Customer Reviews

The Fairy Tale Tarot

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This beautifully illustrated deck brings the fairy tales from multiple cultures into the Tarot. Lisa Hunt's paintings remain soft and filled with as much mystery and subtlety as in her previous tarots. If you ever wanted an illustrated compendium of fairy tales at your finger tips, this is it.

Each card demands close examination, as one is sure to miss interesting details at a cursory glance, such as the occasional faces in the woods. Fortunately, the cards are borderless avoiding cutting into imagery for this regular sized deck. The back of the cards are fully reversible portraying two old fashion keys pointing in opposite direction from a centric adornment.

The cards in this deck are labeled at the bottom within an ornate scroll. The Major Arcana are numbered with roman numerals, but starting at 0 with The Fool, which had been renamed Innocence in this deck. In this regards, many of these cards has been renamed to follow the Fairy Tale Theme such as:

The Fool -> Innocence
The High Priestess -> The Sorceress
The Empress -> The Fairy Godmother
The Emperor -> The Wise Old Man
The Hierophant -> The Mentor
Strength -> Courage
Wheel of Fortune -> The Wheel
The Hanged Man -> Entrapment
Death -> Transformation
The Devil -> Temptation
The Tower -> Deception
Judgment -> Redemption
The World -> Happily Ever After

In this deck, Strength is 8 and Justice is 11.

I particularly like Innocence with Little Red Ridding Hood unaware of the ferocious wolf standing behind her, Deception with the Naked Emperor escorted by his court, and Happily Ever After with a castle seemingly reaching into the open sky.

The suits in the Minor Arcana (swords, wands, cups and pentacles) are subtly integrated within the imagery of each card. For example: the Five of Pentacles have the pentacles sewed into a quilt, while the Ten of Swords have swords as an adornment to the side of a flying coffer. However, the correspondence of the suits to the four elements (fire, air, water and earth) is not as clear as in previous Tarots illustrated by Hunt. The court cards are labeled Queen and King, Princes and Prince akin to Crowley's tradition, with a subtle break from the hierarchal arrangement to move away traditional stereotypes

The book that comes with this deck is perfectly suited to help you delve into the fairy tales portrayed on each card. Each card is described on three or four pages including title, culture of origin, keywords, brief story, symbols and meaning.

This deck is an easy recommendation for seasoned tarot collectors. It comes in a box, which opens on the front like a chest, and includes a black organdy bag, and a companion book.

Other decks by Lisa Hunt:
Fantastical Creatures Tarot
Animals Divine Tarot
The Celtic Dragon Tarot Kit
Shapeshifter Tarot

The Fairy Tale Tarot cards have been produced as a tarot deck and and coincide nicely with traditonal tarot card meanings. The deck is wonderfully expressive as a tarot deck. However there is another "level". The deck can be read as an oracle, with no knowledge of tarot, simply using the rich images on the cards. The reader can simply let the images "speak" to her; the intuitive feeling about the image will provide rich fodder for readings. You can add another level, by observing and using the symbolism present in the individual cards and combining this with the intuitive reading of the card. Then let's add yet another level and that is the fairy tales themselves. Fairy tales have lessons to teach and these can be used to produce a reading using the fairy tale message. Then of course, all of these levels can be combined with any of the others to produce yet additional levels of meaning and interpretation.

Even someone with limited knowledge of tarot and symbolism can read with this deck by simply using the images and/or the fairy tale messages.

The images of the Fairy Tale Tarot evoke strong primal messages. Maybe they are part archetype and part collective consciousness or maybe they are just wonderful artwork full of symbolism that speaks to us on a subconscious level. Regardless of the reason, the messages are there and along with the tales themselves, they provide more than enough understanding and insight to "speak" to varied readers with all levels of knowledge and experience.

In this endless maze of tarot cards produced every year, this one jumped out at me. It brings a new twist to the genre. Your daily tarot reading mixed with a fairy tale. For me, this is revolutionary. All ot the occult trappings are left behind for this little gem. Instead, you are presented with an image from a classic fairy tale. Many of the images were unknown to me. The book, which is written with wit and skill, is invaluable for reference. These archetypes are timeless and universal, with lessons for readers of any age. Yes, this is suitable for parents who get stuck for a new story every night.

