Circo Tarot—an Original Tarot Deck by Marisa de la Peña

The Circo Tarot is an original 78-card deck created by artist Marisa de la Peña, who sought to combine her passion for art with the insights of tarot. The deck is characterized by its hand-painted illustrations, which are reproduced onto high-quality cardstock, offering a unique visual experience that is both elegant and approachable. The design maintains traditional tarot symbolism, featuring the familiar suits of Cups, Wands, Pentacles, and Knives (replacing Swords), making it accessible for readers accustomed to standard tarot systems.

Launched successfully on Kickstarter in 2016, the Circo Tarot aimed to provide a larger volume of decks after a smaller initial production run garnered positive feedback. The creator emphasized local production, utilizing resources within a 40-mile radius of her Los Angeles home, including a print shop in Hollywood. This commitment to community and local craftsmanship is a core aspect of the deck's creation story.

The deck is designed to be simple and easy to read, appealing to a wide range of tarot enthusiasts. Its distinctive artistic style and adherence to traditional structure make it a versatile tool for personal insight and reflection. The vibrant imagery and thoughtful production process contribute to its appeal as both a functional divination tool and a collectible art object.

This deck is well-suited for tarot readers who appreciate unique, hand-illustrated art styles, particularly those with an interest in folk art or a whimsical aesthetic. It appeals to both beginners, due to its adherence to traditional symbolism and easy-to-read design, and experienced readers looking for a deck with a distinct visual voice. Collectors who value locally produced and artist-driven projects will also find this deck appealing.

Marisa de la Peña, the artist behind the Circo Tarot, combined her lifelong passions for art and tarot to create this deck. Her process involved lovingly hand-painting each of the 78 illustrations. De la Peña is committed to supporting her local community, ensuring that all production resources for the deck, including the print shop in Hollywood, were located within a 40-mile radius of her home in Los Angeles. This local production approach was a key part of her vision for the deck, which she aimed to distribute more widely after a successful small-scale release.