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The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck and Guidebook

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In this wholly original, never-before-seen box set, the New York Times bestselling author who has redefined tarot for the twenty-first century takes seekers on a journey of self-discovery deep into the collective unconscious and through the realm of archetypes, where dreams and myths meet. In this original box set, Kim Krans illuminates the revelatory power of archetypes—the ancient, universal symbols that have endured across time and cultures and reside deep in our shared psyche. Illustrated in her unmistakable "Wild Unknown" style, an emotionally evocative combination of elegant line art and lush watercolor painting, The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck and Guidebook fosters a profound understanding of our complex personalities, behaviors, and tendencies. The Wild Unknown Archetypes deck includes 78 gorgeous circular oracle cards divided into four The Selves, The Places, The Tools, and The Initiations. Each archetype has been carefully selected for its symbolic potency and the lesson at the core of its nature, such as The Poet, representative of deep emotional creativity and the drive to find our truth, and The Vision, which symbolizes the lifelong journey to rediscover our destiny. Accompanying the deck is a 224-page hand-lettered, fully illustrated guidebook written and designed by Krans, which details the meaning behind each card and offers clear, grounded explanations of the many spreads, practices, and concepts that power the Archetypes deck. A beautiful and inclusive tool for self-exploration, The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck and Guidebook is sure to enchant readers drawn to personal study, symbology, and lore. Destined to become a treasured keepsake, The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck and Guidebook is an exquisitely designed work of art that embodies the mystery, glamour, and allure that made Krans’s previous work collectible sensations, while introducing a whole new realm of magic and depth to The Wild Unknown.

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2019

39 people are currently reading
1230 people want to read

About the author

Kim Krans

22 books230 followers
Kim Krans is an artist, author, and the creator of The New York Times bestseller, The Wild Unknown Tarot. Her publications include ABC Dream, 123 Dream, Hello Sacred Life, and the Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook. Along with husband and collaborator Arjan Miranda, Kim curates The Wild Unknown, an arts collective offering publications, artwork, music, and events that activate the forces of creativity and radical transformation.

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, New York Magazine, NYLON, Teen Vogue, Design*Sponge, and Marie Claire. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Find more of Kim's artwork, creations, and other modern tools for self-reflection through her website, www.thewildunknown.com.

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5 stars
279 (79%)
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49 (14%)
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14 (4%)
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Trina.
165 reviews
February 16, 2020
Reading this book right now was meant to be. It was perfect timing because I obviously was open to all the messages it contains. Very rarely does a guidebook get read from cover to cover in my house. I also don’t read guidebooks BEFORE using a deck, but something about this book called fo me and I am so glad I listened to my inner voice. I have yet to work with the cards as I wanted to finish the book before delving into the deck. I look forward to readings with these cards. If you want to learn more about life, the cosmos and yourself- get this set. It’s life altering.
Profile Image for Regan.
877 reviews5 followers
January 1, 2022
Received this deck for Xmas and read the guidebook in anticipation of starting to work with the deck (personally, this one won't be part of my professional practice just now). LOVE this deck, love her art so much. Fabulous.
Profile Image for Mercurymouth.
278 reviews6 followers
November 15, 2020
I do love her work. Her art and spirituality resonates with me. I ordered this on ebay and was disappointed to discover there was no 224 page guidebook included. Needless to say I'm in the dark as far as her interpretation goes but with the help of the www I'm able to see the light.
Profile Image for Ophelia Feyre.
82 reviews21 followers
January 18, 2022
Divination Tool: The Wild Unknown Archetypes Deck and Guidebook by Kim Krans
Genre: Spirituality, Divination
Publisher: Harper One / Harper Collins
Release Date: Out Now!

Deck gifted by Harper One in exchange for a review.

Video review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/18wYZvuuS9Y

Happy New Year! I'm excited to share my first review of 2022!

About the Author/Creator
Kim Krans is a visual artist and author working at her studio in Brooklyn, New York. She received her BFA in drawing at Cooper Union in NYC, her MFA in mixed media at Hunter College, and an MA in depth psychology and creativity at Pacifica Graduate Institute in California. I love how she brings all of these things together into her work. She blends drawing and visual aspects with mixed media and psychology in such a beautiful way.

