Thursday Night Tarot – Moon/Hermit

This is the ninth in a series of conversations between the Birth Card pairs and Jason C. Lotterhand, through “The Thursday Night Tarot”, (edited by Arisa Victor). The host for this series is the Fool, representing the individual taking the journey. The ninth Birth Card pair up is the Moon/Hermit.

Fool:  Welcome to this series of conversations. Information discussed here is based on Jason C. Lotterhand’s work, as presented in “The Thursday Night Tarot”. Something to keep in mind before we enter into the following conversation is the theme for the Moon/Hermit duo: “Finding ones own truth, and connecting with ones self. ” To my left is the Moon, to my right is the Hermit, and to the Hermit’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Moon, you may begin.

The Moon: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Hermit for being here, and the Fool for hosting this series. As we all know, Birth Cards work in pairs. However, we all carry our own identity. Through Mr. Lotterhand’s work, we hope to clarify who we are to those who carry our energy.

Mr. Lotterhand, can you please explain why the Moon carries such a dichotomy of energy?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Moon takes us up through an evolutionary process to the Peak of Understanding. Here spiritual and physical evolution go hand in hand. Here we see the dichotomy of the tamed self versus the wild self, represented by the two figures in this card – the dog and the wolf. Another way of looking at this dichotomy is intuition versus illusion. Definitely a dichotomy that leads to attention being paid to “hidden information”.

The Moon: What do the 18 yods in the image of the Moon represent?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Wow! They represent a tremendous amount of Life Force, and act as symbols of the Archetypal World. They are the ideas that are the guiding principles of evolution. The Moon is the agency that develops ideas. The Yods raining down in the card of the Moon illustrate the descent of grace.

The Moon: Can you talk a bit about the dog being tame by nature, and the wolf being seen as wild by nature, please

Jason C. Lotterhand: Our tame and our wild natures are aspects within ourselves that act as poles. We constantly move between these poles, but we need to remember not to go too far in either direction.

Fool: Thank you, Moon, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Hermit, you have the podium.

Hermit: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Moon and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand, what does the Hermit represent?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Hermit represents the Cosmic Self, and also our own True Self. Remember, our major goal in life is to identify with our Inner Self … i.e. we strive to “be” ourselves!

Hermit: Can you talk a bit about the lantern that I carry, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: I know what you are getting at, Hermit. The light from your lantern is not so that you can see … it is to act to draw Seekers to you, so that you can share your wisdom. Remember, each of us has all of life itself within us, to teach us and guide us. The six pointed star in the Hermit’s lamp symbolizes Tiphareth on the Tree of Life. The upward pointing fire triangle corresponds to the Three Supernals, while the downward pointing water triangle represents their reflection in substantiality. Together, Fire and Water create the Light of Beauty, which guides us through our whole life.

Hermit:  What is transcendence?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Transcendence is the ability to see yourself in a larger context. Life consists of being “in” ourselves. The transformation is at an inner, rather than an outer level.

The Hermit: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: We need to have limitations. The creative life as described in the Cabala indicates that we do not attach ourselves to any particular state. We always need to be ready for change, to be willing to expand out lives.

Please note: These are, of course, imaginary conversations. The information has been taken from “The Thursday Night Tarot”, Jason C. Lotterhand, edited by Arisa Victor, Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc, 1989. Any errors in translation are mine, and mine alone.

Images are from the Tarot Lovers Tarot (Karyn Easton, http://paranormality.com/) .

 © October 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Review – The Steele Wizard Tarot – Second Edition

The Steele Wizard Tarot – Second Edition

Author: Pamela Steele
Artist: Pamela Steele
Independently Published
2006/2012
ISBN #978-1-4507-1642-0

Hold the Keys to Self Knowledge –

Unlock the Mysteries to Your Personal Reality,

Begin the Journey to Self-Discovery, Self-Empowerment,

& Self-Mastery

~ Pamela Steele

This is the Second Edition of the Steele Wizard Tarot. Slightly smaller than the original version (3 ½ “ by 5”, versus 4” by 5 ½”), it carries the same high quality and vibrant artwork. The signature dragons on the card backs are now gold-toned, adding a wonderful touch of elegance to the cards! (I adore black and gold! Think black velvet dress, with gold shoes, purse, and earrings!)

