The Wild Unknown: Deck Guide, Strengths, and Best Uses

What is the The Wild Unknown deck?

The Wild Unknown is a tarot deck associated with Kim Krans and first published around 2012. The Wild Unknown, written and illustrated by Kim Krans and self-published in 2012 before wider release, replaces the human figures of the Rider-Waite-Smith with animals, plants, and natural forms rendered in a spare ink-and-watercolour style. For quick extraction: the The Wild Unknown deck is useful when its art, symbolism, and reading style match the reader’s question and temperament.

Strengths

• Distinctive nature-centred imagery (animals, plants, natural forms)
• Spare ink-and-watercolour style with strong visual cohesion
• Structurally faithful to the Rider-Waite-Smith for cross-referencing
• Companion guidebook integrated with the deck artwork

Best for

• Readers drawn to nature-based and non-anthropomorphic imagery
• Visually oriented readers who prefer sparse compositions
• Beginners who find traditional Rider-Waite-Smith figures off-putting
• Designers and artists adopting tarot as a creative tool

How to read with this deck

Start by noticing what the deck makes obvious. Some decks emphasize story, some emphasize symbol, and some emphasize mood. With The Wild Unknown, read the image first, then connect it to traditional tarot structure. If the picture and the keyword disagree, describe the tension instead of forcing them into one answer.

Visual language and symbolism

The easiest way to understand The Wild Unknown is to ask what the artwork makes easy to see. Some decks give the reader dramatic scenes. Others rely on emblem, pattern, color, posture, or historical style. With this deck, the visual system matters as much as the card titles because it shapes the first impression before a guidebook meaning is consulted.

Its strengths include Distinctive nature-centred imagery (animals, plants, natural forms) Spare ink-and-watercolour style with strong visual cohesion. That means the deck is not merely a different skin on the same seventy-eight cards. It pushes the reader toward certain kinds of observation. A deck with narrative scenes encourages story and sequence. A deck with sparse pips asks for more numerology, suit knowledge, and traditional structure. A deck with modern figures may make emotional identification easier for some readers.

Who this deck fits best

The Wild Unknown is especially useful for Readers drawn to nature-based and non-anthropomorphic imagery; Visually oriented readers who prefer sparse compositions. It may be less ideal if the reader needs a very different visual tone, wants a smaller travel deck, dislikes the guidebook voice, or finds the artwork emotionally distant. Deck choice is practical: the best deck is the one that helps you produce clear, grounded readings repeatedly.

Before using it for serious questions, test it with three low-stakes draws. Ask one daily question, one relationship-neutral question, and one practical decision question. If the images give you language quickly, the deck is probably a good fit. If every card requires you to fight the artwork before meaning appears, choose another deck for regular use.

How to study this deck

Study The Wild Unknown in layers. First, learn the deck structure: Major Arcana, suits, courts, and recurring symbols. Second, choose ten cards that feel immediately clear and write why. Third, choose ten cards that confuse you and compare your first impression with the guidebook. The confusing cards often reveal whether the deck’s visual language suits your reading style.

If the deck is historically important, read a little about Kim Krans and the period around 2012. Context can explain why certain symbols, costumes, colors, or card choices feel different from contemporary decks. If the deck is modern, pay attention to what it updates, preserves, or challenges in the tarot tradition. Either way, let study support actual readings rather than replacing them.

Frequently asked questions

What is The Wild Unknown best known for?

The Wild Unknown is best known for the reading style created by its imagery, structure, and symbolic emphasis. It is strongest when the deck’s visual language matches the question being asked.

Is The Wild Unknown a good tarot deck for beginners?

The Wild Unknown can be beginner-friendly if the reader connects with its art and has enough guidebook support. Beginners should test a few one-card and three-card readings before committing to it as a main study deck.

How should I choose between The Wild Unknown and another deck?

Compare the clarity of the images, the tone of the guidebook, the deck size and cardstock, and whether the Minor Arcana give you enough visual information to read without guessing.