Paulina Tarot

I just received the Paulina Tarot deck in the mail today. As usual, I couldn't wait to open it and start shuffling. I'd already spent quite some time on Paulina Cassidy's website: The Art of Paulina Cassidy, so I had some idea of what to expect from the artwork. This deck has been out for a while; it made the #2 spot on the top 10 most popular decks of 2009 on the Aeclectic tarot site. I'm not sure why I bypassed it for so long.

Honestly, I think it was the name of the deck itself that might have failed to pique my interest. It just didn't sound like it was "about" anything; all I knew was that it was created by someone named Paulina.

But then I started looking at her artwork online, and I was smitten.

 

I'm really blown away by her attention to detail, her use of muted colors, and the fact that she didn't take the easy way out and create any simplified cards for the minor arcana. Each of the 78 cards could stand on its own as a masterpiece. 

Drawing on time she spent in New Orleans, Paulina borrowed the flavors of Mardi Gras and the Victorian costume era as her inspiration for the "aesthetic feel" of the deck. As such, there's nothing really "deep" about this deck, as there is with some others. The charm of this deck, to me, lies in its subtlety, elegance, and just pure "beauty." I can tell she even put a lot of thought into choosing the typeface for the cards. 

Though I do like the size of this deck for its ease in shuffling, I happen to think the artwork would have been more ideally suited to over-sized deck dimensions, similar to the Druid Craft Tarot, for example. There is just so much detail on these cards, I'd have loved to see them in a larger format. True, Paulina does offer print renditions of the cards, but you can't shuffle those...it's just not the same.

I also like the fact that Paulina used the Rider Waite deck as her reference for the line-up of the cards, suit names, and general meanings. There's nothing complicated about this deck, which makes it easy to get acquainted with quickly. I'm already building a rapport with it after owning it for only a couple hours.

Double thumbs-up to you, Paulina. Sorry I passed you by for so long. Really, it was just the name. I see you have a title for your upcoming deck: The Joie De Vivre Tarot. See now that title caught my interest right away. I'm on the edge of my seat already...just waiting for it...

Ciro Marchetti: A Favorite Tarot Creator

I'd be remiss if I didn't cover the works of Ciro Marchetti on the "opening night" of my tarot blog debut. He's truly one of the greats in the World of Tarot. He's got three decks out to date, and I've got all three of them. (Once I bought the first one--The Gilded Tarot--I was hooked.) His images come alive; there's so much depth to each card. It's no wonder Ciro's doing a rockin' business merchandising his individual cards as prints and on special wooden boxes. (I'm salivating over those too, but have yet to purchase one.)

If Ciro himself were a tarot card, I'd say he's the Emperor--everything he touches turns to gold. Or maybe he's the Magician. He sure knows how to "work his magic."

I'd be hard-pressed to pick a favorite deck among the three. All of them are amazing.

Here's an image of the Tarot of Dreams deck.

Legacy of the Divine Tarot

Ciro's presently at work on a 52-card oracle deck, aptly named "Oracle of Visions." Scope out the work in progress. 

Judging by the 30 images he's got up right now on his site, the new oracle deck promises to be stunning. I sure wish he'd include some meanings on his site for the finished cards. I'm dying of curiosity.

I don't typically purchase oracle decks. I much prefer traditional tarot decks to oracles, but I predict I'll be making an exception for Ciro's oracle. Those images are just too compelling to resist.

The Tarot of the Vampyres Review

Okay, I'll admit it. I was skeptical about purchasing this deck. Ever since I purchased the Thoth deck way back when (who knows how many years ago that was now), I vowed to myself that I'd never purchase another "dark deck" and surely this "vampyre" deck must be another one of those--or so I thought. But I'd read some of the other reviews out there and everyone seemed to love it. So with much reservation, I purchased it.  I'm a collector, after all, gotta have the latest "rave" deck, don't I?

What a surprise. This has quickly come to be one of my all time favorite decks. Truly. It's absolutely gorgeous, and save for the little touches of blood here and there, there's really nothing sinister or "dark" about this deck. I love everything about it. Even the backs of the cards are gorgeous! The book is absolutely brilliant. It has given me some new insights into some of the cards. This is my favorite type of deck: beautiful images that match the original card meanings coupled with a "real" book with well thought out card interpretations. Who could ask for anything more?

