MoonRaven Tarot

Pagan Tarot 2000

Authors & Illustrators – Rosemary Lewesy and Robin Payne

Published by Alexander Publishing, Cornwall UK, 2000

Card Size/Feel – 2 ¾” x 4” – Cards are very glossy but not slippery.  Easy to handle and shuffle.

I am so fortune to have this deck.  This is yet another that come in a box with the Rohrig and Animal Wise in a large crate from a passed on reader.  This beautiful deck is out of print and it is a shame!  The backs are a circular rainbow with a mystical eye in the middle and a spider web throughout.  Major Arcana has boldly colored and finely detailed pictures.  Pips are for the most part not illustrated yet still ornate.  Court cards are traditional.  Pips are Coins (Yellow with a tree and silver pentacle/disks), Swords (Red with Fire and Swords on each card), Batons (Blue with silver batons and medieval coat of arms looking dragon symbols), and Cups (Green with ornate silver cups and a Greenman at the top).  Major Arcana has some cards with alternative names such as The Juggler = Magician, Juno = High Priestess, Jupiter = Hierophant,   Fortitude = Strength (numbered 11), The Angel = Judgment.  A couple of my favorite cards includes The Wheel, this card shows an old fashioned spindle with rainbow thread in a dark cave filled with spider webs.  The wheel of rainbow thread throws beams of light and standing behind it are three lovely bare-breasted green women assumed to be the three fates.  I also like The Lovers card with shows a beautiful crowned blond woman holding a man in her arms.  She looks straight into you as the man leans enraptured against her.  Both are nude and this card feels post coitus.  Over them is a lovely long dark haired maiden, also crowned.  She looks both knowing and somewhat melancholy.  The card is in the evening and the moon is dark.  I love the mood and all the different meanings you can easily derive from this card.  Awesome deck, I hope this gets printed again so more people can enjoy the knowledge and insight it brings to the table. 

Quest Tarot

Author – Joseph Ernest Martin

Illustrated by Joseph Ernest Martin

Published by Llewellyn Publishing

Card Size/Feel – 4 ½” X 2 ½” – Sheen but not glossy, excellent for shuffling and easy to handle.

This highly stylized computer generated image deck is full of color, life and meaning.  8 is Strength, 11 is Justice.  Temperance is Alchemy, Aeon (Rebirth) is Judgment, The World is The Universe and there is an additional card labeled “The Multiverse”.  The four suits are Wands, Cups, Swords and Stones.  This deck is also lettered as it is intended to be a deck for reading as well as spirit communication.  This deck has its own new system of tarot combining aspects of Thoth, Kaballah, Waite, Ouijia and more.  Interesting deck that would be great for past life work, spiritual guidance and loss of loved ones.  This deck also specifically is designed for yes/no questions and uses astrological signs, gemstone, i-ching, runes and more.  Great for complex readings into complicated situations. 

Rohrig Tarot

Author - Carl Rohrig, book  by Francesca Marzano-Fritz

Illustrated by Carl Rohrig

Published by Bluestar Communications/Belgium, 1995

Card Size/Feel – 6 ½” x 3 ½” – Cards are very large, not easy to shuffle unless you lay them down and gently swirl them.  They have sheen but are not glossy or overly shiny. 

This long time out of print deck is a riot of color and symbology, it is a shame you cannot find it easier.  Funny with this deck, upon first glance I did not like it.  However I continues to be pulled back to it (I got this deck from a woman who had passed on, was thrown in a crate with about 20 others).  With a longer glance these cards have strong intuition and emotion.  Some passionate, others gloomy while others will make you smile.  This deck is a paradox of old almost medieval dress mixed with very updated themes such as a racecar depicting the chariot. The backs look like a cross between space and water.  Blue, green waves swirl with stars, you would be able to see reversals but who cares?  Even the back of this deck is beautiful.  Strength is 8, Justice is 11.  The Magician is labeled the Magus.  The pip cards have a Thoth feel since they have a number, suit and label such as 8, Disks, Wealth.  I particularly love the Queen of Swords; the use of color is amazing.  It shows a woman with two masks in front of her, they are not comedy and tragedy but instead are male/female.  If you are lucky enough to get your hands on this deck do it!  I hope this deck captivates you and draws you in as much as it did to me. 

Sacred Rose Tarot

Author – Johanna Gargiulo – Sherman

Illustrated by Johanna Gargiulo – Sherman

Published by US Games

Card Size/Feel – 4 ½” X 2 ½” – Cards are more glossy but are not “Stiff”.  Can be difficult to work with as they are very slippery however with time become more manageable. 

