Boadicea’s Tarot of Earthly Delights

Author: Caroline Kenner with Paula Millet

Artist: Paula Millet

Boadicea Design LLC

2023

ISBN #979898685780-0-00

Boadicea’s Tarot of Earthly Delights consists of the traditional 78 Tarot cards with two extra cards (Boadicea the Queen and Perspicacious the Platypus) and a 212-page companion book.

The cards are 3 ½” by 5 ½” and are made of sturdy, glossy cardstock. The backs show two hands facing each other, surrounded by unique imagery. The card faces show a ¼” color border surrounding collaged imagery. The card number and name run across the bottom of the card using black type on a white background. The suits are Combustion (Wands), Tentacles (Cups), Aether (Swords) and Fungi (Pentacles). The Court cards retain their traditional titles: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

The companion book begins with an overview of Tarot history, followed by an explanation of who Boadicea the Queen was. Boadicea was Queen of the Iceni, a tribe that occupied territory that is present-day Norfolk and Suffolk. After her husband died, Roman authorities annexed the Iceni kingdom. At a well-planned time, Boadicea and her army fought back. She was defeated, but not before razing the cities of Colchester and London. This deck and book are dedicated to Boadicea’s wisdom, assertiveness, and courage.

Each card is presented with a full-color image, the card title and number,  a statement of the card’s energy, upright and reversed interpretations, and an explanation of the symbols in the card.

There is a section on reading the cards, with several spreads presented. Definitions for one, two, and three-card readings are presented, along with several three- and five-card spreads, a modern Celtic Cross spread, and four custom spreads from Sara Mastros of The Fool’s Dog: the Grand Garden of Earthly Delights, Boadicea’s Chariot, the Hamsa of Protection, and Boadicea’s Saga.

At the end of the book, there is an appendix that lists all of the artwork used in the collage process of this deck.

While it does not use traditional imagery, I feel this deck is an excellent addition to a deck collection as it encourages users to think beyond traditional boundaries.

February 2024, Bonnie Cehovet

Reproduction is prohibited without written permission from the author.