From Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson I have chosen Owl,
the Sacred Medicine Bird associated with magic and observation of truth. The poem on the card is: 'Owl, Magic, Omens, Time and space. Does the truth emerge? Casting out deception, silent flight, Sacred Medicine Bird'. We are
instructed to steer away from anything harmful and use the capacity of the owl
to be aware, to see through deceptions and look behind us. We must be vigilant,
see what others cannot see and move swiftly when we need to do so. Athena is the
Goddess of Wisdom and her symbol is the owl, her familiar, which reveals unseen
things to her so she can speak the truth to power with confidence. Originally a
War Goddess, through wisdom she became the Goddess of Civilisation.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine book review: 'The Healing Power of Trees - Spiritual Journeys through the Celtic Tree Calendar' by Sharlyn Hidalgo Published by Llewellyn Publications, in paperback and kindle 336 pages.
Seattle born Sharlyn Hidalgo has worked as a psychotherapist and has a masters degree in psychology. She has multiple interests as a circle leader, healer, Native American specialist, Egyptian mysteries teacher and Celtic tree book author. 15 trees are described in detail with a drawing for recognition, each have respective deities, totems, ruling planets, month of power, their uses in history and in healing, rituals and higher appreciation and understanding of their spiritual energies.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: A Better World is PossibleBy Bruce Nixon Published by O Books 395 pages Paperback £14.99 Author website: Free download available on this link: http://www.brucenixon.com/pdf/abetterworld.pdf
Bruce Nixon worked as a transformational advisor to many large international corporations and he is now a campaigner and consultant on environmental issues. He is the author of ‘New Approaches to Management Development’ (1981) ‘Global Forces: A Guide for Enlightened Leaders – what companies and individual can do’ (2000) ‘Making a Difference – Strategies and Tools for Transforming Your Organisation’ (2001) and ‘Living System: Making Sense of Sustainability’ (2006) and numerous articles, many of which are available on his website.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Paulina Tarot by Paulina Fae. Pack of 78 cards and instructions. Published by US Games Systems Inc.
Sample card: The orange wings of the lion suggests fiery energy and the ability to soar to greater heights. The orange wings of the lion suggests fiery energy and the ability to soar to greater heights. The woman’s fish shaped hat, crowns her bravery and fortitude. An infinity symbol indicates unity and the balance of forces. A white dress, signifies peace and purity. Meanings: courage, discrimination, being constructive, self discipline, trusting your own abilities, compassion, seizing control of your destiny. Reverse meanings, lack of faith, being driven by impulses, having a discouraged mindset, weak, willpower. Who could not be more delighted with this amazing Tarot card deck? The artwork is a feast of delights! I have my magnifying glass and a good light so I can go through every card, learning, laughing and loving each of the wild characters in this wonderful storyline from the Fool to the World, to the incredible Court Cards and also the Minor Arcana characters, who are a joy too! Days and sometimes weeks were spent meditating on the energy of the Tarot cards to produce the finest, whimsical and quirkiest characters to represent them. The spread is a 10 card “Art of Tarot Divination”. Explanations and meanings provided and Keywords for reversed meanings.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Phantasma Tarot by Paulina Fae, Boxed set of 78 cards and guidebook, published by US Games Systems Inc., 5/8/2021 £17.99 : $22.95
This is a remarkable tarot, full of daydreams and supernatural visions of mystical and otherworldly creatures. A rich delight of wonder and beauty, presence and mastery. Beyond wild and delightful! Worth buying for the artwork alone! The deck is inspirational, and offers new pathways, paradigms and powers from the cards’ messages and suggested life lessons. Some Major arcana are retitled, take for example Number 15 The Djinn and here Number 5 The Mentor.
Sample card: 5 The Mentor - Welcome the mentor of esoteric knowledge. As a teacher of wisdom, spiritual guidance, and peace of mind, he shares the knowledge of past and present life experiences. He’s here to remind you to learn not only from outer sources, but also to learn from within. Representing perpetual interaction, the lemniscate on the Mentor’s forehead connects him to the roles of the hierophant; infinitely teaching and infinitely learning. Message: Ask yourself how your belief system affects your life. Align your actions with ideals. Consider shaking up your old routine and paradigms, and venture into the unknown. Remember your power, and let your curiosity unearth your sacred truth. Keywords: Open-mindedness, discovery, questioning, seeking, self in empowerment. Reversed message: You have the power to peel away structured restrictions. Reversed Keywords: Close mindedness, satiety, herd mentality, status quo, self-doubt.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Angel Oracle - Working with the Angels for Guidance, Inspiration and Love by Ambika Wauters. Published by Eddison Books £21.99 36 gold leaf edged cards (card size: 5" x 3") plus explanatory booklet in a high quality drawer pull box.
"Praise be to all angels forever" Tobit 11:15
Cards feature attractive mediaeval style angel images with a title and subtitle. The book provides information about angels of all kinds, their powers and duties, from which realm they originate, their function and gifts. There are stories about angels from history and personal experience. In addition, there is advice on how to use the cards, prepare for a reading, how to ask a question and receive an answer for the highest good - all a beginner would need to know. Spreads are suggested with sample readings, including a one card, a 2 card Yin/Yang, a 3 card Past, Present and Future, a 4 card Four Function Psychological, a 5 card Tree of Life, a 6 card Sacred Cross and a 13 card Zodiac spread. Having worked for some time with angels in this way, I can recommend using them, even just choosing a card to meditate on each day. They have a definite magic and the author, Ambika Wauters, is an expert in the field of angelology!
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Joie de Vivre Tarot by Paulina Cassidy Published by US Games 78 card deck with white booklet (78 pages) £19.99 It's a most entertaining tarot deck to delight all ages! The
front of packet is pic of Three of Cups where Gleam, Glitter and Glow
dance together in celebration of their blessings and achievements.
Waters of vitality spring forth from three cup flowers on Glitter’s
head. Glow supplies a plethora of fruit and the scarab beetle dancing at
their feet carries a message of regeneration and creation.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Spiritsong Tarot by Paulina Cassidy, published by US Games Inc. Boxed set of 78 cards plus information booklet. Cards size: 3" x 5" Price Point: UK £15.34 US S17.99
All 78 cards (Major and Minor Arcana) are individual artworks where animals rest in a fairyland bower of swirls, flowers. leaves and dots, like sand on a dreamlike seashore. The deck unites the traditional wisdom of tarot cards with the shamanic tradition, where animals provide spirit guidance and learning. The intention of this combination is to provide empowerment and insight, and connection to our higher self through the traditional wisdom of animals. The four suits are: Acorns for wands, Feathers for swords, Shells for cups, and Crystals for pentacles. Each card carries an image, title and a few keywords. Some cards have had a creative name change: The Fool is now The Traveller; the Hierophant is Shaman; The Lovers is Love; Death is Transformation; The Devil is The Shadow, and others, always erring on the side of a positive and uplifting meaning. The booklet provides greater information on how to use the cards, their more advanced meaning, and suggested spreads, such as: One Card Oracle Reading, Three Card Oracle Reading, The Spiritsong Star (6 cards); The Spiritsong Healing (6 cards) and the Spiritsong Tree of Life (10 cards). Reversed meanings are included and the card backs do not expose which way the cards are laid.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Messages from the Spirits of Nature Oracle by Dr Steven D Farmer. Art by Scott Breidenthal. Boxed set of 44 cards and guidebook. Published by Hay House
Dedicated to restoring of our relationship to nature, and the knowledge of how we are a necessary part of the intricate web of this planet’s amazing life.
From the box lid: Discover the Magic of Communicating with the Spirits of Nature
The intention of Messages from the Spirits of Nature Oracle is to help us to connect to the beauty, majesty and wisdom of the elements; to help us to understand the messages from plants, rivers, stones and species; and to help us to honour the natural world and appreciate how it can guide and teach us. The deck provides a revival of the ancient shamanic knowledge and is designed to help shift our consciousness towards navigating through the challenges we face, personally and collectively.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Power Animal Oracle Cards - Practical and Powerful Guidance from Animal Spirit Guides by Steven D Farmer PhD, Artwork by Eric Nesmith, published by Hay House £13.99. Boxed set of 44 cards plus guidebook, for readings for yourself and others. http://www.earthmagic.net/ Each card has a title of an animal and an image and a few words of advice. In the booklet, each card is presented in alphabetical order and has 100 words of explanation about the animal and the message it carries. There are instructions about power animals, how to prepare the deck for reading, storage, for use, etc. Upside cards reveal a blockage in the energy. Also included is information on how to invoke a power animal. I really enjoyed these cards, the images are beautiful and the messages are short and concise. How wonderful the species are on this planet! Swan, otter, owl, deer, fox, lynx, squirrel, coyote, cougar, buffalo, black panther, bear, antelope, dove, dolphin, turtle, snake, salmon, lizard, frog, buterfly, and so many more, some endangered, and all with beautiful artworks. It is possible to expand the short messages with your own.
