Drawer pull box containing 52 cards and a guidebook. Each picture card, created by Amy Zerner for this deck, carries a computer image and collage, on the backs are a number, title and 10 word affirmation. In the guidebook, there is further information on the meaning of each card.
The book explains how to prepare for a reading and how to ask a question, relax and free-associate. We ask for a message for our highest good and greatest joy. To receive insight and guidance about some problem in particular. To ask what we most need to know about. To find out how we are perceived by someone. To find out what we need to concentrate on. To find out what is the next step on our path. To find out issues connected to a particular difficulty.
French historian, Jean Markale is an academic, a prolific author of 45 books of well researched ancient data. The Celtic era is his forte. Though he writes about complex subjects, his work is easy to read and very enjoyable. The introduction to this book is a tour de force in truth -v- fiction, and some describe his beliefs as speculative, but he covers objectivity and more in the first few pages of this book.
From Roman Britain to the dark ages, we are taken on an interesting story based on a real life fifth century English warrior hero who fought the Saxons. Some chapter headings: Erec et Enide; Le Chevalier a La Charrett; Le Chevalier au Lion; Le Lai de Tyrolet; Perceval; Lancelot; Merlin; Morgan; Holy Grail; King Arthur; Perlesvaux; Jauffre; Meriadeuc; the Plantagenets, John of Salisbury; Glastonbury Abbey; courtly love, politics, social mores, etc.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Women of the Celts by Jean Markale, originally published in French in 1972Celtic studies were Jean Markale’s speciality though he wrote extensively about religious and historical mysteries of France. During the Celtic period in European history, this book explores the role of women in social life, and the power they held within society. They could own property and they had widespread sexual freedoms, including divorce. The Celtic Goddesses were powerfully honoured and female prophets and religious leaders and educators had parity with men. Women were also respected warriors on the battle field.
The major thesis is based on Celtic myths of womanhood, and they make wonderful reading, especially the grail quest for the paradise of love where woman is the initiator, transformer, and deliverer of the developed male psyche. Chapters include Rebellion of The Flower Daughter, Princess, Lady of the Night, The Great Queen, Lady of the Orchard, etc.
Patriarchy pushed the goddess religions underground but Jean Markale shows that the goddess was never fully defeated and still exists in many aspects around the world. He follows their thread through the Middle East, Greece, Ireland, Europe, India, the Orient, the Americas and honours many names still known to us for wisdom and nurturance in Isis, Hathor, Dana, Rhea, Anat, Demeter, Anapurna, Maria, Grainne, Lilith, etc. He includes an index of goddess sites, museums and sanctuaries and where pilgrimages are extant across the world.
Markale writes with respect for this ancient connection to the divine feminine. I like the topics Jean Markale covered in his writings and the way he writes! Considered, concise and clear!
This is a card deck of 78 cards, but it is not a traditional tarot deck. The first 22 cards are based on the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot but each has a new title. Cards representing the elements of Air, Fire, Earth and Water follow. Instead of Court Cards, King, Queen, Knight and Messenger are shadow cards. There are 18 Minor Cards, then 12 cards which have keywords representing the Houses with a write-up of hints and questions. There are 9 Number cards, 4 SuitCards with keywords (Action, Emotions, Security, and Thoughts). and last but not least, 4 Time Frame Cards (The Future, The Past, The Present, and What Do I Need to Know About?) Cards carry an image and 2 keywords, one to represent upright cards, the other to represent inverted cards.
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: Mystical Wisdom Card Deck written by Gaye Guthrie with artwork by Josephine Wall, published by US Games Inc. Pack contains 46 cards with explanatory booklet. £19.99
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: Goddess in America - The Divine Feminine in Cultural Context Edited by Trevor Greenfield with an introduction by Jhenah Telyndru, published by Moon Books. Paperback 204 pages: £10.99 Kindle: £3.59
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Book Review: The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook - Reading the Language and Symbols of the Cards by Caitlin Matthews, Published by Destiny Books. Paperback: £13.05 Kindle: £8.99I love the artwork with gold and holographic foil accents, and I think you will enjoy it too with its animal messengers and mythic archetypes.
Matt’s art is known as ‘Gothic Art Nouveau’.
I’m really shocked that there are numerous Amazon reviews that describe this Matt Hughes - a sensitive artist - as Matt Hughes, a fighter who has published an autobiography of great disgust to most people. Be aware please, that our Matt Hughes has produced another superb card deck. This is only 32 cards but each one is a beautiful work of art. It’s a ‘wow’ glinting experience that you will want to own. Appealing to women especially as readers or enquirers, these decks by the Matt Hughes are elegant, timeless and delightful! Try the Dreamscape Oracle Spread!
From the Preface: Melbourne 2009 “As the light is a great comfort to a traveller on a dark night, as the light is a great comfort to a ship approaching a new coastline, as the light is a great comfort to the distressed, as the beacon is a great comfort to a besieged people, so I am a light for the soul. Only when your soul powers have begun to stir will you seek me out. Until then, you will be content with the world of appearances; you are not seek my light. As a light provides a guide in dark places, so my light shines without ceasing. As one flame may light another, so I will ignite your soul powers so that you may come into the fullness of your own divine light. But releasing the illumination of the soul is more than the work of a lifetime, so I open the door of remembering so that you may walk in my footsteps following my light to where it leads. I have been a light upon the Earth and it is my wish that my light shall burn brightly again. For where I am remembered upon the altar through the lighting of lights, so I am also as a light in your heart. This is where our relationship begins and where our lights may meet, the greater holding the lesser in its brilliance. Once we have embraced soul light to soul light, we are linked by the love of our hearts. For do not doubt my love for all that lives upon earth.”
Poet Richard Cohn has joined forces with painter and fusionartist Rassouli to produce this interesting deck. The box is a delicious colour of lapis lazuli with gold embossed lettering, and makes an ideal gift with songs, poetry, dreaming, honouring, accepting, growing, of human folly and human glory are all thrown together into this one deck.
I have chosen as a sample Demeter, an Olympian Goddess, who carries the energy of ‘letting
go’. She stands amidst her fields of grain watching over the harvest. As earth
mother, she presides over fertility, birth, harvest, decay and rebirth. Her myth
focuses on the loss of her daughter, Persephone, to the underworld. This
poignant narrative of closeness, separation, grief, and reunion echoes the
timeless theme of attachment and loss. On a divinatory level, Demeter suggests a
breaking of the mother-daughter bond in order to develop independence. The card
heralds a more mature phase of a relationship. Energy previously with-held,
imprisoned
Mind Body & Soul Ezine Card Deck Review: The Anubis Oracle - A Journey into the Shamanic Mysteries of Egypt by Nicki Scully and Linda Star Wolf, illustrated by Kris Waldherr, boxed set of 35 cards plus book, published by Bear & Co.
