• Illustration of Alice, the March Hare, and the Mad Hatter sitting around a tea table in the Mad Hatter’s tea party scene from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, with the word Essay written above.
    Essays

    Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass are nonsense for nonsense’s sake

    Whilst it is possible to see Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass as meditations on Victorian social practice (Geer 2), to do so denies their ongoing power and relevance. Carroll’s writing is entertaining, yet provocative. He was a mathematician and a logician (Green, xxix) able to make us laugh at a world that often defies logic. Nonsense provided the perfect platform. However, taking material from the world around him does not counter the fact that according to Charlton (346), Carroll himself admitted his writing was nonsense. Further, in a letter written to the children reading his books, he refers to his joy in being able to bring them happiness…

  • A colorful array of hexagonal tarot cards from The Wild Unknown Alchemy Deck, featuring unique, detailed illustrations and symbols, arranged in a spread. The image has “Deck Review” written at the top in bold text.
    Oracle Decks

    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…

  • A gothic-style Dark Fairytale Tarot card featuring a woman with long dark hair, a blue butterfly in her hair, and ghostly mist. Ruined stone towers and a large full moon fill the background. The top text reads Deck Review.
    Tarot decks

    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.…

  • A tarot card from the Wizards Tarot, the Eight of Pentacles shows a young witch at a desk, crafting a glowing pentacle in a cozy, book-filled room adorned with shelves, candles, and magical symbols. The card is part of a deck review.
    Tarot decks

    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…

  • A graphic displays two orange road signs on a black background, one pointing left labeled YES and the other right labeled NO. The top text reads yes/no questions. An orange abstract shape accents the lower right corner.
    Tarot articles

    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,…

  • A colorful tarot card from the Starman Tarot, The Starman, shows a radiant, glowing figure surrounded by vibrant, cosmic energy patterns. The card is set against a dark background with the text Deck Review above it.
    Tarot decks

    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…

  • A tarot card from The Tarot of Curious Creatures titled The High Priestess shows a figure with a raven’s head and human body, draped in a purple veil. Above, “Deck Review” appears on a white background.
    Tarot decks

    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…

  • A tarot card from The Dreamkeepers Tarot, titled Knight of Cups, shows a woman in a white dress kneeling by water under a moonlit, starry sky with branches framing the scene. Deck Review is written at the top.
    Tarot decks

    The Dreamkeepers Tarot

    The Dreamkeepers Tarot took mixed media artist, Liz Huston, 12 years to create. It’s an RWS inspired deck but the distinctly feminine theme which sees the Queens heading the Court means some cards reflect a different view point. However, even though the deck is slanted towards the Sacred Feminine, it still honours the role of the Divine Masculine. Thus the deck maintains a sense of balance and ensures everyone can truly see themselves mirrored in the cards. The Dreamkeepers Tarot Cards From my first flip through I was captivated by the muted colour palette. I found it soothing. The deck combines acrylics, oils and watercolours with digital elements to create…

  • A spread of colorful tarot cards is arranged on a black surface, with “Email Readings” in the top right corner. The cards, perfect for insightful email readings, display various mystical and artistic illustrations.
    Tarot articles

    Why email Tarot readings are a great option

    Imagine opening an email and rather than seeing someone trying to sell you something or another email from the boss, you saw insights into a situation that has been bothering you. That’s one of the many benefits of email readings. We communicate via email and in written form in general now because it crosses distance barriers and because it ensures that those involved have something tangible to refer back to. This for me is the greatest benefit of tarot readings delivered via email. All the information is laid out in front of you and you can take it in as, and when, you are ready. Research shows that we can…

  • A tarot card labeled Queen of Coins from The Medieval Scapini Tarot features a richly dressed woman sitting and holding a coin aloft, with ornate patterns in the background. The words Deck Review appear above the card.
    Tarot decks

    The Medieval Scapini Tarot

    The intricate artwork of The Medieval Scapini Tarot ensures that each time you look at a card you’re bound to discover something new. For example, the cups aren’t just empty vessels featured just to designate a suit. Neither are the coins. The 6 of Coins pictured below, shows this clearly. No pentagrams here. Each coin portrays a scene. The same is true for the 6 of cups. A different scene is presented either on the cup or within it. This may seem typical for the 7 of cups in most RWS inspired decks but here it is put to good use throughout the entire Cups suit. Yes, there’s a lot…