Customer Reviews

The Halloween Tarot Deck and Book Set

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There aren't many Tarot decks that I actually make a permanent part of my deck collection; however, this is one of them. I've "passed it by" for the last several years, but decided recently to take a closer look at it. With my sister being a special lover of the Halloween season, I thought it would be ideal to use for her readings - and I was right. Because it is a deck that she closely resonates with, I've gotten my most accurate readings with her using this deck.

The theme, closely based on the standard Rider-Waite, is quite ingeniously done and is a very light-hearted deck to use, i.e. it doesn't reflect any "dark" images or interpretations. Instead, author/illustrator Karin Lee draws on an array of Halloween imagery that reminds us of our childhood trick-or-treating, using Pumpkins, Ghosts, Bats and Imps to represent the standard Minor Arcana suits of Pentacles, Cups, Swords and Wands. Lots of creativity is shown in the Major Aracana as well; for example, The Emperor card shows a Boris Karlof-type Frankenstein, with a rendition of the Bride of Frankenstein representing The Empress! This is also an excellent deck to use with anyone who has misconceptions of fears about having a Tarot reading, as it promotes a sense of childlike fun.

The Halloween Tarot Submitted 5/17/01

Halloween whimsy all through the year! Just like Ms. West, the creator of the Halloween tarot, I LOVE Halloween. My birthday is in October, I love dressing up in costumes, one of my favorite movies is "Nightmare Before Christmas", and I even got MARRIED on Halloween! (Hey, if you're gonna do something scary, might as well do it on the scariest nite of the year!!) So, when I found Ms. West's deck, of course I had to get it; do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

The cards are very well drawn with crisp lines and clear, bright colors. Not surprisingly, black and orange are main colors of this deck, though white, blue and red are prominently featured as well. The figures of the tarot are drawn from a number of different Halloweenish sources: costumed trick-or-treaters, movie monsters, scarecrows, and the European vegetable people of a century ago. The Empress, for example, is the Bride of Frankenstein, the Hermit, a mad scientist brewing up strange concoctions. Temperance is a young witch pouring potions and the Fool is a gleeful clown in motley. None of these images are frightening or spooky, so the overall effect is more of childhood play than of Halloween terror. In this respect, I think this makes the deck more open and playful to the querent than other more gothic or "serious" decks.

The symbolism of the cards in both Major and Minor Arcana is very similar to that of one of the most well known decks, the Rider-Waite. This makes it a good choice for the beginning-to-intermediate reader who is just learning all the symbols of the deck. The Minor Arcana have had their suits changed a bit to suit the holiday, pumpkins represent pentacles, bats represent swords, ghosts represent cups and imps (small, red devil creatures) represent wands in the more traditional decks. Still, even with these changes the symbols are very clear and easy to read. What's more, each card of both the Major and Minor Arcana have a black cat on it; he acts as a sort of touchstone or common thread through the deck that ties everything together very nicely.

I always recommend that the absolute beginner start with the Rider-Waite, simply because it's one of the most well known decks and most books about the tarot use the Rider to illustrate the cards. However, even as a beginner, I found myself able to use the Halloween tarot just as easily (if not MORE easily in my case--the Rider sometimes seems too serious for my blood) as any other deck. I've also found that people who are leery around tarot cards loosen up when they see these fun, playful cards: it seems more like a childhood game than a heavy-duty inquiry, and that allows them to relax a bit and let the reading resonate with them more than they might have otherwise allowed themselves to.

You don't have to be a nut over Halloween and collect pumpkins, skeletons and black cats like Ms. West (or me!) to enjoy these cards, nor do you have to wait until October to use them. They're great icebreakers at parties (Halloween or not!) and for people with a playful, whimsical side to their nature, this deck would be a fine choice! Highly recommended!!

I kept blowing this deck off; but then I realized. Tarot. Halloween. Duh. Two favorite things in one, with a "classic" approach. I looked a bit more into this set; everyone all over the Internet has given the Halloween Tarot great reviews. When I saw such things as the Bride of Frankenstein, the Werewolf and a Hearse for the Chariot, I knew I had to have it. If you are interested in Halloween from a "Nightmare before Christmas" point of view, are just learning Tarot and/or prefer a Rider-Waite background, then this deck is for you! The book that comes with it gives a little more details to the cards and a history of Halloween. I was impressed with the History the authors gave us. It sounds like they put some thought into it than just regurgitating stuff outta books. The author and illustrator both love Halloween. I confess I found the cat on every card a bit tedious, but I know I am a bit picky---get it before it goes out of print!

The Halloween Tarot Deck is amazing. I am a huge fan of hallowween and halloween art. The illustrations on the cards are a lot of fun; very whimsicle and cute. The book is well written. It offers full details on the symbology of ecah card along with the divinatory and reverse meanings. The author also goes into the history of halloween and how it is celebrated in different cultures. The author also tries to offer some insight as to how certain images have become associated with halloween like jack o' lanterns and black cats. Overall, it's a heck of a lot of fun, but also very educational! Buy it!

Finally! A humorous look at the traditional Tarot. And one that can be read very easily, at that. I love this deck! The colors are bright & very cool images à la Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas. Get this: Morticia Addams as the High Priestess & Gomez as the Magician. The Mummy as the Hierophant & The Bride of Frankenstein as The Empress. Is there anything in this deck not to like? Perhaps. For instance, I don't care much for the cheesy rendition of The lovers. Count Dracula & the Damsel in Distress. They could have picked a better archetype for that card. Overall, this card is the best thing since sliced bread~~~only better....MUCH better! Halloween is here to stay:)))

This Tarot is based on the Waite tarot, so it has all the standard "archetypes" of Tarot readings. The colors are great, the images are great, and it's a fun, fun deck. I am a collector of Tarot decks & a Tarot reader and I think that this is my new favorite! I just wish that I had bought it here, much cheaper! Get the book & deck set, so that you can read more about it...

This deck is wonderfully funny and sweet without being cloying. It does a good job of capturing the excitement of small-town Halloween when a child could still accept home-made treats in her goodie bag. And I love the funky black cat who appears in each card, sometimes as a participant, sometimes as an observer. If you liked Nighmare Before Christmas, you'll probably like this deck.

I'm usually not a fan of theme decks, finding that most of them end up in the back of the bookcase after the initial excitement has worn off. West obviously has a pretty good tarot knowledge base as well as her excellent art skills. This deck actually works. Any reader familiar with the Rider-Waite would be able to use this deck with minimal study.

"Successful Tarot readings are based on insight into what you *do* see, and whatever flashes of insight into your own life the pictures may offer you. In fact, think of yourself as the black cat that appears in every card of the Halloween deck. He is your touchstone, and travels through the deck with you as your companion." - From the companion book

For quite some time, I've had my eye on The Halloween Tarot deck and book set by Kipling West (illustrator) and Karin Lee (companion book and LWB author). Although I assumed I'd be pleased when I eventually bought them, I had no idea just how thrilling it would be to actually SEE the deck!

While the outstanding cartoon-like artwork of The Halloween Tarot is colorful and clever, I wasn't prepared for the intuitive and symbolic richness of the cards. Designing many of the cards based on Rider-Waite iconography--but tweaked and twisted to incorporate themes from Halloween, old monster movies, circus images, and the German-made "Vegetable People" that were popular Halloween toys/decorations in 1920's America--Kipling West has given Tarot an influx of fresh perspective--while still paying homage to ancient esoteric symbolism.

As I went through the deck one card at a time, I noticed how certain phrases popped into my head--a silent commentary to the arresting depictions--and a very good sign that this is a deck that would "speak" to me.

From the terrified man strapped to the ever-turning Wheel (and the target of knife-throwing!), to the experimenting mad scientist in The Hermit--the jolly Pumpkin Man careening through paved cemetery roads in a hearse (The Chariot) to a chained Frankenstein fixed on his cement throne (The Emperor), associations both practical and divine made themselves known.

Reading the delightful illustrated 137-page companion book was more than just a treat: it provided solid, yet innovative, ways to see and interpret the cards (including upright and reversed meanings). While you *can* buy The Halloween Tarot by itself--and it *does* include a LWB by Karin Lee--the companion book found in the box set is a not-to-be-missed traveling companion through this particular deck.

The suits of the Minor Arcana are Ghosts (Cups), Imps (Wands), Bats (Swords) and Pumpkins (Coins)--and the Court Cards follow the Page, Knight, Queen, and King rendering. The whimsical orange and black card backings are fully reversible, depicting a black cat, spider, smiling skulls, bats, vines, stars, full moon, and an all-seeing eye in the center.

There is no nudity in The Halloween Tarot, nor are the images gruesome or threatening--making it a *wonderful* for deck for children. (My 8-year-old son is enraptured with both the cards and book!) But make no mistake: the light-hearted appearance of the cards belies the abundant symbolism nestled within the images, as well as the rich repository for intuitive insights.

I was blown away by a three card reading I performed with this deck, mostly because two of the cards contained specific (to me) references about a book I was reading--a direct answer to my unspoken query about my spiritual path. So if you're tempted to think that The Halloween Tarot is only for holiday readings or as a quirky, light-weight addition to a deck collection, think again: this is a great reading deck than can also speak to weightier matters!

If you're a huge fan of Halloween, there's no question you'll love this deck. However, even for those who *aren't* rabid for this particular holiday or its accoutrements, a charming, readable deck awaits you--no matter *what* time of the year!

(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)

I started collecting tarot decks for their illustrations, and this is the best! The bright colors and sly details are wonderful.

If you love Halloween, even if you are not into tarot, I would recommend this deck.

A must-own for anyone who enjoys the many influences echoed in this deck: Charles Addams, Little Nemo, Universal Horror series, Maurice Sendak, old black&white animated shorts (like that great one with Betty Boop & all the dancing skeletons),etc. Wonderful!