Gaian Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Gaian Tarot - Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves text and artwork by Joanna Powell Colbert, published by Schiffer Books, quality boxed set of 78 cards and guidebook. 

I am immediately attracted to the title, as caring for the Earth Goddess is also caring for ourselves and for future generations. For me, the New Age is about Earth centred spirituality, and this deck has this important emphasis. This is Tarot for those who love the natural world. It has been 9 years in the making and is a spiritual weathervane to connect us to the Divine Feminine. It is presented as an eco course to raise planetary consciousness. The author is a teacher and workshop facilitator, the deck  highlights the importance of indigenous species and the dangers of imported species. She is a sage woman, one of the wisdom keepers of the Goddess spirituality movement and she presents the deck as a tool for inner awareness and guidance. 

The Robin Wood Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Robin Wood Tarot, created and written by Robin Wood and Michael Short. Published by Llewellyn Publications. 

Robin Wood passed into higher life earlier in 2021 with carcinoma. She is hugely missed and was well known for her visionary artwork of dragons for board and internet role playing games, Second Life, etc.  This deck took nearly a decade to design. It combines traditional tarot with natural symbolism. It is much loved by pagans with its expressive artwork that is full of tarot and pagan symbolism. 

Meditate on each card and make a note of your associations and emotions as this information will become your own personal guide to interpreting this deck. 

There are standard card titles,  with 5 sentences of meaning for uprights and 5 for reversed. Pentacles, Wands, Swords and Cups; Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages. 3 layouts are suggested: The 15-Card, The 10-Card and The 5-Card. 

Chinese Fortune Reading Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Chinese Fortune Reading Cards by Sharina Star, published by Rockpool Publishing, comprises of a set of 36 high quality cards and instruction book, both full colour, packaged in a magnetic flip top box. The book includes information on how to read the cards, with two simple layouts. Each card has a number, a title and an image, and the book provides keywords, a general interpretation, a career/finances aspect, relationship advice and a Feng Shui tip. The interpretation of the cards is advice based, very modern. It is ideal for a first ever oracle card deck; it is a young person's deck, suited to online dating user age group. 

The cards feature a brush script from the Oracle Bones Script, discovered in the Anyang capital and date to the Shang Dynasty of 1,100 years ago. They have an authentic Chinese look about the images, reds and golds predominate, and have a Chinese script on each card. Titles are, for instance, Renewal, Forgiveness, Heaven, Abundance, Wisdom, Reunion, and images feature fishing, candles, flowers, brush writing, dragon, lanterns, a Buddha image.

The Chinese Five Elements Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Chinese Five Elements Oracle by Vicki Iskandar, illustrations by Candice Soon. Boxed set of 60 Cards and Guidebook. Published by Hay House. Date: 10/10/2023 RRP US $29.99 : Can $39.99 : UK £15.99

60 cards represent the cycle or pillars of 10 Heavenly Stems of Yin and Yang qualities and the 5 elements of wood, fire, metal, water, and earth, which are the foundation of the Tao. 12 Earthly Branches depict animals, rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and pig.

The Female Archangels Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Female Archangels Oracle by Calista, illustrated by Marie-Joe Fourzali. Boxed set of 44 cards and Guidebook. Published by Findhorn Press.  RRP US $25.00 Can: $31.50          Open your wings and get set to fly! 

