Lately I’ve noticed a bunch of tarot decks being suggested to me at Amazon that have no clearly credited author, artist, or publisher. For the most part, I have been ignoring these suggestions. But over Prime Day, I decided to take a look at some of these. I was aware of AI in tarot, that it was being used for creating the art itself, or assisting in writing some of the guidebooks. It seems an inevitable development, considering we’re seeing AI used basically anywhere someone can think of using it. Even I have used it a few times when I needed illustrations for articles that I otherwise had no artistic or financial ability to create or commission myself.
AI generated artwork
I want to get right out of the way that I do not see AI generated artwork as being equal to original art, even original graphic art or design. Human creativity can’t be reproduced effectively, and in my view, it can’t be replaced by computer programs. I went to school for fine art, and I take art (and art history) seriously. AI generated art is something I had been strongly resisting until just a year or so ago. However, I decided that since I am open-minded in general, I should at least look at it before rejecting it out of hand. After playing around with it a bit myself, I realized that there is some level of creativity in it, because there is creativity simply in vision, in imagining, in picturing an outcome. There is creativity in forming and organizing ideas, and in writing and putting together prompts, as well.
My first AI generated tarot decks
So, I decided, since it was Prime Day, to choose a few AI generated tarot decks and see what they were all about. Would they hold up at all? Would they in any way compare to decks that tended to cost at least double? Could they be used as effectively as other decks, and could they be as enjoyable to use? I chose three decks that looked quite different from one another. I didn’t want a lot of overlap in style.
Sishui and others
Two of the decks I chose are by Sishui, or St-sishui, and the other is by a brand referred to as Tzxamsez. There were no authors or artists named, so I did a little digging. What I found was that tarot decks like these are printed at a very low cost, very quickly, akin to fast fashion. Sishui and Tzxamsez are names given to the producers. Ironically, I had to get some of the information from conversations with AI, since it was very hard to otherwise find information on these brands. From what I could learn, the decks are created through elaborate prompts and printed for quick sale. They are typically printed on rather heavy cardstock, at a quality that tends to receive impressive reviews. The prompts focus on themes, often taken from social media trends.
Themed tarot decks
I want to say something about themed tarot decks, and it’s something that causes me to feel slightly more favorably towards these AI generated decks. When I was first reading tarot, more than forty years ago, there were far fewer tarot decks available. Themed decks were not really a common thing. The 1990s really saw a rise in the creation of themed decks. There were many tarot aficionados who were dead set against them. They felt that themed decks cheapened the tarot, diminished the symbolism, and could only serve a commercial purpose. However, as we have seen, interest in tarot has grown incredibly over the years. It has expanded into mainstream environments, and themed decks are frequently people’s favorites. It’s hard to imagine the tarot world without themed decks. And it is difficult for me to consider AI in tarot without taking this history into account.
Clay Arcana, Winter Still, and Wonderland
The three tarot decks I chose for myself were the Clay Arcana Tarot Cards, Winter Still Tarot Cards, and Wonderland Tarot. The Clay Arcana honestly jumped out at me right away. I thought they looked adorable, and product images looked pretty impressive. I chose Winter Still because I don’t really have any other tarot decks that focus explicitly on a winter theme. Also, I liked the looks of the snowscapes and wolves. Wonderland was intriguing, because it looked like it could have been inspired by various cultures, including Slavic (and being Slavic, my eye is always drawn to Slavic style, even hints of it).
A little sheepishly, I placed my order for my three presumed-to-be AI generated tarot decks. I felt a little silly and embarrassed. But I was also curious, and I looked forward to seeing if it would be money well spent.
Production quality
The first thing I noticed when I received the decks was their production quality. All three decks are set into very sturdy, rigid boxes. Clay Arcana and Winter Still both have full-color LWBs (little white booklets). Every card is given a full page in the LWB. Both guidebooks include a few tarot spreads, which happen to be the same in each booklet. The card descriptions are unique to each deck though. I assume the text of the LWBs is as AI generated as the art on the cards. But, if you’re starting out, relying on googling card meanings, I think the text in these little booklets will suffice. As is the case with most decks that have only a LWB, I’d suggest using a separate full-size book alongside the cards.
The cards themselves are nice quality. They’re thick and smooth, comfortable to handle, and easy to shuffle once you’ve played with them a little. Colors are good, and in my cards, I have only seen one printing issue or defect (a slight impression across one section of one card). The Winter Still cards have silver foil edges and are not quite as thick as the other two sets.
The AI art
Now, for the art itself. I’ll get into each of the individual decks in a moment. I like the Clay Arcana the most. This deck doesn’t seem to have any glaring AI artifacts or weird distortions. It also seems to have the most congruity, as well as the most heart or spirit. I can see using each of these decks, despite a few interesting AI idiosyncrasies. After all, if I am being totally honest, tarot decks are often not flawless. I have used decks whose artwork I didn’t love, many times.
Clay Arcana Tarot
Sishui says of this deck, “In the silence of the earth, creation begins… The clay arcana tarot reimagines the timeless symbols of tarot through hand-shaped clay – each figure alive with warmth, patience, and the touch of human hands.” I get the irony there of course! It also says, “From soil to soul, this deck calls you home – to listen, to feel, and to remember your own sacred shape.” I think that’s fairly interesting, and it shows that they put some thought into this at least.
As I mentioned earlier, these cards are adorable. I grew up in the 1970s, when Claymation was a big thing on TV. These are not Claymation of course, but they kind of give a nod to that art form. There is something endearing about this kind of visual, even – or maybe especially – in its awkwardness. These cards have a very cozy feel. The scenes tend to be comforting – think jumbo knits, fluffy animals, smiling suns; soft, plush textures, and soothing colors. The Devil in this deck is probably one of the friendliest I have ever seen. Other figures are reminiscent of joyful childhood toys. I have not noticed any glaring AI oddities, though there are a few places where the corners of an image were clipped slightly, or text is positioned a little clumsily. For the most part, this is a solid, cohesive, and highly usable deck.
