REVIEW: The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot

R E V I E W

The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot

Deck and Guidebook

For Fierce Women

by Ashawnee DuBarry

Illustrated by Coni Curi

Publisher:‎ Red Wheel (October 15, 2021)

Paperback:‎ 80 pages; 7-3/4 x 5-3/4 in.

Card Dimensions: 4-3/4 x 2-3/4 in.

ISBN-10:‎ 1590035259

ISBN-13:‎ 978-1590035252

_About My Reviews_

FROM THE PUBLISHER’S PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: “The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot is an invitation for all to tap into the energy of the Divine Feminine and reclaim the tarot as a tool for self-care, spiritual growth, and self-actualization. Tarot was created during a time when the patriarchy maintained tight control over the roles that women were allowed to assume, and as a result most decks overlook the rich religious and spiritual status women have held throughout history. The Sacred Sisterhood Tarot is a complete reimagining—it’s what happens when we open up every card in the deck to feminine energy. True sisterhood is about coming together in a sacred space to support one another—no matter how you identify. Through the imagery, keywords, card meanings, and an exploration of female symbolism, readers will be instilled with confidence not only in their own feminine power but in a deeper understanding of a centuries-old craft.”

MY THOUGHTS

First of all, I really like how DuBarry approaches the idea of female symbolism and representation in the tarot. She makes it clear from the outset that this is not a deck “for women only.” Rather, it celebrates feminine energy while stressing inclusivity, unlike the original tarot, which centered its images and descriptions around the old gender roles. DuBarry references the “Divine Feminine” as a source of energy we can all tap into, with traits such as empathy, receptivity, creativity, fluidity, and intuition. 

Following sections titled The Tarot Deck Explained, Meet Your Deck, and Ways to Use Your Deck, DuBarry provides an excellent summary of “Female Symbolism in the Tarot.” She discusses The High Priestess, The Empress, Strength, Justice, Temperance, The Star, The Moon, and The World, along with how Divine Feminine wisdom is expressed in each of the four suits. 

I like the way DuBarry presents “The Spreads” section by including 1-card, 2-card, 3-card, and 6-card spreads as well as the Horseshoe Spread and (of course) the Celtic Cross.

Moving into the card-by-card discussions, we are given one page per Major Arcana card, arranged by Keywords (Upright), Keywords (Reversed), Yes/No/Maybe (I LOVE this), Upright Meaning, and Reversed Meaning. The guidebook can therefore be used as a quick reference/reminder or a source for more in-depth study. Pages covering the Minor Arcana cards offer a similar format, with two cards per page. 

The cards themselves, printed on sturdy stock, have rounded corners and attractively ornate gold borders against a black background. They were created to resemble vintage posters with a modern edge, in shades of green, brown, and gold with other colors added from time to time (such as a purple chalice on the Ace of Cups). The cards feature the original French name for each of the Major Arcana, such as La Papesse for the High Priestess and Le Diable for the Devil. The number system and minor Arcana follows the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith convention.

I find it refreshing to browse through the artwork on these cards, as it incorporates various racial backgrounds and skin colors. 

I will be posting a Deck Interview with this deck here on the blog before long, and also plan to share a reading or two using this marvelous deck.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ashawnee DuBarry is an intuitive tarot reader and astrologer based in New Jersey. She offers tarot and birth chart readings and works with women to help them connect with their inner goddesses. She is an advocate for mental health awareness and is passionate about helping her clients to use tarot as self-care, to heal, and to understand themselves more deeply. Learn more about Ashawnee and join her 35.5k followers on Instagram at @ElysianSpiritTarotLLC, where she posts daily messages.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR: Coni Curi is an Argentine artist and illustrator based in Buenos Aires. She gets her inspiration from folklore, astronomy, mythology, and the occult. Learn more at conicuri.com or join her 55.9k Instagram followers at @conicuri.

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.

REVIEW: Cirque du Tarot

R E V I E W

Cirque Du Tarot

Tarot Deck and Guidebook

by Leeza Robertson

Illustrated by Josh Tufts

206 pages

Dimensions : ‎ 5.5 x 0.39 x 8.5 inches

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0738764086

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0738764085

Llewellyn Publications

Available September 8, 2021

_About My Reviews_

PUBLISHER’S PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: “Roll up, roll up! Come see the greatest tarot circus on earth! This unique deck showcases the excitement and illusion to be found under the big top along with all the behind-the-scenes intrigue that fuels the show. The suits are cleverly comprised of clockwork machines, balancing blades, water acrobatics, and blazing fire dancers; and since the cards follow the Rider-Waite-Smith structure and symbology, you can begin reading with them today. With its sumptuous art and captivating characters, this deck is the perfect choice for tarotists who are drawn to the magic and mystery of the Ringmaster's domain.”