Sample: Archangel Gabriel - No 6. Speak Your Truth. Short Angel Message - Feel your feelings and say what needs to be said. Speak your Truth. Expanded Meaning: Gabriel reflects divine strength, and serves on the White and Crystalline Ray of Harmony, Purity and Communication with his counterpart, Achaia Hope. Gabriel helps us tap into our emotional strength so we can be real and honest. If you have children or work with them, ask Gabriel to help you best cater to their needs. Gabriel will help balance emotions, will aid conception and childbirth, creativity through writing and purification. Reverse Card Reading: soften your rigidity. Communicate from your heart to honour everyone and everything. Rise like an Angel -  Writing with your Inner Child. This is a cathartic exercise that can heal emotional pain and emotional vacancy. You may also find yourself more playful and buoyant. Gather paper and a pen, then ask Archangel Gabriel to sit with you. Breathe in his crystalline light to create greater honesty and understanding within your mind. Close your eyes and imagine you’re in a child. What age, size, mood, and other meaningful impressions do you see? Write it down, and invite the child to write through you. Listen as a compassionate observer. Take a breath in and read their message. Now write again from your heart in response. Swap over as many times as it feels appropriate. Stay heart centred and enjoy the space of acknowledging and sharing truth. Know your emotions do not define you, yet by listening to them, cycles of destructive behaviour can end. Give love to your inner child as you resolve to make peace with the past. No matter what happened, you don’t have to live in the painful days of the past. Ask your inner child how you can honour them in your everyday life. Then close the exercise by giving each other a big hug. As you thank Gabriel notice how different you feel. Blessing: With hands on your heart say aloud three times “by listening to my needs and following through with what supports me, I uplift the world.” 

The Stained Glass Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Stained Glass Tarot - An Illuminated Journey through the Cards by James Edward. A Boxed Set of 78 Cards and Guidebook. Published by Destiny Books. 

Sample of poetry: Ace of Cups: “The Ace of Cups, a chalice so bright, an invitation to emotions, and pure light, a new beginning, a fresh start, a path of love to heal one’s heart. It overflows with loving grace, this chalice, a beauty to embrace, a symbol of mercy, a symbol of peace, offering blessing both gentle and deep. It’s water so pure with gentle waves, healing and soothing, a a balm for one’s days, overflowing with passion, with hope, offering kindness and helping one cope. It is a reminder to feel and to care, to pursue one’s passions without any scare, to open our hearts to let love flow, to start a new with the Ace of Cups in tow.” 

Magnetic opening for this stylish presentation box with full colour cards and top quality guidebook. The information provided is suitable for a beginner but the deck is also useful for experienced readers. 

The Fool's New Journey Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Fool's New Journey Tarot - Sixty Triumphs for a New Dawn by John Matthews and Charles Newington. Boxed set of 60 cards and full colour Guidebook. Published by REDFeather Publishing (Schiffer Books) RRP US $34.99 

Consider your origin: you were not born to live like brutes, but to follow virtue and knowledge. Dante. 

Magnetic and drawer pull box reveals a new Tarot journey using 60 cards to portray the human condition (though my drawer could not be pulled and I realised the sleeve needed to be removed so the box would open!) The cards backs are The Fool in the midst of his journey, surrounded by clouds, moving full circle, half a mirror image not to show which way up the cards have been dealt. There are some exceptional spreads, a Two-Card, a Three-Card, and a Five-Card. 

The Healing Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Healing Tarot - 78 Ways to Wellness, by Juno Lucina, illustrated by Monica Knighton. Presentation box containing 78 cards and guidebook. Published by Schiffer Publishing. RRP US $39.99 

This is an interesting study on what each Tarot card means here in terms of Astrology, Qabala, Archetypes, and the traditional RWS perspective. Health, diet, fitness, wellness, balance of body, mind and spirit are provided with upright and reversed meanings for self readings and readings for others. The guidebook contains detailed text for Majors and lessons text for Court Cards and Minors. Each card provides a pencil sketch, title, subtitle, additional title, number, quote, information on the meaning, astrology connections, traditional interpretations, and health advice for upright and reversed cards. 

Spreads suggested are Acute Illness 4 cards, Healthy Zodiac 12 cards, and Diet/Fitness 7 cards. 

Celtic Goddesses, Witches, and Queens Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine: Celtic Goddesses, Witches, and Queens Oracle by Danu Forest, and illustrated by Dan Goodfellow. Boxed set of 40 cards and Guidebook. Published by Schiffer Books. $29.99 ISBN: 978-0-7643-6700-7 

Expect a council of wise and powerful women from pre-Christian, Celtic cultures! Warriors, elders, lovers, and queens from Northern Europe, the islands of Britain and Ireland are featured in this delightful deck with excellent artwork and equally good write-ups on each card. We are connected to the cards through our own challenges and trials, with nature, home, sovereignty, death, healing, courage, fortitude, etc., being just some topics. We learn about background lore, the meaning and purpose, the mystery and history of these 40 powerful females, such as Brigid, Cerridwen, Danu, Epona, Macha, the Morrigan, Nimue, and some rarer female energies. 

