Review by Bonnie Cehovet
I followed this deck from the first time that I heard of it - and each card that was posted was breathtaking, filled with a sense of all that Gaia can be, as well as a full dose of the mystical Tarot at its very best. I was on pins and needles waiting for it to show up in my mail box - and when it did, I ran to the house to open it with a sense of excitement that has not been present for a very long time.
I have found that indie publishers often go "full out" in the presentation of their material, and this was certainly the case with the Gaian Tarot. I am going to babble a bit here, as there is soooo much to say, and it is all very, very important! A great place to start with is exactly "what" the Gaian Tarot is all about. It is a 22 card, Majors only, Limited Edition deck at this time (there are plans in the works to do a full 78 card deck).
The Gaian Tarot is, in Joanna's own words, an expression of her own eclectic, earth-centered Goddess spirituality. The process that she went through in creating these cards was an interesting one, in that the questions that she asked herself as she created each card were: "What about the earth?" "What does the voice of the earth have to say?" "Where is nature in the meaning of this card?"
These are important questions, and the answers that Joanna found are clearly depicted in her deck. I think that it is also important to note that the scenes from this deck are based on local scenes (Lummi Island, Washington). The animals portrayed are carry a dual nature - carrying the mythical aspects of their kind, and the familiar aspect in that they are real life figures that Joanna knows on an "in person" basis. Joanna also makes an interesting note regarding the human figures in this deck - that they are both of this world and the Otherworld (and sometimes of the borderland in between).
This deck absolutely took my breath away. I spoke above of "full out" presentation, and this was definitely "full out"! The cards came in a royal purple velvet Tarot bag (made by Elaine Nichols), lined with a green and purple patterned silk, with a gold drawstring. In the bag with the cards was a small sachet of mixed herbs (sage, sweetgrass, cedar and lavender), as well as a stone, shell and beach glass that were hand picked from local beaches. (I have since added a rose quartz crystal - my personal gift to each deck that I own.) I have not seen a presentation this good since I received my copy of Ellen Lorenzi-Prince's Tarot of the Crone.
Some of the cards have been retitled:
The Seeker (The Fool)
The Magician The High Priestess
The Gardner (The Empress)
The Builder (The Emperor)
The Teacher (The Hierophant)
The Lovers
The Canoe (The Chariot)
Strength
The Hermit
The Wheel (The Wheel of Fortune)
Justice
The Tree (The Hanged Man)
Death
Temperance
Bindweed (The Devil)
Lightening (The Tower)
The Star
The Moon
The Sun
Awakening (Judgment)
Gaia (The World)
The cards are 4" by 6", printed in Joanna's personal studio on archival quality paper. The face of the cards is laminated, with archival quality laminate. Each card was handcrafted by Joanna and her friend Rachel Munroe. The backs of the cards are a medium blue, stamped with a wreath design made up of purification and blessing herbs (sage, sweetgrass, cedar and lavender).
It was very difficult to pick specific cards from this deck to talk about, as each drew me to it in some manner. The Hermit is one of my favorite cards, so we will start with him. Seated against a tree, we see a white bearded Elder, seated with his back against a tree, writing in a book that is set before him on a large stone, where a lit lamp is also seated. He is wearing a white shirt and a blue, hooded cape with a lavender lining. In the upper right hand corner we see an owl. seated on a tree limb and looking very wise indeed. From the book:
9 - The Hermit
The Hermit, the lunar male, retreats from the company of others to replenish his soul in solitude as he communes with the natural world. He listens to the language of the birds as he writes and sketches in his journal at twilight time. His guardian is the barred owl, who see keenly in the darkness and embodies silent wisdom. From the sacred smoke of burning sage, visions rise of spirit animals. The loon, with its primal eerie call, leads the Hermit into the waters of his dreams and ancestral memories. Wolf, the moon's ally, reminds the Hermit that he is part of a pack or tribe, even when he spends time apart from it. The merlin is a magical, shapeshifting raptor who shares its name with the wise old man of Arthurian legend. All three are teachers of the Hermit's soul. ~~~~~
When you get the card of The Hermit in a reading, your spirit is crying out for a time of sacred solitude. You need to withdraw from the world to focus on your inner life and spirituality. Perhaps you have been wounded in the "wars of the world," or perhaps you are fatigued and empty from putting out so much energy, especially if you are a caregiver. Your well is empty and it needs to be filled.
Take some time for a retreat. Go away to the mountains or the sea, by yourself, without partner or friends. Spend time outside in nature, observing the changes in your environment day by day. Your inner wisdom and sense of well-being will grow effortlessly the more time you spend outside. Nature is our first teacher, and She is our healer as well.
Set aside a time for solitude as part of your everyday spiritual practice. Take a walk, observe the changes in the natural world of your neighborhood, write in your journal, work with the cards, meditate - do any of these things that replenish your well and nourish your soul. When you once again enter community life, others will be drawn to the light they see inside of you and may come to you for guidance. For part of your purpose is to share what you've learned with others.
Thanks to DragonSong (Debra Strom) for amplifying my understanding of the spirit animals in this card.
The High Priestess to me carries incredible power. In the Gaian Tarot she is illustrated as being seated before the willow veil of Hecate, hearing the unspoken words of Owl and Salmon, with the sea behind her illuminated by a waning moon. She holds in her hands the rubyfruit of Persephone, while at her side is t he Sleeping Goddess of Malta, sending us healing dreams.
The Teacher (The Hierophant) is one of those cards that draws you straight into it in the gentlest of ways. Joanna has depicted this teacher as a white haired elder, seated cross-legged before a large Cedar tree, holding a yellow Dandelion plant in his hand. he is wearing white pants and a light blue shirt. Surrounding him are the four green allies (medicinal teaching plants - the fifth being the Dandelion he is holding) of Stinging Nettle, Garlic, Yarrow and Comfrey. Behind him, on his left, we see Coyote (the Trickster), who teaches us lessons in lessons, with a great sense of humor! Behind him, on his right, we see the Heron.
The artwork is done as colored pencil drawings, with added overlays. The effect is stunning and magickal - both this world and Otherworld. Each time I look at these cards, I see something new. The first sense of any of these cards is the majesty of the work, and the intimate connection with nature. Even the human forms, while based on real people, carry qualities of their own that transcend the mundane. Note the ecstasy on the face of the Magician, the sense of respect on the woman portrayed in the Moon (and note her ally friends!), the power in the hands of Temperance, the look of concentration on the face of the Builder (Emperor), the joy on the face of the Gardner (Empress), the beauty in Death, the sense of responsibility and caring in the World. Note the plant and animal allies in all of the cards. Softly, softly, this deck carries a big stick!
I want to thank Joanna, and all of the people who helped her with this project. This is truly an act of respect for Gaia, and for the Tarot.
Bonnie Cehovet is a professional Tarot reader with over ten years experience, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and is certified as a Tarot Educator with the American Board For Tarot Certification. Bonnie has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, is co-founder of the World Tarot Network, and Vice President (as well as Director of Certification) for the American Board For Tarot Certification. She has had articles appear in the 2004 and 2005 Llewellyn Tarot Reader.
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