How to Create and Self-Publish Your Own Tarot/Oracle Deck

In this modern world, we have an infinite abundance of tools readily at our disposal to create anything we desire. In the spirit of DIY, it is possible to design and self-publish your own tarot or oracle deck. This is pretty much common knowledge at this point, some people might even say the market is “overly saturated” with self-published decks. But, in an infinite Universe as ours, there is plenty to go around for everyone, so why not add your creation to the mix?!

I first felt the call to create a Spirit Baby oracle deck. At the time there weren’t really any out there on the market. In my personal life, I was working full time and pursuing my Doctorate, in addition to juggling life's responsibilities. Creating a deck was the last thing I needed to add to my plate. But, the more I ignored it, the louder it became. So began my quest to bring it to life.

I have created and self-published three oracle decks since 2019; and I want to share with you the 3 steps, lessons I’ve learned, and some tips to inspire you and get you started. My goal is to impart to you that where there is a will, there is a way. If you feel the nudge to bring your creation to life and offer it to others, with the added possibility of enhancing their Spiritual journey...Go For It!!

Step 1-Developing and Planning: Deck Concept and Production Strategy

- What is the topic or theme of your deck?

- Are there already decks out there on the market for this particular topic or theme?

- If so, take a look at some of them. How does your deck differ? What sets it apart?

- What do you hope your deck will bring to those who use it?

- Do you want to self-publish this deck?

- Send it out for professional publishing consideration? Both?

- Will you offer this as a hard copy or as a digital copy?

- Will there be a guidebook with your deck?

- How will you make it available to consumers?

(personal website, Etsy, social media, craft/psychic fairs, local shops…)?

- How will you market or advertise it?

- Are you going to design the art yourself or hire an artist?

- Or both, design the art and hire a designer?

- Do you have a budget you are willing to invest in this project?

- Where will you go to find and hire this graphic artist/designer?

- Is this a solo venture or are you collaborating with a partner?

- If collaborating, how will the work be divided?

How will the profits be divided?

Who will own the intellectual rights of the deck?

These are all important questions; that I strongly encourage you to think about before pursuing the creation of your deck. Sit down and ponder these, put them to paper. Take your time to craft a plan that will bring your vision to life in a way that is organized and thoughtful.

Something to consider: With so many decks available, consumers look to get the “best bang for their buck”. Deck connoisseurs tend to seek something that is unique and not available on the mainstream (professionally published) market, and/or a deck that can serve many purposes.

My personal quirks as a deck connoisseur are: that it offers a unique approach to a specific topic, has been edited to omit misspellings/grammar errors (which I find unprofessional and very distracting), and that the deck come packaged in a box.

Yes, I keep all my decks in their boxes. I absolutely abhor organza bags, or any bag/pouch for packaging. I find the lack of a box to to be a bit lazy and incomplete. I did a sweep and purchased plain tarot boxes for all my “indie” decks (over 30 of them) that did not come with a box. After I did that, I made a rule that moving forward: I would not purchase a deck unless it came packaged in some sort of box (plain or designed in cover art, doesn’t matter).

This may seem a bit extreme and obsessive, but through this, I want to highlight that many consumers have specific tastes, personal requirements, and quirks. With the vast plethora of deck options out there, they can afford to be “picky”. So, when designing and planning a deck, consider your personal preferences as a connoisseur/consumer and incorporate them into your project. Don’t take unnecessary shortcuts, fully invest in your vision!

Step 2- Bringing Your Creation to Life: Design and Printing

At this stage, you have created your plan and strategy, including what you envision for your deck. If you are offering your deck only as a digital upload, you can bypass the need for a professional printer.

Most likely you have completed a draft of all your components (hardcopy or digital) to include all art/images and verbiage for each element of your deck. If you are personally designing your deck, and plan on offering it as a hard copy, check with the printer you will be using for the requirements needed to upload your design. They will give you the specific dimensions, resolutions, and templates to use in your graphic design software. Many printing companies offer a comprehensive resource for creating a Tarot/Oracle Deck, be sure to search their website for this.

If you are hiring a designer to bring your creation into the digital medium and upload it to the printer’s website for you, have the project prepared and ready to go before you hire them. This will be imperative, so they can have an exact idea of the scope required and they can give you an accurate cost estimate. You might consider getting bids/estimates from multiple designers. Choose a designer whose portfolio is in line with the style you wish to create and implement for your deck.

