“Pictures speak a multitude of words and also elicit emotional responses. They trigger within us a range of senses and create a union to the higher aspects of ourselves…It is easy to relate to the contemporary symbolism of this deck without struggling to understand the esoteric ideology. This leads to an illumination of the decisions needed for the future, a better perception of the present, and an understanding of the influences of the past.” – From the companion book to Today’s Journey Tarot
What is “today’s journey”? Simply put, the life we lead every day.
And that is exactly what the Today’s Journey Tarot’s contemporary imagery reflects in its colorful cards (don’t be fooled by the ugly box cover).
From traffic jams to block parties, backyard BBQs to meditation, studying at the library to visiting a car lot, playing video games to cycling down the road, worrying about bills to taking a test—familiar sites and scenarios fill the cards of Today’s Journey Tarot.
With the Major Arcana bordered in indigo and the four suits bordered with bright primary hues, the design for this deck makes it easy to spot the energy present in a card or reading based on color alone. Red borders the Fire (Wands) suit, Yellow the Air (Swords), Blue the Water (Cups) and Green the Earth (Coins) suits. The imagery itself also contains the suit colors, which would facilitate Tarot newcomers in learning the cards.
0 Beginning (Fool)
1 Manifestation (Magician)
2 Wisdom (High Priestess)
3 Creativity (Empress)
4 Law (Emperor)
5 Tradition (Hierophant)
6 Union (Lovers)
7 Control (Chariot)
8 Fortitude (Strength)
9 Guidance (Hermit)
10 Life (Wheel of Fortune)
11 Karma (Justice)
12 Choice (Hanged Man)
13 Transition (Death)
14 Discernment (Temperance)
15 Materialism (Devil)
16 Intervention (Tower)
17 Meditation (Star)
18 Intuition (Moon)
19 Illumination (Sun)
20 Awareness (Judgment)
21 Completion (World)
Trump 10, Life, shows a roller coaster. Isn’t that a perfect representation for life’s creeping climbs and speeding plunges? The Court Cards—titled Child, Youth, Mother and Father—marvelously capture the energy of the rank plus suit.
For example, some Tarotists call the Knight of Wands the “hell on wheels card”, so what does the Youth of Fire depict? Why, a red-haired rider speeding down the road on his fire decaled motorcycle!
The Child of Earth has her nose in a book at a science fair, the Father of Water feeds dolphins off a pier, the Mother of Fire is a politician running for election and the Youth of Air is hand gliding. Just brilliant court card casting for modern times, really.
Same with the Minor Arcana of the Today’s Journey Tarot—no skimping on either the art or the depth of meaning in these images, either. The 9 of Fire shows a gated community, the 3 of Air a woman stood up for dinner, the 8 of Water an artist packing up his supplies and the 5 of Earth a grieving woman at a cemetery.
The glossy cards measure approximately 4 ¾ x 2 ¾ inches with a not quite reversible (but close!) merkaba illustration. In fact, the merkaba (a new age symbol of interlocking pyramids representing the “spirit light body”, a vehicle for ascension and evolution) figures prominently in the deck, but not distractingly so for the most part.
Conceived by the five-member group Expanding Dimensions—Ben Perry, Teresa Sue McAdams, John Lavey, Pat Lavey and Bonnie Taylor—the Today’s Journey Tarot comes with 95-page companion book filled with key words, card descriptions and divinatory interpretations. The illustrations appear drawn in colored pencil by artist Christopher G. Wilkey, who makes an appearance in a museum for the 3 of Earth card, and is published by Schiffer.
As with all recent Schiffer Tarots and oracles, the box features a flip-top lid with a ribbon and with magnetic closure. I love this, because it makes deck access a breeze (unlike other publishers such as Hay House, where you practically need a crow bar to get it open).
The artist presents some fresh perspectives, and although some of the human renderings appear a bit childish and disproportional, it’s hard to stop looking at most of the cards in Today’s Journey Tarot. There’ something arresting, unusual and, well, REAL about these paintings. Each card’s imagery goes straight to the heart of the matter, yet contains enough components for a variety of interpretations. Not an easy feat!
For weeks, I’ve been using this deck as my “go to” deck for both personal and client readings, and every time, the advice has been clear, piercing and accurate. The companion books provides decent insights into the Majors and Courts (although a bit skimpy on the Minors), but the images are so self-evident, that I think pretty much anyone could read with this deck.
This card would be great for kids, but for three cards: Materialism shows clubbing with lines of coke on a table, Intervention shows a tree crashing into a house while a terrified family barely escapes and the 9 of Air depicts a worried woman with piles of bills on a table, an ashtray on the table. Other than those potentially controversial cards, this would make a fantastic reading deck for youth!
If you resonate with the art and desire a contemporary “this is where I live” deck, I think you’ll be quite pleased with the Today’s Journey Tarot. I find myself grabbing for it above all others these days, so that should tell you how much I’m enjoying this deck!
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