Oracle Tarot Cards (Large Card Decks) [Cards]

Lucy Cavendish (Author)

Book Description

Series: Large Card Decks | Publication Date: January 1, 2003

This beautiful 64-card Oracle Tarot deck will help you discover the unique truths about your love life, interpersonal relationships, and career, as well as showing you how to enhance your self-esteem, improve your health, and create positive personal power in your life. The accompanying guidebook teaches you how to give yourself and your loved ones accurate, insightful, and inspiring readings.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lucy Cavendish has been working magic intuitively since she was a little girl. She is the creator of Witchcraft magazine, which she edited for five years, and has studied magic, myth, and Wicca in Sydney and in London. As a part of her degree in arts from Macquarie University, she studied psychology, anthropology, and the magical work of ancient cultures. She is the author of Magical Spell Cards, ISBN: 1-56170-931-X. Lucy currently lives in Sydney, Australia, with her beloved family, and spends as much time as possible in the magical town of Byron Bay, New So. Wales.

Product Details

• Cards
• Publisher: Hay House (January 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401900984
• ISBN-13: 978-1401900984
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 3.7 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #616,451 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh, Vibrant, Positive Deck (And No Court Cards!), March 9, 2004

By 

Janet Boyer "Author, Blogger, Radio Host" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Oracle Tarot Cards (Large Card Decks) (Cards)

Let me just start out by saying that I love this deck. It has captured my imagination and my spirit, and presently I find myself reaching for this fresh, vibrant deck before any other.

Bringing the mystical tradition of Tarot firmly into the 21st century, The Oracle Tarot by Lucy Cavendish is a bright, colorful, positive and feminine deck that exudes "girl power". You will not find any frightening images or meanings in this deck, so there's no need to feel apprehensive of the messages contained therein. Some people have never delved into the mysterious and profound world of Tarot precisely because of cards like Death, The Devil, and The Tower. However, in The Oracle Tarot Death is re-named Change and The Devil is re-named Bondage. Although upbeat and positive, this is not a "fluff" deck; I guarantee you that outmoded or negative thinking patterns and behavior will be challenged by the messages in these cards!

Instead of a straightforward deck where the 10 of Swords would be merely depicted as 10 interlocking swords, Cavendish has created a visual allegory for every single card. The stunning, hand-painted artwork of Melinda Ayre adds so much pizzazz to the images; I'm reminded of the wetly vibrant oil-painted images in the movie What Dreams May Come.

An intriguing aspect of The Oracle Tarot is that there are no court cards. I've never been attached to the court cards, and for me, they've seemed redundant in readings--so I was happy to see a deck without them, quite frankly. Another name change besides the ones already mentioned is The Hierophant being re-named Tradition.

The thick, glossy cards measure 1.61 x 5.50 x 3.84 inches, come in a sturdy, high-gloss box, and are accompanied by a 69 page instruction booklet with a few pages in the back expressly for notes. Each card contains a key word or words written in white on the outer edges of the image. The backs of the cards are a gorgeous mix of blues and greens, with shimmering stars in a diagonal swathe.

The Cups suit are teacups and the way they are incorporated into the images is very inventive. For example, for the 2 of Cups, two people are seated facing one another at a small table. It looks as though they are playing footsies under the table, and that they are doing a "cheers" with their red mugs. The steam swirls from each mug, almost forming a heart. The keywords are Loving union, teamwork.

The Coins suit is just as inventive. The 9 of Coins depicts a smartly dressed woman in profile, striding downhill. Her violet dress features 4 yellow disks on the hem, her purse clasp is a yellow disk, 2 are on her shoe straps, 1 is an earring, and 1 is the top of her hat. (9 total) The strings that flow from her hat turn into dollar signs, and the keyword of this card is Good fortune. For the 10 of Coins, 9 yellow disks form the border of a pool where a woman sits lounging in a bikini--a drink on the table beside her. The brightly glowing sun makes 10. The 3 of Cups is a woman in a blue dress atop a skateboard with 3 yellow disks for wheels. The keywords are Purposeful action.

And the Wands and Swords? Also very cleverly portrayed. The 6 of Wands shows a woman blowing out 6 candles (wands) on a birthday cake. The keywords are Wisdom of experience. For the 8 of Swords, a white-haired woman in a green dress sits before a steaming cup of soup with a spoon in her hands. Eight swords are painted on the borders of the image. The keywords are Caring for yourself.

It's always nice to see a deck creator take so much time and care with the Minor Arcana--something that often seems like a mere afterthought in some decks.

The Major Arcana is just as gorgeous. The Chariot, a card that keeps popping up in my own readings, features a woman in a crimson dress and high heels with one hand on a shopping cart and the other formed into a pumping fist. She sports a sassy smile, as well as a heart tattoo on her upper arm. The keywords for this card are The inspired warrior. Change (the card formerly known as Death) features a nude, winged woman emerging from a cocoon. The keywords are Release the past. The Sun portrays a nude woman whose long orange and gold hair flows upward, spiraling and morphing into a sun above her head. The keywords for this card are Awards, camaraderie, affection.

I have been getting amazing readings and insights from this deck. I primarily use it for personal meditation and journaling. With fresh, empowering images, this deck inspires, illuminates, and expands self-knowing. I'm sure it would do the same in readings for other people, as well. I admit, I was put-off at first by the images of perky breasts and nude women, but somehow this deck kept calling to me. I'm so glad I gave The Oracle Tarot a chance, and that I heeded it's gentle call to my spirit. As I'm now beginning my journey into The Goddess, these cards have provided me with extra comfort and direction.

This deck would be perfect for those just beginning working with Tarot--and for those seeking a more modern, accessible, and positive approach to this mysterious and sacred art.

(To see 6 card 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)

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Positive Spin on Traditional Tarot- Empowering, Insightful, September 13, 2003

By 

Jenny Cohen "Jenny Cohen" (La Jolla, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Oracle Tarot Cards (Large Card Decks) (Cards)

This is a powerful deck which provides easy-to-understand and insightful readings. Even if you have never worked with Tarot before, you may want to consider using this deck- there are no frightening or negative images, and the enlcosed guidebook is user-friendly. I especially like the earthy, grounding feeling and colors of the cards- it helps me feel more connected to my physical self and what my daily lessons are. The cards will alert you if there is a challenge or issue which requires your attention, but they do so in a positive and supportive manner. And there is a lot of vitality in the vibrant artwork and colors of the deck. A nice addition to your oracle card collection!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Positive !!!!!, April 9, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Oracle Tarot Cards (Large Card Decks) (Cards)

I have spent a great deal of time over the past few years trying to learn the tarot, as well as accumulating many decks. Although I found the tarot fascinating and beneficial, many of the card images can be a little scary. No one wants to do a reading for advice and wind up feeling scared! Some people say this "shadow" element is necessary - and that you can't avoid life's tough lessons. Still, I wound up selling most of my tarot stuff and gravitating toward more positive oracles.

When I read the description for this deck, I was so excited. When I opened it, I was elated! Lucy has created a Tarot deck that has kept with traditional meanings, while portraying them in a more positive, uplifting way. The deck doesn't avoid tougher issues, its just not "three swords piercing your heart"... some of the cards have been renamed (death, devil, etc.)... to show their true meanings... . The court cards have also been eliminated - for me this was a blessing bc I had always found them difficult to read with.

I recognize that many tarot traditionalists will probably hate this deck... but if you are looking for a more positive spin of the tarot, this deck may very well be for you. the artwork is colorful and vibrant - and the little book is comprehensive. Give it a try.