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Reviews: Tarot Decks
Tarot & Cartomancy Deck Reviews
by Bonnie Cehovet
Tarot Master
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Legend: The Arthurian Tarot
author: Anna-Marie Ferguson
illustrator: Anna-Marie Ferguson
Llewellyn Publications
2002
ISBN #1-56718-265-8
suits: Spears (Wands), Cups, Swords, Shields
court cards: King, Queen, Knight, Page
Court Cards:
The Fool - Percivale
The Magician - Merlin
The Priestess - Nimue
The Empress - Guenevere
The Emperor - Arthur
The Hierophant - Taliesin
The Lovers - Gareth and Lyones
The Chariot - Battle of Mount Badon
Strength - Percivale's Vision
The Hermit - Lancelot in Exile
Wheel of Fortune - Arthur's Dream
Justice - Lady of the Lake
The Hanged Man - Castle Perilous
Death - Gwyn ab Nudd & the Wild Hunt
Temperance - The Cauldron of Annwn
The Horned One - Cerrnunos
The Tower - Vortigern's Fortress
The Star - The Firedrake
The Moon - Morgan ke Fay
The Sun - Lleu
The Judgment - Avalon
The Universe - The Giants' Dance
I have been interested in working with an Arthurian themed deck for some time now - but never got around to purchasing a deck. I had my chance on e-Bay - and I won the toss. (The only issue here is that I now have to purchase the book!) A romantic at heart, I dearly love the Arthurian legend - Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot, Merlin, Morgana le Fay, the quest for the Holy Grail - the whole enchilada is a riveting journey, and I never want it to end!
Page of Swords
As with all themed decks, the presentation is up to the author - it is their personal view of how the theme relates to the Tarot. IMHO, Anna-MarieFerguson has done a wonderful job of melding the Arthurian legend and the Tarot. Each card - Major Arcana, Pips and Court Cards, carries the traditional Tarot title (with the exception of the Devil, which has been renamed The Horned One), as well as a theme (which can be a person, place, animal or specific tale from the Arthurian legend). All of the Pages carry the distinction of being represented by animals.
The LWB (Little White Book) that accompanies the deck starts with a brief review of the Arthurian Legend, and goes into a little of the history of the Tarot. I highly recommend getting the accompanying book, A keeper Of Words, also by Anna-Marie Ferguson, for a more in-depth understanding of the Arthurian Legend, and how it relates to the Tarot. There are no scans in the LWB - the cards are presented with an interpretation, the reversed meaning, and a presentation of the theme for the Trumps; and an interpretation and reversed meaning for the Pips and Court Cards. The spreads presented in the LWB are the Celtic Cross and the Horseshoe (which includes the use of a significator, which I personally do not use).
From the LWB:
13 Death - Gwyn ab Nudd & the Wild Hunt
Interpretation: Transformation. Death and rebirth. the end of an era or relationship. Freedom and renewal. A change of lifestyle. Feelings of loss. The natural course of events. Can indicate death or the fear of it, but more often points to a separation with the past.
Reversed: Clinging to the past. Resisting change. Continuing old habits and outmoded thinking.
Gwyn ab Nudd & the Wild Hunt: "Storm clouds breathe form to Gwyn ab Nudd and the Wild Hunt." Gwyn, son of Nudd, is the Wild Huntsman od Welsh tradition who blows his deafening horn and leads a spectral troop across the skies. As God of the dead, Gwyn was charged with collecting and protecting the souls of the dead, and so a sighting of the Wild Hunt was thought to portend a coming death. The riders of the Wild Hunt are said to be the ghosts of men who have fallen in battle, while the red-eared hounds who accompanied them were known as the cwn Wyhir, or hounds of the Underworld. The baying of hounds, the thundering hooves, and the shrieks of the horsemen that followed this awesome sight were said to scare evil away from the realm of Annwn (the Otherworld).
The cards are good quality, glossy card stock, 2 3/4" by 4 5/8". They are comfortable for use by those with smaller hands. The backs are a deep purple with tiny white circles that resemble stars in a night sky, with a labyrinth outlined in gold in the center. The card faces have a marbled gray background, with a jeweled border around the picture itself. The artwork is done in a very soft manner, with excellent use of color. The pips are all scenes, with a small insert that shows the number of pips for each specific card. The title and number of the card is in lavender across the top border, with the theme for the card in lavender across the bottom of the border. The Court Cards have a small insert showing the suit and crown or other headgear to indicate rank.
Ace of Cups
There is a wonderful fairy tale quality to the art in this deck. There are many cards that really appealed to me, but there are laws about these things, and they will only allow me to use a certain percentage of scans! The Ace of Cups is themed The Holy Grail - in the middle of the card we see a blue and gold cauldron, seated between two columns, with lightening emanating from it. Beneath the cauldron we see a circle of women wearing gold gown overlaid with blue robes. Definitely brings out feelings of mystery and enchantment!
Judgement
Judgment carries the theme of Avalon, and shows a woman dressed in gold, facing the barge carrying the dying Arthur, with the form of a golden woman gracing the bow. The three Queens, dressed in gray, are at the back of the barge. In the background we see the image in the mist of a woman, arms thrown upwards, blowing a horn. In the upper right hand corner we see white flowers and green leaves.
The Hermit
The Hermit carries the theme of Lancelot in exile, and shows a haunting picture of Lancelot and the Otherworld. The Page of Swords is themed The Adder, and shows an upright snake. Strength is themed Percivale's Vision, and shows two forms - the lion and a maiden, and the serpent and the crone. Universe is themed The Giants' Dance, and shows a figure dancing between two columns with Stonghenge int he background.
The Chariot
The Chariot is themed Battle of Mount Badon, and shows two stallions, one white and one black, pulling a chariot with the charioteer's right arm raised with sword in hand and red cape flying behind him. In the left hand corner we see a bright blue banner with three gold crowns on it.
I found this deck very easy to use. It is a deck that I would provide for my in person client readings (I allow my clients to choose the deck of their choice). I highly recommend this deck for anyone that appreciates the Arthurian legend, and believe that those who do not know the legend would not take long to come to an understanding of it.
(c) April 2004
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Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master, and Reiki Master/Teacher.
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Bonnie Cehovet is a Tarot Master, professional Tarot reader and Reiki Master/Teacher.
Bonnie has been reading the Tarot professionally for over ten years. She has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, including Secretary and Web Assistant For Links. She is currently Certification Director and Secretary for the American Board For Tarot Certification. Bonnie is also a founding member of the World Tarot Network.
Bonnie has had her work published in the ATA newsletter, in Geraldine Amaral's "Celebrating The Tarot" print newsletter, on the World Tarot Network and other internet sites. She is editor for her own monthly newsletter "Gateway To Tarot" (Yahoo Groups).
www.tarot.
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