “M.” because I don’t know whether this person wants to be identified, so there we go. I’ve been working with this deck for a few months now and just love it.

M. reached out and gifted me with this deck and not for any promotional purposes either. This deck isn’t for sale. In fact, digital files to the cards are available for free download at darktarot.com and you can use those files to print out your own copy of the deck. Free! Yet M. gifted me with a hard copy of the deck just because. And I am so glad to have become acquainted with this TdM deck!

Above, just look at the beautiful imagery in the Majors.

Dark Tarot 07 Card Backs

I don’t know a lot about the deck so I’m not able to give a lot of information, but I can tell you it reads beautifully. It’s a piecemeal of several public domain TdM-based decks. I’ve been working with the deck in client readings, for my Learning the Opening of the Key master class over at Tarot Summer School, and for those who follow me on Instagram, posting tons of lovely photos of the deck over there. Also, stay tuned to the end of this post for details on a giveaway. M. and I are giving away a free copy of this deck.

Dark Tarot 02 Majors II

These cards look absolutely beautiful in a spread, and if you’ve been wanting to learn to read the Tarot de Marseille, the Dark Tarot is an ideal deck to learn on. In some of the Marseille decks, the suit of Wands and the suit of Swords can look alike and get confusing for novices. Not here.

Dark Tarot 03 Wands

There are white borders here but it’s easy to trim this deck if you so choose to. I love the faux antiqued look here and this will easily be a beloved deck by any Marseille (TdM) reader.

Dark Tarot 04 Cups

For me, I also love that there’s margin space on the cards for the potential of writing in any metaphysical correspondences that you might find useful, like numerical assignments for card counting, astrological correspondences, Kabbalistic correspondences, I Ching hexagram or trigram correspondences, etc.

Dark Tarot 05 Swords

If you’re a TdM reader or looking to learn TdM, this is a great deck to read/learn on. You can also integrate other tarot reading systems. For example, writing in keywords.

I love the parchment aesthetic in the background of the cards and the detailing is just wonderful. There’s an Old World feel, and you if you print the files that M. offers over at darktarot.com to produce your own deck, you could trim it so they’re borderless, which would really cause these card images to pop.

Dark Tarot 06 Coins

Definitely check out http://www.darktarot.com. There’s a lot of wonderful goodness over there. I wandered about for who knows how long in the “History of Tarot and Cartomancy” section. The free online Tarot Reading by the Decans is so cool.

Download the digital files for free printable tarot decks here.

And there’s a wonderful page of Tarot Card Meanings keyed to this Dark Tarot, which is helpful for novices looking to work with the Dark Tarot or a TdM deck.

I say if you’d really like to order a print copy deck of the Dark Tarot, contact M. at info@darktarot.com to see if you can work out a private purchase order arrangement. Seriously. This is an exclusive, wonderful, must-have TdM deck for your collection. And be sure to check out M.’s amazing website and the wealth of tarot content there!

Dark Tarot Giveaway

Dark Tarot Giveaway 2

Courtesy of M., the deck creator behind the Dark Tarot, we are giving away a free deck. I will be selecting an eligible reader at random and contacting you privately by e-mail for mailing details. To be eligible, here’s what you’ve got to be able to check off:

(1) You must have a running, active tarot blog.

(2) You agree that within 3 months of receipt of your deck, you’ll post a deck review of the Dark Tarot.

(3) Post a kind note about Dark Tarot on social media with hashtag #darktarot and include a link to http://www.darktarot.com. Then send a link to your social media posting to M. at info@darktarot.com to let M. know there’s a shout-out to the Dark Tarot.

(4) E-mail a kind, encouraging, or supportive note to M. at info@darktarot.com.

(5) Comment below to let me know you acknowledge and represent affirmatively to (1), you agree to commit to (2) and you’ve completed (3) and (4). This will be on the honor system btw, though I’m sure M. can help me confirm receipt of your love letter per (4). 🙂

Giveaway Closes on July 15, 2016.

