This 22-card Major Arcana deck is self-published by Williams through Mystic Eye.  Like others published by Mystic Eye, the Pet Tarot is a deck that tells a story.  Each card design was inspired by a single concept line which runs through the entire deck.  In the Pet Tarot, the concept is a simple one, exploring the relationships between humans and their pets.  You are able to use this deck to read for yourself, or to read for your pet.

Titles used in the deck are traditional.  Ordering is also traditional, with one exception -- The Hermit is 8, Strength is 9 and Justice 11.  I am not sure if this was done deliberately or not.  Since the little white booklet describes Strength as 8 and the Hermit as 9, I tend to think it was an error.

Each card has the Arabic numeral embedded in the image at the top, and the title at the bottom.  The image area is rectangular with a strong border in light blue, and centered within a white border.  There is very good use of color in this deck.  The graphics in this deck are the best of any Mystic Eye has done yet, and the deck looks less like clip art and more like photographic collage.

The cards themselves are larger than standard and seem to be printed on a thin paper stock and then covered with a glossy laminate on both sides for protection.  Edges are not quite perfectly smoothed because the cards seem hand-cut.  They are an excellent job of cutting and laminating, however.  Even the box is handmade. The back design is a beautiful abstract geometric design that is not reversible.  A blank card is included with the deck.  Instead of a little white booklet, a folded sheet of instructions and divinatory meanings is included.  The art style of this deck is colorful photographic collage of various animals; this will not appeal to everyone, but it is well done.  Many if not all of the animals chosen embody traits of the card they grace.

This deck will be a nice and interesting, and colorful, addition to any collection.  Many people like to collect self-published decks because by their very nature they are rare and limited editions, and down the road often they prove the most valuable.  This deck was the most recent deck done by Dawn Williams and produced by Mystic Eye.  Fans of this work will be interested in her other decks as well.  Any of these decks can be purchased directly; email Mystic Eye for details.

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also by Dawn Williams and Mystic Eye:
The Gothic Tarot
The Electric Tarot
The Woo-Woo Tarot

Review Copyright 1999 by Gina M. Pace

The Pet Tarot by Dawn Williams, 1998
published by Mystic Eye, Chicago