Review by Bonnie Cehovet
The “Graven Images Oracle” crossed my path when a friend asked my opinion of it. Not having seen it (or heard of it!), I went to the site to take a look. I was enthralled, and placed an order right away! It is a 71 card oracle deck, based on untouched photographs that reflect the natural state of the images and statuary taken in various cemeteries. It is noted that the cards are meant to be used for meditation and prediction based on their own symbolic merit. If you come from the background that I do, where care of family graves is important, and cemeteries are places of peace and meditation, rather than scary places riddled with ghosts, you will enjoy this deck, and, more important, you will appreciate it.
The set … cards and companion book … come in an environmentally friendly package. There is no box, but the cards themselves are shrink wrapped, with a black velvet pouch included for storage. The 126 page companion book is every bit as well done as the cards. On the cover, we see a photo of “The Wall”, the card numbered “0” (zero) in this deck. A card accompanies the set, giving t he name of the person whose grave the photograph was taken from, and the poem that is included on the stone. It is highly unique, in that it appears in a reading whenever the reading needs to be stopped and begun all over again … whether due to lack of focus, a confused/poorly worded question, or outside forces (such as the client not being ready to hear the answer). Note: The example given for “outside forces” is my own, not that of the authors.
The companion book begins with separate introductions by Clark and Zaman. In her introduction Zaman notes that, for her, cemeteries are record keepers … that the memorials speak of the lives of the individuals interred there. It is so much more than a written record … or even a symbolic one. I take note of the generations represented, and the manner in which the graves are being taken care of … on a routine basis, and on days of importance for surviving family members. What we see here are universal messages.
In her introduction, Clark speaks of what is real, what is reality … and that the photographs chosen by Zaman are her reality, her vision. Clark’s “mission” was to blend her words, her interpretations of the symbols, into a coherent text. She also notes that the language used here is “non-esoteric”, making it easily understood by all people. Myself, I vote for esoteric every time, but I realize that many people do not. The interpretation loses nothing by taking a more mundane, “real” base.
I was quite impressed by the section on handling the cards. Emphasis is placed on handling them in a conscious manner, with respect, and working with the person being read for so that the reading is all that it can be. Cleansing of the cards is also covered. Note is made that the deck contains symbolism and imagery that constitute both light and shadow … that all degrees of life are represented here.
The primary spread … the Pentagram Layout … is a six card spread. Also included, at the back of the book, are a three card Past/Present/Future Layout (with a note that if any card is unclear, to draw one more clarifying card from the deck), two five card Pentagram Layouts, and a ten card Circle Layout.
Each card is presented with text only, in two sections: on sections speaks of the symbolism of the card, while the other section speaks of interpretation.
The cards themselves are 2 3/4” by 4 3/4”, of good quality, glossy card stock. The backs show a photo of a cemetery stone engraved with a willow tree. They are not reversible. The face of the cards has a 1/4” black border. The card title is centered on the bottom of the card, in white lettering. For “The Wall”, the number zero is placed in both the right and left hand corners. The rest of the cards carry the first letter of the suit in the left hand corner, and the card number in the right hand corner. The suits are as follows:
Spirit Divine
Light:
1. Book 2. Window 3. Gate 4. Celtic Cross 5. Temple 6. Intercession 7. Triumph
Dark:
8. Confinement 9. Wreath 10. Doorway 11. Wheel 12. Vault 13. Petition 14. Obelisk
Physical
Light:
1. Sun (Fire) 2. Cauldron (Water and Fire) 3. Lily (Water and Earth) 4. Wheat (Earth and Fire) 5. Poem (Air) 6. Candles (Air and Fire) 7. Sphere (Holistic)
Shadow:
8. Torch (Fire) 9. Cup (Water) 10. Willow (Water and Earth) 11. Oak (Earth) 12. Sword (Air) 13. Anchor (Earth and Water) 14. Chain (Four Elements needed to forge chain)
Mental
Light:
1. Freedom 2. Reflection 3. Watcher 4. Traveler 5. Serenity 6. Spirit 7. Arrow
Shadow:
8. Ivy 9. Portrait 10. Mourner 11. Sentinel 12. Envy 13. Column 14. Border
Social
Light:
1. Amity 2. Patience 3. Promise 4. Blessing 5. Clan 6. Memory 7. As Above
Shadow:
8. Apathy 9. Fidelity 10. Haven 11. Empty 12. Sleeper 13. Urn 14. Serpent
Emotion
Light:
1. Lamb 2. Heart 3. Strength 4. Karma 5. Star 6. Crown 7. Joy
Shadow:
8. Loss 9. Temptation 10. Illness 11. Sacrifice 12. Conformity 13. Despair 14. Memento Mori
Some of my favorite cards from the deck are “The Wall” …depicting six gravestones with the wall of a brick building in the background; “Empty”, a plaster statue of the Madonna; “Blessing”, showing two hands under a wreath; “Sphere”, an orb that is noted as a common marker in the northeast; “Willow”, the scene from the back of the cards; “Sun”, an iron Bontonee cross with a bundle of leaves at its feet, three trefoil arms and a solar disc; “Ivy”, showing ivy growing up and over a cross; “Karma”, a spirit effigy with spiral symbols surrounding its head; “Star”, showing the Shield of David; and “Temple”, showing an open air shrine with four pillars and a roof cap.
The photography, interpretations, and layouts are all top quality … done with great skill and ability, but also with great heart. I was pleased to see the comments of noted individuals on the back of he companion book: Raymond Buckland, Tom Cowan, Amy Zerner and Monty Farber, and Rosemary Ellen Guiley.
I highly recommend visiting the “Graven Images Oracle” website. Here you will find a six card free e-reading, information on the cards, information on galleries where the cards are being shown, and a link to a site that carries exclusive jewelry based on the “Graven Images Oracle”. This is an oracle that can be used by anyone, and is very good at grounding and centering the work being done/the reading being done.
© December 2007
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.
| 