This deck incorporates roses into each of the cards meanings.  This uses the ancient Kabbalah meanings and is meant to open your mind to possibilities.  Purple (Cosmic) Roses are time and space, Red is sacrifice, White is purity, Blue is the impossible and Gold is absolute achievement.  8 is Justice, 11 is Strength.  Card backs are lavender with 5 roses of each representative color.  Reversals will be revealed.  Deals heavily with the meaning of Archetypal energy in our everyday life.  Some people do not like the deck due to the blank eyes on the decks figures however this can act to open up imagination and emotion to each figure.  For me these cards sparkle with energy and jump off the card.  This is a favorite deck of mine and a majority of my readings are used with this.

Stone Tarot

Illustrator/Creator – Allison Stone

Publisher – Self Published

Card Size/Feel – 3 ¼” x 5” – Cards are shiny, not too slippery.  They are thin but feel somewhat durable.  The backs are a pattern of stars and moons which pretty shades of purples and blues.  Cards are not reversible.

Swietlistej Drogi

Author – Alla Alicja Chrzanowska

Illustrated by Alla Alicja Chranowska

Published by Studio Astropsychologii 2001, Poland

Card Size/Feel – 3” X 5”, these cards are a bit larger,  have a sheen but are not too slippery. 

This is an awesome deck from Poland.  This deck does not have classic artwork but is set on a black background with yellow etched drawings.  Though the artwork is not what we are used to seeing the pictures are insightful and the images powerful.  Some images are interesting such as The Hermit that looks to me as an older Chinese character.  Justice 11, Strength 8.  Card follows traditional Tarot system.  Backs are black marble design that would be fully reversible.  I do recommend a reading with these cards for something exciting and new.

Tarot du Chat

Author/Ilustrators -  Carole Sedillot & Claude Trapet

Published by Jacques Granchier – (Out of Print)

Card Size/Feel – 2 ½” x 5 “ – Cards have sheen and shuffle well, they are not slippery.  I have no problem with the size of these.

This deck is out of print but fortunately I was given the opportunity to have this from another reader.  How lucky I am and how great I took 3 years of French!  In this all French deck printed in Paris with use cats as the main characters and meanings are based and in line with color meanings. Red for passion, energy..Blue for intuition, emotion..Yellow for Mental Energy and so on.   Strength is 11, Justice is 8.  Backs are a plain medium purple that works well with reversals.  This deck has a quiet humor and a strong intuition…obviously right in line with what you expect from a cat!  For cat lovers as well as those of us affected by colors, this is an awesome deck!

Tarot of The Magical Forest

Author – Giovanni Pelosini

Illustrated by Leo Tang

Published by Lo Scarebo, 2008

Card Size/Feel – 4 ½” x 2 ½” – Typical Lo Scarebo, sheen, easy to shuffle, not to slippery or big.

Come join us in a non-threatening animal environment.  This deck uses Rider-Waite system but incorporates animals such as foxes, cats, raccoons and frogs as the characters.  This deck bases off the idea that cards like animals cannot talk in human words yet can communicate emotions, sensations etc.  Cups are represented by Bunnies, Foxes are Pentacles, Frogs are Wands and Cats are Swords.  Major Arcana has several species of animals.  Justice is 11, Strength is 8 and this deck closely follows the Rider-Waite system and feel.  Backs have a mirror image greenery/tree background.  Suitable for reversals.  The cards have a dreamy soft feel about them.  Fun yet accurate, I highly recommend this deck.

Tarot of the Pirates

Author – Bepi Vigna

Illustrated by Michele Benevento, Coloration by Arthuro Picca

Published by Lo Scarebo, 2007

Card Size/Feel 4 ½” x 2 ½”, Typical Lo Scarebo.  Good slip, easy to shuffle.  Suitable for most size hands.  Card stock is strong but not stiff.

This is a fun, well thought out deck.  This card is based on the lore of the Pirates of the Caribbean, chock full of adventure, Magick and freedom.  Deck is very suitable for men as every card has a dark, rugged look about them. Women are busty and free.  Strength is 11 and Justice is 8.  Backs are a bluish/greenish design.  Fully reversible.  Cards have classic meaning of the rider waite yet have strong pirate lore interwoven giving a nice twist.  Court cards are Knave, Knight, Queen, and King.  Though the Minors are labeled classically they are represented by pirate items Cups (Barrels of Rum), Pentacles (Doubloons), Wands (Oars), and Swords (The Cutlass).  Some of my favorite cards here are the Strength card which shows a male pirate taming a large alligator.  I also like The World which is a classic pirate map and the High Priestess which shows a gypsy fortune telling for a pirate in a dark pub.  All cards are richly illustrated with pictures that at times you feel you can step into.  These are very detailed throwing you back into the pirate days of lore.  Rich with emotion and feeling, I love this deck and highly recommend to those with a love for pirates. 