I personally am not digitally savvy when creating art, so I hand drew each card and all my design/art elements on paper using color pencils and markers. I have to say, it was a great deal of fun and my inner child LOVED it!

If going this route, I recommend drafting your cover art and each card. I created a Word Document with tarot size (2.75in x 4.75in) rectangles. I was able to fit 2 on each page. I printed them out and filled in each card manually. This gave me an idea of the amount of text area I had to work with initially.

When seeking a to hire a designer, I looked at The GameCrafter website where they had a page dedicated to designers for hire. I also explored freelancers on sites such as UpWork, and just doing a Google search for “Tarot Oracle artist designer”. I have friends that are artists and know freelancers, word of mouth is a good way to find someone too.

Ultimately, I chose a professional designer/illustrator I found through my printer, The GameCrafter. The designer and I worked together to finetune my drawings and concepts (I scanned my drawings and sent them to the team). It was not too pricey, they were very easy to work with, and they delivered everything in a quick turnaround. All in all, a good experience and worth the expense.

Many deck creators use Printer Studio and Make Playing Cards (MPC) to print their designs. These companies are based overseas, so production and shipping can take a few weeks. There is also a printer in Italy called Ludo Cards that does great work. I have a few of their decks and they deliver beautiful and vivid colors. As already stated, I use The GameCrafter which is based in the USA.

When choosing a printer, do your research. Perhaps order a deck or two from them. See what textures they offer, and the clarity of their quality. Many printers will send you a sample of plain cards to get an idea of their card stock thickness, different sizes offered, etc.

Also of note, they all have a “shop” page where creators can list their decks for purchase, and the consumer can buy directly from the printer (eliminating the need for a middleman and overhead costs).

Ultimately, in addition to quality I would choose a printer based on their production cost and geographical proximity, which will impact turnaround times. But again, do your research and choose which printer will best suit your needs.

Step 3- Publishing (Self and/or Professional)

At this point, your deck is designed, proofed and finished (uploaded and ready for mass printing). Ideally, you have purchased a single hard copy and have it in your hands. Take a moment and relish this accomplishment!! It is an amazing feeling to actually hold and shuffle your creation in your hands. It is now a tangible, physical reality. Bravo!!

Your deck is now ready to be published for the consumer market. It is ready to be placed in the hands of others.

If you are offering your deck only as a digital upload, you were able to bypass the need for a printer. You can use your software and create a PDF for purchase. I personally have never purchased or offered a deck in this manner, so I cannot comment on this method as a producer or consumer. I would assume the customer would need to have a printer that can handle card stock to get the best outcome. If you have experience with this (as a producer or consumer) please let me know in the comments your experience with digital decks.

Now, if you are offering a hardcopy of your deck for purchase, you must make a choice.

- Are you going to order decks to have in stock and on hand ready to ship?

Pros:

No hassle.

When the purchase is made you can send out the deck immediately and close the sale.

Cons:

Expensive to front load the cost, but an investment in your business.

Difficult to know how many decks to purchase and have on hand (bulk pricing).

Having product in stock will take up space/storage, plan accordingly.

- Are you going to directly order from the printer when you receive a customer order?

Pros:

Cost effective, no capital/investment up front.

No physical inventory on hand (ideal for any space constraints).

Cons:

You will have no control over production/delivery turnaround (impacted by

geography, weather, world events, etc.).

Longer wait times for customers who can grow impatient.

Customers might cancel orders that take too long (leaving you “holding the bag”).

You will have to be the “middleman” and keep track of order fulfillment.

- Are you going to offer your creation through the shop on the printer’s website?

Pros:

You don’t have to do anything but collect your cut of the sale.

Cons:

Customers might not want to order directly from the printer.

You will have to work harder on marketing your deck to drive sales.

- Are you going to crowd fund your creation via a site such as Kickstarter?

Pros:

Cost effective, no capital/investment up front.

More exposure for your deck.

The possibility of gaining a large following through the enhanced exposure.

Cons:

You will have no control over production/delivery turnaround.

Longer wait times for customers who can grow impatient.

You will need to be in constant communication with your backers about status updates. You will need to keep track of order fulfillment.

Take your time to think about your options and choose one that is practical and will suit your needs.

