The Cosmic Tribe Tarot
Stevee Postman
Text by Eric Ganther
 
This sumptuous new tarot deck-and-book set has just been released on the market this past month, and it's a terrific new offering.  Composed of photographic collage enhanced with computer graphic elements, the cards offer an open, free and sexually balanced design which is a long time coming.  Postman's works have graced the covers of several magazines including Magickal Blend and Gnosis.  Those works are part of this tarot now.
 
I do need to state, right off the bat, that this is probably the most.... naked tarot deck I've ever seen.  That said, it's also one of the most attractive.  While I have heard it called homoerotic by some, I must argue against that description, since I found nothing in this deck that wouldn't appeal to members of both sexes and all sexual orientations.
 
The Major Arcana in this deck feature human figures, both male and female, gracefully posed with delightful scenes and imagery layered to create a rich three-dimensional look.  Bright colors and vivid textures bring these cards to wonderful life.  Three different Lovers' cards (one male-female, one male-male, and one female-female) allow for the user to select the one that suits best; or, leaving the extra cards in, can apply to the different energies that fit each situation.  Titles follow traditional Crowley-style naming and order; Balance replaces Justice, Art replaces Temperance, Emergence replaces Judgment.
 
The Minor Arcana are equally luscious.  Suits are Disks, Wands, Cups and Swords; Queen, Knight, Princess and Prince are the courts, restoring balance to the male-female split.  Here the cards are a collection of images from natural and everyday life, enhanced with human touches here and there to give a lovely, cohesive feel to each suit.
 
The cards are slightly larger than standard, which gives them a nice display area for the artwork.  White borders offset the colorful images.  Titles and numbers are discreetly set at the bottom and don't overwhelm the card.  There is a heavy gloss coating on the cards that, when new, makes them stick together.  They shuffle easily after they are broken in slightly.  I have to admit, when I opened the pack, it was really satisfying to fan the entire stack and hear the coating snap apart (they were all stuck together)!  The edges are polished to a smooth finish and the deck has a comfortable feel in the hands.
 
The deck comes packaged in a slipcase box with a large paperback book included.  Most of the book is dedicated to the cards themselves and their meanings.  Ample descriptions of each are given, along with illustrations.  A section in the back offers "Working With The Cards," which covers spreads, meditation, storage, and other features.
 
Overall, this is a really nice tarot deck-and-book set.  People who are offended by graphic nudity should avoid it; collectors will want to add it right away.  Its appeal is universal and its imagery warm and inviting.  Signed copies of this deck are available for purchase from the author.  I highly recommend it to collectors and readers alike.
 
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Review Copyright 1998 by Gina M. Pace
The Cosmic Tribe Tarot by Stevee Postman, 1998
published by Destiny Books; ISBN 0-89281-700-3