Perhaps one may pass this deck off as an erroneous tarot deck. This is not the case. It is important. There is a traffic jam of new contributions each year. Of course, a serious student/artist might find symbols that relate to the depth the meanings. This is honestly a new direction for both mediums. There have been other fairy tale/tarot decks, yet this one speaks to me and hopefully to a new generation. Indeed, the "princess generation" is coming of age. What a better way to emmerse yourself into a story to take you down your daily path, than drawing a card that gives you a fairy tale to relate to. Perhaps your boss is the troll under the bridge...

The art is superb, reminding me of all of those stories that is could not put down as a child. These illustrations let adults get in touch with that child that is left behind. This is a powerful, perhaps new approach to the tarot decks, which I have far too many of. I will perhaps use this before bed, drawing a card and then reading the accompaning story associated with my card for the night. Beware of the dark forests!

The premise of this deck is innovative. Welcome to the world of imagination, childhood and magic. The creator has done an amazing job of bringing to life these stories and making their more subtle meanings accessible. It is undoubtedly one of the most creative, beautiful, inventive twists on the Tarot I've seen, and has quickly become one of my favorite decks.

Many of the tales that are employed to interpret the Tarot will be familiar to you--Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, ect. Some of them will be new, and, in addition to enriching your readings, will add to your repertoire of bedtime stories for children!

My only criticism is that the creator has a tendency to stray so far from the traditional meanings of the Tarot that it can be hard to recognize any resemblance to a more universally-based deck. The creator has clearly put an enormous amount of energy into these cards, but she expects you to put a great deal of energy into learning them. Fluent readers be warned: this is not a deck you can just pick up and read. Relying heavily on a conventional understanding of basic meanings will not be sufficient if you want your quarent to really be able to visually connect the meaning with the art. To me, the best part of the Tarot as a divination system is its unique and immediate aid in visualization, but if you lean on standard interpretation of the Tarot, its connection to the art may be lost on your client (and perhaps even you). If you intend to use these in a professional setting, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the fairy tales and how they connect to their traditional meanings.

Paradoxically, and especially if you take the time understand the creator's intentions, these cards can actually be EASIER for your client to immediately connect with, because like you, he or she will be familiar with many of the stories depicted.

All in all, it is more than worth the effort.

At the time of this writing, others have already posted some fantastic reviews on this product, and those reviewers offer helpful specific information for serious Tarot practitioners, especially those who prefer traditional representations and handling of Tarot materials. I found those reviews helpful when I was shopping. Nevertheless, I will share my own observations about the product and hopefully add another voice for the consideration of future buyers. :)

WHAT I LIKED: The first thing that caught my eye with the Fairy Tale Tarot Box Set was the exquisite artwork. The richly detailed book cover "Once Upon a Time..." was as attractive as it was thought-provoking, otherworldly yet approachable at the same time. A fan of fairy tales, folklore, mythology, and archetypes, I felt an instant connection with it, and I was instantly interested in learning about the deck of cards that accompanied the book. I generally tend to like the whimsical and unusual in things, which is why the Fairy Tale Tarot appeals to me. Traditional decks, for me, often range from very dull to disturbing, depending on their given imagery. So, I was well pleased to find a creative product that paid tribute to traditional Tarot while also presenting a fresh, unique treatment of topics. To illustrate what I mean, I have uploaded some images of my Fairy Tale Tarot box set. Check out images near the topic of the product's page.

The author / artist Lisa Hunt has put immense amounts of time, effort, intellect, spirit, and heart in rendering this amazing product. I appreciate the multicultural sensitivity in her choices. Honoring diversity, Hunt has definitely pulled ripe fruit from the world's best loved stories. The book and cards offer ideas and imagery from such cultures as these: English; Welsh; irish / Celtic; French; Spanish; German; Danish / Norwegian / Scandinavian; Czechoslovakian; Polish; Romanian; Serbian; Lithuanian; Italian; Russian; Indian; Chinese; Japanese; MidEast / Central Asian; Laplander; Inuit; Native American; Canadian; Brazilian; African; and Maori. You'll recognize popular fairy tales, and you'll be introduced to ones you've never encountered. Fans of Harry Potter may find some "aha" moments as they make mindful connections between traditional world tales as depicted in this set and the spin that JK Rowlings often puts on them (or elements of them) in her works.