Mind, Body and Soul Ezine Review of the Isis Oracle Cards, 44 card and 220 page book boxed set by Alana Fairchild. Full colour illustrations by Jimmy Manton Published by Blue Angel Publishing.
🌟 My most favourite oracle deck! We
are invited to ‘Awaken the High Priestess Within’ but the card deck can be used
by males and females alike. The book has b/w illustrations of the cards, all with
wonderful titles, such as Enter the Chamber of Healing, Lady of the Stars,
Serpent of Fire, Temple of Black Obsidian. Each card has a substantial
write-up and offers an in-depth understanding of the card, a practical
healing ritual and a poetical incantation.
We
are invited through 'ancient mystery teachings of Isis' to become 'initiated'
through our struggle with difficulty and uncertainty to re-activate our soul
talents for healing, love and self-mastery. Practical ways are suggested to
help us to do this.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot in the Land of Mystereum - An Imagination Primer by Jordan Hoggard. Presentation Boxed set of 78 cards and accompanying book. Published by Schiffer Publishing. US $34.99 : £31.99 Quality cards Size: 30cm x15cm with white border.
The Land of Mystereum Tarot is presented in a smart magnetic box with ribbon drawer and it contains intensely colourful cards in an Avant-garde / Surrealistic leaning genre. I found the card images are complex and enigmatic with a slight overwhelm. The accompanying book contains detailed, elaborate and innovative text for each card. We are told to take a good look at a card image, then say what we are feeling out loud. These strange cards speak from individual characters within the Tarot but not in the usual manner. There are sections of information for each card for explanation and creativity. I am pleased to have an informative book to accompany this non conformist, unconventional concept deck, designed to “take our imagination to new heights and depths”.
This deck consists of 39 cards designed by S M Senden, a scientific illustrator who was impressed with the amazing accuracy of the Lenormand system of cartomancy. The elegant simplicity of the images are presented in original water color paintings by Senden that are true to the original Lenormand images without the inserts.
This deck is perfect for the beginner who is learning the symbols of the Lenormand cards, and it is also suitable for the advanced readers who like the clean lines and elegant simplicity of these cards. The Dog card is a beautiful rendition of an Irish Wolfhound that captures the nobility of this handsome animal - a fiercely loyal dog that is gentle and loving unless threatened. The Ring card features intertwined rings as another way to express the concept of cycles. The Mice Card are nibbling and wielding their destructive actions. The Snake card is pictured with two heads to underscore the deception that this card implies.
The
Mystical Lenormand Cards are a small size which are useful when laying the
entire deck on the table for an 'All Card Spread' reading. They are small, the size of cards used in the 1800s.
Each card is
numbered and has an astrological designation. The reader looks at the
chosen scene as though through a window, as if into another world.
Animals are frequently featured. The Mystical
Lenormand is a card deck that any card reader will find meditative and
enlightening,
not just in the short term, but as a deck of great depth and
understanding that
they will never tire of using.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Nature Quest Oracle - Taoist Wisdom for Modern Times by Theresa Hutch. Boxed set of 50 cards and guidebook. Published by U S Games Systems Inc. £21.67
Sample: Truth - Lao Tzu We give without expecting anything in return. We do not dwell on past accomplishments, and do not glory in any praise. Great savages never praise or blame. They live above the common drama of ordinary folks. In doing so, they tap into a greater consciousness and glow in a way that draws others near. Not much is known about Lao Tzu, the writer of the Tao, but he was able to tap into greater consciousness and describe the importance of humility, balance and flow. Tao #77 The Tao of heaven works in the world like the drawing of bow. The top is bent downwards and the bottom is bent up. The excess is taken from and the deficient is given to. Who is able to give to others from the excess? Only someone who is following the way of the Tao. Reflections: find lightness and playfulness in your day. Notice when you get caught up in a drama. Be more like water, strong yet yielding. Affirmation: go with the flow.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Totem Guardians Oracle Deck by Tanya Bond. Boxed set of 42 cards and guidebook. Published by U S Games Systems Inc. £16.66
Sample: 18 Cat. Cat spirit animal reminds you to embrace your physical form, connecting with internal feelings and physical sensations. We often reside in our head and rarely consult the wisdom of our body. Sleep when you need to, move when you yearn for physical activity, eat when you need nourishment. There is an intrinsic wisdom in your body. It helps you notice internal issues, energies and emotions that have become stuck. These feelings and memories need an outlet. Listen to your body, explore the sensations, even the uncomfortable ones. They all carry a message for you of an inner hurt denied, and inner cries unheard, that desperately want to communicate with you. As you direct your attention towards your inner life, you will notice that stuck feelings can manifest as heat, cold, electricity and magnetism. Your conscious attentions will help release these trapped thoughts and feelings from your body.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Light Seers Tarot by Chris-Anne, published by Hay House.
