Alright y’all, today I wanna chat about something I finally got around to trying – using an Art Nouveau Tarot deck for my readings. Honestly, I kinda dodged it for ages, sticking to my old trusty Rider-Waite, but curiosity got the better of me.
Finding the Damn Thing
First step was actually getting the deck. Wandered into this little occult shop downtown, totally thought they wouldn’t have it. Spotted the box tucked away on a high shelf – super ornate, lots of gold foil and these flowing, dreamy figures. Felt fancier than my usual decks, almost too pretty to use. Bought it anyway, kinda skeptical it was just about looks.
First Impression? Total Confusion
Cracked it open at home. Cards felt smooth, heavy stock – definitely nicer. Started flipping through. Beautiful? Absolutely. Made sense? Not immediately! The symbols weren’t glaringly obvious like Rider-Waite. Instead of a bold “Death” horseman, it was this hauntingly beautiful figure surrounded by wilted flowers and shadows. Had to really squint and think about the images. Tried a quick one-card draw just to test the waters. Felt… lost. Like trying to understand poetry in a language you barely speak. Almost gave up and shelved it.
Forced Myself to Stick With It
Decided to give it a proper week, drawing a card each morning just to build familiarity. Didn’t even attempt readings for others, just journaled what the image made me feel:
- Noticed way more nature stuff – twisting vines, weird flowers, flowing water everywhere.
- The mood was softer, less dramatic. Even “scary” cards felt kinda melancholic or transformative rather than terrifying.
- Had to rely less on memorized meanings and more on the immediate vibe the art gave off.
Slowly, my brain started shifting gears.
What Changed? Here’s the Big Three
Benefit #1: Slowed Me Right Down. Because the meanings aren’t spoon-fed, I couldn’t just glance and blurt out “oh, Three of Swords, heartbreak!” Nope. Had to sit with the image, soak in the details – the expression, the background colours, the posture. Made my readings way more deliberate and less robotic.
Benefit #2: Emotions Over Facts. This deck? It’s all about the feels. That soft, flowing style digs into intuitive hunches better than sharp, symbolic artwork for me. It nudges you towards understanding motives and moods rather than just predicting events. Like, “The Emperor” felt less like a boss and more like a creative visionary rooted in their flow.
Benefit #3: Beauty Sparks Better Connections. This totally surprised me. Clients see the deck, and they visibly relax. The art creates this welcoming, safe space. Feels less like an interrogation with playing cards and more like sharing artwork that speaks. People open up deeper, quicker. The visuals break the ice hardcore.
Would I Go Back?
Nope. Rider-Waite’s still good for learning or super direct questions, but for real depth and intuitive pulls? This Art Nouveau deck has earned its place on my table. Took work, felt clumsy as hell at first, but man, the payoff? Totally worth the initial headache. Just gotta be patient and let the art do the talking. Don’t expect instant clarity – expect to work for it, but in a way that feels richer.
