The Tarot of the Orishas is a contemporary tarot deck and spiritual system that fuses traditional tarot symbolism with the cosmology, deities, and cultural aesthetics of the Yoruba-derived Orisha (Orunmila, Elegba, Yemaya, Ogun, Shango, Oshun, etc.) pantheon as practiced in West Africa and its diasporic traditions (Candomblé, Santería/Lucumí, Vodou influences). The result is both a visual and interpretive synthesis: familiar tarot archetypes—Major and Minor Arcana—are reimagined through the attributes, myths, and ritual language of the Orishas. This essay examines the deck’s origins and cultural context, its structure and symbolism, interpretive approaches, ethical considerations around cultural appropriation and transmission, and the implications of distributing the deck or its PDF-format guidebooks.
The guidebook details specific divination layouts, such as the Spread of the Orishas or the Circle of Olodumare , which account for the unique 77-card structure.
First, let’s clarify the subject. The Tarot of the Orishas is not a traditional Rider-Waite-Smith clone. Created by two Espiritistas (spiritualists) and artists, this deck uniquely blends 78 Tarot cards with the 21 Paths of Ifá and the Pantheon of Yoruba Orishas. tarot of the orishas pdf
The physical booklet accompanying the Tarot of the Orishas deck is highly sought after digitally for several practical reasons:
The deck emphasizes the importance of honoring those who came before us. How to Find a Tarot of the Orishas PDF The Tarot of the Orishas is a contemporary
Tarot of the Orishas Tarot de los Orishas ) by Zolrak and Durkon is a unique 77-card divination system that blends West African Yoruba traditions with Brazilian Candomblé, Santería, and Umbanda. Deck Structure
In the , the four suits move away from Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Instead, they reflect the tools and elements of the Afro-Brazilian ritual space: The guidebook details specific divination layouts, such as
Each suit includes numbered cards (Ace-10), one Elemental card (e.g., Undines for Water, Sylphs for Air), and one Message card .
The 56 Minor Arcana cards are also re-imagined. Instead of Swords, Cups, Wands, and Pentacles, this deck utilizes four distinct elemental categories that align with spiritual progression: