Universal Celtic Tarot by Nativo & Scagliotti — 78-Card Deck

Short description:

Universal Celtic Tarot by Nativo and Scagliotti for Lo Scarabeo — 78 cards weaving Celtic mythology, druidic symbolism, and nature imagery into the classic RWS-structure tarot. Figures from the Celtic otherworld inhabit each archetype, making this a meaningful deck for practitioners of Celtic paganism, Druidry, and those drawn to the sacred traditions of ancient Britain and Ireland. An immersive reading experience for those who know their mythology.

Description:

Quick Specs

• Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
• Authors/Artists: Floreana Nativo (concept), Cristina Scagliotti (art)
• Cards: 78-card full tarot deck
• Includes: Deck and instructional booklet
• Best for: Celtic mythology enthusiasts, experienced tarot readers, practitioners interested in Irish, Welsh, and Scottish mythological traditions

Celtic Mythology Illustrated in a Complete 78-Card Tarot

The Universal Celtic Tarot, conceived by Floreana Nativo and illustrated by Cristina Scagliotti for Lo Scarabeo, is a fully realized 78-card tarot deck rooted in Irish, Welsh, and Scottish mythological traditions. The deck draws directly on the gods, heroes, sacred creatures, and legendary sites of the Celtic world: Cernunnos as the Horned God appears among the Major Arcana, the Morrigan embodies the Death card's transformational energy, Lugh the many-skilled appears as the Magician, and figures such as Rhiannon and Dagda populate the remaining Majors. The Minor Arcana carries this mythological depth through all 56 cards, placing the four suits within a world of elves, dragons, unicorns, and the luminous Celtic landscape of deep greens and blues.

This deck is a tarot deck, which distinguishes it fundamentally from oracle decks in the Celtic tradition. It follows the full structure of 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana across four suits, using traditional card titles that allow readers already familiar with the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition to navigate the imagery without a learning curve in structure. The artistic interpretation does stray from RWS imagery in significant ways, which makes the deck more stimulating for experienced readers while potentially less accessible for complete beginners. Browse my tarot deck collection for other Lo Scarabeo titles and Celtic tradition decks.

How This Deck Differs from Other Celtic and Druidic Decks

The Universal Celtic Tarot is frequently compared to other Celtic-themed decks, and the distinctions matter for buyers. The DruidCraft Tarot blends Druidic and Wiccan nature spirituality and is more specifically rooted in contemporary Pagan practice than in mythological narrative. The Celtic Tree Oracle is not a tarot at all; it is an oracle deck built around the ogham alphabet and tree lore rather than the 78-card tarot structure. The Pagan Tarot centers on seasonal and Wiccan ritual themes rather than mythological figures. The Universal Celtic Tarot's distinguishing quality is its direct use of named Celtic mythological characters across both the Majors and Minors, making it the deck of choice for practitioners who want their readings grounded in the actual stories, pantheons, and sacred figures of the Celtic world.

The cards are borderless, which allows Scagliotti's artwork to breathe fully on each card surface. The Lo Scarabeo format produces cards slightly smaller than a standard Rider-Waite deck, a sizing many readers prefer for ease of handling and shuffling. The matte card finish shuffles smoothly and the cardstock has enough flexibility to prevent cracking under regular use.

How to Use the Universal Celtic Tarot

The Tarot Fellow Standard

I carry the Universal Celtic Tarot because it is one of the few decks that actually builds its imagery from named Celtic mythological figures across all 78 cards, rather than using Celtic aesthetics as a decorative layer over generic tarot archetypes. Scagliotti's artwork is expressive and imaginative, and the slightly smaller Lo Scarabeo card size makes this a deck that handles well for daily reading. It is a reliable, widely distributed production deck with good cardstock and a matte finish that shuffles without sticking. For Celtic and Norse mythology books that complement this deck and deepen your understanding of the figures depicted, explore my Celtic and Druidry books collection.

Frequently Asked Questions