Pamela describes her deck much better than I ever could! From the Steele Wizard Tarot site:

The Steele Wizard Tarot is a Masterfully illustrated 88-card deck with additional Court Cards & Major Arcana that provide a clear, concise reading eliminating any doubts the Seeker or the Reader may have about the Message. 

Discover your untapped potential in the Maidens and Journey beyond Duality with the extended Major Arcana.

Whether a beginning or a master tarot reader, the Steele Wizard Tarot will prove to be an invaluable tool with each cards’ illustration designed to access the knowledge of the Inner Spirit.

The “Steele Wizard Tarot” is formatted along traditional lines, with the following exceptions: the Court cards include the addition of Maiden between the Page and the Knight, and six additional cards in the Major Arcana – XXII The Weaver, XXIII The Universe, XXIV Truth, XXV Soul Twins, XXVI Evolution, and XXVII I AM. The following Major Arcana titles were changed: Death becomes Transition, and the Devil becomes Materialism.

Note: The Maiden represents potential within each suit: Wands –  “potential for growth”, Cups – “creative potential”, Swords – “potential leadership abilities”, and Pentacles – “potential scholar or teacher”.

Note: Meanings for the additional Major Arcana cards are: The Weaver (XXII) represents your destiny, and where you are on your path. The Universe (XXIII) speaks of the ability to access the Creative Forces of the Void. Truth (XXIV) speaks of the Seeker recognizing their own Life Truth. Soul Twins (XXV) speaks of Self-knowing and of acknowledging Self. Evolution (XXVI) speaks of experiencing creation … of knowing where and why you belong. I AM (XXVII) speaks of knowing the Divinity within, and being able to manifest it in outward expression.

The suits are Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, with the Court Cards entitled Page, Knight, Queen, and King. The Major Arcana carry traditional titles (with the exceptions noted above), Strength is VIII, and Justice XI.

The cards are 3 ½” by 5” (a large size for smaller hands), and come in a sturdy box with an image of the Universe on the front, and deck information on the back. Just picking the box up, the image itself draws you completely into a brave new world! The card backs are black, featuring double Celtic dragons in a gold metallic tone. The card backs are reversible.

There is no companion book that comes with this deck, however, a companion  e-book is available for download from the site – www.steelewizard.com.  Go to the purchase page for the download link. The companion book is text only, no images. After a short introduction, Pamela has included a wonderful Code of Ethics which is basically for the individual receiving the reading. IMHO, it is important that our clients know what their rights are, and understand that the best reading is an interactive one.

The cards are presented with both guidelines and reversed meanings. From the e-book:

The Hermit –

Guidelines: Guidance from Spirit or Higher Powers. Inner wisdom. Expert advice. The ability to find wisdom on other planes of existence. Open-mindedness. Your spirit guide is manifesting telling you to pay attention.

 Reversed: Immaturity. Narrow mindedness. Rejection of wisdom. Being ruled by the opinions of others against one’s own better judgment. Ignoring the signs around you. Not listening to your personal truth. You have all the pieces of the puzzle, now you must put them together.

The card faces show a black background, with beautiful b order around the images. The border for the Major Arcana features a double ended white crystal along the bottom with the card name in black text, and a white crystal against a lavender background across the top, with the card number in black Roman numerals, The Minor Arcana shows a black background, with a curved border. The borders are color coded: Wands/Orange, Cups/Silver, Swords/Blue, and Pentacles/Gold. The card name and number are written in black text across a white crystal.

The cards are done in soft water color pastels, and present a very gentle, harmonious way of looking at life. You feel comfortable with them, an d your clients will too! The day that I received this deck I had an e-mail reading to do for a long time client. Significant things were happening in this client’s life, and I felt that this particular deck, at this particular time, gave the clearest reading possible.

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All of the cards in this deck drew me in, but the following cards were among the most powerful:

The Ten of Cups: Features a male figure, in a purple shirt, with his arms around a woman in a yellow dress, holding a baby.  Ten cups are arched around them, with green grass and trees in the background, and red flowers in the foreground.

The Sun: Features a white horse with golden wings spread, emergin from a yellow/orange sun, over a low gray wall, with sunflowers in front of it.

The Universe: What an awesome card! It features a tree, with branches going into the sky, and into the ground. A female figure is at the centerof the tree, with her arms raised. Behind the tree is a black night sky,with stars.

The Four of Cups: A female figure, in a purple dress, with her hands behind her back, stands in front of a tree. From behind the tree comes the Devil, offering four upright cups on a platter to the female figure.

