Deck of the week: The Karma Cards

 

Karma Cards by Monte Farber

Published by Hatchet, 2017

36 cards plus guidebook 

Karma Cards is a popular astrology-based oracle deck created by Monte Farber, a best-selling metaphysical author, professional astrologer, and co-creator (with his wife Amy Zerner) of many spiritual tools like The Enchanted Tarot. 

It has sold hundreds of thousands of copies (over 300,000 in some reports) since its original release around 1988 and remains in print. 

Deck Structure

The deck contains 36 full-color cards divided into three groups of 12 each:

•  Planets (e.g., Mercury, Venus, etc.)

•  Signs (the 12 zodiac signs)

•  Houses (the 12 astrological houses)

Each card features:

•  Beautiful, mystical artwork (often collage-style or illustrative, with a central image slice).

•  Keywords for accessibility.

•  Text panels in different colours (typically red and blue) that provide ready-made interpretive phrases. 

A 96-page guidebook is included, with instructions on use, centering yourself, phrasing questions, and deeper interpretations.  This is invaluable for fully understanding and getting the best out of this deck.  Without reading this first you may well struggle to understand how the cards should be read so make sure you do as you learn this particular deck.

How It Works

The system simplifies astrology for quick, insightful readings without needing chart-casting expertise:

1.  Shuffle the three separate stacks (Planets, Signs, Houses) while focusing on your question or situation.

2.  Draw one card from each stack and lay them side by side (Planet + Sign + House).

3.  Read the phrases across the cards to form coherent sentences.

4.  Choose panels based on your intent: Blue for outcome/prediction (“what will happen”), Red for action/advice (“what to do”). 

Responses cover three levels:

•  Spiritual (higher/karmic meaning)

•  Mental (thoughts, communication)

•  Physical (practical, everyday manifestation)

Monte Farber describes “karma” here as “meeting yourself,” drawing from Edgar Cayce — it helps you connect with your Higher Self for guidance on love, career, finances, decisions, and personal growth. 

Style and Appeal

The cards blend fun accessibility with deeper insight. They’re not a traditional tarot deck but an oracle that teaches astrology principles through use. The artwork (e.g., by Linda Garland in earlier editions) is evocative and symbolic, with keywords making it beginner-friendly. 

Users and reviewers praise it for being engaging, accurate for daily guidance, and great for both novices and astrology enthusiasts. It’s often called “fun-to-use” yet profound. 

It’s published by Sterling Ethos (Hachette) in updated editions and widely available on Amazon, bookstores, and metaphysical shops. Monte Farber and Amy Zerner continue to create and promote it through their Enchanted World brand. 

If you’re into astrology oracles that deliver instant, combinable messages, Karma Cards is a classic worth trying — it’s like a portable astrologer in a box!

https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/monte-farber/karma-cards-astrology-deck/9781454926306/

About the creator 

Monte Farber is an internationally recognised self-help author, professional astrologer, intuitive counsellor , and designer of interactive personal guidance systems (oracles and spiritual tools). 

Born on January 22, 1950, in Brooklyn, New York, Farber studied comparative religion. He became deeply interested in astrology in 1974 after meeting his future wife, artist Amy Zerner. The couple married in 1978 and have collaborated ever since. 

Career and Achievements

Since 1988, Farber and Zerner have created a prolific body of work — nearly 3 million copies of their 40+ best-selling books, oracle decks, and spiritual tools have been published in 18 languages. Farber is the primary writer, while Zerner provides the artwork (often visionary collages) and co-authors many projects. 

Notable creations include:

•  Karma Cards (their astrology oracle)

•  The Enchanted Tarot

•  Astrology for Wellness

•  The Creativity Oracle

•  The Intuition Oracle

•  Mindful Astrology

•  Your Cosmic Blueprint (a detailed guide to reading astrology charts)

Their work blends astrology, tarot, intuition, affirmations, and practical self-help guidance. Farber is known for making complex metaphysical concepts accessible, fun, and applicable to everyday life. He has counselled thousands of clients and is praised for his empathetic, down-to-earth style. 

He and Zerner run The Enchanted World (their brand and online presence), which includes books, oracles, art, fashion, and personal readings. They live in East Hampton, New York, where they operate an emporium and continue creating new tools. 

Philosophy

Farber emphasises connecting with your “Higher Self” through symbols, intuition, and astrology. He describes his approach as helping people navigate life’s challenges with insight from within, often calling himself and Zerner “the normal paranormal experts.”

Monte Farber is a leading figure in modern metaphysical and New Age spirituality, best known for his collaborative, highly visual, and user-friendly oracles that have introduced astrology and intuition to a wide audience for decades.