Witches Tarot Ellen Cannon Reed ((link)) | The

Ellen Cannon Reed’s The Witches’ Tarot stands as a seminal work in the history of modern Tarot. It successfully challenged the notion that Wicca and Qabalah were mutually exclusive paths, demonstrating that the Tree of Life could be a valid map for the Witch’s journey. By reordering the Court, reclaiming the Horned God, and centering the Goddess, Reed provided the Neopagan community with a tool that reflected their theology without sacrificing esoteric depth. For the serious student of the Tarot, Reed’s work remains a testament to the power of adaptation; it proves that the Tarot is not a static museum piece, but a living, evolving language capable of speaking to the spiritual needs of any era.

The Witches' Tarot deck, created in 1978, is a 78-card deck that features stunning illustrations of magical and mystical symbols, characters, and landscapes. The deck is divided into two main sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.

: Red (notably different from the usual yellow/blue associated with Air in other systems) Pentacles (Earth) : Green The Companion Guide: The Witches Qabala the witches tarot ellen cannon reed

To fully utilize the deck, Reed authored a comprehensive 320-page companion book, The Witches Tarot (sometimes referred to as The Witches Qabala Book 2 ). It includes: Detailed divinatory meanings.

The Witches' Tarot deck can be used for a variety of purposes, including: Ellen Cannon Reed’s The Witches’ Tarot stands as

Visually, The Witches’ Tarot is a departure from the medieval Christian imagery of the Rider-Waite deck. Illustrated by Martin Cannon, the artwork retains the two-dimensional, iconic style of traditional Tarot but populates it with figures drawn from Pagan mythology and Wiccan ritual.

While the Major Arcana deals with archetypal forces, the Minor Arcana in The Witches’ Tarot focuses on the mundane aspects of life. Unlike the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, which popularized scenic illustrations for the pip cards (the numbered cards), Reed opts for a more traditional approach. The numbered cards feature arrangements of the suit symbols—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Discs—rather than illustrated scenes of daily life. For the serious student of the Tarot, Reed’s

: The deck follows the Golden Dawn tradition for numbering, with Strength at VIII and Justice at XI . Artistic Design

Have you read with The Witches Tarot ? Does the Horned God visit your spreads, or do you prefer a more modern pagan deck? Share your experience below.

Is it for everyone? No. The Horned God guards the gate. But for the witch who has felt that the traditional Tarot speaks about them rather than to them, The Witches Tarot offers a homecoming.

Ellen Cannon Reed was an American Wiccan and artist who was born in 1923 and passed away in 1988. She was a prominent figure in the modern Wiccan movement, known for her dedication to the craft and her efforts to promote a deeper understanding of its principles and practices. Reed was a gifted artist, and her work on the Witches' Tarot deck reflects her deep connection to the mystical and symbolic traditions of witchcraft.