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on May 10, 2017
You might wonder how a "real" Tarot deck could consist of just 53 cards. That's what I wondered too, until I got the deck and began using and studying it. The author "folded" the Majors and Minors together so that some cards do double-duty as either a Minor or Major or both, depending on how the reader wishes to interpret them or where the cards fall in a layout. In other words, you can give the Major/Minor cards as much weight in a reading as you like. But all the Minors (Clubs=Wands, Spades=Swords, Diamonds=Pentacles, Hearts=Cups) and all the 22 Majors are represented and accounted for (see the attached image), along with the very appropriate addition of a Joker card for the Fool. The Pages and Knights were blended into a single Jack, and this works quite nicely with combining the qualities of those two court cards into one. Each card has its suit symbol and either a number or court indication, but no words are used.
The author based this Tarot on a traditional 52-card playing deck, and it could work for such purposes if you like. But it can also be used just as you would any other Tarot. It actually makes perfect sense that the author designed the deck this way, since one of the theories about the origins of contemporary Tarot is that it evolved from a standard deck of playing cards. So although this seems like a giant leap away from what many people have come to accept as the quintessential Tarot -- a deck of 78 cards, with 56 Minors (including four court cards and 22 Majors) -- this might be more of an "authentic" deck or perhaps a revisiting of Tarot's past. So don't let the uncommon construction of this deck put you off. It actually is a real Tarot -- just different from what you might expect.
The cards themselves are phenomenally designed. The size (3.5 x 5 inches) is perfect, despite their larger-than-normal dimensions. Because there are fewer cards in the deck, the larger size of the cards is extremely easy to handle. I have very petite hands, but I can shuffle (riffle or under/over) with ease. The finish on the cards is magnificent. There's a heavy coating with a linen-like matte finish. This keeps the cards from showing fingerprints or dirt, making them easy to keep clean. The cards stick together a bit initially, perhaps because of the vertical "linen" lines in the finish. But the more you work with and shuffle them, the less this happens and the more they "soften" up and become "loose." This is my ideal size and finish for Tarot cards, so I couldn't be more pleased with them.
The backs are gorgeous and reversible. The colors are cream, black, and white. There are no gilded edges with this deck, which I'm very happy about, since that tends to flake off and make a bit of a mess on hands and reading cloths. The edges do initially "shed" a bit from where they were cut at the print shop, but that diminishes with use. There are moderately wide borders on the cards, but some of the artwork intentionally bleeds into them, so I wouldn't suggest trimming the borders. They're perfect just as they are.
The lavish illustrations are fresh, simple, and modern, but not precious or cloying, and the images have depth and inspire intuition. The colors are clear and distinct to each suit but create a well-coordinated family. Wands/Clubs: orange, green, and blue; Diamonds/Pentacles, soft yellow, burnt orange, violet/purple, green, and light brown; Hearts/Cups: red/pink, orange, brown, and green; Swords/Spades: blue, deep purple, violet, deep brown. As with any deck, there are some cards I’m greatly drawn to and others less so, but there aren’t any that totally turn me off. The artwork incorporate a combination of animals, plants, symbols, and ethnically ambiguous humans.
It can take a little time and study to understand why the author chose certain Minors to mesh with particular Majors, but her choices mainly follow and represent traditional Tarot concepts and make sense to me. In general, they’re paired based on conventional meanings/interpretations, numerical value, or energy/suit. What's especially intriguing is that many of the cards, including the Jacks, are reversible (just like standard playing cards)!
The box is incredibly sturdy and beautiful, and it's even embossed! It has an inner "cupped" holder to keep the cards secure and a ribbon to help pull them out. If you like to store your cards in a box or bag when they aren't in use, you definitely won't have to purchase anything additional.
The LWB is actually a small, full-color booklet with key words for each card and a few simple layouts. There's not a lot of explanation of much else, which some readers might consider a good thing. I'd like to know more about the author's reasoning behind certain Minor/Major matches and her use of color and symbols, but they are nevertheless clear and consistent among the suits.
