The Druidcraft Tarot Review

The Druidcraft Tarot deck was first published in 2004, and since then it has become one of the most popular decks in recent times.

What makes this deck so irresistible is the beautiful artwork by Will Worthington, and as a bonus it comes with an excellent companion book by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm.

The theme of the deck is based on nature and the Wicca and Druidry traditions, so it is ideal for anyone wishing to explore these paths on a deeper level with the Tarot.

This is a fully illustrated deck with a Viking feel and filled with symbolism. I love all the animals on the cards.

The cards are a bit oversized for my liking – 140 x 90 mm. As you can see on the image above, they have a white border, which can easily be trimmed, and many tarot readers have done this.

I have seen cropped versions of this deck, which just look stunning, so if you intend to use it regularly, I’d recommend getting rid of the white border.

The 192-page comprehensive companion book includes information on Tarot history, Druid mythology, the seasonal cycles, card descriptions (including reversed meanings) as well as spreads and sample readings.

Although I cannot fault the artwork of the Druidcraft Tarot, I have to admit that the full frontal nudity on some of the images (the Hanged Man and the Star) really bothers me.

I’m not prude, but I don’t think that genitals are a pretty sight, especially in a tarot deck. They remind me of those bad, unnecessary sex scenes in movies, when less would definitely be more.

And the Lovers card is a little risqué, too, which sadly makes it unsuitable for children.

For that reason, the Druidcraft Tarot doesn’t quite make it on my list of all-time favourites, but if you don’t mind the nudity and like the theme and artwork, then don’t be put off by my opinion.

The Druidcraft Tarot Deck & Book Set

Text © Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm 2004
Illustrations © Will Worthington 2004

Connections Publishing 2004

Buy it from the Book Depository (free worldwide delivery)

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

The Crystal Tarot Deck Review

If you are using crystals in your spiritual practice and would like to combine them with Tarot, then the Crystal Tarot deck by Philip Permutt is ideal for this purpose.

The cards have wonderfully sparkly vibes radiating from the colours and images.

Each card depicts a crystal together with the traditional Tarot image. For example, we see Moonstones at the feet of the High Priestess and pink Tourmaline with the Ace of Swords.

The small companion book provides the basic information for each card and its chosen crystal.

It also offers a brief introduction to Tarot crystal meditation, includes Chakra correspondences with each card and also includes two spreads.

The pip cards in the Minor Arcana are non-illustrated, which doesn’t make this an ideal beginners’ deck.

But if you would like to learn more about using crystals in your Tarot work, then this deck is a very useful tool for that.

I have listed below the Major Arcana cards and their corresponding crystals as suggested in this deck.

The crystals in brackets are alternatives based on the Golden Dawn correspondences; use the crystal that you feel more comfortable with, works for you better or is available to you; some crystals mentioned seem to be rare and difficult to get hold of.

Fool – Tourmaline (Tourmaline, Turquoise)
Magician – Labradorite (Citrine)
High Priestess – Moonstone (Pearl, Labradorite)
Empress – Emerald (Emerald, Rose Quartz)
Emperor – Ruby (Ruby)
Hierophant – Herkimer Diamond (Topaz, Lapis Lazuli)
Lovers – Rose Quartz (Blue Lace Agate)
Chariot – Obsidian (Amber)
Strength – Citrine (Tiger’s Eye)
Hermit – Peridot (Peridot)
Wheel of Fortune – Amethyst (Sapphire)
Justice – Jade (Jade, Emerald)
Hanged Man – Aquamarine (Aquamarine)
Death – Crocoite (Bloodstone)
Temperance – Red Garnet (Amethyst)
Devil – Smoky Quartz (Jet, Obsidian)
Tower – Titanium Quartz (Garnet)
Star – Lapis Lazuli (Clear Quartz Crystal)
Moon – Selenite (Moonstone, Opal)
Sun – Imperial Topaz (Herkimer Diamond)
Judgement – Fire Opal (Malachite)
World – Clear Quartz Crystal (Onyx)

Crystal Tarot Strength I have drawn a card from this deck to sum up the inherent quality and energy of this deck, and I pulled Strength:

Based on the book’s interpretation of this card, the Crystal Tarot may be especially helpful when at a crossroads and trying to make sense of the possibilities and opportunities available.

Messages received from this deck will offer confidence, encouragement and illuminate the need for balance and show how to achieve it.

Luckily, I have both Citrine and Tiger’s Eye in my crystal collection, but I don’t see the need to purchase all the crystals suggested in order to read with this deck.

You can buy crystals that are linked to your birth cards, e.g. persona, personality and year card.

You can also obtain crystals for those cards you use more often for spells, magick and path working.

Overall, this delightful deck with its gentle images can be used without crystals if necessary.

The naive-style artwork of the cards will also no doubt speak to children, who show an interest in the Tarot.

I managed to get the Crystal Tarot from Amazon UK for less than a Fiver; if you live outside the UK, try the Book Depository (they ship worldwide and are often cheaper than Amazon).

Warmest wishes,

Christiane

The Witchy Tarot Review

Witchy Tarot

The Witchy Tarot is a seriously funky, slightly naughty deck, depicting saucy witches with big pointy hats, goats, broomsticks and even scateboards!

At first glance, the images are fun, full of symbolism, and each one really tells a story.

The style is a mix of traditional and contemporary – surrounded by nature and old-fashioned kitchens and gardens, the witches are dressed in mini skirts, flare trousers, stockings and high heels.

This deck certainly has a sense of humour!

The Major Arcana is based on a traditional tarot deck, but it is also divided into groups of 7 cards relating to tools, plants and animals that are part of a witch’s life.

The Devil is the odd one out – he doesn’t belong to any group.

Some of the Major Arcana cards are interpreted differently to my own perception.

