Terri's Tarot Reviews

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Gilded Reverie Lenormand - Deck Review

Review by Terri Clement

                                     Gilded Reverie Lenormand by Ciro Marchetti Published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc., www.usgamesinc.com ISBN: 978-1-57281-754-8 Retail U.S.: $19.95

Bravo! Ciro Marchetti and U.S. Games Systems, Inc. have out done themselves yet again! The Gilded Reverie Lenormand is an exquisite body of work. Fans of Ciro’s work and those interested in working with the Lenormand will not be disappointed. Rich, vibrant, jewel-tone colors and gilded edges of gold give this Lenormand a refreshingly modern look.

The Gilded Reverie is a standard 36-card Petit Lenormand deck, however, there will be a bonus pack that can be purchased separately from U.S. Games with includes the 7 bonus cards (Time, Bridge, Dice, Mask, additional Man and Woman cards, and an extra Birds/Owl card) that were in the collector’s edition along with a surprise card.

The card backs are done in a red checkerboard pattern with gold filigree over the top. The card fronts do not have a border instead the art fades out to black edges. The cards have a glossy laminate and are flexible, but the deck is a bit stiff to shuffle. The cards measure 2 ¾’ wide by 4 1/8” tall.

The deck comes with a 48-page Little White Book with card meanings and descriptions written by Rana George and Tali Goodwin. It also contains 3 spreads. Ciro has a companion document on his website that can be downloaded. This is a 140-plus pages, in color.  http://www.ciromarchetti.com/Lenormand.html. 

The box is a brilliant design, with a magnetic closure and is very sturdy. It can definitely hold up in a purse or backpack.

With so many beautiful images it is hard to pick a favorite few to showcase, so here are some random card descriptions.

                                 Fox – A sly fox looks back over his shoulder at the rooster who is standing on a fence. There is a barn in the background. The LWB says “I might be planning your fall. I am master of manipulation and I am going to fool you all. Craftiness is my fame and “sneaky sneaky” is my game.”       

                                                                  Mountain – A snowcapped mountain peak in the distance and a buck standing among the trees in the foreground.  The LWB says “…The mountain appears to us as an almost impossible obstacle.”

The Gilded Reverie Lenormand should be on everyone’s “must have” list this year.

©Terri Clement - October 2013

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Review: The Steampunk Tarot

Review by Terri Clement

The Steampunk Tarot: The Wisdom of the Gods of the the Machine by John and Caitlin Matthews with illustrations by Will Kinghan Published by Tuttle Publishing, www.tuttlepublishing.com ISBN: 978-8048-4352-2 Retail: $19.95 US

From a time and place where Steam is king comes The Steampunk Tarot. Just as you find yourself at the threshold of the Imperium - where things are different, familiar yet not, The Steampunk Tarotis not just a theme-based Rider-Waite-Smith deck, it is more of an immersion into the sub-culture of Steampunk.  

This Tarot set includes a 78-card deck and a 160-page illustrated paperback companion book. It comes in a lift off top box constructed of heavy duty cardboard. Inside the box, you will find the deck separated in two, held together by a white paper strip and seated in a preformed clear plastic tray. 

The card edges are a bit sharp and even though each card is flexible, the deck is a bit stiff, but this should work out with use. The cards have a shiny laminate and are a bit sticky out of the box, but this is nothing that a little fanning powder can’t fix.

The Steampunk Tarot’s 78 card images represent the Imperium. Major Arcana are referred to as The Gods of the Machine and are numbered 0 – XXI. The pip cards are referred to as the Four Leagues (Ace – 10). The Court cards are called Legates and are referred to as teacher and guide.

The Major Arcana or The Gods of the Machine represent the heart of the Imperium and many have been renamed:

The Steampunk Tarot             Conventional Tarot Apprentice ……….                       The Fool Technomancer ……….                 The Magician Aviatrix ……….                             The High Priestess Empress .....                                 The Empress Emperor ……                               The Emperor Horologer ……….                         The Hierophant Explorers …                                  The Lovers Triumph                                         The Chariot Engineer ……….                           Strength Inventor ……….                            The Hermit Time Machine ….                          The Wheel of Fortune  Brazen Head ……….                     Justice Suspension Tank ……….              The Hanged Man Spring-heeled Jack ……….           Death Spirit Gauge ……….                     Temperance Cyborg                                          The Devil Stricken Tower … .                        The Tower Comet                                           The Star Moon Voyage ……                        The Moon Solarium                                        The Sun                          Regeneration Machine ......           Judgement Cosmic Blueprint ……….               The World

The Four Leagues (Suits) have also been renamed:  Airships = Swords, Engines – Wands, Submersibles = Cups, and  Leviathans = Pentacles.

                          The Legates of the Imperium are the mediators of the Gods of the Machine and are the ambassador representatives of the Four Leagues are and referred to as:  Messenger = Page, Navigator = Knight, Lady = Queen, and Captain = King.

The card backs are reversible friendly and feature what appears to be a pair of metallic winged goggles with a reflection of Earth in the lenses with a fine gold border 1/8th ” in from the edge of the card. The card fronts have a white 1/8th” border on the sides and top, with a 3/8th” border on the bottom which features the title of each card. The cards themselves measure 4 ¾” tall x 2 7/8” wide.

                                                               The artwork in this deck is rich and there is depth to each image here are a couple of examples.

The Empress features a red headed woman with her head bowed, wearing a red cape and arms crossed. Above and behind her is a geared machine. In the background there are two statues. In the foreground there are globe terrarium structures containing plants and a mechanic humming bird. As one of the Gods of the Machine, she brings beauty, elegance and fruitfulness to the Imperium.

