Crystal Tarot [Cards]

This is a beautiful art deck. I've read that people buy the deck for the gorgeous colors in the minors and majors. Some close scrutiny reveals astrological symbols in the cards, such as the courts cards and some interesting sun and moon symbols in very different minors. Swords is definitely used for the 'water' element, which is faithful to a lesser-known system of cartomancy, from Eudes Picard (more on this below).

The "Crystal" title seems to be a translation of describing a lovely appearance similar to leaded crystal stained glass. Elisabetta Trevisan is said to have used tempera paints on glass to create the images.

From information discussed on Aeclectic.net, fans of this deck discovered similarities to the minors of the El Gran Esoterico (all images available for this Spanish tarot on www.tarot.com), a deck from the "Spanish School" of Continental Tarots.

The minor descriptions from Eudes Picard are available in a used book. I recommend a cheap reprint of the Encyclopedia of Occult Sciences with introduction by M.C. Poinsot, published by Robert M. McBride and Company, New York, (copyright 1939 in hardback; check used amazon.com and abebooks.com for paperback). The tarot system comes from Eudes Picard seems to be from around 1900 and of the same period that literature was available form Oswald Wirth, Levi and Etteilla. While much of the book has silly and outdated information, the tarot synopsis might be of interest to those interested in the odd background of tarot writing.

The keywords and brief explanation of the Lo Scarabeo booklet are similar, but not in enough detail for some of us fans.

Lo Scarabeo is publishing a stronger, more closer Gustave Klimnt art deck in 2005--if they ever decide to rewrite the LWB for the Crystals Tarot, I hope they will include the Eudes Picard minor descriptions with more detail. This is a gorgeous deck and the understanding of a different type of minor system adds historical interest and fun to my enjoyment of this deck.

Loosely based on the art of Viennese painter Gustav Klimt, this 78-card deck boasts intricate detailing in the Major Arcana with lovely geometric patterning and flowing lines among the non-illustrated Minors. The diverse, expressive Court Cards follow the Knave, Knight, Queen and King arrangement, and Justice is Trump 8 while Strength is Trump 11.

There is so much depth to the Majors--I feel I could step right into the card and enter this unusual world created by Ms. Trevisan. One of my favorite cards is Justice, where a stunning robe of electric magenta cascades over the Lady holding the sword and the scales. And the Strength card? The patient, persevering woman--both hands on the head of a feisty lion-- looks at us as if to say "I'm tying to hold this together--but how much longer?!"

Imbued with personality, the Court cards are exceptional. The King of Pentacles sits among craggy rocks, almost at one with the cavernous landscape. I especially love the Knave of Swords, who rests his hands on the hilt of his weapon, looking downward at the chessboard upon which he stands.

I bought the Crystal Tarot based on an online review that showed only four Majors and two Aces. While the Majors are stunning, my heart fell when I saw the Minor Arcana. While a few of the Minors are quite clever--the 3 of Pentacles portrays glyphs of the three Earth signs (Virgo, Taurus and Capricorn) embossed on the coins--most of the numbered cards are unremarkable. In fact, the 7, 9 and 10 of Cups are *identical* except for the additional cups--which seems unfortunately lazy to me.

Some elemental motifs pop up unexpectedly, without seeming rhyme or reason, such as water/Moon symbols among the Swords Courts and butterflies among the Chalices Courts.

As you may know, most LWB are practically useless, but this one is especially confusing. For example, the Majors aren't named beside the brief interpretation, but rather a keyword (e.g. Will for Magician, Stability for Emperor, Prudence for The Hermit and Energy for The Wheel), and some of the phrasing--enigmatic. For example, the introduction to the Swords states: "Faced with Swords, we are in the cold world of the mind and intellect where everything is connected to something else until magnificent but sad geometries are formed."

Huh?

Suffice to say, the Crystal Tarot is not a good deck for beginners!

If you like the Art Nouveau style, you may want to add the Crystal Tarot to your collection as an art deck. It's regrettable that the Minors aren't fully illustrated, but if you like Marseilles-like decks, you may not mind this at all.

(To see 10 card images from the Crystal Tarot, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)

I choose this deck for the artwork and the colors. Major arcana cards are depicted well with good designs and symbols. The minor arcana cards however, are just basic. They only have art showing the suits and the numbers. No illos to go with them unlike some decks. Still a great deck

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