Tarot of White Cats

Author – Pietro Alligo and Sofia di Vincenzo

Illustrated by Severino Baraldi

Published by Lo Scarebo, 2005

Card Size/Feel – Another Typical Lo Scarebo 4 ½” x 2 ½”.  Nice sheen, easy to shuffle.

I like this deck so much I have both the full size and a mini I keep in my purse.  If you can read the Rider Waite you can read the White Cats.  This is basically the Rider Waite redone with Cats that have a humanistic feel in how they stand and are depicted.  Though it is the white cats there are cats of all colors.  Some images have variations from the Rider but the meanings are classic and easy to read.  Charming and fun this deck has its dark sides and also light and even humorous sides.  Card backs have an ornate golden frame with reversible mirror image white cats lounging in golden chalices.  Cards have a white border and images themselves are framed in gold.  Strength is 11 and Justice is 8.  I love the strength card in this deck which shows a white cat in a lavender/pink dress, lamniscate above her head. She stands inside the moth of a lion holding it open with seemingly no effort.  The fool card is also very cute with a white dog, dressed in the traditional “Fool” garb about to walk off a cliff while an ordinary grey cat is pulling at his leg warning him.  Detailed, beautifully illustrated and non-threatening this deck is a great reader for anyone of any age.  I would recommend this to beginners and advanced readers alike.  Fun artwork brings something to the table and makes this a unique deck that doesn’t fit into the “just another cat deck” category. 

Unicorn Tarot

Author – Suzanne Star

Illustrated by Liz Hilton

Published by US Games Systems

Card Size/Feel – 4 ½” x 2 ½”. These cards are very glossy and can be extremely slippery when shuffling.  However cards are good quality and hold up well to use. 

Don't scoff at this deck!  It is more than silly unicorns but a step into a mystical world where this elusive creature is seen as guardian and companion.  This deck had unique insight to several cards I have not seen in other decks.  8 is Justice, 11 is strength.  Cards have a lavender back with two white mirror imagine unicorn heads, great for reversal work.  Though it is based off the Rider-Waite the fresh ideas give it merit.  Not to be overlooked and also provides beautiful artwork.

Universal Waite

Original Author – Arthur Edward Waite

Original Artwork – Pamela Colman Smith

Recolored by Mary Hanson-Roberts

Published by US Games Systems

Card Size/Feel – 4 ½” x 2 ½”, these cards are a great size but I would change the glossy feel as they are very slippery when shuffling and laying them out. 

This deck is a re-colored edition of the classic Rider-Waite and illustrations were created by Pamela Smith.  The pictures have been given new depth and are visually stunning.  The Rider-Waite was the first deck to illustrate "pip" cards (also known as numbered or suit cards), bringing in visual stories to help pique the readers intuition.  In this deck the Strength and Justice cards were changed in numbering to Strength 8 and Justice 11.  This deck is considered a beginners deck, however it is also a classic and what many readers and clients as well get drawn back to time and again.  Backs of this deck are deep blue with gold stars, fully reversible.  I highly recommend to students who are asked to work with the Rider but are looking for a fresher look.

Vision Quest Tarot

Author – Gayan Silvie Winter and Jo Dose

Published by AGM Muller, 1998

Card Size/Feel – 4 ½” x 2 ½”, Nice sheen and a good size for shuffling.  Very easy to work with.

Vision Quest is hands down my favorite Native American themed deck to work with.  Borders are white and backs show and evening sky with an eagle flying that would reveal reversals but are gorgous.  The use of color in this deck is amazing, I could look at it all day.  System is based of a Thoth type of meaning however heavily incorporate Native American beliefs in.  Most Major Arcana cards are renamed such as Judgment (Spirit Guide), Devil (Chaos), Tower (Torment), Hermit (Vision Quest) and so on.  Court cards are Daughter (Page), Son (Knight), Mother (Queen), and Father (King).  Symbolism of the suits are also different, here they are as described in the LWB – Arrows and Wands represent Fire (The Energy Level), Jars and Bowls represent Water (Emotional Level, Feathers and Birds represent Swords (Spiritual, Mental Level), Vegetables and Flowers represent Earth (Physical Level).  I absolutely love this deck and can certainly picture myself working with it on a regular basis.  Having Native American influence in my life and background I can appreciate it, however feel anyone who enjoys Native American myth as well as belief systems will bond instantly with this deck. 