‘Into the Grey we follow like a thousand flickering stars. And there in a sunlit hollow we lose and find what is ours.’
This deck is versatile. You can read for yourself or others, work with archetypes that you make your own and bring new meanings to them. The cards can be used for meditation and you can converse with the characters. Upright and Reversal meanings (light and shadow) are provided in the Guidebook. How to connect to the cards and other full information is provided, including questions to ask. Suggestions for spreads are a Daily Message; Light & Shadow 2 cards; Light Worker Illumination 3 cards; Calling in Love 4 cards; and Soul Joy 3 cards. Each card has keywords for both upright and reversed and an affirmation. All 78 cards are individual full colour art. The Court Cards are Page, Knight, Queen and King, and the suits are Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Spirit of the Animals Oracle by Jody Bergsma. Published by U S Games Systems Inc. £25.00
Sample : Moose- Wisdom. The Moose is a powerful totem. This is a powerful totem. It has a unique energy with many contradictions, awkward yet graceful, plain but beautiful and they have a strong presence. Most are masters of wisdom and perception. In spite of their large size, Moose are swift, confident and fearless. They stand 7 feet tall with a crown of antlers almost as wide. The antlers are said to act as antenna in the secrets and teaching from the wise ones. If Moose is your totem, you are a mystic and sit in the council of the ancestors. You are smart and outstanding in your field. You are intuitive, and from an early age you have experienced connections to spirit that have alluded others. You area survivor. Moose live a long life. Your lofty heights are not for the many but for the few. With Moose, you are sure to travel the long winding path to your destiny, wisdom and mastery. If the card falls upside down, have you wondered into negative territory? Have you ignored your intuition and been led down the wrong path? Do not worry. You are a strong individual that can handle anything. When in a struggle, take the higher ground.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck review: The Enchanted Tarot By Amy Zerner and Monte Farber - Box containing 78 cards, 192 page fully illustrated guidebook Published by Connections Book Publishing.
Through
the Enchanted Tarot we are invited to enter ‘a realm of myth and magic’
and this quality deck certainly delivers both by providing a depth of
symbolism within traditional and other tales. I can vouch that this deck
will come up to expectations for Tarot and art enthusiasts. Its
strengths lie in its profound wisdom set within the card concepts, and
also the beauty and majesty of its detailed illustrations (which can be
viewed under a magnifying glass for added enjoyment.)
Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Insight Tarot by Stanislav Reshetikov, published by Red Feather, Quality boxed set of cards plus guidebook. £33.99 Card size: 5” x 3”.
79 cards (including The White Card) in this elegant package with a magnetic flip type lid and instruction book. There are good leafed edges to the cards which are a nice touch. The creator, Stanislav Reshetikov is from Moscow, and is a Jungian psychotherapist whose depth psychology works with the unconscious mind, and explores myths, metaphors, symbols and dreams. We are invited to “Discover yourself, possess yourself! There’s much more to it than pain!”
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Vlad Dracula Tarot created, written and illustrated by Travis McHenry, boxed set of 78 cards plus book. Published by Rockpool Publishing. US $ 25.95 : U.K.: £21.99
Gold leaf edged cards in a red and black box with gold lettering. Card size: 2 and a half inches by 4 and a half inches.