This is a very easy deck to use and learn, and it's one I'd recommend for both beginners and seasoned Tarotists. Although beginners might not get to know the customary numbers for the Majors by using this deck, it really may not matter, since all the Majors are represented here in a very unique and compelling way. It's tough to come up with original approaches to Tarot, and most contemporary decks either stick with the traditional 78 cards or even add a few extra ones. This is the first time I've come across a full deck that takes a more "condensed" approach, but I must say that I'm impressed.
The author based this Tarot on a traditional 52-card playing deck, and it could work for such purposes if you like. But it can also be used just as you would any other Tarot. It actually makes perfect sense that the author designed the deck this way, since one of the theories about the origins of contemporary Tarot is that it evolved from a standard deck of playing cards. So although this seems like a giant leap away from what many people have come to accept as the quintessential Tarot -- a deck of 78 cards, with 56 Minors (including four court cards and 22 Majors) -- this might be more of an "authentic" deck or perhaps a revisiting of Tarot's past. So don't let the uncommon construction of this deck put you off. It actually is a real Tarot -- just different from what you might expect.
The cards themselves are phenomenally designed. The size (3.5 x 5 inches) is perfect, despite their larger-than-normal dimensions. Because there are fewer cards in the deck, the larger size of the cards is extremely easy to handle. I have very petite hands, but I can shuffle (riffle or under/over) with ease. The finish on the cards is magnificent. There's a heavy coating with a linen-like matte finish. This keeps the cards from showing fingerprints or dirt, making them easy to keep clean. The cards stick together a bit initially, perhaps because of the vertical "linen" lines in the finish. But the more you work with and shuffle them, the less this happens and the more they "soften" up and become "loose." This is my ideal size and finish for Tarot cards, so I couldn't be more pleased with them.
The backs are gorgeous and reversible. The colors are cream, black, and white. There are no gilded edges with this deck, which I'm very happy about, since that tends to flake off and make a bit of a mess on hands and reading cloths. The edges do initially "shed" a bit from where they were cut at the print shop, but that diminishes with use. There are moderately wide borders on the cards, but some of the artwork intentionally bleeds into them, so I wouldn't suggest trimming the borders. They're perfect just as they are.
The lavish illustrations are fresh, simple, and modern, but not precious or cloying, and the images have depth and inspire intuition. The colors are clear and distinct to each suit but create a well-coordinated family. Wands/Clubs: orange, green, and blue; Diamonds/Pentacles, soft yellow, burnt orange, violet/purple, green, and light brown; Hearts/Cups: red/pink, orange, brown, and green; Swords/Spades: blue, deep purple, violet, deep brown. As with any deck, there are some cards I’m greatly drawn to and others less so, but there aren’t any that totally turn me off. The artwork incorporate a combination of animals, plants, symbols, and ethnically ambiguous humans.
It can take a little time and study to understand why the author chose certain Minors to mesh with particular Majors, but her choices mainly follow and represent traditional Tarot concepts and make sense to me. In general, they’re paired based on conventional meanings/interpretations, numerical value, or energy/suit. What's especially intriguing is that many of the cards, including the Jacks, are reversible (just like standard playing cards)!
The box is incredibly sturdy and beautiful, and it's even embossed! It has an inner "cupped" holder to keep the cards secure and a ribbon to help pull them out. If you like to store your cards in a box or bag when they aren't in use, you definitely won't have to purchase anything additional.
The LWB is actually a small, full-color booklet with key words for each card and a few simple layouts. There's not a lot of explanation of much else, which some readers might consider a good thing. I'd like to know more about the author's reasoning behind certain Minor/Major matches and her use of color and symbols, but they are nevertheless clear and consistent among the suits.
