You’ve never seen tarot cards like these before. Imagine the celebrated ‘Ryder Deck’ infused with the spirit of Leave It to Beaver, and the result is The Housewives Tarot — a dazzling retro interpretation of a classic divination system.
With illustrations of martini glasses (cups), mops and brooms (wands), Duncan Hines chocolate cake (the Devil), wood-paneled station wagons (the Chariot), bathroom scales (Judgment), and other 1950s iconography, these tarot cards can answer all of life’s most challenging questions. The enclosed instruction book shows you how to interpret all 78 cards — and describes how to assemble them using five different layouts: the Virgin Spread, the Neapolitan Spread, the Clothesline Spread, the Dinette Spread, and the Martini Spread.
The secrets of The Housewives Tarot await you!
With illustrations of martini glasses (cups), mops and brooms (wands), Duncan Hines chocolate cake (the Devil), wood-paneled station wagons (the Chariot), bathroom scales (Judgment), and other 1950s iconography, these tarot cards can answer all of life’s most challenging questions. The enclosed instruction book shows you how to interpret all 78 cards — and describes how to assemble them using five different layouts: the Virgin Spread, the Neapolitan Spread, the Clothesline Spread, the Dinette Spread, and the Martini Spread.
The secrets of The Housewives Tarot await you!
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Chriss –
These cards are so fun! I love the kitschy, retro style of them. The images on the cards make sense to their meanings. The little booklet with the explanations is very helpful since I’m new to tarot cards and not yet familiar with each card’s meaning just by looking at it. I’m not one that believes in fortune-telling or ‘fate’, but these are a fun way to facilitate a little personal meditation on everyday topics, and are really fun to pull out at a party with open-minded friends. I searched for a long time for the “right” deck for me before settling on these. Supposedly you just “know” when a deck is right for you the first time you hold it, so I guess this one was a miss for me as I didn’t feel anything other than passing amusement when flipping through it the first time, but I’ve enjoyed them either way.
The recipes are a cute addition to this set. I might attempt them at some point later on.
Patricia –
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CALLING ALL BABY-BOOMERS!!!!!!! Both Male and Female!!!!!!!
This Tarot Deck is both Powerful and Fun! And I have discovered an “extra” use for it, which, I guess, any deck of cards can be used for….but, when this deck is used, becomes extra-enjoyable for baby-boomers, and, perhaps, extra-powerful, as well!
THE FUN PART:…..This Tarot deck can be used by anyone — of either
gender — but it has a special meaning for Baby Boomers — those born
between 1945 and 1961. What distinguishes this deck is not only that it
has pictures of people on Minor as well as Major Arcana cards, (as in
the classic Albano-Waite Tarot deck) — but all of illos. are in the
style, (and spirit!) of the 1950s and early 1960s!
For instance, “THE SIX OF CUPS” features a young girl reminiscent of a Carol Lynley, her shoulder-length, banged blonde hair held in place by a black hair-band, (plastic or velvet, I bet!) She smiles out at the viewer mischieviously as she drinks a tall glass of pink lemonade, with five other, identical tall glasses of pink lemonade in front of her. (This picture could easily have been an illustration for a 50s Cool-Aid ad!)
Another example: “THE EMPRESS” is a smiling middle-aged woman, with short, well-coiffed jet black hair streaked with slight, but deliberate, streaks of grey. She wears a long-sleeved red dress, with white rouching near the neck. Sh has bright red lipstick around a small pair of lips and perfect teeth, and big, wide-spaced dark blue eyes. She holds up a cookbook, entitled “Recipes For Success” — the cover of which also shows a pink, frosted double-layer cake. A small table in front of her, (too small and slightly-out of proportion), is ffull of baking ingredients. (Recognize ‘Betty Crocker’ as ‘The Empress’? Well,
due to copyright, both ‘Betty Crocker’ and ‘Carol Lynley’ look more like
the first or second cousins of these ’50s icons….but the resemblance IS unmistakeable!)
“THE HEIROPHANT” is erepeesnted by a 50s floor-model TV set, a test-pattern on the screen, a speaker on the bottom. The ‘JUDGEMENT’ card shows a woman in red high-heels and thin, very attractive legs, looking down at a huge scale. Her body is “wearing” a dress shaped like a steak….hey, wait a minute…it IS a steak!