The Solaruim shows two children in an inside garden looking in wonder at a small plant that looks similar to a mushroom. In the background, there are several glass buildings. The Solarium brings health, joy and energy to all.  

The companion book is a very necessary part of this deck in order to get the most out of it. For each of the Gods of the Machine there is a short general interpretation, a Gate of Opportunity interpretation, a unique spread, Gear Change interpretation, Blockages to clear and Steampunk Wisdom.

For the Four Leagues there is a short general interpretation, Personal lifestyle interpretation, Interaction interpretation, Impact interpretation and Steampunk Wisdom.

For the Legates there is a short general interpretation and interpretations for People, Process and Events along with Steampunk Wisdom.

The final parts of the book contain larger spreads and information about reading the cards.

This deck speaks a language all of its own and does require a bit of study, reading and practice in order to feel fully comfortable with its style. This would be a fun deck for the live action role player, fiction (especially Steampunk related) writers or anyone involved in the Steampunk sub-culture.

 ©Terri Clement, May 2013

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Review: The Star Road Map: Divination Beyond Time & Space

The Star Road Map: Divination Beyond Time & Space  by Patricia Padilla & Marlena Freelove Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., www.schifferbooks.com ISBN: 978-0-7643-4222-6

According to the Mesoamericans we all are traveling along the Star Road (Milky Way) entering the belly of the universe.  Reflecting the mysterious and profound relationship that the Mesoamericans have with the cosmos, The Star Road Map was designed to assist us on that journey. 

                                This set has 78 cards but would not necessarily be considered a Tarot.  The deck has a concept of the Major Arcana as Mesoamerican deities as the archetype image, with meanings that are adapted to include the Mesoamerican world view.  There are no court cards or suits, instead you will find Days (20 cards), Four Directions (4 cards), Over world (13 cards), Underworld (9 cards), and Intercession cards (9 cards).

The set comes in a large heavy cardboard box with magnetic closure with a blue ribbon pull tab and stays.

The card edges are a little rough and a bit “fuzzy,” however this should work itself out with use.  The over-sized cards measure in at 3 ½” wide x 5” tall and the deck is 1 5/16” thick making them a bit difficult to riffle bridge shuffle.  The images are printed on thick card stock with a shiny lamination.  

The card back is not reversible friendly, but features a beautiful Aztec/Mayan style mandala using bright greens, oranges and pinks inside of a ¼” shadowed border which is also Major Arcana card number 19 - Stillness.

The card fronts have a ½” black border.  The images are all outlined in different colors.  The Major Arcana are numbered in the upper right corner, inside of the outline the title of the card is centered on the top and bottom in the border.  The Day, Four Direction, Overworld and Underworld cards have the card name centered on the top border and is numbered inside the outline in the lower left corner, these cards say “Day,” “Directions,“ “Overworld,“  or “Underworld” in the lower left border to signify which category they are.  The Intercession cards have the card name centered on the top of the card and “Intercession” centered on the bottom.

                                                                      The Major Arcana card 1 is Magus - Quetzalpapalotl.  This card features a beautiful Mesoamerican mask on a black back ground.  The Key word is Transformation.  The Goal “is to dance with the physical world as though you realize that you have the power to transcend any obstacle.  Use your power for evolution and enlightenment.  As you allow your wings to unfold, be conscious of where the newfound mobility can take you.

Overworld card 9 is Patience on a blue circle sits on a turquoise background.  Inside the circle is a yellow line under 4 yellow dots.  The companion guide says the Energy of this card is “budding, forward movement, and new life.”  

The Underworld card 3 is Familial and refers to a time period of 41 million years. The Key is “walking upright, use of tools, boundaries, and family identity.

The 208-page companion book contains a lot of information about the Mesoamericans and reads almost like a text book in places.  For those who are drawn to this culture, the End Notes and Bibliography contains a great number of sited sources that could be used for additional reading. 

There is a smaller black and white image of each card along with a variety of interpretation such as Energetic, Key, Time Period, Power, Goal, Light, Shadow to name a few.

The book gives 3 sample readings featuring a 1 card reading, a 3 card and a 6 card reading.  It mentions a full reading using all 78 cards, but does not go into detail about how to do this.

Those Tarotists who are drawn to Azteca and Mayan art and culture will find this deck a beautiful addition to their collection.  For those unfamiliar this set will require some study to feel

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Review: The Steampunk Tarot

Review by Terri Clement

Steampunk Tarot  by Barbara Moore with artwork by Aly Fell published by Llewellyn Worldwide, www.llwellyn.com ISBN:  978-0-7387-2638-0

Steampunk Tarot by Barbara Moore with artwork by Aly Fell

published by Llewellyn Worldwide, www.llwellyn.com

ISBN:  978-0-7387-2638-0

Not too long ago I found myself downtown Seattle, visiting a friend from out of town. During lunch we got on the subject of Tarot. He told me that had never had a reading, which I immediately felt the need to remedy. Unfortunately, I had not thought to bring a deck with me (I know, shame on me!). As we walked back toward his hotel we happened upon a Barnes and Noble. My friend stated that he was looking for a book and had a gift card and wondered if we could go in. He went one direction to look for his book and I went off the other direction in search of the Tarot section, hoping that they had an interesting deck that I didn’t already have. As I found the section, I quickly spotted The Steampunk Tarot by Barbara Moore and Aly Fell. I had the perfect excuse to splurge and pick up a copy of this deck. We hurried back to the hotel and found a nice quiet little table in the lobby and ripped open the packaging.

