Another lovely tarot deck by the creators of the Tarot of the Old Path.  This time, instead of going for the witchery of the Old Path, they are re-creating the ancient Welsh legend of the Mabinogion.  I remember when I first heard about this deck, before I got my most recent US Games catalog.  The person who tipped me off to it said it was a Norse deck.  I guess the title implies Norse and Vikings to some.

Anyway, I do see a lot of Norse-inspired stuff in this deck, but it's more along the lines of the British Isles during and after the Viking occupation.  Many people don't realize the close kinship between the Norse and the Celts, but it is masterfully wed in this tarot deck.

Those familiar with the Tarot of the Old Path will recognize the white background, the open-air feeling, of the artwork in this deck.  It is so similar in so many ways to the other deck, in fact, that if you didn't look at the back designs you could easily integrate cards from each into one deck.  In fact, since I like some of the cards better from this deck, and some from the Old Path, I might just do that.

The Major Arcana have all the traditional titles, with the exception of the Tower, which is here replaced by Destruction.  All titles throughout the deck are in German and English.  Some of the cards look like more time was spent on them than others, which are more simplistic.  Strength, for example, and the Fool, seem to be much less than the rest of the Major Arcana as far as detail and design.

The Minor Arcana seem in some respects to fit in, but not in others.  The same Renaissance Faire look is here that existed in the Old Path.  Many of the scenes look like they were taken from Lerner and Loewe's "Camelot."  Suits are traditional Rods, Cups, Swords and Discs.  Court cards are King, Queen, Knight and Page.  Several cards depict otherworldly creatures like fairies or changelings.

The deck itself is standard sized and shuffles fairly easily.  Like the Old Path, this deck has some really great moments, and some misses as well.  Many of the great moments will leave you staring, they are so apt.  The little booklet which comes with the deck is more comprehensive than most.  Mention is made repeatedly of the Mabinogion from which this deck draws its inspiration, but there is never any explanation made as to what the stories are that make up the Maginogion.  According to the author, a book is available for this deck.  I did not have access to it at this time.

Overall, I believe this is a very nice deck for anyone interested in Celtic or Viking studies, and the artwork should be appealing to pretty much everyone.  It will also be a nice deck for the collector.

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also by Howard Rodway and Sylvia Gainsford:
Tarot of the Old Path

Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace