The Violet Ascension Tarot

The Violet Ascension Tarot is a 78-card deck created by artist Rhienna Renée Guedry, designed to offer a contemporary and inclusive approach to divination. The deck draws its name from the artist's personal history, combining the color violet—a symbol of fragility and a favorite shade—with "Ascension," referencing Ascension Parish, Louisiana, home to her Cajun ancestors. This personal connection imbues the deck with themes of Southern identity, magic, and a sense of rising up in uncertain times.

Unlike traditional Rider-Waite-Smith inspired decks, The Violet Ascension emphasizes non-violence, intersectional feminism, queerness, and dissidence. Its imagery deconstructs human-centered archetypes, reinterpreting them through animals, nature, and unique inventions. The deck aims to provide clarity, resolve, and inspiration, reflecting a desire to seek new paths and perspectives in a rapidly changing world. It is presented as a tool for self-connection and analysis, inviting users to engage with its rich symbolism on a personal level.

The campaign highlights the deck's commitment to ethical production, with plans to use a local-area printer for a sustainably-minded and high-quality print run. The project successfully raised $5,580 from 98 backers in 2017, demonstrating a strong community interest in its unique vision. The deck is intended to be a functional reading tool that also serves as a piece of art, reflecting the artist's journey back to creative expression after a hiatus from formal art practice.

This deck is ideal for tarot readers seeking a non-traditional, inclusive, and art-driven experience. It will appeal to those interested in intersectional feminism, queer themes, and Southern cultural influences. Readers who appreciate detailed, hand-drawn artwork featuring animals, nature, and unique mechanical elements will find this deck particularly engaging. It is suitable for both experienced readers looking for fresh perspectives and beginners open to a deck that challenges conventional symbolism while still providing a structured tarot system.

Rhienna Renée Guedry is a creative professional with a background in publishing, art history, and creative writing, having been published in _Bitch Magazine_ and _Taking The Lane_. After a period away from calling herself "An Artist," a strong urge to create art returned. This led her to explore commonplace objects and animals, eventually inspiring the structured project of The Violet Ascension Tarot. Her goal was to strengthen her connection to the cards and analyze varied symbolism, leading to a deck that deconstructs human-centered archetypes and reinterprets them through animals and special objects, drawing on her Cajun ancestry and personal values.