The Major Barkana: A Dog-Themed Tarot Deck

The Major Barkana is a 22-card tarot deck focusing exclusively on the Major Arcana, with each card reimagined through the lens of various dog breeds. Created by artists Arien and Bael, the project launched in 2018 with the intention of releasing the full 78-card deck in 2020. This initial Majors-only release was designed to allow backers to receive the cards sooner and to help fund the completion of the entire deck.

Beyond its charming aesthetic, The Major Barkana serves a philanthropic purpose: raising awareness for service dogs. Each deck shipped in the US includes two "service dog fact cards," and the creators pledged to donate at least 15% of profits from post-Kickstarter sales to service dog teams and organizations. The deck's concept involves immortalizing real dogs, with their humans selecting the card that best reflects their pet's personality, ensuring an authentic connection between the dog and its assigned Major Arcana meaning.

The cards are standard tarot size (2.75”x4.75”) and printed on 16pt card stock, housed in a fully illustrated tuck box. The campaign emphasized the deck's durability, having undergone rigorous testing. While this initial offering is only the Major Arcana, the creators planned for a future release of the Minor Arcana as a separate deck, with a coupon code provided to Majors deck purchasers to ensure a cost-effective way to collect the full set.

This deck is ideal for dog lovers and tarot enthusiasts who appreciate whimsical, animal-themed interpretations of the Major Arcana. It particularly appeals to those who enjoy watercolor art and a softer, more approachable aesthetic in their divination tools. Readers interested in supporting social causes, specifically service dog awareness, will also find this deck appealing. While it's a Majors-only deck, it can be used by beginners focusing on core archetypes or experienced readers looking for a unique, charming addition to their collection.

The Major Barkana was created by Arien and Bael, two artists who identify as having dissociative identity disorder and share a passion for colorful illustration. They describe the project as their most enjoyable artistic endeavor. Their inspiration stemmed from a desire to combine their love for dogs with tarot, while also using the platform to educate the public about service dogs. The project began with the Major Arcana, with plans for a full 78-card deck to follow, driven by their commitment to both art and advocacy.