The Tarot of Oz [Cards]

David Sexton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 8, 2002

The famous yellow-brick road is a fanciful variation of the hero's journey to self-discovery and the characters of Oz have been part of our culture for nearly one hundred years. Author L. Frank Baum tapped into many primal ideas and concepts when he wrote The Wizard of Oz. Today these archetypes continue to resonate strongly with the Tarot and within our psyches. This kit contains 78 full-colour cards and a mini-book.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Sexton is the creator of the Winged Spirit Tarot and regularly contributes articles and illustrations to Genre magazine. He is also the co-owner of South Beach IronWorks Gym in Miami Beach, Florida, and the author of several works for the stage: Nothing Less Than Love, It's a Fabulous Life, and The Nature of the Beach.

Product Details

• Cards: 192 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (May 8, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738700894
• ISBN-13: 978-0738700892
• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.6 x 5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,652,335 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful art - and usable, too, September 3, 2002

By 

Bruce Gray "gurpsgm" (Shenandoah Valley, VA, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tarot of Oz (Cards)

The Tarot of Oz, a set of all 78 Tarot cards and a small book that helps explain them, has wonderful art, and a booklet that helps new users of this deck interpret readings. But, as a Tarot card reader myself, and Oz fan for many years, there are at least two places where I think it misses the boat.

First the good news. The deck is wonderfully illustrated with images of the L Frank Baum Oz characters - some of whom many people will be unfamiliar with if they have not read beyond "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz". There are illustrations from several of Baum's later Oz characters. The art is very much in keeping with the childlike fairyland of Oz. Also, after some getting used to these unusual new images, Tarot readers may be able to use these cards to get a fresh interpretation of the various meanings of Tarot cards. There's also a mini-story that goes along with each of the minor arcana series that can help in further exploration of the hidden meanings of the cards.

Dorothy is used to represent Coins (although Sexton calls them, more appropriately in this case, "stones") - and she is a very good example of someone who would be centered in that suit, with her constant desire to want to return home. Coins is the suit of Earth. Many of the images from Sexton's suit of Stones come from Baum's book "Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz" in which Dorothy returns to Oz in a most unusual fashion - through the center of the Earth. A very appropriate choice of story for these cards.

The Tin Man is used to represent Cups - and he is an excellent example of someone who has centered his very existence on the Heart, with his never-ending desire to prove that he still has emotions. Cups is the suit of the Heart. Many of the images from the suit of Cups come from Baum's book "The Tin Woodman of Oz" in which Nick (the Tin Woodman) Chopper finally goes in search of his true love. A very appropriate choice of story for these cards as well.

Now the bad news. There's at least two major mistakes, in my opinion. Sexton has the Scarecrow representing the suit of Swords and the Lion representing the suit of Wands. But it's the Scarecrow that is seeking knowledge - and knowledge is a facet of finding illumination, which is best represented by the suit of Wands. Even more telling, the Scarecrow is afraid of fire. Does that represent a fear of what might happen if he is revealed to "have a brain"? I feel this helps prove he could be better represented by Wands. On the other suit, the "Cowardly" Lion is seeking courage - and courage is a facet of fighting. Fighting and conflict is primarily represented by Swords. The Lion, therefore, could probably be better represented by Swords.

Other than these two mistakes, I'd still recommend purchasing this deck - Oz fans will love the illustrations - especially of the more esoteric characters, and Tarot Card readers, once they get used to the unusual illustrations, may find this deck helpful in readings - especially of children. 4 out of a possible 5 stars - I would have given it a perfect 5 if the Scarecrow had been Wands and the Lion had been Swords.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars David Sexton is a Genius!, May 2, 2002

By 

A. Bennett "Will 'vouge' For Food" (New Hampsha) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Tarot of Oz (Cards)

I must say that Mr. Sexton is wonderful! Really he is! This deck is so gorgeous and wonderful illustrated, it is unreal. Mr. Sexton really did his homework and presented the fruits of is labor is a deck of wonderfully illustrated cards. Tarot of Oz, comes in a little slipcase that houses the deck and the book. The book is an adorable 192 pages illustarted manual that not only gives the meaning (or interpretation) of the card but also the history behind the character of scene. The pictures themselves stay 100% true to the books( the Baum books that is) and are superbly done. The deck is a large size (good for us with big hands) and printed in heavy stock paper. The suits are wands, swords, stones, and cups, with each suite following a certain Oz story(for example the stones following the story of "Dorothy and The Wizard in Oz"). This is a must have for any hardcore Oz fan (and more delight for tarot enthusiats with and Oz obsession!), and is sure to delight all the children in your life.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Wonderful Tarot of Oz, April 19, 2005

By 

Shloma ben Avram HaKohain "Threat to the Stat... (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Tarot of Oz (Cards)

David Sexton has presented a lovely deck based on the majority of the Oz books, of which there are now more than fifty. He does not even make an attempt at correlating them with the classic movie, which may make it difficult for people who are not extremely well acquainted with L. Frank Baum and his successors' Oz universe, but it is a blessing for those of us who are, as the deck is worlds more well-rounded than it would be otherwise.

Like other reviewers, however, I found that the correlation of the suit of swords with the Scarecrow and the wands with the Lion was not the most appropriate. I know that this discrepancy is based on some magickal systems which associate the sword with the element of air, and therefore the intellect, and wands with the element of fire, and therefore with virility, passion, conflict, and courage. Many modern occultists, however, agree that these associations were "blinds" created by ceremonial magicians to discern between those inside the fold and those outside. It certainly makes sense to me, as wands are a gentler magickal tool and would certainly be consumed by fire, whereas swords are forged and created by fire and are easily recognizeable as being associated with conflict. Still, even with this issue, the deck is lovely and very useful as a meditative and divinatory aid.

Again, those who are not and who don't plan on becoming well versed in the mythology of Oz in its entirety would probably find the imagery in this deck too obscure, and would certainly not be able to figure out what luminaries such as Santa Claus are doing in the deck, but those who love Oz, as I have for over 30 years, will find this exquisitely rendered deck a joy to peruse, and likely an excellent divinatory tool.

Postscript: For those who would like to use the deck and need to get acquainted with the world of Oz, or need to brush up on the series, Jack Snow's "Who's Who in Oz" is invaluable.