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Tarot of the Cat People: A Traveler's Report
Science fiction and fantasy combine to create this stunning tarot deck and book set. Situated in a distant place known as the "Outer Regions," where people have a mystical rapport with cats.
192 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1992
About the author
Karen Kuykendall
10 books3 followersBorn in 1928 Kuykendall was interested in natural history since childhood but also had a keen interest in geology and astronomy as she got older and spent a lot of time at the Museum of Natural History.
All of these interests are reflected in her artwork – now on display in a dedicated room at the Mesa Historical Museum. (mesahistoricalmuseum.com)
Kuykendall studied advertising illustration at the Art Center in Los Angeles and motion picture costume design at the Chinouard Art Institute in California.
She visited Arizona in the 1950’s and fell in love with the desert landscape, which would later become the inspiration for the landscapes she created for her fantasy realm, “The Outer Regions.”
She moved to Arizona and obtained her master’s degree in art history from the University of Arizona.
She eventually moved in 1966 to Casa Grande, where she remained until her passing in 1998.
All of these interests are reflected in her artwork – now on display in a dedicated room at the Mesa Historical Museum. (mesahistoricalmuseum.com)
Kuykendall studied advertising illustration at the Art Center in Los Angeles and motion picture costume design at the Chinouard Art Institute in California.
She visited Arizona in the 1950’s and fell in love with the desert landscape, which would later become the inspiration for the landscapes she created for her fantasy realm, “The Outer Regions.”
She moved to Arizona and obtained her master’s degree in art history from the University of Arizona.
She eventually moved in 1966 to Casa Grande, where she remained until her passing in 1998.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
April 23, 2023
This is a hard book to give a star rating to, as in some ways the star rating ends up reflecting the tarot deck as well. The book will not really be any interest to anyone who isn't also working with the Tarot of the Cat People deck by Karen Kuykendall, and is therefore difficult to consider or rate as a standalone. The set containing this book and the deck is out of print, and more recently produced copies of the deck don't include this book. The book is very much worth reading if the deck is of interest, and can be found secondhand fairly inexpensively.
What I like about this book as a tarot guidebook: This book brings to life the fact that the tarot deck is rooted in a fully realized fantasy world. The book explains the people, their cultures, their costumes and lifeways, and the card by card summaries explain the sybolism in each card and why it was chosen. A seasoned reader could work with the deck easily without this book, but the book gives good insight into the artist's intentions, which I appreciate.
What I do not like about this book: This book definitely falls into some of the ethnic and gender stereotyping common to 'anthropological SFF' of this time period; making the regions the Cat People live in analogous to "real world" places/peoples really doesn't help. It would be nice if the book contained some original Cat People tarot spreads rather than just the Celtic Cross at the end.
Content warnings: descriptions of societies which include sexism, religious discrimination, xenophobia, animal death, classism, death, and war; text reads as, in places, heteronormative, gender stereotypical, and culturally appropriative & stereotyping
What I like about this book as a tarot guidebook: This book brings to life the fact that the tarot deck is rooted in a fully realized fantasy world. The book explains the people, their cultures, their costumes and lifeways, and the card by card summaries explain the sybolism in each card and why it was chosen. A seasoned reader could work with the deck easily without this book, but the book gives good insight into the artist's intentions, which I appreciate.
What I do not like about this book: This book definitely falls into some of the ethnic and gender stereotyping common to 'anthropological SFF' of this time period; making the regions the Cat People live in analogous to "real world" places/peoples really doesn't help. It would be nice if the book contained some original Cat People tarot spreads rather than just the Celtic Cross at the end.
Content warnings: descriptions of societies which include sexism, religious discrimination, xenophobia, animal death, classism, death, and war; text reads as, in places, heteronormative, gender stereotypical, and culturally appropriative & stereotyping
September 1, 2021
Journey to the far away and vast lands of the Outer Regions. Learn about the ecology, customs, personality, economy, and resources of the Cat People.
Each suit of this deck represents a different kingdom in the Outer Regions.
The Major Arcana (Vapala) is home to the regal sky people, proud and reserved.
The suit of swords (Thnossis) hosts the fire people who are energetic, resourceful, and highly adaptable.
The suit of wands (Twahihic) is where the sand people call their home, these people are inventive, and fun loving!
The suit of cups (Azhengir) inhabitants are the salt people, and they are tough, stoic, and have great endurance.
The suit of pentacles (Kahulawe) is where the creative rock people call home, and here is where comfort, art, and trade dominate.