This is a very easy deck to use and learn, and it's one I'd recommend for both beginners and seasoned Tarotists. Although beginners might not get to know the customary numbers for the Majors by using this deck, it really may not matter, since all the Majors are represented here in a very unique and compelling way. It's tough to come up with original approaches to Tarot, and most contemporary decks either stick with the traditional 78 cards or even add a few extra ones. This is the first time I've come across a full deck that takes a more "condensed" approach, but I must say that I'm impressed.
on April 25, 2017
When I pre-ordered this deck, I wondered how a 53 card deck could really work for tarot. How can you do a reading without the Major Arcana? The Illuminated Tarot does this by enfolding the Major Arcana meanings into their parallel Minor Arcana cards. For example, the XVI The Tower is combined with the 6 of Clubs (Wands). The Tower is represented in the illustration, as are 6 wands. The guide book, which contains full color illustrations of each card, focuses on key words and phrases. In the case of the 6 of Clubs/Tower, the guidebook says: "A revelation or a drastic shift in perspective. I think that this deck will help me to learn some of those associations between Major and Minor Arcana which have eluded me. The facts that this deck is brightly illustrated, and that it can be used as a regular deck of playing cards, might put people at ease if they are nervous about the esoteric aspects of Tarot. The cards are large, at 3.5"x5" (9x12.5 cm) and made of good quality stock. The box is well made. The illustrations are bright. I did not notice any nudity, and even the Death card, which shows a skull, is not any scarier than a decorated sugar skull.
on April 28, 2017
Preordered this deck in October and it was worth the wait! I love the deck, the artwork, and how it reads! It's been a great deck to use since I got it and plan to use it often! While the cards are much larger than I thought they would be, I'm still happy. I have very long fingers so bigger cards are no issue for me. :)
on May 2, 2017
The Illuminated Tarot, is an oversized deck of 53 fully illustrated and boldly colored cards resembling a standard playing card deck. The four suits have playing card indices (Spades, Hearts, Clubs, and Diamonds) with the illustration influenced by the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles). But what makes this deck truly unique is that some of the cards are associated with a Major Arcana (not Minor Arcana) card. I think of these cards as having been "promoted" -- if you are of a mystical mindset, you may think of them as being "lifted to a higher vibration."
Examples:
* The Ace of Clubs depicts a lion holding a RWS-like Ace of Wands. It has been promoted to the Major Arcana card Strength.
* The Eight of Hearts has a large, reversible red face of a moon, which is suggestive of the RWS card Eight of Cups and its figure that is walking away under the light of the moon. This card has been promoted to The Moon.
* The Two of Spades is a closeup of an upside down and blindfolded face, suggesting the visual element of the "hoodwinked maiden" in a RWS deck. This card has been promoted to The Hanged Man.
* The Nine of Diamonds, with its abstract pond and garden, has been promoted to The Hermit. This is similar to the solitary garden of the woman depicted in a standard RWS Nine of Pentacles.
It is clear that the author-illustrator Caitlin Keegan has a deep understanding of the Major and Minor Arcana. She made excellent choices throughout her deck as to which cards to promote to the Major Arcana. I would not be surprised if her system becomes adopted by folks who read with playing cards. (Yes, it's that good.)
The size and presentation of the deck, with its beautiful gold embossed clamshell box and its full-color companion booklet, suggests that is a art deck. But a deck this well-designed and executed begs to be used! I look forward to working with The Illuminated Tarot and it will definitely be on my Top Ten Decks for 2017.
Examples:
* The Ace of Clubs depicts a lion holding a RWS-like Ace of Wands. It has been promoted to the Major Arcana card Strength.
* The Eight of Hearts has a large, reversible red face of a moon, which is suggestive of the RWS card Eight of Cups and its figure that is walking away under the light of the moon. This card has been promoted to The Moon.
* The Two of Spades is a closeup of an upside down and blindfolded face, suggesting the visual element of the "hoodwinked maiden" in a RWS deck. This card has been promoted to The Hanged Man.
* The Nine of Diamonds, with its abstract pond and garden, has been promoted to The Hermit. This is similar to the solitary garden of the woman depicted in a standard RWS Nine of Pentacles.
It is clear that the author-illustrator Caitlin Keegan has a deep understanding of the Major and Minor Arcana. She made excellent choices throughout her deck as to which cards to promote to the Major Arcana. I would not be surprised if her system becomes adopted by folks who read with playing cards. (Yes, it's that good.)