Each of the 78 cards in this deck is alive with universal ideas, metaphors, and emotions. In truth, they are mini, soulful portraits that can spark healthy contemplation for those who are open to them, to their visual and spiritual depths, stories within stories, stories that connect to other stories. In Lisa Hunt's art work, you can often catch a glimpse of faces and other designs hidden in trees, clouds, water, gnarled roots, etc. The book that accompanies the deck offers sections called "Symbols and Meaning." These sections describe what can be found in the card's image, overt and subtle, and possible interpretations. Included in the book are the fairy tales--the stories--depicted in each card, and these are given to underscore the meaning of the cards. The basic "section" plan in the book is...

1) A black and white image of a card
2) The title of the card, which is the title of the section about it
3) A correlation to traditional Tarot card, if necessary
4) The name of the Fairy Tale story represented and the cultural it is from
5) Keywords about the story and the card's content for thought
6) Symbols and Meaning section (length varies according to story and card explanation)

Example of an opening text for a card:

II * The Sorceress
Traditional: The High Priestess
Story: The Lake Maiden
Culture: Welsh
Keywords: Intuition / Secrets / Mysteries


WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE SET: I love this set, don't get me wrong. However, there were a few things that would have really made this book / card set truly stellar if these had been included. First, I would have liked some more detailed beginner "How to Conduct a Reading" and "How to Use" information that addressed the importance / significance of the various suits, specific types of layouts, and finer-pointed interpretations such as what it means when a card appears reversed or what it means (if anything) when you have a majority of one group in a spread---say three cups and a wand. Second, I think it might have been helpful to have a "Quick Reference / Index" section at the back of the book that listed the cards and their page numbers for quick locating. Without the index, the user is flipping constantly through the book until he / she becomes accustomed to the order. Third, I would have preferred that the book be hard cover with at least a few colored pages; the hard cover would have been a strong choice for repeated use, especially since there is no page index.

People who are absolutely new to Tarot may have to do a bit of research to appreciate Traditional Tarot as it relates to the Fairy Tale Tarot, but discovery is part of personal journeys. The author's own comment underscores this: "My descriptions are there to help guide you as you explore the nuances of the tales but it is up to you to take these tales to where you want to go" (page 5). Of course, the user is free to imagine how best to use Fairy Tale Tarot.

This book and card set may not appeal to everyone. Before purchasing, read other reviews and look at images so that you know what to expect from this product.

SIDE NOTE: Oddly enough, we've found that the Running Press' Miniature Tarot with Tarot Nova--a tiny book and card set--makes a fun, entertaining, and often helpful companion set to the Fairy Tale Tarot.

Lisa Hunts new Fairy Tale Tarot is a stunning offering for both fairy tale and tarot enthusiasts alike. This deck is based on the traditional 78 card tarot. Some of the major archana names have changed, but are easily recognizable such as the Death card becoming "Transformation," and is illustrated as Beauty and the Beast. We see the beast seeming to die, but instead transforms, which is a perfect representation for the traditional tarot death card. Rapunzels "Entrapment" card is the interpretation of the traditional Hanged Man, and is a compelling image of the introspective princess in her tower, clutching her hair close to herself, as it trails around a hook at her window and cascading down in hope of escape. The scene in the distance offers promise for the future. The Fairy Godmother as the Empress seems like a perfect choice. Lisa Hunts matching of fairy tales with traditional tarot symbolism is positively inspired, and she seems to have created a really intuitive system created with passion and grace.

The true delight of this deck is the artwork of each card. You feel that you simply have to hold them in your hand with reverence for the mythos they reflect combined with her amazing eye for detail. Her fairy tale world is lush and ornate with bejeweled maidens, roots and vines that twist like scrollwork, light and shadow reflecting the very soul of the classic fairy tales they represent. Every detail is a delight, down to every last tiny pebble, secret spider web or myriad of hidden faces in the background. Her mastery of the medium of watercolor is so apparent when examining her rendering of water, sky, and land and her amazing ability to create glowing light upon paper.

