Tarot of the Holy Light

Tarot of the Holy Light

The Tarot of the Holy Light is an esoteric deck following the European continental and 'astro-alpha-numeric' pattern, based on extensive research by Christine Payne-Towler. The 78 cards have illustrations reminiscent of artwork from the 1600s.




This deck is rare or out of print and isn't easy to find. Search for it on eBay or Amazon.com, or browse our most popular Tarot decks.


Card Images from the Tarot of the Holy Light


1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

This deck is rare or out of print and isn't easy to find. Search for it on eBay or Amazon.com, or browse our most popular Tarot decks.



Tarot of the Holy Light Review by Bonnie Cehovet

“The Tarot of the Holy Light” is an independently produced deck from Christine Payne-Towler and her partner, Michael Dowers. It is an absolutely incredible project, with an in-depth companion book ready to go to print. Where to start … this is a traditional deck. A traditional Continental-style deck, I hasten to add. Christine might smack me if I didn’t make that evident! It is, after all, the foundation for this project! The astro-alpha-numeric associations for this deck are not those of the Golden Dawn (which is the basis for most modern decks). It is also the first Continental-style deck of the 21st century.

The associations for the trumps from this deck are keyed to the astral values taught in the Masonic lodges of Europe, and brought into the public light by Ettteilla in a veiled manner, as Christine writes, that was consistent with his times. The full system was brought out in the book “Divinatory Tarot”, by Papus. Christine also notes that the Pips (numbered cards) and Court Cards are distributed in a classic astrological pattern. (Note: For ease of use, the signs, planets, and elements that rule them are marked on each card.)

The traditional names have been used for the Major Arcana, with the following exceptions: Magus (Magician), Priestess (High Priestess), High Priest (Hierophant), and Tower of Destruction (Tower). Justice is VIII, with Strength at XI. The suits are Wands, Cups, Swords, and Disks. The Court Cards are Queen, King, Knight, and Page.

The deck comes in a sturdy cardboard box with a lift-off top. The imagery on the box (by artist Patrick Dowers) shows a female figure standing in a window, framed by green curtains. She is wearing a long sleeved, high-necked white blouse, and a brown pinafore, with a cross at her neck. She is holding a red heart in front of her, in both hands, with beams of light emanating from it. Birds and flowers adorn the sides of the image. One gets a literal feeling of Holiness when looking at the box.

The deck is a traditional 78 card deck, with two extra cards: one with the details of the companion book, as well as Christine’s first book, “The Underground Stream”. The second extra card gives the details for the deck, and has a lovely flowered vine running up the left hand side, ala the Marseilles tradition.

The deck is accompanied by a twenty-four page LWB (Little White Book), entitled “Tarot of the Holy Light User’s Manual”. Do not ask me why I heard the Star War’s theme when I read the title, but I did! The LWB comes separate from the deck, but fits nicely in the box once it is opened. (The deck and LWB were printed separately.) The background for the deck is touched upon, and Christine has shared some suggestions, such as noting where the Tarot cards fall in the reader’s personal astrological chart.

She also recommends shuffling in a manner that guarantees reversed cards. I do not read with reversals, so I will set that suggestion aside. She also gives the position meanings for a twelve-card reading, but does not offer a reading template, leaving it up to the reader to create their own. She also makes another interesting suggestion – to take the cards from one reading and place them (in the same order) in several different spreads.

The cards are presented text only, no scans. Upright and reversed meanings are given. In-depth information can be found in the companion book, which will be coming out in both soft cover and hard back copies.

The cards themselves are 3” by 5”, with what is termed a linen texture. I noticed this immediately, and had to ask Christine what that was. I described it to her as “looking like linen”, and was very surprised to hear that that was the term used to describe it! Held up to the light, fine linen-like lines can be seen. The texture itself makes the cards less slippery, and easier to handle. Kudos for making this choice!

