Cards and Quotes: 5 of Coins

Today's Cards and Quotes features the 5 of Coins from The Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg (Artist: Yury Shakov; Publisher: U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

"Let us learn to appreciate there will be times when the trees will be bare, and look forward to the time when we may pick the fruit."
~ Anton Chekhov, Russian Dramatist
(1860-1904)

5W's and an H: TEN OF SWORDS

Today's edition of 5W's and an H features the Simply Deep Tarot by Chanel Bayless, with artwork by James Battersby (Schiffer).

To refresh your memory: For the 5W's and an H exercise, we use one Tarot card to answer the questions Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? As an additional requirement, each answer can be only one phrase or sentence. The idea is to respond intuitively, without a lot of description or explanation.


Ten of Swords

Simply Deep Tarot (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.)

Who? Someone who is feeling overwhelmed or defeated.

What? Too many difficult issues to deal with

When? When it all comes crashing in

Where? In the darkness just before dawn

Why? Because you have allowed fears and negative possibilities to gang up on you

How? By learning to deal with each challenge separately instead of trying to solve them all at once

REVIEW: The Chakra Zodiac Healing Oracle

R E V I E W 

The Chakra Zodiac Oracle
by Cinnamon Crow, RMT
Deck and Booklet Boxed Set
44 Cards; 3-1/2 x 5 inches
150 page booklet
Ozark Mountain Publishing, Inc. (Sept. 1, 2011)
ISBN: 9781886940192

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY

"Beginner will learn the basic functions of the chakras, characteristics of the Zodiac signs, and the ruling planets and their functions. Those already familiar with these two systems will learn the ruling planets of the chakras and how to channel planetary energies into specific areas for maximum healing and balance.

Working with this oracle will help harness the energy of the planets for all matters of healing—individual and communal, physical and metaphysical."

BASIC INFORMATION

Author Cinnamon Crow is a psychic, medium, teacher, and healer, and is a certified Reiki Master Teacher (RMT). According to the publisher, her divination system (which combines the Zodiac and the Chakra systems) is the only one of its kind.

As an astrologer, the first thing I noticed about this deck is that Crow does not limit herself to the Tropical (Western) Zodiac (12 signs based on the seasons). She incorporates the Sidereal (Eastern) Zodiac (13 signs, including the 12 Western astrology signs plus Ophiuchus).

Those who use the Sidereal Zodiac typically believe that those born after 2009 may have a different sign than that assigned to them under the "old" system. Not only are the beginning and ending dates for each sign different in Sidereal astrology, but the Sun sign for those born between November 30 and December 17 is not Scorpio or Sagittarius, but Ophiuchus. Crow thoughtfully provides theTropical and Sidereal Zodiac dates in her booklet. My Sun sign is Sagittarius in both systems.

Following the discussion of the two zodiac systems, Crow gives us several spreads to use with this Oracle deck (or any deck, really). These spreads are:

• Daily Guidance (1 card)
• Specific Question (1 card)
• General Reading (3 cards)
• Problem/Solution (2 cards)
• Block (5 cards)
• Problem and Solution 2 (4 cards)
• Mirror Spread (6 cards)
• Love Spread (6 cards)
• Story Board (12 cards)
• Celtic Cross (10 cards)

For each card, the booklet provides a black-and-white illustration of the card, several paragraphs describing the divinatory meanings, and a list of Additional Meanings, which include a Chant, or positive affirmation. The Index at the end of the booklet makes it easy to find each entry.

The cards cover 11 chakras, 10 planets and luminaries, 5 asteroids, 13 signs, and 4 elements.  There is also a card titled Resistance / Energy Block. Each card has a title (keyword or phrase) at the top, a symbol or symbols in the center, and the name of the sign, planet, asteroid, chakra, or element at the bottom. Crow tells us that you can use any of these cards as a focal point for meditation.

Chiron: Originally classified as an asteroid, Chiron (the Wounded Healer) is now considered by some to be an asteroid and by others, a comet. Some astrologers believe Chiron should be recognized as the ruler of the sign Virgo.

The Other Asteroids: Ceres, Pallas Athene, Juno and Vesta were counted as planets between 1808–1845, when the smaller asteroids began to be discovered. Originally classified as an asteroid, Chiron is now considered by some to be an asteroid and by other, a comet. Some astrologers believe Chiron should be recognized as the ruler of the sign Virgo.


APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

This deck and booklet set is packaged in a very sturdy, very attractive cardboard box with a lid that lifts off easily (so don't turn the box upside down in the air!). Both the box and the backs of the cards feature a zodiac wheel with the signs around the wheel and the symbol for Chiron in the center. The cards measure 3-1/2 by 5 inches. They are not heavy card stock, but reasonably sturdy -- fairly typical for Tarot and Oracle decks. I have no trouble shuffling them.

ART

For the planets and signs, some of the cards simply have the sigil or symbol for the planet with a wide stripe of color behind it. Others feature the sigil or symbol with other effects surrounding it. For example, the symbol for Saturn is set against a tilted oval that resembles the planet Saturn's rings.

The elements cards have the traditional symbol for each element set against an appropriate background for that element. For example, the symbol for Water is pictured on a rippling pool of water.

The Resistance / Energy Block card has a diamond crossed by a square. In the middle is what I would call a rosette, with concentric circles in its center.

The Chakra cards also have the square-upon-diamond design in the middle. Several of them also include the rosette. Each Chakra card has a different symbol or symbols in the very center of the card.

Colors:

All of the cards have a black background, with lettering and art in various colors.

The colors used on the Chakra cards correspond to the colors traditionally associated with each Chakra (for example, red for the Base or Root Chakra, orange for the Sacral Chakra, yellow for the Solar Plexus Chakra, etc.) The deck also includes cards for the Ear Chakra, Earthstar Chakra, Hand Chakra, and Higher Heart Chakra.

The cards representing the four elements have a color scheme that is different from what I expected: Fire is red and Water is blue -- that makes sense. But Earth is a deep blue or purple and Air is what I would call red-violet.

With the Zodiac signs, some of the colors are "obvious" choices (Aries-red, Gemini-blue, Virgo-green), but others are not what I usually see (for example, Scorpio - a Water sign - is red, perhaps because of the Mars rulership? and Taurus - an Earth sign - is purple). In similar fashion, the colors on the cards represents planets and asteroids are what I would in expect in some cases, but not in others.

The Resistance / Energy Block card is gray.

BOTTOM LINE

I had a feeling I was going to love this deck, and I was right.

Upon opening it, I immediately pulled the three cards representing my Sun sign, Moon sign, and Rising sign and was delighted to discover that they are purple and green (my two favorite colors!) I love the titles, too: Gypsy (Sagittarius sun), Creator (Taurus moon), and Analyst (Virgo rising). That's me in a nutshell, for sure!

The keywords used on each card are excellent, in my opinion. For example:

• Saturn - Let Go of Regret
• Moon - Moods & Behaviors
• Scorpio - Detective
• Libra - Peacemaker
• Throat Chakra - Self-Expression
• Third Eye Chakra - Intuition
• Fire - Take Action
• Earth - Manifestation

I have not worked with Chakras much at all, and this deck is the perfect way for me to delve into that a bit more.

The spreads contained in the booklet cover a lot of territory. I especially like the 4-card Problem and Solution spread, which I will try and share on this blog in the future.

I think people who are already familiar with astrology and chakras are going to have the most fun with this deck, but I can also see it as a learning tool for people who are studying these subjects. Crow's descriptions and meanings for each card are detailed and informative.

As a side note, I love the name "Cinnamon Crow." It reminds me of the character called "Cinnamon" on the old Mission: Impossible TV show. And the crow is one of my favorite creatures.

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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: Simply Deep Tarot

R E V I E W

Simply Deep Tarot (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.)

 Simply Deep Tarot
Chanel Bayless (Author)
James Battersby (Illustrator)
Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. (January 28, 2012)
Boxed Set: 78 color art cards; 3 1/4 x 5 1/4 in.; 96-page booklet
ISBN-10: 0764339842
ISBN-13: 978-0764339844

THE PUBLISHER'S PRODUCT SUMMARY

"A Rider Waite-style, 78-card Tarot deck designed to help a reader immediately connect with traditional meanings of the cards. Using a basic viewpoint, these vibrantly painted cards implore you to delve deeper on an emotional level, yet still supply interesting little nuances about everyday life. The booklet includes exercises allowing you to bond with your personal story through each card and describes the benefits of achieving emotional detachment energetically. Each card is defined in both upright and reversed meanings with keywords included. Find out how simple it is to read the Tarot and explore your own personal story!"