Tarot at a Crossroads

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Tarot at a Crossroads - The Unexpected Meeting of Tarot & Psychology by Kooch N Daniels and Victor Daniels. Published by Schiffer Books. Full colour Hardback U.K. £27.99 and US $29.99

“The whole is different from the sum of its parts.” Max Wertheimer

If you have an interest in psychology and Tarot, this is a work book to fulfil deeper levels of understanding, and will stretch you and inspire you. It provides a powerful method of conducting Tarot  readings, created with a Gestalt and psychological emphasis which produces valuable, grounded, and wise divination for clients, but can also be used for exploration and personal growth for oneself. The card images used as examples are taken from a number of different artists, but it is suggested that you work from a traditional Tarot deck, such as the Rider Waite Colman Smith Tarot deck or you can use an Oracle deck if you prefer. Which cards represent you and where you are in your life? 

Tree Calendar

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. 

Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights

Mind, Body and Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot of the Thousand and One Nights, 78 individually illustrated cards with decorative miniature images from the stories of this name by Leon Carre, published by Lo Scarabeo. Between 1926 and 1929 the French painter, Leon Carre designed the art for the Arabian Tales, One Thousand and One Nights working alongside Algerian miniaturist Mohammed Racim. In 2004, the beauty of Middle Eastern culture was brought to this deck. A little white booklet is included in the pack with a few words of divinatory meaning for each card in English and 4 other languages. 

The wonderful collection of Middle Eastern tales were written in Persia in the 10th century. Antoine Galland in 1700s to the French court of the Sun King translated this story. The wicked Sultan has an endless stream of brides who come to his chamber each night. After the wedding night is over, he kills them. But the clever Scheherazade weaves an endless story of Aladdin, Sinbad and Ali Baba that hold his attention night after night. He falls in love with her and spares her life and they live happily ever after - so the story goes! The original Arabic texts were translated in 1949 by Francesco Gabriela. 

Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Hedgewitch Botanical Oracle by Siolo Thompson. Published by Llewellyn Publications. 40 card set in sturdy presentation box with full colour instruction book. £22.50

Enjoyment from the Boundary Lands! 

Siolo Thompson is a self taught artist living in Seattle, Washington. She uses multi media for her artwork which draws inspiration from the grimoires of the foraging witch and healer. She also created the Linestrider Tarot deck.

The artwork is intended to allow identification of the plant and the book provides information on herb lore, the history of the 40 plants with seasonal recipes, an associated Tarot card, descriptions of plants, where to find them, the way they were used and how to use them, what part is used and whether they are culinary or medicinal. The deck offers guidance for the seeker or a focus for meditation and it can also be used as a flash card study guide as the seeker learns how to identify plants, blossom, leaf shoots and fruits.  It is a way for the seeker to approach the natural world, gaining delight, knowledge and magic.

Cards by Christie Astell

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Review: The Angel Deck - 50 messages from the angels we meet everyday by Chrissie Astell Published by Octopus Books £12.99 Strong lift top uncrushable box and high quality large card stock with information which includes how to use the cards and offers story, poem, prayer, visualisation or meditation and includes what angels are, advice from the angels by the author and sections on the 'role of angels' and 'loving power' with illustrations in the public domain. These are sorted again by way of card five titles, such as Angel Reassurance, Angelic Connections, Angels in Action, Angelic Guidance and Angel-being. Though the cards can be used as a 'card for the day' guidance, I have decided to send one to friends in the post as a change from sending a greeting card this Christmas. Each card can stand alone and provide some upliftment for those who are unwell or going through a period of difficulty. 