For over 15 years I have been accurately divining with the tarot of the cat people. The deck comes with a small paper book (like most decks do) and thankfully my luck one day found this traveler's report in a used book store! This book has connected me deeper to my deck, as well as The Cat People, and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to deepen their love of the cat people tarot, or those enjoy realistic fantasy tales of far away places!
Each suit of this deck represents a different kingdom in the Outer Regions.
The Major Arcana (Vapala) is home to the regal sky people, proud and reserved.
The suit of swords (Thnossis) hosts the fire people who are energetic, resourceful, and highly adaptable.
The suit of wands (Twahihic) is where the sand people call their home, these people are inventive, and fun loving!
The suit of cups (Azhengir) inhabitants are the salt people, and they are tough, stoic, and have great endurance.
The suit of pentacles (Kahulawe) is where the creative rock people call home, and here is where comfort, art, and trade dominate.
For over 15 years I have been accurately divining with the tarot of the cat people. The deck comes with a small paper book (like most decks do) and thankfully my luck one day found this traveler's report in a used book store! This book has connected me deeper to my deck, as well as The Cat People, and I recommend this book to anyone who wants to deepen their love of the cat people tarot, or those enjoy realistic fantasy tales of far away places!
September 29, 2020
Tarot of the Cat People (book and cards) was my first tarot. It was a gift from a friend decades ago. It is a Rider-Waite deck, but the book includes a veritible novel of world-building. It goes into great detail about the cultures and lives of the "races" who make up the tarot suits. The artwork has a lovely style that is charming and perfect for the cards.
November 7, 2022
Quick impressions: This is a deck I can go back to down the road that offers an interesting take on Tarot. If you want something a bit different than the usual, take a chance on this deck.
(Full review available on my blog.)
(Full review available on my blog.)
March 23, 2022
Okay, as a tarot guide... Eh... But, the world that was built in the pages was awesome... And the deck reads well too.
October 9, 2014
I have read this book, a great many times, and it's now bent and earmarked every which way.
This book belongs to my first and one of my favorite decks in the entire universe.
The book like the deck is heavy, and discusses a people that Kuykendall created to play out the story of the Fool It's highly political, and she does a great job of going into detail about the politics of each of the Cat People, and where they live on this distant planet, and how that colors their stature in their society and how that plays into the meaning of the cards.
This is a darker deck with darker concepts, and the Cat People stare at you from the dark pages unsure of whether they are going to let you pass or eat you. I wouldn't recommend this book or deck to a novice, it's a powerful deck, and I recommend having this book if you're going to buy it.
This book belongs to my first and one of my favorite decks in the entire universe.
The book like the deck is heavy, and discusses a people that Kuykendall created to play out the story of the Fool It's highly political, and she does a great job of going into detail about the politics of each of the Cat People, and where they live on this distant planet, and how that colors their stature in their society and how that plays into the meaning of the cards.
This is a darker deck with darker concepts, and the Cat People stare at you from the dark pages unsure of whether they are going to let you pass or eat you. I wouldn't recommend this book or deck to a novice, it's a powerful deck, and I recommend having this book if you're going to buy it.
May 2, 2017
The traveler's report is okay. It is an interesting world she has created. But it suffers from not understanding how societies work.
It's supposed to be a group of egalitarian societies where everyone takes care of each other and there little crime.
Except that there are poor people and rich people and displays of wealth and status. And a military. And a culture of outcasts. So not egalitarian at all. It's actually a hierarchical class based society with exile being the punishment for nonconformity.
Also one of the cultures has a coming of age rite where teenagers are knocked unconscious and abandoned in the desert, where it is possible they might die. Anyone who refuses to take part of this rite is treated as child legally and socially. I'm sure the author thought that sounded very romantic and primal.
It's supposed to be a group of egalitarian societies where everyone takes care of each other and there little crime.
Except that there are poor people and rich people and displays of wealth and status. And a military. And a culture of outcasts. So not egalitarian at all. It's actually a hierarchical class based society with exile being the punishment for nonconformity.
Also one of the cultures has a coming of age rite where teenagers are knocked unconscious and abandoned in the desert, where it is possible they might die. Anyone who refuses to take part of this rite is treated as child legally and socially. I'm sure the author thought that sounded very romantic and primal.
October 30, 2007
Imaginative companion book to the Tarot of the Cat People deck designed by Karen Kuykendall. Describes in detail the mythos she created around the world and the people inhabiting her beautifully illustrated deck of cards.
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November 4, 2009Tarot of the cat people : a traveler's report by Karen Kuykendall (1991)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews