Deck and Book Reviews
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Tarot of Oneness
This is a magical deck. Decks like Tarot of the Hidden Realm and the Morgan Greer Tarot allow you to get up close and personal with the people on the cards. Tarot of Oneness gets you up close and personal with yourself and what is going on around you. It gives you a first hand perspective that does not allow you to shy away from what is in front of you. The Cards Tarot of Oneness is an 84-card RWS inspired tarot deck with minimal reference to gender. So much so that two 6 Lovers cards are included in the deck to allow users to choose the card that feels…
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Tarot Cards of Modern Goddesses
For starters, not many decks would feature XVI The Tower as its front of packaging image but Tarot Cards of Modern Goddesses does. It is definitely up front about what it is all about. It is an RWS inspired deck ‘created to celebrate the fearless spirit of women.’ This image of Kali serves as a reminder that we can decide what we preserve, destroy, or create. The creator, Cecilia Lattari, believes that ‘reflecting on the symbolism connected to the goddesses means reawakening their power.’ What I discovered is that this is a deck that talks to you as a friend. It shows you what you need to see and trusts…
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The William Blake Tarot of the Creative Imagination
The William Blake Tarot of the Creative Imagination. What a great title. Albeit from now on I am just going to refer to it as The William Blake Tarot because, well, it is quicker and easier for everyone. According to its creator, Ed Buryn, it is ‘a reimagining of William Blake’s art and ideas for modern Tarot.’ Apart from reading The Tyger at university I am not overly familiar with his ideas but I feel that is about to change. Buryn claims, ‘this 79-card deck presents William Blake’s central thesis that human creative imagination is the divine aspect of mankind,’ so I look forward to discovering his philosophy through the…
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Grimalkin’s Curious Cats Tarot
Grimalkin’s Curious Cats Tarot is the latest creation by MJ Cullinane and one of the more recent additions to my collection. I am starting to think I have a bit of a cat obsession since I already had Soul Cats Tarot, Mystical Cats Tarot, and the Black Cats Tarot when I bought it. But, oh well. I would not part with any of them. When I was reading the opening to the accompanying book I found it strange to have a cat deck created by a self-declared dog person but I appreciate the honesty. As a writer, I also recognise a powerful hook when I read one. It made me…
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Quantum Tarot Version 2.0
The Quantum Tarot Version 2.0 has been sitting on my shelf for a while. Recently rewatching Interstellar and reading Andy Weir’s books, The Martian and The Hail Mary Project, primed me to work with this deck. Am I normally a sci-fi person? No. But, since I was engrossed by all three, maybe I am becoming one. The fact that The Martian and Interstellar are said to be highly scientifically accurate fascinates me. So, a deck that combines modern science with tarot was bound to do the same. It did. The Cards This deck is awe-inspiring. From the immensity of galaxies to the microscopic subatomic world this deck shares information about…
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Secrets of Paradise Tarot
The Secrets of Paradise Tarot “takes a Caribbean and Latin American approach to the traditional symbolism of the tarot.” It features and highlights both “regions bountiful cultures, histories and spiritualities.” Leticia Ferrer-Rivera states that her aim was to create a divination tool designed to celebrate culture. I believe she does it well. Opportunities to learn about both cultures are incorporated in such as way as to enhance, rather than suffocate, the card meanings. If I had a tagline it would be ‘The Tarot Nerd’. So me and the learning opportunities intentionally built into this deck are a great mix. Throw in my Caribbean heritage on my father’s side and my…
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The Bohemian Animal Tarot
The Bohemian Animal Tarot is an 80 card tarot deck, similar in concept to The Tarot of Curious Creatures, as it is illustrated with figures that are part animal, part human. This deck, however, has a totally different feel. In part that is because the artwork is bright and colourful and wouldn’t be out of place illustrating a children’s book, but it is more than that. Scott Alexander King has written several books on animal symbolism and he combines his extensive knowledge in this area with mythology and archetypal energies. This is a fascinating deck to work with. The Bohemian Animal Tarot Cards Depending upon your personal approach to tarot,…
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The Earthcraft Oracle
The Earthcraft Oracle is a pretty, pretty deck. It feels condescending to write that because it is much more than its appearance. But, when I look at the cards that is the first thing that comes to mind. I love the artwork. If my artistic abilities were better this is the type of artwork I would create. So much so that it has inspired me to draw again. But more on that later. This is a brightly coloured, inclusive, nature-inspired deck that can be used in so many ways. Above all else though, for me, this deck is all about connection – connection to the Earth, connection to the world…
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White Sage Tarot
White Sage Tarot is a modern minimalist deck by Theresa Hutch. It is a whimsical deck that combines a chakra-inspired, pip-ish Minor Arcana with an animal court and a Major Arcana that, whilst predominantly represented by animals, feels like it has a bit of everything thrown in. That may sound like it makes for an odd mix but, due to the consistency of the muted colour palette, it all comes together really well. The Cards I was drawn to the White Sage Tarot because I like that the chakras form part of the interpretation of the cards. It really puts a different spin on some of them. Incorporating the creator’s…
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The Steampunk Tarot
Barbara Moore writes, “Throughout the images in this deck, you will see humans and machines, nature and devices, science and alchemy, light and dark, despair and kindness, loss and grace, pain and healing.” What I experienced were some aha moments that helped me see certain cards in a whole new light. The Steampunk Tarot doesn’t appeal to me visually in the way many other decks do, but that hasn’t prevented me gaining a lot from working with it. And, as I get to know the characters and spend more time in their world, the artwork is definitely growing on me. I have always looked for how things fit together as…