The Steampunk Tarot is sealed in plastic and packaged in a large fold top box along with a 312-page manual. There is a cardboard removable insert inside the box that is supposed to hold the deck in place, however once you remove the plastic from the deck, the cards kind of flop around loose inside the box. The addition of a deck bag will keep the deck from slipping around.

The cards measure 4 2/3” tall x 2 ¾” wide. The card borders are done in black. The front side and top borders measure 3/16” and the bottom border measures 5/16”. The title of each card is written in the bottom border. The deck back is not reversible friendly and appears to be a steampunk machine into which a symbol for each suit has been built.

The card stock is flexible and lightly laminated. While each card is flexible the deck itself is a bit stiff to riffle bridge shuffle right out of the box. Many cards seem to pop out while shuffling. It will take a bit of work to break this deck in.

Strength is numbered VIII and Justice is XI. The suits are Cups, Wands, Pentacles and Swords. The courts are Page, Knight, Queen and King.

There are some gorgeous images in this deck, here are just a couple:

The Star features a beautiful woman in a violet corset with a long, flowing black skirt. She is seated on an astrolabe, which is an ancient computing device used to determine the position of celestial bodies in the night sky. The key phrase for this card is “Hush, my darling, hush. Have faith. I will light the way.”

The Four of Wands shows a dark haired woman in a yellow gown, putting garland and ribbons up on four wands while a blonde woman in woman in blue finds a card of good omen among the party items. The core meaning for this card is “Celebrating the culmination of events or the achieving of a goal.”

The Nine of Cups shows a dark haired, tiara wearing hostess behind the bar, while 9 cups are lined up on the bar in front of her.  This image definitely gives the feeling of being welcomed.  …and I do have the say the woman featured here looks a bit like Barbara Moore herself. The key phrase for this card is “Come in and welcome! Your every desire will be served with a warm smile. Order carefully.”

The manual ties together Moore’s back ground in the sub-culture of steampunk as a former gamer and her interest in Tarot. The first 40 or so pages of the manual introduce steampunk, and how to do readings. A majority of the book is dedicated to the cards.  Each card image is given a large illustration in gray scale beginning with the Major Arcana, then moving to the Pips, in suit order and finally the Court card. For each card there is a key phrase, core meaning and a longer more detailed interpretation. The final few pages are dedicated to spreads and a sample reading.  

The Steampunk Tarot is a Rider-Waite-Smith stylized theme deck that is filled with many strong female characters that captures the essence of steampunk. It can be used easily right out of the box by anyone who is at all familiar with the RWS style of deck as the symbolism is easily recognizable. It would also be fun for anyone involved in the neo-Victorian lifestyle.

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Review: Resonance Oracle

Resonance Oracle  by Dara Caplan Published by Schiffer Publishing, www.schifferbooks.com ISBN:  978-0-7643-4138-0

The Resonance Oracle is a 40-card deck and book set, which is designed to offer spiritual guidance, answers to your deepest questions, and follows along with the Law of Attraction.

All of the images are done on a dark background and there is a play with light and shadow. There are haunting images, some that are dream-like, and some dramatic. I recommend good lighting while using this deck.

The deck and small guide book are housed in a heavy duty card board box with magnetic closure, brown ribbon closure and stays.

The cards measure 5” wide x 3 ½” tall. The images are placed in a landscape orientation on the cards instead of portrait. The top border is ¼” wide, while the side and bottom borders measure ½”. The borders are done in a variety of dark colors, such as brown, blues, wine, greens and purples. The title of each card is written across the bottom border.  

The card backs are not reversible friendly as the deck is designed to be read in the upright position. The images on the back of the cards show a vine across the top and bottom of the card, while shadowed in the center there is an acorn, a feather and two gemstones.

The cards are done on a heavy cardstock with a shiny lamination. I found the cards were a bit sticky and I had to work to get some of them apart. The edges of the cards were also a bit “hairy.”

The guide book is a small paperback book that measures the same size as the cards. It contains 96 pages and has a short message from the author, a small section about how to use the cards, a small black and white image of each card along with interpretations, and a couple of pages in the back to take notes.

There are several striking images in the deck for example:

Blessings is a card that shows a pink lotus floating in the foreground, while behind it and to the right looks like a platter floating in water, with a white candle, a blue rose, small red flowers, and a keepsake box that appears to have pictures in it.

The guide book states:  “…The events of the past-both joyful and sad-have each brought you to where you are now, made you who you are today. It’s time to think of the good things you have, the needs taken care of, and the warmth of loved ones…”

Hearts Tears shows a long bridge passage that meanders off into the darkness.

The guide book states:  “Sometimes we are faced with a great and unexpected lesson or challenge.  It may even be the death of someone close to you. When things are dark and you feel weary after a loss, remember that the loss is only the other side of gain, and everything is part of the divine plan…”

Open Spaces features a pair of green eyes that seem to rise up and out of a rolling hillside, while an eagle is flying behind the eyes.

This card is about flying high while spreading your wings as far as they will go. This is about your journey and following your dreams.

The Resonance Oracle can easily be used by the beginner all the way through an advanced reader. I recommend this for those who want an uplifting daily draw or maybe even someone who needs a kick-starter for journaling.

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A fantastic article with a couple of different techniques.

