The Grail Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Grail Tarot - A Templar Vision by John Matthews, illustrated by Giovanni Caselli. Quality boxed set of 78 cards and guidebook. Published by REDFeather  (Schiffer Publishing) US $34.99 : U.K. £31.99

This deck provides high quality artwork that has gnostic and esoteric meanings and expert symbolism. It is accompanied by an excellent book describing the card deck’s concept of the Grail, said here to be the holiest and most mystical relic of the Order of the Poor Knights of Christ and the Temple of Solomon, a group of Christian monks founded in 1119. The Grail mystery is central to the deck’s concept, its historical background, and the deck’s spiritual teaching. It is an initiatory deck that contains life guidance.

Each card has a painted image, a number and title, a description of the image, a background to the Grail story, a Grail Question for the Trump cards, and a Divinatory meaning that contains spiritual guidance. A few keywords are provided as a reading prompt. 

The cards are given their own Grail Tarot titles. The Majors are represented by the Seeker’s Quest, and the Minors by The Vision of the Hallows. The four suits are stone (the Green Stone), sword (The Sword of John the Baptist), lance (The Lance of Longingus), and vessel (The Holy Grail). The court cards are Lady, Master, Preceptor and Brother. Suggested spreads are The Journey (9 cards), The Truce (9 cards), The Sword of St John (6 cards), and The Grand Master (22 cards) which uses the Temple Church in London as a template, each buttress representing a card. 

Complete instructions for working with this deck are provided in the book. It’s very easy to work with so it is ideal for beginners or experienced readers. 

Sample Reading 1: Four of Swords: Description: bruised, battered, and bloody, the knight sits head bowed in an attitude of absolute weariness at a smithy. Watching as the blacksmith re-forges the sword. In the shadows to one side, unseen, a black clad knight stands with drawn sword.

Background: Humbled, the knight must now re-gather his strength by the reforging of the sword. In several of the grail texts, when the Sword of Saint John has broken, the knight who wields it must himself discover how it can be restored. Here the novice is fortunate enough to have discovered a forest smithy where the smith has the necessary skills to repair the broken blade. The mystical power of the smith was widely acknowledged throughout the ancient world. Although he was seen less as a magical figure in the mediaeval period, the ability to manipulate ore in the creation of blades and ploughshares was still deeply respected. Here the blade of the sword represents the knight’s will, which has been broken after the decision he took earlier proved to be the cause of great sorrow. Though he remains unaware of it, greater trials await him yet in the form of one of the sinister black knights who have dogged his path throughout this part of his journey. Hiding close by, the adversary waits for an opportunity to catch the Seeker with his guard down. The Smith himself bears a resemblance to the Preceptor of Swords and may well be the knights old teacher in disguise.

Meaning: Though one of the meanings of this card can be seen as abandonment, the Seeker here is given time to recover after the blows he has experienced recently. Out of this will come new insights and the greatest strength from the reforged blade. In the refuge of the forest smithy comes healing and restoration, such as may also come from an enforced break in the daily pattern of life.  On the journey, are-assessment  of the reasons for seeking the Grail may be called for.

Sample Reading 2: Lady of Stones. Description of the Virgin Mary is here represented as a young girl in the temple of Jerusalem. She sits in a cool and lofty hall weaving at a loom. A ray of light from the window in the roof shines down upon her. 

Background: This card refers to episodes from the early life of the Virgin Mary. All kinds of signs and portents attend her birth. She was the daughter of the barren, Anna, who received a visitation from an angel when she was past the age of childbearing. The angel told her she would bare a daughter in whom the mysteries would manifest, and that she would bare an even more wondrous child. At the age of six, Mary was presented to the high priests of the Jerusalem Temple where she danced and was loved by all who saw her. From this time onwards, Mary lived in the Temple enclosure along with the other virgins dedicated to the service of the Lord God. 10 years after this, according to the Book of James, the priests decided that a new veil should be woven for the Temple. They chose seven virgins from the Tribe of David, including the 16-year-old Mary, to weave it. They drew lots as to who should weave the colours – some gold, some white, others hyacinthine, but most importantly, the royal and imperial colours of scarlet and purple. Mary drew these colours, thereby demonstrating how important she was. It was immediately after this that she received the visitation of the Archangel Gabriel, who told her she would give birth to a son who’s coming had been long foretold. The devotion of the Knights Templar to the Virgin Mary is well attested. They revered her more than any other figure except Christ, and gave special emphasis to her feast days and celebrations of mass in her name. 

Meaning: Everything about this card is concerned with prosperity and abundance, with a positive outcome for tasks undertaken. Security and grace, dignity and liberty, generosity and magnificence attend upon the appearance of the Lady of Stones in any reading. Her weaving suggests the weaving of the soul into the life of the seeker, and the matching benefit of a mothers love for her child. Her wisdom and devotion are reflected in the reading which takes on a favourable aspect whatever other cards are drawn.

What’s so special? This Tarot deck is designed and written by John Matthews, the UK’s leading Arthurian exponent; the personal stories of the Templar monks and their experiences that relate to the card artwork; the virtuoso illustrations by Giovanni Caselli; the devotion offered to the Virgin Mary and stories that relate to her life as in gnostic writings; and the spiritual direction provided by the readings. It is a beautiful, interesting and enjoyable deck to work with. Recommended. 

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