The book is a treasure itself, a re-telling of classic fairy tales and how each relates to the cards in a reading. I have many collections of fairy tales, and there were some here that were new to me, so it was great to have new tales to discover. These are stories that are a deep part of each of our personal histories and psyches and they are deeply relevant to our subconscious minds. This makes the entire concept of The Fairy Tale Tarot a very inspiring oracle, and then when you add the exemplary quality of the execution of this project, it will be a pleasure for anyone to work with.

I had this deck shipped to my office, and after showing my boss the cards, she was so enthralled by the images that she insisted that we plop right down on the floor and do a reading. We found that we understood the meanings of some of the cards before looking them up just from the illustrations, a testament to Lisa Hunts ability to tell a story through visual medium. Furthermore, the cards really spoke and gave us a really accurate overview of our current business situation. I have since showed this deck to quite a few other people and they are all just in awe as they flip through them, oo-ing and ahhh-ing the entire time, each card you flip to is suddenly a favorite, and if you really study each one, you will always discover something new hiding in this amazing world she has created.

The Fairy Tale Tarot awakens your inner child, and is a wonderfully imagined divination kit, waiting to teach us the mysteries of these childhood stories.

Lisa Hunt is well known and much loved for her many previous contributions to Tarot - the Shapeshifter, Celtic Dragon, Animals Divine Tarot, and Fantastical Creatures Tarots, as well as her Goddess imagery, have all shown her wonderful vision and superb technique. She is especially adept and creating profound and softly shifting images that illuminate how easily creation morphs and merges with the natural and the divine.

Her latest (and very eagerly awaited) effort is the Fairy Tale Tarot, and it is certainly her best work yet. Taking
78 fairy tales from around the world and melding them with the imagery and archetypal resonance of the Tarot, she has created a rich and unique deck, accompanied by a marvelously bewitching book, sweetly entitled "Once Upon a Time.".

Tarot and fairy tales draw on the deep realms of symbol and layered reality that span human culture and time. Stories such as the German "Little Matchgirl" (3 of Swords), the Inuit tale "How The Raven Brought Light to the World," (King of Swords), the Chinese "The Thunder Dragon" (Magician), elucidate Tarot and entertain the part of us that never tires of stories. The Major Arcana runs from "Innocence" (The Fool) to the World as "Happily Ever After" in an especially charming touch, reflecting the journey of the Soul in many forms and guises. The deck is standard in its suits, and aside from renamings the Major Arcana does not vary from its usual sequence and images. The stories themselves are endlessly interesting, and the light they shed on the cards, which more or less follow the RWS meanings, encourages further exploration and contemplation. In fact, the brief section of spreads is called "Card Reflections." The bibliography is wide ranging and useful for further reading.

Hunt's soft colours and lovely, shifting forms are perfect to evoke a fairy tale realm, and seductively draw the eye and the mind in to a place where magic occurs. It is wonderful to see the art unobstructed by borders. The art melts, flows and shimmers in a journey through stores and cultures.

As with Rachel Pollack's "Tarot of Perfection," you can read yourself a bedtime story each night and see where your dreams - and your perspective on the cards - take you.

Pour a cup of something soothing and prepared to be enchanted.

Each of the 78 cards is tied to a unique folktale. For some, this will be a very complex way to view the tarot. For others, the stories will evoke images that clarify the meaning of each card.

I would find this deck very clumbersome to use with a spread of more than three cards. However, simple pick-one-card readings would be enhanced.

This tarot deck and companion book are slightly different. The names of some of the cards have been changed and the fairy tales are from many different cultures. The author supplies the fairy tale, culture, keywords, and if the name of the card has been changed she also gives the traditional name, as well as symbols and meanings. It's quite detailed and very beautiful. I learned a lot and think this is very much worth buying.

I don't know how to express the my feeling of received this beautiful cards deck.In the cards picture detail is so fantasy.
All the fairy tale story in the tarot book that you can read it. The story of the cards let you recall your childhood.