Deck Review- The Shapeshifter Tarot

Originally published in 1998,  The Shapeshifter Tarot turned out to be a huge hit for the creators DJ Conway, Sirona Knight and featured the amazing artwork of artist Lisa Hunt…whose other decks include The Celtic Dragon, Fairy Tale, Fantastical Creatures and the wildly popular Ghosts and Spirits Tarot.

The deck went out of print for a time but Llewellyn Worldwide decided that they would give a whole new crop of Tarot readers and enthusiasts a new chance at owning and working with this fantastic deck. The deck itself is made up of 81 cards and comes with the standard LWB (little white book) rather than the original deck that came as a kit, but this in no way detracts from Lisa’s wonderfully detailed and evocative imagery.

The cards are bordered in a lovely deep blue color with the elemental association at the top and a number and keyword at the bottom. The first thing that you will notice about this awesome deck is in it’s elemental qualities. The Wands and Swords suit has been switched to highlight the qualities imbued by DJ Conway and at first may seem a bit different but after working with this deck for several weeks, I found that these associations actually lend a deeper, more intuitive approach when applied to readings themselves.

The Major Arcana have a few cards that are renamed to fit the quality of their meanings and I’ve found this to be more descriptive in assessing questions posed by my clients. Here are a few of the re-named cards…

Initiation, Sorcerer, Sorceress, Mother, Father, Knowledge,
Lovers, Rebirth, Balance, Transcendence, Journey, Dreamer and Oneness

I’ve had nothing but favorable comments when I asked if they would mind using The Shapeshifter Tarot and some even have remarked that Lisa’s artwork truly spoke to them on a level that other decks have not. I absolutely love the extra cards, I’m a big fan of gaining a little extra insight!.

This deck is a awesome resource to help bridge the gulf between people, animals, and nature. I would highly recommend this deck for anyone who loves the fabulous art of Lisa  Hunt and  a fresh insight into your tarot readings!

Creator: DJ Conway, Sirona Knight, Lisa Hunt

Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide

ISBN: 1567183840

Review- The Alphabet for Lovers

Not long ago, +Orna Ben-Shoshan sent me an email asking if I would like to review her latest creation, The Alphabet for Lovers and of course I replied that I would be thrilled to and anxiously awaited their arrival. You may remember her by her other unique and inspiring works such as The King Solomon Oracle cards; The 72 Names cards and the wonderful Tokens of Light, which I also had the pleasure of reviewing .

I must admit, I was deeply intrigued as I quickly noticed their lovely heart shape! 

The Alphabet for Lovers cards offer advice and prophesy about love and relationships by using the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. These are 72 cards written according to the knowledge and wisdom contained within this alphabet which is often considered the basic ingredients in which the Universe was created.

In the Tarot world, the use of the Kabbalah, can be found in many decks and it's wisdom often adds the perfect insight when pondering the great mysteries of ourselves and the world around us. 

Each heart shaped card pictures charming and easily understood imagery along with a number from 1-72 and a short key phrase and Hebrew letter that the illustration and number refers to on the reverse side. I found this information to be a treasure trove of spiritual and practical insight to aid in all sorts of questions related to but not exclusive to love and questions that are not particularly romantic such as boss and employee, parent and child and even friends, relatives and business partners.

As with all of Orna's illustrations the characters whimsical and endearing and makes it a joy to read with. I gathered a few friends and family members and told them that I would give them a free reading using the Alphabet for Lovers and all quickly agreed...everyone just loves free readings!...I was actually quite surprised with the results as well, the information and advice were very positive and extremely accurate and with each reading, everyone simply raved about how they loved the heart shape and imagery of the cards.

This little deck of cards is not only fun to read with, it give practical advice and gives insight into the dynamics of any given relationship. I would heartily recommend The Alphabet for Lovers to everyone novice and seasoned reader alike!

Tarot Deck Review- Tarot of the Tattoo Age

There's an awesome new self published tarot deck out that I just HAD to check out, after hearing about it via a podcast. Self published decks, in my own opinion, are such wonderful treasures that sometimes get overlooked by the general public simply because they just don't get the media attention that larger publishing companies can afford.