Michael did just an astounding job with the artwork, which is collage art in very intense colors, referencing the art of the 1600’s. The card backs are done in black and white, with a little Sun glyph (with a smiling face) in each corner. There is a white border, with the image itself showing what appears to be a quarter moon with a face at either end, with a sun in the middle, light radiating from it. At first glance the backs are reversible, but if you pay close attention, a good reader could tell if they were upright or reversed. The theme for the backs is that of a doorway into the cosmos, with the Sun representing the material world, and the Moon representing the celestial world.

The card faces show a white border, with the card information at the bottom of the card. For the Major Arcana, we see the card number, title, and astrological glyph. For the Court Cards we see the card title, suite, astrological sign and glyph. For the Pips we see the card number, suit, degree and sign, and the glyph for the astrological ruler.

One thing that Christine pointed out to me was that Michael placed her initials at the top of the card that represents her – the Queen of Swords! I had to get my magnifying glass out, but they are there! What a nice thought! Other cards of interest to me (well, they were all of interest to me, but these stand out) include the Hierophant, which shows a male figure, arms outstretched, sun touching one hand, moon touching the other, and the Hanged Man, who is hanging from an ouroboros, with a triangle of seven golden circles behind him, with an eye in the middle of each one.

The Ten of Disks is an incredibly active and colorful card, with a Tree of Life focus. Strength has to be my very favorite card – the female figure carries her own power, especially the power of voice, but the small lion in front of her is wearing a very ticked off look – probably due to the green leaf he is wearing on his head!

The Ten of Cups shows beautiful green leaves, a golden sun in the middle of the card (with an eye in the middle of the sun), with a beautifully colored esoteric above it. The Two of Swords shows two swords – upright on the left hand side of the card, reversed on the right hand side of the card. There is a sun at the hilt, and a moon at the point of each sword. There is a reversible esoteric graphic positioned betweent he swords.

The Two of Disks shows a circle of moons, with a red and a green whorl in the center of the card. The World shows a female figure, in a red gown, standing on a graphic of the earth. The Sun is in the upper left hand corner, with the moon in the lower right hand corner, and glyphs for the seven planets to the lower left of the earth.

The Fool shows the sun, moon, and a standing figure with what appears to be a mythical figure at his feet. The Wheel on the Wheel of Fortune is a beautiful red ouroboros, with the traditional glyphs in the four corners of the card.

I love this deck! It offers esoteric symbology in a systematic manner that is interesting, but not overbearing. It will open up thinking on astrological attributions, A good choice for esotericists, those interested in art, and those who work with the astro-alph-numero associations.

© Bonnie Cehovet


Tarot of the Holy Light Review by Il Gatto

"Much have I traveled in the realms of gold, and many goodly states and kingdoms seen," is how poet John Keats expressed his excitement upon receiving a new translation of Homer. Keats' words and sentiments come to mind as I reflect on my experience, a similar excitement, I suspect, after having collected studied, and read from 40-plus Tarot decks over the last thirty years--of the newly published Tarot of the Holy Light by Christine Payne-Towler and Michael Dowers. This pack is unlike any other in my collection, and any that I have ever seen.

This unique deck offers the user an infinite window on the cross-pollinating worlds of Tarot, astrology, and Kabbalah, and as such is the perfect divinatory and philosophical engine. In conjunction with the integrative Tarotlogy icon available for printing at Christine Payne-Towler's November 2011 Tarot ArkLetter, querents may take any reading and interpret it graphically in the light of their own birthchart or that of another, as well as applicable solar returns, progressions, and transits.

Artist and designer Michael Dowers has created an incredibly colorful and multidimensional deck, compiling and recombining imagery from alchemical manuscripts. Fun to look at and to play with, it speaks to the imagination on multiple levels, from the casually aesthetic to the profound, because the images seem to come right out of the dreamtime.

I plotted several of the readings I have done for myself with this deck, along with the astrological transits current at the time of the reading, on the Tarotlogy icon. The easy way to use this icon is to print it, write in the planets, angle points, and asteroids from the birthchart of interest, and then photocopy the icon with these personal points added. When the current transits and the cards from the reading are identified on this personalized icon, the results are uncanny, adding a depth and richness to the interpretation of the reading.


