The Osho Zen deck (subtitled The Transcendental Game of Zen) is a gorgeous deck based on the teachings of Zen master Osho. The artwork is stunning, with beautiful colours and drawings. Even if you don’t use the deck for readings, it’s worth buying for its beauty. I was immediately drawn to this deck when I saw some samples on the web.

The focus of Osho Zen is gaining an understanding of the here and now. The deck is based on Zen, which teaches that what is happening in the physical world is simply a reflection of our own thoughts and feelings (which we may or may not be aware of). So Osho Zen tarot helps us look inward to what is happening in ourselves instead of outer events. That is the way that understanding comes. In light of this, the deck is useful for personal transformation instead of divination of the future. It is concerned with the spiritual condition of the seeker rather than the physical.

The book that accompanies the deck is meditative in nature and includes a glossary of the symbols used on the cards - a great tool. Two pages are devoted to each card, the first with an interpretation of the card image and the second with a quote from Osho’s writings to aid in meditation on the card’s message.

The structure of the deck is fairly standard, but the suits are Fire (Wands), Water (Cups), Clouds (Swords) and Rainbows (Pentacles). The court cards are King, Queen, Knight and Page, although the names are not indicated on the cards. All of the majors have different names except for Fool and Lovers. In order, the Majors are:

0. The Fool
I. Existence (The Magician)
II. Inner Voice (The High Priestess)
III. Creativity (The Empress)
IV. The Rebel (The Emperor) V. No-Thingness (The Hierophant)
VI. The Lovers
VII. Awareness (The Chariot)
VIII. Courage (Strength)
IX. Aloneness (The Hermit)
X. Change (Wheel Of Fortune)
XI. Breakthrough (Justice)
XII. New Vision (The Hanged Man)
XIII. Transformation (Death)
XIV. Integration (Temperance)
XV. Conditioning (The Devil)
XVI. Thunderbolt (The Tower)
XVII. Silence (The Star/The Moon)
XVIII. Past Lives XIX. Innocence (The Sun)
XX. Beyond Illusion (Judgement)
XXI. Completion (The World)

The final card, which has no number or traditional correspondent in Rider, is Master, which symbolises transcendence. Every card has a key word or thought - not words that you find in traditional decks, but definitely universal concepts (e.g. Stress, Silence, Comparison).

I love this deck. Not only is it stunning to look at, but it has never failed to give me insight into what’s going on either in myself or in the person for whom I’m reading. The key words on each card make it easier to get the big picture in a reading. I’ve found the most meaningful approach to be that if I first do an overall reading, the message of the spread and then go back and give the interpretation of each card.

Since I am new at Tarot, I have done readings only for friends, but I think that as I expand my practice, I will offer a choice of readings either from Osho Zen, if the querent wants to focus on personal transformation, or a traditional deck, if the querent is more interested an external perspective.

As far as downside is concerned, I’ve read reviews that criticise the negativity of some of the cards, especially the Clouds suit. Personally, I think something is only negative if you make it so, but a reader with a different worldview than mine might agree with the reviewer. This same reviewer thought that the deck has a bias against the conscious mind. I disagree. I think the reviewer simply disagrees (or is unfamiliar) with Zen concepts. My opinion only, of course.

You can see some samples and get a computer reading at the deck’s official website, The Osho Experience.
You can see images from the whole deck at the Scorpio Site.