This is neither a tarot deck, nor a divination oracle, but I thought I would review it anyway, just for kicks, and just in time for Valentine's Day.  This delightful deck-and-book set is geared towards improving the love and sensuality within an adult consensual relationship.  It's very nicely packaged, and very simple and easy to use.

The cards themselves are separated into four suits of seven each, making for 28 cards altogether.  These four suits are: Lovemaking, Play, Wishes, and Intimacy.  Illustrations take up the entire card in each case, the artwork style is flowing, comfortable, modern, they kinda remind me of Matisse.

The cards have a border of gold which is not quite a metallic foil but close enough.  In the top and bottom border, you will find the card title itself in black italic text.  Titles include words like "Teasing," "Outdoors," "Kissing," and "Fantasy."  Down the length of the sides, on both sides, are the suit title, repeated over and over.  Small hearts in the corners of each border and tiny stylized hearts separating the words in the suit titles soften the effect of the text.

The back design on the cards matches the cover design of both the book and the sleeved cover for the set, and includes one illustration from each suit.  The cards themselves are slightly larger than a standard tarot-type deck, but since there are only 28 cards in the deck, there is no problem with handling them.  A glossy finish coats them, making them slightly sticky at first.  They break in well.

The book which comes with the set is a small hardbound one with 64 full-color glossy pages, typical of the types found in bookstores for gift-giving.  In fact this set makes an excellent gift for a loved one.  Pretty much the entire book is dedicated to the actual meanings of each card.  Two pages are dedicated to explaining each card in the pack.  An introduction in the front of the book explains how to use the cards, which involves selecting a card from each of the four suits and integrating them into the evening's (or any time) activities.

This will be a fun way for any committed couple, of any gender, to increase the intimacy in their relationship and lighten up what can sometimes become a very routine activity for people who are together for a long period of time.  While it is not a divination oracle, it does make for an excellent tool for improving communications between lovers, and so, while it is fun and lighthearted, it deserves serious consideration, as well.  Excellent set!

Click here for pictures

or here to return

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

Review Copyright 1999 by Gina M. Pace

Sextasy Ecstasy Book and Card Pack by Richard Craze, 1998
published by Journey Editions, Boston -- Tokyo
ISBN 1-885203-52-7