This unusual deck-and-book set is a must-have for anyone who is interested in old-world Russian art, as well as the gypsy style of good old-fashioned fortunetelling.  This is not a tarot set, but those who are interested in Tarot may still find themselves strangely drawn to these captivating image cards.

The system comprises 25 large, square cards, four inches by four inches.  Rich, vibrant colors bring the images springing to life in your hands.  A curious way of reading the cards is used:  each card is divided into four triangular sections, and each section holds *half* of a certain image.  What happens then is, when you lay several cards together, if two halves of a matching picture appear next to each other, you read that image as being what is predicted to happen.  Since the book provides lengthy explanations of what each joined image means, you can look them up fairly quickly, making this probably the easiest and fastest method of fortunetelling for a beginner that I have seen.  With no previous experience at all, anyone can be reading their cards in minutes.

Because the system is designed for a specific type of fortunetelling, it works extremely well within its own parameters.  I found it very interesting that while it predicts the turns of future events rather well, it is also a very good tool for cutting to the heart of a problem.  This system would make a very good way to answer questions, and it could be combined with other forms of divination within a session of card reading for clients to break the ice and give a bit more of a concrete answer for those who want or need it.

The book which comes with this set is nice, too; at a little under two hundred pages, it's a healthy source of information, both on the cards provided and on Russian Gypsy folklore in general.  Many tidbits of ethnic lore and sayings are tucked in between other aspects of divination, giving the reader a rich sense of atmosphere and appropriateness.  The book is illustrated in black-and-white line drawings to accompany the cards.

Since this is not a tarot deck, there is no Major or Minor Arcana, there are no suit cards, court cards, numbers or even titles.  The cards are strictly working with color and image, and therefore completely transcend any language barriers of crossing the cultures of the world.  The images in and of themselves work to produce archetypal associations within the mind and often you will fnd yourself getting a lot out of the cards just by looking at the joined images.  I found myself drawn to actually sit down with the cards at more than one point and just fit picture halves together like a puzzle to get a better look at them all.

Due to their square shape and large size, the cards do necessitate making some changes to your shuffling technique, particularly if you have small hands like mine.  "Washing" the cards works particularly well with this deck.  The cards themselves are not as clumsy as you might think, but it's the corners that make it tough to shuffle normally.  The corners aren't rounded, but left sharp, so as to make better pictures when combined with other square cards.  The card stock is somewhat flexible and handles well.

I happily recommend this deck-and-book set to anyone who is looking for a system which is more geared towards answering specific questions and giving predictive readings.  It is excellent for beginners and no previous experience is necessary.  Collectors will love the art on these cards, which is in the fashion of antique Russian lacquered boxes and furniture.  Wonderful colors and quaint images make this deck-and-book set highly attractive and appealing.

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Review Copyright 1999 by Gina M. Pace

Russian Gypsy Fortune Telling Cards by Svetlana Alexandrovna Touchkoff, 1991
published by HarperCollins, ISBN 0-06250-876-8