Tarot Deck Review - Tarot of the Cosmic Seed
A personal review of the Tarot of the Cosmic Seed, a 79-card deck by Lalania Simone, an Indigenous author and mystic.
As a lover of tarot and oracle cards, particularly for the art and intention of each deck, I’m always searching for new and interesting decks to bring into my store. I don’t just carry any deck; I’m looking for specific attributes and open each one to get to know it.
I’m selective (maybe, picky?). I’m drawn to decks with a specific energy, a vibe. I’m looking for decks that speak to me, something with a unique spark I feel my community will connect with and love, not just any random deck available.
It’s hard to truly know a deck until I get the chance to open it, crack open the guidebook, and sit with the artwork for a while. There’s only so much you can glean from the cover. That's where the magic happens—when you spend time with it and let the deck reveal itself.
When I first saw it, I was immediately drawn to the artwork on the cover. It hit me right away: the color palette is reminiscent of water and the cosmos. The cover had cool tones—purples, blues—very serene but powerful vibes. I tend to connect with these colors. The cover features a woman surrounded by an owl, snake, pomegranate, and the moon, all set against a celestial background. I immediately recognized the feminine strength and wisdom depicted in the image.
I’ll dive into the packaging, artwork, cards, and guidebook in this review. My goal is to give you an honest breakdown so you can decide if this deck is the right fit for you. Hopefully, you’ll find it helpful and informative as you consider adding it to your collection.
Packaging
Box Design
Packaging might not be the first thing you think about when choosing a deck, but trust me, it plays a bigger role than you’d expect. It’s the first impression you get before you even open the deck, setting the tone for the whole experience.
The Tarot of the Cosmic Seed comes in a sturdy, rigid lid-bottom box. We’ve all had that experience when you’re trying to open a tuck box and accidentally tear the flap, or it’s difficult to pry open. This box is easy to open; I prefer rigid lid-bottom boxes to protect the cards and ease of opening.
Inside the top lid, there is a quote, “You are the Cosmic Seed.” The bottom of the box features a floral design, adding cohesion throughout. And on the back of the box, you’ll find a description of the creator’s intent for the deck, which is always a nice little peek into the mind behind the cards.
On the back
In an effort to decolonize the tarot, remove outdated ideas of hierarchy, and shift ingrained gender norms, Lalania Simone, founder of Alchemy Ritual Goods, has created a lush and vibrant deck with unique imagery and symbolism and an array of people and cultures. Having renamed the royalty cards—including the Hierophant, Emperor, Empress, and the court cards—Lalania has expanded their interpretation into energy signatures rather than personality types. The result is a deeply diverse spiritual tool, a bridge to the mysterious and the esoteric, as well as a guide to the everyday. Using the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition as a foundation, this deck offers a twist: there is a twenty-third card added to the Major Arcana—The Cosmic Seed, a representative of us all as infinite, cosmic spirits, enmeshed in sacred flesh for a time on this Earth.
“A vibrant collage deck, rich in dreamlike imagery, cultural diversity, and mystical symbolism.” —Little Red Tarot
Artwork & Imagery
Art Style
The art style is collage-based, featuring botanical, animal, and celestial elements. It beautifully showcases different cultures in a vibrant, eye-catching way. Honestly, it reminds me a bit of Chris-Anne’s The Muse Tarot—it has that same eclectic, layered feel that draws you in.
Symbolism
Each card is packed with symbolism, blending traditional Rider-Waite imagery with added elements that highlight different cultures, animals, and flowers. One thing that stands out is the intentional use of triangles and pyramids throughout the deck. This is especially evident in the minor arcana Action cards, which correspond to the Knight cards in traditional Rider-Waite—adding an extra layer of depth and meaning.
Action of Cups (Knight of Cups)
Action of Coins (Knight of Pentacles)
Action of Wands (Knight of Wands)
Action of Swords (Knight of Swords)
You can spot the use of triangles in these four cards, and they carry some deep symbolism. Triangles can represent the mind, body, and spirit, or one of the four elements—especially when lines run through them. Looking at the Action of Cups card, for example, there’s a smaller upside-down triangle nestled inside a larger, right-side-up one. To me, this suggests the element of water (the smaller triangle) at the center, tied to our emotions. The larger triangle could represent the planes of consciousness—physical, emotional, or spiritual. Add in the moon (in tarot ruled by Pisces, a water sign), and the image of a boat on water, and you’ve got the full spectrum of the water element within the Cups. The symbolism in this card is rich and layered, giving you multiple ways to interpret it depending on your intuitive connection to the symbols.
Card Quality & Feel
The Cards
The cards are durable, easy to shuffle, and have a smooth matte finish. The back features a calming blend of blue and purple with a single design, while all the cards are finished with blue metallic gilt edges that catch the light beautifully. As for the size, they’re the standard tarot card dimensions you’re used to— inches 4.75” x 2.75” inches—making them comfortable to handle and shuffle.
Guidebook
The guidebook is a small 67-page booklet, starting with a definition of "The Cosmic Seed" and a sample spread called the Spiritual Growth Spread (a seven-card spread). Whether or not you read reversals, the author covers them on page 3, offering guidance on how to approach them. Each card page also includes three possible reversal meanings in bullet points, so you can easily interpret the cards from different angles.
Structure and Readability
Structure and Ease of Use
This deck follows the traditional 78-card Rider-Waite structure, with one extra card, The Cosmic Seed. Personally, I prefer to keep an additional card in the deck.
I feel like removing it throws off the flow, but that’s just my preference. You can choose to keep it or remove it; there’s no rule saying you have to keep the extra card if it doesn’t resonate with you.
Structure breakdown
23 Major Arcana
The Wanderer (The Fool)
The Magician
The High Priestess
Sacred Feminine (The Empress)
Sacred Masculine (The Emperor)
The Teacher (The Hierophant)
The Lovers
The Chariot
Strength
Hermit
Wheel of Fortune
Justice
The Hanged One (Hanged Man)
Death
Temperance
The Devil
The Tower
The Star
The Moon
The Sun
Liberation (Judgement)
The World
The Cosmic Seed (Extra card)
Minor Arcana
Suit of Cups
Suit of Coins (Pentacles)
Suit of Swords
Suit of Wands
Intuition & Flow
The cards are filled with so many elements and symbols that reading the meanings and tapping into your intuition for those extra messages feels natural. It’s also a fantastic deck for beginners, making it an ideal choice whether you’re just starting your tarot journey or looking to deepen your practice.
Personal Experience
I use this deck daily, alongside The Light Seers deck, sometimes combining them because the energy from each one complements the other so well. Recently, I started a new morning ritual with a 6-card personal spread, and once I’ve fine-tuned it, I’ll be sure to share it. The Tarot of the Cosmic Seed brings so much depth and context to my readings, and it flows so seamlessly that it’s quickly become an essential part of my daily practice.
Final Thoughts
All in all, The Tarot of the Cosmic Seed has quickly become a go-to in my daily practice. From the beautiful art to the rich symbolism, it adds so much depth to my personal practice. Whether you're just starting out or you've been reading for a while, this deck offers something for everyone—it flows so naturally and intuitively. I’m excited to keep working with it and sharing more as I go. If you're searching for a inspiring and grounded deck, this one might be a good fit for you.
I would love to hear what you think! If you loved this review, hit subscribe, drop a comment, and let’s keep this tarot community flowing!