This is a tremendously interesting deck, although the only cards that are of any real value are the Major Arcana cards. The artwork is striking, although nice isn't really a good word to describe it. There is metallic gold laid into the pictures to give them a really rich look. The colors are vibrant and there is a wealth of symbolism. I imagine a member of the Freemasons, for whom this deck was designed, would gain a lot more from the symbolism than I can.
The suits are Coins, Swords, Cups and Wands. The wands are more like big fat sticks. The coins look like I Ching coins only the designs on them are different. The cups are plain strange. The numbered cards are unimaginative, being simply a picture of the number of items. Eight of wands is exactly that, a picture of eight big fat sticks. Boring.....
This deck would be good to use for personal reflection in readings requiring only Major Arcana cards, such as the Personal Quick Read. The court cards are nice but add nothing to the deck and the numbered cards are worthless.
The
size of the cards themselves was uncomfortable for shuffling, being approximately
six inches long and three inches wide. I like this deck anyway.
It makes a terrific coffee table deck (yes I really do have tarot decks
scattered all over my house!) and a number of people have enjoyed looking
at it and have commented on how vibrant the cards are.
I
have
just learned that this deck is out of print. US Games discontinued
carrying it some time ago but alternate sources are rapidly running out
of copies and once those are gone, there are no more. If you get
a chance to buy a copy, I highly recommend getting one, even if you later
decide you don't want to keep it. A second chance is not readily
forthcoming.
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Review
Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace
Masonic
Tarot by Jean Bouchard, 1987
published
by Grimaud/France Cartes