The Spacious Tarot

The Spacious Tarot is a 78-card deck created through a collaboration between illustrator Annie Ruygt and tarot reader Carrie Mallon. Launched successfully on Kickstarter in 2019, the deck invites users into an "energetic realm" with its immersive, nature-based, and mystical illustrations. While loosely based on the Waite-Smith system, it prioritizes the "feeling" of each card, encouraging intuitive connection over strict adherence to traditional imagery.

The deck features a unique approach to its court cards, renaming them to focus on levels of experience rather than gender or hierarchy: Child (Page), Explorer (Knight), Guardian (Queen), and Elder (King). This reinterpretation aims to make the deck more inclusive and accessible. The artwork deliberately omits human figures, though hints of human presence, such as skeleton hands in Death or a lantern in The Hermit, appear. Animal companions are also present, particularly in the court cards.

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled 350 gsm card stock with a matte finish and borderless imagery, the deck emphasizes environmental consciousness. It comes housed in a sturdy one-piece box with a flip cover lid and includes an accompanying guidebook designed to offer nudges for interpretation while leaving ample room for personal intuition. The creators aimed for an organic creative process, allowing the deck's visual and energetic signature to unfold naturally.

This deck is ideal for tarot readers who appreciate nature-based and mystical aesthetics and prefer an intuitive approach to readings. It suits both beginners, who will find the imagery evocative and the guidebook supportive, and seasoned readers looking for a deck that offers alternate perspectives on traditional meanings. The non-gendered court cards make it appealing to those seeking a more inclusive and contemporary tarot experience. Environmentally conscious buyers will also appreciate the use of recycled card stock.

The Spacious Tarot is a collaboration between illustrator Annie Ruygt and tarot reader Carrie Mallon, who connected via Instagram over their shared love of tarot. Carrie had envisioned creating a deck with Annie, and when Annie proposed the same idea, they saw it as a sign for the collaboration to happen. They began the project in September 2016, allowing the deck to develop organically and at its own pace, with "spaciousness" emerging as a central theme in both the artwork and their creative process. Their goal was to capture the "feeling" of each card, trusting the universe to guide the deck's visual and energetic signature.