She has also studied yoga and shamanism in India, Africa, Europe and the UK. She teaches creative events and workshops using art, meditation, mysticism and movement.

Some of her most notable works that have been published are the the New York times bestseller - 'The Wild Unknown Tarot Deck' and the 'Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook'. Her books include 'The Wild Unknown Journal', 'Blossoms and Bones' (a graphic memoir) and even children’s books; 'Whose Moon is That?' '123 Dream' and 'ABC Dream'. They all feature Kim's unique art style and I really want the children's books, even though I don't have kids!

As well as the releasing the publications I have mentioned she is also a multi-media artist, filmmaker and musician. While learning about Kim I also found that she is creating a new oracle deck and guidebook due to be released next year! I’m very excited for that!

About the Deck
I would categorise the deck as an oracle deck, even though it doesn’t say that on the box or within the guidebook.

The blurb:
“Welcome to The Wild Unknown Archetypes. You will find within:
- 78 circular cards in a round box
- Lavishly illustrated 224-page guidebook


From the wellspring of the collective unconscious emerge images that appear in the dreams of every culture, illuminating our multiplicity and uniting us in the endless story of humanity. These are the archetypes . Their limitless potential is yours to behold as you travel to the realm of dreams, visions, and myth. May you always be on the inner quest…”

Unboxing
See video (below) - time stamp 5:44.

My Thoughts
When I think about the archetypes in tarot and oracle decks I think of the major arcana. Those twenty two cards represent the archetypes that we embody and experience throughout our lives. So I was expecting ideas and themes that linked to the Major Arcana and there are some crossovers, for example; the mother, the father the lover and some other ideas that link to tarot. However, I feel like these cards are a lot more spiritual and abstract; they tend to focus on internal exploration. Whereas tarot can point to external, tangible and real life events that we experience in our lives.

What I’m trying to say is that this deck is very much about an inner-self-exploration that deals with more abstract ideas like dreams, the unconscious, emotions and a really deep dive look at ourselves. In the guidebook Kim Krans refers to the 'imaginal'; things that are in “the realm of poetry, images, metaphors and the imagination.” That is what they are going to be most useful for.

Before using the deck I would definitely recommend reading the guide book. Even if you are familiar with using tarot decks and oracle decks, the guidebook provides so much depth and insight into using this particular deck. I don’t consider it to be a ‘typical’ oracle deck and the box and guidebook never refer to it as an oracle deck. I don’t believe it works the same way. Especially, if you are not familiar with the idea and psychology behind archetypes, the guidebook is really important. You don’t need to read the whole thing, (every individual card) you can just refer to that part of it as the cards appear to you. However, the first section of the book is an introduction and explanation of how the deck works, so you should definitely read that bit before starting.

When it comes to readings I have done, not just with this deck but also, 'The Wild Unknown Tarot' and 'Animal Spirit' decks, I have found that Kim Krans is very metaphorical and philosophical in her explanations of the cards and what they want to tell us. I am use to this because I have worked a lot with her other decks. However it might take some getting use to for newbies to the world of 'The Wild Unknown'. If you are looking for some plane and simple direct answers you won’t find them with this deck. However, if you are looking for some in-depth, spirit searching that makes you really think, then this is the deck for you.

When getting to know new decks a lot of people like to use a one card pull. I love the way that this idea is developed with this deck. Even just pulling one card can offer a really deep exploration. At first I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to work intuitively with this deck, but Kim advises you to ‘Riff’ with the card before reading the description, which involves: describing it, drawing it and thinking about what it reminds you of. It might take some time, but I think eventually an intuitive reading will get easier.

I want to share a little bit about a full reading I did using this deck. I started with the ‘Summon the Divine’ spread, which is a three card spread. I wanted to start with this one because it seemed quite simple. The three cards represent three areas of the spine and the ascending chakras; the root, heart and crown. So the spread deals with physical, emotional and spiritual ideas.

I really enjoyed the reading I got from this spread. It focused on some key internal issues/ideas and lead to some good self-reflection. I also liked that it offered some guidance to help me navigate various ideas that arose from the reading. I feel like you could get some really deep and meaningful readings from this deck.

