Author: Alice Smeets
Self-Published
ASIN: B08Y5LZVWL
The Tarot of Bohemian Secrets, by Alice Smeets, is a rebranding of the Ghetto Tarot, originally published in 2016. The 78-card deck and 68-page companion book come in a sturdy, lift-top box.
The cards are 3.5” by 5.3 “ and are of heavy card stock. The card backs have a black background with a white, reversible, line graphic in the middle of the card.
The card faces have a ¼” white border followed by a thin black border which surrounds the card image. The card title runs across the bottom of the card – black lettering against a white background. The Major Arcana cards show the card number and title. The Minor Arcana numbered cards show the card number and suit. The Court Cards show the card title and suit. The suits are Cups, Pentacles, Machetes (Swords), and Brooms (Wands). The Court cards are Page, Knight, Queen, and King.
The companion book begins with a history and discussion of both the deck and o Tarot. I was quite impressed with the section on using Tarot as a healing tool – which it is in so many ways! Very apropos is the quote from Carl Jung: “When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as our fate.”
There is quite an interesting Tarot spread presented, entitled The Tarot of Bohemian Secrets Spread: Reveal Your Shadows”.
The cards are presented with a small black and white image, the card number, title, and energy, archetype, gifts, and challenges, a short discussion, and actor or actress (Major Arcana); a small black and white image, card number, suit, and energy, gifts, challenges, a short discussion, and actor or actress (Minor Arcana numbered cards); and a small black and white image, card title and suit,
This deck follows the traditional interpretations of the cards, as photographed in a modern setting (downtown Port-au-Prince, Haiti). The photography was done by Alice Smeets, with the assistance of Haitian are collective Atis Rezistans, within the slums of Haiti.
The Tarot of Bohemian Secrets can be used by those new to the Tarot and Tarot professionals, from all backgrounds. It will make you think about how you view life, and how through the power of your own thoughts you can turn life’s challenges into gifts.
© February 2024 Bonnie Cehovet
Reproduction is prohibited without written permission from the author.
Perspectives On Tarot 