This season is all about introducing you to the decks I love, the ones I rely on, and the ones that have shaped my tarot practice. 

Today, I’m talking about the Ophidia Rosa Tarot by Leila + Olive. I followed the artist online for years, and when I saw them teasing images of this deck—botanical, moody, hand-drawn, and unapologetically natural—I was immediately drawn in. I ordered it as soon as it was released. It’s floral, intuitive, shadowy, and deeply symbolic. But it’s also one of the more enigmatic decks in my collection.

Unlike many of my tarot decks, the Ophidia Rosa Tarot didn’t come into my life through a shop or a moment of serendipity... I found it online. I was following Leila + Olive on Instagram somewhere around 2019 or 2020, and I remember seeing a preview of the artwork: matte illustrations, botanical borders, coiled serpents, mushrooms, vines, petals. It was instantly magnetic.

But reading with it? That was another story! This deck speaks quietly. Symbolically. Poetically. It does not hand you the interpretation, it wants you to meet it halfway. You have to come in already knowing the tarot or be willing to sit with ambiguity. 

The Ophidia Rosa Tarot is one of the most artist-driven decks in my collection. Everything about it is informed by botanical symbolism and the language of plants.

Style:

The Ophidia Rosa Tarot carries a soft, botanical, witchy aesthetic—matte card-stock, muted golden edges, and delicate linework. The coiled snake on the card backs sets the tone for a deck that feels earthy, mystical, and rooted in plant magic.

Structure:

This deck follows the traditional Rider–Waite–Smith system. The major arcana use standard names and Roman numerals, and the four suits remain intact. The guidebook is intentionally sparse, offering only short poetic lines rather than explanations, so it’s best suited for readers who rely on intuition or already know the tarot archetypes well.

Imagery:

Every card is built from simple botanical illustrations—vines, blossoms, stems, mushrooms, and serpents. Wands appear as branches, Pentacles often as mushrooms, Swords as thorned stems, and Cups implied rather than literal. The imagery is symbolic, minimal, and atmospheric, inviting you to interpret rather than be instructed.

What I use it for:

The Ophidia Rosa Tarot is a deck I reach for when I’m craving something intuitive, poetic, and atmospheric. Because the guidebook is sparse and the imagery leans metaphorical rather than literal, this deck shines in practices that invite spaciousness and contemplation.

It’s a deck that asks you to sit with it, breathe with it, and let the meaning rise on its own time. If you love symbolic or herbal imagery, this deck feels like opening an old garden gate and wandering inside.

What I don’t use it for:

This isn’t the deck I reach for when someone is brand-new to tarot or feeling overwhelmed. The imagery is beautiful, but it’s subtle—there aren’t clear cues for beginners, and the booklet won’t walk anyone through the cards in a structured way.

The Ophidia Rosa Tarot is gorgeous, but it’s not a starter deck. You bring more of yourself into the reading than the deck gives back—and for intuitive readers, that’s exactly what makes it so magical.

💭 Today's Tarot Pull:

From Ophidia Rosa Tarot deck by Leila & Olive, I pulled the Five of Cups (Upright) - “Growth to the sun, too high to hold on.”

This card reminds us that disappointment isn’t failure—it’s information. Sometimes something stops blooming not to punish us, but because we’re meant to plant ourselves somewhere new.

Reflective prompts on this card:

• What emotional story am I ready to set down, even if it feels tender to release?

• What am I gripping too tightly that might be healthier to let go?

• What expectations have grown “too high to hold on”?

Ways to Connect & Support