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Book Review: A Guide to Tarot and Relationships

by Andria K. Molina Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.,  www.schifferbooks.com ISBN:  978-0-7643-4232-5

  Are you looking for a way to take your relationship readings to whole different level? Would you like to expand your personal meaning database for each card? If you’ve answered yes to either of these questions, you might want to check out one of Schiffer’s latest releases. A Guide to Tarot and Relationships is a practical guide designed to help the reader use Tarot to enhance their personal relationships and take them to a deeper level.

The Gorgon Tarot by Delores Fitchie illustrates this 160-page book and provides striking and thought provoking imagery though out.  

The book begins with three spreads and moves quickly into some sample readings. It goes on to give a very brief introduction to Chakras, Numerology and Elements. It then moves into the Major Arcana, for each card the book the beginning section gives a Key Word or Phrase under the title of each, a Planet, a Ruling Sign, the related Chakra, along with the location of that Chakra. The 2nd section for each card gives a relationship based interpretation, a metaphorical interpretation, general meanings, a question statement, an affirmation and a time frame.

When it comes to the Minor Arcana, there same information is provided as for the Majors, except there is no Planet or Ruling Sign. The minors are in number order, so you will find all of the Aces together, the two’s together the book follows this pattern through the Royalty cards.

Here is an excerpt about the Sun card: Key Phrase: Candle that is lit. “Hope and courage are the two themes of this relationship.  You and your partner are hopeful that things will work out for the both of you.  …Relatives around you, or your partner’s family, may focus on too much of the external appearances or accomplishments of you or your partner.” The Question Statement for this card is:  What is one thing that is clear in your situation and one thing that is not clear? Timing for this card: 1 week, Sunday, 7th day or 8th month, late summer, July 23 – August 22.

Here is an excerpt about the 3 of Cups: Key Phrase: Associated with acceptable vs. unsatisfactory. The metaphorical interpretation states:  “Going on a sunny Caribbean island vacation can fun and relaxing; then in the middle of it the air conditioning breaks down, so frustration and confusion can be felt…” The Affirmation for this card:  I celebrate life’s lessons. Timing:  3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months, 3rd day of the week, June 21 – July 21

As one with no experience in Astrology, personally I would have liked to have read more information about where the timing comes from.

A Guide to Tarot and Relationships is clearly written and can easily be used and understood by the beginner all the way through the professional reader. I embrace this writer's style of "take what works for you and leave the rest." 

©Terri Clement, February 2013

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Review: The AlphaBet for Lovers

by Orna Ben-Shoshan Published by Kabbalah Insights http://kabbalahinsights.com

Who hasn’t wanted more information and understanding about their close relationships? Orna Ben-Shoshan brings us another one of her unique products to help with those exact questions. The AlphaBet for Lovers is designed for those who are interested in gaining insight and advice about their love life as well as other relationships, such as Manager/Employee, Parent/Child and any other human connection.

This kit is packaged in a bright yellow slide off top box and includes 72 heart-shaped cards, 104-page interpretation booklet and a sheer, sparkling polka dot and purple drawstring bag. The cards are based off of the Hebrew 22-letter alphabet.

The heart shaped cards measure 2 ¾” inches across. They are very flexible and have a shiny lamination. One side of the card features the card number on the bottom and an image and is surrounded by an 1/8” white border. The opposite side of the card shows the card number in the top center, with the Hebrew Letter underneath the number, a Hebrew key phrase and an English key phrase. This side of the card has a golden ¼” border fading into a white sandy looking center.

                                                            The Interpretation Booklet measures 5 ¼” wide by 5 ¼” tall. It explains a bit about the 22 Hebrew letters, the Kabbalistic Book of Creation. It also briefly introduces the Tree of Life. The booklet goes on to explain how to work with the hearts with examples of questions that you can ask them. The booklet also contains a variety of spreads from a one card spread to a Personality Compatibility Spread. It then goes on to the interpretations. For each card it gives a detailed explanation that backs up the key phrase from the card, then gives a section of people who are single, a section for personality (based on your first name) and advice.

                              Card number 9 shows a woman dressed in a purple and blue gown with a red head-dress standing on a red carpet blowing bubbles with a bubble wand, while a man dressed in a tan shirt, purple pants and green cap is pulling on the side of the carpet. This card is affiliated with the Hebrew letter Gimel and the key phrase is “Everything for domestic peace.” The Interpretation Booklet states that one of the people in the relationship has taken the active role as the adult always attending to the needs of the other instead of finding a balance and taking care of himself. As a personality, this is someone who constantly gives of himself to the point of self-neglect.  

Card number 23 features a man fashioned out of blue ribbon and a woman made out of red ribbon in an embrace. This card is linked to the Hebrew letter Chet and the key phrase is “overwhelmed by emotions.” The Interpretation Booklet states that this relationship is based on attraction, and kindness not intellect. There is also a warning about being careful not to lose control as there could be some possessiveness that goes along with this particular card. For single people the booklet says “A charming serial seducer has caught you in his net…”

                                                        Card number 72 is a bonus card and is not connected to any of the Hebrew Letters. This card shows a woman dressed in white, wearing a veil, sitting on a swing and holding a candlestick. There is a man dressed in yellow floating behind the woman. This is the Crazy Heart card and indicates luck in love. The Interpretation Booklet states “Congratulations! Love conquers all! All your wishes come true, your dreams and desires are fulfilled with divine intervention and luck in love.”

This kit is designed to be used for “self-counseling,” however, Ms. Ben-Shoshan does give a technique in the booklet that explains how you can use it to read with others. This is a fun kit for those of you who are working on relationship issues. It might also prove to be a valuable tool for Life Coaches who focus on relationship issues with their clients.

