The Shadows and Light tarot deck, created by Lyn Dunagan and James Pascoe, is a unique blend of storytelling, history, and mysticism that brings early California’s untold narratives to life.
In an insightful interview with MysticMag, the creators share how they were inspired to reimagine tarot archetypes through real people, places, and events from 1849 to 1906. With striking illustrations and deep historical research, each card unveils stories of resilience, struggle, and triumph, offering fresh perspectives on the California Dream.
More than just a tarot deck, Shadows and Light serves as a powerful tool for reflection, education, and personal growth.
What inspired you to create the “Shadows and Light” tarot deck, and how does it reflect the history and spirit of early California?
Lyn: I’m intrigued by the interactions between environment, history, and identity—how we change and are changed by where we live and the times we live in—and the synergy between tarot and storytelling. James is a comic book artist—a visual storytelling medium—so when we started brainstorming ideas for a project, California Tarot – Shadows and Light was the result.
James: California is shaped by many voices, but most of the history books focus on white male settlers. History books often exclude Indigenous voices and the perspectives of women and men who came from around the world to pursue a better life. We wanted to create a deck that showed that the California Dream does not belong exclusively to any one group but was created by everyone.
Early California was an era of turmoil and innovation—the quest for gold and a better life—and the blood and the mud that followed. We think tarot archetypes combined with a historical lens can help people discover the answers to modern questions.
Can you elaborate on the unique elements of the “Shadows and Light” deck that distinguish it from traditional tarot decks?
We used people, places, events, and legends from California’s history between 1849 and 1906, and we developed a character called The Fool, who takes his journey of discovery through the Major Arcana.
We looked for stories that would give a voice to people who were often ignored or overlooked and whose contributions exemplified the aspects of tarot. For example, Alvin Aaron Coffey represents our 10 of Cups. His enslaver brought him to California during the Gold Rush. Coffey worked for his enslaver during the day and then worked for himself at night, and he earned enough from mining to buy his freedom. His enslaver took Coffey’s money, then took him back to Missouri and sold him to someone else. Again, Coffey was brought to California. Again, he purchased his freedom, and then he freed his family. He was an example of someone who found fulfillment, family, and happiness after adversity, achieving what we often look for in the 10 of Cups.
How do you envision the “Shadows and Light” deck contributing to the broader tarot community and its appreciation of California’s cultural heritage?
We hope that people will use our deck as part of their personal development and growth. Tarot is one way to explore Stories. Stories help us to make sense of the world, learn, discover new perspectives, begin to understand other people, explore strategies, and contemplate new possibilities.
California Tarot – Shadows and Light acknowledges the dark elements of our history, and knowledge can help us to disrupt oppressive systems. When we listen to the voices of people who have been oppressed, we can join forces to make the world a better place.
Could you share a success story where the “Shadows and Light” deck significantly impacted a user’s tarot practice or understanding?
A history teacher in Orange County wrote to let us know that she uses the deck in her AP history class as part of an ethnic studies curriculum. That feels like a tremendous compliment for us because we really put a lot of time into researching California’s history.
Most of our feedback is about the inclusiveness of the deck—people who aren’t usually represented in older tarot decks finally see themselves in our deck, or they see a card that reminds them of a family member’s lived experience. We think that seeing relatable images can lead to a stronger connection when working with tarot.
What challenges did you encounter during the creation of the “Shadows and Light” deck, and how did you overcome them?
Producing the deck was definitely a challenge. We set for ourselves 3 goals: make sure that all the tarot aspects were addressed and anyone reasonably familiar with the Rider Waite deck would be able to use our deck; make sure to include the full range in the geography, time, and populations present at the time; and make sure the visuals aligned with both the tarot archetypes and also with the historic aspects.
James: From start to finish, the deck took about seven years to produce. We started each card with a brainstorming session, based on Lyn’s exhaustive research, after which I would sketch out some rough ideas. After reaching a consensus on the best person, place, and approach to showcase each card, I did the finished art using a combination of watercolor, gouache, ink, and airbrush. Most of the original art was done on an 11 x 17 size Bristol board.
Find out more at: www.californiatarot.net