After a visit to Romania and hearing stories of Vlad the Impaler (1431-1476) the author developed an obsession with the character, his exploits, and the times and place in which he lived.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot Apokalypsis, published by Lo Scarabeo, text by Kim Huggens, artwork by Erik C Dunne. Boxed set of 79 cards and full colour hardback book 464 pages. £27.99 Who are you today in the Land of Apokalypsis? This is the follow up to the award winning Tarot Illuminati, which was the first collaborative tarot deck between these two great tarot specialists, Kim Huggins and Erik Dunne, and is produced by the prestigious Tarot publishing house, Lo Scarabeo. It offers rich symbolism, astrological and kabbalistic meanings, and takes us across the world to ancient myths. To this deck, a new card has been added, creating 79 card deck.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Extract - The Feminine Universe - An Exposition of the Ancient Wisdom from the Primordial Feminine Perspective by Miss Alice Lucy Trent. Published by the Sun Daughter Press.
“When above the heavens had not been formed, when the earth below had no name, Tiamat brought forth them both. Tiamat,m mother of the gods, Creator of all.”
From the Introduction: “This book is the first systematic exposition of the perennial wisdom. It is an attempt to express in the clearest possible terms, and in the smallest possible space, the primordial philosophy accepted and understood in all times, and an all places before the aberrations of the modern world. It gives this philosophy in its feminine form - that being the earliest known on Earth.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot Lenormand by Ernest Fitzpatrick (2006)
Inspired by the Lenormand card deck, named after the ‘the Sibyl of the Salons’ Madam Anne Marie Lenormand (1768-1843) of the French court of Napoleon, and his Empress Josephine.
Inspiring images, beautifully portrayed in artwork. All usual titles, except The World is titled, Man.
Mind Body & Soulja Ezine Card Deck Review: The Jolanda Witch Tarot - The Healing Art of Magic by Rosie Bjorkman & Hans Arnold. Boxed set of 78 cards and Guidebook. Published by Findhorn Press. RRP US $40.00 : Can $49.99
This Tarot deck has a strong female emphasis. It also has a witchcraft theme, which covers female archetypes, animal guides, esoteric symbolism, alchemy, and shamanic, Theosophy, Jungian psychology and many other traditions. The author is known as Jolanda the Witch. She trained in the Deer Tribe Metis Medicine Society and this is her ‘method’ of reading Tarot. The artist is Hans Arnold who has produced a very nice RWS influenced deck with clear images and nice colouring.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Divine Circus Oracle by Alana Fairchild and published by Blue Angel Publishing £15.99, a boxed set of 44 cards and guidebook with artwork by Maxine Gadd, Gracjana Zielinska, Melanie Delon, Nell Fallcard, Anna Marine, Lunar Sparks, Yeuchui Tang, Monique Tulp, Babette Van Den Berg.
Cirque de Soleil style fashion and visage, these are 44 personalities of the circus ring who help you unleash your inner creative! The persona is a mask we wear and these masks inspire and entertain and allow you to step outside the everyday world into one of imagination and wonder. This is the place of dreams and the entrance to the Otherworld - the magic of the circus tent.The idea is that love triumps over fear and sadness, that we can all make someone 's day a happy one. There are no rules in this game! You work with intuition and a few guidelines from the book. Ask a question and choose a card. A ritual is provided to maximise the potential magic of the cards. Dedicate the cards, use words provided at each reading or make up your own. All cards are to be read upright.
Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Kuan Yin Transmission by Alana Fairchild, 55 printed text cards in a box £16.99, published by Blue Angel Publishing. Card size: 4.5cm x 10cm.
For use for the self, not for readings for others. Cards carry a text of 30 words. An ideal gift of short aphorisms for a young person embarking on life! Choose a card and read the short text. I miss artwork on cards.
Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Deep, Dark & Dangerous Oracle by Stacey Demarco, boxed set of 44 cards and guidebook, published by Rockpool Publishing, 13/10/2022 Computer graphics by Kinga Britschgi £17.99
The unknown and the Underworld feature in ancient myths and stories that teach us about our shadow selves, and the world of hidden mysteries. Not all that is positive is safe or healthy! Some positivity is false and toxic, some is so extreme that it blames victims for their desperate circumstances. By hiding our hurts, they don’t go away - they can grow stronger. We are called on to recognise hubris, revenge, disrespect for the land or for the gods, and instead develop our resilience, courage, faith, and kindness. Our fears of rejection, our anger and self hatred, can be transformed into understanding and appreciation of life and self. We are taken on a journey to ‘walk through the shadow of death’ as each card features a personification of darkness, for example Hades, The Morrigan, Vampire, Werewolf, Medusa, and others, and shows them in a new duality, of light and shadow.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: La Santa Muerte Lenormand by Dan M Pelletier with illustrations by Callie L French. Published by REDFeather (Schiffer Publishing) US $ 24.99 : UK £22.99 Published 22nd Sept 2022
The ‘Lady of Holy Death’ oracle cards have a novelty magnetic closure box with eye cut-aways revealing the heads and shoulders of the dancing male and female significator skeletons of this deck. The pack contains a full colour guidebook and 36 illustrated cards without borders. They are the traditional Lenormand size (18cm x 23cm). Motifs are skeletons, skulls, scythes, the hour-glass, scales, tombs and graves, all to do with death and dying, plus flowers, bright colours, beautiful gowns, and that delights and creates fun by dancing and laughing.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Gorgon’s Tarot by Dolores Fitchie. Published by Schiffer Publishing. US $45 : UK £39.99
Quality presentation box with magnetic closure and ribbon opens to 78 large round cards in black and white artwork, with one wild card, the Blind Gorgon, which has a splash of scarlet and is said to be obscured by the Sun. The size of the round cards means a different shuffle and dealing style, but it’s ok! The cards are like plates to lay out, but ideal to point out motifs to the Querent within the surrealistic artwork. There are several animals, such as horses, cats, snakes, even leopards, and flowers, trees, stars and delicate patterns. The theme is upbeat and young, the energy positive and quirky. It is, I would say, ‘female-centric’. Joyous and good for a celebration! I really liked this deck!
The guidebook begins with the story of the Gorgon. The Minors are Cups, Pentacles, Wands and Swords; the Court Cards are Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings. The guidebook provides an additional subtitle for Majors, a 200 word meaning alongside the traditional meaning and reversals.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Review: Moonology Diary 2024 by Yasmin Boland, published by Hay House.
Be reminded and learn more about the moon and yourself as you discover the lunar cycle, the rhythms, and phases, and use these energies to produce joy, meaning and purpose in your life. The words of the diary will guide you with New and Full Moon influences, and with positivity, to plan your months throughout the year. It’s a beautiful addition to your daily life.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Tarot 78 cards and guidebook Headless Horseman edition by Nick Lawyer. Published by Red Feather Publishing, RRP 29:99
What a wonderful way to honour the Irving Washington classic gothic novel of 1822 "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow" and the season of Autumn as well as the art of Tarot all in one hit of a magical creation - if it emitted a pumpkin spice aroma as it was opened it would be too much!
As it is, it is perfect.
Nick Lawyer is a genuine lover of all things Halloween as can be seen by his "grim" but gorgeous artwork which can be found on his Instagram page. Only seconded by his love of the classic novel The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
which he reads every October with his family as an Autumn tradition of their own. The passion shows through in this stunning deck. The artwork is a clever blend of the classic RWS Pamela Coleman Smith style along with striking use of colour and symbolism that weaves the dark mysteries of the story and its famous characters seamlessly with the classic RWS Tarot.
Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Tarot of the Sorceress - A Witch’s Wheel of the Year by Berengere Demoncy. Boxed set of cards and guidebook. Published by Rockpool Publishing. 27/10/2022 £21.99
Justice. Sacred feminine. Keywords: normalisation, balance, rules, the law. The Justice card calls for balance or the restoration of balance, cutting through and separating what needs to be sorted. Through its symmetry it is also an invitation to bring greater clarity, stability and therefore balance to things. Justice is like a set of scales, represented here by two blossoming sleeves. The first is made up of chamomile, daisies, Indian marigolds, primroses, St John’s wort, heliotrope, bellflowers and cinq foil, all soft, springlike and blossoming. The other sleeve is covered with holly, ivy, chestnut burrs, and thorny dry yew and brambles, representing the difficulties encountered in the dark and cold of winter when resources are lacking. The
two bundles are almost symmetrical forming a balance of choices,
obvious divergences and differing results. Balance is not always found
in light or darkness; it grows between both worlds.
Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Trick or Treat Tarot by Barbara Moore, published by Llewellyn Worldwide. Quality boxed set of 78 cards and full colour Guidebook. UK £29.17 release date: 6th Dec 2022
Sample: 10 The Wheel of Fortune: Generally, we know what kind of candy we have based on the wrapper. It’s nice when life is labelled clearly. But it doesn’t happen often. Mostly, we don’t know, which is one reason that people have a Tarot reading to tell the future. But sometimes, we must make a choice without reliable information, and then it is the luck of the draw. When this card comes up, be grateful because you are in for some good luck and you didn’t do anything to earn it. The best advice is common sense. You have a lucky break, so make good use of it. You can view it as a sign that things are going to change - it might be positive if you are at the bottom of the wheel or negative if you are at the top, since there is only one way to go from there! If you want to get philosophical about it, you might consider that good luck isn’t random. It’s a gift of fate (or possibly the fates) to help you move forward towards your destiny. Keywords: fortune, chance, opportunity, destiny, fate, good luck, change. Reversed: bad luck, misfortune, failure, unexpected setback, reversal, delay.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Hoodoo Tarot - 78-Card Deck and Book for Rootworkers by Tayannah Lee McQuillar. Drawer pull presentation box containing card and book. Published by Destiny Books. US: $35 CAN: $ 43.99 UK: £17.50 American occult and esoteric syncretism is combined with native species plant lore, and words from the Judeo-Christian Bible, alongside personalities drawn from history, myths and storytelling. They all feature in this fascinating deck of cards. I liked the personalisations. We are introduced to selected characters that I found I got to know through my imagination as much as their introduction by the deck creator Tayannah Lee McQuillar.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Oracle of Novice Witches - Messages from the Magical World, written by Francesca Matteoni, art by Elisa Macellari. Boxed set of cards and guidebook. Published 1st September 2022 by US Games Systems Inc., £21.99
Here we have 50 cards divided into three sections of suits. We start with ‘witches and wizards’, these feature 24 people from history, mythology and literature who had a reputation for differing types of spiritual knowledge. Then we have 13 objects, known to be used in witchcraft, then lastly 13 animals that could be called witches’ familiars!
Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Sibyls Oraculum - Oracle of the Black Doves of Africa by Tayannah Lee McQuillar, with artwork by Katelan V Foisy, Pack contains 44 cards and comprehensive information book. £16.99 published by Destiny Books
"There will be a coming of the day when that which is hidden shall be revealed"
The Libyan Sibyl
The author, Tayannah Lee McQuillar is a cultural anthropologist, scholar of religion, esoterica and mysticism. She hails from New York but conducted her research in Brazil and New Orleans and has shown great expertise in her knowledge of divination from earliest antiquity in this North African study and uniquely developed card system. She is the author of 'Rootwork'.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Witch’s Familiar Runic Oracle by author and artist Athene Noctua. Boxed set of 24 cards and guidebook. Published by Hay House. RRP US $12.99 : Can $17.50
The runes originally had a connection to nature and this connection is important in the reading so the book gives the rune letter, the god-form, and the animal. The book also provides information on runes for the beginner and I think this would make an interesting gift for a young and inquisitive person. The write-up gives explanation of the artwork combined with the rune, a handful of keywords, and offers a magical working.
Sample: Ingwaz - Lion - Still, but with slowly building intensity, the full maned lion, is poised for action. He holds within himself, the potential for an explosive release of energy. He is the leader of his pride. If called to it, he will make the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the survival of the next generation. This rune is of growth, the spark of life, and the germinating seed. It has enormous creative potential, and is the fertile male representation, in balance with his female. If you receive this rune, consider taking time to create space for transformation and inner growth. It is time to build up your energy stores. An explosive expenditure of energy may be needed. In reverse, this rune can indicate impotence, immaturity, scattered energy, and a lack of forward movement. Keywords: creation, wholeness, harmony, evolution, energy, magical workings. This rune can function as a container or receptacle for energy, so on the full moon, consider inscribing it on a clear quartz stone before you charge it in the Moonlight.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Zombie Tarot – Mystical
Prediction Oracle is also known as ‘Your Weapon of Choice’ and ‘An Oracle of
the Undead’.
This is a novelty pack published by Quirk Books. It consists
of 78 cards illustrated by Paul Kepple (author of The Housewives’ Tarot) and
Ralph Geroni of Headcase Designs. The pack has a 96 page instruction booklet offering
three key words and a brief explanation of the energy, written by Stacey Graham (author
of The Girl’s Ghost Hunting Guide).
