Its the final day! I can't believe it. Thank you everyone who came to support the project, it means the world to us. 

I've spoken a few times about working on this project with my partner. She is the one who brings the real passion for the deep sea, marine biology and all the strange and wonderful things therein. So I asked her to write up the full tarot break down to post on the final day. Both of us are quite new to tarot, and we approached the whole thing collaboratively and with a lot of love. So without further ado, here's our collective interpretation for the Midnight Ocean major arcana, in her words.

The dumbo octopus (grimpoteuthis) represents the Fool. Known for being shy, yet playful and intelligent, the dumbo octopus has the Fool’s innocence and sense of potential. They’re just little guys trying to get by.

Big fin squid (magnapinna) are majestic, alien creatures full of mystery. Little is known about them, but videos of curious magnapinna squid have been mistaken for displays of aggression by the internet at large, leading some to consider them intimidating. Likewise, the Magician is a card of great potential that signifies making the most of one’s abilities.

Sea pigs (Scotoplanes globosa) are cute, unusual little sea cucumbers that move around on eight ‘tube feet’. Unusually for sea cucumbers, they are also capable of free-swimming, and have even been known to carry passengers - juvenile king crabs have been seen clinging to sea pigs like young holding onto their mother. It is this motherly aspect that links them to the High Priestess, who represents womanhood. Sea Pigs are also known to be adept regenerators, providing a strong link to the secondary meaning of the High Priestess - tenacity.

Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are some of the largest animals on the planet, and certainly the largest extant fish. Elegant filter-feeders, they have an enormous vertical range and are known to swim on the surface and dive as deep as 1,900 metres below the surface. Despite this, they have many secrets yet to reveal to us, much like the Empress card they represent.

Vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernus) are neither vampires nor squid, but actually a form of octopodal cephalopod distinct from both squid and octopus. They are uniquely adapted to live in near anoxic environments and use their unique filaments to filter feed on marine snow. Unlike most cephalopods, vampire squid can mate and produce offspring multiple times over their long lives, meaning they are one of the only cephalopod species capable of winning a ‘father of the year’ award. Likewise, the Emperor balances orthodoxy against originality and strives to be a stern guide, much like many traditional fathers.

The glass octopus (Vitreledonella richardi) is so called because it is near completely transparent save for its intestine. Like the Hierophant, it believes that clarity and forthrightness are the best policy - when threatened, it uses its photophores to disorient and confuse the attacker before escaping.

Deep-sea angler fish like the Hairy Angler (Caulophryne polynema) exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism. The males are tiny in comparison, and exist for only one purpose - to find a female and bite her. This releases certain hormones and chemicals that cause the male and female to merge into a single organism, essentially turning the male into a pair of testicles. Like the angler fish’s glowing lure, the Lovers card symbolises attraction and success - but also like the angler fish, when reversed this card means an unequal or exploitative relationship.

Comb jellies aren’t jellyfish, but they are covered in combs (or rather cilia) that they use to become active swimmers. The blood belly comb jelly (Lampocteis cruentiventer) on this card is another deep sea creature with a large vertical migratory range, coming up to the surface at night to feed before sinking back into the depths to digest. Their red colouration serves as optical camouflage, hiding any light their often bioluminescent prey may emit and preventing it from giving away the comb jelly’s position. The Chariot represents travel, but also both sides of the quarrel-succour dichotomy. The bloody red of the cruentiventer is reminiscent of poppies and other symbols of war as well, fitting that aspect of the Chariot.

Gulper eels (Eurypharynx pelecanoides) are beautiful and elegant predators - up until the point where they inflate their mouths and start rolling around like underwater beach balls! It takes a lot of courage to build an identity around being silly, and that strength and energy flow through this card as well.

Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus) are old. They are thought to be some of the longest lived animals on the planet, with one female estimated to be over four hundred years old. As with the Hermit, old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm. Though many greenland sharks are blinded by parasites, they continue to cruise and hunt in the frigid waters of the north atlantic for centuries.

Long-claw spider crabs (macroregonia macrochira) are related to the more famous Japanese giant spider crab. Like all crustaceans, they go through a cycle of vulnerability and invulnerability as they moult their hard shells in order to grow. Likewise, the Wheel of Fortune is ever turning, bringing with it reward and potential ruin.