MY THOUGHTS

With an intro like the description provided by the publisher (above), this deck and book set certainly has a lot to live up to! Fortunately Robertson and Tufts do that and more with skill comparable to that of the performers under their “Big Top.”

I love books, so for me, the best place to start exploring this deck is by paging through the approximately 206-page guidebook, titled Under the Big Top. Preceding the discussion/description of each card in the deck, we have small sections such as “Welcome to the Show!”, “The Playbill,” and “Setting the Stage: How to Do a Reading with Your New Cards.” All of this material is clear and succinctly written, useful for beginners and more experienced readers alike.

ACT ONE MAJORS / The Greatest Show on Earth: As expected, the pages in this section cover the Major Arcana cards. I love that for each card, Leeza Robertson provides a paragraph titled “Ally” followed by a paragraph titled “Challenger,” basically covering the idea of upright and reversed interpretations.

INTERMISSION / Court Cards: Here we receive information about Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings in general, plus a discussion of each Page, Knight, Queen, and King using the same format as the Majors (“Ally” and “Challenger”).

ACTS

The suits are then broken down into “Acts.” I absolutely love the subtitle provided for each suit:

ACT TWO / Swords: A Land of Dreams and Nightmares
ACT THREE / Wands: It’s All Fire and Smoke
ACT FOUR / Cups: Dive Deep and Play
ACT FIVE / Pentacles: Reality Revealed

For the ENCORE, we are given wonderful spreads with circus-related titles such as “Seeking the Spotlight,” “Stage Fright,” “The Seven Day Show!”, and “Being Part of a Troupe.” 

THE CARDS: 

The cards themselves are standard Tarot stock, sturdy enough without being thick and unwieldy. The titles on the Major Arcana cards include the card number as well as the traditional name. (I was pleased to see that the author didn’t try to get cute by giving the Majors names like “Ringmaster” or “Lion Tamer.”) In fact, there are no “lion tamers” in the deck because animals are not part of the Cirque du Tarot, yet another selling point in my opinion.

Swords cards are illustrated in shades of dark blue, indigo, and purple (clearly linked with the element Air). Wands are orange and red (clearly linked with the element Fire). Cups are illustrated in turquoise and pink/fuchsia. Pentacles cards feature golds and browns. Card backs offer a gorgeous representation of the suit symbols.

Professional designer and illustrator Josh Tufts imbues each card with his own style, while honoring traditional themes, symbols, and imagery.

NEXT STEP: I plan to do a deck interview soon with this deck and probably a reading or two. Stay tuned!

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.

REVIEW: Wonderland Tarot in a Tin

R E V I E W

Wonderland Tarot in a Tin 

by Chris Abbey (Author), Morgana Abbey (Author)

_U.S. Games Systems Inc._ (January 20, 2017)

ISBN-10: 1572818794

ISBN-13: 978-1572818798

Product Dimensions: 2.2 x 0.2 x 3.7 inches

_About My Reviews_

I don’t know if people even use the word “squee” (a sound made by excited fangirls or fanboys) anymore, but “squee!” was my reaction recently when I opened a package and The Wonderland Tarot in a Tin hopped out. Having seen the original deck “in action” (used for readings by a dear friend), I was delighted to find this new version in my own little hands!

The original version of The Wonderland Tarot -- created by the collaborative team of Christopher and Morgana Abbey -- was first published in 1989 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. You can still get the original, but be prepared to part with anywhere from $100 to $400 or more. I’m happy with the newly released version, available for around $15-20, depending on where you shop.

I especially love this Author’s Note provided by Chris and Morgana Abbey: “A lot changes over the years, and this remains a happy memory for us. If you knew it from before, we hope seeing it again brought you a grin, Cheshire Cat-like or not. If you are encountering this deck for the first time, we hope to match the grin. Thank you for all before and for all that is to come.”

The tin box makes a perfect home for the deck, which has the same art on the cards as the original -- art in the style and flavor of Sir John Tenniel's illustrations of Lewis Carroll's work. The colors are bright and clear, in keeping with the child-like images and “feel” of the deck.

The deck fits the typical Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) system, even though the suits have been changed to Flamingos (Swords, Spades), Peppermills (Staves, Wands, Clubs), Hats (Cups, Hearts), and Oysters (Pentacles, Coins, Diamonds).

Most of the major characters from Alice in Wonderland are on the Major Arcana cards, for example, the Mad Hatter (Fool), Lewis Carroll (Magician), Alice (High Priestess), Sheep (Empress), Cheshire Cat (Emperor), Caterpillar (Hierophant).

Reversible card backs are lavender with a white border, incorporating three rows of black vines with green leaves and red flowers.

The cards themselves are the approximate size of a standard playing deck. The playing-card equivalent of the Minor Arcana is notated in the borders of each of the appropriate cards (e.g., the “Six of Hearts” is noted in the border of the Six of Hats).

