This is a really fun tarot deck-and-book set. Packaged neatly in a handy little slipcase, the cards are accompanied by a tidy little paperback. Those who are familiar with Williams' Renaissance Tarot and his book for the Light and Shadow Tarot will recognize his comfortable, casual style and piercing insights. As with his other works, this tarot's book concentrates more on an explanation of why the card represents what it does, rather than just giving a divinatory meaning. This way, the reader can come to understand the meaning and make associations symbolic to their own lives.
The cards themselves, in a separate smaller box, are a fairly large size, which showcases the style of art to its best advantage. Each card is bordered by a different solid-colored line, which seems to have been selected to color-coordinate with the palette of the image on the card. Predominantly light colors are used throughout the deck, and Williams' light, open style is well complimented by them.
The Major Arcana portray artistic renditions of modern archetypes from society which best illuminate the meaning of the card they inhabit. The cards are traditionally numbered and ordered. They have all been assigned new titles which are consistent with the theme of this deck; Idiot (Fool), Expert (Magician), Mona (High Priestess), Mom (Empress), Dad (Emperor), Mr. Religion (Hierophant), Wheels (Chariot), Just Desserts (Justice), Out of It (Hermit), Sheer Force (Strength), All Hung Up (Hanged Man), Dead (Death), Neither Here Nor There (Temperance), Evil (Devil), Disaster (Tower), Sweetness & Starlight (The Star), Night (The Moon), Day (The Sun), and The End (Judgment). The Lovers, Wheel of Fortune and the World remain the same.
In the Minor Arcana we see another vast takeoff from the traditional. The four suits have been changed to update their elements to modern imagery. Instead of Cups, we have Bottles; Guns replace Swords. TV's take the place of Wands, and Bills/Money represent the Coins or Pentacles. Similarly, the Court cards are now Man, Woman, Boy and Girl, instead of King, Queen, Knight and Page. Everything about this deck is consistent with modern and postmodern life.
It is a special feature of this deck that all of the cards in the Minor Arcana are a spin on masterpieces of art from the past two centuries. For a student or fan of art, many if not all of these images will be recognizeable, even as they are reinterpreted through Williams' vision and crafted in such a way as to "fit the bill" for the card they are assigned to. Even though I am of limited artistic education, I found that I could recognize a good twenty of these images, the originals they are inspired by are that famous. The day I received this deck, I was with a friend who is an art and design major, and we had a great deal of fun trying to identify each masterpiece.
Due to the large size of the cards, they are difficult to shuffle. The coating on them sticks together quite easily and handling them is sometimes clumsy. If I planned on using the deck frequently, I might be hindered by this. But the card stock used is thin and flexible, so they might get better after a while.
The book has a very small section in the back dealing with how to read the cards. The Celtic Cross spread is featured. Other small sections on Jungian archetypes, elemental correspondences and even Eysenck's model of personality are also included. This deck is useful but it is much more appropriate for use in meditation and personal introspection rather than divining for others.
I highly recommend this deck for anyone who is interested in art, either from a historical or a design standpoint. Fans of Williams' Renaissance Tarot will also enjoy this deck. It's a fun deck. Collectors will love it. Sadly, it's out of print now, but copies can still be purchased directly from Williams at his site below. If you like what you see here, recommend you grab them while you can!
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also by Brian Williams:
Renaissance
Tarot
Light
and Shadow Tarot (book)
Brian's decks can be purchased
at:
Tarocon
Review Copyright 1998
by Gina M. Pace
PoMo Tarot, by Brian
Williams, 1994.
published by HarperCollins,
ISBN 0-06-250965-9