Tarot Deck Review: The Ellis Deck
Whether you’re an experienced reader, a new practitioner, or just a lover of all things witchy, chances are you’ve already started collecting tarot decks. How could you possibly restrict yourself to just one? Tarot has become so popular in recent years that if you don’t read yourself, you probably have a handful of friends who do—and with that surge in popularity comes a whole host of indie artists trying their hand at creating new, eye-catching decks.
I’ve been collecting decks since I was a teenager, and I’m often asked by clients what the difference is between them (besides the artwork). In truth, every deck is different—some stick to the iconic Rider Waite symbolism, some switch it up a little bit by including symbols or imagery from myths, legends, or esoteric mysticism, and some re-name cards or add entirely new ones! But each deck has its own unique story, its own way of speaking to you (via your intuition). It’s part of the reason I like to let my clients choose between two or three different decks when I’m doing a reading.
BRIGHT AND BOLD
The Ellis Deck is a wonderful example of a deck that finds its roots in the Rider Waite Smith, but takes that symbolism and shifts it into a kaleidoscope of color and complexity. Often, takes on the Rider Waite will look fairly similar—the art style changes, but the composition of the card remains more or less the same. The Tower is a Tower struck by lightning, the Ten of Wands is a figure collapsing under the weight of a bunch of sticks, and so on.
Conceptualized and created by Texas-born artist Taylor Ellis, the Ellis Deck crackles with playful, almost child-like energy. That’s not to say the artwork is childish—in fact, each card is incredibly complex, with textured backgrounds that are often just as vivid and lively as the figures in the foreground. But there is something graphic and cartoon-like about the bold, bright colors. Ellis doesn’t outline his work, preferring to create definition by butting contrasting colors against each other. The affect is visually stunning, pulling you into a fantasy world where magic and transformation are undeniably.
MAKING MEANING
Though there are recognizable nods to the structure of the Rider Waite cards in Ellis’ deck, variations on the themes add a level of depth that I find extremely helpful when using these cards with clients. The Eight of Swords, for example (ordinarily depicted as a blindfolded figure surrounded by swords thrust blade-down into the earth) features the classic imagery but combines it with a dark, spooky spiderweb. Not only is the central figure caught in this web, so too are their crow companions (signifying a loss of wisdom, since crows are messengers from our subconscious and the great beyond). And yet, unlike in the Waite Smith deck, the figure in the Eight of Swords is smiling. As scary as it looks, the predicament they find themselves in seems to be voluntary.
Likewise, the High Priestess appears between the pillars of Boaz and Jachin, as she does in most classic tarot decks. But instead of sitting on a throne, this priestess appears on a pillar of enlightenment, sitting in padmasana—lotus pose—calling up images of Eastern mysticism as well as the nod to Jewish mysticism in the pillars. Though the temple cloth appears behind the priestess, it seems to depict flowers (roses, perhaps?) instead of pomegranates. And, the tapestry is half drawn, revealing the moon behind her – a lovely nod to the High Priestess’ association with the card of subconscious knowledge and mystical revelation, The Moon.
As with many of the cards in Ellis’ deck, the High Priestess also appears to be fairly genderless. Despite her/their nudity, there’s no real indication of masculinity or femininity—if anything, with the snake on one side and the vines on the other, there’s an indication of balance between the two, an interplay between gendered energies that’s really refreshing to see in a tarot deck. (I personally struggle with how binary the tarot can be, when it comes to masculine and feminine energies—one of the things I love most about Taylor’s work is that it challenges traditional ideas about gendered traits!)
WHO IS IT FOR?
As a collector, what attracted me to the Ellis Deck was its bright colors and its fun, Adventure Time-like style. I liked how fantastical it was without copying or echoing any one existing mythology, and I loved that it felt a little bit queer and a bit more inclusive than many of the decks in my collection.
As a reader, though, the Ellis Deck really shines in situations where you have to (or want to) read for a younger audience. When I worked at Bottom of the Cup Tearoom in New Orleans, we frequently had customers who came in with their whole families, and many of those folks wanted readings for their kids. Not only are Taylor’s illustrations ‘safe for work’ (even The Lovers, which typically depicts two naked figures facing towards the camera, instead features psychedelic faerie folk wearing tasteful leaf coverings), they also avoid some of the more intense imagery that other decks use.
There’s nothing wrong with strong imagery in tarot—in fact, I know many readers who feel that if a client isn’t old enough to handle the hood and scythe of Death or the violent stabbing of the Ten of Swords then they maybe shouldn’t be getting a reading in the first place—but if you’re someone who wants to tailor your readings to children, or if you have kids of your own who are interested in divination, the Ellis Deck is a great resource. Cards like Death are still spooky and somber, but it’s a quirky, Halloweenie kind of way: it hits home the point without being too chilling or disconcerting.
The Ellis Deck also features a lot of animals (foxes are a theme in the suit of Wands, for example) which is a lot of fun for kids and adults alike. I adore the way Ellis interpreted the Hanged Man: we get the rich symbolism of fertility and rebirth in the rabbit, the suggestion of secret or hidden knowledge in the serpent, and the idea of enlightenment and transcendence in the halo. The branches of the tree even form little tridents—it’s so incredibly detailed and rich, while still being bright and vibrant.
DECEPTIVELY SIMPLE
Though it’s kid-friendly, don’t underestimate the Ellis Deck. Even writing this review I found so many intricacies and hidden symbols that added to the depth of meaning present in each and every card. Really, this deck gives you the best of both worlds: fun, funky artwork that’s accessible and entertaining for newcomers to tarot, and a richer symbolic backbone that will give you a new insight every time you read with them.
If you’re interested in picking up a deck of your own, you can buy them directly through Taylor’s website, Ellistrations.Net. Taylor is a proficient reader himself, so you can also book him for a reading, or pick up some of his gorgeous designs on t-shirts, tote bags, and even leggings.
Interested in a reading from me (or have a suggestion for a deck you’d like me to review?) Drop me a line via my contact form and let’s make some magic together!
Have a rad week, witches,
Xxx Celeste