The Victorian Steampunk Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Victorian Steampunk Tarot – Unravel the Mysteries of the Past, Present and Future, by Liz Dean and illustrated by Bev Speight. Published by Cico Books. The magnetised flip lip box includes a full deck of 78 tarot cards and a full colour explanatory booklet of each card.
The deck is very loosely based on the Rider-Waite deck but each card carries an individual computer graphic artwork to express the spirit of Victorian steampunk, the age of steam with modern counter culture anything is possible, plasma screens, hot air balloons, the era of Jules Verne, Mary Shelley, Edgar with, for instance, clockwork hearts and butterflies, deconstructed burlesque and brass spyglasses. The cards can be interpreted either upright or upturned thought the backs are intended for exclusively upright use. 

 

Rackham Tarot card deck review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Rackham Tarot. 78 full colour individual cards. Published by Lo Scarabeo.

With illustrations from the artwork of Victorian illustrator Arthur Rackham, born 1867, Rackham illustrated A Midsummer Night's Dream, Grimms Fairy Tales, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, Tales of Mystery & Imagination, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and a Christmas Carol. The late 19th century was known as 'the Golden Age of Illustration' with highly imaginative artists, such as Walter Crane and Aubrey Beardsley. Arthur Rackham’s extraordinary work was the most sought after. 

Jungian Tarot Psychology Book Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Tarot Psychology - A Practical Guide to the Jungian Tarot by Robert Wang, published by Urania. Book has b/w scans of the cards, the title of the card, a subtitle of the archetype and a write-up of approx 600 words on each Major and approx 400 on the other cards. 

Botanical Inspirations

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Botanical Inspirations Deck and Book Set by Lynn Araujo, published by US Games Systems, Inc. Boxed set of 44 cards plus guidebook and pull out chart and card bag.

Full colour prints of illustrative paintings of 44 different flowers with the common name, Latin or other name, with keywords and a quotation. The booklet provides symbolism, flower lore, legend, hidden messages and affirmations. A Three-card reading and the Past, Present and Future reading is provided with examples. One card can be used for daily inspiration. Pick a card at random, look at the image and message. Close your eyes and meditate and make this image come alive. As it grows in your mind's eye, reach out your hand to feel its petals, put your face to the flower, feel its coolness on your brow, put it to your lips and feel its texture! Every day you choose a card, you will be given the gift of this flower until you choose another!

The Grail

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Reviews: The Grail - The Celtic Origins of the Sacred Icon by Jean Markale

This story makes its debut during 1180-1190 in the Champagne region of France. Chretien from the town of Troyes nearby wrote the story of the Grail for Marie, the daughter of the great Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine. She instigated the most fashionable court, with artists, minstrels and troubadours, of which Chretien was her most famous entertainer. The story is about a wondering innocent young knight who experiences many adventures that include rewards, obstacles, mistakes, difficulties and good fortune. 

Markale always comes up with surprises and this is an ideal story for him to address the many enduring questions that this story raises. All his books are steeped in magic and wonder. Poetry in prose!

Reviewer Wendy Stokes https://wendystokes.co.uk 

Divine Circus Oracle Cards

Mind, Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Divine Circus Oracle Cards by Alana Fairchild, Boxed set of 44 cards plus instruction book, published by Blue Angel Publishing £17.99 

I like Alana Fairchild’s work and I have a love of the circus; the two are nicely combined in this deck of oracle cards. The philosophy is that of the playful and joyful party, the rebel, the creative, the spontaneous and the daring. Breaking free of the hum drum, the deck provides an alternative way of being confident, trusting your intuition and living an inspired life. For the irreverent, the naught and the risk takers! 

Information on how to use the deck, a ritual for blessing the cards, four suggested spreads: The Clown Nose 1 Card, the Strong Man 5 cards, the Flying Trapeze 5 cards, and the Bearded Lady 5 cards. 

Movie Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Movie Tarot – A Hero’s Journey in 78 cards, illustrated by Natalie Foss and written by Diana McMahon Collis. Published by Laurence King Publishing, Boxed set of instruction booklet and 78 cards. Card size: 6.5” x 4.5” RRP UK £14.99 : US $17.99

Each card of the Major Arcana depicts the steps of the ‘Fool’s Journey’ also known as the ‘Hero’s Journey’ as the 22 energies are shown as heroic characters from popular films. In tarot tradition, the fool who embarks upon life, and has many hardships, joys and learning experiences, eventually to become mature, and be able to express spiritual values and empathy with others who are enduring difficulties.