For example, the Fool‘s keywords are “chaos, haste, breathlessness, loss, rebellion”, whereas the Hermit‘s interpretation is “sluggishness, delay, cold blood”.

In comparison to the Hermit, the Hanged Man suggests “temptation, punishment, natural therapy”.

The Minor Arcana has been changed the most; the suits and the court cards have been renamed:

Suits:

Flames – Wands
Cauldrons – Cups
Broomsticks – Swords
Boulders – Pentacles

Court cards:

Celebration – Page
Moon – Knight
Goddess – Queen
Trial – King

There is method to this madness, but you really have to get used to it.

For example, the “celebrations” relate to the four fire festivals of the Wiccan/Pagan wheel of the year:

Celebration of Flames (Page of Wands) – Beltane
Celebration of Cauldrons (Page of Cups) – Imbolc
Celebration of Broomsticks – (Page of Swords) – Samhain
Celebration of Boulders (Page of Pentacles) – Lammas

The Moon seems an apt connection to the Knight expressing volatility and movement. The four phases of the moon are linked to each Knight:

Moon of Flames (Knight of Wands) – Waxing Moon
Moon of Cauldrons (Knight of Cups) – Full Moon
Moon of Broomsticks (Knight of Swords) – New Moon
Moon of Boulders (Knight of Pentacles) – Waning Moon

The Goddesses (Queens) are:

Flames – Holda (German)
Cauldrons – Bona Dea (Roman)
Broomsticks – Morrigan (Celtic)
Boulders – Hekate (Greek)

The Trials (Kings):

Flames – Flight with whip and broomstick
Cauldrons – Sabbath with dancing
Broomsticks – Initiation and kiss
Boulders – The brand of fire

I really like these correspondences and have listed them here, so you can make use of them with any tarot deck, if they resonate with you.

The enclosed mini booklet offers a brief overview of the structure of this deck and card interpretations.

It also contains a 13-card spread, the Circle of Witches, which is useful as a general reading covering all aspects of life.

Overall, I really enjoy getting to know the Witchy Tarot. It’s a deck for 21st century women, who embrace witchcraft as the “Craft of the Wise” and as a tool for empowerment and spiritual growth.

Although this deck may be aimed at the younger generation, it will appeal to the young at heart regardless of age.

Witchy Tarot 3 of Cauldrons Finally, I have drawn a card that expresses the inherent energy of the Witchy Tarot:

3 of Cauldrons

“Witches cuddles, tenderness, assistance, availability, communication, study, love designs with an older man”

Hang on – love designs with an older man?

*Gigglesnort*

Nevertheless…

Good vibes from this deck all around!

Buy it from the Book Depository

(free worldwide delivery)

Warmst wishes,

Christiane

The Journey Oracle Review

journey oralcle

This review of the Journey Oracle by Adrienne Trafford was first published in the Spring 2012 edition of the TABI e-zine.

The Journey Oracle is a set of 46 colourful cards packaged in an attractive hinged keepsake box together with a small instruction booklet.

The cards measure 115mm x 70 mm and are printed on glossy card stock.

Before I started reading about the cards in the booklet, I decided to spread them out and let them speak to me.

First I noticed that virtually all cards depicted women, mostly with auburn hair (hardly a blonde in sight!).

The artwork and style is quite girly. Each card contains a keyword, such as Hope, Passion and Loss, which are self-explanatory.

There is also a set of Queens (Queen of Hearts, Queen of Diamonds, Queen of Spades, Queen of Clubs) as well as personality types, such as the Adventurer, the Vampire and the Puppet.

From the description of the Queens in the booklet it is possible to relate them to the four tarot queens, e.g. Hearts (Cups), Diamonds (Wands), Spades (Swords), Clubs (Pentacles), so for tarot readers this will be easy to remember.

You may notice by now that there is hardly any structure to this deck.

It even contains four cards with a landscape layout, with the keywords Desire, The Guardian, Eternity and The Goddess.

It’s all very random in my opinion, but does a “life path” deck need to be structured?

The author explains in the booklet that she started creating the images, when she found herself at a crossroads, and her journey ahead was along a rocky, uncertain road.

This may explain the somewhat melancholy feel of the cards, and perhaps we can conclude from this that life can be quite random at times, without structure and not making much sense.

So how do you read with this deck?

The author suggests picking just one card for guidance, but you can also choose a standard tarot card spread, such as a 3-card past/present/future layout.

Keeping it simple is the best option with this deck, as it will give clear, concise and straight-forward messages.

Does this deck give accurate readings?

I have pulled a card each day over a week and found that I could relate to all of them in some way.

A 3-card past/present/future reading was also quite revealing and described accurately the issue I was addressing.

When I used the deck for friends, they also related well to the issues that were addressed.

Overall, the Journey Oracle is a delightful, feminine deck that offers insightful readings.

It’s simple but effective; there’s no need to study the explanatory booklet in detail before starting to use them, and there’s no need for large, complicated spreads.

From my experience so far with this deck, it will offer meaningful messages and guidance on any issue.

Schiffer Publishing Ltd, ISBN 978-0-7643-3783-3

Buy my preloved copy HERE

Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Buy from the Book Depository (FREE delivery worldwide)

Warmest wishes,

Category: Tarot & Oracle Decks

The Druidcraft Tarot Review

The Druidcraft Tarot Deck & Book Set

Christiane

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The Crystal Tarot Deck Review

Christiane

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The Witchy Tarot Review

Buy it from the Book Depository

Christiane

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The Journey Oracle Review

Buy my preloved copy HERE

Christiane

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The Druidcraft Tarot Deck & Book Set

Christiane

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Buy it from the Book Depository

Christiane

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Buy my preloved copy HERE

Christiane

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