Professional Publishing Houses

You may also want to send out your deck to professional mainstream publishers for consideration. And… why not?! You never know, it might be picked up and reach an even larger audience of consumers.

Most professional publishing houses want a digital version of the deck sent to them via e-mail or through their submission page. Some will accept a hardcopy submission through the mail, but if you want it returned to you, you will need to provide a stamped self-addressed envelope.

Note: I sent a hardcopy of an early deck of mine to a publisher and they stated they “lost” my deck, even though I sent a postage paid envelope for return. So, digital might be your best bet, to avoid any losses and keep costs manageable.

Which publishing house to submit your deck for consideration?

I recommend casting a wide net and submitting to several. Again, you never know what can happen!

Some publishing houses to consider:

- US Games Inc.

- Rockpool

- Inner Traditions

- Hay House (as of June 2025, they are not accepting deck submissions)

- Chronicle Books

Look at your personal collection of your favorite mainstream decks…who are the publishers? Research the types of decks they publish… Avant Garde, Modern, Traditional?

Research them. Do they accept submissions? If so, how to get your deck to them? Send it out!!

The main thing is to be optimistic and not get discouraged. If your deck is not picked up by a publishing house; the fact that you took the initiative and brought your creation to life is highly commendable!! You took action, followed your passion, and created a tool that will reach the hands of those it is meant to reach. That is the ultimate “win” here.

My Experience, Tips, and Lessons Learned:

Two of my decks, the Spirit Baby and Ancestor decks, filled a need that was not prevalent on the “market” at the time I published them. They contain channeled messages meant to assist the collective with their Spiritual journey. To promote thought, awareness and enlightenment. These are more for a “niche” market.

My Spirit Baby deck is not only for communication, but also a tool that can assist the querent with inner child healing, and pregnancy loss. The Ancestor deck imparts wisdom from the ancestral collective and provides a sense of comfort and connection for those who may not have familial support in their life. There is a dual purpose to these decks, that can serve a variety of people in a myriad of ways.

My Timing and Action deck, though thoroughly comprehensive, is just another “timing” deck out on the market, of which there are many. Looking back, I should have done more research on this topic/theme. I would have seen that there are loads of timing decks out there, even if none offers the exact same timing cards as mine. At which point, I might have just created and printed a deck for my own personal use. It can be difficult to make it stand out amongst the others. Especially with limited promotional funds to invest in advertising. But I am still very proud of it, and I know that it found its way to those who were meant to find it.

When I first started out, I offered my decks through Etsy. This was an affordable option and provided exposure to a large audience. However, in the last year I have noticed a change in Etsy. They do not promote the “little guy” anymore and have become very corporate and almost “predatory” in my opinion. Not really a viable option for people wanting to sell a unique creation. It’s unfortunate, but in my opinion, Etsy sold out big time and is now just a replica of Amazon.

For now, my decks are available through my printer’s shop, and I also sell them at psychic/healing arts fairs. It’s great to be out there in person and talk with people!! The energy, the connection, and the in-person vibe!! A whole different experience when compared to online selling.

I have sent out my most recent deck to a few publishers and I am waiting to hear back one way or another. If a publisher decides to pick up my deck, I will be sure to write about the process and all it entails.

As of now, I don’t feel the need to create any more decks, but that could change in the future if I am guided and feel the “nudge”. As an avid lover of cemeteries (tombstone symbolism) and human osteology (Anthropologist here), I explored the idea of incorporating these interests into oracle decks. However, upon researching, I found there are already oracle decks on the market that tackle both these topics and do so in a comprehensive way. I don’t feel my contribution would be anything new or a worthwhile addition in which to invest. And I’m totally fine with that!

It’s been an adventure, and I am very proud of what I created. I am also immensely grateful to those who have purchased my decks and provided feedback on how beneficial the decks have been to them on their journey. It really means the world to me and makes the entire process worth it! At the end of the day, that’s what it’s about...helping each other and growing in the process.

Remember, if you don’t want to go through a formal process to publish, you can just purchase a blank tarot deck (or index cards), grab a sharpie, and create! Have fun with it!

This was a longer post, but I wanted it to be comprehensive and helpful. I hope you enjoyed it.

Thank you for being here…I’d love to hear any thoughts, ideas, or questions you may have in the comments!

A look into the editing process of my latest deck--Ancestors: Messages of Love, Support, and Reflection