Tarot of the Mermaids

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Tarot of the Mermaids by Mauro De Luca and Pietro Alligo. Pack of 78 cards and little white booklet. Published by Lo Scarabeo. RRP £25 

The original story of these wild and animalistic sea creatures is very ancient. In Babylonian times, the fish tailed deity, Oannes, lived in the sea during the night and came to land to teach writing, arts and sciences during the day. In Greek myths, mermaids were the children of the muse of tragedy and a shapeshifter. They were friends with Persephone when she was kidnapped by Hades and taken to the underworld and the gods bestowed wings on the mermaids who were half women and half bird, each a mystery with double value, could make you drunk with pleasure or cause untold pain. They inhabited an island between Scylla and the home of the magician Circe. Seafarers wrecked their boats when they heard the mermaids sing. Ulysses plugged the sailors ears with wax and had himself tied to the ships mast when passing this island. Debra Khan was a Persian merman who gave false commands to helmsmen  during storms. During the Middle Ages, mermaids were long haired and naked sirens/seductresses, and were symbols of lust, and their sweet song supports the harmony of the stars. 

In this deck, some traditional RWS male images are portrayed by females, such as the Magician and Hanged Man and the female emphasis continues in most of the Minors and Court Cards. Shells represent Cups, Pearls are Pentacles, Oars are Wands, Tritons are Swords. Recommended Spreads: The Mermaid’s Song 1 & 2 both using 5 Major Arcana cards. 

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

The images are very beautiful. Available from Total Tarot Course Collection, magazine issues 86 and 87.