Customer Reviews

The Light and Shadow Tarot

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Okay, I do not understand how any one could give this deck a bad review; it makes no sense to me. With all due respect, I guess the individual does not understand the complicity of linoleum block, which is not the same as just drawing a deck, it is much more complex and difficult to work with. But with all that said, this deck is very strong in it's style. Yes this is a very big deck, but for one to truly appreciate the art within the cards, it needed to be this big. I strongly recommend this deck to the beginners as well as the advanced / or collectors. I am a reader and collector of tarots for many years, and I have used this deck, especially when teaching younger adults or pre-teens. I bought a few decks, and with my three daughters, (actually one is younger, and I got her the Hello Kitty Tarot) But I got a few of these decks, this past summer and every day we would color the deck with markers. As we did so we spoke on the meanings of the deck, or what a card meant to one of my daughters. Happily each Light and Shadow deck became beautifully unique and an art project that gave us much time to spend together. Also instead of studying the tarot alone, we made it a group project, and learned so much from one another.

For that alone I recommend this deck so much. You will have a deck all your own. I was saddened to learn that Michael Goepferd the artist of this deck, did not live to see his deck in print, and I hope he can see, that he has created a deck that will defiantly become a classic.

The Light and Shadow Tarot is a marvelous example of an all-too-rare occurance: a deck that works on both the artistic and esoteric levels. These linoleum block prints by the late Michael Goepford were originally published in a limited edition as the Contrast Tarot. I feel lucky to have access to this deck, now including a book by Brian Williams (creator of the Renaissence Tarot, PoMo Tarot and Minchiate Tarot).
 
Goepford's art is superb. Tarot enthusiasts accustomed to decks that look like illustrations from a sword and sorcery novel will find Light and Shadow a pleasant change of pace. The cards show all the expressiveness associated with block prints, but are finely detailed, with delicate, clean lines. As is common with block prints, the cards are all black and white. Unusual for a Tarot deck, but fortunately the cards are well-printed with deep blacks. The effect is not one of cheapness but of rich, complex art.
 
The imagery on the cards keeps fairly close to tradition, though Goepford exercised some creative freedom in his interpretations. All the cards are richly illustrated with symbolic details; every corner of each card is filled with tiny details that add additional meaning.
 
The book accompanying Light and Shadow is as enjoyable as the deck. The book was written by Brian Williams, based on interviews with Goepford. It includes detailed interpretations in a lyrical style typical of Williams, and a short poem for each card. The book also includes a brief biography of the artist, with examples of his non-Tarot work.

Light and Shadow Tarot is my favorite deck, a highlight of my collection. To my mind this deck is the gold standard against which all black and white Tarot decks must be measured. I highly  recommend Light and Shadow Tarot as an art deck for collectors, to readers who want a fresh perspective on the Golden Dawn tradition, and for anyone interested in block print art.

The L&S Tarot is a tour-de-force among tarot decks. I have 45 tarot decks, and this one is the one I come back to again and again. Michael Goepferd's linoprint art is simply amazing, and the images on the number cards are derived from the classic Rider-Waite and Thoth decks, with some original inventions as well. This deck goes far beyond any "Rider-Waite clone" - the pictures are intuitive and insightful, while the substantial book written by Brian Williams leads one gently through the cards. Another wonderful thing about this deck is that it lends itself to the reader coloring the cards. By coloring them one can dive even deeper into the symbolism, and personalize the deck for yourself.

I've searched high and low for a tarot deck, digging through many decks that have pretty artwork, but do little to give clarity to each card's meaning. Then I found The Light and Shadow Tarot, and everything clicked. You get beautiful, insightful artwork that brings out the meanings of the cards in a clear way.

Best of all, the cards draw evenly from both masculine and feminine images...and also draw from cultures from around the world. Finally, a deck that takes into account the knowledge and communication of today's world and does not limit itself to only being a "Celtic" or only a "Fantasy world" deck.

What else can I say but "Buy this deck!" It will be a classic.

Not strictly a review... this deck is completely lovely, and yes, it does have a weird smell to it, I'm assuming from the ink, but I spread the cards out on the floor and left them like that for a few hours and the smell was gone. Trust me, man, it's worth the effort.

I have done a lot of searching to find the right tarot deck for myself. Almost all of the decks I've examined utilize colorful and imaginative scenes that look pretty, but do little to give clarity to the meanings behind each card.

When I decided to buy the Light and Shadow Tarot, I was very nervous purchasing yet another deck, when I had been disappointed so many times before. I was overjoyed to find that this deck was truely inspired and well-crafted. The book that accompanies it is clear and well-thought-out, and would be an asset in any tarot library.

The cards are larger than the standard tarot deck. I'd love to see them in a standard size, but am not willing to part with these. There must have been a publishing cost-savings to print them on a quarter-sheet of paper...so I am thankful that they were printed and made available to all.

I loved how the images on these cards draw evenly from both masculine and feminine images. I also loved the use of costumes and icons of cultures from around the world. (In this day and age of information and knowlege, all of these tarot decks focused on only one culture feel absolutely limiting to me. It's wonderful how this deck draws from so many cultures.)

What else can I say but "Buy this deck!" You will want it for its insight and the beauty of its artwork. It is destined to become a classic.

...this deck is a beautiful deck. The artwork is superb and is an ethnic breath of fresh air. I only have one problem with the deck. It's printed on the flimsiest paper I've ever seen a deck printed on. These cards can be bent and folded like thin pieces of paper. They must be handled gently.

The Light and Shadow Tarot consists of symbols that really breathe life into a reading. It is above all a very useful deck that draws its art from diverse cultures. The diversity works: it is not a huge deviation from standard decks, though you will see differences both in the focus and the meaning of certain cards. Goepferd drew inspiration from Pamela Smith and Frieda Harris. From there he created something of original beauty. Should you obtain the deck strictly for its artistic value, you will be pleased. These linoleum block prints are one of a kind. The illustrated book by Brian Williams fleshes out the details of the cards very well.

I've always loved the starkness of woodcuts so this deck was a natural choice for me. In fact, it was even more deliciously gorgeous that I had hoped for.

It is so apparent how much time and detail went into this Tarot card deck, from the intricate designs to the very thorough definition book that accompanies the deck. At first the over-sized cards were slightly off-putting but soon felt very comfortable to use.

I could not recommend this deck enough to Tarot readers of every level of experience. It's my absolute favourite!

Lucy

[...].

Like most of the other reviewers, I have nothing but praise for this deck of cards. I ordered mine based on the positive reviews here, and since receiving them two days ago, I have hardly been able to put them down.

As a newcomer to Tarot I am still in the process of getting aquainted with the images and their meanings. Also as an amateur artist, I buy my decks based on the visual appeal and feel of the artwork and not so much for what esoteric system or culture they are created for. This deck even incorporates many cultures seamlessly as well as the artist's personal visions and ideas, but overall maintains much of the traditional Tarot symbolism so that the beginner will not have problems identifying the cards.

What speaks to me may not speak to everyone, but I find these bold linocuts to be alive and vibrant with joy and creativity quite unlike any other deck I've come across. The images are strong and dynamic enough that colour would only take away from them. The artwork alone is worth the price, I dare say even the four queens are reason enough to get this deck!

The accompanying booklet offers a short intro to each of the 78 cards, as well as an intersting bit about the life and work of the artist. As co-author Brian Williams writes in the preface, the ideas of Michael Goepferd are so rich, potent, and beautifully realized that they do not need any embellishment. Still I find the book a good little companion that enhances one's understanding and enjoyment of this particular deck. For longer in-depth discussion on Tarot, there are other and brilliant books out there.