I AM: Features seven concentric circles of color (the seven colors of the chakras) around a pair of eyes set against a yellow background.

Ace of Pentacles: Features a tree stump, with a circle in the middle. Green growth is coming from the tree, and encircling the white circle. In the middle of the circle is a yellow pentacle.

The Fool: Features a figure in brown boots, red pants, and a blue shirt. There is a knapsack on his/her back, and they are carrying a walkikng stick in their left hand. They stand at a crossroads, with one road leading to the right, through green fields into the hills. The sky shows white clouds, with a bird in flight.

The Maiden of Cups: Features a female figure with long blonde hair, wearing a gray cloak over a pink/lavender dress. Her left handholds a cup, and she stands against a background of ocean and  cliffs.

The Queen of Pentacles:  Features a female figure with dark hair, wearing a deep red dress. To her right is greenery, and to her back are green fields. In her left hand she holds a yellow pentacle. The sky in the background is clear, and there is a brown bear to her right and infront of her.

The major differences between the first and second editions are that the companion book for the second edition is an e-book, with no images, the card size is smaller, and the card backs have been enhanced with the gold metallic color. The card imagery remains the same. As a collector, I would want both decks! As an individual reader, I love the gold imagery on the backs of the second edition! The addition of the Maiden to the Minor Arcana, and the six cards to the Major Arcana significantly expands the “readability” of this deck. IMHO, it would appeal to individuals from all cultures and all backgrounds. And, me being me, I have to say that both editions are excellent for ritual work!

 © October 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Star/Strength

This is the eighth in a series of conversations between the Birth Card pairs and Jason C. Lotterhand, through “The Thursday Night Tarot”, (edited by Arisa Victor). The host for this series is the Fool, representing the individual taking the journey. The eighth Birth Card pair up is the Star/Strength.

Fool:  Welcome to this series of conversations. Information discussed here is based on Jason C. Lotterhand’s work, as presented in “The Thursday Night Tarot”. Something to keep in mind before we enter into the following conversation is the theme for the Star/Strength duo: “The ability to control our passions, and our connection to Spirit, which brings us hope.” To my left is the Star, to my right is Strength, and to the Strength’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Star, you may begin.

The Star: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and Strength for being here, and the Fool for hosting this series. As we all know, Birth Cards work in pairs. However, we all carry our own identity. Through Mr. Lotterhand’s work, we hope to clarify who we are to those who carry our energy.

Mr. Lotterhand, can you explain to our audience what the image on this card represents, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The image on this card is one of a woman kneeling on land, with one foot in the water. She holds a jug of water in each hand. From one jug she is pouring water into the water in front of her, and from the other jug she is pouring water into the land she is kneeling on. The woman represents the Divine Mother, supplying us with the function of consciousness that we call meditation. This is a great gift that is open to all of us. When we meditate, we access untapped parts of ourselves.

The Star: What do the stars surrounding the central figure in this card stand for?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The larger central star is symbolic of the Life Power, which is the energizing principle of the entire universe. The seven smaller stars symbolize the seven chakras, which are associated with the seven original planets of astrology, and the seven alchemical metals. The larger star energizes the seven smaller stars.

The Star: What is meditation?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Meditation is simply the ability to focus your mind for extended periods of time. Because your awareness is focused on one thing over a period of time, you are able to take your awareness of it to a deeper level. You will become aware of its true nature, and what that means to you. To do this we need the ability to still our mind, and access information from our super-conscious. This helps us to be balanced and guided in our earthly existence.

Fool: Thank you, Star, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Strength, you have the podium.

Strength: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Star and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand, What is the principle behind the card of Strength?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Short and simple – force needs to be mitigated by love for us to be truly victorious.

Strength: Why is Key 8 (Strength) called the Intelligence of the Secret of All Spiritual Activities?

Jason C. Lotterhand: When the suggestions that we make of a self-conscious level reach the subconscious level, the universal machinery is set in motion. Suggestions that we make to ourselves set up a vibrational response in the environment around us.

Strength:  How can we differentiate masculine and feminine, when everything that is manifested contains both energies?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Masculine nature us self-imparting, feminine nature is receptive. The sun shines, while the moon reflects. Unity is the source of polarity. The lemniscate indicates the general tendency toward unity.

The Chariot: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The purple mountain in Strength represents the Great Work. Here we are involved in our own personal evolution, supported by the Life Force.

