Customer Reviews

Forest Folklore Tarot

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

 

 

Just received my tarot cards (Forest Folklore Tarot Deck by Kessia Beverley-Smith). Very pleased with them. Very English, well executed, very sensitively done, they work so well as a set. I even like the backs, Kessia has obviously spent time making them work as well - so often the backs let the actual cards down, not in this case. Overall I can't actually think of any cards that I've seen or used that are better, they are going to be a pleasure to use.

I have a few sets in my collection and this is up amongst the best of them in my opinion.
This set draws from many areas of English Folklore and the scenes are obviously situated within the landscape of The New Forest and the surrounding area of what was 'old' Wessex.
There are far too many other tarot packs that are just filled with generic New Age imagery. It's nice that this one has a theme, is linked to a specific area and is unmistakably English.

As most of us that adore the tarot can attest to, there is nothing more fun than getting a new deck of cards. We rip open the package, tear into the box and then stare at each card...hoping that this deck is THE ONE!!! I had high hopes that this would be the backbone for my readings with faery energies. I admit it is a fun deck, with some delightful images, but others just did not do it for me.

I feel that one woud need to be a more advanced Tarot reader to be able to use this deck as a traditional reading deck. I know there are others this deck will sing for, but for me it was just flat. It will stay in my collection for the images that DO speak to me, the Wands overall were charming. But I am not sure why there is a little devil on each of the Swords?

If you LOVE working with Faery energies, try this deck, maybe it will sing for you! But to me, the Fey tarot hit much closer to the mark...

Forest Folklore Tarot Deck
The Forest Folklore Tarot deck (and I have over a dozen different tarot decks)has allowed me the ability to offer my clients as well as myself some of the most positive intuitive and accurate insights that I've ever given. Not only are the cards beautiful, filled with fun and playful images, but they are so much fun to use! My clients love the images as well as the messages that they bring. They are easy to use, whether you have been doing spreads for years or just a beginner you will definitely enjoy this deck.

The pictures are nice without being fluffy or cutsey. I love how all the Aces are animals, a kingfisher, a horse, a stag, etc. This really is a deck for anyone, but I think those with a love of Fairies and nature would really enjoy it, or children. No scary images!

Yet this is not a light deck, I have done some serious readings with mine and got in depth answers. I feel it would be excellent to use to read for children, or pets. My pet readings were very clear and accurate.

"The enchanting cards of Forest Folklore Tarot are inspired by a unique area of the United Kingdom called the New Forest. These historical woodlands--lush with wildlife and legends--provide the landscape for imps, fairies, nymphs, dwarves and other creatures that call this area their home." - From the Forest Folklore Tarot

Using an unusual combination of watercolor and photography, the Forest Folklore Tarot pays tribute to the people of New Forest--with neighbors, friends and relatives of the artist serving as models for the cards.

Unfortunately, this is oh-so-obvious by the staged poses and frozen expressions of the "models". (In fact, when my husband started looking through this deck, he said "It looks like she got her friends and family to pose"--which turned out to be exactly the case.)

The imagery of the Forest Folkore Tarot is far from self-evident. For example, the Five of Swords shows a balding man with his arms crossed and a woman beside him, looking into the distance. A tiny, naked red imp has his hand over the guy's mouth. The woman bemusedly looks off into the distance, while the man cocks his bushy black eyebrow ala Sean Connery.

Imagine my surprise when the Little White Book says of this card, "A couple stand [sic] stubbornly back-to-back after a disagreement. The imp puts his hands to the man's lips to stop him from saying more." I can't imagine how someone could deduce that meaning on their own! And I think this is probably because of the staged quality of almost all of the cards.

The Lady of Swords stands with hand on hip, smiling as though posing for a family picture. The guy on the 7 of Rings has his hand to his brow as if to represent weariness or indecision--but he actually looks like a teen bored out of his mind. It's easy for me to imagine many of the "models" thinking "How long do I have to hold this pose...I wish she would hurry up...my leg is cramped and I have to pee..."

Some of the cards in the Forest Folklore deck are pretty--such as the 8 of Wands, The Hermit and even Death. Some are creepy--such as mortal boy intently gazing at seven tiny naked female nymphs--and one is surprisingly violent (the Knight of Swords ready to plunge a blade into the chest of a tiny red imp who is, again, a human model).

The Minors supposedly represent various woodland creatures--Cups=Water nymphs/fairies, Rings=Dwarves, Wands=Fairies and Swords=imps. Imps were chosen because "they delight in havoc and misfortune". But honestly, you'd never know the demarcation of these creatures from portrayal alone.

The art and photo cropping are embarrassingly amateurish. Frankly, I'm baffled as to how this deck made it into print. However, if you're still reading this, I may as well pass along the minutia:

* Cards measure approximately 4 ¾ x 2 ¾ inches
* Suits are Swords, Rings, Wands and Cups
* Courts are Lady, Knight, Queen and King
* Strength is Trump 8, Justice is Trump 11
* The rather drab olive green backing features a simple design and is fully reversible
* The deck comes with a decent 43-page LWB providing both upright and reversed meanings
* Aces depict animals native to New Forest: Ace of Wands=Horse, Ace of Swords=Buck, Ace of Cups=Kingfisher and Ace of Rings=Tawny Owl.

As I mentioned, a few of the cards from the Forest Folklore Tarot are lovely--like the Queen of Wands sitting atop a large red toadstool, reading to a fairy child. However, this deck feels like a personal project best left to family and friends who actually *appear* in the images. If you're looking for a fairy deck, you may want to check out the Fairy Ring Oracle or Mystic Faerie Tarot, instead.

(To see 10 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)