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In Search of the Gay Tarot

© Rose Wilcox

Tarot is more than a divination system. It provides a tool for transmitting cultural information and spiritual ideals. Decks reflect the cultural ideas from Celtic, Native American, African and other sources. Indeed, decks can reflect all types of works: TV shows, specific animals, sports, and other interests. As it is Gay Pride month, I decided to go in search of the Gay Tarot.

As I began I thought that a specific litmus test for a "gay" deck might be the Lovers card. Another card that specifically portrays affection and attraction is the 2 of cups. Otherwise, gay culture is so varied that it would be difficult to define just what a specific gay deck would be. However, other cards may be considered as well. The Lovers card's divinatory meaning does not have to refer to relationships, but can sometimes refer to opposites and their integration.

A gay oriented deck might depict more to one of the two genders. A male-oriented or female-oriented deck might appeal to gay men or women respectively.

There are many feminist or goddess-oriented decks might appeal to womyn-loving womyn, whether they be lesbian or bisexual. These decks may also appeal to men who embrace the feminine within.

The only other thing besides cards that portray relationships might be the text that accompanies the cards. If a tarot book is written inclusively, it will be more gay-friendly than one that assumes heterosexual relationships.

During my survey, I noted that my knowledge of womyn-centered and feminist decks is more developed than my knowledge of gay male friendly decks. Thanks to the help of Kel Winters, who is knowledgeable of both types of decks, this is a fuller article than it might have been.

Feminist and Goddess Tarots

Motherpeace

The Motherpeace Deck, by Karen Vogel and Vicki Noble, was designed as a journey to the Goddess in the early burgeoning of the Goddess movement in the late 70s and early 80s. This round deck is feminist oriented. The Lovers card is androgynous: in the center projected from two cups (both of which depict male/female couples, one couple in embrace, the other in violence) are two spirits shown with colors and geometric forms. The two of cups depicts two mermaid like women toasting each other in a dream like landscape. Motherpeace does not have its own website, so I direct you to aelectic tarot for its review.

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/motherpea...

Daughters of the Moon

Another round deck, the Daughters of the Moon deck by Ffiona Morgan, was created over a decade by a group of women working together. There is only a few male images in the deck. Many of the cards are exclusively female,

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