Merlin Tarot Fest

be inspired by the cards!

Fest FAQs

Learn about how the fest works, how to get your cards, and how to use your cards to create fanworks!

Fest Schedule

Sign-up and posting schedule for the Merlin Tarot Fest!

Tarot Resources

Links to online resources & information about the decks available for the fest!

Oracle Resources

Resources for reading oracle cards and information about the decks available for the fest!

Fest FAQs

What is the Merlin Tarot Fest?
The Merlin Tarot Fest is a fanfic and fanart challenge using tarot and oracle cards as prompts. The fanworks do not need to focus on or even include tarot, but rather will be inspired by randomly pulled card(s). Each participant will be given their own card/card combination to inspire them! You will be able to decide if you want 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 tarot or oracle cards for your inspiration. You will also be able to choose your pull from a limited selection of different decks.I don’t know anything about tarot. Can I still participate?
Of course! You don’t need any prior knowledge of tarot to join in on the fun. Once you get assigned your card(s), you can either let your intuition guide you in your creation of a fanwork, or you can do some research on the cards’ traditional meanings. Recommended resources for tarot are here.What are the requirements for participation?

  • For fanfic, writers must write a story of at least 750 words.

  • For fanart, artists must complete at least 1 finished piece. “Finished” means whatever the artist normally considers to be finished. If you don’t normally add color to your pieces, an un-colored piece can be considered finished. If you don’t normally add a background to your pieces, a piece without a background can be considered finished. And so on. If you have any questions about whether your piece is considered as finished, feel free to reach out to your friendly neighborhood mod!

What kind of content is allowed?
The fest allows any and all pairings (or no pairings), genres, eras, AUs, ratings, content, etc - as long as the fanwork focuses on the characters of the BBC Merlin show. Only participants who are 18 or older will be allowed to submit fanworks containing explicit sexual content. All content should be appropriately warned/tagged for.How will the cards be pulled?
Your friendly neighborhood mod will be pulling your cards from their personal tarot & oracle deck collection. We will not be using a random card generator. Once the cards have been pulled, your mod will take a photo to share with the participant.Will reversals be included in the pull?
No, your mod will pull everything upright, but you are welcome to use the reversed meaning for any cards as you like!What if I don’t like my card(s)?
We recommend doing some research before giving up! Consider traditional tarot meanings, upright meanings, reversed meanings, as well as keywords, colors, symbols, characters and objects on the cards. Consider how cards can relate to each other. Look up images for your cards from different decks to see other interpretations! (Comparative Tarot is a great place to see different deck art!) For purposes of the fest, you can also feel free to change around the order of your cards to see if that helps!Can I receive multiple card pulls in a single round?

  • Yes - if you complete a fanwork based off your first pull, you are welcome to request a second pull. You will need to submit proof of your completed first fanwork when requesting.

  • Also, each participant is allowed to fill out the form twice at the same time if so desired: once for tarot cards and once for oracle cards. Presumably this means you are interested in making 2 fanworks, each based off the individual pull. However, if you are inspired to combine your pulls and make 1 fanwork, that is okay too!

Can I use my own interpretation of the cards?
Absolutely! We welcome new interpretations, as long as you are inspired by your tarot and/or oracle cards.How can I use my cards to find inspiration for a fanwork?
Depending on how many cards you decide to work with, you could look into viewing your cards as a “spread.” Feel free to research other spreads, but here are some common ones to consider.
For example, common 3-card spreads include:

  • Past - Present - Future

  • Situation - Action - Outcome

  • Mind - Body - Spirit

  • Situation - Obstacle - Advice

  • Thinking - Feeling - Doing

  • Person 1 - Person 2 - Relationship

Or a 5-card spread might involve:

