This tarot is a deck-and-book set created by the author of the Dreampower Tarot, and illustrated by the artist of the Arthurian Tarot.  Both of those are excellent systems; this one is a lovely blend of both their talents.  An intriguing set, the artwork is impressive and the book extensive.  Much of the symbolism is recognizable as being inspired by tradition; yet there is a complete reworking of it as well.  It is good that this tarot comes only as a set, for the book is very much necessary to explain all the changes to the system.

 The Major Arcana are, for the most part, still titled traditionally; however, their order has been completely redone.  They are as follows:
Moon, Sun, Star, Fortune, Justice, Judgement, Fool, Magician, Chariot, Guardian, Tower, Death, Hanged Man, Hermit, Innocent, Temperance, Emperor, Strength, Empress, Lovers, Priestess, and Universe.  Soft colors are used in the artwork, and the imagery is compelling.  An experienced tarotist can see a lot of meaning behind the card designs even with all the changes in them.

The Minor Arcana are also very interesting.  The Aces are gorgeous.  The Suits are renamed to become Fishes, Beasts, Serpents and Birds.  Court cards are untitled except by suit, but feature figures which correlate to the King, Queen, Knight and Page of traditional decks.  The numbered cards are a uniquely drawn set of pips, with Pictish and Celtic interlaced pictographic designs.  Many people may find their single color backgrounds and line drawing styles boring.  I personally liked their clean lines and simple looks.

The cards themselves are slightly wider than standard but handle and shuffle fairly well.  Card stock is thin enough for comfort but substantial enough to stand up to longterm use.  This is one deck-and-book set which provides the deck in a small individual box, which many of you know is my biggest pet peeve about tarot sets.

The book is a lovely large trade paperback, 240pp and illustrated.  The explanations for the system of divination involved are quite good, as are the card descriptions for the Major Arcana, which are as long as four pages for each card.  There are several spreads included in the deck.  My only disappointment, and it's a big one, is that there are only six pages dedicated to all the Minor Arcana, including the Court cards.  There is a very nice illustration for this section, as well, but it gets less attention than the spreads, even.  The bibliography is almost longer.

Overall, I'd say this is a very good system, one I can recommend, but I don't feel it is for the beginner, due to the lack of information on the Minor Arcana and the advanced.  A collector will like them, as will those interested in Celtic art and mythology.  Overall, a very nice tarot set.

Click here for pictures
 
or here to purchase this deck
 
or here to return

Please use your browser's back button to return from pictures

also by R. J. Stewart:
Dreampower Tarot

also illustrated by Miranda Gray:
Arthurian Tarot

Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace