The Happy Tarot certainly lives up to its name - it is a warm-hearted and optimistic deck situated in a whimsical candy-land. The suits themselves are denoted by sugary goodies: Cups are ice cream sundaes, Pentacles are cookies and macaroons, Wands are depicted by popsicle sticks, lollipops, chocolate curls, and marshmallows on sticks; and Swords are shown as children's wooden toy swords. The inhabitants of Happy Tarot world are a cheery lot, although an occasional sad face creeps into the appropriate cards. You can still do a serious reading with this deck as it follows the RWS system. I find it easy to read but those images are in no way serious. However, it's a bit like the Fool being able to tell the King the truth when no one else would risk it. The Happy Tarot can still give direct and clear messages, just with a few lollies and a marshmallow cloud or two to cushion the blow.  If you are looking for a deck that eschews negativity in favor of a consistently positive outlook – this is it!

The TAROT DEL TORO is a remarkable gift for fans of the Tarot, art lovers, del Toro film fans, enthusiasts of fantasy and folklore, and anyone with a passion for creativity and storytelling. 

This drop-dead gorgeous deck designed and illustrated by Tomás Hijo, is truly stunning. The set includes a fully illustrated 78-card deck and guidebook, which includes a heartfelt forward by del Toro himself. In it, he talks about his very personal relationship to the Tarot, a passion passed down to him by his mother. He explains how learning to read and connect with the Tarot has made him a better storyteller.

I love how the meaning behind each of the cards is explored, reflecting the magic and wonder of del Toro’s cinematic universe, as well as del Toro’s own inspiring vision of the world.

The Deck features original artwork inspired by the themes, imagery, and characters of some of del Toro’s most popular films, including Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, and The Shape of Water. It’s brilliant to make Guillermo del Toro the first card as The Magician, since he’s responsible for everything that inspired this deck of cards. 

Not only is the artwork inspired by del toro’s films, but the interpretation of the cards is as well. For example, The Fool in this Deck is represented by the faun from Pan’s Labyrinth, a character who is both a jester and a mystical pilgrim. In this way, fans of the visionary filmmaker are able to infuse deeper meaning into their readings and more intuitively respond to the Deck.