But they have something that the well known publishing houses don't have...creative freedom afforded by not having the guidelines and restrictions about size, borders or no borders, and general things we, as consumers don't usually think much about.

Allow me to introduce The Tarot of the Tattoo Age, an amazing 79 card deck that features fabulously unique artwork from the tattoo community. Most would consider this "just another theme deck"  and I'm sure it could be considered as such but I see it as a Tarot deck that was created by artists, doing what they do best...creating beautiful imagery, they just happen to be tattoo artists. 

The first thing I noticed, that I just love, is the large size of the cards. I like the larger sized cards because they tend to feel better in my hands when I shuffle and work with them. Some may have a problem with the larger size but that can quickly be remedied by side shuffling. You seem to get imagery that is a bit more clearer to read as the more narrow, or poker sized deck and it really saves on eye strain when you get to be my age! The artwork seems a little brighter and talkative with the larger cards and therefor, I find large decks much preferable. 

The card stock that this striking deck was printed on is absolutely awesome! It shuffles beautifully and is not too thin as some self published decks are. Tarot of the Tattoo Age has a gorgeous glossy lamination that absolutely makes the images pop. Most of the cards are brightly colored and follow the Rider-Waite tradition, there are a few cards done in grey scale and fit together nicely as a whole. I haven't encountered any imagery that may clash with each other at all, this is a wonderful high energy deck.

The deck comes in a cardboard flip top box featuring the Emperor on the front and the Four of Pentacles on the back. Speaking of backs, the card backs have a prominent green Pentacle surrounded by elemental symbols. The cards have an amazing fade type coloring that starts out a peach color at the top left and slowly fades into a lavender coloring at the bottom right corner. There is also a LWB (little white book) that comes along for the ride that features the artists name that created that particular card along with Rider-Waite keywords.

All in all, I am really impressed with this deck, the imagery is absolutely stunning and it reads very well with a kind of  "in your face"  style attitude, I just love it when decks just start talking right off the bat and you aren't found sitting there trying to coax the answers out. This may not be a deck for beginners, as a good foundation of Tarot is required but Tarot of the Tattoo Age is an awesome deck for more experienced readers and collectors alike!

Here is where you can find this amazing deck:

$35 each payable by check or money order to:
FLACO Productions
348 South State St.
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

OR

PayPal

cost: $38.00 sent to sales@slctattoo.com

Deck Review- Dreaming Way Tarot

There is a wonderful new deck out from U.S. Games called "Dreaming Way Tarot" a lush deck of 78 cards, chock full of cheery images, adorable characters and just the right amount of whimsy to enchant almost any reader. This special tarot deck came about in the most interesting way...The author, Rome Choi had seen that many people were checking out all things Tarot on the internet (which was just hitting it big in the world) and upon impulse joined a small tarot group in order to learn more about this subject called "Tarot" and thus began the start of a beautiful relationship with the cards that we all love.

I absolutely love the card stock, it's sturdy yet flexible enough to use as an every day deck and the shiny finish lends a wonderful glow to the deck's imagery. I've been working with the Dreaming Way Tarot since I received it and all my clients that have looked at it's images remark how they like the coloring and simple presentation which is a big draw to those that prefer a good, easy to read, non "busy" decks.

The LWB (little white book) written by Choi, explains each card's meaning and divinitory aspects in plain, easy to grasp language and gives upright and reversed interpretations. Numerological associations are also covered in the LWB and I like the fresh meanings of the cards as it's always nice to see a creator's associations that sometimes I can add to my collection of my own interpretations.

I was exceptionally struck by the artistry, by Kwon Shina, in how she uses both lush coloring, almost from an earthy palate as well as interesting contrasting shapes and patterns. I love her style so I contacted my wonderful and incredibly amazing friend Lynn at U.S.Games to ask more info on Kwon's style since it was so lovely to look at and this is how she explains her process...

"I start by determinedly sketching on Whatman paper. Then, mark the sketch line with color ink and color the inside with poster paint. I'm using poster paint mixed with water for it has similar effect to water colors yet more vivid. After the coloring process, I scan the source and compensate color by Photoshop program. If the background is too boring, I mix the background with other sources prepared to invigorate the overall mood."