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Review: Color Wisdom Cards: A Spiritual Toolkit

by Tori Hartman with illustrations by Gretchen Raisch-Baskin Available at www.torihartman.com ISBN: 978-0-9679544-2-4

Have you ever wanted to learn more about color and incorporate working with color into your personal life or maybe even helping your clients? The Color Wisdom Cards may be just what the doctor ordered. The author Tori Harman is a psychic, intuitive and color expert.  This spiritual toolkit which was developed after Ms. Hartman had a near death experience.  It contains a 51-card deck and large informative companion book. After becoming familiar with this kit, you may not look at your Tarot deck, your wardrobe, or any use of color the same ever again!  

                                The card deck arrives along with the companion book, in a slide off top box. The book sits on top of the plastic sealed deck, which fits into a cardboard recess inside the box. The cards measure 3” wide x 4 ½” tall. The deck smells a bit inky coming out of the plastic, but that should dissipate quickly. The cards have a very light laminate and are a bit sticky. They do not fan easily, but riffle bridge shuffle well. A dose of fanning powder is recommended. The deck edges are a bit sharp, but with use should soften.  The card back is gorgeous and not reversible friendly, however, the deck is meant to be used in the upright orientation as there is a balance between positive and negative throughout the deck.

The back of the card shows a purple hooded figure making its way down a path which leads through rainbow hills and valleys. The card fronts have and 1/8th of an inch white border around the sides and top and a ¾” border on the bottom which contains the card name.

Looking at a couple of individual cards randomly pulled:

Sage – This card is the card of Wisdom.  It features a Sage Priest on the left and Mother Earth on the right. A dove soars above while two sage bushes with faces are featured in the foreground.  According to the book, Sage is earth green and represents the green of unconditional love and brown of earth energy. This card will come up when you have nothing to prove and you choose simply to be wise. This can also be a time to stop talking and start listening. The meditation for this card begins at a campfire at night.

                                                               Cool Lemonade Is the card of Prayer. Wisdom and intelligence comes into play here. In the foreground you see two lemons and a glass of icy lemonade. Out the window there are two scenes. To the left is a city skyline and to the right is rural farmland. According to the book, the energy of lemonade is precision. You are creative, willing to cooperate, have the ability to see the details and correct any imperfections. This is also about realizing that sometimes prayer is not about asking for something, but asking how to be of service.

The 385-page book itself is large, measuring in at 9” wide x 6” tall x 1” thick and begins with a detailed introduction moving on to sections for each color grouping, meaning all of the green hues are together, and all of the blues are in one section, etc., and are arranged in order of the rainbow, Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Neutrals. Each topic is thoroughly covered. For each card you will find a larger, grayscale image of each card, an original based fable, definition of the color, a journaling prompt, a group activity, a meditation, insights and inspirations for each card. The remainder of the book offers layouts for setting intentions and family dynamics which also includes some sample readings.  

The artwork has an Elizabethan – Renaissance era feel, but is similar in style to works by Orna Ben-Shoshan. The use of the jewel tone color is very rich and eye catching.

I would recommend this deck for anyone looking to find some insight into what is going on in their life, what may be blocking them from moving forward or who want to look at family dynamics in any situation. This could be a great kit to work with clients, one on one or in group play/therapy. This deck could also be beneficial for those who write creatively.

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Review: Art of Life

by Charlene LIvingstone Published by U.S. Games Systems, Inc., www.usgamesinc.com ISBN:  978-1-57281-715-9

Looking for something very different in the Tarot world? Something that isn’t quite Rider-Waite-Smith, not a Marseilles and definitely not Thoth…  Are you a fan of artwork from around 1900? Then the Art of Life Tarot Deck might be right up your ally.

These oversized cards measure 3” wide x 5” tall. The border around the card faces are white with the top border measures ½” wide, side borders measure ¼” wide and the bottom border is 1 ¾” wide. The card backs are not reversible friendly and feature the The Tree of Life by Gustav Klimt; 1909 from Stoclet Palace, Brussels, Belguim. The cards are very flexible with a light lamination and they fan beautifully. The cards and little white book were sealed in plastic, inside a very unique style box. Upon opening the deck I noticed an inky smell and noticed sharp edges, however both will remedy easily with use.

                                                       The box itself is quite cool. The lid pops up and folds into notches on the sides of the box, creating a picture frame, so you can place your card of the day in the frame. Very fun idea!

The title for each card is in the upper border portion on the card faces. The Major Arcana are un-numbered but are traditionally named. The suits are Swords, Wands, Cups and Pentacles. The Courts are King, Queen, Knight and Page. Underneath each image you will find information about the image such as who is in the piece, the artist, the year it was painted, and where the original is located (all in small print). In larger print you will find a quote that relates to the energy of the card.

Whilst you will find some Rider-Waite-Smith symbolism in the Majors, some cards would require more study for a new reader. The Minor Arcana will require much more study, unless one focuses on the quotes and titles for each card. Someone more familiar with the chosen artwork for each image, may have an easier go of learning the deck. For myself, if I were to remove the borders of this deck, I would not know what artwork would represent which card.

                         For example, The Sun features a painting called Banks of the Loire, by Joseph Turner. The quote on the bottom border says “Precisely the least, the softest, lightest, a lizard’s rustling, a breath, a flash, a moment – a little makes the way of the best happiness.”  - Friedrich Nietzsche.

