I was fully prepared to not really like this deck.  I didn't think I would hate it, just figured it would be "just another deck."  I really even got a copy more for the Collection than for any real desire to have it.  I am really glad, however, that I got it.  It's the kind of deck that sinks its teeth into you and holds on.  The first time I looked through it, I just scanned it visually, then put it away.  But, the second time, wow!

These cards are more the "thinking man" type of cards.  If you sit and really look at each one of them, they speak volumes.  The art style is unusual but attractive, utilising bright colors and clownlike features.  There is a real story behind this deck, too.  The artist is Danish, and in Denmark there is an artist's community called Christiania.  The scenes in the cards are placed in this community, based upon the time the designer of this deck lived there, in the mid 1970's.

Many of the characters in this deck represent real people from that time and community; others are a collage of many different people and personalities.  Some are archetypal in nature.  Most of them have a "moral" to the story somewhere in the card.  They really deserve a good lot of time in contemplation.

The little booklet that comes with the deck is among the best I have seen of its kind.  It even gives story and description for the Minor Arcana, as well as thorough ones for the Majors.  Several inspirational celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe, grace the cards as well.

The Major Arcana have a lot of new names, for instance, the Magician is now The Juggler.  The Wise Woman replaces the High Priestess, Lilith is the Empress, Osiris is the Emperor.  The Hierophant is now called The Grand Master.  From that point on, the Major cards retain traditional titles.

The suits are the traditional Wands, Cups, Swords and Coins.  Standard court cards of King, Queen, Knight and Page are also used.  Rich, full scenes grace these cards as well as the Major Arcana.  One thing I like very much on this deck is that the numbers and the titles are printed very large and boldly across the bottom.  There is no need to search for them, and no difficulty reading them.

The cards themselves are very large, making this an excellent deck to display as well as use.  I had difficulty shuffling the entire deck at once, and had to break it down into smaller sections which I could handle more easily.  Not everyone will have this problem.  The back design is the logo for Karma Music, which is also the work of this artist.  It would be interesting to hear what kind of music is produced by Karma Music.

I highly recommend this deck for anyone looking for a deck which will hold up to some serious study.  In addition, it will make a nice deck for collectors.  People who have trouble with the traditional meanings of the cards as suggested by standard decks may find a deck like this helps to make mental connections that weren't being made before.  It provokes a lot of thinking.  Excellent deck.

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Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace