This deck-and-book set from Llewellyn's is rich in color and detail and just basically blew my mind when I saw it.  I had never even heard of it until a customer came into the store I work in and asked for one, so we ordered in a couple and I got right to work on it.  The box is the usual annoying setup from Llewellyn's, but the book is beautiful and the deck itself is absolutely breathtaking.  Done in a computer-generated collage style, this representation of Celtic Paganism in Tarot is one of the best of its kind that I have seen.

There are the usual 78 cards in the deck.  However, all of the Major Arcana are renamed in accordance with the Celtic Pagan theme.  Those who are experienced with tarot symbolism will recognize them even with the changed titles.  The order is traditional.  There are elaborate borders on each card in the deck, with four cornerstones of celtic knotwork, which varies in color according to the suit in question.  The Major Arcana are framed with a stone border and so the celtic cornerstones are stone grey to match.  The pictures frequently overflow the borders for a lovely layered effect.

In the Minor Arcana, each suit is bordered with a photographic image of the element the suit represents, therefore the wands are bordered in fire, cups with water, swords with clouds (air) and discs with a mossy greenery pattern.  The cornerstones are colored to match, red stone for wands, blue-grey stone for cups, golden yellow stone for swords, and green stone for discs.  The pip cards are not fully illustrated with scenes for the meaning of the cards; they are true pips.  And yet they are the most beautiful ones I've seen, decorated with scenery from the British Isles and rish in Celtic history.  Traditional courts of King, Queen, Knight and Page are used.

The cards are slightly larger than standard, which gives a good palette for the artwork to be displayed, and like all Llewellyn's decks, the edges are buffed to a smooth, polished finish.  They handle superbly well.  I don't have enough good things to say about the deck, and I had a really difficult time picking only six cards to show here.  In the end, I simply chose to display one card from each suit, and two Major Arcana.

The book which comes with the set is a thick 322 pages, chock full of information which appears to me to be totally useable.  Many layouts are described, as well as history of both the tarot itself and the tradition with which this deck is in keeping.  Meditative techniques are described as well.

Overall, this has to be one of the most impressive tarot deck-and-book sets I have seen this year.  It was originally conceptualized a number of years ago but only published recently due to the technology becoming available to design it the way it has been rendered.  If this is the result, I am glad the authors waited.  It was well worth the effort.  I highly recommend this set to anyone looking for a deck which is Celtic in origin, or just a visual feast of cards.  Collectors will love it as well.  With the information provided, a beginner could use this as well as the experienced tarotist.

Click here for pictures

or here to return

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

Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace