Review: The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this deck in exchange for an honest review.

Up next in my tarot deck reviews is my favorite of the three decks, The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris. This deck features a guidebook, 82 cards, and is designed to aid you in your self-discovery journey. Honestly, this is probably my favorite deck of all time apart from my Pride and Prejudice deck that I bought simply to honor Jane Austen and not to use in magic whatsoever. The Relative Tarot, on the other hand, is a deck I will use again and again.

Upon opening this deck, I felt an immediate connection. The cards feature antique photographs acquired from friends and family, which immediately drew me in. My mother collects and uses antique photographs in her artwork, so this is something that hits close to home. The card stock is sturdy and the beautiful gold leaf on the edge brings these cards a touch of elegance. However, it was the inclusivity of the cards that kept me coming back to this deck. As I first flipped through the cards, I noticed immediately that there were three copies of The Lovers. At first, I thought this was a printing mistake, but as I looked closer at the cards I realized they were each different. The cards feature a man and a woman, a woman and a woman, and a man and a man, representing all forms of love. This is so much more inclusive and a better representation of the relationships in our lives. Not all love is romantic love and not all romantic love is heterosexual in nature. When I realized what was being featured on The Lover cards, it brought a tear to my eye. I know that for many of my readers, this representation will be much appreciated. Furthermore, the cards feature antique photos from people of all cultures and walks of life. There are many representatives of the BIPOC community featured in these cards, so everyone is able to find a representation of them and their ancestors within these cards. This is uncommon in many decks which often feature almost entirely white people. I can tell much thought was put into each and every one of these cards and it shows in the final product.

I also noticed as I flipped through the deck that it featured two copies of Justice and Strength. Again I felt this may have been a printing error but upon inspection, I realized the numbering was different between the cards. Reading through the book I realized this was done on purpose. The numbering follows both the traditional Marseilles and Rider-Waite-Smith numbering systems so readers can pick which system they prefer to use. I don't personally have a preference, but I know other tarot readers most certainly do, allowing this deck to be more flexible.

According to the guidebook, this deck is designed to help you connect with your ancestors as well as your 'purpose.' There is a breakdown on how to find your birth card, annual card, inner expression and soul cards, and significator, as well as a break down of what they all mean. With this in mind, each card features the birth card numbers in the lower left-hand corner and the card pairings in the lower right-hand corner. I believe this is a useful addition that aids in Paris's intention behind the cards. I believe this deck pairs incredibly well with Ancestral Tarot by Nancy Hendrickson and highly recommend its use. You can purchase The Relative Tarot by Carrie Paris now. 

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