Fountain tarot
The Fountain Tarot began as a Kickstarter project by three friends from Denver, Colorado — artist Jonathan Saiz, writer Jason Gruhl, and designer Andi Todaro. The original self-published edition quickly became a sought-after collector's item. It was later picked up by Roost Books (Shambhala Publications) for a wider release in 2017. The deck contains 79 cards — the standard 78 plus a unique additional card called "The Fountain," marked with an infinity symbol rather than a number. A companion Fountain Tarot Journal followed, offering a year-long guided reading program across 52 weekly readings.
Official Website →Art Style & Visual Character
Every card image originates as an original full-size oil painting by Jonathan Saiz. The layered oil technique gives cards an atmospheric, luminous quality — reviewers describe it as reminiscent of "early morning in the city: calm, breezy, and a little hazy." The palette is muted and ethereal, dominated by soft blues, grays, golds, and translucent skin tones. The cards feature silver-gilded edges that complement the dreamy artwork. Andi Todaro's design includes rainbow holographic packaging with a sturdy magnetic-closure box. The overall feel is sleek, modern, and gallery-worthy — more fine art than occult illustration.
Core Concept & Symbolism
The Fountain Tarot is RWS-based but stripped of cluttered symbolism, presenting each archetype through a modern, minimalist lens. The 79th card, The Fountain, represents pure creative potential and the flow state — the source from which all inspiration springs. The deck's reduced symbolic density is intentional: by removing excessive traditional symbols, it invites the reader to engage more intuitively with the imagery. The modern figures depicted are diverse and contemporary, grounding ancient archetypes in present-day human experience.
Reading Experience
The Fountain Tarot is described as a "quiet and meditative deck" that connects easily with emotional truths. Readings feel like "getting advice from an objective friend who knows you well." The 100+ page companion guidebook by Jason Gruhl is consistently praised as one of the best in any tarot kit, covering meanings, reversals, history, and reading techniques. The community is somewhat polarized — those who love it consider it a top personal deck, while those who prefer symbol-rich traditional imagery may find it too sparse. Benebell Wen gave it a thorough positive review, and it has strong ratings on Aeclectic Tarot and Goodreads. The production quality (silver edges, magnetic box, thick cardstock) is universally praised.
Best Used For
- Personal reflection and meditative readings
- Intuitive readers who prefer visual mood over dense symbolism
- Modern, urban-minded querents who connect with contemporary imagery
- Emotional clarity and relationship readings
- Art collectors and those who appreciate fine art tarot
- Daily draws and journaling practice (pairs well with the companion journal)
Not Ideal For
- Readers who rely on traditional RWS symbol-by-symbol analysis
- Those who prefer vibrant, saturated color palettes
- Beginners who need obvious symbolic cues to learn card meanings
Major Arcana (22 cards)
The 22 trump cards representing life's spiritual lessons and karmic influences
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
The 56 suit cards reflecting day-to-day events and practical influences
Wands
Fire element — passion, creativity, ambition, and spiritual growth
Cups
Water element — emotions, relationships, intuition, and inner feelings
Swords
Air element — intellect, conflict, truth, and mental clarity
Pentacles
Earth element — material world, finances, health, and practical matters
