Vision Brainstorm: Themes & Symbols for Your Tarot/Oracle Deck

Creating a personal tarot or oracle deck is an exciting and rewarding journey. Whether you’re an experienced tarot reader or a complete beginner, designing your own deck allows you to infuse your firsthand experiences, vision, and creativity into a set of cards that can become a powerful tool for self-reflection, divination, and spiritual growth.

This blog post offers practical tips and exercises to help you brainstorm unique themes and symbolic elements that resonate with your vision, ensuring that your deck is both meaningful and uniquely yours.

The Magic of Tarot and Oracle Decks

Tarot and oracle decks are mirrors reflecting our inner landscapes, offering insights, guidance, and clarity. Each card in a deck carries its own energy, story, and symbolism, that can illuminate our paths and enrich our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Understanding Tarot Decks

A traditional tarot deck consists of 78 cards divided into two main categories: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana, with 22 cards, represents significant life events and spiritual lessons. The Minor Arcana, with 56 cards, is divided into four suits (usually Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands) that reflect everyday events and situations.

Understanding Oracle Decks

Oracle decks, on the other hand, are more flexible in structure and can vary widely in the number of cards and themes. Unlike tarot decks, oracle decks do not have a standardized structure, allowing for greater creative freedom. Each card in an oracle deck typically carries a unique message or theme, offering intuitive guidance.

The Journey Begins: Finding Your Theme

The first step in creating your personal tarot or oracle deck is to choose a theme that resonates with you. Your theme sets the tone for your deck and serves as the foundation for its symbolism and imagery.

Tips for Choosing a Theme

1. Reflect on Your Interests and Passions: Consider what subjects or topics deeply interest you. This could be anything from mythology, nature, astrology, cultural symbols, firsthand experiences, or even abstract concepts like emotions or dreams.
2. Consider Your Spiritual Path: Think about your spiritual beliefs and practices. Your deck could be an extension of your spiritual journey, incorporating elements that hold significant meaning for you.
3. Explore Artistic Inspirations: Look at different art styles, colours, and aesthetics that inspire you. Your deck’s visual appeal is important, so choose a theme that allows you to express your creativity.
4. Seek Personal Relevance: Your deck will be a personal tool, so ensure the theme resonates deeply with you. This connection will infuse your cards with authenticity and power.

Exercises to Discover Your Theme

1. Mind Mapping: Create a mind map of potential themes. Start with a central idea and branch out into related topics. This visual exercise can help you see connections and narrow down your options.
2. Journaling: Spend time writing about what inspires you, what you’re enthusiastic about, and what symbols or imagery feel powerful to you. This reflective practice can reveal underlying themes that resonate with you.
3. Meditation and Visualization: Meditate on your intention to create a deck and visualize different themes. Notice which themes evoke strong emotions or imagery.
4. Consult Your Existing Decks: If you already use tarot or oracle decks, review them for themes or elements that particularly resonate with you. This can provide insight into what you might want to include in your own deck.

Creating Symbolic Elements

Once you have a theme, the next step is to develop the symbolic elements that will populate your cards. Symbols are the language of the subconscious mind, and they play a central role in the effectiveness of your deck.

Tips for Developing Symbols

1. Research and Study: Research the symbolism related to your theme. Study mythology, folklore, literature, and art to understand the historical and cultural significance of various symbols.
2. Personal Symbolism: Consider symbols that have personal meaning to you. These can be derived from your experiences, dreams, and inner visions.
3. Consistency: Ensure your symbols are consistent and cohesive throughout the deck. This creates a unified and harmonious deck that is easy to read and interpret.
4. Simplicity and Clarity: Choose symbols that are clear and easily recognizable. While complex symbols can be powerful, they should still be understandable to someone new to your deck.

Exercises for Developing Symbols

1. Symbol Brainstorming: List all the symbols you associate with your chosen theme. Don’t censor yourself – write down everything that comes to mind, no matter how abstract.
2. Sketching: Start sketching potential symbols. Visual representation can help solidify your ideas and show you how different symbols might look on a card.
3. Symbol Dictionary: Create a dictionary of symbols, noting their meanings and potential uses in your deck. This can be a valuable reference as you design your cards.
4. Collage Creation: Use magazines, books, and online images to create a collage of symbols and imagery that inspire you. This visual exercise can help you see how different elements can come together.

Designing Your Cards

With your theme and symbols in place, it’s time to start designing your cards. This stage involves both creativity and practicality, as you’ll need to consider the visual layout, composition, and usability of your deck.

Tips for Designing Cards

1. Card Layout: Decide on a consistent layout for your cards. This includes the placement of the title, imagery, and any additional text. A consistent layout helps create a cohesive deck.
2. Colour Palette: Choose a colour palette that complements your theme. Colours have powerful symbolic meanings and can enhance the energy of your cards.
3. Imagery and Style: Select an artistic style that aligns with your vision. Whether you choose to create detailed illustrations, abstract art, or digital designs, ensure it reflects the essence of your theme.
4. Usability: Consider the practical aspects of using your deck. Ensure the text is legible, the symbols are clear, and the cards are a manageable size for shuffling and handling.

Exercises for Card Design

1. Prototyping: Create prototypes of a few cards to see how your designs look in physical form. This can help you refine your layout, colour choices, and imagery before committing to a full deck.
2. Feedback Loop: Share your card designs with friends or fellow tarot/oracle enthusiasts and ask for feedback. Constructive criticism can provide valuable insights and improvements.
3. Iterative Design: Be prepared to revise and iterate on your designs. Creating a deck is a process, and it’s normal for your ideas to evolve as you work.
4. Mock Readings: Use your prototype cards in mock readings to see how they feel in practice. This can highlight any design issues and help you make necessary adjustments.

Finalizing and Printing Your Deck

After designing all your cards, the last step is to prepare them for printing. This involves ensuring your designs are print-ready and choosing a printing method that meets your needs.

Tips for Finalizing Your Deck

1. High-Resolution Images: Ensure all your card designs are in high-resolution format suitable for printing. This guarantees your cards will be sharp and clear.
2. Print Specifications: Decide on the specifications for your deck, including card size, cardstock quality, and finish (e.g., matte, or glossy).
3. Proofing: Order a proof copy of your deck before committing to a full print run. This allows you to check for any errors and see how your cards look in physical form.
4. Packaging: Consider how you’ll package your deck. Custom boxes, guidebooks, and additional materials can enhance the overall presentation and value of your deck.

Exercises for Finalizing Your Deck

1. Quality Check: Review each card design for consistency, clarity, and quality. Ensure all symbols are easily recognizable and the text is legible.
2. Test Printing: Print a few cards on diverse types of cardstock to see which one feels best. Consider factors like durability, texture, and shuffle-ability.
3. Guidebook Creation: Write a guidebook or booklet that accompanies your deck. This can include explanations of each card’s meaning, tips for readings, and information about your theme and symbolism.
4. Marketing and Distribution: If you plan to sell your deck, start thinking about how you’ll market and distribute it. This includes creating a website, setting up an online store, and utilizing social media to reach potential buyers.

Conclusion: Embark on Your Creative Journey

Creating a personal tarot or oracle deck is a journey of self-discovery, creativity, and spiritual growth. By choosing a theme that resonates with you, developing meaningful symbols, designing beautiful cards, and finalizing your deck with care, you can create a powerful tool that reflects your unique vision and serves as a source of inspiration and guidance for yourself and others.

If you need guidance, advice or perhaps need someone to help you create your tarot or oracle deck, check out our Vision to Deck service.