Eight Coins Tattoo Tarot - traditional tattoo art and tarot symbolism in 82 cards
Tattoo iconography has always had a relationship with archetypes. Skulls stand for impermanence, daggers for transformation, roses for beauty that endures thorns. Lana Zellner has been drawing these symbols on skin for years. In this deck she brings them together with the classic tarot structure.
The result is a set of 82 cards in which both worlds reinforce each other. The Hermit carries a lantern between dripping candles. The Lovers stand between roses and skulls. Death rides through flames and flowers at once. None of the cards tries to reassure you.
Spitshading and watercolour
Zellner paints in watercolour using a technique called spitshading: small dots and dashes that gradually move from light to dark. It is a classic tattoo technique that here creates texture and depth. The shadows run from grey to black, the colours muted but intense.
The cards are printed on matte cardstock with rounded corners. That makes them easy to shuffle and they do not reflect light during readings. The format is 89 x 127 mm, slightly larger than standard poker size.
What the guidebook contains
The book runs to 188 pages in full colour. Each card gets a double page: on the left an enlarged image, on the right Zellner's explanation. She writes about the symbolism, about why she made certain choices, and about what the card can mean in a reading.
The tone is personal. She explains why she chose two horses instead of sphinxes for The Chariot, and what the snake does on The Magician. No long esoteric texts, but concrete points of reference.
Pay attention to the shadows in the spitshading. There are often details that only stand out on a second look: small skulls, hidden petals, extra symbolic layers.
Four extra cards
In addition to the 78 classic tarot cards, the deck contains four bonus cards. Zellner added them as extra depth on themes she felt were important. You can keep them separate or shuffle them into your deck, depending on how you work.
The deck follows the structure of the Rider-Waite system, with 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana divided over four suits. Those who know that system will recognise the order and the basic themes. The imagery is different, the symbolism remains familiar.
About Lana Zellner
Lana Zellner works as a tattoo artist and illustrator in the United States. She combines her work on skin with work on paper, and tarot plays a role in both. The Eight Coins Tattoo Tarot is her first complete tarot deck and appeared after years of preparation.
Her background in tattoo art is visible in every card. The composition, the linework, the way she uses contrast: all of it comes from a tradition in which images remain on a body forever. That lasting quality gives the cards weight.
Specifications
- Number of cards: 82 (78 tarot cards + 4 bonus cards)
- Card size: 89 x 127 mm
- Finish: matte cardstock with rounded corners
- Guidebook: full-colour, 188 pages
- Packaging: luxury box with magnetic closure
- Language: English
- Creator: Lana Zellner
Questions we often get
Does this deck follow the structure of the Rider-Waite system?
Yes. The order and themes of the cards are based on the Rider-Waite system. The imagery is more modern and raw, but the symbolic foundation remains the same.
Are the four bonus cards replacements or additions?
Additions. The 78 classic cards stand on their own. The four extra cards add themes that Zellner herself considers important. You decide whether to use them.
