Tarot of the Orishas by Zolrak & Durkon

Rooted in Yoruba and diaspora tradition. The deck draws on the Orishas of Yoruba religion and its descendant faiths, Candomble, Santeria, and Umbanda, presented as the creators' interpretation of that heritage.

A distinctive 77-card structure. Thirteen cards depict the Orishas, twelve show broader symbols such as Karma and the Guardian Angel, and fifty-two are divided among the four elements of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air.

A substantial companion book. The 312-page book, bilingual in English and Spanish, includes card meanings, spread ideas, prayers, and rituals to guide your practice.

Created by Zolrak with artwork by Durkon, the Tarot of the Orishas was among the first divination decks to center the Orishas, the sacred forces of Yoruba religion and its diaspora traditions. Zolrak is a longtime practitioner of cowrie-shell divination and other spiritual traditions of the African diaspora, and he presents the deck as an interpretation drawn from those living faiths.

The 77-card deck is organized into three parts: 13 cards for the Orishas themselves, each a divine archetype associated with particular forces of nature and human life; 12 cards depicting broader symbols such as Karma, the Earth, and the Guardian Angel; and 52 cards divided among the four elements of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. The accompanying 312-page book, presented bilingually in English and Spanish, offers card meanings, spreads, prayers, and rituals.

• 77-card divination deck (13 Orisha cards, 12 symbol cards, 52 element cards)
• 312-page companion book, bilingual English and Spanish
• Author: Zolrak
• Artist: Durkon
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Tradition: Yoruba religion and its diaspora faiths (Candomble, Santeria/Lucumi, Umbanda)
• Book includes card meanings, spreads, prayers, and rituals
• Card size: approximately 2 3/4" x 4 5/8"
• ISBN: 9780738738307
• SKU: DTARORI

The Orishas are not symbols invented for a card deck. They are divine beings at the heart of Yoruba religion, which arose among the Yoruba people of West Africa and, carried across the Atlantic during the transatlantic slave trade, took root and flowered in the Americas as Candomble, Santeria or Lucumi, and Umbanda. In these living traditions, each Orisha governs particular forces of nature and facets of human life: Ogun, associated with iron and labor; Oshun, with rivers, love, and sweetness; Yemoja, with the sea and motherhood. Under the pressures of enslavement, devotees often veiled the Orishas behind Catholic saints, a syncretism that remains part of these faiths today.

It is worth saying clearly that these are sacred, initiatory religions with their own priesthoods, communities, and protocols. This deck is one author and artist's interpretation of that heritage, not a substitute for the traditions themselves or for the guidance of their elders. Approached with humility, as a way to learn, to reflect, and to appreciate, the Tarot of the Orishas can be a meaningful and beautiful point of encounter with a profound spiritual world.

1. Approach the deck with respect for the traditions it draws upon, and read the book's introduction before your first reading.
2. When the deck is new, you may wish to cleanse it and set it in a space that feels dedicated and calm.
3. Spend time learning the 77 cards with the book, growing familiar with the Orishas, the symbol cards, and the elemental cards before reading in depth.
4. Choose a spread from the book, shuffle while holding your question in mind, and lay out the cards.
5. Read with the book close at hand, letting its meanings and the stories of the Orishas inform your reflection, and close with a moment of gratitude.

• Soul Connection Frankincense Resin: burn a little resin to create a calm, dedicated atmosphere for reading and reflection.
• White Sage Smudge Sticks, Set of 6: cleanse your deck and reading space before you begin.
• Lapis Rune Set: for readers who like to explore more than one system of divination alongside the cards.
• Celestial Tarot Deck: another richly illustrated reading deck for those who enjoy tarot drawn from a larger cosmology.
• Selenite Wire-Wrapped Necklace: many readers keep selenite nearby to help maintain a clear, calm space for their work.

What tradition is the Tarot of the Orishas based on?

It draws on Yoruba religion, which began with the Yoruba people of West Africa, and its diaspora faiths in the Americas: Candomble in Brazil, Santeria or Lucumi in Cuba, and Umbanda. It was created by Zolrak, a practitioner of African diaspora spirituality, as an interpretation of that heritage.

How many cards are there, and how is the deck structured?

The deck has 77 cards in three groups: 13 for the Orishas, each a divine archetype tied to forces of nature and human life; 12 for broader symbols such as Karma and the Guardian Angel; and 52 divided among the elements of Water, Earth, Fire, and Air. A 312-page book explains them all.

Is this an authentic religious object or a divination deck?

It is best understood as a divination deck inspired by living religious traditions, created as one author and artist's interpretation. It is a respectful point of encounter and study, not a consecrated ritual object or a substitute for the traditions themselves and their initiated elders.

Do I need to be initiated to use it?

No. Anyone can use the deck for reflection and divination if they approach it with respect. That said, it does not replace the guidance, community, or protocols of the Orisha traditions, and many users treat it as an invitation to learn about those faiths more deeply.

How do I care for the deck?

Keep the cards and book in their box, store them somewhere dry, and handle the cards with clean hands to protect the art. Many readers also cleanse a new deck and set an intention before their first reading.