Please note: These are, of course, imaginary conversations. The information has been taken from “The Thursday Night Tarot”, Jason C. Lotterhand, edited by Arisa Victor, Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc, 1989. Any errors in translation are mine, and mine alone.

Images are from the Tarot Lovers Tarot (Karyn Easton, http://paranormality.com/) .

 © October 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Tower/Chariot

This is the seventh in a series of conversations between the Birth Card pairs and Jason C. Lotterhand, through “The Thursday Night Tarot”, (edited by Arisa Victor). The host for this series is the Fool, representing the individual taking the journey. The seventh Birth Card pair up is the Tower/Chariot.

Fool:  Welcome to this series of conversations. Information discussed here is based on Jason C. Lotterhand’s work, as presented in “The Thursday Night Tarot”. Something to keep in mind before we enter into the following conversation is the theme for the Tower/Chariot duo: “Releasing ego and old structures, grounding yourself in the present and the day to day of life ” To my left is the Tower, to my right is the Chariot, and to the Chariot’s right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Tower, you may begin.

The Tower: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Chariot for being here, and the Fool for hosting this series. As we all know, Birth Cards work in pairs. However, we all carry our own identity. Through Mr. Lotterhand’s work, we hope to clarify who we are to those who carry our energy.

Mr. Lotterhand, what does Tower energy represent to you? So many people are afraid of it, yet it certainly serves a purpose.

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Tower represents all of the rationalizations and excuses that we use in life. Think of the Tower this way – each brick represents a word in our life. Together, those bricks form a self-imposed prison around us. Blasting away these bricks manifests a rebirth in our life … it makes room for new energy to move in and take root. Traditionally, this blast blindsides us, but that is only because we are not acting on what is going on in our life. In the process, we move from ordinary consciousness into a consciousness that is completely different from our environmental conditioning … one that emancipates our spirit.

The Tower: What function does the lightening bolt serve?

Jason C. Lotterhand:  The Tower is something that we erect in our minds. We build up our ego with words. The lightening bolt traces the descent of the Life Power through the Tree of Life. It is the weapon that destroys our intellectual pride so that we can access our inner wisdom. This is a joyous transition, when we think about it. The fuss is caused when we fight to hold on to outdate or misinformed beliefs.

The Tower: What do the 22 yods around the Tower symbolize?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The 22 yods around the Tower symbolize the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. They are seed images … archetypal ideas with enough energy within themselves to come to expression on the physical plane. The represent the “word” of what is going to be. They are organized to show the Logos at work. The ten on one side form the pattern of the Tree of Life, and the twelve on the other side signify the zodiac. When our awareness connects with each archetype, this special energy becomes available to us.

Fool: Thank you, Tower, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Chariot, you have the podium.

The Chariot: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Tower and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host.

Mr. Lotterhand, can you explain to us why the Chariot represents the middle way?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Chariot is the Way of the Self, and it is in the middle because that is the place of mastery. The Self is the master in each of us. The Self is the Charioteer, the rifer in the vehicle of personality. This Tarot image is a mirror of yourself. The Chariot Key summarizes all of the Keys in the first row of the Tableau, The Magician is our self-conscious, the High Priestess memory, the Empress is active imagination, the Emperor our ability to live by the Law of life, the Hierophant is our intuitive faculty,, while the Lovers symbolizes discrimination.

The Chariot: What purpose do the sphinxes represent?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The sphinxes represent primary factors in the victory over the Inner Self. The white sphinx is the “I like it” side of the desire-nature. The black sphinx represents the “I don’t like it” side. The Charioteer holds the invisible reins of the mind. Think of the sphinxes as representing our senses. They are the link between the Being and the Being’s fulfillment.

The Chariot:  The Chariot represents control. Is control a good  thing?

Jason C. Lotterhand: It is, because the focus of control for each individual is on their own personal senses. In order for our vehicle to move, we have to persist. The Chariot will ground you and tell you who you are.

The Chariot: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: In the Tower we see power, and we learn to chip away at the illusions of the ego. Through the Chariot we find balance, and expression of our true self.

Please note: These are, of course, imaginary conversations. The information has been taken from “The Thursday Night Tarot”, Jason C. Lotterhand, edited by Arisa Victor, Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc, 1989. Any errors in translation are mine, and mine alone.

Images are from the Tarot Lovers Tarot (Karyn Easton, http://paranormality.com/) .