The size and presentation of the deck, with its beautiful gold embossed clamshell box and its full-color companion booklet, suggests that is a art deck. But a deck this well-designed and executed begs to be used! I look forward to working with The Illuminated Tarot and it will definitely be on my Top Ten Decks for 2017.
on May 28, 2017
A real surprising value! The cards measure 3 1/2" X 5". The stock is a sturdy high-quality linen with slight gloss preserving the finish. In spite of the card firmness, they fold shuffle with surprising ease. The artwork is clean and sharp with sufficient detail to allow natural intuitive flow. Patterned after a playing deck using traditional symbols which include clubs, hearts, diamonds and spades, the author/artist also provides the tarot elemental equivalents embedded in the artwork. This makes it very easy to interpret traditional tarot elements. While the 52-card deck is unencumbered by overt symbology, the colors, pictures, graphics and integrated majors provide for interesting interpretative outcomes. The accompanying LWB book is in color throughout with sufficient explanations suitable for new as well as experienced readers. The whole thing comes in a very sturdy blue thick cardboard storage box, embossed in metallic gold on the outside. I really appreciate the cardboard inset as it will protect the cards from damage by preventing them from rattling around in the box. The included gold ribbon allows for easy Card retrieval. As I said earlier, a real surprise in value. I've seen similar quality go easily for twice as much. Buy two as you will likely wear out the first deck from overuse. I will and I did. Hope to see more work from this artist/author.
on May 2, 2017
Brilliant Idea, incorporating the Major Arcana into a 53-card deck. The way it is done makes good sense. I didn't expect a lot of info in the book. I see it as a way for experienced Tarot readers to understand the pairing of the Major and Minor cards. I wish it had been published on glossy paper to accentuate the bright colors. The cards themselves are VERY thick with a satin finish, and difficult to shuffle. It comes in a nice navy blue box with gold artwork on it, which contains the book and the cards. Overall, I do recommend this deck. The artwork is delightful and it will teach intermediate readers how to do a more comprehensive reading with any standard deck of playing cards.
on April 25, 2017
These cards are beautiful. The artwork is simply stunning; I especially love the cards with cats on them. The artist is very talented. The card stock is thick and appears to be very durable, which I love. They're bigger cards than many of my other decks, which is both good and bad, since I enjoy how easy it is to see the details in the artwork but feel it will be difficult to find a box the right size for them (I typically hand decorate boxes for each of my decks and a standard deck fits nicely into most craft boxes).
The book is only somewhat useful... I do wish they had dedicated a full page to each card in the deck and given more details about how to read each card. That would have been important to me since this deck is more of an oracle deck than an actual tarot deck, in my opinion. It's still lovely and well worth the money, in my opinion.
The book is only somewhat useful... I do wish they had dedicated a full page to each card in the deck and given more details about how to read each card. That would have been important to me since this deck is more of an oracle deck than an actual tarot deck, in my opinion. It's still lovely and well worth the money, in my opinion.
Tarot artist performs prodigious prestidigitation, melding Major Arcana into Minor, with magical effect!
on April 25, 2017
The Illuminated Tarot is a tarot deck that's been created using just the 52 cards of a standard playing card deck (plus a 53rd card for The Fool), rather than the 78 cards that usually comprise a tarot deck. I'm not a playing-card reader, but I am an avid tarot reader, so I wasn't sure how the deck would work for me. But the imagery on this tarot/playing card deck is so gorgeous--and the price so reasonable--that I was happy to take a chance on it just to see the images up close and personal. And they fulfill their on-line promise beautifully, in hand.
Bright, graphic, and personality-filled, the cards are a joy to look at. I assumed they would be standard playing card size, but in fact they are oversized cards. At 5" high by 3.5" wide, their proportions are closer to playing cards than to the taller, narrower standard tarot deck. Their generous size allows the viewer to see all the details of the artwork (which is a particular pleasure for someone with aging eyes).
