It’s tradition that your first tarot deck should be gifted to you, and as someone new to the craft, I feel extremely fortunate that Insight Editions was kind enough to send me an Agatha All Along deck! I feel even luckier that it comes with so many useful tools for a newbie like myself, including a thorough guidebook (shoutout to author Andrea Hannah!) that made the somewhat daunting process clear and accessible.
I’ve always been a bit hesitant to try tarot with my fairly limited expertise, but the guidebook put my mind at ease, encouraging me to start working with the cards and assuring me that practice is the best teacher in this case. It also answered key questions I had, such as: What kind of things should I ask? How many cards should I pull for a reading? And even what kind of witch am I? (According to my spread, I’m a fiery protection witch like Alice. My biggest strength is self-discipline, my hidden weakness is that I don’t trust my intuition, and the lesson I need to learn is that I already have the determination and willpower to triumph. Okay, clock me!)
The explanation for each card consists of three, easy-to-understand parts. The top provides three adjectives summarizing the card — a concise overview that helps you understand the vibe of what you just pulled. The second paragraph goes into more depth, including offering guidance on how to interpret the card and outlining practical applications.
The first paragraph, however, is where fans of Agatha All Along are going to be especially pleased. As someone who loves the show, I’ll admit I came in with some bias, as I was bound to geek out about such a fitting and unique piece of merch no matter what. But I didn’t expect to be so genuinely impressed by how nuanced and thoughtfully put together this set is. It’s clear that whoever chose which characters and moments to feature on each card put real care and consideration into the task. Not only is it fun (and sometimes even funny) to read Hannah’s reasoning as to why naked Agatha is The Fool or Jen and Lilia falling through the mud is the IV of Swords, but it’s also illuminating. I, for one, am able to grasp concepts much more easily with specific examples, and this guidebook contains dozens and dozens connecting back to a show I’m already familiar with and adore!
But let’s face it — a tarot deck is nothing without its illustrations, and luckily, Brittany Horn’s are downright breathtaking. I’m half-tempted to get another deck so I can display the cards all the time, perhaps even wallpaper my apartment with them. Not only are the cards beautiful to look at, but there’s a real attention to detail that shows a deep passion, understanding, and reverence for the source material. This should come as no surprise, as Horn has worked as a camera, art, production, and showrunner’s assistant on several Marvel projects, including Loki, She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel, and even Agatha All Along itself. Shoutout to Horn for her gorgeous work — and kudos to Insight Editions for hiring the perfect person for the job!
Whether you’ve been doing tarot regularly for years or are brand-new to it, if you’re a fan of Agatha All Along, I highly encourage you to make Lilia Calderu proud and grab one of these tarot decks. Functional and visually stunning, it’s by far one of the most creative and well-crafted pieces of merch on the market.
Buy the Agatha All Along Tarot Deck and Guidebook here for $27.99.
— Taylor Gates