I would definitely recommend this deck for both beginners and professionals alike because it does follow the Rider Waite style  imagery and therefore makes a wonderful deck for those that prefer a Rider Waite style. I, however,  do apologize for the images lacking borders and titles but my scanner didn't seem to like all the white borders and so the image itself came out but not with the lovely white borders and titles.

Publisher: U.S. Games

Author: Rome Choi

Artist: Kwon Shina

ISBN:978-1-57281-712-8

Size 2-3/4" x 4-3/4"

Images used with permission from U.S. Games

Deck Review- The Symbolist Tarot

This deck review is going to be just a bit different, this is a review of a beautiful new deck  called The Symbolist Tarot that is in production with hopes of becoming published through a Kickstarter campaign. I absolutely love self published decks, the artist has so much more freedom to put forth their artistic vision while remaining true to their concept of the deck. The Symbolist Tarot, created by Richard Fox is an exquisite blend of gorgeous artwork and the traditional symbolism of the Tarot in one very special deck.

While symbols have long been used in the visual arts to intensify meaning, transmit messages and bring subjectivity to a work, Symbolism flourished as an art movement between 1885 and 1910. Emerging in France, Symbolist art rejected both Realism and Impressionism and served to extend the private movement of Decadence and Romantic tradition of mysticism and intense emotion.

 Through the effective use of line, colour and contour, the Symbolists were driven by a desire to create evocative images rather than works that were directly descriptive. According to the movement, the connotations and concept of a work was more important than its artistic style and form. Thus, Symbolism can be regarded as an international ideological trend as a well as an art style.

Works such as Franz Von Stuck, Gustav Klimt, John William Waterhouse and Edward Burne-Jones as well as many other fantastic works of art are featured in this Tarot deck that makes this a stand out deck that is truly breathtaking

This is an absolutely stunning deck and I hope that you will go to Kickstarter and become part of this amazing deck!

http://thesymbolisttarot.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/TheSymbolistTarot

https://twitter.com/#!/SymbolistTarot

Deck Review- Ghosts and Spirits Tarot

From the amazing creatrix Lisa Hunt, (Fantastical Creatures; Animals Divine; Shapeshifter, and Celtic Dragon Tarot), comes her latest tarot creation... Ghosts and Spirits Tarot, a breathtakingly beautiful deck that utilizes tales and legends of ghosts and spirits from around the globe.

This stunning 79 card deck kept me on the very edge of my seat as I sat and watched it emerge card by card, on the Ghosts and Spirits FaceBook page and with each drawing Lisa posted I was absolutely blown away and I easily consider one of her finest works. 

Lisa, who makes her home in Boca Raton, Florida, is the creator/illustrator of numerous tarot decks, all of which are still in print and even been translated in many different languages. She has been a freelance artist for nearly twenty years and her intuitive connection with the spirit world shines quite brightly in her Ghosts and Spirits Tarot.

I was thoroughly thrilled when after receiving my deck, I found that there is a bonus card! I absolutely adore decks with extra cards such as the "Happy Squirrel" card found in Kat Black's Touchstone Tarot and was even more blown away at the sheer depth of imagery found on this extra card which serves as a card for deeper reflections on the question asked.

The cards are beautifully bordered in a lovely parchment color with the title written in a gorgeous flowing script at the bottom of each card. The card stock is absolutely awesome, as usual with US Games decks, and it's just the right size to be shuffled, even if you might have smaller hands. It has a wonderful glossy lamination and the design on the backs, which is pretty darned awesome in itself, features three swirling ghosts encircled by a ring of bones. The colors on the card backs are fantastically done and remind me of the beautiful patterns found on fine Batik fabric.

The LWB (little white book) accompanying the Ghosts and Spirits Tarot gives the story behind each ghost and where it originates as well as the definition of the card, although Lisa doesn't give reversed meanings in the LWB, these cards can be read both upright and reversed. 

The imagery on the cards themselves are intricate and quite detailed and upon closer inspection, you can see faces and spirits reflected in the surrounding colors and patterns, such as the Fool, which details the Leshy (wood spirits that inhabit the dark forests of the Baltic's) and all around this adventurer can be seen small sprites, stone creatures and faces peeking from the rocks and shrubbery. Such an awesome deck!

