When I first began studying the tarot, I read a great many books and even took a rather excellent course.  I also joined the Tarot-l list and learned a great deal there.  One of the common threads running through all the avenues of study and practice was to form the habit of pulling one card a day and meditating upon the ideas represented in that card and applying those concepts/themes/ideas as you went through the day.

And actually, from the standpoint of gaining a familiarity with each and every card, this is an excellent practice.  What better way to gain a more in-depth knowledge of your deck of choice than to focus your attention upon the symbols and ideas incorporated in a single card?  In that way, once you branch out into more complex spreads, you have enough of a familiarity with each of those cards to expand your interpretative ability into now understanding the interrelationships between the cards.

I remember when, for a period of time, many Tarot-l members were pulling their cards for the day and sharing their ideas and thoughts on the List (which was a wonderful learning experience for me).  One interesting thing I frequently heard was that, sometimes, it was difficult to find the central message intended to be communicated in the card (for example, you just pulled that King of Cups out.  Ok. What does that mean? Which of the many ideas contained within that card apply to your day?).  A lot of interesting discussions would bubble up as we all contributed our ideas and opinions.

Well, if you want a deck that is perfectly suited to the concept of a thought or meditation for the day (which you can then carry forward throughout your activities), here is a deck for you.

The entire concept behind Le Chiavi Delle Fate (The Keys of the Fairies) is primarily a meditative tool whose function is to present one central theme or idea for the user.  The card can be selected after a good shuffling or deliberately chosen by the user to more clearly identify and articulate a particular goal or life issue.  This card can serve as the meditative/spiritual focus for one day only or until the user feels that the message of the card has been completely understood, digested and acted upon, thus ending the need for that card (at least for right now), which can then be returned to the deck.

If I had to describe this deck in just a couple of words (not my strong point), those words would be simple, charming and clear.  The cards are round and measure three inches in diameter and are very smooth and slick to the touch.  The artwork is childlike and utterly engaging.  The central themes are so gently expressed that one could easily feel comfortable giving it to a young person.  Indeed, it is rather like a distilled, pictorial expression of many of the themes expressed in the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books and the “Children's Book of Virtues”.

The structure of the decks is as follows:  There are 54 cards.  There is a little booklet, but you won't need it because it doesn't describe the card meanings anyway.  Each card has one keyword (translated into four languages... French, English, Italian and German).  This keyword is pictorially represented by a little Fairy.  Now, before you conjure up images of those winsome little fairies with the gossamer wings or the ones dressed in those Tinker Bell outfits, let me correct you. These fairies look more like the medieval princesses from your children's storybooks... long dresses with wide, flowing sleeves and those tall conic hats with the veils fluttering from the tips.  Think Fairy Godmother, but a lot younger.

Anyway, each Fairy is placed within a very simply rendered setting that assists in portraying the central “thought” or meditation for the day.

I know, you're thinking that this deck is just too cute and sweet for words, right?  I can tell that's what you're thinking because I thought so too. Initially, that is.  In fact, when I took this deck out for review, I thought it would be a cute little novelty to present to you.  Something your younger child could handle and perhaps benefit from.  Sort of a flash cards approach to the Virtues books.

Upon further study, I have changed my mind.  The deck is certainly “cutesy” in its artwork, resembling nothing so much as some of the fairy tale picture books many of us grew up with.  However, this quiet little deck can speak volumes if you put that “oh-so-serious” attitude aside and accept the simplicity and ingenuous approach of the cards.

As I said, each card has just one keyword on it... the central theme or seed idea.  Some examples are:  Equanimity, Respect, Service, Unconditional Love, Bravery, Hope, Listening, Genuineness, Endurance and Externalization.

You know what else I found out?  You know how, when you look through a new deck, there are some cards you love, some you're OK about and some you just absolutely hate?  Well, its going to be very difficult to find a card you don't like in this deck.  They are each charming, captivating and enchanting in their simplicity.  And they represent the very basic, essential concepts that every sincere person tries to live by.  Nothing fancy.  Just the plain old facts and basic philosophies of life.  Basic concepts that really transcend specific religions and ideologies.  In fact, the more I explore the cards, the more I think the book most representative of this deck is “Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum.

So now that we have all that out of the way, I can throw objectivity right out the window and tell you about some of these cards.  If at first, you don't catch that special meaning, settle down and try again.  Remember, it's a quiet deck... stop thinking so loud (smile)!

First, though, it's important to understand one thing.  In this deck, the images are not more important than the keyword.  Neither is the keyword more important than the image.  What I mean is, the keyword and the image are specifically combined on these cards to work together in expressing the central idea.  If you take one without the other (or give more importance to one over the other), you will miss out on some of what the card is actually portraying.

OK, let's take a look at the Respect card.  We see the Fairy settled in a deep old-fashioned bathtub.  Soup bubbles billow up around her, her gown hangs neatly out of harm's way and her hat rests in another corner.  It relaxes me just to look at her.  So, what does that have to do with respect?  Probably the confusion here is that, usually, if someone sees the word “Respect” on a card, they immediately jump to the conclusion that the card is emphasizing respect for others.  But, that's not what this card is about.  It is about respect for yourself!  Taking care of yourself, keeping your body, mind, spirit and possessions clean and tidy.  And, after all, can you really respect others without respecting yourself first?

