Shadows of Wonderland Tarot is a dark reimagining of Alice in Wonderland, where familiar characters and scenes take on new symbolic depth. It invites you to explore your psyche, embrace shadow work, and discover transformation through the curious and sur
It started, like many strange and wonderful things do, with a spark of curiosity. What if Wonderland wasn’t just whimsical, but also a little twisted… a little haunting… a place where intuition is louder than logic?
We followed that idea down the rabbit hole and into the shadows, where familiar characters began to shift and shimmer into something new. Alice, the Hatter, the Queen...they all returned, but through a dreamier, darker lens. The kind you see in the liminal space between sleep and waking.
Shadows of Wonderland Tarot is the result of that journey: a deck for those who love mystery, mirror-worlds, and meaning beneath the surface. We made it for seekers, shadow dancers, and anyone who’s ever stood at a crossroads and thought, What if…?
This isn’t your average tarot deck—and it isn’t afraid to get a little messy. Shadows of Wonderland Tarot shines when the questions are deep, the emotions tangled, and the truth hides just out of sight.
A Deck for the Strange & Unusual!
If you're ready to look beneath the surface, here are a few ways this deck can really work its magic:
✨ Shadow Work & Self-Discovery When you’re untangling old fears, patterns, or buried feelings, this deck doesn’t sugarcoat—it gently (or not-so-gently) nudges you toward the things you’ve tucked away. It’s raw, honest, and surprisingly compassionate.
🌑 Dark Night of the Soul Moments If you—or your querent—are in the middle of a major life shake-up, this deck knows the terrain. It speaks fluently in transformation, loss, and the kind of growth that comes from falling apart and slowly putting yourself back together.
🕯️ Toxic Relationship Patterns Wondering why the same unhealthy dynamics keep showing up? This deck can illuminate the hidden strings, shadowy motives, and emotional loops that keep you stuck—offering clarity where other decks might just nod politely.
🔍 Unconscious Drives & Desires Sometimes people say one thing, but do another—and even they don’t know why. This deck helps reveal what’s going on beneath the surface, bringing unconscious motivations to light.
🌙 Dreams, Nightmares & Strange Symbols With its Wonderland-inspired surrealism, this deck is right at home in the world of dreams—especially the odd, twisted, or transformative kind. Perfect for decoding the symbols that visit in sleep (or meditation).
🪄 Magical & Occult Workings If you’re into ritual, spellwork, or deep personal magic, this deck adds a layer of liminal power. It’s especially tuned for shadow work, transformation, and walking between worlds.
Every pledge brings us one step closer to Wonderland, and we invite you to journey with us. After all, the best adventures begin with a little curiosity. And, with your help, we can bring Shadows of Wonderland Tarot from dream to reality. Your support will help us produce a beautifully crafted deck, available in three editions:
A Wonderland Reimagined: Each card in the Shadows of Wonderland Tarot is brought to life through the evocative, shadow-infused artwork of Kat L. Amsel. Her illustrations weave together the whimsical and the uncanny, offering a Wonderland that feels strangely familiar and entirely new.
Kat’s vision breathes emotion into every detail—inviting you to linger, notice the symbolism hiding in the background, and connect with each card's deeper story. Here, Wonderland is not just a place of tea parties and riddles, but of transformation, mystery, and magic in the in-between.
Every Shadows of Wonderland Tarot deck comes with either a digital or hard of our Little Book of Meanings (depending on the edition) —a compact guide filled with curious insights and just enough mystery to spark your intuition.
Inside, you'll find card interpretations for both the Major and Minor Arcana and a few Wonderland-inspired tarot spreads to help you dive deeper into your readings. Whether you're a seasoned reader or just beginning your tarot journey, this little book is the perfect companion as you explore the strange and wondrous world of the cards.
At the launch of this campaign, we have 24 cards final and 36 in Draft format with 18 cards pending. All artwork is on schedule to be complete and ready for submission to our printer for sample printing by June 1, 2025. The Little Book of Meanings is about 50% finished and will be complete by the end of May 2025.
Some sample Draft artwork Kat is currently finishing up.
We’re a small team with big dreams—and this campaign is what helps us keep the magic alive.
With rising production costs, your support helps cover everything from printing and shipping to paying our team (who are all wearing multiple hats and brewing plenty of tea). When you back Shadows of Wonderland Tarot, you’re not just getting a beautifully crafted deck—you’re helping Rue & Vervain continue doing what we love most: creating magical, meaningful things.
Here’s a little glimpse at what your support makes possible:
Fair pay for our small-but-mighty team of six (that’s 2 creators, 1 artist, 2 admin wizards, and our ever-patient accountant)
Prototypes and samples for this deck and future creations
Collaborations with more artists, contractors, and indie makers
Ongoing marketing to help spread the wonder
General behind-the-scenes magic (a.k.a. operating costs)
At Rue & Vervain, we are a tiny but mighty independent publishing house dreamed up by two sisters, Serefina and Angel Mesa, along with our brilliant friend and artist, Kat L. Amsel.
As a Latina and LGBTQ-owned business, we care deeply about making tarot and oracle decks that don’t just look beautiful—they mean something. Our work is rooted in storytelling, rich symbolism, and the belief that tarot isn’t just about fortune-telling. It’s a mirror… one that reflects all the messy, magical, complex layers of being human. We're here to create tools that help you pause, reflect, and reconnect—with your intuition, story, and sense of wonder.
Why We Create: A Note from the Heart of Rue & Vervain
Tarot has always been more than just cards to us. It’s a mirror, a guide, and sometimes a much-needed light in the dark. We believe in tarot as a tool for healing, self-discovery, and empowerment. Every deck we make is infused with intention, weaving together symbolism, history, and fresh perspective to spark deep reflection.
We honor both the light and the shadow, the seen and the unseen, and all the magic that lives in the spaces in between. As independent creators, we care deeply about the artistry and soul of tarot. That means no mass-production shortcuts—just carefully crafted tools meant to be held, used, and cherished for years to come.
Our Ethics & Commitment
We try to walk our talk. That means choosing eco-conscious materials, working with responsible printers, and doing our best to reduce waste wherever we can.
But our values go beyond sustainability, we’re also passionate about uplifting diverse voices and supporting fellow indie artists and creators. We believe tarot should reflect the richness of the world around us including different perspectives, cultures, and lived experiences, which all have a place in the story.
Why We Create
We create because this work lights us up. Tarot and storytelling have helped us through heartbreaks, crossroads, and new beginnings. And now we want to pass that magic along to each of you. Through our decks, we invite you to step into something beautiful, mysterious, and real. Something that helps you see your story more clearly, one card at a time.
Thank you for walking this path with us. It means more than you know. 💜
