Tarot
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Getting to know The Hermit
I see The Hermit in many ways however I don’t really associate him with the “dark night of the soul” that I’ve heard others suggest. At his core, for me he represents going within to uncover and discover the inner wisdom we all possess. Wisdom that develops when we integrate knowledge with experience, hindsight, and our core values. It’s The Hermit that encourages us to spend time alone in order to connect with ourselves and reflect upon our thoughts, actions and beliefs. For me, he defines the philosophy of the Into the Lonely Woods oracle. Sometimes, I would suggest more often than we allow ourselves, we need to spend some…
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Into the Lonely Woods
This oracle is magical, kind, gentle, comforting and full of “oh wow that’s so beautiful” moments. Picking a favourite card is like trying to choose your favourite child/grandchild/pet. The artwork is stunning. Gentle Creature, created by artist Dan May, is the perfect companion when “you feel isolated, distanced from loved ones or wish to embrace quiet, peaceful spaces within a noisy, hurried world.” Into the Lonely Woods encourages you to take time out to embrace solitude in order to meet and spend time with your true self. Looking through these cards makes the idea all the more appealing. Into the Lonely Woods Cards Into the Lonely Woods is a 45…
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Taking a look at The Hierophant
When it comes to highlighting tarot cards, The Hierophant may seem like a strange choice, but, that is the very reason I chose to start with this card. I feel many people aren’t a huge fan of The Hierophant because of how it’s represented in some decks. That’s a real shame because there is so much wisdom to be gained through a deep dive, hey even a shallow dive, into the messages contained within. Barbara Moore writes of The Hierophant in Tarot In Wonderland: The Hierophant doesn’t represent how to think as to the importance of what to think.’ She adds, ‘What we accept as the “truth” about the world…
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Tarot in Wonderland
I began writing this review as I sat outside Westmead Children’s Hospital waiting for my grandson to come out of surgery. So, this deck and I have a strong bond. For the five hours I sat at a café situated just outside the hospital, (damn you Covid), Tarot in Wonderland was a comforting and insightful companion. Just like Alice when she went down the rabbit hole, I was transported to a new way of thinking about myself and how I engage with the world and time flew by. Therefore, to say I found this tarot set powerful is a gross understatement. But, it’s not just the cards. The book is…
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The Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck
The Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck is the fourth and final instalment in The Wild Unknown series which also includes The Wild Unknown Tarot, The Wild Unknown Archetypes, and The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit. Like the others, this deck is distinctly Kim Krans. It may seem that to create four decks with a very similar aesthetic would make some cards feel redundant. That isn’t the case. Each deck has its own approach and whether used together or individually, they encourage an in depth exploration of any situation. Some decks I own are beautiful and I feel connected to them. Nevertheless, they could be interchanged with others in my collection. That’s not…
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Dark Fairytale Tarot
The Dark Fairytale Tarot draws from the non-sanitised concept of the fairy tales of old. Generally with this deck you’re not going to experience Disney-esque endings. When they do appear they come with a reminder that there’s always a price to pay. And yet, even though this deck focuses on the darker side of the fae, I wouldn’t say this is a dark deck. Rather I’d say this is an honest deck that can help you to uncover and own your true ideals, or help you to recognise and acknowledge the price you pay if you ignore them. The Dark Fairytale Tarot Cards From the outset this deck is different.…
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Wizards Tarot
The Wizards Tarot combines Barbara Moore’s tarot knowledge with bright and colourful imagery that depicts magic and “magic makers” in a practical, everyday sense. Moore makes the world of magic and its possibilities accessible to all. Furthermore, she urges people to see tarot as a skill to be developed over time rather than an overwhelming and arcane practice beyond the reach of many. And, she shows how tarot can be integrated into our day to day lives and suggests what we may gain if we do. That makes this a great deck for people just starting out with tarot. The Wizards Tarot Deck I have many of Barbara Moore’s tarot…
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Why I don’t like asking the tarot yes/no questions
The short answer to why I don’t like yes/no tarot questions is that I find them disempowering. The slightly longer answer is that in asking the cards whether I should or shouldn’t do something, or whether something will or won’t happen the way I want it to, gives the cards an extreme amount of power over me. I love tarot cards but I don’t use them to tell me what to do. To do so is a dangerous practice. I don’t believe the cards should rule my life. Nor do I believe that’s their purpose. I believe they can be used to guide us, enlighten us, encourage us, inspire us,…
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Starman Tarot
If you like street art and David Bowie then welcome to the Starman Tarot. Or if you’re looking for creative inspiration then you may well have found a perfect match. However, if you’re looking for a RWS clone I’d suggest you keep scrolling through my reviews because this probably isn’t it. Although, if you want a tarot deck that adheres to the RWS system but shakes things up a bit, then this deck is a great option. There is nothing vanilla about this deck. Think strawberry flavoured ice cream with a rum and raison twist and a bit of lemon sorbet … then place it on a pizza. As eclectic…
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The Tarot of Curious Creatures
The Tarot of Curious Creatures is creator, Chris-Anne’s, latest offering. In this deck she ‘welcome[s] [you] to the world of curious creatures, peculiar guides and unfamiliar familiars.’ I have to admit it took me a while to decide I wanted to enter this world. But, now that I have, I can’t see why I hesitated. It’s different and I like different. Although the meanings align with traditional RWS expectations, this deck has a unique way of communicating them. For those interested in pathworking this deck is well worth a look. The attached guidebook encourages you to adopt this practice. Although, somewhat unsurprisingly, it’s pathworking with a twist. The Tarot of…
