The Bottanical Deck: A Tarot and Oracle Super Deck

The Bottanical Deck, created by Jessica Bott, is a comprehensive 130-card system that merges traditional tarot with an expansive oracle component, all inspired by the natural world of plants. Launched successfully on Kickstarter in 2019, this deck offers a unique botanical lens through which to explore divination. The core tarot section includes 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, with suit names reimagined to align with the botanical theme: Major Arcana are represented by Trees, Cups by Flowers, Pentacles by Crops, Wands by Spices, and Swords by Cacti.

Beyond the tarot structure, the deck expands into an oracle system with five additional suits, each containing 10 cards. These oracle suits—Poisons, Herbs, Medicines, Mushrooms, and Carnivorous plants—follow the same numerological patterns as the minor arcana, providing a rich, layered reading experience without court cards. This extensive card count allows for highly detailed readings, combining the structured guidance of tarot with the intuitive insights of oracle. The deck is designed to be both a functional divination tool and a celebration of botanical diversity.

Each deck comes in a sturdy two-piece box, enhanced with purple metallic foil, and includes a softcover guidebook. The guidebook provides keywords for each card and descriptions of the featured plants, aiding both new and experienced readers in interpreting the botanical imagery. Printed on 330 gsm premium card stock with an anti-scratch matte laminate, the cards are designed for durability and a pleasant tactile experience, making it a substantial addition to any card collection.

The artwork in The Bottanical Deck features a clean, stylized digital illustration approach, focusing on botanical subjects with a minimalist yet detailed aesthetic. Each card presents a single plant, tree, or fungus against a subtly textured, often gradient background, using a diverse color palette that ranges from muted pastels to richer, more vibrant tones. The lines are crisp, and the forms are simplified, giving the illustrations a modern, graphic quality. The visual style avoids anthropomorphism, instead highlighting the inherent beauty and symbolic potential of each botanical element. The card borders are thin and elegant, allowing the artwork to dominate, while the plant names and card numbers are clearly legible at the bottom.

This deck is ideal for botanical enthusiasts, nature lovers, and readers who appreciate a structured yet expansive divination system. It appeals to those seeking a fresh, non-traditional take on tarot, particularly individuals interested in herbalism, mycology, or plant symbolism. Both intermediate and advanced readers will appreciate the depth offered by the combined tarot and oracle system, while beginners with an interest in plants may find the thematic consistency an engaging entry point into card reading.

Jessica Bott created The Bottanical Deck out of a passion for botany and divination, aiming to combine a tarot and oracle deck into one extensive system. The project successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2019, raising $49,386 from 674 backers. The initial concept of a 120-card deck was expanded to 130 cards through a stretch goal, adding the 'Carnivorous' suit. Bott's process involved meticulously selecting plants to represent each card's meaning and suit, ensuring a cohesive botanical narrative throughout the entire deck.