Yeti crabs (Kiwa hirsuta) live in the deepest parts of the ocean as part of vent ecosystems. Their hairy setae are home to millions of chemosynthetic bacteria that filter out toxins spewing from the hydrothermal vents they live around and convert them into food that forms the basis of some of the most ancient food webs on the planet. They balance poison against life and so far, their unique Justice has come out on top.

Chimaera are primitive cartilaginous fish distantly related to sharks and rays - one of their common names is the ‘ghost shark’ (Chimaera willwatchi). Though their ancient lineage can be traced all the way back to the devonian period, this relationship with modern fish means they are not classed as ‘living fossils’. Despite this, they have been around for a long time and seen a great many things. Suspended between two worlds, they embody the hanged man who teaches his wisdom to any who care to listen.

The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias)  has gotten a poor rap over the years thanks to the Jaws movies, but there is no denying that these enormous sea puppies are dangerous. They are also sociable, curious, and even playful. For a long time it was thought that if they stopped swimming, they would die due to their reliance on ram ventilation. In 2016, however, video footage was caught of a great white named Emma sleeping in a strong current. To die, to sleep - perchance, to dream.

The ‘mystery mollusc’ (Bathydevius caudactylus) is the only nudibranch sea slug to live in the deep water column (that we know of) rather than dwelling on the sea floor or in the pelagic open ocean. Somehow, and we don’t know how, they use their hoods to trap and consume much faster prey such as free-swimming crustaceans. Like Temperance, they are all about economy - moderation of energy expenditure and management of competing interests.

Devil rays (Mobula mobular) are related to the more widely known manta ray, and are so named for their cephalic horns. They are the only mobula species to have a spined tail, and despite their usually gentle nature they are easily mistaken for much more threatening predatory ray species when they loom above you. The Devil card represents vehemence and force balanced against weakness and pettiness. Devil rays have powerful wings and sharp spines, but little desire to bring harm.

The oarfish (Regalecus ruselli) has long been compared to dragons, sea monsters, and hailed as an omen of destruction. They are thought to surface before earthquakes, or even cause them. There is no more fitting fish of the midnight zone for our Tower, the card that represents catastrophe and distraction.

Sea angels (Clione) are deceptively innocent looking sea snails that are active predators hunting down sea butterflies and eating them straight from the shell. Like the star, they promise bright prospects and bring only loss and suffering.

The fireworks jelly (Halitrephes maasi) is gorgeous under the lights of an underwater exploration vehicle, but left to its own devices it floats, near-invisibly, and waits for prey. Like the Moon, it is cloaked in mystery and danger.

Snailfish (Pseudoliparis swirei) will never see the sun - while they do not explode when brought to the surface, they do not survive the process either. It is somewhat ironic, then, that they appear so cheerful in their lightless depths with smiling mouths and chubby appearance. Snailfish will never see the sun, but they can be found deeper than any other fish species - and that too is success.

The bright red sea toad or coffinfish (Chaunacops) is a deep sea pufferfish with a glowing lure on its brow and an explosive feeding method. Though they look ungainly and odd, there is no denying the outcome when a coffinfish has you in its sights. Judgement represents a change of position or a decisive outcome balanced against simplicity and careful consideration. As ambush predators who hunt by creating a powerful suction to pull their prey into their mouths and live in a low-nutrient environment, the coffinfish must also practice these virtues.

The viperfish (Chauliodus) travels great distances during its diel vertical migration. They are found all over the world, and are instantly recognisable by their enormous teeth that if misaligned can easily penetrate the viperfish’ own brain case. 

And that's the full set!  We'd love to hear your opinions, alternative interpretations, all that fun stuff.  
For comparison, here are the six guaranteed major arcana blood moon cards;

Not all of the pins are complete yet, but here's the first three;

That leaves the four court cards to come.

I'll be showing some of the concept art and WIP work for the minor arcana cards soon, we're just prepping for our only in person event of the year (this weekend!). Once that's over its back to work. 

I think this is our last major update before the campaign is over, so thank you all again and see you on the other side!