The moment I laid eyes on this deck, I knew I had to get it. Astrology has never been my strongest suit, but I’ve always wanted to learn it more deeply. I picked this up together with its deck pair, Arcana Iris Sacra Tarot, and honestly… this one excited me even more.

Claves Astrologicae (translated as “Keys of Astrology”) is designed as a compact, visual system to help you understand astrology in a more intuitive and structured way.

Unboxing & Flipthrough

My First Impressions

Right away, I loved how small and approachable this deck feels. It doesn’t overwhelm you with information. Instead, it invites you to learn step by step.

It feels like a study tool you’ll actually want to use daily, not just something that sits on your shelf.

The Artwork

The artwork follows the same vintage-inspired aesthetic as Arcana Iris Sacra Tarot, giving both decks a cohesive and timeless feel if you use them together.

Each card is designed with clean, symbolic visuals that make it easier to recognize and remember astrological concepts. The minimal yet intentional design helps with quick recall, especially when you’re still learning the meanings behind signs, planets, and houses.

There’s a quiet elegance to the deck. It doesn’t overwhelm you with too much detail, which actually makes it more effective as a learning tool.

Box, Card & Finish

This deck includes 45 cards total, broken down into:

✓ 12 Zodiac Signs
✓ 12 Houses
✓ 11 Planets (including Sun and Moon)
✓ 8 Moon Phases
✓ 2 Eclipses

The cards are poker-sized (2.5″ x 3.5″), printed on 350 gsm smooth matte cardstock, making them sturdy, easy to shuffle, and perfect for everyday use.

Details I love:

✓ Gold foil stamping on the card backs
✓ Gold gilded edges
✓ Book-themed box packaging
✓ Compact and travel-friendly size

Everything feels polished, practical, and thoughtfully made.

Guidebook

The deck comes with a little white book (LWB) that gives you the basics for each card. It’s simple, but that’s actually what makes it effective.

Instead of overwhelming you, it gives just enough structure so you can start learning and then build your own understanding through practice.

How the Deck Works

Claves Astrologicae works as both a study tool and an oracle-style system. You can use it to:

✓ Learn astrology foundations (signs, houses, planets, phases)
✓ Build chart interpretations step by step
✓ Pull daily cards for astrological reflection
✓ Pair with tarot (especially Arcana Iris Sacra)
✓ Use as flashcards for memorization

Because everything is broken into components, it helps you understand astrology as a system rather than something abstract and confusing.

Reading Style and Themes

This deck leans into:

✓ Learning through structure and repetition
✓ Symbol recognition and memory building
✓ Astrological correspondences
✓ Intuitive + logical interpretation

It’s less about prediction and more about understanding patterns and systems, which makes it incredibly valuable long-term.

Who It’s For

This deck is perfect for anyone who:

✓ Wants to learn astrology from the ground up
✓ Prefers visual and hands-on learning
✓ Feels overwhelmed by traditional astrology study
✓ Wants a compact, portable study tool
✓ Uses tarot and wants to integrate astrology

It’s especially great for beginners, but even experienced readers can use it as a refresher or layering tool.

My Honest Thoughts

Honestly, I was more excited to work with this than its tarot pair — and it did not disappoint.

The size alone makes it so easy to reach for daily, and because the system is broken down into parts, it makes astrology feel less intimidating and more doable.

I really appreciate how this deck turns something complex into something accessible without dumbing it down. It still respects the depth of astrology while helping you build your understanding gradually.

If you’ve ever felt like astrology is “too much,” this deck is a great place to start. It’s simple, effective, and actually fun to use.

Where to Find the Deck & Creator Info

✦ Deck Creator / Artist & Illustrator: Tina Gong

✦ Published: Self-published

✦ Launch Date: 2019

✦ Where to Get The Deck: Labyrinthos