On the cover of Scarlet & Black Tarot, a red oval glows inside a black ornamental frame. The palette looks almost severe from a distance. Spread the cards out and you start to notice the pale faces, tarnished gold tones and pockets of light that give the darker scenes their depth.
Created by CHAIN J, the deck uses a Rider-Waite-Smith foundation to explore what courage can look like in a difficult moment. The artwork gives that idea an atmosphere of its own. Some figures seem poised to act, while others look as though they need a moment to gather themselves.
Notice where the red appears
Red draws the eye, but it doesn’t always draw it to the same place. In one of the gallery photos, a tall arch glows behind a figure holding a sword. The surrounding scene is almost monochrome. That little patch of colour can make the arch feel like a way out, or like something the figure has chosen to guard.
Try looking at a card for a few seconds before reading its name. Where did you look first? Did you notice a person, a doorway or the space between two figures? Your eye may go straight to the drama. On a second look, a smaller detail might give you a better question.
A reading for a difficult decision
Pick a decision you have been turning over and draw two cards. Read the first as what I’m trying to protect and the second as what this is costing me. You might be protecting a little peace at the cost of leaving something unsaid. You might be protecting a friendship by letting a small disagreement pass.
Write one sentence for each card. Then decide what you can do with what you’ve noticed. Sometimes the next step is a conversation. Sometimes it’s waiting until you know what you want to say.
What’s in the box?
The set includes 80 cards, with the 78-card base deck and two hidden bonus cards. The 70 × 120 mm cards are printed on 330 gsm Japanese black-core paper with a soft-touch matte varnish. Red foil lettering appears on the faces, and the stacked deck has dark red gilded edges. A bilingual English and Chinese guidebook comes with the rigid collector’s box.
Artwork by CHAIN J. Retailed by Stars Tarot.
