Tarot/Oracle Decks
The Mystic Faerie Tarot
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- Category: Reviews
The Mystic Faerie Tarot
by Barbara Moore, art by Linda Ravenscroft
Llewellyn, 2007
It’s not every day that a Tarot deck as beautiful as this one crosses your path. This will be no surprise to fans of fantasy illustrator Linda Ravenscroft. Her sensuous watercolors of the Fey are wildly popular, and the Mystic Faerie Tarot is bound to become a well-loved deck. Linda’s gorgeous art makes it an absolute joy to use for divination and meditation.
The Mystic Faerie Tarot is well conceived and laid out. Noted Tarotist and author Barbara Moore provides an intriguing text to accompany Linda’s wonderful art. Moore studied with Tarot scholars Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pol-lack, and has written extensively about Tarot. Her love of Tarot and sensitivity to it as a spiritual tool is present throughout this book. Moore leads her readers into a faerie garden full of wonder and surprises. In each of the Minor Arcana suits, a fairy tale unfolds, each card representing a part of the story. Cups is a love story between a beautiful nymph and an elf; in Wands two plucky sprites set off to make their fortunes, while Swords is a mournful ballad of betrayal and sacrifice. This way of relating the Minors to each other is a wonderful way to learn their meanings and correspondences.
Although the drawings border on cutesy, the Mystic Faerie Tarot is by no means childish. The art is a bit twee, and the format would be very helpful to a novice; both of these factors make this a Tarot deck that might appeal more to a younger reader.
Do not be fooled though! Much like the Fey themselves, The Mystic Faerie Tarot is more than meets the eye. Moore really understands what a Tarotist wants: after laying out the stories and meanings for each card, including a distilled message at the bottom of the page, she also includes a super quick, one-word “cheat sheet” in the back of the book. She includes a series of custom spreads to make best use of the deck’s assets. Most conveniently, an organza deck bag is also included, making it a truly wonderful present for any Witch. The Mystic Faerie Tarot really hits the mark: beautiful, fun, and a solid magickal tool. Highly recommended.
LENI HESTER.
RATING: 4½ Broomsticks
» Originally appeared in newWitch #17
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