  • The Character - The Past - The Future - The Known - The Unknown

  • Past - Present - Future - What’s holding them back - How to push forward

  • Person 1 - Person 2 - The Relationship - Positives - Negatives

What is the 10-card Celtic Cross spread?
Starting in the third round of the fest, you can choose to have 10 tarot cards drawn in a Celtic Cross spread. This is a large spread where each card placement has a specific meaning (aka, the Past, the Present, Advice, Outcome, etc). You can read more about the traditional meanings of the spread HERE or check out a revamped version HERE!What are oracle cards?
Oracle decks are similar to tarot in that they are used to gain insight. While most tarot decks stick to the same usual 78 cards and titles, each oracle deck is unique. You can use oracle cards in the same way you use tarot cards - in spreads or as standalone pulls - to receive guidance and wisdom (or in this case, inspire a fanwork!)How will I know the meaning of my oracle card(s)?
Some oracle decks include a full guidebook that delves into the meaning of each card. However, all the oracle decks available for the fest feature, at minimum, one key word (with the exception of the Oracle of the Trees, which just has tree names). These key words, along with the accompanying card artwork, will assist you in interpreting your oracle cards! Key word examples are things like: ladder, ancestors, archway, sacrifice, compassion, protect, or scholar.
Note: You are encouraged to do your own interpreting of the oracle cards! Upon request, individual oracle card meanings from the guidebooks can be shared to the participant. Please note that not all oracle decks come with guidebooks - check the Oracle Resources page to see which do/do not have guidebooks available.How can I use oracle cards in the Merlin Tarot Fest?
There will be 3 ways you can use the available oracle decks in our fest!

  • Use only oracle cards instead of the tarot cards

  • Pull 1 oracle card to supplement your tarot cards at the START of the spread - this card serves as the backdrop to your tarot reading, offering broader context

  • Pull 1 oracle card to supplement your tarot cards at the END of the spread - this card serves to offer clarification on how to resolve any difficulties raised in the reading

Can I receive both a set of tarot cards AND a set of oracle cards?
Yes, each participant is allowed to fill out the form twice per round if so desired: once for tarot cards and once for oracle cards. Presumably this means you are interested in making 2 fanworks, each based off the individual pull. However, if you are inspired to combine your pulls and make 1 fanwork, that is okay too!Do I have to post my completed creation all at once?
No - as long as you post the entirety of your creation within the allotted posting timeframe, you are welcome to post in increments (such as chapters or separate Tumblr art posts, etc).Can I use my Tarot Fest creation to fill a Merlin Bingo square, Tavern Fest round/quest, or some other fandom event?
Absolutely! You can cross-post your Tarot Fest creation with any other fest you'd like, as long as the mods for the other fest are open to it!Can I share snippets of my creation before posting?
Yes, you are welcome to share snippets of your fic or art as long as you don't reveal the entire thing before you actually post.Are betas required?
No, betas are not required for this fest, but you are welcome to seek one out to work with if you'd like!

Tarot Resources

Where can I find more information about tarot card meanings?- Little Red Tarot
- Biddy Tarot
- Stars & TarotFeel free to consult any other resources you find, books you have, or guidebooks from any decks you own!

Where can I see other interpretations of my cards?
The Comparative Tarot Tumblr is a great place to see different deck art!Where can I find more info about the tarot decks available for the fest?
Right here! These are brief overviews highlighting the differences between the decks being used for the fest. You're welcome to do your own additional research on the desk, artists, art styles, etc!

  • Rider-Waite-Smith: probably what you think of when you think of tarot. I used the Magician card from this deck in the promo posts for the fest. Many other decks take their inspiration from this deck's artwork

  • Change Tarot by Jessica Dore and Xaviera Lopez: features uniquely therapeutic card interpretations and vivid reimaginings of traditional tarot artwork. Cards have a limited, muted color palette

  • Craft Felt Tarot by Gianna Lucci: made from photographs of the artist's hand-cut original craft felt designs. Cards are bright & colorful

  • Druid Craft Tarot by Will Worthington and Philip & Stephanie Carr-Gomm: brings two fundamental spiritualities of Nature—Wicca and Druidry—to powerful images rooted in ancient storytelling. (Note that this deck has been modified to the images only - card names have been removed)

  • Everyday Tarot by Biddy Tarot: simple, minimalistic cards based off the Rider-Waite-Smith art, done in white, gold, and purple. (Note that this is the original "Everyday Tarot" deck, not the more colorful version)

  • Fifth Spirit Tarot by Charlie Claire Burgess: queer and inclusive illustrative deck that expands tarot archetypes beyond the gender binary (Note that this is the first/indie edition. Some cards were updated for the Mass Market production, but these will be the original illustrations)

  • Fyodor Pavlov Tarot by Fyodor Pavlov: Black & white illustrations with limited color pops on cream-colored cards. Some illustrations and interpretations informed by creator’s queer and trans experience

  • Ink Witch Tarot by Eric Maille: done in a limited color palette. References Arthurian legends as well as Norse and Greek myths, pagan witches, and fairytales. (Note that this is the first edition and some cards have been swapped with alternate versions from the expansion packs)

  • Light Seer’s Tarot by Chris-Anne: uses contemporary characters in a brightly and very richly colored illustrative style

