I’ve been looking at the Antique Anatomy Tarot by Claire Goodchild for a while now. The artwork looks gorgeous in photos. Those anatomical illustrations mixed with the traditional pip meanings are really unique. It would be my first pip deck if I get it.
The thing holding me back is that I keep hearing about the cardstock quality. People say it’s some of the thinnest they’ve encountered, which seems odd for the price point. I saw someone on Instagram mention they had to sleeve theirs right away because shuffling felt risky.
I’m wondering if anyone here owns this deck and can share their experience? Does the thin cardstock actually affect usability that much? And for those who have it… do the anatomical elements help with reading even though it’s pip-based? I usually rely on scenic imagery when I’m stuck on meanings. Part of me thinks I should just get it and use sleeves from the start, but I’d like to hear from people who’ve actually worked with it first.
21 Likes
Deepen Your Tarot Practice Beyond the Cards
Finding meaningful tarot discussions and authentic guidance can be surprisingly difficult. Discover a space where your questions are welcomed and your intuitive growth is celebrated: Start Your Journey
Saw this one on the antique Tarot thread the other day. I don’t know if it’s normally my kind of style, but there was something about it.
I probably wouldn’t use it in a light-hearted setting and the querent would have to be kind of more comfortable with the Tarot (otherwise, the skulls and darker images might freak them out) but that’s true of any of the darker Tarot decks I guess.
Card stock is a little bit on the thin side but that’s not a bad thing for those who like a lighter deck and easier shuffling. It isn’t instantly clear which card you’ve drawn compared to some other decks but it’s fine with some practice.
For me, I probably wouldn’t have it in constant use but it’s nice to have in the collection and fine for “now and then” use.
One of my first decks! I use it pretty often still.
Have you tried mixing the Antique Anatomy deck with a regular scenic one? You could pull from both, one shows body systems, the other shows traditional imagery. Might be interesting to see what connections come up between the physical and spiritual aspects.
The anatomical imagery can be overwhelming if you’re new to tarot (or even just a bit squeamish). But if you’ve been reading for a while, the historical and medical stuff adds some interesting depth to work with.
I like it for things like a health spread. The symbolism can add something to it.
Not my style. I think I’d read some pretty dark meanings with this one but I’m glad some people like it.
I’m really enjoying this deck. The gold foil on The Star card looks great when it catches the light. The cardstock feels nice too, shuffles well without being too slippery. I was looking at the Ten of Pentacles yesterday and noticed this tiny snail in the corner I’d never seen before. Made me smile. The colors are really nice, especially the purples and blues in the Moon card. My readings have been pretty good with this deck so far.
The skeletal imagery on the Swords suit caught my eye dwhen I first saw these. Also not usually my vibe but I do love them. The bone structures work well with the mental clarity that comes with air energy. The vertebrae patterns in the pip arrangements create a nice visual flow. It helps guide your reading even though there aren’t any scenic images on these cards.
When you mix botanical elements with anatomy, it forms small layers of meaning which is exactly what you want in a deck, otherwise you’re just getting the same RWS with a little different artwork.
These layers work like memory anchors for interpreting the pips. If youre sticking to just one deck, those flowers and plants start to create their own visual language. Eventually, you might not even need the detailed imagery anymore.
I got my Antique Anatomy deck recently and was really impressed with the guidebook. It walks you through using the cards for deeper introspection, covers companion card pairings and different therapeutic approaches.
Been using it for shadow work and it’s been helpful. My cards are pretty thick and sturdy too (not thin at all). Wonder if they improved the cardstock in newer printings?
The Two of Pentacles has juggling organs on it. Pretty weird card design if you ask me.
I have this deck, and the anatomical imagery is so detailed and on purpose that I stopped reading reversals with it.
Usually, I use reversals, but with this deck, the upright positions seem to capture everything each card represents. If I accidentally shuffle a card upside down, I just flip it back to upright and go from there.
The deluxe boxed set marketing is what gets me.
You see that presentation and expect thick, quality cardstock, so the thin cards are a letdown. The artwork is beautiful, though. The natural history and spiritual themes blend well, and the anatomical imagery works better than I expected for reading the pips.
Definitely get sleeves if you’re going to use this deck regularly. The cards feel too flimsy without them.
The cards are so thin they feel like shuffling butterfly wings, but they glide together smoothly. The deck practically shuffles itself.
The artwork is going to be hit or miss for different readers. Some will automatically resonate with it but if it’s not for you… I would completely understand that too.
The thinner card stock actually works well for me. Shuffling feels smoother, especially since I have smaller hands. The cards glide easily, giving my readings a more fluid feel.
I think the delicate nature of the cards encourages a gentler approach. The artwork is also quite striking, and after using it for a while, the lighter weight adds to the ethereal quality of the readings. Sometimes the decks that feel almost fragile seem to connect with something beyond the physical.
Wait, yours are thick and sturdy? Are we sure we’re talking about the same deck? I’m starting to think there’s some kind of cardstock lottery happening with these printings. Maybe they’re using whatever paper they have lying around that week because mine seemed a bit thin. Not awful but not as thick as most of my other decks.
So pip decks work differently than the scenic Rider-Waite style decks. You have to learn the numerological meanings and what each suit represents element-wise.
The Antique Anatomy deck adds body systems on top of that, so you’re working with three different symbol sets at once. Like if you get the Three of Wands, you’re combining the number three (creation), the wands suit (fire/passion), and whatever body system is shown.
It pushes you to read through symbols instead of looking at a scene and getting the story from it. Definitely builds your tarot foundation in a different way.
I have this deck and use it pretty often. The card stock is really lightweight, some people might not like how thin it feels. The cards do shuffle easily though. The guidebook that comes with it has been helpful for understanding the pip cards.
Those can be tricky to read sometimes. If you don’t mind thinner cards, it’s a decent deck to have.
Has anyone else had trouble with muted colors in candlelight? My Antique Anatomy deck has these sepia tones and tiny anatomical details that basically disappear in dim light. I’ve been using my phone flashlight during evening readings. Kind of kills the mood but I can’t see the cards otherwise.
The body systems in this deck line up with elemental associations.
For instance, the circulatory system cards really connect with cups and water energy. It adds another layer of intuitive meaning. There’s a video walkthrough where someone uses the Antique Anatomy deck for health-related readings, and the medical illustrations really enrich the traditional pip interpretations. It opened my eyes to new ways of using these cards.
