I didn’t actually start my tarot journey until about four years ago. Compared to readers with entire bookshelves of decks, I’ve only dipped my toes in; six decks so far, all rooted in the traditional Rider–Waite system. Each one has taught me something about symbolism, intuition, and how I connect with the cards.
But out of all six, one stands out as the deck that feels like it was made for me: This Might Hurt by Isabella Rotman.
A Deck That Feels Like Today
Traditional RWS imagery is classic, and I respect its foundation. But sometimes, it feels like looking at old paintings in a museum.. beautiful, yes, but a little far from the world I live in.
This Might Hurt changed that for me. The artwork is modern without losing depth, playful without being silly, and inclusive in ways that actually matter. The people in the cards look like people I could meet on the street: diverse, relatable, and real.
Inclusivity That Resonates
What really made me fall in love with this deck is how naturally inclusive it is. Representation doesn’t feel like an afterthought; it’s woven into the artwork in a way that feels authentic. Different skin tones, body types, genders, and identities all show up here, not as tokens, but as living characters.
When I pull “The Lovers,” I don’t just see an archetype from a storybook. I see love in its many forms, reflected back into real life.
Why It Matters To Me
Because I’m still relatively new in my tarot practice, the decks I choose to work with really shape my learning experience.
This Might Hurt reminds me that tarot isn’t meant to be distant or abstract. It’s meant to meet us where we are, in this messy, diverse, modern world.