Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Beowulf Oracle - Wisdom from the Northern Kingdoms by John Matthews and Virginia Chandler, illustrated by Joe Machine. Published by Schiffer Publishing. Drawer pull quality boxed set of 22 cards with instruction book. U.K. £29.99 US $29.99
“Fate will often save a uncursed man, if his strength is constant.”
Hwaet! Listen! This is the first word of the Beowulf poem which tells a long tale of huge difficulties, dangers, interpersonal relationships, battles and treasures, and great acts of courage.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Tantric Dakini Oracle by Nik Douglas and Penny Slinger. Published by Destiny Books. 65 Cards and instruction book in quality drawer pull presentation box. US $35 : Can $39.99
“Look into the mirror of your mind - The home of the Secret Dakini.”
The sandstone Ranipur Jharial Temple in Sambalpur region of India dates from the 8th century when it was an initiation centre. It has 64 statues of the Dakini goddesses surrounding an inner court space where there is a statue of Shiva dancing. These are the inspiration for this oracle deck.
The Dakinis are aspects of archetypal energies. They is a comparison with the Tarot and a parallel as the 22 Dakinis relate to the 22 cards of the Tarot’s Major Arcana. The further 40 cards in the Tantric Dakini Oracle relate to the Tarot’s pip cards. This deck has 4 elemental suits of 10 cards, and 3 Time Cards that represent the Past, Present and Future.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: A Guide to Sacred Activism By Andrew Harvey Paperback £10.99 Published by Hay House Author website: http://www.andrewharvey.net/
Andrew Harvey is 2011 winner of the prestigious Nautilus Silver Award for Social Change and is the founder of the international Institute for Sacred Activism and the Academy of Sacred Leadership. He has taught at Oxford and Cornell and other prestigious universities. He is known as a modern day visionary and mystic but, for me, his role is close to that of the Old Testament prophets; urgently warning, kindly admonishing and desperately pleading to prevent planetary suicide.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Gilded Reverie Lenormand Gold Edged 'Expanded Edition' by Ciro Marchetti published by U S Games Systems Inc. 47 cards with explanatory book.
The card faces have a contemporary computer graphic presentation, a number and playing card information. Added to the 36 Lenormand deck, the author has added 8 special supplementary cards with information on how to use the extra cards in a reading. There is a simple Nine-Card Spread with sample reading, The Fortune-Telling Day Spread with 9 cards with sample provided, The Chocolate Box Spread with 18 cards and sample. I find the images are easy to connect with and inspire my readings. I like these cards very much and appreciate the extra cards in the Expanded Edition. If I had to use one word, I would say 'glamorous!'
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Goddess Spirit Oracle Deck. Writer & Artist, Rachael Johnson, published by Blue Angel Publishing, 44 cards with accompanying Guidebook. Card size: 12cm x 17cm £18.99
Women (and girls - though none older than middle age) and of varying nationalities feature in this deck by full time U.K. artist and designer Rachael Johnson, now residing in Australia’s Gold Coast. The card deck is divided into 7 Chakra Energy cards, 11 Arcana Goddess cards, 7 The Septuple, and 8 Lunar Energy cards. Many of the goddesses mentioned in this oracle helped Rachael Johnson to create it and we are instructed to follow our own intuition when using the cards, whether connecting to feminine power of the Lunar Energy or honouring and connecting to the Arcana cards by placing them on your altar. You can also draw a card and keep a journal of your thoughts and experiences, or use the cards for divination.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The
Mystical Kipper is a very elegant deck of 36 fortune telling cards,
created by Regula Elizabeth Fiechter and the artist, Urban Trosch, and
published by the card
deck specialist, AGM Urania.
Sample: Tree is
numbered 17 and is titled 'Receiving a Gift'. It
shows
a Christmas
tree with fairy
lights. Gifts are laid out around its base, we guess who purchased these, and who they are for and what might be inside the wrapping paper. Will this be a happy Xmas event. Someone has gone to much trouble to create a perfect setting. It is a card which draws us to the
creation of homely
happiness and sharing a time
of celebration with others.
