In reviewing this tarot software program, I have really come to appreciate the finer visual points of such an application.  I have to admit I've waited a while to review this program, because I felt it would unfairly slant me against the competition.  I would have been right, too.  None of the other tarot packages I've seen so far even come close to this application in terms of presentation, delivery, or quality.  Many rely instead on bare-bones features and hope that their "expandability" will make up for their lack of visual appeal.  This is one program that delivers.

The Enchanted Tarot cd-rom is available in PC-only format.  It will run with Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, Win95, or 98.  The full list of specifications is below.

The disk is easy to install and anyone can do it themselves since you are prompted through it.  However, installing the program is only the beginning since you need to have the disk in the cd-rom drive in order to run the program.  This is due to the huge storage needs of the program for the astounding visuals, music and so on.  This means you can't use it on more than one machine without trucking the cd-rom back and forth, but it is worth this limitation for the quality of the presentation.

This program has the most gloriously detailed start up presentation.  Immediately upon placing the disk in the drive, you are witness to a sumptuous visual feast as you "enter" a gallery where the walls are lined with large tapestries -- the originals for the Enchanted Tarot are shown.  This program runs almost like a computer game, with smooth visuals and a guided tour through the works, instead of just clicking on buttons to actually accomplish anything.  The program can be run silently, but I recommend having full multimedia capabilities turned on when you use it, since there is a full 60 minutes of lovely music throughout the reading, and a lot of voice messages and prompts as well.  So much of the reading experience is lost without the sounds enabled.  I know, because the first time I ran it, I didn't have my sounds on.  Our computer sound is routed through a home theater system in our living room, so we get full stereo surround sound when we use the computer.  The drawback to this is that we also use the same system for the television, DVD player, etc.  Most of the time the sounds to the computer are not enabled because the television has been in use.  So, there I was, running this program silently.  I could see and read what was going on, but then I switched the sound over to the computer and was blown away all over again!

The user has a choice of four different styles of readings, including a one-card reading called "Message," a three-card reading called "Mind-Body-Spirit" (this one is my personal favorite), another three-card spread called "Past-Present-Future," and, finally, the traditional 11-card (including significator) Celtic Cross spread.  I usually tend towards liking the most original and different spreads in these kinds of programs, hence my favoring the Mind-Body-Spirit layout.  Especially when they are well-done.  Each of these spreads is done with Monte Farber's personally dazzling writing style.  Farber has written descriptions for each card in each position of each of these spreads, a daunting task in and of itself; when you factor in that each of these is *further* broken down into three types of descriptions, that means a *lot* of original writing!  (no pat meanings here) For each card, when you are getting a reading, you can read meanings which describe the card in three forms: The Dream, The Awakening, and The Enchantment.  This is consistent with the book from the deck/book set of the same title; however, new and original interpretations have been provided for the program, it's not simply the same information.

The deck used in this program is, of course, Amy Zerner's original and award-winning Enchanted Tarot deck, which has also been used in the Zerner-Farber Tarot in a modified form.  I love these images and can never get enough of them.  I was astounded to see that in this program the images are not static; instead, they have been animated!  You watch as different elements of each card's image come together to form the picture that is the whole card.  This really helps to make various and significant details stand out.  I was quite honestly unprepared for this and have to admit to sitting and playing with this part of the program over and over for the better part of an hour.  *grin*
 
One place where this program will not compare favorably with other programs is that you cannot add decks to it; however, it wouldn't be the Enchanted Tarot if it used any other deck, so I don't know why you would want to add anything!  I would say if you wanted to add decks, this wouldn't be the program to get, but this is so lovely you don't need any other decks.  I would be willing to bet that even those who previously were not drawn to this tarot deck would come to love the images after watching them come to life in this software package.

Not only can you print out the results of your reading, but the printouts are among the most attractive I've seen.  They aren't just saved copies of the information you got in the reading, but are actually worth looking at time and again.  The end result will, of course, vary according to the type of printer you have, but you can change the settings accordingly to maximize the printed results.  The program allows you to customize the readings before you print so you can use this function for a variety of purposes.
 
A diary feature allows you to save your readings for future reflection; since I always recommend journaling your readings anyway, I like this feature.  It saves all the information, and actually allows you to pretty much re-create what your reading experience was.  Most software programs for tarot simply save the descriptions.
 
The Enchanted Tarot cd-rom runs very well and I think most people's computers would have no trouble running it with decent speed.  I am running it on a Pentium-class computer and I have a lot more machine than the specs for this program call for, but as long as you have enough RAM you should be fine.  One thing I note: you can't easily multi-task with this program.  I say this because the drain on your computer's resources is fairly complete and there isn't much left over for anything else; also there isn't a minimizing feature.  The program runs full-screen and monopolizes the desktop.  It was frustrating.  Of course, if you aren't paying full attention, then why are you getting a tarot reading?  *laugh*  This will only prove to be a drawback for people who are using it to do readings for other people online.  Otherwise I shouldn't think it would be an issue.
 
I think that this is about the best program for tarot that I've seen, overall.  I can't recommend it highly enough.  Even the box is gorgeous!  Everything about it is really excellent and shows a great deal of effort and a dedication to detail that is commendable.  I will be reviewing a non-tarot cd-rom oracle by the same creators (The Alchemist cd-rom) shortly.  To purchase this program directly from the creators, please click here!

Best Feature:  Those animated card images!

Most Lacking Feature:  multitasking limitation
 
System Requirements:

Review Copyright 2000 by Gina M. Pace
 
also see
The Enchanted World of Amy Zerner and Monte Farber
 
also by Amy Zerner and Monty Farber:
The Instant Tarot Reader
The Zerner-Farber Tarot
Oracle of the Goddess
Karma Cards
Cupid Cards
Pathfinder Psychic Talking Board
The Psychic Circle
The Alchemist

The Enchanted Tarot CD-Rom by Amy Zerner and Monte Farber
as part of the Mystic Messenger Series
produced by Enteractive, Inc. New York, NY
ISBN: 1-887233-05-9