Ethereal Visions: Illuminated Tarot Deck is an 80-card tarot deck by artist Matt Hughes, pairing the standard 78-card tarot structure with two bonus cards and elegant gold-foil stamping on every card. Each image is hand-drawn and colored in a style that draws on the Art Nouveau movement, giving the deck a luminous, storybook quality that stands out on a shelf as much as it does in a reading.
Quick facts
| Type |
Tarot deck |
| Cards |
80 (the traditional 78-card deck plus 2 bonus cards) |
| Creator/Artist |
Matt Hughes |
| System/Tradition |
Rider-Waite-Smith structure, reimagined in an Art Nouveau style with gold-foil accents |
| Publisher |
U.S. Games Systems |
| Language |
English |
| Guidebook included |
Yes, 48-page booklet |
| Best for |
Collectors and readers who want visually striking, gilded artwork |
About this deck
Matt Hughes is a self-taught artist working in the spirit of the "Golden Age of Illustration," blending Art Nouveau, Pre-Raphaelite, and Symbolist influences into a style all his own. For Ethereal Visions, he hand-drew and colored every card, then added gold-foil stamping to each one, a detail that catches the light and gives the deck a genuinely illuminated feel in hand. The two bonus cards beyond the traditional 78 give collectors something extra without disrupting the familiar Rider-Waite-Smith structure that most readers already know. If you'd like to compare it with a more classic take on that structure, see our Rider-Waite Tarot Deck, or browse the rest of our tarot and oracle decks collection for more artistic interpretations, or our intuition & spirituality collection for related tools.
How to use it
Because the deck follows a familiar RWS-based structure, readers who already know traditional tarot meanings can pick it up and start reading right away, using the included 48-page booklet as a reference for how each Ethereal Visions card maps to those meanings. New readers can start with a single daily card pull, noting first impressions from the artwork before checking the booklet. Given its detail and gold foil, many collectors also enjoy simply displaying or handling the cards outside of a formal reading.
Care & storage
Keep the deck in its box, away from humidity and direct sunlight, to protect the gold-foil detailing and rich color work from fading or lifting over time. As with any deck, cleansing before first use — through incense, moonlight, or a deliberate shuffle — is a matter of personal tradition rather than a requirement.
Frequently asked questions
What is Ethereal Visions: Illuminated Tarot Deck?
It is an 80-card tarot deck by artist Matt Hughes, featuring hand-drawn Art Nouveau-inspired artwork with gold-foil stamping on every card, built on the traditional 78-card tarot structure plus two bonus cards.
Is this deck good for beginners?
It works well for beginners who pair it with the included booklet, since the card meanings follow the familiar Rider-Waite-Smith structure most tarot guides use, even though the art style is unique.
How many cards are in the deck?
80 cards total: the traditional 78-card tarot deck plus two additional bonus cards.
What language is the guidebook in?
English.
Does it come with a guidebook?
Yes, it includes a 48-page booklet with card meanings and guidance.
How should I cleanse or store this deck?
Store it in its box away from humidity and direct light to protect the gold-foil detailing. Cleansing before first use, such as with incense or moonlight, is a personal tradition rather than a requirement.