Wheel of Change Tarot

Author – Alexandra Genetti

Illustrated by Alexandra Genetti

Published by Inner Traditions, 1997

Card Size/Feel – Almost 5” x 3”.  These cards are almost matte.  Easy to handle.

Very interesting and colorful deck that is multi-cultural yet has a strong pagan feel to it.  Cards have strong pagan feel with heavy use of moon phases and there are pentacles in the deck.  Card backs are a deep blue with a white swirl that looks like you are going into another galaxy.  Suits are labeled with colored borders such as Cups are red, Swords are blue, Disks are Green and Wands are Yellow.  All Major Arcana is bordered in lavender.  The major arcana are not labeled with numbers so you can place Justice or Strength where need be.  Pips are mostly in the traditional tarot meanings and court cards follow the Thoth meanings.  Swords are interesting as they use scissors, saws etc.  Cards depict people from all different cultures, skin colors and time periods.  The deck never gets boring as it has so many themes, yet they all come together beautifully.  For instance the Princess of Disks looks to be a woman in perhaps India in a field, the Queen of Swords is a Japanese woman in a studio with snow outside, Strength is what appears to be an African tribal woman riding a lioness , the Knight of Cups shows a homeless man blowing a saxophone in front of a big city storefront and the 5 of cups is an undersea picture of abalone and a starfish.  Diverse, entertaining, colorful and rich with meaning.  I am just beginning the study on this deck and this will be a journey I cannot wait to get into. 

Wolf Pack Tarot

Author, Illustrator – Robert Petro

Self Published, 1995

Card Size/Feel – 2 ¾” x 4” – Cards have sheen and strong but not “Stiff”.  Easy to shuffle and handle.

This is a great deck if you love wolves.  This uses wolf packs and the pack mentality.  It has the classic number of cards but that is about where the tradition ends.  This is more of an Oracle deck to me.  There is the Alpha Male and Alpha Female cards which can be used as significations or in the spread.  These are read vertically.  The rest of the cards are read horizontally.  Backs are an aqua color with a deeper greenish/blue paw prints.  They all have hand drawings of wolves that show emotion and feeling.  There was a black and white deck released.  Mine is color but the colors are very subtle/muted.  However either way this is a lovely deck.  Each card also has a caption at the top with the number, title and meaning of the card.  Excellent for beginners.  One of my favorite cards is #5, Balance.  This shows a wolf balancing on a log riding in water.  The meaning reads “You may find it difficult to maintain emotional balance because someone or something in your life is creating obstacles.  A need for change. Realignment.”  Simple to read yet charming, intuitive and fun. 

World Spirit Tarot

Author – Jessica Godino & Lauren O’Leary

Illustrated by Lauren O’Leary

Published by Llywellyn Publications, 2001

Card Size/Feel – 3 ¼” x 5”, these cards are very blocky and stocky.  This makes them a bit difficult to shuffle for those with small hands.  I also found the cards to be extremely stiff in the first uses but over time they because more flexible. 

I love this deck!  This does have some disturbing nudity which does not offend me but feel requires disclsore.  However what draws me to this deck is the blend of myth and culture.  We see here a diverse culture system throughout the world blending Irish, African, Indian and Incan cultures among others. Along with the blend of culture and skin color is a blend of various myths such as mermaids.  8 is Strength, 11 is Justice.  Court cards have new names; Seeker = Page, Seer = Knight, Sibyl = Queen, Sage = King. Backs are black with an hourglass that has daytime/sun on one side and nighttime/moon on the other.  Would be able to point out reversed cards.   A beautifully done deck for those of you looking for something a bit more "diverse".

WormWeird Tarot

Author – George Highham

Illustrated by – George Highham

Published by EOS-Press

Card Size/Feel:  5 ½” x 3” – Cards are large and glossy.  When I first received them they were “Stuck” together but easily peeled apart with no damage.  Harder to shuffle as they are large.

For those of you with a love for the Macabre and Absinthe you need go no further.  This deck is an ode to Absinthe with an obvious tip of the hat to B rated horror.  This great deck has all new major arcana characters, wild card is Baron Alchymus and new suits. Fetus = Page, Knight, Lady = Queen, Lord = Lady.  Shadows are Air, Nails are Swords, Flames are Wands and Absinthe is Pentacles.  Justice is 8 and Strength at 11 has been renamed The Scream.  The Fool was changed to The Alchemist.  Thought not classic artwork the dark and sometimes disturbing sets on this deck will appeal to some.  The cards are based off the Authors story of an insane asylum gone mad and neglected that took over a town, driven mad by absinthe. Cards are not normal artwork but actual set that’s were built and camera shot for each card.  Great for a "Scary" Halloween reading or a dark reading on any day.