In the Little White Book (LWB), Chris Abbey provides an Introduction to Tarot and The Tarot Deck. Abbey mentions that the sources he used to write the booklet were The Encyclopedia of Tarot, volume I, by Stuart R. Kaplan, and The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite. For the Major Arcana, Abbey gives us Alice-related information for each card along with standard interpretations. For example:

“XIII. DEATH. The Queen of Hearts points at some unknown person, shouting, ‘Off with his head!’ One of the cards is lying down, playing possum so that he will not suffer a similar fate. The Queen shouts a lot, but no one ever really dies. The victims change so they will not be recognized. In the real world, those that die are in transition and will come back to live in another form. Divinatory meanings: Change. Transformation from one form to another or from one situation to another. Changing of the guard. Moving away from the familiar. Loss of security, bad luck. Abrupt or gradual change. Illness, possibly death. A bad loan. Reverse meanings: Complete lack of change. Standing still to the point of stagnation. Possibility of slow or partial change, with the proper surrounding cards. A close call in an accident.”

The Minor Arcana cards are grouped in the booklet by suit, with a brief description of the suit meaning for each. Divinatory meanings and Reverse meanings are provided for each Minor Arcana card.

At the end of the LWB, we have The Ten-Card Spread, described as a “slightly altered version of the Ancient Celtic Method described by Arthur Edward Waite in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot.”

My favorites from this deck include Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee as The Lovers, the Jabberwock as The Devil, and the Walrus and the Carpenter (with the ill-fated oysters) as The Moon.

And now, in addition to doing some readings with this wonderful Wonderland deck, I need to grab a copy of Alice in Wonderland and revisit that fascinating story with its amazing characters!

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.

Review: Botanical Inspirations Deck & Book Set

R E V I E W

Botanical Inspirations Deck & Book Set

by Lynn Araujo

Cards illustrated by _Pierre-Joseph Redouté_ (1759-1840)

_U.S. Games Systems, Inc._

44 cards with quotations

100-page illustrated guidebook

Fold-out guide to the Secret Language of Flowers

Drawstring organza pouch

_About My Reviews_

So many things to love about this deck and book set, it’s hard to know where to start – but I’m going to start with the packaging, which is superb.

The top of the sturdy flip-top cardboard box features a lush collage of Pierre-Joseph Redouté’s Victorian flower art, including the dahlia, coreopsis, asters, forget-me-nots, and amaryllis, among others. This box is roomy enough for a perfect-bound guidebook with the same illustration on its cover, the deck of 44 cards, a trifold pamphlet listing keywords for all of the flowers shown on the cards, and an organza pouch the same shade of mint green as the box, booklet, pamphlet, and card backs. Also included is a card providing detailed information about Redouté, who was born in 1759 to a Flemish family of decorative painters. By the late 1790s, Redouté was the most famous and sought after flower painter in Europe.

Card faces are a tan parchment color, an attractive background for the artwork. The cards do a beautiful job of combining science and sentiment. At the top, centered, is the common name of the flower, with the Latin name or alternative name centered immediately under that in flowery script. Next comes the Redouté’s illustration of the flower. The style is realistic, and it is easy to see how the artist was influenced by the botanist Charles Louis L'Héritier, who offered Redouté free access to his botanical library and plant collection. Centered below the artwork is the meaning attributed to that flower. Finally, also centered, we have a quotation that reflects that symbolism. Here are a couple of examples:

TULIP

Tulipa

Friendship & Gratitude

“Let us be grateful for the people who make us happy; 

they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

 – Marcel Proust

ASTERS

Callistephus

Elegance & Patience

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

– Lao Tzu

For each flower, the guidebook provides a black-and-white version of the Redouté illustration, the common name and Latin name for the flower, symbolism, quotation, a long paragraph discussing the flower and its meaning, and an Inspirational Message. The eloquent writing in the guidebook is a pleasure to read, offering tidbits of the fascinating history and cultural interpretations associated with each flower.

Let’s look at the IRIS (Iris germanica).

Symbolism: Rainbows & Messages

Quotation: “When it rains, look for rainbows. When it’s dark, look for stars.” – Unknown

“The stately flower borrowed its name from Iris, the Greek goddess of the rainbow. It was her duty to transport the souls of departed women to the Elysian Fields. In the Language of Flowers, Iris came to mean ‘messages’ since its namesake carried messages along the rainbow between the realms of the mortals and the gods. The majestic iris flower inspired the French fleur de lis motif, with the three petals symbolizing faith, wisdom and valor.”

Inspirational Message: “Keep your eyes open to the wisdom of the universe and you will receive clear signs and messages that guide you on your path.”

