Star & Strength Tarot - A brilliant beginner deck!
- Julie Embleton
- 5 hours ago
- 3 min read
Deck Review: Star & Strength Tarot
The Star & Strength Tarot by Antonio Tourino is a beginner-friendly take on the Rider Smith Waite, with upright and reversed meanings plus keywords printed on every card. A perfect companion for anyone starting out their tarot journey, it’s an easy way to learn the cards without constantly referring to a book or feeling pressure to memorise all the keywords.
Disclosure: This deck was gifted to me free of charge in exchange for an honest review.
Specs: Card size: 12 cm x 7 cm; plastic coating; matte finish. Card back image is not reversible.
Handling: Easy to shuffle, however the plastic coating makes the cards a little slippery so it’s easy to lose grip. The plastic coating has a noticeable new-plastic scent at first. Overall, a satisfying shuffle and comfortable to hold.
Blurb: Tarot doesn’t have to feel confusing or complicated. The Star & Strength Tarot Deck for Beginners was made to take the pressure off. Each card has upright and reversed meanings printed right on it, so you can lean into your intuition without memorizing a whole book. Whether you’re brand-new to tarot or you’ve dabbled and felt lost, this deck keeps things simple. It’s designed so you can pull cards, trust your gut, and read with clarity from day one.
Guide Book: There’s no printed guidebook, as each card includes upright and reversed guidance plus keywords. That said, the Star & Strength website is well worth exploring if you want to go deeper. Inside the deck you’ll also find two extra reference cards and a QR code (email opt-in) for a video walkthrough of each card, plus a QR code on the box linking to meanings, spreads, and a 13-part beginner course. With all that tarot goodness, who needs a guidebook?
Design-wise, the cards are thoughtfully laid out. The Rider Smith Waite image occupies the very centre of the card, and around it are the upright and reversed meanings and keywords. There’s also Yes/No/Maybe prompts on each card for the upright and reversed positions. The image is large enough to see the important details, and the surrounding info doesn’t clutter the card.
I would have loved a deck like this when I was starting out with tarot. It’s a great study companion, and an easy way to learn the card meanings without having to refer to a book or feel under pressure to memorise all 78 cards. Because the information is right in front of you, it makes reading a lot more fun, which is what learning should be! I think this deck will prove even more powerful when a reader graduates to spreads. Reading your first spread can feel daunting, but having the meanings on the cards helps you relax into it, which builds confidence and strengthens intuition over time.
As a study companion, this deck is a winner. Between the meanings and keywords, each card carries just the right amount of info for the tarot student. Even intermediate readers will enjoy pulling a card now and then for a quick refresh.
Antonio Tourino is the creator of Star & Strength. To give a sense of the intention behind the deck, here’s what Antonio says:
“When I first picked up a tarot deck, I didn’t expect it to have such an impact. What I found was more than cards, it was a way of looking at life from new angles, asking better questions, and finding meaning in places I hadn’t noticed before. Tarot quickly became a daily tool for me, helping me reflect, make decisions, and connect with something bigger than myself. I built Star & Strength because I wanted to share that same spark with others. My goal is simple: to make tarot easy to understand, beginner-friendly, and practical for everyday life.”
Where to buy: Direct from Star & Strength (£14.99): https://starandstrength.com/product/star-and-strength-tarot-deck-for-beginners/
Antonio has also published several tarot books under Star & Strength, available as digital downloads via his website and in paperback on Amazon.
