I visited London's new Tarot card exhibition and found my new favourite deck

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You don’t need to be a psychic to see that the Tarot exhibition at London’s Warburg Institute is going to be a smash hit.

I am a bonafide witchy babe, I read tea leaves, believe in astrology and in the words of Stevie Wonder am ‘very superstitious’.

So when I learned an exhibition documenting the history of tarot cards had opened in London, you best believe I grabbed my broom and flew on over to the Warburg Institute asap (I’m joking, of course I took the Tube.)

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My first impression is that the Woburn Square area of London is truly luscious especially in the winter sun. There were delicious smells emitting from the nearby Farmers’ Market and studious 20-somethings walked by with their headphones and backpacks.

The Warburg Institute is a classic University building (trust me, I’m from Cambridge, I know these things), big, bright, and a bit intimidating.

Yes this is definitely the right place!Yes this is definitely the right place!
Yes this is definitely the right place! | London World

However, it was made to feel far more accessible by the bright pink sign saying ‘Tarot’ hanging outside (Aha! I am in the right place.)

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Inside we were shown to the exhibition, which was small but busy. We arrived just as it opened at 10am and there were already a dozen or more people wandering around.

The exhibition showcases Tarot card decks throughout the ages hailing back to Ancient Egypt.

It included worn cards with partially obscured illustrations and bright new modern depictions of the cards, which were framed on the walls.

Psychedelic scenes at the Tarot exhibitionPsychedelic scenes at the Tarot exhibition
Psychedelic scenes at the Tarot exhibition | London World

The exhibits inform guests about the history of fortune-telling and the role it played on ancient and modern civilisations.

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It didn’t take us long to get around the entire exhibition, maybe 25 minutes, but it was extremely interesting and detailed.

I think it was missing an interactive element, I’d love to have gone there and had my cards read or even seen some videos explaining each card in further detail.

A map of the cardsA map of the cards
A map of the cards | London World

According to the website, there are some events scheduled throughout its run, which include a curators tour of the exhibition, I think I might give this a go.

But I think it’s important to remember that at its core this is a university exhibition and words are a big part of that - so read the signs. (The ones with words not supernatural ones...)

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My favourite part was seeing all the different decks on sale today, from fun sets that feature Donald Trump and Sharon from EastEnders to all pink cards and detailed traditional sets.

If you’re someone with an interest in the occult, then this is a no-brainer. It’s free, interesting, and delivers on major witchy vibes.

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