 © October 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Thursday Night Tarot – Devil/Lovers

This is the sixth in a series of conversations between the Birth Card pairs and Jason C. Lotterhand, through “The Thursday Night Tarot”, (edited by Arisa Victor). The host for this series is the Fool, representing the individual taking the journey. The sixth Birth Card pair up is Devil/Lovers.

Fool:  Welcome to this series of conversations. Information discussed here is based on Jason C. Lotterhand’s work, as presented in “The Thursday Night Tarot”. Something to keep in mind before we enter into the following conversation is the theme for the Devil/Lovers duo: “Dealing with relationships of all types, and the issues connected with them.” To my left is the Devil, to my right is the Lovers, and to the Loverss right we have Mr. Lotterhand. Thank you all for being here. Temperance, you may begin.

The Devil: I would like to thank Mr. Lotterhand and the Lovers for being here, and the Fool for hosting this series. As we all know, Birth Cards work in pairs. However, we all carry our own identity. Through Mr. Lotterhand’s work, we hope to clarify who we are to those who carry our energy.

Mr. Lotterhand, you bring up a good point when you say that humanity uses me as an excuse for all of the evils in the world. You also state that in the Cabalistic world there is no devil. Can you elaborate on this for a moment, please.

Jason C. Lotterhand: There are demons in all religions. It seems to be a popular pastime. It is also a good way to control people – through fear. I could go on about how we define evil, and how it really is based on concepts that we simply don’t happen to agree with. Anything that opposes our personal will is a devil for us. In Key 15 our Innermost Self appears in the guise of Adversary. It will get after us every time we do something incorrect. We despise this dark angel because it challenges  us. The main teaching for this Key is that nothing in the universe is inimical to Man.

The Devil: Is the Adversary Man’s conscious then?

Jason C. Lotterhand:  Not really. Conscious is a learned thing, and the Adversary is an inner urge that encourages us to evolve, and become illuminated.

The Devil: My posture is similar to that of the Magician. Can you shed some light on this?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The Magician is a white magician, and someone who is humble, and understands that he is an agent of higher intelligence. The invocation of grace is part of who he is.

You, on the other hand, are a black magician. You feel that power comes from yourself. You think of power in terms of ego and personal achievement.

Fool: Thank you, Devil, and you, Mr. Lotterhand. Lovers, you have the podium.

The Lovers: Thank you, Fool. I would like to thank the Devil and Mr. Lotterhand for being here, and the Fool for acting as host. Mr. Lotterhand, you state that I most closely represent Beauty as the central Sephirah on the Tree of Life. Why is this important?

Jason C. Lotterhand: When the Lovers are apart, nothing happens. It takes them coming together to create beauty … it is that simple. Beauty is subtle – that is why this key is connected with the concept of Discrimination. In this way our senses are refined. The Angel blessing the Lovers is represents superconsciousness. It is the conscious and subconscious within that is being blessed. Integration is the blessing, Communication is the beauty.

The Lovers: A short aside here. Why is the snake a positive from the viewpoint of Cabala?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The snake foreshadows spiritual success. In Genatria, the word for serpent has the same numeration as the word for redeemer or Messiah. There is only one Life Force.

The Lovers:  Are the pillars reflected I the two trees in Key 6?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Yes, they are. The Tree of Life behind Adam has 12 flames, representing the twelve kinds of expressions noted by astrologers for thousands of years. The fruits on the Tree of Knowledge behind Eve symbolize the five senses. It is through our senses that we receive joy in life.

The Lovers: Is it possible to be complete without a partner/mate?

Jason C. Lotterhand: The primary thing that we have to remember here is that we have the energy of the Lovers within ourselves. We are complete in and of ourselves … completeness does not cme from another person. Once we come to that realization, we can make the conscious decision to share ourselves with another person, and they can make a conscious decision to share themselves with us.

The Lovers: Do you have any final thoughts for our audience?

Jason C. Lotterhand: Love is unconditional and self-imparting – we do not have to work to generate love, it exists as a universal principle. We simply have to allow it to flow through us.

Please note: These are, of course, imaginary conversations. The information has been taken from “The Thursday Night Tarot”, Jason C. Lotterhand, edited by Arisa Victor, Newcastle Publishing Co. Inc, 1989. Any errors in translation are mine, and mine alone.

Images are from the Tarot Lovers Tarot (Karyn Easton, http://paranormality.com/) .