Tarot of the Holy Light Review by Pamela Steele

Warning! It is easy to get lost in the images of The Tarot of the Holy Light. This profound, powerful deck honors classic art and astral values (Masonic lodges of Europe) with thought provoking scenes in each of the cards. Using digitally mastered art from some of the visionary masters of the 1600's, Christine and Michael have blended their talents to produce what every tarot reader dreams of...a tarot that is filled with symbols and illustrations that will deeply inspire the reader.

Printed on an exceptional quality linen paper, each card is produced in brilliant clear colors. The drawings look to be first scribed in India ink then shaded and colored in jewel tones. Comfortable and easy to handle, the cards nestle in a sturdy storage box that portrays a child holding a heart from which golden rays are shining forth. The card backs are simple elegant black and white design with a 'Man in the Moon' motif facing inward from two sides looking at a glorious sun. If you look closely you will be able to see if the cards are upright or reversed by the direction of the Moons. But only if you're paying close attention. The suits are titled Wands, Cups, Disks and Swords in this traditional 78 card tarot. There is a LWB that nicely introduces you to the deck and provides basic meanings for each of the cards.

I cannot say which cards are my favorites. It is impossible to choose. But the Queen of Cups gave me pause as she rose from the waves. A golden haired mermaid with twin tails wearing a golden crown. Her feathered wings spread behind her frame a shining challis suspended in the sky. Water pours from her breasts filling the ocean as a crescent moon that bears a man's face gazes serenely at his queen from the water. The card is titled (as are all) at the bottom left of the image and the word 'Cancer' with the appropriate symbol for the moon is printed to the right.

The 4 of Disks also brought me to a complete halt. A phoenix rises from the flames as a red and gold sun haloes it's head. The intricate oak leaf pattern adorns the wooden oval frame that surrounds the creature. The four corners of the card are graced by a parrot, an owl, a heron and a stork with the f disks represented below the phoenix. I first saw them as 'eggs' although they are blue, brown, green and red circles. I also saw the red flowers as poppies and the smaller blues as flax blossoms. Crowned by a now familiar crescent Man in the Moon who gazes down on the phoenix as the destruction and rebirth are observed. The name '4 of Disks' is again clearly printed at the bottom left with 11-20 (symbol for degrees) accompanying the appropriate planetary symbols, Taurus and 'ruled by ' Mercury.

I also have to mention the Empress. This is one of the cards by which I decide if I do or do not like a tarot deck as she is my soul card and one of my name cards. The blue sky behind her is vibrant and clear. She stands lightly upon the earth with her left foot tucked under a crescent moon that cast a full moon shadow upon the earth. I believe the trees on either side of her to be oak to lend credence to her timeless strength. Her long brown hair flows down her back as she faces you with a look of pure compassion. Scarlet fabric covers her head and drapes down over the edges of her shoulders to cover her arms. Her breasts are full and her torso is covered by smaller renditions of breasts that she may nurture all. A metal girdle surrounds her hips and is decorated in high relief by a horse, a man, a stag, a phoenix, a bull and a unicorn. A river flows past her in the distance and the horizon is lush with trees. Ancient roots now covered with grass show what once was, as stones peak through both near and far to show the bones of the earth that support the life above.

Although it may take me years to master this deck, I feel a familiar comforting presence that is both intelligent and comforting. The Tarot of the Holy Light is one deck every reader should experience. I feel privileged to have a copy and will treasure it for years to come. Enjoy!




Complete Details of Tarot of the Holy Light

Creators: Christine Payne-Towler, Michael Dowers
Publisher: Noreah Press 2011
Deck Type: Tarot Deck
Cards: 78
Major Arcana: 22
Minor Arcana: 56
Card Language: English
Card Back: Reversible

This deck is rare or out of print and isn't easy to find. Search for it on eBay or Amazon.com, or browse our most popular Tarot decks.




Similar Decks to Tarot of the Holy Light






< Previous Deck · Back to Top · Next Deck >

Home > Decks > Tarot of the Holy Light