Tarot of the Southwest Sacred Tribes: Tribes of Earth : The Magician [Hardcover]

Violeta Monreal (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: United States Games Systems; Crds edition (April 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880794259
• ISBN-13: 978-0880794251
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 2.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,891,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Violeta Monreal (www.violetamonreal.com) was born in Oviedo. After she graduated in Fine Arts, began his career as an illustrator. He traveled to New York where she helped to U.N. in the illustration of various projects and also designed some tarot decks. Since then, her books are continuously published in major Spanish publishers, more than a hundred have been written by herself. Many of her books have been published also in the U.S., Japan, Korea, France, Portugal, Italy, Greece and in several Latin American countries.
Along with her work as an illustrator and author of children stories, Violeta also works as lecturer and specialist in children's drawing. Specialized institutions, local authorities and schools, as well as several publishing houses, have repeatedly invited her to participate in different lecture series and to coordinate practical and theoretical workshops promoting creativity of teachers and students in Spain and another countries.
In addition, she imagines and creates publishing projects in her studio coordinating text and images to create collections of books in collaboration with different publishers.
Her style and technique, especially the collages, are easily recognizable, and gives her work a genuine personality that resists comparisons.
Violeta has fairy hands and heart of a child. Thats why she has such an empathy with the kids, who listen spellbound by her unique world of fantasy. Goblins, witches and dragons come out of her suitcase and with her hands she creates an amazing display of imagination and skill.

Finalist in in CCEI Best Illustrations Contest 2000 with PELOTIESO AND GOLDILOCKS.
Finalist in in CCEI Best Illustrations Contest 2001 with THE WEDDING OF BOATSFUL MOUSE.
Honor List in CCEI Best Illustrations Contest 2002 with MISSION ON EARTH.
BOOK AWARD SHOW XXVI For his work in BOOK PROMOTION OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH. December 2002
Honor List in CCEI Best Illustrations Contest 2003 with LOOKS LIKE GOLD.

My name is Violet, I always liked that name. When I'm in the studio, my mind is usually somewhere else, at an autumn forest, in a golden desert or a mysterious castle... People say I am "in the clouds" although, I'm really working a lot. To put myself in what it wants to work and create a story requires a great effort, but thanks to this effort, when I have to go through a forest, cross a desert or open a mysterious castle, I know what I'm going to find because I have seen them in my head, and I feel like drawing it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Quietly powerful, September 9, 2011

By 

gabrielannouncer "tarotfairy" - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tarot of the Southwest Sacred Tribes: Tribes of Earth : The Magician (Hardcover)

It's true that the people illustrated here are very solemn and that's a quality that I also found in the Hudes tarot--however after a while I came to the conclusion that it allows for more freedom of expression in the longrun. The pictures become like dreamy snapshots of the subject caught without their knowledge. If someone took a few random photos of us during the day, chances are we would be serious too, when not interacting with others but rather absorbed in our daily activities and private thoughts.

Thus, to me, the images acquire a filmy ethereal quality....

The artwork is lovely; it makes a quiet yet powerful statement. It looks like a combination of collage and watercolours, again contributing the the dreamlike effect--like a wisp of other lives and times seen through the lens of mist and mystery.

Violeta Monreal is an artist in her own right thus making the artwork more sophisticated and interesting, as well as unique as far as tarot art goes.

What is also interesting is that Monreal chose to explore often neglected Native cultures--often in Native styled tarot cards it appears to be favoured the the more famous Plains Indians, so this is a refreshing touch to the pictures and atmosphere.

The cards shuffle quite well, being smooth but not too slippery and fit well in the hand which is nice.

I performed several readings with the cards and was surprised by the accuracy and the ease with which a rapport was established. Inspite of the muted colours and extreme seamlessness between each card which might have created a feeling of blandness, I immediately felt the quiet power and wisdom therein which beckoned to me and drew me into the world of these Southwest Sacred Tribes.

As for the lwb, as the previous reviewer stated, there are some extreme meanings assigned to each card such as the Moon Card states: "Obscurity, Confusion, Deception, Danger, Falseness, Trickery, Being used or taken advantage of." To me, these key words seem totally off and only express a very one sided view of this intricate and beautiful card. The Moon Card also means dreams, intuition, psychic awareness, nervousness, hidden and subconscious fears/impulses/power/gifts....inner and outer magic, something that needs to be confronted and addressed....well, the list could go on!

Also, for example the 7 of Swords has a peculiar assignment : "Hope, Planning, New Endeavors" I have never seen that meaning associated with the 7 of Swords--to me it has always meant going out on ones' own, the lone wolf, betrayal, diplomacy, quiet scheming, avoiding responsibility, success behind the scenes etc.....so many possibilities for each card according the each situation and querant but it's true some of the ones in the lwb are odd and off!

So I highly recommend this deck and suggest to anyone interested in it to just go on with the regular Rider-Waite system or their own system and all will be well....

Happy journeys!

4.0 out of 5 stars Attractive ART, March 12, 2010

By 

K. Christopher "Karrelart" (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Tarot of the Southwest Sacred Tribes: Tribes of Earth : The Magician (Hardcover)

I very much enjoyed the attractive art and symbolism of this deck. The companion book has yet to be found and is very expensive. After reading the tiny paper guide booklet included - I don't think I will be investing in it. Many of the interpretations on this deck strike me as very negative and disturbing...too bad - because I really do like the art. Another quality that is unfortunate - all the characters look very serious and unhappy. Wish there had been more balance.