the multistabber tarot

The Multistabber Tarot is a unique 78-card deck born from a collaborative effort to complete the creative vision of tattoo artist Mo Richard, who passed away unexpectedly in 2017. Richard had begun designing her own tarot deck, and following her death, a community of over 40 artists, friends, and family members came together to realize her project. The deck integrates design influences from both the Mythic Tarot and the standard Rider-Waite system, providing a familiar yet distinct framework for readings.

Mo Richard completed the Major Arcana, carefully selecting animals whose individual meanings or characteristics aligned with each card's symbolism. Her vision for the Minor Arcana was to illustrate the journey of tarot through the life cycles of different animals. Each suit features a representative animal, starting in an embryonic state in the Ace cards and progressing through growth to ultimate evolution in the court cards. The suits are specifically assigned: Fish for Cups/Water, Ravens/Birds for Wands/Fire, Luna Moths/Insects for Swords/Air, and Squirrels/Rodentia for Pentacles/Earth.

The deck includes a 4x7 inch softbound guidebook written by Richard's husband, Sam, based on her original notes and sources. This book also provides a tutorial on using the cards, information about Mo's legacy foundation with Family Tree Clinic, and impressions from the collaborating artists. The physical cards measure 2.75 x 4.75 inches, are printed on blue-core standard card stock, and come packaged in a matte tuck-box.

This deck is ideal for tarot enthusiasts who appreciate animal-themed decks with a unique conceptual twist, particularly those interested in the journey of life cycles. It will appeal to collectors who value collaborative art projects and decks with a strong, heartfelt backstory. Readers familiar with Rider-Waite and Mythic Tarot systems will find the underlying structure accessible, while the distinct animal symbolism offers fresh interpretive layers. It is also suited for those who prefer decks with a personal, artistic touch rather than mass-produced aesthetics.

The Multistabber Tarot is a memorial project for tattoo artist Mo Richard, who passed away in 2017. Richard had begun creating her own tarot deck, and after her death, her husband Sam, along with over 40 artists, friends, and family, collaborated to complete her vision. The project was driven by a shared desire to honor Mo's unique, vibrant persona and artistic talent. Her husband, Sam Richard, a writer and owner of Weirdpunk Books, compiled the guidebook using Mo's original notes, while the contributing artists each created a card inspired by her vision and their own style.