And make sure you leave your e-mail address, because that’s how I’ll be contacting you if you’re selected. If you don’t leave your e-mail address and I select you but can’t find a way to contact you, I’ll simply move on and select another who has left an e-mail contact. So don’t forget to make sure I’m able to contact you! Makes sense? 🙂

Dark Tarot Giveaway 1

By the way, those eligibility prerequisites were entirely my own idea, not M.’s. The proprietor behind darktarot.com is one of the nicest, most generous, and kind-spirited individuals I’ve had the chance to connect with. So I thought it’d be kind of funny to get a bunch of people [who want the chance to win this deck] to “spam” M. with tarot love notes.

The Dark Tarot is really cool. I’m loving my work with it and I can tell others are loving it, too. I use it in various demonstrations for a tarot course I’m teaching and I keep getting questions about this deck in particular. Everyone’s intrigued and wants to know more! So here you go. More info. You’re welcome.

30 thoughts on “Review of the Dark Tarot”

  1. Why did you do this to me, Ms. Wen? I already purchased my deck for the month, and now I have to wait until next month to purchase a POD copy of the Dark Tarot. I only read with Marseilles-style decks, so I’m always keeping my eyes open for the next addition to my library. You said that we have to tweet the #DarkTarot, but I don’t maintain a Twitter account – does Google+ count? => https://plus.google.com/+JamesBulls/posts/FJdC1jzALGH At any rate, I’ve #DarkTarot’d on Google+ and sent my gratitude to M => https://i.imgsafe.org/dc0153f234.png. I maintain a blog at http://www.lefthandtarot.blogspot.com, and if I’m lucky to win a copy of the deck, you can reach me at jamesoliverbulls(at)gmail(dot)com. Whatever the outcome, I’m surely going to order a copy POD because it really is a delightful deck. Thanks for sharing it 😀

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    2. M.

      Hi, It’s “M.”, the creator of the deck! 🙂

      Benebell has been so fantastic and cute, writing a so unexpectedly good review, and doing all these great things for me!!

      So I decided that every fan of her blog that requested the deck, doing all the procedure, must be rewarded.

      I’ve already sent you an e-mail, asking your shipping details.

      I would like to thank you so much, and especially thank infinitely Benebell!!!!!!!!

      Thank you!! ❤

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    3. M.

      Hi Carla! 🙂

      It’s “M.”, the creator of the deck! 🙂

      Benebell has been so fantastic and cute, writing a so unexpectedly good review, and doing all these great things for me!!

      So I decided that every fan of her blog that requested the deck, doing all the procedure, must be rewarded.

      BUT I DON’T HAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. SEND ME AN E-MAIL, AND I WILL ASK YOU THE DETAILS I NEED TO KNOW TO SHIP YOU THE DECK!

      My e-mail: INFO@DARKTAROT.COM

      Thank you!! ❤

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      Reply
  3. Undines

    Hello, I would love to be in the drawing, if possible. I do have a tarot blog: mistandaether.wordpress.com. I do not have a twitter account, nor do I use google+ but I do have instagram. I will figure out how to share a picture of the Dark Tarot through there. Also, I have sent a lovely email to M. And just in case, here is my email undinesaerr(at)gmail(dot)com. Thank you for such a lovely review Benebell, this deck has a very luscious and classic look that is appealing.

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    1. That totally works! I should probably revise the whole Twitter thing. I wasn’t like super-committed to Twitter like omg you HAVE to use Twitter. I just didn’t think. Anyway, thanks and yes, this totally works!

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    2. M.

      Hi, It’s “M.”, the creator of the deck! 🙂

      Benebell has been so fantastic and cute, writing a so unexpectedly good review, and doing all these great things for me!!

      So I decided that every fan of her blog that requested the deck, doing all the procedure, must be rewarded.

      I’ve already sent you an e-mail, asking your shipping details.

      I would like to thank you so much, and especially thank infinitely Benebell!!!!!!!!

      Thank you!! ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
    2. M.

      Hi Mel Beasley! 🙂

      It’s “M.”, the creator of the deck! 🙂

      Benebell has been so fantastic and cute, writing a so unexpectedly good review, and doing all these great things for me!!

