I’ve been on a quest to find a truly sensual and modern erotic tarot deck, but I keep decks that don’t quite resonate with what I’m seeking. Most of the sexual tarot decks I’ve come across feel either too dated in their artistic style or too focused on classical mythology rather than contemporary expressions of intimacy and desire.
I’m hoping to discover something with bold, explicit imagery that celebrates diverse forms of pleasure and connection without feeling stuck in the past. Has anyone stumbled upon newer releases or indie decks that embrace a more modern, inclusive approach to erotic imagery? Thanks!
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The most obvious (and the best IMO) would be the Sexual Magic Tarot. Obviously, not a deck I would bring into some settings… I’m not going to sit in a busy coffee shop giving readings with a deck like this, but it’s a great deck for couples or readings involving more… physical desires.
Some of the artwork has some classical vibes to it because it does a really good job at keeping the original imagery of the cards, but it also has great artwork portraying lust and intimacy. Would absolutely be my pick.
As usual, @Sploots is great with a deck suggestion, but (I think for once) I actually went with a different deck. I thought the Sexual Magic deck was great, but still a little too traditional. So I went with a more modern-looking deck
The indie Tarot scene is where you’ll find the most interesting work right now. Many creators are moving away from the classical, mythological stuff and are creating decks that are deeply personal, modern, and inclusive.
That’s what a lot of these decks are missing. You might want to look into the Erotic Tarot by Sofie Birkin. Her work is very contemporary, queer-inclusive, and celebrates a lot of different bodies and connections.
This isn’t usually my kind of art style, but it makes up for it, and for some, this is a better style than the previous examples.
Queer Tarot by Ash + Chess is also fantastic for its bold, joyful representation; every person in it is a real LGBTQ+ person. These decks feel alive and relevant in a way the older ones sometimes don’t. Exploring shops like Little Red Tarot or browsing Kickstarter can also lead you to some amazing, self-published projects that fit what you’re seeking.
The Cosmic Tribe Tarot is an older one, from the 90s, I think, but it hits a lot of these points. It’s very psychedelic and body-positive, full of nudes and diverse connections. It even has three different Lovers cards (m/m, f/f, m/f) you can choose from. It’s definitely not classical mythology, but it’s also not the same level of explicitness as the other suggestions. Depends on what you want.
Check out the Fyodor Pavlov tarot. It’s not all erotic, but several cards have nudity with a pretty sensual vibe.
Totally agree about the older decks. The Manara deck is a classic example. The art is skilled, for sure, but it’s so filtered through a specific straight male gaze. It feels more like a pin-up collection than an exploration of intimacy. So many of the indie decks today are actively pushing against that, which is great to see.
I picked up the Erotic Fantasy Tarot recently. The art is sensual, but they didn’t go overboard; not every card is sexual. You can actually use it for readings, which is nice. Some erotic decks are just pretty to look at, but this one works for divination too.
I would love to find something that isn’t focused only on cis, able-bodied, thin people. It’s so refreshing to see decks like the one by Sofie Birkin that are explicitly queer and trans inclusive and show different body types. That kind of representation makes a deck feel so much more welcoming and useful for actual readings about my life and my community.
I picked up the Cosmic Tribe tarot thinking it might scratch that erotic itch since it has plenty of nude figures throughout. But it reads more natural than sensual. The nudity feels like a celebration of the human form rather than exploring desire or intimacy.
The artwork is beautiful, but it lacks that bold erotic energy you’re looking for. It’s basically naked people doing tarot stuff. Might work for body-positive readings, but I wouldn’t reach for it when wanting to explore passion and pleasure.
Oh, there are definitely quite a few sensual decks out there! My grandmother, who taught me to read cards when I was younger, would probably blush at some of the options available now. You might want to check out the Manara Erotic Tarot, Casanova Tarot, or the Tarot of Sexual Magic, though these tend to have more traditional art styles, which might not be what you’re after. The Decameron Tarot and Kamasutra Tarot are also options, along with the Erotic Fantasy Tarot and Royo Dark Tarot. But yeah, many of these do have that classical or dated feel.
For more contemporary stuff, I’d check out smaller indie publishers or Kickstarter. Some deck creators sell directly through Etsy or their own websites too. The tarot community has really grown in recent years, so you might find what you’re looking for if you dig around a bit.
The Slutist Tarot might work for what you want. It’s got modern, sex-positive art with all kinds of bodies and orientations. Pretty explicit, but still works as an actual tarot deck. They’ve taken the traditional tarot meanings and reworked them around sex and intimacy themes. Definitely not the classical mythology stuff. The cards deal with desire, consent, pleasure, that kind of thing.
The deck shows different body types, genders, relationship styles. The explicit imagery is the whole point, they’re not trying to hide anything or make it subtle.
I’ve been using the Tarot of Forbidden Dreams. From what you described, it fits. The art is modern with a bold edge. The Emperor and High Priestess come across as steamy and modern. The Lovers shows relationships in ways that feel current. The Hermit is more sensual than usual.
It leans into explicit imagery and has a mystical vibe. Heads up: it doesn’t hold back.
I got The Sabbath Tarot recently and it might work for what you want. It has explicit nudity but in a more modern style, not like classical art. The deck does have strong erotic themes throughout while still being a regular tarot deck you can use for readings. Was pretty expensive though.
I use it when I want readings that include themes around sexuality and intimacy.
I got the Eros Tarot from Chain Assembly recently. The artwork is modern and pretty explicit, which is what you were looking for. None of that old-timey Renaissance stuff.
The Knight of Cups is good, and the Lovers card is definitely not subtle. They show different types of couples and relationships. The Two of Cups has that intimate vibe you mentioned.