Simply Deep Tarot (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.)

BASIC INFORMATION

Author Chanel Bayless is a professional Tarot consultant specializing in the creation of fun, innovative metaphysical tools for exploring complex spiritual topics. Illustrator James Battersby is keenly interested in ancient cultures. He is currently working on an Ancient Astronaut Oracle that touches on many of these cultures. Bayless and Battersby are also the creators of A King's Journey Tarot.

In her Introduction to the attractively bound booklet accompanying this deck, Chanel Bayless notes that using Tarot as a window into the soul requires opening up many layers. She writes: "Layers are made up of our core beliefs, false beliefs, walls, memories, and any other energy that has supported (either negatively or positively) the issue at hand." Bayless notes that to delve deeply,  a certain level of emotional detachment may be needed. Because emotional detachment can be very difficult when a personal issue is involved, she designed Simply Deep Tarot to help us "connect easily with the most simplistic meaning of each card, while paving a way to climb safely into the deeper meaning behind the card."

The section of the booklet titled "So How Do I Go in Deep?" gives us an example of the process we can use to "go in deep" using this deck.

After a page about the Structure of the Deck, we move into the Major Arcana, beginning with The Fool. The Majors have traditional Rider-Waite-Smith titles, with Strength as Trump 8 and Justice as Trump 11. Suits are Coins/Earth, Swords/Air, Wands/Fire, and Cups/Water. The Court Cards are titled Princess, Knight, Queen, and King. For every card we are given three Keywords, along with Upright and Reversed meanings. The booklet does not describe or explain the scenes shown on the cards.

Simply Deep Tarot (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.)

APPEARANCE, SIZE, QUALITY

The deck and booklet are contained in an attractive, sturdy box with a magnetic closure.

The cards are printed on sturdy, laminated stock. They measure approximately 2-3/4 x 4-1/2 inches.

Each suit has a distinctive color scheme, including strips of solid color on both sides of the card, with a darker shade of the same color at the top of the Court Cards, and white at the top of the pips. Titles are printed in a corresponding color on white at the bottom of each suit card. Coins are green; Wands are salmon; Swords are gold; and Cups are teal. This color scheme makes it easy to see the suit/element of the cards at a glance, when they are drawn in a reading.

The Majors a similarly designed, but each has a unique-colored border (a light shade on the sides, darker shade at the top and bottom), with titles printed in white at the bottom. The Fool is olive green, The Magician is purple, The High Priestess is fuchsia, and so forth. At the moment, I am not seeing a pattern or significance to the colors chosen for each Major, although in some cases the color seems to correspond to the Golden Dawn elemental attribution (for example, The Hierophant/brown/Earth; The Sun/red-orange/Fire).

ART

Simply Deep Tarot (Schiffer Publishing Ltd.)

Although this is a Rider-Waite style deck, many of the images depart somewhat from the scenes I normally associate with the RWS. For example, The Magician sits at a table with his back to us. His left arm rests on the table. He does not have one arm raised in the RWS tradition. On the table we see a wand, burning candle, a book titled Best Life Spell, an incense burner with a burning  incense stick in it, a glass of water, a plate with gold coins on it, a knife, a flower growing in a vase, and a small cup containing colorful objects of some kind. Underneath the table a tiny fruit-bearing tree grows in a pot. So we do have the usual references to Fire, Air, Water, and Earth -- but there is much more to be explored.

Not being an art critic, I don't have a name for this style of art -- but Battersby uses mostly bright, vivid colors and relatively simple-looking images that actually incorporate a lot of detail when you take the time to study them. There is a slightly "cartoony" aspect to the drawings, yet in many ways they are quite realistic.

BOTTOM LINE

I feel that beginning Tarot students can appreciate and use this deck fairly early in their journey. It is a highly approachable deck with mostly friendly images. Readers who are already proficient with the RWS will enjoy diving into the cleverly incorporated layers and levels of understanding found in this deck. I believe the deck could be used with older children, depending on how you feel about the sexually suggestive Lovers card and the potentially disturbing Devil card.

I think the color scheme and color coordination of the cards really adds to the usefulness and attractiveness of the deck.

I'm looking forward to performing the one-card exercise Bayless offers in the booklet, and hope to share my results later on Tarot Notes!

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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.