Today I am presenting something a little bit different from what I usually post here, but still within the realm of tarot: colouring books by Liminal 11. These are the Modern Witch Tarot colouring book, and the Cosmic Slumber colouring book. However! I need to say that these books are not only tools to make put your art toolkit to work, as they include other interactive experiences for tarot lovers. Keep reading for all the details!
I must say, the colouring experience is radically different from that of reading. The engagement is not better or worse, not even more active nor more passive… but indeed different. Aside from the actual colouring, the contents that are included are: deep insights into the cards (not found in the guidebook), activities, extra artwork, and journal prompts. Both books have 152 pages, and feature ribbon markers.
Let's go over the structure of the Modern Witch Tarot book: first of all we find textured softcovers. On its inside, they features the illustrations of the tarot (and in the first flap will also find a colour guide). Later we find: a foreword, an introduction, a how-to, and then we get into the majors. After that we have the minors (which present a different structure to the majors), and this is finished by a further reading section, and a tracker in the other flap. It is in the structure of the majors where we can find the juiciest activities and information. Each features four pages: we are presented with the line art of the card and an exploration of its symbols and depth, plus a section called what this means. In the next two pages we find space for our reflections, with guided questions, the cards connections, a kaleidoscopic, tarot mandala, and a tarot tip.
But the minors are radically different. We have a page that acts as an introduction to the minors themselves, the numbers, and the court cards; and the next page focuses on the suit themselves, offering a small reflection and tarot tip for each suit. After this, aside from some exclusive illustrations, what we find is the line art for each card of the four suits, without the addition of further reflection or symbolic analysis as it was done in the majors.
Since the structure for the Cosmic Slumber Tarot book is pretty much the same, I will go over the differences. The cover, flaps and initial sections are the same. When it comes to the majors we find the four pages we did in the previous book, but with a few differences. We start with the presentation of the card, which includes its dreamscape, its archetype, its symbols, its dream, and a tarot tip. In the next page we find the lineart for the card and its colour code. In the third page we have space for reflections with guided questions, and in the fourth page we find again the tarot mandala. This goes on for all of the majors. We get into the minors just as we did before, with a small introduction, the numbers, the courts, and a brief paragraph for each suit with a small area for a general reflection. Then, again, we are presented with the lineart of the single cards.
What they offer is pretty much the same in the two books, and the variations are due to the very own natures of the decks: the Modern Witch tends to be more practical and symbol-oriented; whereas in the Cosmic Slumber we are more concerned with dreamscapes and otherworldly signs. But in terms of the work they do. they are pretty much the same, so the choice to pick either or both is more in the realms of personal taste. These books have a twofold way of being used: as deck companions, or as a way to explore new deck art in a different way.
I think the addition of tarot colouring books to the Liminal 11 catalogue is of great significance for readers. Before, we only had decks and books; but now we also have companion journals and other fun interactive activities such as the ones I have presented today. Even those who do not want to read tarot on itself, but want some introduction in a way that it is still active (while doing a relaxing activity such as colouring and journaling), can approach these books easily.
