Customer Reviews

The Witches Tarot (Kit) (Llewellyn's Modern Witchcraft) (Bk.2)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Although I love the witches tarot deck and use it for all my readings, I do not necessarily agree with the explanations in the book. The descriptions of each card (meaning and reversed meaning) are actually way too brief to conduct a decent reading. Hence, I would recommend the deck if it feels right, but not the book for it's interpretation.

I was initially drawn to this deck by the stunning use of color in the artwork, which is crisp and clean. As I took my first look at the deck, I could tell it was one which would be easy to read intuitively, without the LWB or the companion book, also by Ellen Cannon Reed, as the imagery on each and every card is quite evocative.

This is not a RWS clone, and in my opinion, not a deck for a beginning reader. Those who have used RWS style decks extensively will find this deck quite different, as it combines tarot imagery with pagan and Qabalistic symbolism. Most of the Minor Arcana cards (along with a few of the Majors) are interpreted very differently from RWS style decks. I do not think one would need to be a master of the Qabala to read with the deck, although some basic knowledge of the Tree of Life would add to the reader's full use of the deck.

As with many pagan styled decks, the element of air is associated with Wands and fire is associated with Swords. The Devil has been replaced by The Horned One (the masculine force of deity) and The Seeker has taken the place of The Hermit.

The biggest challenge for me personally, and the only drawback to the deck I have identified in three weeks' worth of use is interpretation of the Courts. Court cards in this deck have no interpretation which stands on its own - instead, they are used to modify the card immediately after the Court card. For me, that means laying a spread face up - something which I do not like to do. I prefer to lay a spread with all cards face down, and turn them over one at a time, forming an initial impression of the spread as a whole, then going back to interpret each card in sequence. Still, this is certainly not a fatal flaw, and in time, I'm sure the Witches Tarot will number among my favorites of my modest collection.

They and beutifully colored and easy to read. If you are just starting out and you want something simple but not traditional and boring this is an ideal deck. This deck of cards was my second deck. My first deck was thrown away by my mother but when she saw this one she loved them to the point that I had to buy her one. Today I have 5 decks, and each has its purpose but this deck is my personal deck that I don't like to use for anyone.

This is a great set of tarot cards if you enjoy and appreciate great artwork. It helps you use your own intuition. The book that accompanies it can be very deep since it combines a form of Kabbalah with witchcraft and the tarot. I only use it occasionally. The cards are my set to use for readings and the last few I have done have been great. Kudos to the artist and the creator. Buy it now!

Ellen Cannon Reed's Witches Tarot is an excellent divination package which pairs full-color tarot cards with a 300+ page book and a color layout sheet. The creator is a High Priestess who has injected her own traditions to her tarot set, which includes listings of correspondences for each of the Qabalistic Paths. An unusual set and approach results.

Ellen Cannon-Reed should, and does, know her deck, "The Witches Tarot" better than anyone, since she devised it. In her book of the same title, she does and admirable job of explaining from where her thoughts and inspirations of this deck stem. I would call this book a must own companion to her deck for many reasons, all rather obvious.

My only dissapointment, and a small one at that, is the authors assumption that the reader has also read her title "The Goddess and the Tree", explaining her interpretation of the connection of modern Wicca and the Qabalistic tree. However, after reading through a short way, the basic ideas of the Qabal do come through to enough of a degree for the reader to begin understanding.

Over all, I have to say I was impressed wyth the information provided, the explainations given, and the over all way the book was focused at the meanings Mrs. Connon-Reed intended for her deck. A very well concieved and written view of her creation.

I've delt with the Merlin deck before, and the pictures were beautiful. However, the pictures in the Witches Tarot seem phoney and rushed, with no real creative insight. The book, however, makes the deck feesable, as well as the aces. If the artist had reached a midpoint between the aces and the rest of the deck, the pictures would be beautiful. The book is wonderfully informative in not only the Tarot, but as well as meditation and divination in other forms. I reccommend it if you can find it for under $30. (The shelf price is rediculous.)

My fiance bought The Witches' Qabalah for himself and bought me the Witches' Tarot deck. I adore the deck, but I didn't know about the book to it until recently when I found it on your site. He bought it for me as a present and I truly enjoyed it. Not only did it help with my understanding of Qabalah, but it also assisted in my understanding of the symbolism of the deck itself. A wonderful book that would fit in any Witch or Coven's collection, I must commend Ms. Reed and thank her for a lovely book and Tarot deck.Blessed BeDyana

i have used this deck for a few years now and it has been excelellent as a divinitory tool, but as i have gotten more interested in the qabala in the last year or so i came to find that this deck was designed specifically with the qabalistic paths in mind and includes imagery of the spheres in each card. the deck itself is very vividly illustrated and quite beautiful. the detail of the cards is, to me at least, very beneficial while trying to interpret them in their place in a spread. the companion book is remarkable. no simple "this card means this" here, although common interpretations are also present. this book delves rather deeply into the spiritual nature and meaning of each card and how relates to the individuals personal path to enlightenment, particularly as it applies to the paths of pagans and witches studying the magickal arts. i would highly reccomend this set to any others learning the qabala and wishing to deepen their understanding of the paths betweend the spheres and how it relates to them. i purchesed the deck around six or seven years ago it seems, but purchased the book in the last few months seperately. i would advise buying them together. one interesting change in this deck is the omission of the devil card which is rdeplaced by the horned one, usually representative of the male aspect of divinity, as most pagans do not accept the existence of a devil figure in their pantheon. this card is very interesting and while removing the rather sinister tones of the devil card still gives some of the same basic meanings but with the comforting feel that even in our trials and misguided decisions the gods watch us with love. this deck is truly inspired from the highest of sources.

Let me tell you my own story with tarot decks. My first deck was the Rider-Waite; it terrified me for some reason. I had been browsing other decks (thanks to US Games) and was in a "metaphysical shop", just looking around. I found this deck there, and as soon as I touched it, I knew this was the right deck for me.

For those who want to use the tarot, yet are a bit intimidated by the Christian themes other decks use (a lot copy the R-W deck), *this* may be the deck for you. I happened to have talked briefly with Ellen before she died of Leukemia, and found her a fascinating woman. (She helped me understand the Eight of Cups, which I was trying to comprehend at the time.) Each card is an *actual painting* that she designed herself.

I find that this is a good deck for those who wish to study the tarot, as Ellen has incorporated the Quabalah (sp?) into each of the Major Arcana. The book will show you how to lay out the Major Arcana into the Tree, as well as give meanings for each card for *several* decks, not just her own. This Set is a *must* if you are studying the Tarot and how it can work within your own Path. (I recommend getting the deck - listed separately - if you're just replacing your deck.) I am glad to see that her work is still being published for people to use. It is the *only* deck that I can use to give near-perfect accurate readings. So if you're looking for a peaceful, beautifully rendered deck, this may be the one for you.