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Seeking the Spirits of Palo Kimbisa - Exploring the Mysterious World of the Afro-Cuban Religion. Tata Rodriguez as told to Sophia Kelly Shultz. Published by Schiffer Publishing (2021). $16.99 ISBN: 978-0-7643-6090-9
'The law of the jungle!'
There are several branches of the Palo practice - Nriycomba, Briyumba, and Kimbisa. These are oral traditions. Kimbisa developed 150 years ago from the Bantu people of the Congo who came as slaves to America. It includes influences from Franciscan, Freemason and Afro-Cuban philosophy. It is related to primitive Spiritism practices such as Candomble, Umbanda, and SanterÃa.
Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: Crow Tarot by M J Cullinane, published by U S Games Systems Inc. £23.33 Release date: Sept 2023
Sample card: The Tower 16. Keywords: Drastic change, Upheaval, Catastrophe. Element: Fire. Each night, the crows gather to roast in the top of an old belltower that sits on a hill, away from the city lights. The tower has always provided a comfortable shelter that has offered security. However, the tower comes with a warning, do not become too comfortable or complacent. It could be whisked away in a flash. Mentally prepare yourself. Change is always afoot. Sometimes change happens and goes by virtually unnoticed, but not this time. You will feel it. It will shake your ground. How you manage this change will have a direct impact on how you will fare in the future. The energy caused by this change will spark something within that will move you towards a better place. How the pieces fall are up to you. Changes are inevitable, and when the tower is reversed, it is a sign that you are doing everything in your power to prevent necessary action. In doing so, you delay the experience you need to learn from in order to move forward.
Mind Body & Soul Card Deck Review: African Goddess Rising Pocket Oracle by Abiola Abrams. Boxed set of 44 Cards and Guidebook. Published by Hay House UK £8.99 : US $14.99 : Can $19.99 Dated Oct 2021.
“Sawubona” - a Zulu greeting which means welcome, “we see you”.
This is a neat pocket cards that invites us into the sacred goddess temple circle of this oracle. Each card represents a revered deity, matriarch, regal ancestor, or supernatural creature, all wise and loving divine feminine energy. Each bestows a gift of knowledge. The 44 goddesses are divided into 9 temples: threshold guardians, ancestors, conjurers, warriors, shadows, lovers, griots, queens and high priestesses taken from the 54 countries of Africa and the African diaspora, such as Haiti, Cuba, Barbados, Brazil and Guyana. You must face and integrate these 9 inner temples to awaken the goddess within.
The backs of the cards are a gold Adinkra symbol, a sacred geometric hieroglyphic of the Akan people of Ghana. The symbol means “that which does not burn”. Nothing within this deck is intended to cause harm.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Dark Light Oracle - The Path to Light Lies Through the Darkest Shadows by Alexandra V Bach & Carole-Anne Eschenazi, boxed set of cards and guidebook, published by US Games Systems Inc. Card sizes: 13cm x 9cm. $22.95 : £17.99
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Halloween Oracle by Stacey Demarco - Lifting the Veil Between the Worlds is Published by Blue Angel Publishing. Boxed set of 36 cards and guidebook. 31st October is the evening before All Hallows’. It is known as Halloween. This year, we have a full moon, ideal to cast shadows after dark! You are invited to ‘Experience the Scariest Night of the Year Every Night’! The cards are not numbered and carry only a title and subtitle on the face - to be read upright only - no inverted readings! Based on the philosophy that our awareness of death helps us to live our life with consideration, caring and joy, and helps us to prepare for the eventual day when our number is called by the powers that be.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Witching Hour Oracle - Awaken Your Inner Magic by Lorraine Anderson, illustrated by Olivia Burki, boxed set of cards and guidebook. Published by Rockpool Publishing date June 2023. US $24.99 : UK £18.99 ISBN 9781922785008
There is a deck published by US Games Systems Inc published June, 2022 with 39 cards with the title The Witching Hour by Cherie Gerdhardt.
This deck has a colour book which accompanies 44 cards. The set is trendy, young, attractive multi-cultural, you could say LGBTQ plus style images. The author provides her biography and how she came to create the deck, each card had meaning on her life journey. The deck can be used as an oracle in itself or with the Tarot as companion cards. The deck can be used with other card decks, where the reading is provided and a Witching Hour card is drawn for further guidance. Reversed cards are not used.
From Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams and David Carson I have chosen Owl,
the Sacred Medicine Bird associated with magic and observation of truth. 