I usually look for my favorite cards when perusing a prospective deck but with The Ghosts and Spirits Tarot, there are just SO many wonderful cards I might as well admit that there is absolutely not one card that I do not connect with! The Ten of Cups pictures three figures from the festive Day of the Dead celebration that honors dead ancestors with feasts dancing and merriment. They are clothed in customary attire with blues, reds and yellows, surrounded by cups and faces reflected in Lisa's surrounding artwork.

The Moon features the legend of Aeneus' Journey to the Underworld and the imagery shows two figures, one of which Aeneus, who has come to search for his father in the mysterious and frightening underground passage that is symbolic of the unconscious and home to our greatest dreams and biggest fears. This card shows both the rich imagery of the rewarded as well as the torment and suffering of the punished, it too is among my favorite cards in the Ghost and Spirits Tarot.

This deck is simply too amazing and powerful that just descriptions alone do not come close to the wonder of holding this treasure in your hands and letting the Ghosts and Spirits speak to you in there own unique voice. I absolutely recommend this deck for both beginners and seasoned readers alike, it is truly a deck that one must have in their collection!

Publisher: US Games

Artist: Lisa Hunt

ISBN: 978-1-57281-661-9

images used with permission from US Games

Deck Review- Art Through the Eyes of the Soul Oracle

Art Through the Eyes of the Soul Oracle, by Cheryl Yambrach Rose and distributed by US Games, is a wonderful deck for guidance, or catalyst to empower your own thoughts. Cheryl, a portrait painter, visionary artist and researcher has created a beautiful deck incorporating mythology, art history and her own psychic impressions woven together to form a truly unique oracle that is wonderful to work with.

This 52 card deck is slightly oversize at 3 1/2" x 6" and has a nice glossy lamination that really shows off Cheryl's wonderful artwork. Shuffling from the side or placing the cards on a flat surface and mixing them up thoroughly is the best way to shuffle or mix these cards up. The backs are non reversible but feature a beautiful painting of a waterfall and maiden peeking from behind the rocks, all done in breathtaking blues and greens.

What struck me while going through the deck was Cheryl's use of color and lifelike portraits that really draw you in and resonate with the keywords that are printed just below each image. The colors include deep blues, lush greens and breathtaking reds and lavenders. I love the characters eyes which seem so lifelike and almost follow you as you move. This is exactly how Cheryl "tunes into a subject" to receive her psychic impression.

They are bordered with a lovely golden leaf design and the edges are gilded which  adds to the majestic feel of this oracle. The companion book gives the meanings of each card and an expanded interpretation of the keywords found on each card. Many of the paintings are featured in Cheryl's book, "Art Through the Eyes of the Soul"  The book covers the four mythic lands in which she lives and paints...Narnia, Avalon, Bohemia and Lemuria.

This is a gorgeous Oracle deck and one worthy of anyone's collection,  it is an amazing tool when used with meditation and personal readings.  I found it to be quite accurate and very straight to the point and I had a wonderful time working with it!

Publisher: US Games Systems Inc.

Artist: Cheryl Yambrach Rose

ISBN: 978-1-57281-722-7

Deck Review- The Art of Life Tarot

The Art of Life Tarot, created by Charlene Livingstone and published by US Games Inc. was lovingly created in a time where she found herself searching for comfort after her husband was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and felt   helpless as many families find themselves after such a devastating diagnosis of a loved one. Using her background in art history and love of quotes, she has designed a beautiful deck that not only inspires, it causes one to reflect deeply upon the meanings and how they apply to the reader.

Wanting to create something to empower and work interactively with the  reader, Charlene has created a wonderful deck that somehow sets itself apart from most other decks and one of my favorite parts of this individuality is the very box itself that contains the cards. 

The box is made of durable cardboard and has an amazingly simple feature that I absolutely love...it flips up and then back down with a slit at the top that you can slip your card of the day in and sets right on your desk displaying the selected card for contemplation...how cool is that?!

The deck itself is 78 card deck that follows the Rider Waite imagery and has wide beautiful borders on which the card name is printed at the top with an image painted by a well known artist, followed by information about the painting just below it and a quote to read and meditate about during your day below that.

