More than that, though, this is an excellent tarot reference book simply for the understanding and clear explanation of the cards, queer or not. They do a fantastic job of clarifying the reasoning behind the traditional meanings from a queer perspective, make a point of acknowledging when those two frameworks are easily at odds, and offer enlightened ways of working around or through that confusion. They dive into how the traditional symbology and meanings of the cards can seem at odds with and illuminate queer experiences, including transgender experiences, and offers explanations that help to bring those conflicts into focus. I purchased a copy of Queering the Tarot in the hopes that Cassandra Snow might be able to help me better understand the cards despite gendered symbology, and they did not disappoint. Because of that, when I see gendered symbology prevents intuitive understanding and far more often than not muddles the intended meanings by forcing me into a mundane mindset in order to comprehend what is meant by that symbology.

For example, I have met as many men who are nurturing and creative as I have women, and as many women who are willful and inspiring leaders as men. The way I see the world, many of the things which are culturally associated with women or men are simply human traits, with little to no relation to gender or sexuality.

I have lived with cis heteronormative symbology my entire life, and can easily navigate it intellectually and socially, but that understanding goes right out the window when I am in a magical context because those meanings are so incongruent to my personal understanding of how the world works. For me gendering confuses the messages of the cards, by symbolically emphasizing culturally derived gender standards to convey meanings. I am an asexual trans intergender person, and both cis symbology and heteronormative symbology just do not stick with me when I am in a metaphysical context. Queering the Tarot bullseye addresses one of the main hang-ups I have with the vast majority of tarot decks – cis heteronormative symbology.

Queering the tarot cassandra snow