The only thing I'd ask for now is another deck by this same creator. I sure hope Ian Daniels is working on another masterpiece right now. To purchase your own deck (and you MUST if you are a true tarot enthusiast), click here: The Tarot of the Vampyres

 (I think this is one of the most beautiful renditions of The Lovers card in my entire tarot collection.)

Infinite Visions Tarot Review

Just picked up this deck last week. It's the first homemade deck I've ever purchased. For the most part, I really like it. The images are simple and clean, so when you lay them out for a reading, you get the story immediately. For that reason, I think this would make a nice deck for tarot beginners.

There are a couple of interesting card additions to this deck that you won't find in any other tarot decks.

Yep, that's one of them: The Dark Priestess. I must admit that one of the reasons I chose to purchase this deck is to check out this evil-looking woman. The deck's creator, Gloria Jean, gives this meaning to the card:

This card is a warning. Although this card is a feminine energy, this agent can most certainly be a man. Simply put, she represents an acquaintance who pretends to be a friend, but whose agenda is hidden and whose loyalty lies with opposing forces or directly with your enemy.

She can be utilized as a double agent and you can glean much information from her, but she cannot be trusted with true secrets as she is sleeping with or married to the enemy.

It is important to understand that the Dark Priestess represents a person with an agenda who functions as a spy. She may be a friendly acquaintance, associate, or co-worker. She collects information and may use it for gossip or for her own agenda. Treat her as politely as you would treat a member of an opposing team and keep her at a distance from your inner circle. She may seem to be a nice person but she is committed to your enemy by choice or obligation. She could even be a member of your immediate family.

Key words: "Married to the enemy" or "Sleeping with the enemy."

Sadly, this card turns up for me on a regular basis when I consult this deck. I guess I'm glad that Gloria thought to include her, seeing as she has so many real-life counterparts. Reminds me that I need to choose my friends more wisely. :)

Not to be outdone, of course...the Dark Priestess's male counterpart, The Dark Magician, also rears his ugly head in this deck. Gloria says:

Lock your doors, sound the drums, something evil this way comes. The energy of this card personifies anger, bad intentions, hateful thoughts, black magic, or psychic attacks. It can also represent repressed anger that has degenerated into a deep depression that may be hidden and destructive. This card may simply alert you to an angry presence that could be dangerous. You will probably know who it is.

The Dark Magician is sometimes a warning and a head's up. He is telling you to be aware of an enemy who watches you from a hidden place or maybe even lurks in the heart of a close friend. There is jealously, fear, hatred and disdain, behind this energy.

He is the wounded one who has sank into deep despair, sadness, hopelessness and may express these emotions through anger and violence.

It could be intentional dark magic or natural dark magic; which is done on an unconscious level. The focus and feeling of this card is that an enemy lurks closely, searching for your weakness, and for an opportunity to exploit it.

As far as emotional energy, this card represents the ones at the bottom of the barrel, such as grief, depression, anger, fear, hopelessness and desperation.

I see this guy quite often in my readings too. Sheesh, you can't trust anyone these days, can you?

Anyway, this deck is worth checking out, and if you know someone who is just getting started in tarot, I think this deck makes a good alternative to some of the other standard beginner's decks.

To purchase your own copy of this deck, click here: Infinite Visions Tarot

Entré...

.. and welcome to my new tarot blog. I've been collecting decks now since 1984 when I purchased my very first deck in a little new age shop in Woodstock, NY.

Since then my collection has grown to 100+ decks, and my passion for tarot has grown exponentially. I had no idea what I was getting into when I picked up that first deck. No idea.

Since I'm a writer by trade, I figured it was high time I marry my two passions and start blogging about my favorite addiction, er...hobby, that is.

I don't have a clear mission for this blog yet. For now, I'm thinking I'll do some deck reviews, keep a reading journal...and just sort of free fall like THE FOOL...and see where this blog ends up.

Just getting rolling here. I'm at the Ace of Pentacles stage, you might say...

I just did a quick layout for this venture, and I rolled out: The Magician, Queen of Cups (that's me), Prince of Pentacles, Nine of Pentacles, The Emperor, and The Sun.

Hmnn...this little side venture might turn into something bigger than I'm thinking...at any rate, sure promises to be fun...

Oh, and that pic up there to the right? That's the Ace of Cups from the Deviant Moon Tarot by Patrick Valenza--the same deck from which my background Lover's card is derived. Rumor has it, Valenza's got a new deck due out very soon, which he's calling the 444 deck. (Interesting numerology going on there. This Valenza guy has surely got something up his sleeve.)

Check him out at: Deviant Moon Tarot