“THE TWO OF PENTACLES” shows a woman in a white, yellow and blue sailor dress, with a blue and white apron embroidered with an anchor. She juggles a plate, emblazoned with a pentogram, with each hand, and wears a slightly frazzled expressuion. On her left is a mischievous looking small boy. and on her right, a puppy tuggs at her dress…..
“THE DEVIL” is reprented by a tempting devil’s food cake, one piece already cut out, invitingly showing the frosting and two layer-cake within. The cake has two horns on its head, and a beautiful pair of legs with high heels. It holds a cigarette in one well-shaped women’s
hand, and a martini glass in the other. Surrrounding it are a bottle of “Valium”, a package of “Vice” cigareettes, a small jar of “Instant
Coffee”, a tin of “Spork” lunchmeat, a bottle of “Reddi-Cheese”, and a package of “Swonsan’s” TV Dinner, (fried chicken) — a ‘dead-ringer’ for the original “Swanson’s” brand.
You get the idea. Just looking at these cards can have the same effect as looking at an old family photo album — they immediately put one in a 50s mood!
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THE POWER PART……
Thus entering into the nostalgia-world set by the card’s subjects, and the artist’s style, (part Norman Rockwell, part Simon and Shuster Graded School Readers), these cards have an immediacy and relevancy to nostalgia-seeking baby-boomers that even the most mystical of other cards do not. Yes — it’s fun and creative to enter into worlds of Heaven and Earth, or Time Immemorial, or Ancient Egypt or Rome….but no one, now alive, has actually BEEN to these places. Entering the world of the ’50s and early ’60s, however, is somewhere in which, and to which, many people have already really been….and in which, and to which, secretly or not-so-secretly, many may wish to return. These cards thus draw the participants into them, and their
purported “powers”, as, in many ways, no other deck of Tarot cards
can! (These cards are also good for younger people, who are “50s Buffs”, and are interested in these reputed halcyon days, lived through by their own parents, grandparents, and great-grand-parents.)
MORE FUN….. These cards –t hough perfectly readable and, I hazard to guess, forming a quite powerful deck — do not take themselves too seriously. (Again, this is in keeping with the ’50s mood — for in the 50s, with the optimism rampant after WWII in the air, most people — even if they did take their problems seriously, still felt that with hard work, ANY problem could be overcome — if not just yet, then in the “Wonderful World of the Future”, just around the corner!) So, non-traditional, (but totally appropriate) Tarot Spreads are given. One places the cards one after the other in a horizontal line….resembling a clothes line.
Serious interpetations of each card on the “line” are given. Another places the cards in such a way as to resemble a place settng….dinner plate, surrounded by cutlery, napkin and glassware. A third places the cards to resemble a huge martini glass. Serious readings for each card in each of these speads is given as well.
In the accompanying “Instruction Book”, each card has a picture, below which are three words, or short phrases,
summarizing its meaning. Below this is a more though interpretation.
Although serious, these interpretations are often written wryly, with a
light touch.
EXTRA USE: One of my very best friends has recently discovered that she has Dyslexia, and has had it almost all her life. Her form of Dyslexia however, is SO slight, that it went for years and years without diagnosis, or even suspicion of needing diagnosis; I mean, who, in the 1960s had ever even heard of “Dyslexia”? Not many people in our Queens, New York, neighbourhood, that’s for sure. We all thought that this wonderful person’s inability to know her left from her right was a personal quirk, nothing more. She was, and is, kindnenss itself, and is so clever that she even skipped a grade in high school! Besides, she read, (and still does read), books turned upside down, for pleasure! And…she even works at a library!
However, she does tend to forget things that happened just last year, which I, at least, remember. I know of no other Dyslexic symptoms that she might exhibit, but I’m sure there are some. She herself told me that she might have Dyslexia….. It’s very slight, but it IS there….
So, what do these Tarot cards have to do with helping Dyslexia? Simply, use them in another way! That is, play a game of “Hoosker Do”, aka “Concentration” with them. You know, put two or more pairs of cards face down — each card separately — and then try to remember where each pair is? As I stated, this can be done with ANY deck of cards, (match 9s, 8s, Queees, etc.), but using a taro deck can add to the fun….and perhaps, the mystical power of a taro deck can make the matching-up more easily accomplished? Anyway, using a deck of cards, and starting out with 2 pairs of cards, (4), the easiest way, and gradually building up to 9 or more sets, (18 cards), cannot but help cognitive functions….as in Dyslexia! (Maybe it could also help people with Alzheimer’s Disease as well???) And using THE HOSUEWIVES TAROT, with its special and nostalgic meaning for baby-boomers and 50s fans of all ages, can probably increase the positive results when the cards are used in this admittedly new way…..
