I’ve been exploring The Light in the Dark Tarot & Oracle, and it’s quickly become one of those decks I reach for when I need clarity, comfort, or just a little encouragement. Kerry Ward, who many know for decks like The Good Karma Tarot, Crystal Magic Tarot, Taroscopes, and Card of the Day Tarot, has been working with tarot and other esoteric practices for decades. Her work often shows up in places like Cosmopolitan, where she writes regular tarot forecasts, and her style has always leaned toward making tarot feel practical, approachable, and easy to use in everyday life rather than something overly complicated or rigid.

With this deck, the approach feels much more personal. The Light in the Dark Tarot & Oracle was created from the idea of finding hope, comfort, and reassurance even during heavy or uncertain times, and that intention really comes through in the cards.

The inspiration for the deck came from real experiences — loss, illness, uncertainty, and the kind of collective heaviness many people have felt over the past few years. Kerry has mentioned that quiet moments of reflection, especially while visiting churches and museums, made her think about how people look for comfort when life feels overwhelming. She wanted to create a deck that feels like lighting a candle in the dark, something you can turn to when you need reassurance, clarity, or just a moment to breathe.

Unboxing + Flipthrough

My First Impressions

The first thing that stood out to me when I opened the deck is how packed the cards are with imagery. They’re bold, detailed, and every card feels like it’s telling its own little story. Because of that, they don’t always follow traditional tarot symbolism exactly. Some of the minor arcana don’t show the usual wands, swords, cups, or coins the way you might expect, so if you go in thinking this will read like a classic tarot deck, it might throw you off at first.

But that actually makes sense once you realize this isn’t meant to be tarot only. It’s also designed to work as an oracle, so the cards rely more on feeling, symbolism, and intuition than strict structure. The guidebook helps a lot with that. Kerry explains the meanings in a way that makes the imagery easier to understand without forcing you into one interpretation. It’s the kind of deck where you can take your time, sit with the card, journal about it, or just let the artwork speak to you.

How the Deck Works

The way the deck is built makes it really flexible. You can use it like a traditional tarot deck, reading upright and shadow meanings, or you can pull a single card like an oracle for quick guidance. You can mix both styles, or just read completely intuitively without any spread at all. It works well either way.

One thing I really like is the guidebook. Each card comes with layers — a tarot meaning, an oracle-style message, encouragement, power words, cosmic influences, and practical steps you can take right away. That makes the deck feel very interactive. You’re not just pulling a card and moving on, you’re actually invited to do something with the message. Sometimes it’s reflection, sometimes it’s journaling, sometimes it’s a small ritual or action.

The instructions are simple, but they don’t feel forced, and the tone never feels preachy. It feels more like the deck is nudging you in the right direction instead of telling you what to do. Because of that, I find myself going back to this deck a lot, and I actually use the guidebook instead of just flipping through the cards.

Reading Style and Themes

The overall reading style leans more toward reflection. It’s better for looking at energy, patterns, emotions, and personal growth.

I think it works especially well for:

• daily pulls

• journaling

• shadow work

• emotional processing

• creative or intuitive spreads

• pairing with other decks

Because of its layered approach, you can spend time exploring the message, or just pull one card when you need a quick boost of encouragement.

Box, Card Size and Finish

The box itself is huge but sturdy, designed to match the size of the guidebook. The deck is a bit wider than your typical RWS tarot deck, which could make shuffling a little tricky if you have smaller hands.

As you all know, I’m not a big fan of glossy cards, and this deck does have that shiny finish. Aside from leaving fingerprints everywhere, the glare can be distracting—especially with artwork this detailed. The cards are packed with intricate imagery and subtle shading, and the glossy coating tends to reflect light in a way that can obscure those details, making it harder to fully appreciate the art during readings. In my honest and humble opinion, a matte finish might be a better choice, as it would let the rich, layered visuals shine through without interference and make the deck easier to work with.

The Intention Behind the Deck

What really makes this deck stand out for me is the intention behind it. You can tell a lot of personal history went into the concept, and the artwork by Misha (@visionsinblue.art) really captures that feeling. The prayer-card inspiration, the church imagery, and the theme of carrying light through dark times all give the deck a sense of depth that you don’t always notice right away, but you feel it the more you work with it.

Interview with Kerry Ward

To learn more about The Light in the Dark Tarot & Oracle, I asked Kerry Ward about the inspiration behind the deck, the artwork, and the creative process.

The Deck Itself

Eisel: How long did the deck take to develop from idea to finished product?

E: What makes this deck different from others in the same genre?
K: The guidebook has a lot of support for every card. You can read them as tarot or oracle, as well as take power words for mantras, messages of encouragement, and a ritual or step to do in the moment to embody the card’s feeling. It’s a practical deck designed as an ally and guide in dark times.

