Category: deck review

Gold Lyre Tarot by Lacy Martin and Christine Scanlon

On By benebellIn cartomancy, deck review4 Comments

The Gold Lyre Tarot is a feminine spin on the classic RWS, representing the divine feminine of today’s blended American culture and gender-fluid evolution. It is the exquisite creation of two best friends, Lacy Martin and Christine Scanlon, who combined their talents in art and divination to produce this tarot deck that balances the scales between modern and traditional.

The deck’s namesake is attributed to Apollo’s lyre, Apollo being the god of prophecy and music, and the lyre a symbol of wisdom and moderation. Hermes was the creator of the golden lyre. Later merged with the Egyptian god Anubis to create the syncretized Hermanubis, the namesake also calls upon the god of translators, interpretors, and conductors of souls. Likewise, the Gold Lyre Tarot holds songs and messages that only you can hear.

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KLD Tarot by Kate La Dez Studios

On By benebellIn deck review1 Comment

This is a photo walk-through of the KLD Tarot by Kate La Dez Studios. It’s a modern photo collage deck that features a candy pink and midnight violet-blue color contrast that recurs throughout the cards.

It’s the 78-card RWS-based tarot with 2 bonus cards. Each scene takes place in a dreamscape, with the pink and violet-blue clouds representing the divine feminine and masculine aspects within each of us.

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Silvana Alasia’s Oracle of the Egyptian Gods

On By benebellIn cartomancy, deck review, oracle deck9 Comments

Oracle of the Egyptian Gods by Silvana Alasia features portraits of Egyptian deities painted in tempera on papyrus in the ancient Egyptian drying method.

It was the art style really captivated me, and then as I explored the deck further, it turns out to be of the most well-done Kemetic-themed decks I’ve seen in a while.

This is a deck of 36 cards, each bringing messages of wisdom, warnings of danger, advice, and protection. Each card features a god or goddess from the Egyptian pantheon.

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Masonic Tarot by Patricio Diaz Silva

On By benebellIn cartomancy, deck review, tarot, tarot symbolism2 Comments

The Masonic Tarot came out in October 2022, created and illustrated by Chilean artist and academic Patricio Diaz Silva, and it is in the top 10% of the most well-done tarot decks in recent years. The illustrations for the Major Arcana are exquisite, as are the court cards.

Do note, however, that this deck has elected to go with non-narrative illustrations for the pips, which works for the Masonic Tarot given its ceremonial leaning purposes.

The deck is designed as a “gateway into the secret mysteries of the soul” integrating the sacred symbolism of Freemasonry. The premise melds together the arcana of the tarot with models from Masonic rites, with heavy emphasis on alchemy.

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The Esoteric Buddhism of Japan Oracle Cards (Yuzui Kotaki and Miki Okuda)

On By benebellIn deck review, personal spirituality6 Comments

The Esoteric Buddhism of Japan Oracle Cards is so beautiful, so awe-inspiring that I treat it as I would a sutra — all the Buddhist etiquette applied to sacred texts I apply to how I handle this deck.

Acharya Yuzui Kotaki is a Shingon Buddhist teacher and a vice-chief priest of the Maginosan Ren-join Temple in Kanagawa, Japan. Miki Okuda is a painter, both in traditional and digital media who specializes in Buddhist religious art. The deck was first released in 2021, and I don’t know how it flew so under the radar in the tarot community.

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The Little Sister Tarot by Ginny Thonson

On By benebellIn deck review7 Comments

The Little Sister Tarot is a tribute to the cycle of life, what we gain from that cycle, and the heartbreak of loss. It is a deck about rebirth, illustrated by an artist who descends from a legacy of artists and art professors, and paints from the rugged north coast of California.

Ginny Thonson is a little sister. She lost her big brother to leukemia and later, her big sister to a tragic accident. Their spirits accompany her always, though, and so she perpetually embodies that role of the little sister.

The RWS-based deck follows the narrative of Eden Gray’s The Fool’s Journey, though here The Fool is represented by the little sister. We follow her journey, documented through encounters with wise spirit guides and vignettes of her life experiences.

The Fool here is naive yet fearless in the face of the challenges that lie ahead in her journey. She is not motivated by materialism, but rather, is lifted by her innocence and playful nature.

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Lark and Legend’s Black Salt Lenormand and Pink Sugar Lenormand

On By benebellIn cartomancy, deck reviewLeave a comment

These are snapshots of two sibling Lenormand decks by Logan Townsend of Lark and Legend, who also has a fantastic TarotTube channel.

If you’d like to see a video walk-through of both decks side by side, check out this video by the creator.

The Black Salt Lenormand has the emblems printed in metallic silver while the Pink Sugar Lenormand has the emblems printed in metallic gold, though both have that rainbow holographic effect. Both come with a fold-out pamphlet of keywords for card meanings and a beautiful magnetic clasp keepsake box.

There is a nostalgia to this deck for 90s kids. I love that the first card is Skater instead of Rider, reminiscent of the skating rinks we’d hang out at in junior high and high school.

Now let’s take a look at each deck.

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#54321Tarot

On By benebellIn book review, cartomancy, deck review, divination, personal, personal spirituality, promotional, tarot, tarot community7 Comments
The selfie function is hard. I never know where to look…

This is a TarotTube tag started by @Kelly Bear but I’ll be participating via blog post. =) I was tagged by the lovely and precocious @JessReadsCards. The prompt is to share 5 tarot decks, 4 tarot books, 3 tarot spreads, 2 tarot reader habits or tarot reading paraphernalia, and 1 piece of advice (or alternatively, 1 tarot card you’d like to embody).

Ack. You can see my Invisalign attachments in the above photo. And of course now that I called it out, it went from 50% chance you’d see it to 100% chance you’ll see it. Also, shameless off-topic plug for my new book, I Ching, The Oracle. The first few months after an author has released a book, you’re just gonna have to brace yourself for a lot of promo. =D

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Great Lakes Oracle: Freshwater Energy Cards

On By benebellIn deck review2 Comments

This is a quick look-see and walk-through of a beautiful ink and watercolor oracle deck I received. The Great Lakes Oracle: Freshwater Energy (Everyday Treasures Edition) is illustrated by Sarah Palmer and comes with a guidebook written by Colleen Footit.

The Great Lakes reminds me of childhood summer vacations. Having grown up in upstate New York, I’m most familiar with Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. This deck is personal to me. It is nostalgia. Palmer’s art style is very much emblematic of Americana and the Naturalism Movement.

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Ink Witch Tarot, Second Edition

On By benebellIn deck review1 Comment

I reviewed Eric Maille’s Ink Witch Tarot back in 2021. Maille has now released a Second Edition, which is significantly improved many features from the First Edition. You can click here for a walk-through and review of the Ink Witch First Edition.

This post will focus on the differences between the First and Second, and showcasing the additional options and alternates from the expansion packs.

Left: Second Edition magnetic flap box. Right: First Edition 2020 tuck box.

The Second Edition comes in a sturdy magnetic flap box, compared to the first edition cardboard tuck box. Also, the above photo shows the difference in deck sizes. You’re getting a lot with this Second Edition pack!

Instead of 78, we now have an expansion pack of 84 cards in total, including unique cards such as The Witch. For a deck titled the Ink Witch Tarot, I’m loving this bonus. I like using this card as the significator, and that use aligns with the creator’s intentions– per the guidebook, “This card represents you— and anyone else who might use this deck.”

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