Something I really loved about this deck is that it ignited my creative side. I love to be creative through writing and painting and this deck really helped to tap into that aspect of myself. I think it's a great deck for creative and visual people, especially if you are currently in a slump and feeling uninspired. You can ask the deck for guidance or ways to re-ignite that inspiration. Even just looking a the concepts and images is inspiring for creativity. Kim mentions in the guidebook that Archetypes "insist on the imagination" that they "move us from the literal to the mythic…by getting us out of our heads and into the space of dreams, emotions, and imagination." I feel like that is where our creativity is and where it comes from.

Final Thoughts
Overall I really love this deck and the new possibilities it brings for self-analysis and reflection.

Things I loved about the deck are: the images, obviously Kim Krans artwork is stunning, the guidebook and explanation of the cards, because they are really well written and developed, and I appreciated the spreads featured in the guidebook. You could quite easily use spreads that you would use for tarot and oracle readings. However, I feel like the spreads included really help you get the best from the cards. One I want to try for the new year is called, ‘The Heroine’s Journey’ because it is described as a good spread to do at a significant milestone and I feel like that’s where I am going into the new year.

I do want to reiterate that this is a deck that features themes and ideas that delve quite deeply into the psyche and our inner-self. I would definitely recommend doing some self-care afterwards and making sure you end on a positive note. In that same vain, I don’t think this is a deck that I would use daily, or too regularly, because it can be draining to do too much looking inward and examining the various aspects of yourself. So, I think this will be a deck that I personally use a little more infrequently, but I will get a lot from it when I do use it.
2 reviews
October 5, 2021
If they remade this deck, minus the Gnosis card, I might give it a better rating. Gnosticism is directly linked to racism and white supremacy: “The Secret History's most important figures are perhaps self-proclaimed Russian mystic Madame Helena Blavatsky and her American husband Colonel Henry Olcott. The result of their collaboration would thrust the world into the abyss and cost the lives of millions. Their Theosophy ideology became popular amongst the middle classes in Germany at the end of the 1800's, mostly because of its introduction to Eastern religious and mystical ideas.
Blavatsky claimed to have been party to revelations from Hidden Masters called the "Great White Brotherhood" who resided somewhere in the Himalayas. But Blavatsky later admitted in letters to her sister that this was a codename for the Rosicrucian hierarchy who funded her. It is clear her work is influenced, if not sourced, in the work of Masonic demagogue General Albert Pike - the American South's Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, Civil War war criminal, and leading member of the Ku Klux Klan - who revealed Rosicrucian/Masonic doctrine and its "Aryan heritage" in his unpublished pamphlet Morals & Dogma (1871) that was distributed to Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret (32nd degree) Scottish Rite initiates,” (https://m.dailykos.com/stories/2005/8...-).
“there exists a group of persons who possess both exceptional powers and a highly perfected character and consciousness. They are known variously as the Hierarchy of Adepts, the Great White Lodge, the Great White Brotherhood, the Masters, or simply the Hierarchy,” (http://gnosis.org/wise_men.htm).
The “Gnosis” card taints the entire The Wild Unknown Archetype deck, if you ask me and is an unnecessary card considering the presence of the Aletheia, Apocolypsis, Poet, Mentor, Hunter, Mystic, Temple and Threshold cards.
Profile Image for Judy Croome.
Author 13 books185 followers
February 24, 2022
A powerful, intense deck not for the faint-hearted.

Readings are deeply accurate, offering fantastic insights. The guidebook is detailed, exciting to read and profound. I just love the round shape of the cards, the images resonate with the guidebook descriptions and the presentation box is solid and attractive.

At the moment I'm using this deck exclusively for my personal readings & tarot card a day on my youtube channel - there is so much info to absorb that I want to be completely comfortable with my understanding of the archetypes before I use the deck for my clients, who I'm certain are going to benefit immensely once I do start using them in professional readings.