So, how does deck creator/artist Caitlin Keegan get a 78-card tarot into 53 cards? Very cleverly! First, she eliminated the four Knights, leaving her court cards as Jack (Page), Queen, and King. But all the other cards are there! Really! By making some very sharp connections between the Majors and the Minors, she gets 21 of the cards to do double duty. For instance, the Ace of Wands is also Strength: That card illustration (did I mention clever?) shows a lion holding a wand in its mouth.
Some of the connections work better--that is to say, more immediately--for me than others, but all of them make me think, most bring a smile of recognition and understanding, and one, Seven of Swords/Chariot, brought tears to my eyes. (Not sure why. I do have thing for horses, though.) I won't list any of the other pairings, as it would spoil the fun of discovering them for yourself.
But you're not left to decipher the "translations" on your own. Keegan provides a beautifully designed, full-color "little white book," which reveals where the doubles appear. Her card meanings do not stick strictly to standard Rider-Waite-Smith meanings, but stray a bit here and there, perhaps toward Crowley, maybe toward playing-card divination. However, although I'm neither a Crowley-style reader nor a playing-card reader, I found the images expressed themselves clearly to me.
I did a quick four-card reading for a friend, to test drive the deck, and WOW! It really delivered! So smart, so spot on, and so easy to interpret. I was surprised and impressed! And, like every deck worth its salt, it gave me new insights about the cards drawn.
Like the playing cards their graphic vibe borrows from, many of the cards are mirror-image reversible. And the suits are Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades, rather than tarot's Wands, Coins, Cups, and Swords.
Deck and cards are housed together in a useful, beautifully designed hard-shell box that hinges on the left side. A ribbon lays across the well the cards lie in, to facilitate removing the cards.
My only disappointment is the card stock. It's too "paper-y" for my taste, feeling a lot like cardboard, rather than playing-card or tarot stock. However, I've riffle-shuffled the cards pretty thoroughly, and they held up just fine, so far. But for sure I'm going to purchase another copy. Just in case. And because this deck rocks.
Bright, graphic, and personality-filled, the cards are a joy to look at. I assumed they would be standard playing card size, but in fact they are oversized cards. At 5" high by 3.5" wide, their proportions are closer to playing cards than to the taller, narrower standard tarot deck. Their generous size allows the viewer to see all the details of the artwork (which is a particular pleasure for someone with aging eyes).
So, how does deck creator/artist Caitlin Keegan get a 78-card tarot into 53 cards? Very cleverly! First, she eliminated the four Knights, leaving her court cards as Jack (Page), Queen, and King. But all the other cards are there! Really! By making some very sharp connections between the Majors and the Minors, she gets 21 of the cards to do double duty. For instance, the Ace of Wands is also Strength: That card illustration (did I mention clever?) shows a lion holding a wand in its mouth.
Some of the connections work better--that is to say, more immediately--for me than others, but all of them make me think, most bring a smile of recognition and understanding, and one, Seven of Swords/Chariot, brought tears to my eyes. (Not sure why. I do have thing for horses, though.) I won't list any of the other pairings, as it would spoil the fun of discovering them for yourself.
But you're not left to decipher the "translations" on your own. Keegan provides a beautifully designed, full-color "little white book," which reveals where the doubles appear. Her card meanings do not stick strictly to standard Rider-Waite-Smith meanings, but stray a bit here and there, perhaps toward Crowley, maybe toward playing-card divination. However, although I'm neither a Crowley-style reader nor a playing-card reader, I found the images expressed themselves clearly to me.
I did a quick four-card reading for a friend, to test drive the deck, and WOW! It really delivered! So smart, so spot on, and so easy to interpret. I was surprised and impressed! And, like every deck worth its salt, it gave me new insights about the cards drawn.
Like the playing cards their graphic vibe borrows from, many of the cards are mirror-image reversible. And the suits are Clubs, Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades, rather than tarot's Wands, Coins, Cups, and Swords.