At the end of the guidebook is a section titled “Reading with the Botanical Inspirations Cards,” containing examples of the Three-Card Fleur De Lis reading. I am looking forward to giving this a try soon here on Tarot Notes.

The Botanical Inspirations cards are perfect for drawing a daily Affirmation, and the guidebook can be used as a resource when researching the various flowers and their meanings.


About the Author: Lynn Araujo is the author of Dreaming Way Lenormand, TastyTalk Conversation Cards, Historical Signals and Semaphores, Native American Playing Cards, and is co-author with Stuart Kaplan of The Artwork & Times of Pamela Colman Smith. She is currently working on Pastoral Tarot with Lisa Hunt.

REVIEW: Chrysalis Tarot

R E V I E W

_Chrysalis Tarot_

by Toney Brooks (Author) and Holly Sierra (Artist)

_US Games Systems_

78 cards: 2.75” x 4.75”

60 page booklet

ISBN-10: 1572816899

ISBN-13: 978-1572816893

_About My Reviews_

TOP LINE (formerly Bottom Line)

Although I do enjoy Tarot decks that focus on one theme or cultural foundation, I love decks like this that incorporate multiple traditions or myth systems. To me, this approach reminds us that similar archetypes and motifs appear across a wide range of spiritual paths. I love the idea of Merlin, Ariadne, Bella Rosa, Kali, and Papa Legba joining forces to create a Major Arcana for a Tarot deck. It’s a Sagittarian’s dream come true!

Holly Sierra’s enchanting art and Toney Brooks’ engaging writing create a world that welcomes, enriches, and entrances. Each exquisite card opens a window into a land where we can expect to find magic, truth, and our Selves.

While there are some similarities between these cards and those in the Rider-Waite deck, there are also enough differences that I would not recommend this deck for someone who wants to learn “traditional Tarot” as a first step on their Tarot journey. In many cases, it will probably be necessary to consult the Little White Book (LWB) that accompanies the deck to get the most out of a card’s setting and symbolism. The _Chrysalis Tarot web site_ also offers useful and inspiring information and discussion of the deck.  I found an Ancestral Council spread there that I am eager to try using this deck.

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY

“Chrysalis Tarot opens up your psyche and illuminates your path toward personal destiny. Exquisitely drawn Otherworld characters and mythological archetypes guide you on your spiritual quest. Both the Major and Minor Arcana feature beautifully illustrated scenes that inspire reflection and stimulate your psychic intuition and imagination. The four suits that make up the Minor Arcana are: Stones (Pentacles); Mirrors (Cups); Spirals (Wands); and Scrolls (Swords). In the Court Cards you’ll meet a delightful troupe of medieval messengers who inspire you to fulfill your dreams. Deck includes 78 cards and 60-page booklet with instructions for a five-card Pentagram Spread.”

BASIC INFORMATION

A chrysalis is the transformation stage between the larva of a butterfly and the adult butterfly, a sheltered stage of being or growth. The butterfly caterpillar actually hardens into a chrysalis during its pupal stage. To me, this suggests that when working with this deck, I am in a protected space, in the process of evolving to the next level of my existence as I undergo a transformation.

In the Introduction to the LWB, Toney Brooks writes: “By your side on your quest for self-fulfillment is an unseen force. It’s an energy field known by many names and recognized by many masks; a force that informs your psyche and nudges you forward. In the Chrysalis Tarot, we refer to this force as the Otherworld.”

The four suits of the Chrysalis Tarot are Stones (Pentacles), Mirrors (Cups), Spirals (Wands), and Scrolls (Swords).

The Court cards are portrayed by medieval troubadours. Both sexes are equally represented, and each court card has an animal association.

The Minstrel: King of Pentacles, King of Stones
The Artiste: Queen of Pentacles, Queen of Stones
The Illusionist: Knight of Pentacles, Knight of Stones
The Acrobat: Page of Pentacles, Page of Stones
The Sojourner: King of Cups, King of Mirrors
The Watcher: Queen of Cups, Queen of Mirrors
The Dreamer: Knight of Cups, Knight of Mirrors
The Healer: Page of Cups, Page of Mirrors
The Companion: King of Wands, King of Spirals
The Muse: Queen of Wands, Queen of Spirals
The Corsair: Knight of Wands, Knight of Spirals
The Mime: Page of Wands, Page of Spirals
The Poet: King of Swords, King of Scrolls
The Weaver: Queen of Swords, Queen of Scrolls
The Visionary: Knight of Swords, Knight of Scrolls
The Pilgrim: Page of Swords, Page of Scrolls

The Majors are Otherworld characters and archetypes with traditional and nontraditional titles:

