The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot [Box set] [Paperback]

Caitlin Matthews (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 13, 2005

Leonardo Da Vinci was one of the most renowned artists of his day and, in modern times, his work is recognized worldwide. He is acknowledged as the most prophetic visionary of our era, envisioning and creating blueprints for many ideas and artifacts now taken for granted in the modern world.
The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot is faithful to his vision, drawing upon his notebooks, drawings, and ideas. Lavishly illustrated with his art work, the deck creates a portable notebook containing the macrocosm (Major cards), the greater archetypal world, and the microcosm (Minor cards), the lesser manifest world of everyday. Using Da Vinci's own insights, the accompanying book enables the reader to use the deck to discover fresh ways of looking at personal experience. As Leonardo wrote, "It is an easy thing to make oneself universal."
With interest in Da Vinci at an all time high, The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot will provide fresh insight and perspective to the millions of readers drawn to learn more about this 'secret master' whose art and invention still move us today.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Caitlin Matthews is the author of several books including Walkers Between the World and The Celtic Wisdom Tarot. She lives in England.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; First Edition edition (October 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312349378
• ISBN-13: 978-0312349370
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 7 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,396,542 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hello! I'm Caitlin Matthews. I live in Oxford, England with my partner, John Matthews and two warring white cats who, despite our best efforts, can't abide each other and live on different floors of our small house.

I'm primarily known for being the author of many books including Singing the Soul Back Home, Mabon and the Guardians of Celtic Britain, Psychic Shield, and Sophia, Goddess of Wisdom. I write in the fields of metaphysical non-fiction, poetry, fiction, folkstory and myth, as well as writing books for children. I'm known for my research into the Celtic and ancestral traditions, and the ways in which I provoke exploration of the creative metaphysical field, and how we can apply it to our spiritual path.

With John Matthews, I've written the Encyclopedia of Celtic Wisdom, the Arthurian Tarot and Walkers Between the Worlds. Our latest collaboration is the StoryWorld series of cards and books for storytellers of all ages, which started coming out in 2009 - many more titles to come in 2010.

Although I'm the author of over sixty books, most of my work is oral rather than written. As a teacher of ancestral, shamanic and metaphysical traditions, I go all over the world, working with communities and spiritual institutions. With John Matthews, and my dear colleague Felicity Wombwell, I co-founded The Foundation for Inspirational and Oracular Studies, which is dedicated to the mythic, oracular and sacred arts. Our FiOS shamanic training programme teaches students the ancestral wisdom and healing arts as living sacred traditions in which we still engage.

As a singer, I play Celtic & medieval harps, sruti and psaltery. My CDs include Deep Well in the Wild Wood: Songs from the Place Beyond and the latest, Earth's Own Heart: Songs from the Faery Hills appears in 2010. I was the Pictish language originator and song-writer of Song of the Exile for the 2004 Jerry Bruckheimer film King Arthur and I appear frequently on international radio and television.

For the last 20 years, I've had a shamanic practice in Oxford dedicated to healing soul sickness and ancestral fragmentation. I use my voice to help open the way between the worlds, to sing the soul's essential nature, tracking it through the client's story and bringing it homeward, with the help of spirit allies who have chosen to work with me.

I'm currently working on Rekindling Ancestral Hearths: a book to help us come into good relationship with our ancestors. I believe that being in commuinion with our ancestors and gifting spirits is essential for the wellbeing of our world, and lies at the root of war and peace.

If you want to know more about my courses, events and forthcoming books, you are cordially invited to visit www.hallowquest.org.uk.

For new readers of my work, there is no 'one book' that conveys all that I teach, but the following practical books may be a helpful guide for you to begin somewhere:

Walkers Between Worlds - for a grounding in where our spiritual traditions arose.
Singing the Soul Back Home - for a guide on how we come into come relationship with our gifting spirits
Celtic Devotional - for a post-denominational way of spiritually acknowledging each day and season
Psychic Shield - for those who need a friendly guide to how the universe and ourselves rub off each other and how we can do it more harmoniously

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enigmatic Da Vinci..., May 14, 2006

By 

Rose Glavas (Kilmore, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot (Paperback)

When opened, the cards and reference book are quite pretty (I hope this doesn't sound too mundane!). I noticed that there are 80 cards, 2 more than the traditional tarot deck. All of the illustrations are reproductions of the original Da Vinci works and are beautifully presented. On closer inspection all of the microcosm cards (except the court cards) have a keyword on it to facilitate imagery and connection to it, and exploration of the message being conveyed.

The macrocosm cards are, in most cases, given the same names as those of a standard Rider-Waite major arcana deck (although the illustrations are obviously different). The cards that differ are: II High Priestess - Enigma; VI Lovers - Twins; VII Chariot - Imagination; X Wheel of Fortune - Time; XI Justice - Experience; XII Hanged Man - Passover; XV Devil - Pain & Pleasure; XVI Tower - Deluge; XVII Star - Way-Shower; XVIII Moon - Conception; XIX Sun - Birth; XX Last Judgement - Renewal. I examined card `0 Fool' and found that the meaning corresponds to the standard Rider Waite `0 Fool'.

The two extra cards are `Enigma Cards', one represents the `Enigma Pattern', the other is `The Enigma Card'. The Enigma Pattern reveals how the card-backs join together to form a complete pattern of repeating roundels and interlocking knotwork. Across the Enigma Pattern design are five repeating, many-sided geometric forms, which Leonardo designed. There is detailed explanation of the background and meaning of this in the reference book.

The second extra card, the Enigma Grid, shows the sequence of the full deck face up. This grid reveals the natural resting place for the cards if they were to come together as a complete deck. Although the two Enigma cards are not actually used in readings, they are referred to in the various unique spreads shown in the reference book... particularly the Destiny Spread. Through using these spreads you will learn how matching the card-backs together produces a series of random connections that transcend the Enigma Grid sequence, helping you find the unique signature of your soul's code.

The reference book is comprehensive and covers an introduction to the theory behind the cards, an introduction to Leonardo Da Vinci, explanation of how the cards work, and a chapter on both the macrocosm (major arcana) and microcosm (minor arcane) cards. There are also sample spreads and readings to experiment with. You will find a bibliography, further reading suggestions and acknowledgements at the back of the book as well.

Each macrocosm card is given a two page spread in exploration covering `Dimmi' - Core question/meaning; `Background' - exploration of the symbolism; `Soul-Code' - expansion of meaning; `Upright' - Focussed meaning; `Reversed' - reversed meaning; `Disconnected'- used as part of the Enigma Pattern interpretation. The microscosm cards are explored under the same headings, but are given one page each.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and profound deck, September 14, 2009

By 

S. Chan (Brooklyn, NY United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot (Paperback)

I have had this deck for a while. I fell in love with it when I saw it through the display window when walking pass a tarot store. Immediately I went online and looked up the name of the deck (good thing the suits are named differently than most decks). I am a huge fan of the Da Vinci style so this really was me indulging myself a little.

This past week I finally started reading through the book and am amazed at how the images were selected to fit the meanings of the cards. It's rather amazing how nicely everything goes together. And although the cards are a little flimsy, I think the artistic value and actual content of the cards more than make up for it. Recommended!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Guide cards, May 21, 2009

By 

Elizabeth Ansel "King Arthur" (Cheeseburger in paradise) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot (Cards)

These cards are some of the best I've ever used. I would reccommend them to anyone as a begginner or journeyman or master of the tarot.