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Book Reviews |
 The
Triple Goddess Tarot by Isha Lerner, illustrated by Mara Friedman
(Bear & Company, 2002, $35.00) Isha Lerner, author of Inner Child Cards (previously reviewed in this
magazine), created this deck for those “who wish to engage with
the Divine Feminine in their daily lives as a path toward personal revival
and inspiration.” The nicely packaged set includes a 248-page
illustrated book and divination deck of 22 Major Arcana cards, four
Alchemy cards and seven chakra cards, which can be used with the deck
or as a separate oracle. The card illustrations are wonderful works
of art, incorporating rich symbology in a pleasing blend of color, shape
and form. As the artist notes, “Color is Healing! May we awaken
to the dream of Love, Harmony, and Beauty!" The book offers a wealth
of information on the mythology and history of the goddess along with
ample commentary on each card and simple yet imaginative layouts. Clarity
and beauty shine throughout the book as well as the cards, making this
an excellent deck for beginners as well as experienced readers. Although
this is not a purely traditional Tarot deck (lacking minor arcana cards),
it is definitely a wonderful blend of knowledge, insight and creativity.
Highly recommended! This unusual deck includes depictions of a wide range of fairy folk
– from beautiful fairy women to misshapen ogres, from hairy goblins
to the twinkle-eyed pixies. The deck is divided into Spring, Summer,
Autumn and Winter courts (15 fairy representatives in each court) along
with 8 fairy festival cards (including solstice and equinox celebrations)
and a few handy cards suggesting different layout patterns. Although
the cards are interesting combinations of photos and artwork, they are
occasionally blurry and a bit inconsistent in quality. As a divination
deck, I felt the cares were mediocre. However, as a tool for meditation,
a way of learning more about fairies or a means of more deeply connecting
with fairy energy, this deck is very useful – and most especially
when used in conjunction with the 248-page book, which presents loads
of details about each of the fairy folk, along with divinatory meanings
and suggested ways of working with some of the fairy representatives.
If you are interested in fairies, this is a fun and educational set.
Rachel Pollack, poet, novelist, Tarot card artist and author on more
than a dozen books on Tarot, does an exquisite job of walking her readers
through the deeper mysteries of the Tarot in this illuminating work.
Drawing upon a culturally diverse range of symbols, myths, dreams, folktales
and more, the author seeks to ignite awareness within us all. This is
not a book of how to read Tarot, for Pollack rightly insists that knowledge
of Tarot comes through spending time with the images, using the visual
cues of a card (no matter the deck) to tap into the deeper levels of
awareness that exist within each one of us. The book interweaves actual
readings with a good deal of history, arcane science and philosophical
views of Tarot along with stories, dreams and Pollacks’ personal
experiences. The focus of the book is on the deeper questions of life:
What nourishes my soul? What is soul? What plan did God follow to create
the universe? This is a well-written, thought-provoking and extremely
lively and interesting book.
"The goal of Transformation is to have one's human person and
human life re-shaped in accordance with one's spiritual realization."
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The
Fairy Ring ~ An Oracle of the Fairy Folk by Anna Franklin, illustrated
by Paul Mason 
The
Forest of Souls ~ A Walk Through the Tarot by Rachel Pollack 
The
Tarot of Transformation by Willow Arlenea and Jasmin Lee Cori 
Native
American Cards, created by Laura Tuan and painted by Massimo Rotundo
(Llewellyn Publishers, 2002, $12.95), were originally published
in Italy. The box includes a deck of cards and booklet describing the
four clans, four seasons and guided spread schemes. The artwork is very
good and easily draws you into deep interpretations. The depictions
are straightforward and explain what the cards say. I enjoyed reading
messages from these cards. What amused me was the rules for using the
pack. Elaborate instructions for consecration of the deck included burning
incense, using a pinch of earth and placing bowls of water with single
flowers in the four corners. Too late. I had already "made chaos"
(shuffled) the pack and didn't even know I was supposed to "make
chaos" seven times. Perhaps some Native Americans would find fault
with an Italian creating this deck, but I feel Massimo was tuned in
and I appreciate his work. 
The
Star That Never Walks Around, A Native American Tarot Package by
Stella Bennett (Red Wheel/Weiser, 2002, $34.95), comes in a strong,
square box. The cards are round to portray the earth. The circular shape
makes them pleasant to hold, and I liked to twirl them around in the
palms of my hands as I tuned in. They're very sturdy and look like they
could withstand years of service. The problem I had with the deck, however,
is that it looks like a grade school student did most of the drawings
and her little brother colored them in. A plus to the cards is they
don't give too much away. They are very basic, but it's fun to use the
simple sketches such as a diving board to launch the imagination and
search for deeper meanings. Although I found this deck too stark, it
may be perfect for those just starting out as the set is designed with
the beginning tarot reader in mind. 