Shaman Wisdom Cards
by Leita Richesson
 
This deck of 65 cards, which is not a tarot deck, is based on Native North American Tradition and the reverence and respect shown for life, nature, animals and plants.  Minerals are also included.  In other words, this deck has some of everything you can think of.  Symbolism is kept to a minimum in favor of guiding you simply and clearly along your path.
 
Since this is not a tarot deck, there are no Major or Minor Arcana, no suit or court cards.  Instead, the deck is numbered 1 through 65 and the cards are then broken up into "families."  The first 12 cards are the Moons.  Each card shows a specific item (clay jars, medicine shields, woven baskets, and beaded rosettes).  At the bottom of the card, there is a text box area, which is made to look like a rough hide of leather, with the title in it, the astrological sign it corresponds to, what item it goes with (baskets, pots, rosettes, shields) and the age group it relates to (child, adolescent, adult, elder).  The titles are: Crow Moon, Grass Moon, Cornplanting Moon, Rose Moon, Heat Moon, Thunder Moon, Hunting Moon, Falling Leaf Moon, Beaver Moon, Long Night Moon, Snow Moon, and Hunger Moon.  The moons begin with Aries and work their way around the astrological calendar.
 
The next twelve cards are the twelve animal sisters, which represent the user's mental nature.  These are like totem guides to help you find your way.  Each card has the title of the animal, the compass direction (East, West, North, South), the elemental affinity, and whether the card uses masculine or feminine energies.  The animals used are Eagle, Buffalo, Elk, Owl, Crow/Raven, Coyote, Hawk, Cougar, Bear, Badger, Deer, and Wolf.
 
The next twelve cards represent the twelve plant clans, signifying the user's intellectual nature.  Reminders of life, death, and rebirth, the plant clans teach us about medicinal and spiritual nature.  The representation of the Circle of Life shows up most strongly in the plant kingdom.  Titles on the card include the name of the plant, the compass direction it applies to, the element it works with, which planet or celestial body it is governed by, and whether it uses feminine or masculine energies.  The plants are Calamus, Goldenseal, Sage, Sweetgrass, Mint, Bearberry, Tobacco, Corn, Beans, Squash, Rose, and Nettle.
 
The next twelve cards are the twelve tree brothers, guardians of your physical nature.  Trees are significant religious objects, both the evergreen variety and deciduous, for the Native Americans.  Trees provide refuge and protection along your path.  Each card has titles which include the trees themselves, the compass direction, the element it corresponds to, the celestial body it is ruled by, and the energies used (masculine or feminine).  The twelve trees are Cedar, Pine, Birch, Spruce, Oak, Cherry, Ash, Basswood, Aspen, Redwood, Maple, and Willow.
 
The next ten cards (yes, ten, not twelve!) are the ten sacred stone societies.  These cover the user's practical nature, as one might expect from something grounded like stone.  They represent parts of mother earth herself, and are a reminder to the user of our place on the earth and to treat it with respect.  Each card is titled with the name of the stone or mineral, the energy it works with, the chakra it aligns to, and the element it correlates to.  The ten sacred stone societies are Red Coral, Agate, Amber, Obsidian, Turquoise, Amethyst, Quartz, Silver, Jasper, and Hematite.
 
The last seven cards are the seven great directions, which cover your spiritual nature.  Offerings are made to the four cardinal, or compass, directions; then to the earth and sky, and to the seventh direction, the self.  East is always the first to be honored, since the Sun is born in the East.  Each card bears the title of the direction, the energies, and the elements involved.  The seven great directions are East, South, West, North, Earth, Sky, and Self.
 
The cards are standard sized and shuffle and handle comfortably.  They are printed on thin flexible cardstock and are coated with a light slippery coating.  The smaller number of cards makes for a thinner deck.  Edges are polished to a smooth finish.  The predominantly brown tone of the deck gives it a real earthy feeling.
 
I recommend this deck for people who are looking for a native American spiritual oracle.  The minerals, trees, plants and animals are indigenous to the North American continent and so will not necessarily work within other cultural systems.  Since this is not a tarot, I can't really compare it to tarot decks.  It might work well in tandem with the tarot.  It is primarily a meditation/spirituality deck rather than predicting events.  It is a nice, but somewhat boring, deck for a collector, since the art is minimal in favor of spiritual symbolism, however, what is there is well executed.  For a small individual deck (as opposed to a set) this deck is surprisingly complex.  There's a lot of material to work with.
 
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Review Copyright 1999 by Gina M. Pace
 
Shaman Wisdom Cards by Leita Richesson, 1998
published by US Games Systems, Inc.