In Depth: Margarete Petersen Tarot – Dream-Like Journey Through the Tarot

“It doesn’t give answers to the future, it doesn’t give advice, but invites you to pause, to take a meditative look at what is right now…”

– Forward by Margarete Petersen

If tarot decks had personalities, the Margarete Petersen Tarot would be the artist who speaks in poetry, dreams in brushstrokes, and holds your hand as you navigate the vivid colors of your inner light and inner darkness. Deep and reflective, this isn’t a deck for quick, simple answers, nor one that lays out meanings in a way that can be neatly cataloged. Instead, it asks you to immerse yourself in its imagery, explore with intuition, and connect with messages beyond words.

Like art, these cards can evoke a powerful, visceral response—sometimes beautiful, sometimes unsettling. But also like art, their impact depends on the viewer. This deck demands contemplation and reflection. It asks you not just to observe but to question: Why does this image stir something in me? What is it revealing? The answers may not always be comfortable. They may be raw, tangled, even painful. But for those who seek self-exploration, intuition-building, and a tarot experience that goes beyond surface-level interpretation, this is where the real work begins.

This deck not only invites you to take that journey—it insists upon it, with every color, brushstroke, and abstract form. Petersen’s work draws out emotions first, leaving the mind to catch up later.

Breaking the Archetypes

Margarete Petersen, a Berlin-based artist, began crafting this deck in 1979, with a vision to both honor and break the traditional tarot mold. She adapts the familiar structure of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck into something new yet deeply symbolic. Court cards trade in their royal hierarchy for a familiar familial structure: Daughters, Sons, Mothers, and Fathers. Some of the suits remain the same (Cups and Coins, respectively), but others shift into more elemental influences. Wands become Flames, Swords become Feathers, referencing the fire of inspiration and the delicate might of intellect.

The Major Arcana retains its raw power, but with notable shifts in focus. “The Magician” becomes “Magic,” emphasizing the unseen forces rather than the individual’s control over them. “The Hanged Man” transforms into “Trial,” shifting from personal surrender to a broader reflection on life’s challenges. Other cards undergo similar shifts, focusing more on the influence than the influencer, bestowing an identity to the inanimate, and giving a face to a concept (for a full recap of changed cards, see the At-a-Glance box).

The Pip cards (numbered minors) are often more abstract than the Majors, yet it would be a mistake to say they are simplistic; they still manage to evoke profound emotions. The “Three of Feathers“—white feathers splashed with blood-red—immediately conjure feelings of fear, loss, or sacrifice. The “Five of Coins” shows a haunting, distrustful figure staring back, capturing a sense of isolation. And despite its abstract nature, the “Ten of Cups” still radiates completion, safety, and harmony.

The result is a deck that challenges the reader, encouraging them to see beyond absolutes.

Interpreting the Cards

This is not a deck with a book that hands you easy answers. Instead, it asks you to sit with the images, let them speak to you, and trust your own intuitive process. Some cards are barely recognizable compared to their traditional counterparts, making this deck ideal for intuitive readers, artists, and those who love abstract, meditative tarot experiences.

That all being said, readers who are just getting their feet wet in the world of Tarot may find this deck and the book’s ambiguity confusing and overwhelming, especially those who worry about doing things “correctly.” If you prefer clear-cut imagery and direct symbolism, this deck might feel like trying to read a novel in an alien language.

For those who love working with tarot as an art form, as a mystical conversation between self and spirit, then the Margarete Petersen Tarot might become a treasured guide.

TL;DR

The Margarete Petersen Tarot is as beautiful as it is complex. If you’re looking for something bold, artistic, and filled with endless layers to explore, and you’re looking to challenge the pleasant and painful parts of the self, this deck might just be for you.

This is a deck for:

• Intuitive readers who trust their inner voice over memorized meanings.
• Artists and creatives who see tarot as an experience rather than a system.
• Meditative readers who enjoy sitting with a card, absorbing its energy over time.

This deck may frustrate readers who:

• Prefer clear-cut symbolism and direct messages.
• Are new to tarot and looking for structured guidance.
• Want fast answers rather than deep contemplation.

Have you worked with the Margarete Petersen Tarot? How does it speak to you?