I have been known to go on at length about the different voices of the many different Tarot decks available today. Some people have understood and agreed with me, and many have mentioned the fact that perhaps I am “hearing voices” myself. If you fall into the latter group, don't bother to read this article, just call for my straight jacket. If you are in the former group, enjoy this article, and please buy my book! You will not be disappointed.

This article is dedicated to “irreverent tarot”, that aspect of working with the tarot that allows us to learn while we relax, and yes, while we laugh. I seek not to offend those readers who still wrap every deck in silk and read only by the light of the full moon with incense burning, but rather to encourage the rest of you to learn to relax and enjoy working with your deck(s). Tarot reading is a relationship. Have fun and brave new depths with your partner, or watch that relationship become stale and boring.

First of all, I am a firm believer in irreverence, not just with tarot but on general principle. An attitude of irreverence helps to keep a soul from feeling too self-important, from taking life seriously unto the point of heart attack, and in general it liberates the spirit. When irreverence is celebrated with the tarot, it allows the reader to stretch effortlessly. Learning is no longer driven, and the tarotist then begins to really appreciate their journey with the cards.

Said irreverence can be an attitude used and perfected with any deck, or it can be applied via specific decks. The following decks are, in my humble opinion, inherently irreverent. Use them at your own risk. You may just find yourself loosening up and laughing at odd moments. If you like being uptight and rigid in your approach to tarot, do not try this at home!

Are you middle-aged, slightly overweight and somewhat out of shape? Super! This deck is for you. It will teach you both to embrace your own flawed physicality and to accept that of all others; those like yourself and those that are your polar opposite.

Are you young and impetuous? Perfect! There is a passion inherent in this deck that will fortify and encourage you.

Political figures launch themselves into the public eye. From that point on they are game (fair or not so) for the press, the paparazzi, and fans of all types and psyches. Unlike the afore-mentioned, I seek neither monetary reward nor publication, I just like to get to know those political figures that ardently seek my vote. My ethics are okay with this. If yours are not, so be it.

Not too long ago, I “interviewed” Bush, Cheney, Gore and Lieberman via the tarot. All were asked the same question. The insight the tarot revealed during this equal opportunity interview was staggering. Suffice it to say that I felt I learned more from these tarot interviews than from anything I glimpsed in the news. It definitely influenced my vote.

Every time I do one of these political readings I hear Brian Williams laugh. I like that, too.

If you have an open mind and a zest for adventuring I encourage you to take this deck for a spin… or should we say, for a shuffle.

This has been a mere introduction to irreverent tarot. Remember this: Love and irreverence are not mutually exclusive. Love your deck(s), but learn to laugh with it/them. You will find that this laughter leads to a stronger, more long-lasting relationship.

Keep grinning... and keep shuffling.