So this tarot deck can even have another use! And it is, (no matter how it is used), beneath the somewhat light and humourous, inviting style of drawings and interpretations of this deck, one very Powerful tarot!
The immediacy of the time, actually lived through by many people reading these cards, makes these cards themselves, very, very powerful indeed.
For we do not have to imagine ourselves in the realms depicted — many of us have already been there. And, probably, many of us hope, somehow, that these cards, and the readings of them, may, in some large or even small ways, help us to go home again…… : )
Katrina P. –
Love this deck!! So cute. Really nice size they are not to big and not to small in the hand, most decks are a bit longer and not as wide. I don’t normally keep the box for my decks but this one is really cool and I am definitely going to hold on to it. The art is great on them, love the vintage look. Cards are nice and thick too do NOT feel cheap like some decks. Going to get a lot of use out of them. Would really recommend for anyone experienced or new to tarot, the price is great for what your getting. Happy to add them to my collection.
Josh –
Love this deck so much! Resonated with it immediately. The box it comes in is so cute and if great, sturdy quality. The instruction book is lovely and very witty. Enjoying the themed spreads suggested in the book. Was concerned due to other reviews about the card quality but I find them excellent and no worse than any other standard deck. They shuffle great and I can tell they will hold up. I also really like how light-hearted the energy of this deck is, even with cards like the Tower, it manages to make it seem like a positive card with good advice. I will say some of the images don’t do the best job of reflecting the general meaning of the card, but they are all very cute and if you’re already knowledgeable of card meanings this shouldn’t be an issue at all. Very happy I bought this deck!
SK –
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As someone not too keen on promoting stereotypes i was surprised that these cards drew me to them.
I bought them as a novelty, but once i got them my first few test readings were very accurate.
They are fun and the feel, look, imagery everything is just lovely.
I think with time these will give me some remarkable readings.
The guidebooks deserves a special mention. It’s not exhaustive but in its consice way it has been very informative and adds an interesting perspective to traditional meanings.
I mean perspective is so important, right?
The packaging is delicious, the cards are delicious. The card stock and quality is very nice, a little slippery but i don’t mind it.
The size is especially small hands friendly, which is a relief. I don’t understand the need for very large cards but that’s just me.
The table cover back design and the images are delectably retro and i love it.
If you feel drawn to these then definitely go ahead and get them.
PS: they are extremely progressive and i think made sense as a function of time when gender roles were a norm. Let’s be honest things haven’t changed drastically since then, so any woman or man who has been a home manager is going to love these.
If male readers are reading this review, i will say one thing, these cards ooze feminine energy and strength. If you want some support to read for your female clients or people who identify as females consider working with these. You might get some amazing insights.
Gwenelan –
Li ho trovati a pochissimi euro e temevo che fossero una versione “monca” o altrimenti differente da quella “normale”, invece no, era tutto perfetto :). Le carte arrivano in un cofanetto molto resistente che richiama i vecchi ricettari di una volta, con tanto di spazio dove mettere il proprio nome. Le carte sono grandicelle, robuste, dalle illustrazioni simpatiche (sono composte da pezzi di pubblicità dell’epoca e disegni fatti ad hoc) e mai scelte a caso. Non ho capito – e non è spiegato da nessuna parte – perché l’Imperatrice sarebbe la carta numero 2 (L’Imperatore è il 3, lo Ierofante è il 4 e la Papessa è il 5, wtf?), ma sto semplicemente facendo finta che non sia così.
Il libretto allegato è anch’esso ironico. Spiega tutte le carte, illustra qualche spread (a volte si tratta di quelle classiche reinterpretate a tema) e presenta una storiella simpatica sull’origine delle carte. Dentro il cofanetto ci sono anche 3 ricette da abbinare alle letture.
Carte davvero ben fatte e simpaticissime.