Winter Still Tarot
The Winter Still Tarot, on the other hand, has a few obvious issues. It does have qualities to recommend it though. Sishui says of this deck, “Each card reflects winter’s unique energy – rest, reflection, and the resilience hidden beneath snow. Just as ice shields life until spring, this deck helps you uncover truths waiting for renewal.” Winter Still Tarot is actually one of four in a collection called The Sishui Wheel of Seasons Tarot. There are four decks in this collection, meant to guide users through the “energetic cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter.” Each deck contains 78 cards, as well as a “Reincarnation Card,” and a “Hidden Seasonal Card.” I think the collection of four seasonal tarot decks is a pretty creative concept.
This deck is less impressive than Clay Arcana. There is too much repetition while not having enough cohesiveness. Some of the figures who appear in many of the cards are strangely similar, but there are also figures who seem entirely out of place. The font used for the major arcana is drastically different from the font used for the minor. They clash rather than contrast. There are also visual elements that look simply copied and pasted, the repetition being literally an obvious, repeated pattern. Artistically, this is quite weak. For tarot use? I don’t know, it’s something easily ignored in practice. These cards do have some weird AI artifacts. In the Lovers, for example, I’m fairly certain the bird above the couple’s heads is supposed to have a head itself? Instead, it has a round blob. It also looks like it lost some of its tail feathers.
I’ll state again though, tarot decks are often not flawless. When it comes down to it, we read with decks even when there are cards we don’t like or feel any connection to. Would I read with these? I would, actually. They have that cold, winter vibe that I don’t have in any other set, full of snow scenes and icy spires, inhabited by northern peoples, wolves, and foxes. I’d even check out the other decks in the Sishui Wheel of Seasons Tarot collection.
Wonderland Tarot
The Wonderland Tarot is described as, “A perfect deck for a Rider Waite Smith lover who is not afraid of color and humor in their readings.” This is a little confounding, because of these three decks, it is the one least obviously based on RWS. It says this deck is “not only a treasure for the eye, it’s a treasure for the soul.” The Wonderland Tarot is definitely colorful. It is also cute, fun, and bold in design. The artwork has a kind of busy, pop art combined with folk art vibe. It seems to draw on various world cultures, and it does also seem to at least try for diversity.
These cards are fun to look at, and I’ve been intrigued by some of the design choices. The Magician makes me think of a Puritan preacher in 17th century New England, with his hat and buttoned-up collar. The High Priestess makes me think of Mary (Mother of God). Some of the cards are quite dramatic, like the Hierophant or Devil. Others are more reminiscent of Disney princesses, like the figure in the World, who reminds me of Cinderella. It is a very unique deck, and I quite like it. I would say this deck is the least okay of the three for beginners, because there’s a bit of interpretation required just of the visuals themselves. Symbolism isn’t exactly clear. Rather, it is mostly (ironically) what looks like artistic expression, instead of sticking to Rider Waite Smith symbolism.
Things I’m not crazy about
One thing I want to note, in case you are sensitive to this (as I am), is that all of these decks required a couple days of off gassing. After those first couple of days, the decks were fine and they remain free of any odor. I don’t recall ever having had this issue with a tarot deck before.
Something that might give me hesitation to purchase more of these AI generated tarot decks, is the lack of any apparent supply chain oversight. I have been unable to find any specific information on who actually produces these decks. I always want to credit authors and artists, so I was hoping to get information even just on who was behind designing them, and was informed they’re designed by seemingly nameless production teams. Even still, credit where credit is due; someone is behind their creation. All I can report here is their brand name on Amazon. However, as for the actual production, I do care about labor practices, and shop with these things in mind when I can. That uncertainty would give me pause in the future.
AI in tarot
So, AI in tarot. What do I think, essentially? I really resisted accepting AI, felt a bit curmudgeonly about it, and was definitely skeptical when it comes to any form of creativity. The idea that AI generated artwork is indirectly based on the true creative work of many, and in some ways might copy from artists who have done original, meaningful work, causes me to have some hesitation in using AI generated tarot. I also know that many people do not accept AI generated art as legitimate.
However, at the same time, I know that the legitimacy of many other art forms has not always been accepted. There are many art forms that did not receive easy acceptance by all, and some of them still don’t (and beyond visual art – some lovers of literature are still quite dismissive of any genre fiction at all, for example). If AI is really going to be a fixture in our lives for the foreseeable future, I need to view AI in tarot in that context. And in that context, I personally think it can have a place.
Will any of these AI generated decks be a favorite, will they be timeless, will they necessarily speak directly to one’s soul? Maybe not… But they might be all someone needs, providing artwork that moves or inspires them, messaging that helps them look within, symbolism that does enough to bring reflection or insight. And who am I to say they wouldn’t be someone’s favorite? Why not? I’ve come to like mine quite a bit.
To learn more
I’m an affiliate of Amazon and receive small commissions from any purchases made directly through my links, so if you purchase any of these tarot decks through my site, thank you so much! I appreciate all support of the site!
If you’re interested and want to give one of these AI generated tarot decks a whirl, they’re all available at Amazon. Learn more, read user reviews, and purchase the Clay Arcana Tarot, Winter Still Tarot Cards, or Wonderland Tarot, at Amazon.
Connect
As always, don’t hesitate to reach out with questions or comments, or just to say hello.
Thanks for visiting, and whatever you read with, enjoy your tarot! 😊
~ Nellie
Leave a Reply