The Celtic Wisdom Tarot with Cards [Box set] [Hardcover]

Caitl?n Matthews (Author), Olivia Rayner (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

• An original tarot based on Celtic spiritual traditions 

• Written by the bestselling author of The Celtic Book of Days

• Draws upon the ancient oracle traditions of the Celtic druids to create striking visual images 

 
• Major and minor arcana cards reflect the druids' belief in the immortal soul 
and the values that infused daily Celtic life 

• Honors ancient Celtic tradition in a way that will provide inspiration and direction for modern seekers 

Divination was an honored art among the Celts, who believed that spirit was present in all things. Caitlin Matthews's The Celtic Wisdom Tarot draws upon the ancient oral traditions of the Celtic druids to create striking visual images that profoundly reflect the druids' deep-rooted belief in the interconnectedness of all things. Immortality of the soul was a tenet of druidic belief and the 22 cards of the major arcana follow the sacred triple spiral of the soul's path through many lifetimes. These cards mirror the mysterious thresholds of the Celtic otherworld where all life is subject to powerful transformations. The minor arcana, on the other hand, is redesigned to depict the rich spiritual values that infused the daily life of the Celts. Battle skills, art, and knowledge--the chief hubs of Celtic life--replace the standard pentacles, wands, cups, and swords. Together the wisdom cards of the major arcana and the folklore-based cards of the minor arcana create a meaningful fusion of deep spiritual truths and the lessons of daily life. 

The Celtic Wisdom Tarot provides a portable oracle to help clarify confusing situations and empower readers to take advantage of lifeis opportunities. It honors the ancient traditions of the Celtic peoples in such a way that their truths can still be a rich source of inspiration and direction for modern seekers. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

". . . remarkable and stunningly illustrated tarot adaptation. A completely new path into personal divination. For the serious student of shamanism and spiritual wisdom, this is a tradition--and resource--not to be missed."
(

Napra Review

)

"In my position as editor of SageWoman I get to see a lot of decks; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Only rarely nowadays does one come along that really knocks my socks off; but the Celtic Wisdom Tarot is such a deck. Without a doubt, this is the best new Tarot set I've seen this year--a 'must-have' for lovers of Celtic lore and Tarot enthusiasts alike. Highly recommended."
(

Anne Newkirk Niven, SageWoman

)

"Provides extremely in-depth divination - delving into the querent's soul for the truth and honesty of a situation."
(Aleesha Stephenson, Body Mind Spirit Magazine, October 2003 )

"One of the top three or four decks ever in terms of art." 

(

Lee A. Bursten, www.ArtofTarot.com

)

"The Celtic theme provides a nice introduction to Matthews' knowledge of Celtic myth and cultures."
(

Michele Jackson, www.ArtofTarot.com

)

"This is first class all the way. Wonderful book. Well written. Filled with information about Celtic ways and divination by tree."
(

John Gilbert, American Tarot Association Newsletter, Summer 2000

)

". . . this deck is helpful in attuning to the innate wisdom residing in each of us."
(Four Corners, Oct-Nov 2006 )

About the Author

Caitlin Matthews teaches the practical application of Celtic spiritual and shamanic traditions in Europe and the U.S. She is also the author of The Celtic Book of Days, The Arthurian Tarot, and The Celtic Book of the Dead. She lives in Ireland. 

Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Destiny Books (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892817208
• ISBN-13: 978-0892817207
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 7.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #978,806 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hello! I'm Caitlin Matthews. I live in Oxford, England with my partner, John Matthews and two warring white cats who, despite our best efforts, can't abide each other and live on different floors of our small house.

I'm primarily known for being the author of many books including Singing the Soul Back Home, Mabon and the Guardians of Celtic Britain, Psychic Shield, and Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom. I write in the fields of metaphysical non-fiction, poetry, fiction, folkstory and myth, as well as writing books for children. I'm known for my research into the Celtic and ancestral traditions, and the ways in which I provoke exploration of the creative metaphysical field, and how we can apply it to our spiritual path.

With John Matthews, I've written the Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom, the Arthurian Tarot and Walkers Between the Worlds. Our latest collaboration is the StoryWorld series of cards and books for storytellers of all ages, which started coming out in 2009 - many more titles to come in 2010.

Although I'm the author of over sixty books, most of my work is oral rather than written. As a teacher of ancestral, shamanic and metaphysical traditions, I go all over the world, working with communities and spiritual institutions. With John Matthews, and my dear colleague Felicity Wombwell, I co-founded The Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies, which is dedicated to the mythic, oracular and sacred arts. Our FiOS shamanic training programme teaches students the ancestral wisdom and healing arts as living sacred traditions in which we still engage.