The
Mystical Kipper cards, however, do not depict all sweetness and light! Some cards
highlight the more difficult aspects of life which are ever present for
the unsuspecting. There are false persons, unhappiness, prison,
bereavement, and other dangers. All 36 cards can be laid in an 'All
Cards' spread, nine cards in four rows and the cards are read
horizontally, diagonally and vertically.
This
is a delightful deck, as is it's companion, the Mystical Lenormand, by
the same creators, Fiechter and Trosch. I like to use the Mystical
Kipper cards alongside the Lenormand Cards to create a 72 card combined
deck. There is sufficient information in the little white booklet in the
deck packs to get the beginner started.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Car Deck Review: Great Eastern Oracle - Empowering Guidance of the Mystics from Ancient to Modern Times by Rassouli. Published by Blue Angel Publishing. Boxed set of 44 cards with accompanying Guidebook. £18.99
Rassouli lives in Southern California. He lives a vigil of love through the surrendered heart, exhibiting his artwork, and writing inspirational books and creating card decks. He is the oracle creator and artist. This Oracle is based on the unknown with ideas from the great sages. The card images reflect the mystery contained within. There are differences between Eastern and Western philosophy, with self realisation from the East and self-creation from the West. This oracle is the Eastern, and we await the publication of the deck of the Western sages.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: How to Find Your Spirit Animal - Connect with Your Animal Helper for Guidance, Strength and Healing by David Carson, quality paperback, 206 pages, £10.99 This is a marvellous book for those who want to connect to the natural worth through other species, and they are here in every variety across the globe; the four legged, winged, crawlers, singers, growlers, of every kind, many of which are endangered and need our support! 50 of our planet's unique and astounding creatures are features, and ways to contact them, relate and feel at one with them through exercises, meditations, visualisations, ceremonies. When you have made your choice, the author explains the Quest of the Shaman, the process of working with these energies in dreams, for healing, to make altars, create sacred space. In ancient times, other species were honoured and admired. Connecting with other species is vitally important for their survival and for the planet's wellbeing. Snake, mole, turtle, hawk, cat, whatever you are guided to, will help and support you in some way. Start at the beginning and work through each creature to fully experience the beauty of the species in the book.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Earth Magic - Ancient Shamanic Wisdom for
Healing Yourself, Others and the Planet by Steven D Farmer, 265 pages
published by Hay House. Our lives have become detached from nature and
this book provides a way to relate once again to its beauty, meaning and
importance. It helps us to appreciate, watch, value, learn from the
seasons and cycles of life. Our 'sacred assignment' is to be a steward of
this planet and to care for all species. The price of civilisation is
one of consumerism, addictions, pollution, global warming and extinction
of species. Ancient tribal spirituality honours
the Earth. It has the capacity to heal through the rhythms of the drum,
through dance and meditation, through ceremony, storytelling and ritual
and through connecting to the Otherworld. The author develops
contemporary shamanism around philosophies and practices, giving ancient knowledge a modern approach. We are provided with
philosophy and exercises which enhance our understanding of the natural
world and how we can work ecologically to heal our life.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Journey Oracle - Discover Your Personal Pathway by Adrienne Trafford Boxed set of 46 Cards published by Schiffer Publishing, RRP £22.99 $24.99
The stylised figurative female images are pleasant and strong, most are portraits which accompany a hundred words of text that explains what the card says, and what the card means. The artist and deck creator, Adrienne Trafford studied art in Italy and graduated from Kutztown University. She is a charity worker and enjoys dog rehoming.
Sample Card: 6 Desire: What the card says: Your craving is like a thirst that cannot be easily sated.
Mind
Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot Deck of Heroes by Richard
ShadowFox Boxed set of 78 cards and booklet published by Schiffer
Publishing RRP £22.99 US $24.99
All that is needed is you, your question, such as “What obstacles might I find on my path”, and the cards. We are invited to shuffle the cards, place the deck face down and turn over the top card for a one card reading. Other spreads suggested are a 3 Card, a Celtic Cross of 10 Cards, and a Personality of 6 Cards.