Another example is The Queen of Wands, which is a painting of Madame Heriot by Pierre August Renoir, 1882. The quote for this card is “The greatest good you can do for another is not just ot share your riches, but to reveal to him his own.”  - Benjamin Disraeli

There is a 31-page Little White Book that comes along with the deck. When reading through the Introduction, you quickly realize that the author of this deck wants the reader to have a positive and uplifting feeling when working with the cards. The LWB goes on to give keywords for the Majors and moves forward to give a few key words for the suits, the numbers and courts and then goes through the suits giving key words for each card in each suit.  It also contains a 5-card spread titled “Creativity Spread,” along with a sample reading.

While I would not necessarily recommend this deck for the new reader, it is definitely unique and not quite an easy to read out-of-the-box deck. Those who are interested in early artwork (ie. late 1800’s – early 1900’s), this might just be the perfect deck for you.

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Review: Inspirations for Survivors

by Aunia Kahn & Russell J. Moon Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd,  www.schifferbooks.com ISBN:  9780-7643-4124-3

In this day and time, we have all “survived” something. It could be a rough childhood, the loss of parent, friend, sibling or spouse, medical issues, you name it… We’ve all gone through “something.” We all carry baggage from somewhere.  

Inspiration for Survivors does not treat survivors as victims though. Instead this 44-card deck and 96-page guidebook is designed to help bring peace and tranquility back into our lives. It’s about understanding that tears do not equal weakness and finding healing through nature and natural experiences.

The cards measure 2 7/8” wide x 4 ¾” tall. They are very flexible with a very shiny laminate. They are a bit sticky, but fanning power would easily cure that. The card faces have a ¼” border around the top and sides of the cards and a 7/8” border at the bottom of the card. A key phrase is on written in that bottom border. The card backs are done in a grayish blue. In the center there is a scripted “S” inside of a frame that looks almost like a brooch.

This set arrives in a small, but heavy cardboard box, with magnetic closure, with silver pull tab and stays. The cards are held together inside the box, by a narrow plastic sleeve.

The small guide book contains a brief introduction, biographies of the authors/artist, an explanation for each card as well as a smaller full color image of each of the cards.

The artwork is stunning and messages are thought provoking. 

One such image is “Chains Can Be Broken,” this image shows a woman struggling against arm chains that seem to be holding her in a cell. The guidebooks says “Every person feels as though something is holding them back, keeping them from being where they want to be. These chains are only as strong as we allow them to be…” This tells the reader that they are not alone in their struggle and they have some choice in this situation.

                                    Another amazing image shows a woman at the bottom of a set of stairs. She is wearing a floral dress and is looking back over her shoulder. On the doorstep is a daisy. The key phrase for this card is “Hope And Love Are Always Within Your Reach.”  The guidebook says “…Our continued happiness and joy is only a step away…”  This reminds the reader to take the smallest step forward.

                                                                  Though this deck is not a Tarot, it really has some good insightful and inspirational messages and deserves a look.

Personally, I would recommend this deck to many of my clients to help them transition to a healthier state of mind. In addition, for those who need emotional healing, this deck can easily be used for a daily draw for inspiration or meditation. It could be used as a jumping off point for journaling or maybe even some character development for those who are fiction writers.

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Review: Elemental Tarot for Kids

Elemental Tarot for Kids by Rayne Storm Published by Schiffer Publishing, Ltd., www.schifferbooks.com ISBN:  978-0-7643-4130-4

                           Are there young people in your life? Would you like to introduce them to the positive side of the Tarot without the “scary” cards?  If so, then the Elemental Tarot for Kids might be just what you are looking for. 

The Elemental Tarot for Kids is a 71-card deck and book set is designed for children ages 9 and up. This set focuses only on positive aspects. You will not find any negative meanings, information regarding reversals or even “death” or “tower” cards.

The set arrives in a heavy duty card board box, with magnetic closure. The box is about ¾ of the size we are used to seeing from Schiffer, but is a nice size. The box has a white ribbon pull tab and stays. The book is stored under the cardboard that houses the deck.  The deck was in two parts held together by plastic sleeves.

There are 13 Major Arcana, most of which have been renamed:  1 – Karma, 2 – Dharma, 3 – Butterfly, 4 – Doors, 5 – Rock, 6 – World Tree, 7 – Wheel of the Year, 8 – The Stars, 9 – The Sun, 10 – The Moon,  11 – The World, 12 – Goddess, 13 – God. The Minor Arcana consists of the Suits:  Earth, Water, Air and Fire. The Courts are:  Paige, Sage, Mage and Shaman. Sixty-five of the cards are actually used for readings. Two cards are dedicated to spreads (1 card has a 1-card spread and a 3-card spread, the other has a 5-card spread), and the remaining 4 cards explain the author's definition of Tarot, how to conduct a reading, ethics and responsibility, and the final card tells the reader how to keep the cards in a “proper” order when not in use.

The Majors are outlined in purple with a white ¼” border. They all have their title on the top center, a key phrase under the image and the Arabic number in the lower right hand corner. The suits of the Minor’s each have a designated primary color, Earth is green, Water is blue, Air is yellow and Fire is Red. Each image is outlined suit color, followed by a narrow white border with the outside edge being ¼” wide in the primary color. The Spread Cards are designed the same way as the Minor’s except they are done in orange. The informational cards are done in black.

The back of the cards feature a ¼” wide lavender border, with a narrow white strip closer in, and a dark purple outline surrounding the shaded image of a butterfly and “Elemental Tarot” written in the center. This deck is not reversible friendly, but is designed to be read in the upright position.

Considering this set is designed for children, I am surprised by the size of the deck. The cards measure 3 ½” wide by 5” tall. I expected something smaller than standard, not larger. I found the deck a bit awkward to shuffle due to its larger size. Children will not be able to riffle bridge shuffle this deck.

