Hi, Tarot Bumblebees,

I believe every witch should have a strong shadow practice to integrate self, work with their inner child, and heal their wounds. Reading the Tarot is one of my favourite ways to explore and identify parts of myself that need to be worked on. The universal archetypes determine ways that you’re stuck or self-sabotaging.

Before you dive into today’s blog post and video, I recommend you check out my new blog post, How I do Shadow Work & a Sneak Peek Into my Practice, for an up-close and personal look at how I tackle shadow work.

Why would I have a designated shadow work deck?

Having one deck just for shadow work is a great way to program and channel your energy into one specific reading. It’s also a great way to get to know a Tarot deck that you’ve been intimidated by or maybe you’ve had an adverse reaction to. The artwork, guidebook, and imagery are all aspects that will help you dive deeper into yourself.

Do I need to have one designated deck for shadow work?

Absolutely not! Use what you got, babes. I’m speaking about my specific practice and how I do shadow work. Your experience with shadow work will likely be different from mine, and that’s okay! Also, I have a ton of decks, so I can choose to designate certain ones to a specific type of practice.

My Favourite Tarot Decks

1. The Mary-El Tarot

This is a masterpiece and really hits home for me. The tagline for this deck is “Landscapes of the abyss,” which screams shadow work. The guidebook is information, beautifully written, and the cards are delicious. I’ve struggled a lot with this deck, but I think that’s a part of the shadow work experience.

2. El Goliath Tarot

I adore this deck; it’s exquisite, ugly, beautiful, powerful, transformative, painful, and challenging. This deck was created specifically for shadow work, so the guidebook is filled with information that’s tailor-fit to integrating your shadow. I couldn’t recommend it enough. The details are just s-t-u-n-n-i-n-g.

3. Heaven and Earth Tarot

This is a deck that blends Thoth and the Rider-Waite-Smith. It’s a beautiful deck with a gorgeous colour palette.

4. Lubanko Tarot

I had mixed feelings about this deck which made it perfect for shadow work. A few cards in this deck confronted me and brought up past trauma. I knew straight away that this was a deck I needed to work with.

5. Bonestone and Earthflesh Tarot 

Another exquisite deck with an incredible guidebook. There are some challenging cards in this deck. If you have this deck, I recommend you take the time to read the guidebook; it will help you understand your deck and access your shadow with it.

6. Spirit Keeper’s Tarot

I love the black and white version. I mentioned Benebell’s Shadow Work Course in last week’s video, and I wanted to highlight this deck because this is what I used to work through the course. The course, deck, and all the supplemented resources will give you SO much to work with.

7. Disney Villian’s Tarot

I’m obsessed with Disney villains. I was pleasantly surprised by this deck; it’s beautiful and just so fun! There are a few pip cards throughout.

8. Oracle of Echoes

I wanted to add the Oracle of Echoes to this list because it’s a wonderful deck to work with for shadow work. You can bet your bottom dollar that once the Tarot of Abyss comes out, I’ll be grabbing one and adding it to my list.

Shadow work is a lifelong journey, not something that you do a few times and you’re done and dusted. If this is your first time doing shadow work, I highly recommend that you don’t do it alone, have a support system in place as you dive into potentially painful past wounds.

Do you love working with these dark decks as much as I do? What is your must-have Tarot deck for doing your shadow work? Let me know in the comment section below!