Customer Reviews

Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg Deck [With Book]

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This is a beautiful large-size deck. The art work by Yury Shakov is magnificent. Aparently he did each card full size with tiny brushes. The images are different than the Rider-Waite, but have many (most?) of the items on the Rider-Waite cards. For example, The Magician has the Wand, the Sword, the Pentacles, and the Cup. Shakov has expressed some of his own opinions in the cards. The face of Stalin is on The Devil. I have to agree with him. Other cards use Russian saints or figures from Russian mythology.

I've used the deck for a few readings. It gives a different mood to the reading--not better or worse, just different. I am used to the Rider-Waite deck, so it takes a little time to become familiar with the Russian deck--but it was time well spent.

It's an enjoyable and beautiful deck to work with.

Russian artist Yuri Shakov's miniature art work (he painted them at normal card size) is a crystaline cathedral of 78 stained-glass plates. Mr. Shakov incorporated historical icons where symbolically referential. Example: The rotting skull on the Death card may be that of Ivan The Terrible, and as has been mentioned, Stalin is the Devil. The Two of Clubs is a Russian 'Boyer', an influential man, akin to a 'Burger', to which the word is probably related anyway. The Fool is a rag-tagged 'scomorhoki'. Mr. Shakov passed away during his illustration of The Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, and so not all of the cards were actually painted by Yuri Shakov.

The accompanying book by Cynthia Giles is not at all childish, but rather sophisticated and scholarly. Some very interesting Russian history is presented, which sets the stage for some of the characters on which the cards are modelled. Especially useful are the "keys", or one-word meaning of the card, written underneath the card name. The court cards and the major arcana do not use these keys, however. Be mindful about nuances of meaning that vary from those traditionally given for the Ryder-Waite deck. The Death card, for instance, can in fact indicate physical death. But these things are always subject to context. The arrangement of the court cards together, breaking them out of the more orthodox habit of listing cards One through King, is a bit difficult, and impedes the ease of looking up cards. For example, if you want to look up the Page of Clubs, you don't start with the One of Clubs and flip through to the Ten of Clubs and then Page of Clubs; oh no, this would be too easy. You have to find the section marked "The Court: Card By Card".

The cards are startlingly beautiful, and capture an essence of psychic experience not unlike that revealed by hallucinogenic mushrooms, where a dark "outer space" background frames illuminated colors and strictly define textures. Mood is precisely captured. In some ways, these cards are cold, dark, isolated and lonely, in contrast to the Ryder-Waite, which can be warm, sunny, and in the company of friends or family. I've imagined that this is what existence may look like if our spirits roamed randomly throughout the spirit world, like the Vietnamese girl in the film Hair, who, after becoming a war casualty, was shown floating through space, aware and melancholy.

The integrity of the elemental significance is not well preserved, I think. Clubs and wands are traditionally assigned to the element of fire, but the clubs of the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg are simply war maces, as opposed to green staves (Ryder-Waite) or torches. Ryder-Waite uses plenty of hints to indicate the suit of wands as belonging to fire: red-haired knights, kings and pages; green buds issuing from staves (inner flame or life force). Still, each and every card has depth and character. Nothing about this deck is dreary, including rendered meanings.

I rarely open the box, and when I do it is mostly to admire the artwork, rather than conduct a metaphysical assay. Imagine the gilt leaded crystal in your fine china cabinet--that glass set you take out on maybe one dinner party a year, and you will have an idea of what I'm talking about. The backs of the cards are gilt bordered, with fine floral scrolling. You will not be disappointed.

Ever since my eyes fell on this deck I was drawn to it. I am of Eastern European heriatage and it appeals to me. The artwork is beautiful and makes for great readings. I am one who interprets the cards and the artwork, as well as the meaning, when reading the cards, and this deck is wonderful for doing just that. I also love the feeling I get when I'm reading these cards. I can't quite describe it, but it is special. Perhaps it is reconnecting with my family heriatage.
I love this deck!

I just got these cards, and I love them. I knew they were for me when my eyes fell on them. They are very beautiful, the artwork is amazing. The book that accompanies them is very helpful for learning about Russia and it's history, and where the creator of this deck is coming from. Not only that, but they shuffle so nicely, and read VERY well. Highly recommended.

This deck has delightful illustrations and is a joy to read. I find this to be a pleasant change of pace from my Universal Dali tarot deck. If you want to learn tarot, but the Rider Waite deck is not your thing, I suggest you take a peek into this one. The size of the cards are pleasant.

I have a number of tarot decks that I actively work with,
more for spell work than reading the future, but this particular
tarot deck, the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, is without
doubt the most beautiful tarot set I have ever seen. Each card
is elegantly painted by the very talented Yury Shakov and
really captures the spirit and images of old Russia. But, more
importantly, at least to me it seems that Yury Shakov must have
also been a talented magician, because each card is filled with
mystical and occult symbols that are truly amazing. A wonderful,
beautiful tarot deck, regardless if you wish to read the future,
create spells or simply gaze upon them as artistic masterpieces.

This is an excellent piece of Russian art. Very beautiful, detailed and different from other decks. It includes a little book with a lot of compact info on how too interpret the cards. The only thing that can sometimes keep me from dealing with it is the fact that it is very dark.

Russian Tarot of St Petersberg is my first deck.
I believe it is one of the best waite clone decks.
Many people recommend beginners to start with a Rider Waite deck, but I think the artwork of Waite Smith deck is quite poorly done. Beginners who are looking for a good looking version of Waite deck should buy Russian Tarot of St Petersberg.
The artwork is delicate and detailed. Conservative individuals should buy this deck as well as there are nearly no nudities.
I strongly advise those who wish to buy this deck to buy the book written by Cynthia Giles as well. The text is informative and interesting. It would let readers look deeper into the symbolism of the deck.

I am very pleased with these cards. They are beautifully made and the book that comes with them is very informative. I am Russian myself so these cards have even more meaning to me personally, but overall this is a wonderful deck with a very interesting history.