Tarot Of The Orishas Pdf May 2026

Tarot of the Orishas (PDF) — Essay

The Tarot of the Orishas is a contemporary tarot deck and spiritual system that fuses traditional tarot symbolism with the cosmology, deities, and cultural aesthetics of the Yoruba-derived Orisha (Orunmila, Elegba, Yemaya, Ogun, Shango, Oshun, etc.) pantheon as practiced in West Africa and its diasporic traditions (Candomblé, Santería/Lucumí, Vodou influences). The result is both a visual and interpretive synthesis: familiar tarot archetypes—Major and Minor Arcana—are reimagined through the attributes, myths, and ritual language of the Orishas. This essay examines the deck’s origins and cultural context, its structure and symbolism, interpretive approaches, ethical considerations around cultural appropriation and transmission, and the implications of distributing the deck or its PDF-format guidebooks.

In Yoruba culture, the Orishas are a pantheon of deities, each associated with specific aspects of nature, human experience, and spiritual growth. The Tarot of the Orishas deck features 78 cards, each illustrating a particular Orisha or spiritual concept. tarot of the orishas pdf

• Swords (Air/Oggun): Representing conflict, intellect, and iron.
• Cups (Water/Oshun): Representing love, emotion, and sweetness.
• Wands/Batons (Fire/Shango): Representing passion, energy, and justice.
• Coins/Pentacles (Earth/Orunla): Representing material wealth and wisdom.

The Tarot of the Orishas deck consists of 78 cards, divided into two main sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana cards feature 22 Orishas, each representing a specific aspect of the divine, while the Minor Arcana cards are divided into four suits, each associated with a particular element: earth, air, fire, and water. Tarot of the Orishas (PDF) — Essay The

6. The Lovers: Osun and Oshun, the twin Orishas of love and fertility

What is the Tarot of the Orishas?

Created by the Brazilian artist and spiritualist Werneck de Aquino (published by Editora Pensamento), the Tarot of the Orishas (or Tarô dos Orixás) is a 78-card deck that reimagines the traditional tarot structure through the lens of Afro-Brazilian religion, specifically Candomblé and Umbanda. The Tarot of the Orishas deck consists of

25 Principle Cards: These act similarly to the Major Arcana and feature 13 Orishas (deities) representing intense sacred energy archetypes.