Table of Contents
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From the artistic genius and esoteric research of Fabio Listrani, an important deck, obscure and very rich in symbolism, which transposes with its dark atmospheres the esoteric and kabbalistic thought of Aleister Crowley and the other great masters of the occult. This deck moves the deep waters of the sea of the human unconscious, in search of the light that is hidden even in the darkest abyss.
Product description from the publisher
I didn’t really know anything about Night Sun Tarot until I ordered it. All I knew was that it was from Fabio Listrani, who I knew from the Goetia: Tarot in Darkness deck, among others. This one is slightly older than that deck, but the art style clearly shows that it is by the same artist. There is something mysterious and inviting about the art of the cards, even though they are at the same time full of powerful symbolism.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| + Beautiful art + High quality + Full of symbolism | – The guidebook is short but provides surprisingly much information – The box could be better |
About the Creator
Fabio Listrani is an accomplished artist hailing from Rome, Italy. He is a self-taught illustrator, author, musician, and graphic designer. After completing his studies in scientific and mathematical fields, he established himself as a sought-after cover artist and illustrator for many international organisations such as Marvel, Titan Comics, Heavy Metal, and IDW Publishing.
Listrani’s artistic style is characterised by intricate linework, dark and moody colour schemes, and meticulous attention to detail. His illustrations often showcase fantastical creatures, elaborate patterns, and symbolic imagery that transport viewers into a world of magic and wonder. Listrani’s work exudes a sense of mystery and otherworldliness. Whether working with digital or traditional media, his art is always captivating and immersive, showcasing his impressive talent and unique vision.
Cards and the Artwork
There are 78 cards in this deck, and the size is 66x120mm (2.6×4.72 inches), so they are a bit narrower than standard cards. The paper quality is excellent, which makes it easy to shuffle them.
Night Sun Tarot comes in a rather flimsy-looking cardboard box, which, at least for me, was already in pretty bad shape after shipment. However, it does the job, and the cards will fit inside securely with the manual if you’re careful. Buying another storage box or a bag might be a good idea if you plan to use this deck a lot. The illustrations on the box will give you a good idea of what the cards inside will be like in terms of art style.
Right off the bat, the art style of this deck is not for everyone. The hypersexuality and brutality of some of the cards may seem too strong if you are not used to that. However, with this deck, they also give it character and make it stand out from many other decks. In any case, the style downright screams Fabio Listran’s art with its slight cartoonishness.
You can see which way the card is facing directly from the back of the cards, so if you use reversed cards in your tarot interpretations and want to keep them a surprise, there may be better options for you. I usually decide if a card is upright or reversed by flipping a coin, so I didn’t mind. The back is black as its primary colour and has white edges. It also has patterns in gold to match the theme of the deck.
When looking at the fronts of the cards, you can see the element and the Hebrew letter associations in the corners of the Major Arcana cards. In contrast, the Minor Arcana cards have the decan correspondences. Although the deck has its own style, the influence of Waite-Smith’s symbolism is evident, particularly in the Major Arcana.
Each suit in the Minor Arcana is colour-coded to represent a different element. For instance, the Suit of Wands has a red backdrop, symbolising Fire. Likewise, the other suits have their own colours representing different elements. The Suit of Cups is blue, representing Water; Swords are yellow, symbolising Air, while Pentacles are green, symbolising Earth.
Overall, Night Sun Tarot deck is an exceptional work of art crafted with great care and attention to detail. This unique creation draws inspiration from various esoteric and cultural traditions, resulting in a beautiful and meaningful deck. The artist, Fabio Listrani, has brought his unique vision and style to the deck while remaining true to the traditional tarot meanings and symbolism. The Night Sun Tarot blends Eastern and Western esotericism, creating an intriguing and captivating deck. The intricate details in the Majors and the bold colouring of the Minors make it a true masterpiece that will delight tarot enthusiasts and art lovers alike.
The Guidebook of Night Sun Tarot
Night Sun Tarot’s guidebook is short, so you shouldn’t expect anything in-depth. Nevertheless, it manages to pack in a surprising amount of information about the cards, so it’s not completely useless. At the beginning, there is a brief explanation of the deck’s themes and background. The guidebook refers to Kabbalah and Jung, among others, as the inspiration for the deck.
Each card in the deck is gone through, and their meaning is explained through keywords. That’s quite enough to use the cards, but I would have been interested to know more about what is depicted on the cards themselves. On the other hand, perhaps a little mystery is not a bad thing in a deck like this. The numerology section at the end of the guidebook is a nice addition.
The paper of the guidebook is quite thin. Still, the overall quality is good.
Conclusion
Night Sun Tarot deck by Fabio Listrani is a unique and intriguing addition to your collection if you enjoy its mysterious nature. Its dark and moody artwork, intricate symbolism, and esoteric themes make it stand out from other decks on the market. While the guidebook may be a bit thin, it provides enough information to use the cards effectively, and the numerology section is a nice touch. Overall, if you’re a fan of Fabio Listrani’s art style or enjoy exploring deeper aspects of the human psyche, the Night Sun Tarot is definitely worth checking out.
