The first thing you notice about The Tenderness Tarot may be the yellow. It fills the sky behind The Fool, warms The Sun and softens the scenes around the figures. Beside it, pale blue gives the deck a quieter rhythm.
Created by FairyPle Studio, this coloured-pencil deck follows Rider-Waite-Smith symbolism through a vintage-romantic palette. The texture matters as much as the colour: the drawings have a soft grain that encourages you to linger over them.
Three cards that introduce the mood
The Fool, The Sun and the Ace of Cups make a useful introduction. In The Fool, a figure in green stands against a bright yellow sky. The Sun gives its face a large part of the composition. The Ace of Cups shifts to blue, with the cup and descending bird taking the central position.
They are distinct scenes, but the pale tones and shaped borders give them a family resemblance. If you already know these cards from a traditional deck, look at what stays familiar and what the change in colour does to your response.
The Fool may feel less abrupt here; the Ace of Cups may draw your attention to stillness. Those are possible responses to the artwork, rather than fixed meanings you need to adopt.
Tenderness does not remove the difficult cards
The Swords selection is worth looking at alongside the warmer images. The Nine of Swords keeps its dark blue background and bowed figure. The Eight of Swords still gives you an enclosed scene to consider.
A gentle drawing can make it easier to stay with an uncomfortable subject without changing what the card asks you to notice. You might recognise worry, avoidance or exhaustion while approaching it with a little less self-criticism.
For a journal entry, try asking, “What would I say to a friend in this situation?” Write that answer, then see whether you can offer yourself the same degree of patience. This is a suggested reflection exercise, not an official spread from the guide.
Familiar scenes for learning
The deck’s Rider-Waite-Smith foundation gives readers familiar images to compare with their study materials. The Magician’s table and raised hand, for example, remain recognisable in the preview.
If you are learning, start with the action rather than trying to remember every keyword. Describe what the figure does, look at the objects nearby, and then consult the guide. A small observation you can remember is often more useful than a long definition you cannot.
The product listing includes an English PDF guidebook with both formats. It is downloadable, rather than a printed booklet.
Standard or Portable?
The two editions differ substantially in size. Both contain 80 cards: the traditional 78 plus two bonus cards.
Standard measures 70 × 120 mm, uses 400 gsm double-coated art paper and has gold-gilded edges with a matte varnish. Its tuck box uses a yellow palette. Choose this format if you want more room to examine the drawings.
Portable measures 45 × 83 mm, with 300 gsm double-coated art paper, matte varnish and plain edges. Its sky-blue tuck box is small enough to make it a different proposition for carrying and laying out on a limited surface.
Before choosing the smaller format, cut a piece of paper to those dimensions. It will give you a better sense of the card size than a photograph alone, particularly if you prefer larger lettering or roomier illustrations.
A deck to spend an unhurried moment with
The Tenderness Tarot will appeal to readers who enjoy pastel colour, visible pencil texture and familiar scenes with a softer atmosphere. Look at the quieter and more difficult cards as well as the sunny ones before deciding.
The artwork and design are credited to FairyPle Studio. Stars Tarot is the retailer.
Explore The Tenderness Tarot and compare its two formats, or ask us a question if you need help confirming the contents.
