The Illuminati Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Illuminati Tarot - Keys of Secret Societies by Casey DuHamel and illustrated by Bob Greyvenstein Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd, Presentation boxed set of 78 cards with full colour guidebook. U.K. : £36.99  US : $39.99

Provided along with the card image, number and title, the Majors have association with the Priory of Sion, all have a quote, an explanation of the card and its symbolism, the keywords and meaning in a reading, in addition to its archangel, astrology sign, Cabala path, element and Hebrew letter. Plenty of new material here for the general Tarot reader. 

The Court Cards are Novices (Pages - Earth), Initiates (Knights - Air) Adepts (Queens - Water), and Mages (Kings - Fire) all are given a quote, an explanation and keywords, and their individual Nature, Element, Tetragrammaton and Card Persona. All Pips have keywords. 

 

The Cup (Feminine Winter) Court Cards are based on the Rosicrucians and Cup Pips on the Rosicrucian Alchemy of Eudes Picard and Manly P Hall. The Coin (Feminine Autumn) Court Cards on the Martinists with Coin Pips on the Martinist Philosophy of Papus. The Wand (Male Summer) Court Cards are on the Golden Dawn with Wand Pips based on the magical interpretations of the Tarot de Marseilles by Golden Dawn initiates S L MacGregor Mathers and Israel Regardie, and the Sword (Male Spring) Court Cards on the Freemasons with Sword Pips based on the Masonic formulations of Freemasons, Colin Browne and A E Waite. The Court Cards each carry a quote, a Legend and keywords. 

Using Latin numerals, the Majors have Justice as VIII and Strength as XI. You will find information about the Grand Architect, comparisons and attributions, the karmic journey of the soul as per the story of the Priory of Sion, the travails of Percival, clandestines, alchemy, astrology,  the holy bloodline, the Grand Masters, including female Grand Masters, Christian heresies, with plenty of surprises. Card backs are a fleur de lis in mirror image. 

The four Hallows are detailed, as the Lance that pierced Christ’s side, the Chalice that was used at the Last Supper, the Sword that was used to remove the head of the Baptist, and the Dish that caught Christ’s blood from the cross. The origin of Tarot Cards is discussed, with many of the great Tarot aficionados mentioned, and connections to five principle societies are included, along with other fascinating details, such as how the knight card that represented Knights Templar went missing from the decks of playing cards! 

So much information here and lots for everyone to enjoy regardless of their position, experience and knowledge. This is a thoroughly interesting deck with fascinating artwork! Lots to enjoy about secret societies, their symbolism, life stories and other jingle jangle-razzmatazz! Novice Tarot readers could give excellent readings as it contains plenty of information, but readings might be reserved for those who especially like or belong to secret societies. The writer is female, from South Dakota, USA., and the artist is male and from Pretoria, South Africa. It is not to be confused with Tarot Illuminati by Kim Huggens and published by Llewellyn Publications. This is an intense deck. Your readings might be delivered to a gender preference, at a Freemason’s convention, or at least to Da Vinci Code fans! Might spook out young summer festival goers! If I had to criticise the deck, it would be that we have more myths than evidence about these often shady characters and their secrets. Why have secrets? I would like to see well functioning personalities,  and more open status within society - so we know that criminal activities are not being conducted under the guise of crazy cults. 

Review by Wendy Stokes https:/ https://wendystokes.co.uk co.uk