The Voyager Tarot is a modern tarot deck created by James Wanless. Instead of traditional illustrated scenes, it uses collage-style imagery made up of multiple layered photos and symbols. It’s designed less for prediction and more for insight, decision-making, and personal development.

First Impressions

I’ll be honest, when I first saw the Voyager Tarot, I didn’t know what I was looking at It didn’t feel like a typical tarot deck, there’s no clear scene, no obvious story, just layers of images all competing for your attention. And that’s exactly what stood out to me. There’s no single scene to follow, no obvious story-line. Instead, each card is layered with different images, textures, and symbols. At first, it feels like there’s a lot going on.

And my first thought was:

“Right… where do I even start with this?”

But after sitting with it for a bit, you start to realize something:

It’s not trying to give you one fixed meaning. It’s giving you options. And once that clicks, the whole deck starts to open up. And I realised instead of telling you what to see, it kind of forces you to decide that for yourself.

What Makes It Different (And Why I Ended Up Liking That)

Most tarot decks guide you pretty clearly. You pull a card, you recognise it, and you already have a rough idea of what it means.

This one doesn’t do that.

You look at a card and you have to ask yourself:

• What am I noticing first?
• Why that bit?
• What does that say about what’s going on right now?

At first, that feels like more effort.

But once you get used to it, it actually makes the reading feel a lot more yours. You’re not just repeating meanings, you’re actually thinking things through.

And I think that’s the key difference.

What I Genuinely Like About It

It pushes you to think for yourself

This was the first thing I noticed when I started using the Voyager Tarot. I couldn’t just pull a card and go straight into a meaning like I normally would. I actually had to stop and look at it. What stood out? Why that part? And because of that, the reading felt a lot more like something I’d worked out myself rather than something I was repeating from memory.

It’s excellent for ideas and problem-solving

I didn’t expect this to be one of the strongest parts of the deck, but it really is. I’ve used it a few times when I’ve been stuck on something, and instead of giving me a clear answer, or even the answer I’d be expecting, it’s almost like a lot of times it pushes you in a different direction. There have been a couple of moments where I’ve looked at a card and thought, “I hadn’t even considered that,” which is exactly what you want when you’re trying to get unstuck.

The cards have a lot of depth

This is one of those decks where the cards don’t get old. I’ve pulled the same card more than once and noticed completely different things each time. One day it’ll be one part of the image that stands out, and the next time it’s something else entirely. It keeps the deck feeling fresh, which I don’t always get with more straightforward designs.

It feels more modern and flexible

Another thing I like is that it doesn’t feel tied to one specific way of reading tarot. The imagery is a mix of different things, and because of that, I don’t feel boxed into one interpretation. It feels a lot more open, which makes it easier to apply to real-life situations rather than trying to fit everything into a traditional meaning.

Minor Arcana Keywords

One thing I really like is that the Minor Arcana have keywords at the top.

With how busy the imagery can be, this gives you a clear starting point. You’re not guessing where to begin, you’ve got something to anchor your interpretation to straight away.

What Took Me a Minute to Warm Up To

It can feel overwhelming at first

I’m not going to pretend this wasn’t my first reaction, because it was. Some of the cards feel really busy, and when I first looked at them, I wasn’t sure where I was supposed to focus. It took me a bit of time to realise that you don’t need to take in everything at once. Once I started just picking one thing and working from there, it became a lot easier to use.

It’s not very beginner-friendly

I think this is important to be honest about. If you’re completely new to tarot, this might feel like a lot to deal with. There’s not much structure guiding you, so you’re relying on your own interpretation quite quickly. That’s great once you’re comfortable, but at the start, something more straightforward (like a deck that gives you clear meanings) is probably going to feel a lot easier.

(If you want a more beginner friendly deck, then of course, I’d recommend the Star & Strength Tarot Deck For Beginners.)

There’s a learning curve even if you read tarot

Even coming into this already knowing tarot, I still had to adjust. I couldn’t just rely on what I already knew. I had to slow down and read the cards differently, which took a bit of getting used to. It’s not difficult, but it definitely feels like a shift compared to more traditional decks.

It’s not ideal for quick readings

This isn’t a deck I reach for when I just want a quick answer. Every time I’ve used it, it’s taken a bit more time because I’ve had to actually sit with the card and think about it. The upside is that the answers feel more thought-through, but it does mean it’s not always the most convenient option.

