Beginner's Guide to Tarot

Rating:
Summary: A Dream Come True
Review: For anyone who has ever wanted to learn about the Tarot but felt overwhelmed by all the different cards and books, here is a dream come true. Treat yourself to this very affordable selection, and then begin a surprisingly pleasant journey, guided by the charming and intelligent author, and through the enchanting inspiration of the wonderful illustrations on these very beautiful and energetic cards. Tarot is a friendly experience, and here is a true friend for life.

Rating:
Summary: Sharman Caselli Tarot-- RW with European flavor
Review: The art style of Caselli has been a favored one for me. I checked out his art in the illustrated guide to Bullfinch Mythology, Legends of Charlemagne*. This deck emulates Rider-Waite workalikes---I might say the coloring is softer than a U.S. Games Rider Waite and is similar to Mary Hanson's Universal Waite. To me the illustrations have finer lines, a richer contrast and wonderful details. The Two of Swords pictured on the cover is a nice example. The back cover had a glimpse of a Hermit card that looked intriguing to me. After looking at the deck one evening, I was quite pleased. Not a 'treacle tarot'--- the so-called negative associations are calmly presented, the energy of knights are quite appropriate to their suit. I could use this deck to read for others.
The book suggests a new way of studying the majors---I tend to prefer Justice is eight and Strength is 11, based on Marseilles ordering. The book with this deck suggests that the historical Visconti and other decks were taken into account when the cards were designed.
I do know in another text, Sharman-Burke's Mastering the Tarot, that she used Visconti, Brian William's Renaissance Tarot, as well as the Arthurian Tarot with Miranda Gray illustrations. When I look in the courts of the Sharman Caselli deck, I seem to find the softness of Miranda Gray's paintings, although Caselli's work seems more dynamic.
The cards are actually near standard size: they are in two small cardboard pockets facing the cover. You do have to snip the box off to make the separate book easy to carry around
I would recommend the book as a nice addition and quite easy to read. Sometimes I like to travel with two decks and do a comparative reading for fun. I found a softly colored, nonstandard deck such as Trevisan's Tarot of the Rebirth seems to suggest fun stories when I use it with the Sharman-Caselli Tarot. I like to have a well-documented deck to use in the comparative readings. Caselli-Sharman Burke's deck and book might easily come a personal favorite for me.

*(Bullfinch is a popular children's reference: but I'm in Renaissance seminar studies. Many attributions to Boiardo and Aristo being rewritten. Boiardo is one of my subjects of study).