So you see?  Not only does this card give you the central meaning (Respect), it even clearly tells you just what kind of Respect it's talking about.  If this card is drawn in your one-card reading, it means you need to consider the issue of Respect... what does it mean to you?  Are you looking after yourself as well as you may be looking after the loved ones in your life, or are you so busy caring for everyone else that you have nothing left for yourself.  As a working parent, this card is one I have deliberately chosen as my meditative “theme” for a period of time.  Once I feel I have come to terms with the concept of true Respect, and incorporate a proper balance of it in my life, I will move on to another card... either specifically chosen, or selected at random.

Then there is Non Attachment, where the little Fairy has packed her little bag and left her beautiful castle behind her.  She is not allowing excess baggage to tie her down and prevent her spiritual growth.  It's not easy for her... see how she turns her head for one last look at what she is giving up?  The message?  Don't become so attached to “things” (job, money, material goods) that you lose sight of who and what you are... what is of true value and importance... and what is not.

A very sweet card is Availability.  In this picture, the Fairy stands under a leafy tree with her arms spread wide open.  Love spills from within her.  She is waiting patiently and happily, fully prepared to give the best of herself.  In the card Good Will, the Fairy holds the world in her arms with the golden light of good will radiating from her brow into the globe enfolded gently within the circle of her arms.

No Conditioning is a very interesting card.  Here we see two fairies.  The first Fairy has set no limitations upon herself.  There are no preconceived notions, no limiting paradigms.  She is unusual in this deck in that she has wings, which she is putting to good use, fluttering happily above ground.  The second Fairy has come part way in her thinking in that she, too, has formed the wings.  But, she just can't seem to release all those pre-conceived ideas that are keeping her earthbound.  It's as if she saying to herself “Good grief!  Fly?  We can't fly!  It's scientifically impossible!”  Her limitations have been set by herself upon herself and the result is that she has put herself in a sort of bondage.  Message?  Well, how many times have we set ourselves up to fail by not having faith in our own abilities and potential?  Sometimes the only thing holding us back is... us!

And how could I leave this deck without giving you a picture of the Hope card.  Every female reader is just going to click with the image... the Fairy sits in her little chair, close by her telephone, just hoping it's going to ring. And, let me tell you, she is not going anywhere for fear that it may ring while she's gone!  I think this card is interesting because it manages to convey both the positive and negative aspects of Hope and the very fine line between the two.  After all, just sitting there waiting for that phone to ring... well, that kind of hope (if prolonged to the point of obsession) can be very limiting and burdensome.  On the other hand, given its proper perspective, hoping for something so sincerely wished for can be a positive thing.  It really depends on your perspective and the degree to which you take it.

Ok, let's sum it all up.  Look, I have a very large tarot and cartomancy collection.  Many of these decks are absolutely breath-taking in their artistry and expression of complex, thought-provoking themes.  I value each and every one of them.

Yet, if I wanted a deck that I could turn to that would bring me back to the basics of how I want to live my life, which would remind me of those basic concepts of honesty, fairness, sincerity and regard and respect for my fellow beings – if I wanted a deck I could just relax with -- then this deck would more than fit the bill.  For those of us who enjoy those “thought for the day” books that are in every bookstore nowadays, BUT we really, really like to work with cards, then this deck is a good choice.  In fact, it's a better choice because you get the keyword and the image, but you are then free to build a meditation statement personally designed just for you.

Don't be misled by the childish, simple imagery.  This deck expresses its ideas clearly and gently.  And don't forget... a gentle “wake-up” call can be just as effective as delivering a kick in the pants.  After all, the main purpose of a deck is to get its message across -- which this deck accomplishes.  And it does it without Kabbalah, Numerology, complex symbols or astrology.  Heck, the cards aren't even numbered because none of that stuff is important or necessary for this deck to clearly communicate its messages and ideas.

However, that does not mean that more “traditional” types of readings couldn't be used.  I think this deck could lend itself to being used in multiple card spreads.  I haven't tried it yet, but I can envision that the interplay of those themes would be quite interesting to meditate upon.  For example, what would it mean to you in your own personal life if you were to pull the Respect card and the Equanimity card?  The interrelationship of those meanings and their applicability to your own personal life issues could be quite illuminating.  Or, how about if you intentionally select the Equanimity card and the Hope card?  This could be a meaningful exploration of the concept of Hope in your life and what kind of balance you maintain when dealing with your fondest hopes and dreams.

So pick a card -- any card.  Whichever you choose will give you an idea and a message you can take with you throughout the day.  With this deck, you won't go through half your day before you finally “get” what that card you pulled first thing in the morning was saying to you all along.  I think you'll pretty much know that the minute you turn the card.

And, as Robert Fulghum says:

“When you go out into the world, stay together,
And be sure to hold hands”.

I have not seen this deck in any stores in the U.S, neither have I seen it on Alida, Il Trigono or Somerville.  I ordered my copy from Yves Daniel in France.  He has an excellent selection of decks (tarot, playing cards and cartomancy) and often sells on eBay.

You can send him an email and, if you request it, he can mail you a thick packet of sheets showing all the decks he has available.  I have ordered many times from Yves (as have other collectors). He speaks excellent English and will get your decks out to you right away.  I recommend him highly.

Questions or comments?  Please forward through Wicce.

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Guest Review Copyright 2000 by Paula Gibby
used with permission

Le Chiavi Delle Fate
(The Keys of the Fairies)
Gabriella Delfante
Edizioni Amrita, Torino, Italy 1995