The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers — Tarot Divination

The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers — photo 1

The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers — photo 2

The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers — photo 3

📖 Have you read this book?

Your review can inspire others to read it

🃏 Tarot & Divination

The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers

Name: The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers
Price: 35.00 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781620558737

✍️ McQuillar, Tayannah Lee

Reader Score

4.6

(3 reviews)

$35.00

In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days

📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 78-card divination deck and guidebook pairing American Hoodoo traditions with classic Tarot structure.

Rooted in traditional American Rootwork, The Hoodoo Tarot seamlessly pairs esoteric botanical knowledge and rich Hoodoo folk traditions with classical Tarot divination practices. The complete set includes a comprehensive 160-page guidebook alongside 78 full-color cards vividly painted by magical-realist artist Katelan Foisy. Author Tayannah Lee McQuillar documents the complex history of Hoodoo, detailing its origins across the 17th through 19th centuries from various African and Native American ethnic groups alongside influential European practices. McQuillar thoroughly explains how traditional forms of divination used by rootworkers, such as cartomancy, make pairing Hoodoo with Tarot a natural alignment.

Key Themes

American Hoodoo history Botanical magic and cartomancy African and Indigenous heritage

Literary Context

This work centers on American Rootwork formed between the 17th and 19th centuries. It draws directly from the intermarriage and shared knowledge of African and Indigenous American ethnic groups, alongside European influences.

McQuillar, Tayannah Lee

📚 all books by this author (4) →

Difficulty

●● Medium

Recommended For Fans Of

Lorrie Moore's ethnographic fiction · Stephen Foster's minstrelsy studies · Hoodoo tradition practitioners

🃏

Tarot & Divination

🏛 Destiny Books 📖 160 pages ISBN: 9781620558737

Fun Fact

McQuillar delivers a vital corrective to Tarot history, centering American folk magic with dignity and depth. The illustrations are vibrant, and the historical notes are meticulously researched. It excels in making Rootwork accessible without diluting its complexity. However, traditionalists seeking classical RWS imagery will feel alienated. This sits firmly as a pioneering text in the genre, essential for anyone seeking authentic, non-colonial divination tools.

📝 Description: The Hoodoo Tarot: 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers

Rooted in American Rootwork, The Hoodoo Tarot pairs esoteric botanical knowledge and Hoodoo traditions with classical Tarot divination. The set includes a 160-page guidebook alongside 78 full-color cards painted by magical-realist artist Katelan Foisy. Author Tayannah Lee McQuillar documents the complex history of Hoodoo, detailing its origins across the 17th through 19th centuries from African and Native American ethnic groups alongside European influences. McQuillar explains how traditional forms of divination used by rootworkers, such as cartomancy, make pairing Hoodoo with Tarot a natural alignment. Inside the accompanying text, McQuillar covers the history of rootwork before outlining in-depth meanings for the Major Arcana and the four Minor Arcana suits: sticks, baskets, needles, and knives. Each entry detail the history of the featured rootworker or symbol, associated magical plants, and practical guidance based on the card's meaning. The images portray legendary rootworkers past and present alongside essential Hoodoo archetypes. This set suits readers interested in American Rootwork, historical cartomancy, and multicultural botanical magic. It is less suited for practitioners seeking a purely traditional European Tarot deck without regional folk traditions.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

McQuillar’s deck succeeds as both a beautiful artistic object and a scholarly resource, weaving botanical lore with potent symbolism. The guide’s deep dives into Major and Minor Arcana meanings provide necessary context for the multicultural origins of Hoodoo. However, this book does not suit those seeking traditional Rider-Waite interpretations or readers uninterested in historical biographies and plant lore. It requires an openness to non-European mystical frameworks and a willingness to engage with specific cultural histories rather than generic esoteric advice. The niche focus may alienate casual diviners looking for quick answers.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers interested in the rich tapestry of American folk magic will find immense value in this unique fusion of Tarot structure and Rootwork history. Tayannah Lee McQuillar offers a profound exploration that honors legendary rootworkers while providing practical divinatory tools. Those seeking to understand the botanical lore and magical intent behind Hoodoo will appreciate the detailed biographies and cultural context provided. It is ideal for anyone wishing to explore how cross-cultural exchange shaped these traditions, offering both spiritual insight and historical education in one comprehensive volume.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

Ideal for practitioners of Hoodoo, folk magic enthusiasts, and Tarot readers seeking non-European traditions. It appeals to those interested in the intersection of botany, history, and divination within the American occult landscape.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 3 reviews

Peter S.

December 18, 2025

Arrived faster than expected and well packaged. Plenty of passages worth underlining; my copy is already full of margin notes. It pairs well with more modern commentaries on the same tradition.

Victor T.

October 14, 2024

Took a chance on this and glad I did. It's become a regular reference in my practice. I'd have loved an index, but that's on the original text. Solid, if not essential.

Esoterica Books editorial team

McQuillar’s deck succeeds as both a beautiful artistic object and a scholarly resource, weaving botanical lore with potent symbolism. The guide’s deep dives into Major and Minor Arcana meanings provide necessary context for the multicultural origins of Hoodoo. However, this book does not suit those seeking traditional Rider-Waite interpretations or readers uninterested in historical biographies and plant lore. It requires an openness to non-European mystical frameworks and a willingness to engage with specific cultural histories rather than generic esoteric advice. The niche focus may alienate casual diviners looking for quick answers.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Yes, the guidebook provides comprehensive meanings and historical context, making it accessible for new practitioners while offering depth for seasoned rootworkers.

It retains the Tarot structure but replaces conventional imagery with Hoodoo-specific symbols, plants, and historical figures relevant to American folk magic.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Syncretic Rootwork History

The book explores how Hoodoo emerged from the intersection of African, Native American, and European traditions. It highlights the often-overlooked intermarriage and socialization between Indigenous Americans and people of African descent from the 17th to 19th centuries, framing this fusion as the foundation of American folk magic.

Botanical and Spiritual Synergy

Each card is paired with specific magical plants, linking botanical knowledge to spiritual interpretation. The text teaches readers to recognize the energetic properties of flora while understanding the historical context of the rootworkers depicted, creating a holistic approach to working with nature's power.

Archetypal Rootworker Portraits

The deck celebrates legendary figures from the past and present who shaped Rootwork. By depicting these individuals as archetypes, the book validates their contributions to esoteric knowledge and provides a tangible connection to the lineage of practitioners who preserved these secretive arts.

📜 Historical context

Rootwork evolved from the silent collaborations between African diaspora communities and Indigenous peoples during the colonial era. Mainstream history often ignores these alliances, yet they birthed a unique magical system. This work resurrects that forgotten heritage, positioning Hoodoo not as a derivative of European occultism, but as a distinct, indigenous American spiritual technology forged in resistance and survival.

📚 Glossary

Rootwork
Major Arcana
Minor Arcana

📔 Questions to reflect on

Which rootworker depicted in the Major Arcana resonates with your current spiritual path, and why?
How does the botanical symbolism in your drawn cards reflect the natural elements currently present in your environment?
In what ways do you see the syncretic history of Hoodoo influencing your own understanding of magical ancestry?