Goddess of Love Tarot Review
By: Gabriela Herstik
Illustrator: Snakes for Hair
Publisher: Tarcher Perigee
Number of cards: 78
Card size: 5 in x 3 in
Box size: 7 x 4.75 in
Guidebook pages: 123
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Purchased or gifted?: Gifted by Tarcher Perigee
Absolute favorite card: The Hermit
My favorite cards: Queen of wands, Crone of swords, Ace of Wands, The World
Who this deck is for: Big scorpio energy, anyone interested in sacred sex and eroticism
I was really excited when Tarcher Perigee reached out and offered me this deck. I don’t have a love themed tarot deck and have really wanted. I absolutely love the idea of this deck. It speaks to love but also sex, lust, eroticism and sexual empowerment. I have a scorpio stellium so that really speaks to my heart. I also believe in sexual exploration and that there’s a lot of stigma around sex that makes people feel ashamed for wanting to explore different ways to express themselves sexually.
One of the things I love most about the deck is Gabriella’s interpretations. She’s very direct and doesn’t shy away from the truth. This is becoming increasingly important to me when I search for a deck. So many people come to me, thinking spirituality makes life easy and that you won’t struggle. When really, walking a spiritual path is incredibly hard and forces you to get out of your comfort zone. There are big rewards but to get there, you have to be willing to do the work. Having said all of that, I really appreciate the constant tie into eroticism. The words really match the theme and while I don’t know Gabriella’s, from what I’ve seen, this deck is very on brand. This deck reminds me a lot of the She Wolfe Tarot. It has a similar color palette and a similar energy.
Each one of the Major Arcana cards corresponds to a goddess of love so there’s an opportunity to learn more about goddesses if that is something you’re interested in. The guidebook features a nice introductory section on how to ready tarot, other ways to use tarot and tarot spreads. I really like the idea of the spread for healing heartbreak and I plan to give this one a try this weekend.
Something else I really enjoy about the book is the inclusion of journal prompts for each card. I believe the work really begins after the tarot reading is done. Having prompts to further explore the meaning of the card, I find, really helps you to integrate the card’s energy. Sometimes your mind picks things up in a reading, thinks it over, and then hits you with insights later. Journaling about your reading helps to pull those insights out and get them onto a page.
One thing I don’t like about the deck is the box. Before I elaborate, know that the packaging often has very little to do with the author. Publishers make a lot of those decisions. We get a say but we don’t always get our way. Having said that, I really don’t like boxes that don’t have the little thumb circles on the sides. It makes it really hard to open and it’s such an easy fix. I never understand why it isn’t included.
So far, it’s been a pleasure to work with in terms of pulling readings. The artwork isn’t really my vibe but I have been pleased with the cards I’ve pulled. Its been accurate and again, I really enjoy the interpretations. I’ve been reading tarot for over a decade now so I can more or less look past artwork that I don’t connect with. But if you’re a beginner, I really recommend working with a deck that has the kind of artwork you enjoy. And that’s really a tip for any deck. But if you are fairly experienced and know tarot well, or if you read professionally, I do think it’s a wonderful deck to have for love and lusty readings. I’m definitely going to offer this deck for people who are looking for this energy.