The cards have a glossy lamination and are very flexible. Just out of the box the cards feel a little sticky and do not fan well, a little fanning powder would easily remedy that.

                                                                       The artwork is simple, but straight forward without overwhelming detail. There is a single image for each Major for example, on  The Moon card we see the back side of an owl who is sitting in the lower portion of a crescent moon, and for the God card there is a Green Man-styled mask.

                                     There is also a different spin on the Minor’s with this deck. I would call them a cross between a scenic pip deck and a non-scenic pip deck. Each suit is represented by a symbol, Earth is leaves, Water is represented by water drops, Air is represented by bubbles and Fire is a little burst of flame. Each Ace shows the suit symbol placed on a pillow, all of the 2s show 2 of the symbols rising out of a gift box, the 3s are in a jar, the 4s are drawn on a chalkboard, the 5s are on a target, the 6s on a scroll, the 7s are being released from cupped hands, and 8s are on a shield.  The 9s are a bit different than the rest of the deck:  Earth shows the leaves falling from a tree, Water shows a spilled water jug with 9 drops of water above it, Air shows bubbles being blown from a bubble wand and Fire features 9 little flames rising from a rock fire pit.

The Court cards for each suit are the same image, Earth is a Gnome, Water is a Mermaid, Air is a Faerie, and Fire is a Dragon. Each Court adds an extra symbol from Paige (Fire), Sage (Fire and Air), Sage (Fire, Air and Water) to Shaman (Fire, Air, Water and Earth).

The book is very well put together and is the quality of a child’s school workbook. Not only is it informative, it is also fun! In addition to the meanings of the cards, there are word find puzzles, crosswords, quick quizzes, a final test and even a certificate of achievement (Note to parents:  there is an answer key in the back of the book).

I would recommend Elemental Tarot for Kids for those who have young people in their life that are showing an interest in divination, but might not be ready for a full Tarot. It could also prove useful for those who are doing creative writing, especially those who write towards a younger audience.

Images ©Schiffer Publishing, Ltd and Rayne Storm Review ©Terri Clement, 2012

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Here is another unique way to use the Tarot in your every day life! 

[territarotreviews]

Review: The Faerie Guidance Oracle

by Paulina Cassidy Published by Llewellyn Worldwide, www.llewellyn.com ISBN: 978-0-7387-1968-9 Retail: $26.99 US/$31.50 CAN

                                   The Faerie Guidance Oracle is a sweet combination of Paulina Cassidy’s whimsical fantasy art and the faerie realm. This 40-card oracle deck and 288-page paperback book titled Faerie Reflections are designed to be inspirational and encouraging.

The set arrives in a good size gift style box that opens like a book with a fold-in closure. The deck is sealed in plastic inside the box.

The cards measure 4 ¾” tall x 2 ¾” wide. The images have beige borders on the top that measure ½” with the title card. The bottom border is ¾” with a key sentence. The side borders are approximately 1/8” wide. The card backs feature a beige background with outlines of flowers, butterflies and dragonflies. They are not reversible-friendly.

                                                         The cards themselves are printed on a very flexible cardstock with light lamination. They shuffle and fan nicely.

As an inspirational deck, you will find The Faerie Guidance Oracle is what I would consider “positive” and “motivational” so if you are looking for something a bit more balanced, I would shuffle in a way that provides reversals.

I’ve come to love Paulina’s work and adore all of the images in this deck, but picked out a few to share:

One of my favorite images is Clarity. This card features a Fae in a yellow dress perched cross-legged on an orange flower. She appears to be taking a moment and gathering her thoughts and grounding herself. The key sentence here is “A mind of clarity is a mind of action.” The companion book states, “…Mental clarity reduces stress, improves memory, and decreases mood swings. If you feel a sense of information overload or live a too fast-paced lifestyle, take a moment to slow down…”

Another amazing image is Love. This card shows a little Fae all decked out in blue. She is surrounded by blue heart-shaped flowers and is hugging one close to her face. She has worked hard on this garden and can see her hard work paying off in the abundance of growth. The key sentence reads “Love is the base essence of our being, devoid of all pride and fear.” The companion book states, “…Love is giving fully of your heart’s truth without a doubt.” It goes on to say, “You have divine love flowing through you and your sole purpose in life is to know love…”

                                       One last image that really caught my eye is Magic. This Fae has a Faerie Godmother feel to her. She is dressed in what looks like a very formal gown, carries a staff and has a glow to her. She wants you to realize that not all magic is from the “hocus pocus” realm.  The key sentence reads, “Magic has a way of touching the heart and drawing power from the soul." The companion book states, “…The world around you is filled with magic, and when you put that energy into motion on the wings of intention, you’ve freed it to begin its work. Be sure your intentions are positive and harmless.”

                                                                     The companion book, Faerie Reflections, is very well written and well organized. One nice feature is in the Table of Contents. Each card is listed alphabetically along with the key sentence. The book contains a short introduction and section about using the oracle.  While Paulina does state that there are no rigid spreads that go along with this deck, she does recommend drawing what she calls a Facet du Jour, or Facet of the Day (Card of the Day) and she goes on to give some exercises that can be done on a daily basis. She also suggests a Crisis Spread, which really isn’t a formal spread at all, but again a one card draw to help you through difficult times.  The remainder of the book is all about the cards with several pages dedicated to each card, along with a full size black and white image of each card. This book can easily be used for bibliomancy.

If you are a fan of Paulina Cassidy’s other work such as The Paulina Tarot, the Joie de Vivre Tarot or the Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law and are interested in focusing on the positive messages that one can receive from the Fae, then The Faerie Guidance Oracle might be right up your alley!

