Review of the This Might Hurt Tarot
This Might Hurt Tarot
Creator: Isabella Rotman
Publisher: Liminal 11 (previously independently published)
Originally published as an indie deck, This Might Hurt Tarot by Isabella Rotman takes a modern and inclusive approach to the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) artwork, creating a deck that celebrates people from diverse walks of life. Relatable, practical and refreshing, this deck has since been picked up mass market by Liminal 11, making it widely accessible and a great deck for anyone looking for a high quality, affordable deck that is easy to read for any level of reading experience.
Temperance from This Might Hurt Tarot (mass market edition)
The Cardstock
I have both the indie and mass market versions of this deck, and the cardstock is very different for each. The cardstock on the indie edition is matte and has gilded edging, whilst the mass market edition is glossy with no edging. Both editions of the deck are quite thick, which make it an effort to riffle shuffle if you have small hands.
I’m not usually the biggest fan of glossy cardstock, but in this case the gloss of the mass market deck brings out the vibrancy of the colours much more than the matte indie version does. In the below images, the indie deck is on the left and the mass market deck is on the right. You can see the difference in the richness of the colours between the two decks. For this reason, and the fact that the gilding on the indie edition chips super easily, I prefer to use the mass market edition of this deck.
The Artwork
The artwork in this deck is fantastic. The art is the same in both the indie and mass market editions, and the backs have the same reversible imagery, just in different colours (the indie edition is black and white whilst the Liminal 11 version is blue and white). The artwork is vibrant, the scenes are modern and easy to interpret, and the diversity of characters in this deck is a welcomed feature that is a real selling point.
Based on the RWS, Isabella Rotman has modernised Pamela Colman Smith’s traditional artwork to make it simpler and easier to interpret in the context of today’s world. If you are seeking a deck that is based on the RWS system but you want something that is more in line with the current day and age, this deck is an excellent choice. That said, the cartoon nature of this deck does give it a lighter, almost childlike feel, so that is something that may not appeal to everyone.
Two of Cups from This Might Hurt Tarot (indie edition)
The Guidebook
The guidebook for this deck is very well written. If you are a complete beginner to Tarot, the guidebook does a great job of explaining the card meanings in simple terms, giving the same amount of attention to the minor Arcana as it gives to the major Arcana. It also gives each of the minor Arcana a simple phrase that sums up the main message of the card with a bit of bluntness and humour. A couple of my favourites are the Five of Swords - “you won but you were a jerk about it” - and the Four of Cups - “the too-busy-self-reflecting-to-take-the-dang-cup card”.
The content of the guidebooks is virtually the same across the indie and mass market editions, but the mass market edition does have a couple of extra spreads included. The biggest difference is the aesthetic - the indie edition is in black and white while the mass market edition is in colour. I prefer the mass market guidebook, but I will note that there is a printing issue where some of the card images in the book have a green tinge. This doesn’t bother me as the cards themselves have no issue, but it is something to be aware of.
The Box
The indie edition of the This Might Hurt Tarot comes in a matte, black magnetic clamshell box and has gold foil detailing. The mass market edition of this deck comes in the standard Liminal 11 box, which people either really love or really don’t. It’s a box within a box - you flip open the outside box, slide out the box inside, and then you can access the deck and guidebook. As much as Liminal 11 boxes are visually stunning and are of a super high quality, I personally find that there are too many steps before I can get the deck out of the box. Clamshell boxes are my favourite type of box, so for me, the indie edition wins this category easily. That said, both boxes hold the decks securely and are nice and compact which makes them both easy to store.
Availability
Currently (i.e. February 2024), there are still copies of the indie version of this deck floating around for standard indie deck prices; although they are getting fewer, especially the edition with the black gilded edges. Alternatively, if you are seeking the mass market edition, it is currently in print and can be purchased through most mass market Tarot deck retailers.
I have sold out of the indie version of this deck and won’t be restocking. But for anyone located in Australia who is interested in the Liminal 11 edition, you can purchase it through my shop.
Summary
So, what do I reckon?
A bit of alright. 4/5 stars.
Both the indie edition and the mass market version of the This Might Hurt Tarot are excellent decks to add to any Tarot collection. After working with them both, my personal preference is the mass market edition published by Liminal 11. The glossy cardstock brings out the richness of the artwork and makes the energy of the deck slightly stronger and bolder when I work with it compared to the indie edition. The guidebook is fantastic in both versions of the deck, and it is a good read whether you are a beginner or an experienced reader. Isabella Rotman’s take on the traditional RWS artwork is refreshing and fun, with the diversity of the characters being a standout feature. This deck is very versatile and can be used to read for any topic, and it is a good choice to read for both yourself and for others. There are a few minor things that hold this back from being a 5/5 rating for me personally. The thickness of the decks makes them challenging to riffle shuffle for smaller hands, the gilding of the indie deck is not great quality, and the colour printing issue in the mass market guidebook are a few things that I don’t love. Plus, the cartoon nature of the artwork gives it a lighter feel that won’t appeal to everyone. But apart from that, the deck is a true all-rounder and I would recommend it for any level of Tarot experience.
