Discovering Beauty with Self-Love By Beth Allen

Navigating the world as a human is tricky business. Century after century we blithely go from one disaster to the next, finding, in some cases, extremely creative ways to justify all the bumbling, stumbling, and falling, most often out of step with Mother Nature.

Being female has its own specific challenges. From witch hunts to lower pay for the same work, women have been and remain institutionally marginalized. Yet nothing is as tightly woven into the fabric of every culture, historically to the present, as the impossible and rigid standards of beauty that are forced upon women.

From the time we’re born we are judged simply for being.

The hyperfocus on our appearance occupies and distracts us and criticisms of our body slap us down, letting us know we never will measure up. This objectification takes a toll on us psychologically, as we struggle with self-esteem; and spiritually, as the very essence of who we are inside is diminished or ignored.

At some point we separate from our own bodies and stop accepting and loving our natural state.

Symbolically we’ve run out of the garden in shame, covering ourselves with leaves, distancing ourselves from Nature’s cycles, from the phases of the moon, from the rhythm of the seasons.

How do we change this?

The journey begins inside each of us as we move toward self-acceptance, self-care, and self-love. These processes take work — and it’s not an easy revolt.

Discovering Beauty Tarot is a wonderful tool to help us examine self-image and empowerment. The deck reminds us that we’re a part of Nature, not outside of her, and we, like Nature, are perfectly imperfect. 

We not only belong in the garden, we are the garden.

Independently published by creator and artist Sophia Litwak, the women depicted on the cards are luscious, round, voluptuous, and curvy. As in Nature, there are no straight lines. The overall colors are vibrant and bright, dare I say, bold. There’s a subtle rebelliousness that quickens the spirit and brings a smile. The art is clever and can be cheeky.

The images represent the Divine Feminine in art style and in substance. While all the figures are female, the Divine Feminine is inclusive, focusing on the Yin qualities in everyone of empathy, tenderness, and reverence toward Nature. The underlying belief is that the creative source is in all of us if allowed to flourish and grow.

The cards are slightly shorter in length to a standard-sized deck but the same width. They have a matte finish with black matte edging, and the art pops inside white borders. The title of each card is embedded discreetly within the illustration.

The deck comes with a small 50-page guidebook but there’s also a beautiful 189-page guidebook that’s available separately to offer more insight, detail, and depth.

While the deck follows the RWS system, there are four title changes in the Majors, the Minors are elemental, and the Court cards are renamed. 

This deck shines when breaking down emotionally layered issues. It cuts through complexity to offer straightforward answers that are delivered gently and with compassion.

The entire deck offers nurturing, supportive messages, for example, The Hermit is not alone, she is cradled in the womb of a cave under the care of mountains and sky.

Awakening (traditionally Judgment) depicts Medusa. In Greek mythology, Medusa was misunderstood, unjustly vilified, and shunned, although she was the victim. Medusa represents strength and protection, rising to stand in her own truth. 

The Justice card depicts both Lilith and Eve united under the tree of knowledge, forming a bond as protagonists in the same story, but told by whom?

Discovering Beauty helps reveal our inner beauty to us and guides us back to the garden to reclaim our sense of Self, our personal power, and our sense of belonging.