Mineko –
J’ai acheté ce jeu en anglais, le titre de la version française (“La boîte à tirer les cartes”) étant beaucoup moins fun à mon goût. Je suis tombée sur ce tarot par hasard et c’est en ayant vu certaines cartes que j’ai fondu. Un tarot fait pour libérer la femme des années 50 de sa condition de ménagère surbookée, ça promet. Le packaging fait penser à une boîte de recettes vintage, les visuels rappellent les affiches et pubs de l’époque. Les cartes sont cependant assez fines et de qualité moyenne. Ce tarot est simplifié dans les significations mais malgré tout, on y retrouve les grandes lignes. Et si vous connaissez déjà les significations de toutes les arcanes, vous pourrez très bien faire des tirages plus complets…
Et enfin, ce tarot est…..drôle!!! De la carte du Pendu à la carte de la Tempérance (qui vous conseille de mettre une pointe de joie, un soupçon de colère, une pincée de chagrin et une cuillère de justice dans votre robot pour obtenir…. un peu de recul), la carte du Diable, de l’Ermite (Se réfugier dans la salle de bain pour s’octroyer du temps pour soi? Le luxe!) ou encore la Force (et son tampon à récurer). On passe un bon moment en utilisant ce tarot…qui peut paraître moins “lourd” pour les personnes dont certaines cartes du tarot classique peuvent rebuter ou faire peur….ou pour les jours, où notre humeur n’est pas encline à se prendre une vérité trop brusque en plein visage, préférant un enrobage plus sucré…plus drôle…donc moins dramatique! 😉
Friends Fan –
Over the past 8 months or so, my exploration of tarot has led me in so many directions – learning about the cards (and myself!), taking classes, meeting other readers. But the most fun has been discovering the wide variety of tarot decks available! I started with a standard Rider-Waite-Smith deck, added some shiny foiled decks to my collection, fell in love with the feel of colorful plastic decks, and then started focusing on really unique and creative decks designed by talented artists. (I avoid AI-generated decks – in my experience, they have no soul.) I especially love collage-style decks for their beautiful artwork, and I’m also drawn to fun novelty/themed decks.
Which leads me to my latest purchase, which I am savoring right now! The Housewives Tarot is a 1950’s themed deck that is kitschy, colorful and clever! The first thing you’ll notice is the big box the deck comes in – it’s meant to resemble a recipe box. Inside there are tabbed dividers separating the major and minor arcana cards and the guide book – and they have actual recipes printed on them! The booklet has a vintage sepia tone with cheeky explanations for each card, and some sample spreads laid out in the shape of a martini glass or dinette table setting!
But the star of the show is the deck of cards itself! They feature artwork in a very 1950’s style with housewives in their neat dresses, modern appliances, businessman husbands, and lots of cocktails! Following the theme, the usual suits have been changed – Cups are represented by martini and highball glasses, Wands by mops and brooms, Pentacles by dinnerware, and Swords by knives, scissors and other pointy objects. Each suit also has a different colored border.
Over time I’ve found that some themed or novelty decks can be a little hard to read (I’m still new at tarot and learning to read more intuitively), but The Housewives Tarot actually works very well. There’s a time and a place for this deck but it can be very useful. I’m having lots of fun with it! So glad I finally decided to buy it.
Han –
I got this deck despite my (feminist?) disgust at the stereotypical housewife portrayal but on close scrutiny this deck is very witty and clever. The ‘Housewives’ take on the Rider-Waite deck is very cleverly done and so true. We don’t like to view ourselves as the housewives this deck portrays but if you think about it we still are! (we’re just not *expected* to do it anymore) and this is what makes this deck so easy to understand and bond with, the housework part anyway!
Despite the 1950’s art the ‘Housewives Tarot’ brings tarot to the 20th century with it’s imagery and symbolism still as relevant in today’s home as it was back then. In an odd kind of way the Housewives Tarot is quite refreshing and has made the standard tarot look a bit stereotypical and dull! This deck is a novelty, very easy to understand and a deck for serious reader. It has hidden depths despite its perhaps controversial design.
The cards are fairly cardboardy with a un-laminated matt finish and would need to be looked after to keep them from spoiling. I think if they were heavily laminated it would ruin their appeal. The cards come in a robust, recipe index style box with a removable lid and a well written LWB which is also stylized in true housewife fashion.