Review by Sally Ann
The Herbal Tarot set has 78 cards, along with a LWB and companion book. It is another deck that begins as a variation on the traditional Rider-Waite theme, but this deck has sort of a holistic approach, which could be handy when dealing with clients that are in poor health or depressed. (Caution is advise to the reader, remember your not a doctor, proper medical attention is important in any health situation.)
The Herbal deck is beautifully illustrated, the backs of the cards have a sea green background with a rosemary border, which there are four eight petal flowers in blue, as well as two red ladybugs and two white flowers a pleasant design. The cards are the perfect size and shape for shuffling, they are printed on good quality card stock which will stand up to repeated use.
Many of the Major Arcana cards are beautiful in design, while the Minors tend toward the traditional suits of Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles. Knowing the Rider-Waite symbolism is a plus when using the deck. Within the Major Arcana there are several renaming of the cards: The Hierophant is called the High Priest, The Wheel of Fortune is now the Medicine Wheel, the Hanged Man is the Suspended One and the Devil has be renamed as Pan.
The court cards are simple figures sitting or standing in a plain but nicely colored landscape. Each card is assigned a herb. The LWB says; As above, so below, as within, so without applies to the order of nature. The illustration of the cards are done with the traditional meaning but also with the herb/plant/flower which attunes to each card. It is helpful in understanding the meaning of a card. For instance take the Ten of Cups, the card of happiness, has the background of the herb marijuana/hemp making this card clearer. The Ace of Wands has yarrow, the Knight of Wands has aconite and the Four of Swords has mullein. Each of these herbs add an additional feel to the cards.
Michael Tierra wrote The Herbal Tarot with more specific text:
The Fool is assigned Ginseng for cosmic energy
The High Priestess is assigned Peony for intuition
The Magician is assigned Astragalus for creativity
The Empress is assigned Dong Quai for women's tonic
The High Priest is assigned Sage for purification
The Lovers is assigned Parsley for aphrodisiac
The Emperor is assigned Atractylodes for Digestion
The Hermit is assigned Licorice for clam
The Chariot is assigned Cyperus for direction from within
Strength is assigned Cayenne for circulation
Death is assigned Elder flower for protection
The Medicine Wheel is assigned Slippery Elm for soothing
Justice is assigned Plantain for adjustment
Suspended Person is assigned Kelp for softening
Temperance is assigned Echinacea for antibiotic
The World is assigned Comfrey for healing
The Sun is assigned Angelica for stimulant
The Tower is assigned Garlic for breakthroughs
The Star is assigned Skullcap for relaxation
Pan is assigned Lobelia for playfulness
The Moon is assigned Lemon Balm for nervine
Judgement is assigned Goldenseal for cleansing
The book is written to accompany this set it is a wealth of herbal lore and a wonderful tool for physical, mental and spiritual healing. It cover the meaning of the card and addresses the meaning of the herb assigned to the card. This is one deck that should not be purchased without its associated book for much of its value would be lost. It is a good reference book and essential for doing a reading but you can use it anytime when you want to know a herb.
Even though at first appearances this deck seems to be limited to health-oriented readings, they work surprisingly well for daily and general reading. Reading this deck you will find that the book is essential, you can look up what the authors have to say about it, with gives new insights to the general meaning and how it approaches ones overall health, mind, body and spirit.
I recommend this deck to anyone who has in interest in herbs, or one who wants a new approach to spiritual, physical and mental health. A deck that a collector will want for their collection of Tarot.
Sally Ann is a Professional Tarot Reader and Clairvoyant, who has been doing readings for the past 20 years.
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