The Fool – Merlin
The Magician – Ravens
The High Priestess – Sorceress
The Empress – Gaia
The Emperor – Green Man
The Hierophant – Divine Child
The Lovers – The Lovers
The Chariot – Herne the Hunter
Justice – Ma-at
The Hermit – Storyteller
The Wheel of Fortune – Wheel
Strength – Papa Legba
The Hanged Man – Celtic Owl
Death – Ariadne
Temperance – Golden Flower
The Devil – Bella Rosa
The Tower – Kali
The Star – Elpi
The Moon – Moon
The Sun – Sun
Judgment – Phoenix
The World – Psyche

The unillustrated 60-page LWB provides Traditional Titles and Attributes for each Major. Each suit in the Minor Arcana is given Traditional Names and Values. For example, for the suit of Stones we have the Traditional Names “Pentacles or Coins” and the Values “Happiness” and “Prosperity.” A Keyword is provided for each pip card. Finally, the section on “The Troupe” (Court cards) offers Traditional Names, Attributes, and Role for each card. For example, The Minstrel (King of Pentacles, King of Stones) has the attributes “Assertive” and “Loyal,” and his Role is “Mentor.”

Toney Brooks writes that the pip cards “feature scenes that inspire personal reflection and stimulate your psychic intuition and imagination.” He tells us that the Court cards “represent real-life messengers inspired by the Otherworld to assist you, especially at critical moments and troubling crossroads.”

At the end of the LWB we have the Pentagram Five-Card Spread featuring positions for Spirit, Earth, Water, Fire, and Air.

Toney Brooks

AUTHOR AND ARTIST

About Toney Brooks
After retiring from broadcasting twenty years ago, Toney traveled the world researching spirituality. He studied, both formally and informally, a number of metaphysical subjects including comparative mythology, philosophy of history, and an obscure area of theology known as Mariology. He holds a PhD in Metaphysics and a certification in Spiritual Counseling.

Holly Sierra

About Holly Sierra
Holly Sierra has been drawn to all things mystical and magical since her childhood. Her vibrant paintings allow us a glimpse into an enchanted world filled with goddesses and mythological creatures. Holly’s infatuation with Tarot began when she was a teen and discovered an antique deck amongst her parents’ possessions. The Chrysalis Tarot deck is dedicated to both her beloved parents. After pursuing a fine arts education, Holly lived and traveled extensively in Asia. Multicultural themes influence her artwork, which has appeared in children’s books, magazines and greeting cards. Holly makes her home amidst the picturesque, green mountains of Stowe, Vermont.

APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

The cards are 2 ¾” by 4 ¾”. The finish is what I would call “semi-gloss” – with a pleasant, light-weight shine. The stock is sturdy and invites shuffling, whatever your method.

The card faces have a patterned gold border. At the bottom is the card title in black lettering against a parchment colored background. The Majors have both the new (deck specific) title and the traditional title at the bottom in every case except Trump Zero, which is labeled “The Hero” instead of “The Fool”.

The card backs, which are reversible, have a gold and blue pattern in the corners. Centered as a backdrop is a blue spiral-covered oval. Within that is a gold circle, with a mandala as its center. Large multi-colored butterflies appear on either end of the gold circle.

ART

The coloring on the cards is bright yet soft, vivid yet gentle, and the images are realistic yet imaginative. The scenes on the cards arise from many traditions, including Greek, Arthurian, Celtic, Pagan, Egyptian, Hindu, New Age, and Haitian Vodou. At the same time, the deck has a cohesive feel thanks to a consistent style and coloration. Each image invites exploration of the details and symbolism, evoking emotions and stimulating the imagination.





In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.

REVIEW: Mystical Cats Tarot

R E V I E W

Mystical Cats Tarot

by _Lunaea Weatherstone_ & _Mickie Mueller_

_Llewellyn Publications_ (May 8, 2014)

ISBN-10: 0738733881 / ISBN-13: 978-0738733883

Book: 8.5 x 5.4 x 2.4 inches; 216 pages

Cards: 2-3/4 x 4-5/8 inches

_About My Reviews_

TOP LINE (formerly Bottom Line)

Yeah, yeah, I know. The cat lady has acquired another cat-themed deck and what do you know? She likes it! What do I like about it? Well, for starters, even though this is not what anyone would call a Rider-Waite-Smith clone, the situations and activities shown on each card do call to mind the comparable RWS card.

On the Nine of Sky (Swords), instead of someone in bed with nine swords hanging over her head, we have a sleeping cat tossing and turning, clearly distressed, as visions of a vicious dog, angry cat, sharp-taloned bird of prey, and firecracker do a frightening “dance” in its head. On the Four of Sea (Cups), an obviously bored or depressed cat totally ignores four capering lobsters in the background. On the Three of Fire (Wands), a cat gazes upward in a manner similar to that of the man on the RWS Three of Wands, who gazes out at the sea.

