Review by Kathleen Meadows
There are many things about this deck that make it attractive to those who follow the Wiccan/Pagan path and/or the Cabala. Reed and Cannon have made an extensive study of both traditions to create a deck that successfully blends both, making them both much easier to grasp. If you are better versed in one of these traditions, then you'll grasp the other with ease using the Cannons method of interpretation.
The deck itself is comprised of what looks like a series of perfect, borderless little paintings. The images are rich in colour that is starkly contrasted with a plain black back illustrated with a simple silver pentagram. I think using this deck for clients would undoubtedly convey mystery, magic, and titillation. They wouldn't be bored, I can assure you! That Strength card is particularly arresting; depicting a stunningly beautiful, dark-haired, naked, young woman, sensuously, and dreamily engaging a lick from a tiger - it's a powerful, and memorable image.
The Hanged Man was another card that froze me in mid-shuffle. The card depicts a defined, muscular older man (why he isnt naked too...?) with a bushy full head of grey hair, and beard placed upside down on a wooden cross with rune symbols lined up on each side of his head. This image is representative of Odin hanging on the Yggdrasil Tree. The colours in this card are simply beautiful, featuring vibrant red half disks, one below Odin's head, and one up at his feet, and in between these brilliant red disks, is a dark, star speckled, indigo sky. I could name many other cards that gave me pause, such as, the Horned One, representing the Devil Card, or the Death card, but it would take me pages and pages to go through them all.
This is the first deck I've seen which depicts the people cards as all the same except for their clothing and associated objects. The Cups Court cards are holding cups, the Swords Court cards, swords, etc. and their clothing is representative of the climate and lifestyle they are depicted living in.
The accompanying text is well written, easy to understand; a remarkable accomplishment in light of the complex concepts presented. Certainly no one could say this was a lightweight or superficial investigation into these traditions, yet I found the book well organized, easy to comprehend, and down to earth. The order in which the Majors are presented follows the Tree of Life rather than the numbers on the Majors themselves which take some adjustment, but I doubt there was a better way to relate the two, since the Majors are obvious in their order placement due to the numbers on the cards themselves. I recommend this set to all serious students who are especially interested in understanding the Tarot through the lens of these two traditions.
Kathleen Meadows, M.A, is a Certified Tarot Grand
Master with
20 years reading and teaching the Tarot from a
feminist perspective.
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