      So I decided that every fan of her blog that requested the deck, doing all the procedure, must be rewarded.

      BUT I DON’T HAVE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS. SEND ME AN E-MAIL, AND I WILL ASK YOU THE DETAILS I NEED TO KNOW TO SHIP YOU THE DECK!

      My e-mail: INFO@DARKTAROT.COM

      Thank you!! ❤

      Like

      Reply
    2. M.

      Hi, It’s “M.”, the creator of the deck! 🙂

      Benebell has been so fantastic and cute, writing a so unexpectedly good review, and doing all these great things for me!!

      So I decided that every fan of her blog that requested the deck, doing all the procedure, must be rewarded.

      I’ve already sent you an e-mail, asking your shipping details.

      I would like to thank you so much, and especially thank infinitely Benebell!!!!!!!!

      Thank you!! ❤

      Like

      Reply
    2. M.

      Hi, It’s “M.”, the creator of the deck! 🙂

      Benebell has been so fantastic and cute, writing a so unexpectedly good review, and doing all these great things for me!!

      So I decided that every fan of her blog that requested the deck, doing all the procedure, must be rewarded.

      I’ve already sent you an e-mail, asking your shipping details.

      I would like to thank you so much, and especially thank infinitely Benebell!!!!!!!!

      Thank you!! ❤

      Like

      Reply

  8. LOVE this deck! I have a blog at http://www.WillowsEast.com (just gotta click the BLOG link). I posted about Dark Tarot on my Instagram page and sent M. a little love-letter. Benebell, I heard about you via Biddy Tarot’s podcast and am so glad to connect on Instagram and follow your Tarot journey! Much love to you! -Gretchen

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    1. Hi Gretchen! I love Brigit and all that she’s doing over at BiddyTarot. Her podcast is wonderful. Her interview with Mary Greer was phenomenal.

      So glad to connect with you via Instagram, too! I love your website, btw! Beautifully done!

      Like

      Reply
    2. M.

      Hi, It’s “M.”, the creator of the deck! 🙂

      Benebell has been so fantastic and cute, writing a so unexpectedly good review, and doing all these great things for me!!

      So I decided that every fan of her blog that requested the deck, doing all the procedure, must be rewarded.

      I’ve already sent you an e-mail, asking your shipping details.

      I would like to thank you so much, and especially thank infinitely Benebell!!!!!!!!

      Thank you!! ❤

      Like

      Reply
  9. melponeme_k

    Some of these cards are redrawn versions of Lo Scarabeo’s last printing (2011) of the Minchiate Deck sans the Astrological and virtue cards. It isn’t that Lo Scarabeo is a stickler for these things (they took the Dame Darcy deck in stride) but I think everyone should be aware of it.

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      1. melponeme_k

        There are slight changes by this artist. The Minchiate pips are partly illustrated (not in this deck). The court card Knights in the Minchiate are pagan mythological creatures (Centaurs, mermaids etc.) but not in this version. Some of the major arcana have been sourced from the actual Marseilles versions. But I see the majority of the cards are sourced from the Minchiate.

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      2. melponeme_k

        Some are redrawn with slight changes. The Minchiate pips are partially illustrated but not in this version. The Minchiate Court Knights are mythological creatures but in this deck they are not. However the dupes are slightly changed with different emblems and card colors. Some of the Major Arcana Minchiate cards are really original to the deck but the artist did not copy them. You can look around the Youtube and Google, there are examples of the 2011 Lo Scarabeo Minchiate cards.

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    2. M.

      Hi, It’s “M.”, the creator of the deck! 🙂

      Yes, this deck just wanted to have an antique look and feel.

      So, many cards took inspiration in ancient decks (Marseille decks, Minchiate [that is an 18th century Italian game], and many others).

      And this was a normal practice in ancient Tarot Cards.

      For example all French decks was copied from Italian more ancient decks (the proof are the suits on the cards: swords, wands, cups, and coins, that are the Italian ones).

      It was therefore a precise choice… I hope you like the final outcome!! 🙂

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