The card images are digitally produced and I would like to have seen them but the reproduction is far too dark and the artwork is obscured by impenetrable blackness! The video shows a preferable deck where the images can be seen. I don't think it would be unfair to say that the same muscle bound, bare chested man has been used for more than one photo. For this reason, I am not recommending these cards. Though the book text is 50-100 words of upright and for reversed cards, it is not that enlightening and has sometimes left me considerably confused as to its meaning. Though the deck is described as ‘romantic’, I couldn’t find the romance!
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Tarot Wheel - A Fast & Easy Reading System by Jim Edward Lucier. Published by Schiffer Publishing. RRP £22.99
This ”spin a wheel” Tarot reading system is based on the 78 cards of the Rider-Waite Tarot. It provides a plastic wheel of 7 rings. Each ring has a title: 1 The Present, 2 The Past, 3 The Future, 4 Ambitions, 5 Spiritual Influences, 6 Strengths, 7 Outcome. Starting with the innermost ring and moving outwards, with eyes closed whilst thinking of your question, turn the transparent dial in either direction for your 7 card reading. Stop. A card will fall within the dial. There is a very simplified keyword crib for each of the 78 cards.
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: The William Blake Tarot - of the Creative Imagination by Ed Buryn, published by REDFeather, Boxed set of 79 cards and full colour accompanying booklet. Illuminated 3rd Edition RRP £31.99
Time is the mercy of Eternity: without Time’s swiftness which is the swiftest of all things: all we’re eternal torment.
Sample Card: Man of Poetry “To justify the ways of God to Man”. The shedding of protections and pretences. Clearing away darkness to boldly reveal the truth. Applying foresight and generosity of spirit to challenging circumstances. Overcoming your ego to act as a master of spiritual expression. Taking the authority to assert how things will be done. Possessing mature and well tested vision, but a tendency to be rigid. In the creative process - when you see the whole picture of your project, you can take charge to boldly direct it towards achieving its divine potential.
The flip top magnetic closure box is solid and strong. The card stock is excellent quality - and have gold leaf edges. The artwork is excellent by poet, mythologist, and mystical artist, William Blake with incorporated modern ideas by Ed Buryn..
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Review of Symbolon card deck by Peter
Orban, Ingrid Zinnel and Thea Weller, published by US Games Systems Inc. 80 cards in the
pack with an instruction leaflet that explains the use the cards and provides
information on each card. There are no suits or court cards but some cards bear
a resemblance to tarot images. The artwork is representational and loosely based
on fairy tales, myths and archetypes and is designed to make what is unconscious
more conscious, to assist with personal insight. The deck is for reflection, to
summon the past, not the future. They are not intended for use for fortune telling or
prediction. There are no 'yes' or 'no', only why, how, who, what
and when! Each card provides 'the problem', 'the way through' and
'the solution'. I have enjoyed working with this deck in a new and creative way which
is more about understanding the self than attempting to predict the future.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Faery Blessing Cards - Healing Gifts and Shining Treasures from the Realm of Enchantment by Lucy Cavendish with artwork by Amy Brown. Published by Blue Angel Publishing. Boxed set of 45 cards plus guidebook. £17.99
Each card has an attractive image of slim, female like figures with long hair and wings, in nature scenes. The cards also carry a number and title. The guidebook explains how to work with the cards, how to connect and receive guidance, how to cleanse, shuffle and invite the blessing which is a gift that is given with each card. Fairies are ancient elemental spirits that unite us in their love and protection for the planet. They communicate in a special way and with special words which are explained. There are highly specialised faeries, such as Faery Goddesses, and their lives and world are detailed. There are one card readings for both A Blessing for the Day and a Blessing for the Night. Other spreads are: 3 card reading - The Triple Faery Goddess Spread; 8 card - 7 Pointed Star reading; 8 card reading - Wheel of the Year.
