For a fine and different tarot set, look at Sandra Tabatha Cicero's Babylonian Tarot, an original design and concept based on ancient Babylonia, perhaps the root of Western magical traditions. Here is the only tarot deck based on the Babylonian mythos, holding the traditional zodiacal, elementary and planetary associations with some added embellishments. An accompanying guidebook provides detailed card insights and instructions.

I have been waiting for years for someone to come up with a tarot deck based on Mesopotamian gods. Finally! Its about time someone came up with this deck. I definitely had reservations. I wasn’t sure about a deck with an extra trump and court cards. I usually don’t like it when people tinker around with the classical tarot format. “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” But then I bought my copy and opened the deck and saw the first card of Genesis, I was hooked. Now its my favorite card.

The goddesses and gods of the tarot keys are FOOL: Enkidu. MAGICIAN: Ea. PRIESTESS: Ishtar. EMPRESS: Aruru. EMPEROR: Marduk. HIEROPHANT: Nabu. LOVERS: Ishtar and Tammuz. CHARIOT: Adad. STRENGTH: Gilgamesh. HERMIT: Anu. WHEEL OF FORTUNE: Tablets of Destiny. JUSTICE: Nanshe. HANGED MAN: Tammuz. DEATH: Ereshkigal. TEMPERANCE: The Tree of Life. DEVIL: Lamastu. TOWER: Marduk and Tiamat. STAR: Siduri. MOON: Sin. SUN: Shamesh. JUDGMENT: Etana and the Eagle. UNIVERSE: Anki.

The extra court cards make sense to me too, as cards of spirit and divine blessings.

I recognize many of the images from Mesopotamian art. Some cards look more primitive as if they could have painted by the ancients. Other cards are more modern in style. All are painted with bold colors that evoke the emotions immediately.

The cards are beautiful and the book is thoughtfully written. To those of us who aren’t bored by Mesopotamian mythology, this tarot is a real blessing.