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

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