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. 

Temples of the Grail Book Review

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Temples of the Grail - The Search for the World's Greatest Relic by John Matthews and Gareth Knight, published by Llewellyn Publications, $24.99

Three medieval texts are freshly examined and given new and interesting perspectives by specialists, John Matthews, author of over 100 books on Arthur and Grail legends, and Gareth Knight, who has written over 50 books on Western mystery traditions, including that of Arthur and the Grail studies. 

This is no dry academic book but one that provides new depth perceptions into these ancient enigmas. This book majors on aspects of oral and written traditions of the Grail throughout the text, including the Grail Castle, the Grail Family, the Grail Hallows, the Grail Island, and the Grail King. Sections include: an examination of 

The Spirit of Nature Oracle

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Spirit of Nature Oracle - Ancient Wisdom from the Green Man and the Celtic Ogam Tree Alphabet by John Matthews and Will Worthington. Published by Eddison Books Ltd. Boxed set of 25 cards plus book. Deck previously known as "The Green Man Tree Oracle".

“It is wise to listen to the voices of the trees for they tell us much that we might otherwise forget” Tacitus.

Pieces of bark or stone with letters from the Celtic alphabet known as Ogam have been used for divination for 1,600 years. Information about this 'secret' alphabet, sacred groves and the Green Man are provided in the companion book.  Each card carries an image of one of the sacred trees of the Celtic people, with the title of the tree and the Ogam letter it represents. For each tree, a divinatory meaning, tradition and lore are supplied. 

The Cathar Tarot

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Cathar Tarot - The Secret Wisdom of the Perfecti by John Matthews and Wil Kinghan. Boxed set of 78 cards plus explanatory book. Card size: 4.5 inches x 3 inches. U.K.: £17.99 US: $19.95 CAN: $22.95

“In heaven, there are angels, and good men and good women.” Peire Mary June 1324

“The heart of man is the church of god”. Arnaut Sicre, October 1321

This is a concept tarot deck specifically designed for those who are interested in Catharism. The Tarot according to the Cathars you could say! There is a chart comparing the traditional Tarot cards and the Cathar cards. The book contains information about the history of the Cathars and an explanation on how to work with the cards, how to get to know the deck and how to activate it. Each Major is retitled with the traditional Tarot title and a Cathar title, subtitle, explanation, divinatory meaning and keywords for the light and dark aspects of each card. The Minors have less information but it is sufficient to provide a reading. The Minors are divided into the Book of Shields, the Book of Swords, the Book of Love and the Book of Wisdom. 

The Shaman's Oracle Cards

Mind Body & Soul Ezine Oracle card deck review: The Shaman's Oracle Cards for Ancient Wisdom and Guidance by John Matthews, illustrated by Wil Kinghan, Published by Watkins Publishing

Publishing in a good quality box with pull out drawer with excellent card stock. Pack contains hardback book, 52 cards and a template pictorial of a hand to aid reading. Pack price: £14.99, yes, brilliant value for money!

Information is provided about palaeolithic art which is found worldwide, in Australia, the Americas, Europe and China and has inspired the artwork for this deck. Each card carries a different image. Other information provided is about shamanism as an ancient spiritual practice. There is information on how to use the cards and how to frame questions. A sample layout helps with this process. Beautiful poems accompany each card. The images were excellent in transporting me into an inspirational space where the reading flowed quite naturally, sometimes without needing the book's