The Sacred Web Tarot, published in 2022, is a unique, complicated, beautiful deck that has a fascinating backstory.

This 79-card deck was created by Jannie Bui Brown and James W. Brown IV, a mother-offspring team, and published in 2022. James was in their 20s when they experienced a traumatic brain injury in 2017. A year-and-a-half later, while still recovering, they completed a drawing of Release, which eventually became this deck’s version of the Death card. From there, James and Jannie collaborated to create the Sacred Web Tarot. Drawing the images for these cards helped James through the long process of healing from the brain trauma.

This deck may take a little getting used to for people who are familiar with the traditional Tarot. Although the Sacred Web Tarot is inspired by the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith cards, the Sacred Web Tarot is gender neutral and the images generally depart from the themes of the traditional images. Like the Release card mentioned above, many of the Major Arcana cards have been renamed, including Grace (the Empress) and the Burn (the Tower). The extra Major Arcana card is the Sacred Cosmic Self. It represents a return to the inner child as a way of reconnecting with the Divine light.

In addition, the Minor Arcana suits are Fire, Air, Water, and Earth for Wands, Swords, Cups, and Pentacles, respectively. Instead of the Page, Knight, Queen, and King of each suit, the corresponding cards are Student, Scout, Source, and Seer.

The guidebook is quite exhaustive at nearly 250 pages long. Among the information included are sections on how to take care of a Tarot deck and Tarot spreads. Each card has a full-page black and white illustration. However, Jannie’s card interpretations rarely include mundane situations and practical advice. Instead, Jannie leans into the spiritual/metaphysical meanings.

For instance, the guidebook says this about the Five of Fire: “…when you feel helpless and alone, be still. Soften your grip on your need to be in control…Release your dark thoughts on the wing of the night.” For Justice, it says, “…the Cosmos…invites you to practice humility, for in humility, you can begin to open to the idea that all beings are equal.” For each card, the guidebook also includes keywords, mantras, and associations with crystals, yoga poses, and animals. There are no interpretations given for reversals.

There are no precise details about what is shown on the cards themselves. Yet it’s clear that the images depicted have a deeply personal meaning to the artist.

For example, the Ace of Earth shows a bear sitting on a tree stump with a pentacle coming out of its mouth as if on a balloon string. The Four of Water shows a scorpion and a flower. To get an idea of what the deck creators intended the images to represent, you would have to rely on the card interpretations in the guidebook. But as always, you can base your interpretation of the image based on what you know about Tarot or else you can throw everything you know and read the images intuitively.

I love working with this deck because it is rich with possibilities. I was originally drawn to it because of its commitment to inclusivity and was delighted to find just how profoundly the deck creators transformed the traditional Tarot themes to capture the spiritual side of the human condition. This deck is a shining achievement and a testament to love, perseverance, and the creative spark.