These cards are another offering on the astrology theme.  I think it's out of print.  They came out eleven years ago, so..... anyway, I didn't think I was gonna really "get" these things, I always struggle with astrology sets, but this set is totally easy to use, and, something I haven't seen before with astrology cards, these cards are *fun*.

There are 36 cards altogether, broken down into three sets of 12, entitled "Houses," "Signs" and "Planets."  Since this is not a tarot deck, there are no Major or Minor Arcana, no suits or courts.  The cards are designed simply, with half the card facing upright and half facing reversed.  In the center is an image which is specially drawn to have details that show up the correct angle regardless of which end is up on the card.  The images remind me a little of an astrological version of M. C. Escher.  You know how Escher has details that only show up when you turn the picture 90 degrees to one side, or upside down, etc.  These images aren't merely the same thing repeated for both directions, the upright and reversed images blend into one picture and you see it from both angles.  And they are close, but not always identical, or mirror images.

On each card, there are two sets of three meanings, one set is at each end.  On one end is a *blue* set of meanings, there are three lines, each colored in shades of blue, with a fragment of a sentence in them.  Alongside these, vertically in the border, are the letters S, M, and P.  These stand for Spiritual, Mental and Physical.  On the other end of the card is a *red* set of meanings, which are actually not true red but more like shades of earth tones.  These also have three fragments of sentences, one for Spiritual, Mental and Physical.

The cards are so simple to use, one almost doesn't need the book which comes with the set!  Read it once, and you get enough to use the cards from there without referring to it.  How easy is that!  You break the deck into three piles, one pile of Signs, one of Houses, and one of Planets.  You shuffle each pile of 12 separately, then place them face down on the table before you.  Then you turn over the top card from each pile.  The fragments of sentences will combine across the cards to make a single sentence which tells you your meaning.  In fact, you read all three sentences across the one end, your Spiritual answer, your Mental answer, and your Physical answer are found this way.

You select whether to read the *blue* end or the *red* end based on whether the question you are asking needs an "Action" answer or an "Outcome" answer.  The *blue* end is for outcome answers; the *red* end gives you the action-oriented answer you seek.  Obviously you need to be consistent in a reading and read only *blue* ends or only *red* ends.

A good amount of the book is dedicated to explaining each of the Signs, one card at a time, and each of the Houses and Planets.  A decent section in the front is devoted to instructions for using the cards, and the book has a small section at the end on using the cards for Yes and No answers, although it is suggested you use them as a last resort for this kind of question.  A biography of the author and a list of further reading resources is included.  Farber's address is listed in the biography and states that he is available to do natal charts for a fee.  After reading this book, I'd be inclined to get one done by him!  It would probably be good, and equally as much fun to read!

The cards themselves are printed on thicker than average stock, which makes them hold up well, but since there are only 36 cards in the deck, it doesn't encumber the handling at all.  They are slightly wider than standard.  A glossy coating protects them.  Back designs are a solid oxblood red with the names on the back of which section of the deck it belongs to, Houses, Signs or Planets.  The deck only comes available in the deck-and-book set.  I bought it used so I didn't get the box.  The book is small and relatively thin, and printed on a very stiff kind of paper which makes the book difficult to get comfortable with.  I keep feeling like it is going to crack apart at the binding when I open it to read it.  I'd have liked a softer paper, even on the cover, which is very rigid for a paperback.

As with everything else Farber has produced, this set is simple, attractive and works very well.  He and his wife, Amy Zerner, have also produced the Enchanted Tarot and the Zerner-Farber Tarot.  All their work is very good and the production is always clean, attractive and solid.  This set proves once again that they care about quality very much.

I highly recommend this set for anyone into astrology oracles or collecting in general.  It's hard to find these days so if you see it anywhere, snag a copy.  You'll love it.  Even if it's just for fun, it is worth getting.  Although I plan on seeing how it could be incorporated into a tarot reading session, as well.  =)  Definitely useable by beginners.

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also see
The Enchanted World of Amy Zerner and Monte Farber

Also by Monte Farber, with Amy Zerner:
The Enchanted Tarot
The Zerner-Farber Tarot

Review Copyright 1999 by Gina M. Pace

Karma Cards by Monte Farber, 1988
published by Penguin Books, ISBN 0-14-015487-6