I recently decided to get to know the Nightmare Before Christmas mini tarot in a fun and experimental way: I did a deck interview spread twice — once before watching the movie, and once after. I wanted to see how my impressions of the deck would shift once I knew the story and characters.
As always, I didn’t create this spread — if you did and would like credit, please let me know!
Pre-Movie Spread
(You can see the images of the cards in the spread)
1. Tell me about yourself — King of Presents (Pentacles) 🎁
Generous, grounded, and a wise teacher. Practical and nurturing, this deck promised guidance and mentorship right from the start.
2. Strengths — IX of Needles (Swords) 🗡️
Helps distinguish real dangers from imagined ones. Perfect for sharpening discernment without spiraling.
3. Limits — II of Needles (Swords) 🪡
Difficulty choosing between two equal options. Like Sally in the movie, torn between helping Jack and speaking up, the deck may struggle with “choice” spreads until you get familiar.
4. What are you here to teach me? — Page of Presents (Pentacles) ✨
Encourages curiosity, openness, and collaboration. Reminds me to stay receptive to insights and new perspectives.
5. How to collaborate — Temperance ⚖️
Patience, balance, and steady engagement. Not too much, not too little — keeping the deck as part of a healthy tarot rhythm.
6. Potential outcome — III of Potions (Cups) 🥂
Fun, friendship, and playful inspiration. This deck seemed poised to be a lighthearted companion in readings.
Post-Movie Spread
After watching the movie, I pulled the same spread again. The difference was striking: four Major Arcana cards appeared in the first four positions, hinting at a deeper, more archetypal personality for the deck.
1. Tell me about yourself — Death 🌑
Guides through transformation and endings, helping you navigate change. The deck now felt more like a transformative guide than a friendly mentor.
2. Strengths — The World 🌍
Highlights completion, integration, and the big picture. Offers insight into cycles, wholeness, and life lessons.
3. Limits — The Hanged Man 🔄
Thrives in reflection but less useful for immediate decisions. Patience and contemplation are key when working with this deck.
4. What are you here to teach me? — The Lovers 💕
Teaches alignment with values, understanding choices and consequences, and integrating dualities. Reflects the story’s themes of desire vs. responsibility.
5. How to collaborate — IV of Cups 🥃
Approach with mindfulness and attentiveness. Notice what’s being offered, even subtly, and take time to reflect.
6. Potential outcome — X of Presents (Pentacles) 🎁
Long-term growth, stability, and reward. This deck promises a lasting, meaningful relationship that goes beyond playful inspiration.
Pre- vs. Post-Movie Insights
| Position | Pre-Movie | Post-Movie |
|---|---|---|
| Tell me about yourself | King of Presents – generous, nurturing | Death – transformational guide |
| Strengths | IX of Needles – discernment, vigilance | The World – integration, big picture |
| Limits | II of Needles – indecision | Hanged Man – reflective, slow answers |
| What are you here to teach me? | Page of Presents – curiosity, collaboration | The Lovers – values, choices, consequences |
| How to collaborate | Temperance – balance, steady rhythm | IV of Cups – reflection, openness |
| Potential outcome | III of Potions – fun, playful inspiration | X of Presents – lasting growth, stability |
Overall: Pre-movie, the deck felt practical, playful, and nurturing. Post-movie, it revealed a deeper, archetypal personality - guiding through transformation, offering big-picture insight, encouraging reflective learning, and promising lasting reward. It feels deeper, maybe blunter, but still caring.
This deck seems to “level up” after experiencing the story - it’s still approachable, but now capable of guiding you through profound lessons about choices, consequences, and integration, much like Jack’s journey in the film.
Looking Ahead
This comparison shows how a deck can evolve in meaning based on your own experience and context. It’s a reminder that tarot is dynamic, and the story we bring to it can reveal layers we might not see at first glance.
If you haven’t yet, I highly recommend trying a before-and-after deck interview with a themed deck - it’s an eye-opening way to connect with its personality!
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