Interviewing The Edgar Allan Poe Tarot

Deck InterviewsWorking with Oracle and Tarot Cards

Jan 16

Disclaimer: I approach my interviews as if it’s a conversation with the deck and write whatever comes to me intuitively. Sometimes, this shows up in the reflection as a stream of consciousness report. It may be hard to follow, but it’s an accurate depiction of my reactions/thoughts/feelings at the time of the interview.

Reflection of the interview:

The Ten of Cups as the card's personality is a very positive sign! It tells me that this deck wants to bring me a sense of emotional fulfillment when I come to it. I'm not surprised because this a deck that I bonded with instantly. I actually will go as far as to say that it's what really made me more committed to studying the tarot instead of just trying to haphazardly remember meanings. Also, this is another deck that checks all my "boxes" so I do feel emotionally satisfied when I use it. But it's not without its tricks and twists. Part of me is NOT surprised to see the reversed Tower in this position because this deck feels like it has a lot of protective energy surrounding it. The Tower, upright, is impending change, doom, destruction, disaster. Perhaps in its reversed position, it's saying that this deck has the strength to prepare (or warn) me when things are about to get disastrous? The Ten of Wands for this question makes me think that this deck could sometimes be overwhelming, convoluted, and steeped in confusion. It may require me to work harder to decipher and get through the "muck" to find the answers I seek. The Knight of Wands is a very positive card as it represents forward motion, growth, excitement, adventure. I think this card for this question is telling me that this deck wants to help me grow "outside of the box." This is, after all, a "different" kind of Tarot deck. I think this card is also feeling the energy from my initial connection with it. A playful, yet still, serious connection to getting answers. Since the Suit of Wands is typically a forward-moving suit, the Eight of Wands, reversed, is one of those "halting" energies. This card for this question tells me that when that movement and momentum forward has stopped or waned, it's time to connect with this deck for guidance. It also feels like it wants to be used when I'm stuck in a creative rut. This is interesting! The Justice card, reversed for this question originally threw me for a loop, but what I know of this deck so far, and what I know of Tarot is that honesty is the best policy. So I think the reversal here means that it's warning me of being false or dishonest when I approach readings because it will call me out. It wants me to work with it when I'm feeling particularly honest about the answers I seek. Ah, such a lovely and appropriate card to round out this reading. The Three of Cups is quite possibly one of the best cards to get for this question! Due to the creative and positive energy it holds, as well as a nod to friendship and collaboration, this card is telling me that this deck and I are going to be friends. This may be a case where I consult my old "friend" for answers. It could be that "friend" I turn to when I feel lost, confused, and scared. Or it may be that "friend" that just sits and parties with me for a bit to forget the outside world. Regardless, I feel pretty confident that this deck and I are going to be good for each other.

Any sensations/feelings to note:

Because I immediately connected to this deck, there was a sense of calm/comfort that came over me when doing this reading. One thought I've been wrestling with in regards to this deck is the possibility that it can actually conjure the spirit of Poe for enhanced readings. If we can call upon decks that depict goddesses and gods, etc, why can we not call upon an actual person who lived to help guide us in the spirit realm?

How do you feel about this deck after this reading?

I felt connected to this deck before this reading and even more so after. Almost a sense of confirmation that my intuition and initial reaction to its energies were aligned with "reality."

What do you like or dislike about this deck so far?

This deck is SO delightful that it always makes me smile. It's like, a "fun" way to depict the grotesque — and that was a strength of Poe's. To be able to take something tragic or horrible and make it a little more digestible, a little more "campy," and even a little more "satirical." Poe had a shadow side, but he also knew that it wasn't the only side he had. He was able to capture both light and dark in his stories, and I find the same thing within this deck.