©Images, Paulina Cassidy and Llewellyn Worldwide.  ©Review, Terri Clement, October 2012

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Review: Inspiring Butterflies

Inspiring Butterflies: A 27-Day Course of Self Discovery by Marge Richards and Ginny Zaboronek Published by Schiffer Publishing, www.schifferbooks.com ISBN:  978-0-7643-3969-1 Retail $39.99

                    Are you looking to do some personal transforming? Are you interested in getting to know the real you, the one deep inside? If so, then the Inspiring Butterflies set might be just what you are looking for.

This inspirational set arrives in a sky blue colored box with a magnetic closure adorned with butterflies. The box has white ribbon pull tab and stays. The set includes 27 “Inspiring Butterflies” cards, a 128-page workbook, and a 48-page companion guide.

The Inspiring Butterflies deck features 27 beautifully painted butterflies. The colors are designed to work with the chakra system and each card depicts a certain chakra. The deck is designed to be used in order as you work through the 27 days, using the workbook or it can be used as an oracle deck with the companion guide. The cards have a butterfly and title on the face of the card and the meaning on the back. The cards measure 3 inches wide x 5 inches tall. The card faces have a narrow white border with the title of the card in a ¾ inch banner on the bottom of the card. The card backs are white with a faint image of a waterlily and two butterflies on the left side and the meaning of the card printed in the center. The meanings are written in a color that matches the butterfly on the front.

The Reflections and Affirmations that are printed in the companion guide are also included in the workbook. The companion guide also offers meditations, a section for using the butterflies for healing physical ailments and information about color vibrations.

The workbook serves as your guide for the 27-Day course and is meant to be written in. The exercises and assignments for each day require approximately 30 minutes each day. The author advises you to do the reading and exercises in the morning and carry out the assignments during the day.

                                                               The set is designed to help you take a deep look at your authentic self, bringing forward the best parts of you. The first 11 days you will be focused on physical and emotional needs, followed by 4 days of heart-centered exercises, and then on to the more spiritual aspects, ending on Day 27 with Inspiration.

Working through the course, be prepared for some interesting self-discoveries and watch for positive changes in attitude and beliefs. This could also be a very effective course to work through as a couple. You definitely would learn a lot about the other person as well as yourself.

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Review: Ghost Hunters' Tool Kit

by Dinah Roseberry with photography by Stuart Schneider Published by Schiffer Publishing, www.schifferbooks.com ISBN: 978-0-7643-3912-7 Retail $34.99 USD

Ghosts, orbs, EVP’s, and things that go bump in the night… Are these the things that fascinate you?  Have you ever thought of investigating the paranormal or ghost hunting? Would you like to combine that with the wonderful world of Tarot?  

The Ghost Hunters’ Tool Kit by Dinah Roseberry might be just the thing for you! One might consider it a jumping off point for paranormal investigation or ghost hunting.  

The kit arrives in a magnetic closure box, with a white pull ribbon and stays. The cover of the box features an eerie yet hauntingly, beautiful cemetery photograph, along with images of multiple cards from the deck all photographed by Stuart Schneider. The kit consists of a set of dowsing rods, 4 decks (a Major Arcana, an Investigation deck, a Client deck and a Recruitment deck), and a 160-page companion book.

The cards are standard poker sized cards measuring 2 ½” wide x 3 ¼” tall, with well rounded corners. One side of each card features a photograph from a cemetery and the deck title (ie. Major Arcana or Client) written on the bottom of the card. There are no borders. The opposite side of the card has a vertical banner on the left side of the card that measures ¼” that also contains the deck label and are color coded:  Major Arcana = purple, Client = blue, Investigation = orange, and Recruitment = Rust. In the upper right corner you will find the number of the card and in the case of the Major Arcana, the name of the card. In the center of each, you will find a keyword. The keyword is the same in each deck, for example, card number 21 in each deck has the keyword Rebirth.  However, the interpretations are a bit different for each deck.  For example:

                            Rebirth

Card #21 – Major Arcana – Reincarnation, learning more lessons, circle of life.

Card #21 – Client – Spirit either known or attached to client.  Sad or uncomfortable.

Card #21 – Investigation – Reincarnating or residual haunting.

Card #21 – Recruitment – Been in another group? Ask the question. Still a good candidate.

The Major Arcana can be used on its own or combined with any of the other 3 decks, making the Majors “wild cards.”

The companion guide explains how effective an oracle can be while used during an ghost hunting activity, working with clients and how to interview and/or recruit people for your paranormal investigative team.

When working with the decks during field work, the author recommends a protection ritual for each time you use the cards whether during an investigation or simply brainstorming. She also recommends that the same team member perform the protection ritual each time. She also recommends that oracle sessions should be tape-recorded. There is a high chance of capturing EVP’s during the sessions.

The companion guide also contains a black and white image for each card, lists the number, title and/or keyword. A quick interpretation as listed on the card back as well as a longer, more in depth interpretation, and how to use each deck.

There are also 4 charts (one for each deck), that list the name of the cemetery in the photograph, the location of the cemetery, the name of the deck and the card number associated.

There is a small section that covers dowsing with pendulums and divining rods and another section of do’s and don’ts along with a section that covers other uses for the decks.

All in all, this is a fun kit that provides quite a bit of useful information regarding ghost hunting. This would make a nice gift for anyone who is into the paranormal and a nice addition for those who want to communicate with beings on the other side of the veil.

Happy Haunts!