New Orleans Voodoo Tarot Boxed Set [Paperback]

The cards are amazing! I have used the various cards for my workings with and without the root. The cards don't speak to me rather they allow me to put myself into a trance setting and enter the realm of the loa after I salute Papa LEGBA of course!

Lou is a noted Kabbala and Thelemic practitioner so if you look at how he's laid the foundation of the book, it follows the Hermetic scheme of the Tree of Life. The Simbi - masters of sorcery and magic - are alloted to the 8th cards which is the realm of Hod or Mercury. This is no accident and a very accurate placement in my opinion.

The book offers some insight into the loa and the realms of Voudou. I have made use of the veves for minor talismanic work along in my conjures. Hoodoo workings are 'not' the same as Voudou and we are much more free form. In fact, my Hoodoo teacher was very infatuated with the modern Chaos Sorcery paradigm to the point even that he began to implement the use of servitors in his Hoodoo workings.

Well worth the time and effort to use both. Though I do not use the cards for divination only because I tend to use a different form of divination all together.

The Major and Minor Arcana, one finds the ancient Lwa Gods of Voodoo, and the Orisha of Santeria. The book gives a simple explanation of each Lwa and Orisha, enough that those who understand these powerful Spirits will get the jest of the meanings of the cards. But for those who have no common knowledge of these Spirits, trust me you are going to get lost and frustrated.

The book does not give a good interpretation of the cards, and gives you only a few key words; this is done because most that follows the Orishas and the Lwas find the meanings of the cards from within. The tarot is used as a vehicle from which the voice of the conscious mind and the Spirits of ones Ancestors can manifest and be heard. So of course those who are used to buying a Deck of tarot that has a booklet with the meanings will be lost.

If you like this deck and the book is not that bad, as it gives basic rituals and sacrifices. But I recommend you also study more on the Lwa and the Orishas, because without that basic knowledge you will never get the full force of this deck. Also the Artist of this deck Sallie Ann Glassman has written a book that also goes with this deck Vodou Visions: An Encounter With Divine Mystery 0375753702, can also be purchased through Amazon.

The New Orleans Tarot is an excellent tool for divination, and would be good for the Voodooist "Hounfor / Mambo " As well as the Santero/as. But also the tarot collector will truly appreciate the primitive and vivid art, and those who have some interest in Afro-Magic will find this a good starting point. This deck is not really recommended to the fluff bunnies, and the faint of heart.