E: Did the original concept change as you worked on it?
K: No, the original concept stayed throughout. I have learned that it’s good to have a strong core concept and stick with it.

Art, Style and Symbolism

E: How did you choose the art style for the deck?
K: Art style is based on prayer cards. Artist is Visions in Blue, Misha. This is our second deck together, with a third coming later in 2026. We are a good team.

E: Are there hidden symbols or details readers might not notice at first?
K: There are hidden easter eggs. I am the Queen of Swords, my partner Luke is the King of Swords, Misha is the Queen of Wands, and she and her partner are the Ten of Cups.

Back cover design is Kerry’s dad’s mining lamp + Kerry as the Queen of Swords + Missha as the Queen of Wands

Certain real places were used as inspiration, especially the Five of Coins, a sanctum gate I used to sit and pray by, the Hanged Man inspired by church ceilings, and The Star based on a nunnery statue I love.

Left: Church of St Joseph and the Convent of Bernardine Nuns | Right: The Star tarot card

E: Which card took the longest to design?
K: The Fool was the card Misha designed in order to win the pitch, and from that moment I thought, WOW, this is going to be great.

E: Do you have a favorite card?
K: My personal favorites are The Lovers, Queen of Swords, Eight of Wands, and Five of Coins.

Your Process as a Creator

E: Did creating this deck feel different from your other projects?
K: This deck is very much a personal project. A lot of my family history and feeling has gone into it, so it matters more what people think, and that is a vulnerable place to be.

The deck took a long time, and there were moments where I felt very emotional about it, but I stayed motivated because it meant a lot to me personally.

E: Are you planning to create more decks in the future?
K: I have another deck with Misha coming this September, Reclaim Your Power, an affirmation and self-empowerment deck, very beautiful.
There are also potentially two more decks in the pipeline for 2027.
I always try to make something with a unique twist, something original and different to the pack.

Personal Connection to the Deck

E: What does this deck represent in your life right now?
K: I am very proud of this deck. I call it my masterpiece, and Misha does too. It represents the best of our skill.

Its personality is wise, old soul, comforting, honest, and encouraging.

The deck came out of recent hard times — with my dad dying, Covid, the world feeling like it was on fire — and my spirit feeling dull, heavy, tired. I wanted to create something uplifting.

Looking Back on the Experience

E: What surprised you the most once people started using the deck?
K: People LOVE this deck, thank God, and the reviews have been moving and inspiring to me.

People love the artwork, the solace and comfort, and the guidebook.

E: Is there something you wish people asked about this deck but rarely do?
K: The guidebook was called “the tarot guidebook to end all guidebooks” because I put a lot of information and support for every card. You can read them as tarot or oracle, use the power words as mantras, read the messages of encouragement, and do a ritual or step right away to embody the card’s feeling.

It’s a practical deck designed as an ally and guide in dark times.

E: If the deck could speak, what would it say to readers?
K: Don’t give up. Keep going.

Who It’s For

This deck is perfect for anyone who:

✔ Wants a modern tarot deck that can also be used as an oracle
✔ Enjoys detailed, symbolic artwork with a lot to explore
✔ Likes guidebooks that give extra meaning, prompts, and practical advice
✔ Uses tarot for reflection, journaling, or personal growth
✔ Prefers intuitive reading over strict traditional structure
✔ Wants a deck that feels comforting, encouraging, and supportive

Because it doesn’t follow classic tarot symbolism on every card, complete beginners who are learning traditional meanings might need a little time to adjust. But the guidebook gives a lot of support, so it can still be approachable if you like learning through imagery and intuition instead of memorization.

It’s also a great deck for experienced readers who want something different from the usual Rider-Waite style, but still want depth and flexibility.

My Honest Thoughts

I like the intention behind this deck a lot. You can tell it comes from a real place, and the imagery by Misha really brings Kerry’s story, history, and personal experiences to life. The cards feel meaningful and the whole idea of carrying light through dark times comes across naturally when you work with them.

Practically speaking, I hope there’s a pocket version of the deck and guidebook someday—it would make it so much easier to bring anywhere. I always think of “big decks” more as a shelf collection.

This isn’t the deck I reach for when I want strict, traditional tarot, but it’s one I pick up when I want something more personal, reflective, and grounding. Every pull feels less like a prediction and more like a reminder to slow down, look inward, and keep going, even when things feel uncertain. Sometimes that’s exactly the kind of deck you need.

Where to Find the Deck & Creator Info

✦ Deck Creator: Kerry Ward

✦ Artist / Illustrator: Misha / Visions in Blue

✦ Publisher: Quadrille Books

✦ Publication Date: February 24, 2026

✦ Where to Get the Deck: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

To get more from the deck, join Kerry’s Tarot Club

Disclaimer: I received The Light In The Dark Tarot & Oracle Deck for review, and as always, my thoughts are completely honest and based on my own experience using the deck.