Modern witch tarot

Art Style & Visual Character

Sterle's illustration style is bright, expressive, and color-rich with a modern sensibility and a touch of vintage charm. Her art mirrors Pamela Colman Smith's compositional approach while updating it with contemporary fashion, technology, and diverse representation. The figures feature different body types, ethnicities, gender expressions, and sexual orientations wearing modern clothing and styles. The cards have a high-gloss finish on thick, heavy card stock that is smooth and easy to shuffle despite its density. Notable reimaginings include the Chariot as a biker chick with a switchblade, and the Moon with witchy women in wolf masks replacing the traditional wolves. The overall feel is like having your own coven of stylish, empowering friends.

Core Concept & Symbolism

The deck is a faithful modern reinterpretation of the Rider-Waite-Smith system — the compositional structure, symbolism, and card meanings remain closely aligned with the RWS tradition, making it immediately readable for anyone familiar with that system. The key innovation is representation: Sterle fills the cards with women, femmes, and gender-fluid figures of diverse backgrounds engaged in recognizable modern-day scenarios. The tarot becomes a mirror of contemporary witchcraft culture: inclusive, fashion-forward, and unapologetically feminist. Some critics note that certain cards are near-identical to the RWS originals with only updated clothing, which can feel derivative.

Reading Experience

The Modern Witch Tarot has been overwhelmingly well-received, described by Women Write About Comics as "fun without being feckless, cool without being shallow, and special without being precious." The Mary Sue staff adored the deck. Asali Earthwork's QTPOC deck review praised its inclusivity, noting that more people can see themselves in the cards and build deeper relationships with their practice. Sterle's art is frequently called "gorgeous" and the deck is widely recommended for beginners due to its close alignment with RWS imagery. The main criticisms are that some cards feel too derivative of the original RWS compositions, and the glossy card finish can feel slippery to some readers.

Best Used For

• Beginners who want a modern, approachable entry to RWS tarot
• Readers seeking diverse, inclusive, and feminist representation
• Fashion-conscious and aesthetically driven readers
• Daily pulls and personal empowerment readings
• LGBTQ+ friendly readings and inclusive practice
• Gift for modern witches and tarot-curious friends

Not Ideal For

• Readers seeking departure from RWS compositions (this closely mirrors them)
• Traditionalists who prefer historical or classical tarot imagery
• Those who prefer matte card finishes (cards are high-gloss)