written by Black Women Healing Retreats
Tarot cards can sometimes cause controversy amongst black folks. Some think that tarot is evil, but did you know that tarot is part of African healing? Tarot cards are part of Black Culture, because tarot has roots in ancient Egypt. The Tablets of Aeth, found in the sacred scrolls of the Egpytian Book of the Dead, was one of the earliest examples. Today when we see tarot cards, the cards are usually eurocentric, showing different white faces, contributing to the erasure of african history and spirituality. This is also why black folks may not realize that they, too, can benefit from tarot.
Jessi Jumanji is a visual artist, graphic designer, and photographer who specializes in eye-catching portraits and paintings. Combining pop culture iconography and the cosmos, with throwback black and white images of tribal Africans, Jessi draws existential links between black heritage, the history of the world, and the power of the metaphysical. Jessi has created the AfroTarot Deck. She created the AfroTarot Deck during her personal spiritual journey, when she noticed there was a need for authentically curated tarot cards, made by black people, to showcase black culture and promote black spirituality consciousness. The AfroTarot cards are beautifully made, and provide black people a reflection of themselves through African-centered art & culture. When we decide to take back our narrative, we all win.
Jessi Jumanji’s “AfroTarot” deck pays homage to Africa, and depicts a variety of cultures, places, symbols, and artifacts from all over the motherland. Jessi Jumanji stays true to her afrofuturist collage style, creating vivid, ethereal compositions with each card. This carefully curated 78-card deck combines authentic African imagery with the traditional Rider-Waite themes, making it perfect for all experience levels. The AfroTarot was created for people of the African diaspora seeking to incorporate an ancestral aspect into their spiritual journey.
Grab Your Deck Here