As a singer, I play Celtic & medieval harps, sruti and psaltery. My CDs include Deep Well in the Wild Wood: Songs from the Place Beyond and the latest, Earth's Own Heart: Songs from the Faery Hills appears in 2010. I was the Pictish language originator and song-writer of Song of the Exile for the 2004 Jerry Bruckheimer film King Arthur and I appear frequently on international radio and television.

For the last 20 years, I've had a shamanic practice in Oxford dedicated to healing soul sickness and ancestral fragmentation. I use my voice to help open the way between the worlds, to sing the soul's essential nature, tracking it through the client's story and bringing it homeward, with the help of spirit allies who have chosen to work with me.

I'm currently working on Rekindling Ancestral Hearths: a book to help us come into good relationship with our ancestors. I believe that being in commuinion with our ancestors and gifting spirits is essential for the wellbeing of our world, and lies at the root of war and peace.

If you want to know more about my courses, events and forthcoming books, you are cordially invited to visit www.hallowquest.org.uk.

For new readers of my work, there is no 'one book' that conveys all that I teach, but the following practical books may be a helpful guide for you to begin somewhere:

Walkers Between Worlds - for a grounding in where our spiritual traditions arose.
Singing the Soul Back Home - for a guide on how we come into come relationship with our gifting spirits
Celtic Devotional - for a post-denominational way of spiritually acknowledging each day and season
Psychic Shield - for those who need a friendly guide to how the universe and ourselves rub off each other and how we can do it more harmoniously

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Celtic diviners these are for YOU!, July 18, 2000

By 

Martha Kuepper (Rockaway, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Celtic Wisdom Tarot with Cards (Hardcover)

I did research on what tarot deck I wanted to buy and came up with a list, then went to the local bookstore to see which deck 'spoke' to me. I had originally crossed this title of my list because of some reviews of it but once I saw it on the shelves there was no going back. The deck has lovely art and the cards are reorganized in attune with Celtic culture. The stories and archetypes seen in the deck are wonderful. The book is informative on general tarot interpretation and more specific ones as well. The Soul Wisdom questions are great for getting to the heart of the matter if you are puzzled. The spreads are also very good, the main three being a general spread, a more daily spread, and one that focuses on a relationship. Tarot fans will love the new twist on divination and Celtica fans will love this method as it will speak to your heart. Well worth the investment and sure to be treasured.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good buy, May 21, 2000

By 

Josh Mitchell - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Celtic Wisdom Tarot with Cards (Hardcover)

This is a stunning set with colorful Celtic-inspired Tarot cards and an informative hardcover book that has incredible knowledge of Tarot (obviously the author, Caitlin Matthews,did her homework when making this book). The Tarot cards are standard, but have a twist with beautiful pictures that portray Celtic mythological stories. Those stories appear in the book for you to read, so, im this way, you learn not only about Tarot, but also about Celtic myth. The twenty-two cards include easy-to-follow instructions so almost anyone can use them, even those who don't know how to use Tarot cards at all. It's even useful for people who don't even know what Tarot is, so it's useful for beginners. Above all, this makes Tarot fun! Yet it still includes a formal, serious appeal. The book explains each one of the 22 cards in great detail so you know what it means if it comes up in one of your readings, either right-side up or upside down. But, contrary to my praises, this Tarot is not much like the cards of traditional Tarot, but you can still figure what it means. Also, the cards are awfully large (almost clown-like), which can be both good and bad. The cards are easier to use and read, but take up a lot of room when working with them. I would prefer smaller cards, but some people like them to be bigger and even I must admit bigger has some advantages.

The book has informaiton on things like how to show respect for the cards. For example, it said you should place all cards upright after use, something I had never heard before. The book also includes information on Celtic religion and history. It has informative charts that can be useful and includes quotes that fit where they're placed well. It has guidelines on what questions to ask and info on doing readings for friends and family, and even for meditation. Unfortunately, the cards have been renamed and changed (which is ultimately confusing). This is a must-have for Tarot collectors, for, though it may not be great for doing readings, it is very informative and the cards are simply magnificent in their colors and exquisite beauty.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Deck, and a, September 14, 1999

By 

SeashellPoint "Nancy" (Fort Myers, FL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Celtic Wisdom Tarot with Cards (Hardcover)

Although the cards are rather large, as noted by other reviewers, the up side is that their size makes them ideal for contemplation and visualization, as the cards virtually shimmer with the most radiant and lively colors I've ever seen in a Tarot deck. In conjunction with the beautifully produced hard cover book that comes with this deck, one can get involved on many different levels, i.e. some may wish to pursue readings, while others may want to use the book and cards as a colorful means of gaining an in-depth familiarity with Celtic myths and legends. Be forewarned, though, that this deck bears no resemblance whatsoever to other traditional Tarot decks - Caitlin Matthews has created her own system; however, one senses that it is well worth the effort to delve into it.