THE PERFECT TAROT DECK FOR FOOD LOVERS REALLY DOES EXIST
“You know when it’s time to eat papaya? When it’s knocking at death’s door.” No, this isn’t the opener of an esoteric novel. It’s an excerpt from a booklet that explains why, of all the foods out there, the exotic fruit was chosen to symbolize the tarot card of Death. Another important card, The Tower — symbolizing transformation and awakening — is represented by creme brulee. “Don’t let the fractures of your caramelized world convince you that’s the end of your story,” the booklet reads. Born in the whimsical minds of three food-obsessed Bay Area women, Cacio e Pepe Tarot is doing the seemingly impossible, yet necessary: connecting food and mysticism in a new tarot deck like no other.
For those who don’t have that one friend who carries a tarot deck everywhere they go, the sets of cards come in many forms, all united by a series of symbols — a numbered sequence of Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, in addition to standalone cards like Death, the Hangman, and the Lovers. Usually, the deck comes with a booklet, which offers handy explanations of each card, allowing pretty much anyone to lay down a pattern and get answers to burning questions about life, love, and career.
To three lifelong friends — astrologer and microbiotic cook Danielle Mainas, advisor and former Off the Grid CFO Lindsey Newton, and marketing director Megan Morris — adding food to the tarot mix made perfect sense. They place their friendship, in Morris’s words, “at the intersection of food, drink, humor and deep conversation about life, spirituality, and wellness.” Mainas lives in Sebastopol and Morris in Fairfax, while Newton currently resides in Venice. The idea for the deck, which equates cards to foods including salami, bagels and cream cheese, or Champagne with the utmost seriousness, was born during an alcohol-fueled meal five years ago. The conversation hovered over food and tarot, as Morris and Newton kept asking Mainas about the meaning of different cards, and the many intersections created in the process provided a lightbulb moment.
“We spent weekends away in Sea Ranch creating full analog workflows,” Newton recalls. “Post-it notes everywhere, inspiration and structures percolating. We studied with tarot experts, teachers, and guides. The fearlessness and innocence of The Fool, we realized, could so clearly be seen in a PB&J. Within the glory of The World we saw a direct line to Champagne.” Five years later, the 78-card deck was born, with each card showcasing a digital collage created by Mainas. It comes complete with a thick booklet that elaborates on each card’s meaning and origin. Spend some time reading it, and you’ll never think of tarot without simultaneously craving a cheeseburger or roasted marshmallows. Tarot lingo, especially for beginners, is already abstract and ripe for interpretation, so why not food metaphors? Who doesn’t want pickles to invite them into a fermentation tank-like darkness of introspection, or a chocolate croissant to remind them of patience and self-compassion?
And while there’s no shortage of spirituality-meets-food crossovers (zodiac signs as college-appropriate meals, anyone?) or even themed tarot decks, for Mainas, Cacio e Pepe Tarot isn’t only entertaining, but also innovative and refreshing in regards to the age-old tarot reading practice. “There are tarot cards centered around all kinds of themes, from cats to the elements of the periodic table,” she says. Food, as a beloved vehicle of content, can help deepen the practice and make tarot more approachable and less intimidating, she says. “Because we all understand food, its power and significance runs deep,” Mainas says. “We hope the deck meets people where they are emotionally while still being digestible and fun.” Pun intended.
Cacio e Pepe Tarot launces this spring. Pre-orders ($60) can be placed online now and will ship no later than July 8, 2024.