I just love this deck, and highly recommend it, although beginners may find it too intense.
Profile Image for Laura.
116 reviews3 followers
March 22, 2025
I'm new to tarot and card reading but everything about the book felt right. The design of it also tickled my fancy as a graphic designer. Most books are so uniform, its nice to see text tipped around so you read it in a circle. The collage images remind me of a game called Omori. They're weird and out of place but make complete sense. Life is weird sometimes and the art style reflects that. I love all things round so I liked the deck but what really drew me in was the book. A friend showed it to me in college and the intro section captured what I was feeling at the time. I had lost my own mountain. I was going through the motions and completely forgot why I started in the first place. I think this deck is a good addition to a regular tarot deck. It helps you come to conclusion you might have missed on your own.
Profile Image for seth.
241 reviews
January 5, 2025
this deck and guidebook are stunning. due to the nature of the cards, the deep reflective work is challenging and ongoing but extremely worth it. in order to enjoy the deck and its nuances, you have to respect/like the work of carl jung (and psychoanalysis). if that theoretical framework is one you do not like, this might not be the deck for you. the only comment i have, which many note, is that the cards are large and harder to handle than a typical deck. however, from krans’ sample spreads, reading the book, and handling the deck a bit i do not think it will be a problem for how i intend to use it.
Profile Image for Cyndie Courtney.
1,502 reviews6 followers
January 22, 2022
Incredibly gorgeous artwork on these cards. These cards are based on archetypes and the included book helps review the concept of archetypes as well as explains the cards that were specifically included in this deck. The deck itself is fun allowing you to both look at the cards and imagine what they mean to you, to use as for a kind of fortune-reading if you want, but also as a random idea generator for coming up with story ideas. A fantastic gift from a friend.
1 review
December 13, 2021
I can't connect with this deck at all. It's so contrived. The cards don't really speak to me and I have trouble distinguishing one from the next energetically. It's cute, though, an interestingly packaged. Maybe it will work better for you.
Profile Image for liiivvv.
88 reviews17 followers
December 19, 2022
im counting this because i had to do so much research on how to use this deck and i hate doing research for psychic work, i feel like its counterproductive. however this guide book left lots of room for your own interpretation and i cannot wait to use it for my 2023 spreads 😍
Profile Image for Tiare.
541 reviews32 followers
June 28, 2023
I’ve seen this deck around for awhile and I’m so glad I got one of my own. Easy to shuffle, I like that the cards are circles and full of black and white and color contrast and the readings give suggestions on further study of the archetype.
5 reviews
October 6, 2025
This a very unique oracle deck. I love that these are circular. The artwork is quirky and is raw and untamed. I like that this guidebook is written in a wonderful way that feels like the writer is including you in the stories of each card.
Profile Image for Brittany.
19 reviews1 follower
January 21, 2020
Kim Krans is a gifted writer. I love her poetry and loving light
Profile Image for Sofija.
203 reviews1 follower
March 31, 2020
Gorgeous deck and wonderful, clear initiation into Archetypes. I love it! Will read and use it everyday.
7 reviews
March 5, 2023
The book is quite lovely, I like Krans' take on the archetypes and it feel as forced as the others archetype books I've read.
Profile Image for Sharon.
Author 1 book20 followers
October 8, 2023
The purchased deck is nice enough, but there is no 'guidebook' included, not even a pamphlet with the cards.
Profile Image for Sarah Moschenross .
100 reviews
October 15, 2024
These are great but WHY use Roman numerals on the cards?! That is so frustrating- I hate that aspect of these.
Profile Image for N….
51 reviews1 follower
December 30, 2024
Beautiful interpretations of the archetypes. In some parts I felt them to be incomplete, so I added extra information from the Book of Symbols. The most beautiful deck I own.
Profile Image for Raegan .
676 reviews32 followers
June 5, 2020
-Disclaimer: I won this deck & book for free through Goodreads giveaways in exchange for an honest review.-

Interesting and useful!

All of the cards are beautiful and the descriptions match very well. Some of the cards seem rather similar.

I didn't like that "The Animal" card description said,

"we are all animals with hair between our legs".

or the

"Immigration children stolen from parents" part when it is supposed to be about tarot, not political opinions.

I like there are "go deeper" things you can research for each card. Therefore there is always something to read more on whether it be a painting, song, other gods from other religions, poems, etc. It also talks about reincarnation. I take a lot of it with a grain of salt because it mixes messages from different religions/ideas.

I do like being able to research the symbolism of different things and how they connect to tell a story. All-in-all, the cards are great and I really enjoyed the deck and guidebook! Very cool!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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