  • Many Queens Tarot by Lettie Jane: a proudly queer deck created to help define a more inclusive definition of femininity, beauty, and body image. Features stylized black and white illustrations

  • Morgan-Greer Tarot by Lloyd Morgan & Bill F. Greer: similar to Rider-Waite-Smith but more colorful and more intimate, as a lot of the illustrations are more "zoomed-in" on the figures illustrated

  • Next World Tarot by Cristy C. Road: depicts a world based on radical redefinitions of love and social justice. Illustrations feature diversity in body types and abilities

  • Queer Tarot by Ash & Chess: based on the Rider-Waite-Smith but features models/characters of a wide range of queer identities (including gender expressions and sexual orientations) in a very brightly colored style that references queer history

  • Queer Crow Death Magic Tarot by Frank Duffy: features linoprinted images in bright colors. Cards are typically monochromatic

  • Sasuraibito Tarot by Stasia Burrington: a deck designed to aid the curious wanderer, featuring contemporary Western characters as well as Japanese and Buddhist concepts

  • Spacious Tarot by Carrie Mallon & Annie Ruygt: this deck features no human characters. Most cards feature only nature, and the court cards feature various animals

  • Symbolic Soul Tarot by Elisa Seitzinger: dream-like black & white illustrations with gold foil accents

  • Tarotscopes by Susana Castro and Kerry Ward: a multi-approach deck that combines numerology, astrology and the four elements of fire, water, earth and air. Cards are brightly colored

  • This Might Hurt Tarot by Isabella Rotman: a modern, queer, and diverse take on the Rider-Waite-Smith artwork

Fest Schedule

The sign-up period will last for 3 months. Posting will last another 3 months.The earlier you sign up, the longer you’ll have to complete your fanwork!Sign-ups will open on April 1, 2025 and end on June 30, 2025
All fanworks will be posted between July 1, 2025 - September 30, 2025Posting will not be scheduled or assigned. All participants can feel free to post to the collection anytime within the allotted posting time frame.For our next round, sign-ups will reopen from Oct 1, 2025 - Dec 31, 2025.
All fanworks will be posted between Jan 1, 2026 - March 31, 2026.

Oracle Resources

Where can I find more information about how to work with oracle cards?Beginner's GuideFeel free to consult any other resources you find or books you have!

Where can I find more info about the oracle decks available for the fest?
Right here! These are brief overviews highlighting the differences between the decks being used for the fest. You're welcome to do your own additional research on the desk, artists, art styles, etc!

  • The Citadel (A Fantasy Oracle) - guidebook available, by Foz Inkwright: Each of the cards in this deck represents a person living within the Citadel. Cards include imagery and key words associated with the character. Black, white, & red illustrations with red foil accents

  • Dark Moon Damsel Oracle - no guidebook, by Lorina Joy: Features illustrations and one key word

  • The Empty Cup Oracle - guidebook available, by Stasia Burrington: A practical survival toolkit to strengthen intuition and find guidance when things feel hard or murky, or when you just want (need?) a little kick in the ass. Features simple illustrations in a limited color palette.

  • The Endless Oracle - guidebook available, by Eric Maille: A “myriorama-inspired” deck where the illustrations can be arranged in any order to create various landscapes. Loosely inspired by tropes and archetypes of Greek myth, English folklore, and fantasy roleplay games

  • The Fantod Pack - guidebook available, by Edward Gorey: Offers a bleak yet hilarious take on the classic tarot deck, featuring mysterious archetypes. Black & white illustrations

  • Femme Folk - guidebook available, by Anetteprs: formerly the Guidance of the Goddess Oracle, this deck brings the stories of the often overshadowed female deities to the forefront. Cards are illustrations with a limited color palette on dark backgrounds and each have the goddess name and keyword

  • Forest Fae - no guidebook, by Nadia Turner: Curious messages of enchantment. Cards feature a fae character with a name and a little piece of wisdom/advice

  • Moonbeam Magick - no guidebook, by SapphireMoonbeam: Rainbow-inspired energy paintings to provide a colorful visual for inspiring, loving, and empowering messages. Each card features one word

  • The Oracle of Trees - guidebook available, by Francesca Romana Valente & Mariuccia d’Angio: A global voyage among the sacred trees of numerous cults and cultures, past and present. Each card has a tree illustration and the tree’s name

  • Universal Folk Oracle - guidebook available, by Anita Inverarity: Features wise young women, attired in rich colors and patterns to reflect the complexity of our inner selves and the various stages of our growth. Cards feature an illustration with a title and additional key words