I also like the way Lunaea Weatherstone sets the stage for each card interpretation by bringing us into the situation depicted on the card – in other words, the cat situation – before moving on to explain how the card might reflect our situation and advise us on approaches we might take. Reversed meanings are right on target, offering useful and realistic suggestions.

The sketches and comments at the back of the book are truly a welcome addition, giving us insight into the thought processes of the artist and the rest of the team working on the deck.

Mickie Mueller’s art automatically goes in the “plus” column for me, and I love the way she captures the expressiveness of a cat’s face, eyes, and body language. I like that she incorporates many different breeds and colors of cats.

To see a reading I did with this deck, click HERE. I look forward to doing more!

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY

"Anyone who has ever owned—or been owned by—a cat knows its wild and mystical nature. Open the door to a magical world of feline enchantment that offers eternal and ancient wisdom with the Mystical Cats Tarot.

Discover amazing artwork of various domestic breeds that look and behave like normal cats, but face many challenges, relationships, and life lessons that reveal the answers to our most important questions. Organized by elemental suits—Earth, Sea, Fire, and Sky—and cat-based court cards, this deck presents the descendants of the Cat Goddess in all their furry glory." 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Lunaea Weatherstone is a priestess, writer, teacher, and tarot counselor who has been serving the Pagan community for more than twenty-five years, since her days as owner/editor of SageWoman magazine. As Grove Mother for the Sisterhood of the Silver Branch, she offers year-long programs in goddess spirituality. Lunaea has been working with the tarot for more than forty years.

Mickie Mueller is an award-winning and critically acclaimed artist of fantasy, fairy, and myth. She is an ordained Pagan minister and has studied Natural Magic, Fairy Magic and Celtic tradition. She is also a Reiki healing master/teacher in the Usui Shiki Royoho Tradition. Mickie enjoys creating magical art full of fairies, goddesses, and beings of folklore. She works primarily in a mix of colored pencil and watercolor infused with magical herbs corresponding to her subject matter.

BASIC INFORMATION

This deck follows the traditional Tarot structure, with Major Arcana cards, Court cards, and Pips.

Majors: Some of the Majors have undergone a “name change” in this deck. For example:

• The Fool … The Cat
• The Magician … Cat Magic 
• Justice … Consequences
• The Hanged Man … The Floating Cat
• Temperance … Grace
• The Devil … Demon Cat
• Judgment … Good Kitty

Mystical Cats Tarot

Other Majors have traditional titles (for example, The Empress, The Lovers, The Tower).

Minors: The Minor Arcana cards have the traditional four suits but they are given the names Fire Clan (Wands), Sea Clan (Cups), Sky Clan (Swords), and Earth Clan (Pentacles). Court Cards are titled Kitten (Page), Tom (Knight), Queen, and King.

Sections in the introductory pages of Tales of the Mystical Cats (the 201-page book that accompanies this deck) address Mixing the Cards, Reading the Cards, About Reversals, Care and Feeding of Your Deck, in which we are told: “The ‘proper’ way to care for a tarot deck is whatever feels right for you. . . The important thing is always to treat your cards with respect.”

Each card receives a two-page spread, with a black-and-white version of the card on the left and a discussion of the card on the right. The material on the right includes a description of the card, The Cat’s Advice, and “If the card is reversed…”

In the section for each suit, we have a black-and-white illustration and a one-page description of the qualities of the suit and the cats that belong to that element.

Four spreads are included at the end of the book, each accompanied by a drawing that incorporates the layout. These spreads are titled At the Threshold (3 cards with the Two of Fire as the center card), Shield of Sekhmet (3 cards), Council of the Five Tigers (5 cards), and Nine Lives Spread (9 cards).

Following the spreads we have an Appendix containing “Sketches from Mickie Mueller’s Old Wooden Art Table.” This behind-the-scenes glimpse of some of the images in the deck are accompanied by annotated captions from Mueller herself.

APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

The cards are printed on typical Tarot card stock with what I would call a semi-glossy finish. They fit comfortably in my hands and are the right size for shuffling. The packaging includes a white cardboard box that is clearly meant to hold the cards, but it is really too big for them (4 x 5-1/4 inches). It’s better than nothing, but I would rather not use it.

Cards are borderless. Card backs are reversible.

Each card has the title of the card at the bottom in black ink printed on a dark gold banner. I found the titles a bit difficult to read, but that could be due to the age of my eyes.

Mystical Cats Tarot

ART

Mickie Mueller’s art is superb, as expected (I have long been a fan of her work!) As someone who has been owned by cats for most of my life, I recognize the feline expressions, body language, and activities that Mueller has been so successful in capturing. The colors are rich and vibrant. The coloring on the Minors expresses the nature of each suit’s element beautifully.

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.

