Somnia Tarot
The Somnia Tarot is a 78-image photography series created by New York-based artist Nicolas Bruno, who has spent over fifteen years transforming his sleep paralysis experiences into haunting works of art. The concept was born during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Bruno completed the entire project by late November 2020. He launched an independent crowdfunding campaign in March 2021 that was fully funded on launch day. The deck is considered one of the first full tarot decks created entirely in the genre of conceptual photography. It has been recognized by The College of Psychic Studies in London and added to their permanent museum archive.
Official Website →Art Style & Visual Character
Every card is a meticulously staged surreal photograph shot on location in the marshlands and shorelines of Long Island, New York, often in dramatic conditions — heavy rain, overcast skies, complete pre-dawn darkness. Bruno's imagery is atmospheric and theatrical: draped fabrics, sculptural props, mysterious figures, fog, and water create a world that feels suspended between waking and sleeping. The aesthetic is dark, moody, and cinematic, with a muted, desaturated palette dominated by grays, blues, and earth tones. Each photograph functions as a standalone fine art piece as well as a tarot card.
Core Concept & Symbolism
The symbolism draws from Bruno's personal dream journals and his experiences with sleep paralysis — characters and motifs from his night terrors are woven into the traditional tarot framework. The deck follows RWS structure and references Rider-Waite-Smith interpretations, but filters them through Jungian dream archetypes and the raw psychological territory of the subconscious. The result is a deck that confronts fear, shadow, and the liminal space between consciousness and unconsciousness. Vanessa Louise Sharples, Lecturer of Occultic Studies & Tarot, praised Bruno for delivering "a truly original and authentic depiction" of the cards, calling it the most unique take on capturing the essence of the Tarot she had seen in thousands of decks.
Reading Experience
The deck is praised for its breathtaking, evocative photography and emotional intensity. The Ms. Joyce Tarot review notes that while basic concepts follow RWS interpretations, the photos have a unique surreal quality that adds fresh layers of meaning. However, reviewers caution that the deck is not beginner-friendly — the surreal photographic imagery departs significantly from traditional tarot visual cues, making it challenging for those who rely on standard RWS pictorial prompts. The Patchwork Soul review suggests it works particularly well during emotionally complex or introspective periods, but is not suited for everyday casual use.
Best Used For
- Dream work, sleep exploration, and subconscious inquiry
- Shadow work and Jungian psychological readings
- Art collectors and photography enthusiasts
- Deeply introspective or therapeutic reading sessions
- Readers working through fear, anxiety, or liminal life transitions
Not Ideal For
- Beginners learning tarot for the first time
- Lighthearted daily pulls or casual everyday readings
- Readers who prefer traditional illustrated or colorful tarot art
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