Card Size & Feel

The cards are noticeably bigger than a standard tarot deck. It’s not a dealbreaker, but you do feel it when shuffling or holding multiple cards. I found it a bit awkward at first, especially compared to something like Rider–Waite. That said, once they’re laid out, the larger size actually helps. You can see all the detail properly, which matters with a deck like this.

Who I Think This Is For

If you’re someone who actually enjoys thinking things through rather than just being given an answer, I think you’ll get a lot out of this deck.

What I noticed when using it is that it rewards you for slowing down. If you’re the kind of person who naturally starts asking, “Why does that stand out to me?” or “What does that actually say about my situation?”, this deck gives you a lot to work with. It almost meets you at that level.

It’s also really good if you enjoy spotting patterns. Because the cards are so layered, you start to notice connections between things you probably wouldn’t have picked up on otherwise. I found that the more I used it, the more those little links between images and ideas started to build into something that actually made sense for what I was dealing with.

I’d especially recommend it if you feel like you’ve outgrown just memorising meanings. You know that point where you can read tarot, but it starts to feel a bit repetitive? Like you’re just pulling a card and saying what you already know it means?

This is the kind of deck that breaks you out of that.

It forces you to actually read what’s in front of you instead of relying on what you’ve learned before. And because of that, the readings feel more specific and a lot more grounded in what’s actually going on.

At the same time, I think it works best once you’ve already got the basics down. If you’re newer, or you just want something that gives you clear, direct guidance straight away, a more structured deck is probably going to feel more natural.

But if you’re at that stage where you want to go a bit deeper, trust your own interpretation more, and get away from just repeating meanings, this is where the Voyager Tarot really starts to make sense.

How Does The Voyager Tarot Compare To The Rider Waite Tarot

If you’re used to Rider-Waite, this deck is going to feel very different straight away.

With Rider-Waite, everything is clear. You look at a card, there’s a scene, and you pretty much know what it’s saying within a few seconds. That’s why it’s so easy to read and why most people start there. Voyager doesn’t give you that.

When I first used it, I kept looking for that same kind of clarity and it just wasn’t there. There’s no single scene to follow, just layers of different images, and you have to decide what actually matters. That changes how you read completely.

With Rider-Waite, I can pull a card and already know what I’m going to say. With Voyager, I have to stop and actually look at it. What stands out? Why that bit? What does that mean here?

It’s slower, but it feels more personal. For me, the simplest way to put it is this.

Rider-Waite gives you structure and clear answers. It’s what I’d use if I want something quick or if I’m just getting started. That’s also why decks like my Star & Strength Tarot work well for beginners, because they guide you in that same way.

Voyager gives you freedom.

It expects more from you, but if you actually engage with it, it gives you something deeper. Not just an answer, but a different way of looking at things.

I don’t really see them as competing. They’re just useful for different situations.

How I Actually Use This Deck

I don’t use this as my main, everyday deck.

For me, this is the one I pick up when I feel stuck or when I want a different perspective on something. If I’m going round in circles or overthinking, this is the deck that tends to break that pattern.

It’s less about quick answers and more about stepping back and looking at things properly.

I think this works best as a one-card deck.

There’s so much going on in each card that you don’t really need a full spread. When I’ve tried using multiple cards, it can feel a bit overloaded.

But with one card, you can actually slow down and get something solid out of it without rushing.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t a deck that hands you answers. It’s a deck that makes you work things out.

And I’ll be honest, that wasn’t what I wanted from it at first. I picked it up expecting it to read like a normal tarot deck, and it just didn’t. It felt slower, a bit more effort, and not as clear straight away.

But the more I used it, the more that started to feel like the whole point.

Because once you stop expecting it to give you an instant answer and actually sit with it, it starts to give you something better. Not just a general meaning, but something that actually fits what’s going on.

It’s one of those decks that makes you pause for a second and think:

“Right… what’s actually going on here?”

And that’s where it becomes useful.

It’s not the one I’d use for everything. If I want something quick or really clear, I’ll reach for something more structured every time.

But when I feel stuck, or like I’m going round in circles, this is the kind of deck I come back to. Because it has a way of showing you something slightly different, something you probably wouldn’t have landed on by yourself.

And for me, that’s where it earns its place.

So if you want clarity, go with something structured. If you want a deck that makes you think differently, the Voyager Tarot is where it stands out.