Lalania Simone is a writer, artist and mystic, and the co-proprietor of Alchemy Ritual Goods in Denver, Colorado. She’s the author of “Urban Soul Warrior: Self-Mastery in the Midst of the Metropolis” (Catapult, 2008). Previous decks include The Tarot of the Cosmic Seed and The Oracle of Awakening. Her focus is on bridging the gap between urban life and spiritual liberation through books and tools that make spiritual concepts more accessible to everyone.
The new Wise Earth Medicine Tarot features Ms. Simone’s exuberantly colorful and graphic artistic style, but the content of this deck veers in an entirely new direction. This singular tarot draws on the wisdom of Earth by depicting creatures and plants on the cards. The author writes: “Medicine relates to that which makes us well, or helps us find our internal balance…” and that the medicine in this deck is “provided by the innate intelligence of life.”
Most cards feature an animal, while some feature a flower or plant. Creatures occupy the foreground. Circles float behind the creatures as a unifying visual element, along with plants or flowers over a background color or pattern. Animals are drawn with white tribal-style markings. Sometimes these markings are minimal, but for example, the King of Fire/Scarab Beetle features an elaborate design. This design feature conveys a First Nations feel to the deck’s imagery, although the markings aren’t necessarily tribal in origin. The edges of the cards are metallic green, yet another distinctive feature of this deck.
The suits are named for the elements: Fire (Wands); Water (Cups); Wind (Air); and Earth (Pentacles). Ms. Simone made an artistic decision to step away from the visual symbolism and status structure embedded in the tarot, and instead shifts to featuring creatures that relate to the card meanings. The omission of traditional symbolism creates a fascinating feel of uniformity and unity to this deck. The animals chosen for the Major Arcana cards aren’t larger or more powerful than the ones chosen for the Minor Arcana cards, either. The creature on the Star card is a hummingbird, while the 8 of Fire is a horse. The innate traits and qualities each creature, rather than size or strength, is the central factor in the wisdom medicine of the deck.
This approach makes the contents of the accompanying booklet, which fits inside of the two-part box, a crucial reference for the deck. Each card has a one-page description that begins with a few keywords at the top followed by a short paragraph about the card’s meaning. The medicine offered by each creature or plant is explained in the following paragraph. For instance, the Chariot/Rabbit card reads: “The Medicine: Rabbits are spontaneous and playful, but also powerfully fast. They have incredible navigation systems and are deeply in tune with their surroundings. This inner knowing helps them determine which way to go, even in unfamiliar territory. The rabbit is asking you to tune in to your senses and let them guide you through this part of your journey.”
This deck provides deep thought for personal meditation and contemplation. The Wise Earth Medicine Tarot is highly recommended for tarotists who embrace a Nature-oriented trajectory, and for those who are seeking an interactive tarot inner healing experience. Those who enjoy decks with vibrant colors and images will appreciate Ms. Simone’s artwork.
~review by Elizabeth Hazel
Auhor & Artist: Lalania Simone
Red Wheel/Weiser, 2025
78 cards, 96-page booklet, 2-part custom box.
$24.95