Traditional artworks have been used in other decks such as The Golden Tarot and Touchstone Tarot by Kat Black but this deck is set apart with it's wonderful imagery and thought provoking sayings such as on The Fool..."You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment"- Henry David Thoreau... what a beautiful way to capture the essence of The Fool, don't you think?

This deck comes with the standard LWB (little white book) but instead of a whole list of different keywords, it contains just a few for each card as to make it easier to develop your own meanings and interpretations that will resonate with you so much better. 

The cards are a bit larger in size, (3 1/2" x 5") which may be a bother for readers with smaller hands but as with my "go to deck", which is quite large, I simply side shuffle and have found that it works quite efficiently. I love the lamination, not too glossy as to reflect any ambient light but just glossy enough to show off the wonderful images. The back of the cards are quite attractive and one of the features I personally look for when selecting a prospective deck, with a gorgeous depiction of the Tree of Life.

This is truly a spectacular deck that can be read with by all types of readers and is perfect for reflection and personal use as well. I thoroughly enjoyed working with this deck and I had to write this "sneak peek" review because it was just so amazing! The deck is not yet listed on US Games' website but will appear within the next week or so, I hope you will hop on over and check out all the wonderful decks that they have to choose from!

Author: Charlene Livingston
Artist: Images From Known Artists
U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
2012
ISBN #978-1-57281=715-9

Deck Review- The Cat's Eye Tarot

"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine 


Anyone who is, or ever has been owned by a cat, knows that cats work on their own agenda and despite their aloof nature we love them anyway. I first became aware of The Cat's Eye Tarot several years ago, when Debra Givin first began her creation of this deck and followed it's progress with each card. When US Games announced that they were going to be publishing it, I nearly fell out of my chair with excitement!


There are several cat themed decks out there but this one is truly special, not only does it follow the Rider-Waite style, each card tells a story from a very unique perspective...A cats! What better way to see the world than through the eyes of a beloved cat. Debra, a practicing vet for 22 years, exclusively in feline practice, she has absolutely captured the essence of cats in this deck and with each card there is no doubt as to what is going through these glorious kitties minds.


This deck is simply perfect in size and works great for those with smaller hands as it's not too wide to shuffle and handle properly and it has an amazing glossy lamination. I'm big on the art of the card backs and have been known to choose decks in part by the wonderful imagery on the backs and this deck does not disappoint. It features a brown long haired tabby with mesmerizing green eyes that nearly fills the whole card save one thin border of white.


The Major Arcana are graced with cats of white, calico, ginger and tabby, black and siamese all lovingly painted in scenes of blue and plum tones that make these little kitties pop right out of the cards. I always look for a select few cards when considering a deck and the Star is among one of them. I love the way that Debra has portrayed a little calico gently reaching out to the reflection of a star in chilly stream and it brings to mind the phrase "reach for the stars" what a great way to get the meaning of hope across!


The Minor Arcana are just as charming with the suit of Wands picturing fiery ginger cats, the suit of Cups showing wonderful jellicle kitties, the suit of Swords featuring the talkative siamese and the suit of Pentacles with it's tabby striped beauties. Also featured alongside these fabulous felines in the Minor Arcana are fish, reptiles, birds and mice.


I had the best time while working with this deck, I found that it reads very well and I had no problems getting clear and concise messages, just like ones I receive from any cat when he/she is letting me know how it is! I may not recommend it as a beginners deck, however, I think that a basic knowledge of the Rider-Waite symbolism would be helpful but this is truly a deck for anyone who loves and shares their life with cats.

Publisher: US Games

Artist: Debra Givin

ISBN: 978-1-57281-685-5

Images used with permission from US Games

Deck Review- Joie de Vivre Tarot

From the amazing creatrix  Paulina Cassidy, of the Paulina Tarot comes her latest addition to the Tarot community, The Joie de Vivre Tarot...what a truly charming and chatty deck that when translated, means Hearty or carefree enjoyment of life.  I had been eagerly awaiting this deck, watching it's progress and marveling over her unique artistic style and now that I have it in my hot little hands it is absolutely wonderful and quite child-like in it's energy.

