One of the nicest thing about being a spiritual author is that editors, publishers and record labels often send me items for review, or just to enjoy, which is so lovely of them! I never take it for granted and I know how fortunate I am to be in such a position. As a result, I have managed to collect lots of card decks over the years, but some of them stand out more than others. Obviously, I am always going to harbour a very special fondness for my own oracle decks, of which I have now created four to date! But I also enjoy using the decks of other authors too, particularly those that have a very artistic style to the imagery.
The Ethereal Visions Illuminated Tarot is one such deck and I feel so privileged that it came into my collection. Although I own lots of oracle cards, I only have one or two tarot decks - the Favole Tarot by Victoria Frances and the Shadowscape Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law - so it's nice to have another set of tarot cards to use during rituals and as a tool of personal insight.
My cards don't just sit on a shelf, never to see the light of day. I enjoy playing with them, shuffling them, gazing at the images, cleansing them and using them in my rituals and spell-craft. They are one of my most frequently used magical tools and The Ethereal Visions Tarot has fast become one of my go-to decks. Inspired by the elegant Art Nouveau movement of the late 19th and early 20th century, this deck is rich in visual symbolism. It has a very distinctive style, featuring long, sinuous swirling lines and elaborate curlicues that erupt into flowers and leaves. Furthermore, this deck has gold foil stamped onto each and every card, meaning that they glow and gleam in the candlelight of a reading.
Each card glimmers with its own magic and light, the artwork created in soft, water colour shades and pastel tones. All the traditional cards of the tarot are here, both the Major and Minor Arcana's, as well as two additional cards that the artist, Matt Hughes, has chosen to include in the Major Arcana, being The Artist and The Well. None of the cards are scary to look at, though they do make you think deeply about what they represent. The Wheel of Fortune, for instance, depicts not only the usual Wheel, but a hooded, cloaked figure who holds the Wheel, symbolising that the future is aways unknown to a certain degree.
The characters are softly drawn figures, reminiscent of the Romantic period, so there are star gazing maidens, regal kings and queens, cherub-like children and angelic nymphs. Some of my favourite cards from this deck are the Knights of the four suits, Pentacles, Wands, Cups and Swords. They look as if they stepped straight out of Camelot! In addition, the King of Cups bears an uncanny resemblance to Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which always makes me smile.
Laying these cards out in a spread is akin to flipping through the pages of a storybook, or an anthology of myths and legends. They provide that same feeling of enchantment and adventure, as you read the stories the cards and the imagery present to you. I have used them several times and so far they have been pretty accurate. As with all card decks though, my own included, their accuracy depends largely on what you bring to the table with you. Moods, fears, blocks, ambitions can all be highlighted, providing you enter the reading with an open heart and mind.
I would also suggest that The Ethereal Visions Tarot is a very feminine deck of cards, in terms of the imagery and colour palette used. It is a very beautiful deck of cards, one that shimmers with its own storybook level of charm and enchantment and so I feel that it will appeal more to women and girls than to male practitioners.
I would also caution that this is not a deck for beginners because the accompanying booklet has very minimal information - just a sentence for each card interpretation and no suggested lay-outs for a reading. There is also no information regarding cleansing and care of the cards. So it's certainly not a deck for those who are new to tarot reading and it depends on the reader already having a solid grounding of knowledge in the art of tarot and what each card and suit represent, both within the deck and within a specific reading. Having said that, if you love the deck you could always buy a beginners book that explains the tarot in more detail, to help you work with these cards. After all, they are so beautiful it would be a shame to let the lack of information put you off from using it in your magic and rituals.
I am really enjoying using this deck at present. It seems fitting for the summer months, but I'm sure I'll turn to something more gothic come autumn, such as my Victoria Frances Oracle or her Favole Tarot. Or perhaps my new Egyptian Book of the Dead Oracle. That's the beauty of collecting cards - there is always one on your shelf to suit your mood!
Happy tarot reading!
BB Marie x
AD - Gifted.
No comments:
Post a Comment