The David Bowie Tarot

The David Bowie Tarot is a 78-card deck that pays homage to the iconic musician, featuring high-contrast pop art images of David Bowie's many personas. Artist Jessica DeFelice, known for her Leonardo Da Vinci Tarot, developed this deck by combining her passion for Bowie with her digital art skills. Each card uses a vibrant, 'trippy' background that draws themes from both the card's traditional meaning and the context of Bowie's career.

The Major Arcana incorporates imagery from Bowie's diverse personas, including film roles like Jareth from Labyrinth and Thomas Jerome Newton from The Man Who Fell to Earth. The Minor Arcana is structured around different eras of Bowie's career: Cups (emotions, love) represent his early career until 1971; Wands (creativity, will) feature the Ziggy Stardust and Aladdin Sane eras; Coins (material body, belongings) showcase the Thin White Duke era (1975-1976); and Swords (reason) depict modern Bowie. This thematic organization allows the deck to tell a narrative through Bowie's artistic evolution.

Initially funded on Kickstarter in 2015, the project aimed to produce a full tarot deck that resonated with both Bowie fans and tarot enthusiasts. A stretch goal for a saddle-stitched booklet with card descriptions and Bowie context was unlocked, enhancing the reading experience. The deck offers a unique blend of pop culture and divination, making it a distinctive tool for personal reflection and fan appreciation.

The artwork is characterized by high-contrast, pop art-style digital images of David Bowie, often rendered in black and white or stark silhouettes, set against intensely colorful and abstract backgrounds. These backgrounds feature swirling patterns, cosmic elements, and vibrant, often psychedelic color palettes of purples, oranges, blues, and greens. The visual style is reminiscent of 1970s and 80s album art, with a distinct 'trippy' aesthetic as described by the creator. The Major Arcana preview image confirms this visual approach, showing various Bowie personas integrated into the card designs, such as 'The Alien' replacing The Magician, and 'The Priest' for The Hierophant, maintaining a clear connection to traditional tarot archetypes while infusing them with Bowie's iconic imagery.

This deck is ideal for David Bowie fans and collectors who appreciate pop culture-themed tarot. It also appeals to readers looking for a visually striking deck with a modern, psychedelic aesthetic. Those interested in exploring tarot through a familiar cultural lens, or who enjoy decks that integrate specific artistic or musical themes, will find this deck particularly engaging. It is suitable for both experienced readers and beginners who are drawn to its unique imagery and thematic structure.

Jessica DeFelice is a digital artist with a background in cosmetology and special effects makeup, who also works with The Shoggoth Assembly at conventions. Her journey into tarot deck creation began in 2013 during a Photoshop class, where she designed a Leonardo Da Vinci Tarot Deck as a personal project to challenge herself and learn tarot meanings. Her deep adoration for David Bowie, whom she describes as a lifelong idol and a significant influence, inspired her to create this second tarot deck, fulfilling a long-held dream to combine her two passions.