Deck and cards are housed together in a useful, beautifully designed hard-shell box that hinges on the left side. A ribbon lays across the well the cards lie in, to facilitate removing the cards.
My only disappointment is the card stock. It's too "paper-y" for my taste, feeling a lot like cardboard, rather than playing-card or tarot stock. However, I've riffle-shuffled the cards pretty thoroughly, and they held up just fine, so far. But for sure I'm going to purchase another copy. Just in case. And because this deck rocks.
on April 25, 2017
I cannot believe the quality of this tarot deck for $10. They come in a beautiful, durable book-like box with a well made, key word only guide. The deck itself is outstanding quality. The cards are thick and have a playing card like texture. They're bigger than a standard deck of cards. I expected them to be a standard card size, but I'm happy with them being larger because I can clearly see all of the thoughtful details of the illustrations.
Initially, I was confused as to how this deck would work without a major arcana, but she finds the minor arcana card that mostly resembles them and combines them together, more visually than what is written in the description. Some combinations make more sense than others.
Overall, for $10 I am beyond pleased. I'm used to shoveling out $40+ for indie decks that are sometimes half this quality. I say if you're on the fence, go for it. Maybe it won't be my go to tarot deck, but it's a beautiful and creative addition to my collection.
Initially, I was confused as to how this deck would work without a major arcana, but she finds the minor arcana card that mostly resembles them and combines them together, more visually than what is written in the description. Some combinations make more sense than others.
Overall, for $10 I am beyond pleased. I'm used to shoveling out $40+ for indie decks that are sometimes half this quality. I say if you're on the fence, go for it. Maybe it won't be my go to tarot deck, but it's a beautiful and creative addition to my collection.
on April 26, 2017
LOVE the presentation/box, the size of the cards, the color, the guidebook (yes, really), the concept. I admit that I ordered this primarily because I was wondering how the 53 card tarot concept would work. I tried to find an explanation of it on the artist's website, and because i didn't find it, I decided that I was $10 worth of curious, so I went for the preorder and forgot about it.
For the price, I really expected a poker size deck. These are smaller than the large size Thoth, but still on the large side, and wider than more tarot cards. Personally, I love this, and I wish more decks came in these dimensions.
The art is colorful, nicely busy, and really not my usual style at all, but that's good. When I first got the deck in the mail I thought "oh, it's cute, it's too cute," and I was planning on giving it away within the week. However, this deck surprised me by being an AMAZINGLY clear reader from the get go. Painfully on point.
A word on the guidebook--if you're the kind of reader that doesn't have their own card meanings yet, then maybe you won't like it. Personally I find the vivid presentation aesthetically pleasing, and I'm thrilled with the short card meanings. I find few things more tedious, in the world of tarot, than paragraphs and paragraphs of useless text rehashing the same old meanings. I throw out a lot of guidebooks, and I've been reading for long enough that I'm comfortable enough in my own meanings, so the quick but fresh quips in the guidebook are quite nice for me. However, if you want an exhaustive LWB, look elsewhere.
Anyway, for $10?! These are a steal!
For the price, I really expected a poker size deck. These are smaller than the large size Thoth, but still on the large side, and wider than more tarot cards. Personally, I love this, and I wish more decks came in these dimensions.
The art is colorful, nicely busy, and really not my usual style at all, but that's good. When I first got the deck in the mail I thought "oh, it's cute, it's too cute," and I was planning on giving it away within the week. However, this deck surprised me by being an AMAZINGLY clear reader from the get go. Painfully on point.
A word on the guidebook--if you're the kind of reader that doesn't have their own card meanings yet, then maybe you won't like it. Personally I find the vivid presentation aesthetically pleasing, and I'm thrilled with the short card meanings. I find few things more tedious, in the world of tarot, than paragraphs and paragraphs of useless text rehashing the same old meanings. I throw out a lot of guidebooks, and I've been reading for long enough that I'm comfortable enough in my own meanings, so the quick but fresh quips in the guidebook are quite nice for me. However, if you want an exhaustive LWB, look elsewhere.
Anyway, for $10?! These are a steal!
