Fantastical Tarot: 78-Card Deck (Cards)

There is a darkness here in many cards, but it is usually tempered with light. For example the Ace of Swords shows a sharp, medieval hilted sword half buried in a mound of dirt in the foreground. There is a less than friendly castle in the distance with darkly foreboding sky. Do I want to "go" there? No way. I am 'stuck' where I am, no promising place to go, no easy way out. BUT, there are small flowers nearby and a vine gently wraps the sharp edges of the sword showing that there is still softness my current situation and beauty nearby. That was not my card, but a friend's and it was VERY true [smile].

I think the most important thing about picking a deck -- and you will here this often -- is to take your time and make sure the deck speaks to you. This is my second deck. Another was giving to me many years ago. It didn't work for me even though I enjoyed looking at the symbols. When "I" look at the Rider-Waite deck, by far the most popular it seems, I get NOTHING! Yet I have friends that would use nothing else. So some research is a good thing. I spent many, many hours at the Aeclectic Tarot website doing research and looking at the cards. Then I used her link to come to Amazon and buy the deck that seemed right for me.

I am a new tarot 'reader' and found that memorizing the past ideas of others was neither fun nor productive. With THIS deck, because it resonates to me somehow, I can look at the cards and know the answers. As an artist, I appreciate the beautiful work of the paintings. That is what they really are -- paintings that you can journey into -- and find your answers.

One gripe is that although the Pentacles suit was not renamed, the "pentacles" are almost like gold CDs. It would have been more appropriate to call the suit "Disks." Most of the symbolism ought to jump right out and grab the reader, but not all cards have outright symbolism. However, working with the cards, there shouldn't be too much difficulty with readings.

The little white booklet is much nicer than the usual and offers two different spreads: one is the Celtic Cross, and the other is called the Venus Spread for emotional concerns. All of the Major Arcana have descriptions of the cards as well as the divinatory and reversed meanings. The Minor Arcana interpretations do not include descriptions, but they aren't necessary, anyway; it's just an added bonus for the Majors.

Although some would term the style of art "gothic," it also has some very bright pictures. Of course, I feel that even the lighter cards have a dark feel to them -- but this is a charming, intriguing dark, not a frightening one. The Minor Arcana are full scenes, not pips. Nudity in the deck is a rarity, but be aware that it is there. For clients, this deck may be a little too dark, but it would be good for personal reflection or for friends. The back design is two connected whitish dragons and is reversible.

One other note: all of the beings in the deck do -not- have their eyes closed, although it sometimes appears that way. They do not have pupils or irises; their entire eyes are the color the iris would be. For instance, if someone has brown eyes, their -entire- eye (except the lid, of course) is brown. You will be able to tell if the eye is closed by the color and if you can see lashes resting against cheeks.

This is a lovely deck, and although it creeped me out at first, I've been drawn to it over and over again. If you don't want it as a reading deck, it's a beautiful collectible, as well -- although it is completely useable. Even the box is fairly sturdy. This artist also has another deck coming out called the Vampire Tarot, which I'm eager to see.