Review: Tarot Draconis

R E V I E W

_About My Reviews_

_Tarot Draconis_

by _Davide Corsi_

78 cards, 64-page instruction booklet

Llewellyn / Lo Scarabeo 

ISBN-10: 0738739421

ISBN-13: 978-0738739427

Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 3 x 1.2 inches

(My apologies for labeling the card images "Draconis Tarot" when it should be "Tarot Draconis.")

TOP LINE (formerly Bottom Line)

I like dragons (and dragon-themed decks), so of course this deck appealed to me immediately. I loved the examples of the cards that I saw on line. I like the way the artist gave many of the dragons a distinct “attitude” or “personality.” Unfortunately, most of the card images are darker than I would like. Many of the images look muddy, and details are difficult to see or entirely lost.

I do like the color schemes based on elemental/suit associations. You can tell at a glance if a card is from the suit of Cups, Pentacles, Wands, or Swords. To me, that adds something to a layout. You immediately see elemental strength/weakness and relationships in a reading.

I am quite fond of the Little White Book (LWB) that comes with this deck. It starts with a quote by the dragon Smaug from The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. Who wouldn’t love that? After a discussion of what dragons have symbolized over the centuries (and still symbolize) to humans, we get a description of what this deck offers: “a mythical past of Humanity. . . a world where heroes in armour achieve their destiny by fighting epic battles to conquer kingdoms and where the skies are obscured by the passage of Dragons.”

That’s very nice – but what I enjoy most are the descriptions of the individual suits. Here are the opening lines of each:

Chalices – The Dragons of the Dawn
“We come to the days before days, in a time when the World was a dream, and Man was still a soul. . .”

Pentacles – The Dragons of Wealth
“We are the first-born of Mother Earth and we know her secrets. . .”

Wands – The Dragons of the Battle
“Our home is the flaming heart of the Battle. . . This is the Torch lit by our Fire. It is up to you to use it for destruction or for creation.”

Swords – The Dragons of Twilight
“We come from the Shadows, from that realm in between, inhabited by ghosts and restless souls. . .”

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY

Embodying all the magic and primitive purity of the mighty winged beasts, Davide Corsi's bold dragon art perfectly combines the epic grandeur of classic fantasy with the iconic power of the traditional Rider-Waite tarot. It has been said that dragons share a common sight everywhere—in the skies, in the sea, and on the land. In this deck, the visionary wisdom of the dragons will be your guide through the mystical and spiritual worlds.

BASIC INFORMATION

Davide Corsi is an illustrator based in Italy. In addition to Tarot Draconis, he is the artist for the Vampire Tarot of Eternal Night, The Tarot of the Elves, the Pictorial Key Tarot, and The Ghost Tarot, all published by Llewellyn.

This deck has the standard Tarot components:

• Major Arcana: 22 cards (zero through 21)
• Four suits: Chalices, Pentacles, Wands, Swords
• Court Cards: King, Queen, Knight, Knave
• Pips: Ace through Ten for each suit

The Major Arcana begins with a glowing golden egg atop a pile of treasure for The Fool and ends with the egg breaking open as a baby dragon emerges on The World.

A number of reviewers have expressed disappointment in the Court Cards from this deck, describing them as “uninspired.” This is largely due to the approach that was used in creating them. For example, notice that the horse on all four Knight cards is the same horse in the same position. The Queens feature the same woman for each suit in a slightly different pose but sitting on the same throne, with the color scheme varying based on the suit. This is true of the Knaves, Knights, and Kings as well.

If you’re interested, you can also get the following from Lo Scarabeo/Llewellyn:
_Draconis Journal_
_Draconis Satin Bag_

APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

The cards measure just over 2-1/2 inches wide and 4-3/4 inches tall. (Dimensions of the deck in the box are listed on Amazon as 5.1 x 3 x 1.2 inches and on the Llewellyn web site as 3 x 5 x 1 IN.)

Card fronts have black borders and a picture frame colored for each suit (blue-cups, light green-coins, red-wands, gray-swords) or Major Arcana (gold). The backs also have black borders with an ornate golden frame on a red background and a gold emblem of a dragon.

There are no labels or titles on the cards. Majors have a Roman numeral at the top and bottom. Courts have symbols for Knave, Knight, Queen, or King at the top and suit symbols at the bottom. Pips have a numeral at the top and suit symbol at the bottom.

Quality of the card stock is acceptable – somewhere between sturdy and flimsy.  The cards are not laminated.

ART

I would describe the art as a classic fantasy style that comes across very well on the Llewellyn web site, where some of the cards are displayed digitally. Unfortunately, that level of beauty and “sizzle” does not make it into the cards. This is not the fault of the artist, of course, but probably the printing process.

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.

