Though many had at one time thought that Star Spinner might be an indie deck, Chronicle Books released a mass market version instead. (Strange then that one of the Lovers cards has no apples…) The various Lovers are all Edenic in nature, but Trungles states in the accompanying booklet that, rather than temptation or sin, the apples here are symbols “of curiosity fulfilled and of maturity” (26), a winking, satisfying interpretation of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

To Trungles’ credit, the cards are each unique there is no one Lovers card onto which sundry innamorati are pasted, and I commend the artist again on his redefining of certain symbols. One of the deck’s claims to fame is the inclusion of the four Lovers cards depicting variously gendered couplings. The deck includes many racial physiognomies, various and sensuous body types, and a host of ages-though the deck itself does feel…young. As I may have mentioned, the images are beautiful.Īs an inclusive statement, the deck is loving and gentle. And those same figures, the most welcoming cardboard archetypes, are haloed and hallowed by the circular motif that Trungles employs throughout the deck, subtly telling the Practitioner what figure is emphasized, what movement is being seen, what design is simply being completed. The artist delights the eyes with his exquisite lines and evocative color his figures strut with a delectable balance at once both grounded and ephemeral, real people, yet not. And they are beautiful.Īs far back as I can recall, I have been an admirer of comic or graphic art, and Trungles’ cards are exquisite examples of Le Neuvième Art.

As one studies the cards, it is readily apparent that Trungles has reached very deeply into himself for many of these images.

The jolly and enigmatic Fool, the warm and welcoming Empress, the magisterial and Miltonic Judgment all called to me from the screen, and as soon as it hit the shelves, I had mine. I too had followed the artwork as I ran across it online. I think it fair to say that the Star Spinner Tarot was one of the most hotly anticipated decks of 2020. Created and Written by Trungles (Trung Le Nguyen)

Spinner tarot