The Joie de Vivre Tarot is a 78 card deck that is just the perfect size to work with and shuffle with ease. It comes with the standard LWB (little white book) of interpretations and each card and character is described in loving detail and absolutely inspires a truly joyful feel. I thought rather than to review this deck as I usually do, I would perhaps do an actual interview of it instead and I was not disappointed by it's lively and straight forward answers. Here are a few of the questions I asked and how the deck responded...

Tell me about yourself, what is your most important characteristic? King of Swords- "The King Sagacity possesses the wisdom and courage to obtain all his desires. His dove companion, Justice, helps him work against dishonesty."  What a terrific card to pop up when describing this decks most important characteristic! The King of Swords encourages the use of logic and intellect to navigate the path ahead and will definately get to the heart of the matter so buckle your seat belt, this deck will take you on a journey to see through all the clutter and fog to show you what the issues really are!

What are your strengths? The Moon- "Illuminating hidden truths, the Moon's energy brings clarity to the surface." Here we can see Phantasm and his three owl companions Daze, Haze and Maze sitting on a branch, illuminated by a huge full moon in the background. The Moon calls attention to the shadow in all of us and leads us to becoming consciously aware of any fears and anxieties that may be projected onto your external surroundings. The Joie de Vivre tarot tells me that it will turn these fears around and into more positive and constructive energy, illuminating a path through the unknown.

How can I best learn from and work with you? Knight of Cups- "Intrigue, the passionate and poetic Knight of Cups is the messenger of ideas and opportunities." This Knight is in touch with his intuition and emotions, and The Joie de Vivre will teach me to blend my imagination and logic to make dreams come true. this deck will bring inspiration and encourage me to undertake the journey of imagination and creativity to which the unconscious will guide my path. What a beautiful statement this Knight makes, I'm filled with an expectant anticipation of this journey with The Joie de Vivre Tarot and can hardly wait to get started!

This is truly an amazing and energetic deck full of excitement and wonder, it would make a fantastic deck for beginners and seasoned readers alike. I love Paulina's imagery and the whimsical yet charming characters that flow through this deck and I had a terrific time reading with it. I heartily encourage you to check out the Joie de Vivre Tarot and see where your imagination and intuition take you!

Publisher: US Games

Artist: Paulina Cassidy

ISBN: 978-1-57281-662-6

Images used with permission from US Games Systems

Deck Review- Tokens Of Light

Although the Tokens of Light are not a deck of cards per se, these little gems by Orna Ben-Shoshan still have the unique ability to shed light on our day to day affairs and give us valuable insights into life using  66 "paths" that enable us to navigate life's sometimes turbulent waters.

According to the Kabbalah, the 22  letters of the Hebrew alphabet are considered as channels through which the Divine Abundance flows through the universe. Each  circular Token has it's very own unique spiritual and energetic attributes and represent the process of creation from beginning to end, and therefore correspond to events and flow of our every day lives. 

When these Tokens were being created, three different aspects were chosen to compose a system of 66 definitions, giving the reader insightful guidance to help understand the forces that affect different situations in their lives. Each Token has whimsical but yet beautiful imagery on one side and on the other, a number and Hebrew letter with what that letter stands for in Hebrew and translated into English as well so that it serves as both keyword and an "understanding." 

There is a fantastic 86 page interpretation booklet that comes with the Tokens of Light as well as a gorgeous silver leaf designed bag in which to hold your Tokens and it can be used as a means of shuffling them  too. Now, you may be thinking just how accurate are the Tokens of Light and after working with them for a few weeks now, I have found that they are surprisingly relevant to the questions or situations I have inquired of them. 

As an added bonus, this system also includes two amulet coins that are not to be included in readings, but are to carry with you. One represents a blessing for protection and fulfillment and the other that brings balance and success to all areas of an individual's life, what a fantastic, uplifting affirmation is that?

In the interpretation booklet, several "spreads" or ways to use these Tokens are presented but I've found that simply pulling them out of the bag and laying down three or four tokens is quite enlightening and informative. The artwork is stunning and The Tokens of Light were a real joy to work with. I highly recommend  them to anyone wanting a more unique form of insight or divination... Anyone would truly benefit from this amazing set of cards. 

Publisher:Kabbalah Insights

Artist: Orna Ben-Shoshan