Deck Review: The Contra Versa Tarot

For my next deck review I am taking a look at the Contra Versa Tarot by In2it Publishing. This deck is unique, but is it worth the money. Keep reading for my thoughts.

I'm going to be upfront with you, I typically avoid Kickstarter campaigns like the plague. I have been burned so many times that it isn't even funny. But this deck caught my eye, in part because my daughter was thinking about learning tarot and it seemed like a unique idea that was designed with beginners in mind. So I went ahead and backed the project. All things considered the deck arrived fairly quickly after funding, so that was impressive in and of itself.

There are three versions of this deck that are available for purchase. Each version has a slight variation on the packaging, where the cards for each deck are notably different. The three versions are:

      * CLASSIC: The Classic deck has larger pictures, really bringing the art front and center. At the top of the card is the title and a simple phrase indicating the meaning of the card. 
      * WITH KEYWORDS: This deck is similar to the classic deck, but the art work has been shrunk slightly to allow room for a handful of keywords associated with that card.
       * 2X VERSION: This deck has the cards two sided. On one side of the cards is the classic version, and on the other side is the keyword version, giving you the best of both worlds

Keyword Version

See the difference in the corner cards? The larger one is the classic, smaller the keywords

Another great benefit of these cards, and something that I have personally avoided for years is the ease at which you can read reversals - those keywords are there too. No more struggling with remembering the reversed meanings! For the purpose of my review I am covering my thoughts in the KEYWORD version of the deck.

When you unwrap this deck the In2it logo is front and center on the top of the box, and the title of the deck underneath. The box is a sturdy 2 part box. The top of the box has a soft green and purple theme, sort of blurred out to the corner of the box where the purple and green kaleidoscope background starts to get stronger. This pattern is continued on the bottom half of the box. On the very bottom of the box is information on the features of the deck, some images and the website and social media info for the company. 

Opening up the box the first thing is the 8 page, accordion folded instruction pamphlet. Normally I wouldn't love this sort of insert, but with the keywords on the cards there really isn't a need for an extensive booklet, right? This pamphlet has info about what tarot is, what it is used for, some info about the deck and it's use as well as how to do a reading. There is a lot of really good info in a small space, but it is still very readable. 

The cards themselves are classic tarot sized at 2.75" x 4.75" and are made of a high quality cardstock. The cardstock is  a high quality casino quality, linen textured and coated for durability. I was concerned because the stock seemed thin, but it has held up really well to regular use as well as shuffling. I have had it for almost a year now, and it still looks brand new. I can't find any sign of wear to the cards, and even with my rough shuffling there is no bend to the cards. A lot of people kind of freaked out when they got their cards and automatically assumed that they were too thin and wouldn't hold up. I really encourage you to keep an open mind because while it might be thin, they have taken the steps to ensure it is durable. One of the things that I really LOVE about the cardstock used is that it is made by a company called Conquerer from the UK. The company has been around since the late 1800s, and in 2007 it was FSC certified and is carbon-neutral. 

Each card features an image that fits the meaning of the card really well, and has sort of a soft focus look that makes the images pop without the images being harsh. My sole complaint with the deck when it arrived was that the High Priestess card was the card from the classic deck and not the keywords version. But they sent out a replacement almost immediately after the deck had shipped, all without having to be contacted. To tell the truth, I hadn't even really noticed until the card showed up!  

Now my daughter didn't feel a real connection to the deck, but she did find that it was helpful as far as learning the card meanings. I have been reading the tarot for nearly 25 years, so I didn't think that I would get much use out of it. Imagine my surprise when I DID find a use for it. I read for a tarot hotline and sometimes find myself getting hit with questions fast and furious. They are good enough that I can glance at them as I read for the client and get a quick start to digging into their situation. It was quite a pleasant surprise.

In2it Publishing has a great website where you can purchase the deck, as well as their oracle deck. They have a new Twin Flame deck that is coming out this summer. Purchase the Contra Versa Tarot and any of their other decks here: ​https://thein2itstore.com

All things considered with this deck it is a great addition to any collection, and is perfect for beginners. Grab a copy today.