Divine Circus Oracle

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.

The Zerner/Farber Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Zerner/Farber Tarot by Amy Zerner & Monte Farber. Quality presentation box containing full colour guidebook and 78 cards. Published by REDFeather Publishing. £29.99 release date: April 2023

These cards have extraordinary fabric and collage images, created by Amy Zerner, an award winning artist. Her husband and co-creator has supplied the text, which I can recommend as insightful and wise in helping to get the best from a reading. Together they have produced other excellent tarot publications: Enchanted Tarot, Instant Tarot, Enchanted Love Tarot, Creativity Oracle and the Enchanted Worlds Book. 

The Tarot of Light and Shadow

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Tarot of Light and Shadow by John Matthews and Andrea Aste. Boxed set of explanatory book and two sets of tarot cards. Card size: 4.inches by 2.5 inches. Published by Watkins Publishing. 

This pack contains a double deck and all the information you need to use them in readings. Using both decks allows the reader to see both sides of a question. This is a unique pack of the two decks, one for positive situations and the other for a more challenging situation. Certainly, you will be enabled to give extraordinary readings from this double deck. No-one else will be able to give readings like this! If you want to be a one-off reader, like no other, this pack will provide it. 

Higher Reality Therapy

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Higher Reality Therapy - Nine Pathways to Inner Peace By Anthony Falikowski Visit: www.falikowski.com

The psychiatrist, William Glasser developed Reality Therapy in the US in the mid 1960s and it was especially successful for those who did not respond to more conventional methods of therapy. The approach, mainly based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on negotiated ways to create improvements in current behaviour. 'Higher' Reality Therapy is an eclectic approach to a similar goal of problem solving. Reality Therapy, as devised by William Glasser is criticised rather severely but taken as the basic premise and improved upon to create 'Higher' Reality Therapy.

Power Animal Oracle Cards

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.

Soul Cats Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Soul Cats Tarot by Leeza Robertson, illustrated by Adam Oehlers, Presentation boxed set of cards and full colour, large reproduction companion book, £25 Published by Llewellyn Publishing. 

Here we have 78 beautiful artworks with interesting write-ups on each Tarot Card, guidance for uprights and protection for reversed cards. The deck begins with a beautiful creation story. Life, death, faith, love, health, family, prosperity, and numerous other life lessons are given in this deck. The Majors are mixed breeds having adventures, the Court Cats are Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages. Cups are Bengal, Wands are Bombay, Swords are Siamese and Pentacles are Maine Coon. Every one a gem! 

Fingerprints of the Gods

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Fingerprints of the Gods - A Quest for the Beginning and the End by Graham Hancock published by Arrow, Author Website: www.grahamhancock.com

This outstanding author takes the reader on many wonderful journeys to fascinating places. We find so many coincidences and connections across the world, whether in Central America, Egypt, India, Turkey or Sumer. We are introduced to incredible archaeological possibilities - that our most ancient cultures drew on an even older and wiser source, with knowledge of pi, perfect geometry and mathematics, longitude, and the precession of the equinoxes. We are asked so many amazing questions: Were the Olmecs older than the Mayans and who was responsible for the creation of the long chain calendar? 

Sacred Sites Oracle Cards review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Sacred Sites Oracle Cards - Harness Our Earth's Spiritual Energy to Heal Your Past, Transform Your Present and Shape Your Future by Barbara Meiklejohn-Free, with illustrations by Yuri Leitch. A set of 53 cards plus full colour guidebook in a drawer pull crush proof box. £14.99 Published by Watkins Publishing. The deck is divided into four colours, representing the directions of North, East, South and West, and each card has a symbol related to it and depicts a lower, middle and upper World area (the past, present and potential). You are guided how to use the cards for greatest benefit. The book offers an array of ceremonies, prayers, meditations, and exercises. Prepare yourself for a sacred site visit and take the cards withi you; the energies in ancient sites are kept special only by those who visit them with calm connection and respect.
"Disperse, dissolve, cleanse and clear, make space for divine guidance here'.