Photo courtesy of Doan Ly/A.P. Bio

Foolproof Summer Party: A Chic
Touch of Tarot Mystery

Pulling out a deck of tarot cards is a surefire way to make any summer party—cocktails, dinner under the stars, a picnic—instantly more memorable and fun, even cheeky. We’re obsessed with the gorgeous new set from The Garden Journey, and reading the cards is way easier than we expected. The exquisitely designed deck draws in even the tarot-indifferent (or tarot-averse) with fanciful illustrations of azaleas, pink roses, lilies of the valley, Japanese anemones, and more. “There’s this misconception that you have to be clairvoyant to do tarot cards, but there’s no wrong way—whatever the cards make you think about or feel is right,” says cocreator Natalie Soud. Bring on the negronis, the natural wine, and the Seedlip spritzers, along with some plush floor pillows, loungey bedrolls, and an artful cheeseboard.

“Shuffle the deck, pull a card, and interpret what it means to you in the context of what else you have going on in your life,” says Soud. “That’s it.” For a party, it’s just as simple: “Pass the deck around, and each person draws one or two cards,” she continues. “Hearing someone else’s interpretation may spark something in you. The deck comes with a guidebook, but it’s just a reference for the people who want it.”

Each of the 22 cards is a different bloom that represents a different archetype. “Maybe you don’t want to pull a card and see a picture of a scary guy with a sword,” Soud says. “The images associated with tarot cards aren’t always positive—we wanted to change that.” The cards themselves are made from fine, thick paper stock—Soud had a past life at a letterpress studio—that looks and feels luxuriously velvety; they’re kind of irresistible.

Even the Death card in Garden Journey’s deck is gorgeous: an unfurling chrysanthemum that’s decidedly unsinister, which was the point for cocreator Joanne Yun, who hand-painted all 22 flower portraits. “We married the language of flowers to the cards to provide another way into tarot,” says the botanical illustrator, whose aesthetic inspirations included Gucci’s garden collection and French candy packaging.

5 Best Party Tips

Yun and Soud have some fantastic ways to throw together a fun, easy, dreamy night in—replete with negronis, piles of flowers, killer hors d’oeuvres and entrées, and, of course, a little tarot.

1

Go with the flower theme

“I’m typically a martini or negroni person, but natural wines are such a great pairing with the deck because there’s a floral, botanical element to them,” says Soud. “For a nonalcoholic option, I love Seedlip—it’s beautiful and herbal and adds to the vibe. It’s also nice to have edible flowers on hand to garnish drinks with.”

1. For Wine

2

Lounge like you mean it

“It’s harder to access intuitive feelings if you’re sitting upright around a table. It feels better to gather around a coffee table or sink into a sofa,” says Soud. “We designed the cards to feel velvety, so having other tactile elements strewn about, like plush cushions and pillows with tassels, adds to a luscious, sensorial experience.”

3

Make the food visual

“I love an abundance of grapes and pomegranate seeds, like in a Dutch painting,” says Yun. “And a food board piled with luscious fruits. I also like serving those translucent Vietnamese summer rolls—I fill them with veggies and edible flowers, too. They’re healthy and refreshing, and there’s no mess as there would be with something like chicken wings, so you can touch the cards without staining them.”

Serve a super herby slow-roasted chicken, along with an epic Little Gem salad with crunchy slivers of watermelon radish (a cozy, hearty dish and a refreshing side pair beautifully)—present it all on big, gorgeously rustic plates or in serving bowls that make it easy for people to jump up and help themselves.

4

Dress for flow

1. “I’m drawn to a loose silhouette—the more billowy, the better,” says Soud.

5

Nightcap: Draw another card after dinner

In the post-delicious-meal haze, perched atop pillows or with your legs tucked under you on the couch, pick another card to close out the night. If you’re still not feeling it, Soud has another tip: “Hover your hand over the deck and just sort of feel out the card you’re drawn to. Taking a moment to listen to yourself and your intuition is part of it,” she says. “Then just see what pops up. Crafting a little story in my head around what I see on the card helps me make meaning.”

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