REVIEW: Black Cats Tarot

R E V I E W

Black Cats Tarot
by Maria Kuara
Lo Scarabeo / Llewellyn Publications
ISBN-10: 0738738786 / ISBN-13: 978-0738738789
Dimensions: 4.9 x 2.7 x 1.2 inches

_About My Reviews_

TOP LINE (formerly Bottom Line)

Karma

As a lover of black cats in general and my cat Karma in particular, I eagerly looked forward to having an entire Tarot deck featuring black cats. I have collected many cat-themed decks over the years, and I enjoy seeing the distinctive styles of different artists as they render my feline friends in the context of Tarot.

One thing that I am not fond of in this deck is the way many of the cards depict black cats against a very dark background. I understand that the cats need to be black, and that a deck called "Black Cats Tarot" should have a mysterious look to it (which calls for dark colors). However, many of the cards are so dark that my eyes struggle to see the details. I don't know if this is due to the original art or the printing process -- or even if it varies from copy to copy of the deck. Examples include Strength, Death, The Devil, The Tower, the 8 of Cups, 5 of Pentacles, 2 of Wands, and 8 of Swords. On the 5 of Pentacles, I actually have to hold the card up to the light and put my nose up to the picture to see what is there.

The good news is that on most of the cards, the art can be seen clearly and the details explored. The artist adds some nice touches to individual cards. For example, the Queen of Swords is depicted in an autumn setting, a reference to the common association of the element Air (Swords) with the season of autumn. However, this elemental association is not reflected in the other Swords Court Cards.

I like the whimsical style of this deck and I look forward to doing some trial readings with it.

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY

"This Rider-Waite-based tarot celebrates and honors the beautiful and magical black cats. Cleverly incorporating feline characteristics and legend into traditional tarot archetypes, this fanciful deck captures these creatures moving between worlds of reality and fantasy, the mundane and mystical. Disarmingly cute yet unmistakably wise, the black cats encourage you to explore your own animal nature."

From the Little White Book (LWB): "The nature of the cat. . . belongs to two worlds: the real world and a fantasy world depicted in this Tarot, but above all a material world and a spiritual one."

BASIC INFORMATION

According to the publisher, The Black Cats Tarot "is based on" the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition -- yet the cards are not what I would call "clones" of that model in any strict sense. For example, the 3 of Swords depicts not a heart pierced by swords but two cats sitting in the rain with their backs to each other, a sword stuck in the ground next to each cat, and a third sword lying nearby. The 4 of Swords does not picture a knight's tomb but a cat sitting on a bench with its leg bandaged.

Some of the cards bear little if any resemblance to the RWS model. For example, On the 10 of Wands, instead of a figure carrying a bundle of wands we have a cat in a cave holding one cat-headed wand while looking at 8 others. A 9th wand leans against a wall in the background. The LWB description gives the keyword "Accomplishment" and the description, "When we are about the [sic] attain what we have always desired, we are often overwhelmed by fear. This is the dark side of desire. Will we cross the threshold or remain outside?"

The LWB that comes with this deck offers the usual Lo Scarabeo divinatory meanings in English, Italian, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese. No reversed meanings are given. For the Majors, the number and title of the card is followed by a few lines of interpretation. The pips have a keyword followed by two or three lines. Each Court Card is given a "role" or "trait" with its interpretation. For example, the Knave of Pentacles is "Juggler," the Knight is "Far-sightedness," the Queen is "Sound administration," and the King is "Strategy." A 6-card spread called "The cat's tail" is also provided in the LWB.

Interestingly, two of the cats in this deck are white. For The Fool, the LWB tells us "The White Cat represents freedom and purity. . ." On The World, a white cat appears to step out of a black "shell", symbolizing a new cycle and being "purged of our own psychic baggage."

APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

The cards measure 4.9 x 2.7 x 1.2 inches. Card stock is lightweight. The box is a standard flip-top card box.

Card backs are reversible and feature the head of a golden-eyed black cat wearing a gold tiara. Design elements on the backs are repeated at the top and bottom of the card faces.

I would describe the finish as "semi-glossy" rather than glossy or matte. The cards faces have black borders. Majors have the number at the top and the bottom. Pips have the number at the top and the suit symbol at the bottom. Courts have the suit symbol at the bottom and a helmet-like shape at the top for the Knave, a horse head at the top for the Knight, a crown for the Queen, and a patriarchal cross on globe for the King.

ART

Maria Kuara's cats have humanoid bodies with cat heads. Because of that, they have a somewhat "cartoon" feeling. They are, for the most part, not clothed. It is sometimes possible to tell from the pose or posture that a cat is intended to be male or female, but there are no obvious sexual distinctions.

In accordance with the FTC Guidelines for blogging and endorsements, I hereby disclose that this product was provided by the publisher for free. Other than the occasional review copy, I receive no monetary or in-kind compensation for my reviews.  The substance of my reviews is not influenced by whether I do or do not receive a review copy.