LUA Day Dream Tarot (Only 1 left☁️)

Needless to say, the Day Dream Tarot is absolutely adorable! The Illustrator Haruka Toshimitsu’s artwork is so delicate, and her choices for colors and animals are SO! CUTE! On top of that, even the box text and card titles are handwritten, giving the whole deck such a warm, sweet feel 🥹🫶🏽

Besides highlighting the art style, I wanted to dive into how LUA views tarot, specifically, why she chose these images to convey each card's meaning 🙂↕️ (FYI: LUA is the author, while Haruka Toshimitsu handled the illustrations). I came across LUA’s blog, where she shares her concepts for Day Dream Tarot and offers such a gentle, thoughtful take on reading the cards. Shoutout to Google Translate and ChatGPT for helping me actually understand what she was trying to say! 😆

LUA brings her own personal touch and emotion to the interpretations, yet still keeps the core meanings and key symbols from traditional RWS intact ✨ Reading her thoughts on how Day Dream Tarot connects to RWS felt like looking through a fresh lens, reconnecting with the emotions behind tarot and reflecting on the ideas buried in each card 💭✨

Here’s my translation of her notes (assisted by Google Translate and ChatGPT)! 🧚🏻

〈 Tens in Minor Arcana 〉 “If we only look at the surface and view the Ten of Wands or Ten of Swords as purely scary or negative, we miss what the number '10' actually represents. The real terror isn't on the card itself, it's the fear in our own minds. Shift your perspective, and the story behind these two cards changes completely.”

〈 The Hanged Man 〉 “Traditionally, The Hanged Man brings to mind torture or execution. But to LUA, this card simply marks a moment of feeling temporarily powerless. In Day Dream Tarot, The Hanged Man isn't someone tied to a tree. Instead it's a girl whose reflection appears upside down on the surface of a spoon. If you don't realize the inversion is just a reflection, no amount of turning the spoon around will solve the puzzle. So what do you do when you hit a wall like that? Sometimes the only option is to accept things as they are, pause, and let yourself settle. Accepting often means letting go, or even being willing to make a sacrifice. When The Hanged Man shows up, take a breath and acknowledge your helplessness. When things don't go to plan, don't rush to fight it. Just watch, wait, and give it time, because real clarity only comes when you're willing to stop moving.”

〈 The Tower 〉 “In RWS, The Tower shows lightning striking a high tower, flames bursting out, and people falling from the top—an image of pure collapse and destruction. But look at it another way: maybe those people didn't fall, but jumped into the sea to save themselves because staying inside was too dangerous. Day Dream Tarot's cute take on The Tower stays dream-like and sweet, yet the core message remains untouched. Imagine your wedding day, and the cake suddenly comes crashing down, taking the two cake toppers with it. But through the chaos, a rainbow appears in the sky behind them, signaling hope and a future ahead. Looked at this way, the sudden accident actually brings the couple closer together. The destruction in The Tower doesn't mean tragedy, it's a catalyst. It breaks down the present to make space for what's next. When this card comes up, it reminds us to embrace change, stay positive through the noise, and step bravely into the next chapter. 🌈”

〈 Death 〉 “In RWS, Death is an armored skeleton standing over a priest, a child, and the fallen pleading for mercy. Day Dream Tarot uses a completely different image, yet communicates the exact same concept—death. Death marks the end of life, and it comes for every living thing equally. Where there is life, there is death, and it's precisely because death exists that new life can begin and continue the cycle. The shadow of the deer reflected on the water represents this very shadow of death. From the moment the deer was born, that shadow has walked alongside it toward the end of its journey. Mirroring RWS, two pillars and a rising sun appear behind the deer. Whether through life or death, the sun keeps rising and setting, reminding us that endings and beginnings always coexist—life and death are just two sides of the same coin. This card rarely signals a literal death; it points to a turning point. It could mean letting go of an emotion, watching a passion fade, or wrapping up a phase of life. When it appears, it tells us: 'Start and end are one. Only when you truly let go of the past can you make room to move forward.'”

Hope you enjoyed LUA's take as much as I did! How do you usually interpret these cards? Drop your thoughts in the comments, would love to hear!

P.S. The guidebook for this deck is entirely in Japanese, but don't worry, Google Translate has your back! 🕺🏽

Creator/Photos: LUA / Haruka Toshimitsu