The Foxfire Tarot
For seers, seekers and players.
“Welcome! In case you haven’t noticed, you’re now in a world quite different from your own. Whenever someone creates something with all of their heart, that creation is given a soul, you see…”
The Baron Humbert von Gickengen, The Cat Returns – Studio Ghibli
A tarot deck of 78 cards by Poppy Porter inspired by the fire in the spirit of the fox.
This deck is for divination, self-guidance and game-play. You can use the cards to investigate the deeper meaning in your life, help you to think through knotty questions and to have fun playing sociable card games.
New Games for an Ancient Gaming System.
The Tarot is a glorious thing with deep symbolism, ancient traditions and mystery. A tarot deck is most often used in the English speaking west as a divination tool, to ask questions, think out problems or meditate on a new perspective. It is also a venerable gaming system much like traditional playing cards.
The history of playing cards and the tarot is as long and involved as human history over the centuries. Where and how they originated and developed continues to be studied and debated. We humans love to play games!
One thing is clear tarot was, and still is, a gaming system. Originating in renaissance Italy, it is still used for sociable games all over Europe. The games vary from country to country and region to region. That is, except for the UK. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland seem not to have developed a historical tradition of playing tarot in quite the same way.
The UK does have a thriving tradition of reading tarot. The most famous illustrations for a deck of tarot cards have to be those created in London at the start of the 20th century by Pamela Coleman-Smith.
What More Can Tarot Do?
This got us thinking. Most tarot decks used for reading are not very good for gaming and vice versa. Why is there not an English Tarot? French Tarot is probably the best known game, there are also region specific games such as one from Bavaria in Germany.
We wanted to create a deck that is full of the gorgeous imagery and symbolism needed for reading the tarot but is also designed for playing games.
But what games? Most tarot games are trick taking games. Some have very complex rules and scoring so we developed a simplified trick taking game called English Tarot. It is a strategic game of shifting alliances that uses the subterfuge of a “sly fox” undisclosed partner for fun and surprising game play.
We are working on a game with different mechanics which is proving to be very exciting in play testing. Where else can this unique gaming system take us?
For the Seer
Tarot is a tool to see outside the everyday; the fox messengers in the Foxfire Tarot get everywhere and know everything. They bring insight and link you to the mysterious space beyond our normal experience. They are cunning enough to walk the knife edge of a dilemma and wise enough to know how to resolve it.
For the Seeker
In this accessible deck you will meet a magical cast of foxy characters who, with humour and outstretched paw, will help establish and strengthen your ability to read the tarot and find the answers you seek. Each card allows you to walk the fine line between darkness and light with wisdom and cunning. They will show you a path previously unconsidered.
For the Player
The Foxfire Tarot is a game system for sociable gaming. Play English Tarot a game of shifting alliances for 3-5 players. You’ll need foxy cunning to build your score over several rounds. In each round players compete to play Attack. As Attack you’ll need to keep or capture vital cards to make a win easier. The other players team up as Defense to stop Attack scoring points and securing a win. But who might secretly be aligned with Attack and splitting their points haul? More games are in development.
The Best Things About The Foxfire Tarot
The deck comes with 78 individually illustrated cards, a comprehensive book of meanings, including ideas for new reading spreads, plus rules for playing the ancient game of Tarot.
Luscious Artwork
You will discover stories waiting to be told. Each card in The Foxfire Tarot is meticulously hand painted and colourful. They show each vivacious foxy character and symbolic environment off to their best. The luscious deck art retains all the richness of imagery that comes from the long tradition of tarot cards. You’ll be like a kid in a candy store!
Deep Symbolism
Empower yourself with the richness of the Foxfire Tarot. Each card is deeply researched and intuitively designed. In every card you can let your mind wander and discover many little details to help you tell your story and answer your knottiest questions. Plants, animals, places, moods, objects, colours and characters all play their part in the details of these cards.
Foxes Are Perfect Messengers
Red foxes populate the Foxfire Tarot, a species ubiquitous in the entire Northern Hemisphere. Foxes are creatures of dawn and dusk; living subtly on the threshold of night and day. Consequently, in tales from around the world they are often depicted as messengers between worlds or strategists and tricksters. So perfect for bringing out the wisdom of the tarot and enlivening games with their vivacious characters.
Learn To Read Tarot
If you have never used a tarot deck before there is a booklet full of card meanings, instructions and clever new tarot spreads to help you. The deeply researched mini-manual that comes with the deck contains full meanings for each card including meanings for when the cards are drawn reversed (up side down).
Glorious Energy
Whatever your level of expertise, the cards are bursting with glorious life and individual energy, the characters of The Foxfire Tarot will become fast friends and a lasting ones. However you use your deck the foxes will be there to help you, with their colourful characters and lively energy. They can not wait to help you on your journey!
Learn To Play Tarot
The Foxfire Tarot returns to the roots of the tarot as a gaming deck; games with tarot cards are as old as the decks themselves and a really sociable way to spend time with your friends. The cards are designed with ease of play in mind. Lean to play with the easy to follow instructions that are included with the deck.
Creating The Foxfire Tarot
The foxfire was lit when Poppy developed an obsession with all things foxes, drawing them, reading about them, and if she was lucky seeing them out and about around her home in Surrey. A huge fireball of creativity swept through her life in the form of The Foxfire Tarot. The Devil was the first out of the den, and her arch and mischievous temperament paved the way for the vivacious character of the deck. Poppy found inspiration from multiple sources for the cards, including historical figures, films, video games, music, the natural world, myths, legends, folklore and literature. All 78 artworks are by Poppy, starting as pencil sketches, then inked and painted in Photoshop.
Creator of the Foxfire Tarot
Love the Foxes?
The Page of Wands is already working hard on the next issue! He’s sure you’ll love it, he reckons he’s got a real tarot scoop!
Cups
Coins
Swords
Staves
Copyright Poppy Porter 2026