Review by Sabrina
Even though my first deck was the Dragon Tarot, I had originally wanted this one, but I couldn't afford it. I've always been attracted to Dragons, now I work with them personally. The Celtic Dragon Tarot by D.J. Conway and Lisa Hunt (the Shapeshifter Tarot), appealed to me because of the difference in the dragons. There are reds, oranges, yellows, pinks, blues, greens, whites, and blacks, each placed into their elements: Mountains, Forests, Seas and Waters, the Elements, Wind, Storm, Weather, Volcanoes, Fire, Chaos, Light, and Deserts. Combined with the beauty of humans dressed in medieval Celtic clothing, and authentic Celtic landscapes, the dragons look as if they are right at home. New Age symbolism isn't in many of the cards, but ancient Celtic symbolism is.
Instead of Devil, card 15 is now Chains, and what was the Hierophant is now the High Priest. The Sword suit is of the element Fire, and Wands is now the element Air. Out of the entire deck, I would have to say my favorite card is Death.
"A large dragon is shedding its black skin and scales, emerging in a new identity of sparkling white. Its wings are spread in triumph and its head thrown back in a roar as it completes the successful transformation. Out of dark stormy clouds comes a bright beam of sunlight, which illuminates the moment of victory. What was perhaps looked upon as a painful death or great loss has been revealed as a rebirth into something better. Knowledge, willpower, and trust in spirit have helped to create gold out of dross. Like the fabled Phoenix, the dragon rises from the symbolic ashes of an outworn existence or experience into a new and brighter cycle of life."
That is why I like that card, for the dragon is not a skeleton, nor is it dead, it is shedding its skin. There's no way I could have put that into words that would reflect what she has said. The cards are wonderfully powerful, reading just like my first set on the first spread. The book of this deck explains all symbolism used in each card, major and minor. It also has spreads, spells, and meditation techniques for everyday life.
If any other deck doesn't meet your standards, or if you really love dragons and medieval Celtic art, I recommend the Celtic Dragon deck and book. The pictures are powerful, you feel like the dragons are there with you, watching what you're doing. Try it out, and see for yourself why the Celtic Dragon is one of my favorite decks!
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