 © October 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

 

Review – Dreaming Way Tarot

Dreaming Way Tarot

Author: Rome Choi
Artist: Kwon Shina
U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
2012
ISBN #978-1-57281-712-8

I love working with dreams and dreamtime, so “Dreaming Way Tarot” brought a smile to my face when it landed on my doorstep! The characters and imagery have been revamped, but the format is that of a traditional 78 card deck. Traditional titles were kept for the 22 cards of the Major Arcana. The suits are Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, with the Court Cards entitled King, Queen, Knight, and Page.

The box that the cards come is notes that this deck offers a fresh interpretation of the Tarot, with emphasis on numerological and elemental influences.  The front of the box shows the image of the High Priestess, while the back of the box shows the image of the Fool.

Rome Choi has been professionally involved with the Tarot since 1997. He studied Transpersonal Psychology at the Seoul University of Buddhism, and allows his Zen practice to inform his Tarot lectures. As with another highly regarded Tarot artist, Robert M. Place, Choi’s characters came to him in a dream. Hence the name of the deck – “Dreaming Way Tarot”.

There is a 39 page LWB (Little White Book) that accompanies the deck. In his introduction, Choi notes that while he was studying at Seoul University he heard a moving lecture by a famous monk, and came to the realization that he already had all he wanted, and there was nothing more he needed to pursue. This knowledge allowed him to understand people better, and deepened his wisdom concerning the Tarot.

The presentation of the cards begins with the Major arcana (text only, no images). The text covers the energy of each card, along with upright and reversed meanings. Note: Choi views reversed energy as either stronger or weaker than the upright energy, but not the opposite of it.

The section on the Minor Arcana begins with a discussion of the characteristics of the suits as seen through the body/mind/soul paradigm. The characteristics of the numbers are addressed next, along with basic meanings for the four Court Cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Page). The cards are then presented in text only, with upright and reversed meanings.

At the end of the book is a spread entitled “The Dreaming Way Five Card Spread”, which defines the following positions: (1) Present Gifts. (2) The Past, (3) Change, (4) Delusion, and (5) Dreams.

The cards themselves are 2 ¾” by 4 ¾”. If you use a riff type shuffle, you may find it a bit difficult, as the cards bend forward easily, but are still when bending backwards. I had no problem with a side to side shuffle (which is easier for me, because I have smaller hands).

The card backs have a wavy green background, with vertical lines of oval forms going through it. It is well done, but it did not appeal to me. The card faces have a ¼” white border, followed by a thin black border. Titles run  across the bottom of the card in  black type: number and title for the Major Arcana, number and suit in text for the Minor Arcana, and title and suit for the Court Cards.

The imagery is reality leaning towards fantasy. Some of the cards follow traditional imagery (The Fool, The Sun, the Four and Five of Wands, the Aces, the Two of Pentacles, Temperance, Justice, the Ten of Swords, the Four of Swords, and the Hermit). Other cards present updated imagery (Death, the High Priestess, The Fool, the Queen of Pentacles, the Three of Swords,  the Ten of Wands, The World, Judgment, the Moon, The Devil, the Wheel of Fortune, The Lovers, and The Magician).

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Some of the most interesting cards to me were the Ace of Cups, which shows water flowing from a white up with black dots, Death, which shows a profile view of a dark haired woman in a black dress holding a scythe, and the High Priestess, which shows a brunette with white stockings, green shoes, a black dress with white collar and ciffs, and a black top hat, seated on a green crescent moon, holding the Torah in her lap.

Other interesting cards were the Queen of Pentacles, which shows a Queen, seated on her throne, wearing a red dress, holding a baby, the Fool, who is shown standing on the edge of a cliff with his white dog. The Fool is wearing black shoes, green pantaloons, an orange cowl, a knapsack on his back, and a bright orange figure to his right. The Three of Swords is also an interesting card, showing a female figure in profile, wearing a striped dress, with a white hood and collar. The look on her face is one of resignation, rather than fear, as the three swords pierce her.

In the Five of Wands and the Emperor the use of black and white squares was a bit distracting (for me, anyway), as was the use of big polka dots in the suit of Cups (white dots on black cups, black dots on white cups). The Magician with his/her hands in  their pockets also left a bit to be desired.

This is a traditional enough deck to be read with ease, and is different enough to be a good deck to use when wishing to break through a malaise in a reading.

 © October 2012 Bonnie Cehovet