The Arthurian Tarot

Rating:
Summary: Arthurian Tarot for Personal Enrichment
Review: I have been working with Tarot, divination, astrology and shamanic practice for many years, and Caitlin and John Matthews' "The Arthurian Tarot" is by far my favorite deck. Though I also use Robin Wood Tarot and Universal Waite and Hanson-Roberts and others as well, The Arthurian Tarot lures me again and again with its Celtic and Arthurian/Grail imagery, mythology and symbolism, and its excellent artwork. The "arched-window" border that frames each scene depicted gives the impression of personally observing the scene firsthand from wherever you are in time and place. The Tarot journey is the journey of "The Seeker" in all of us. The scenes are more "realistic" than traditional tarot decks, and sometimes they are more harsh as well. The paperback book "The Arthurian Tarot" that accompanies the deck succinctly describes the myth and legend behind the cards' meanings. Keep in mind that the Matthews' background is rich in Grail lore, Celtic and Druidic study, and Shamanic Practice. Their considerable knowledge and practice in these areas is evident in the symbolism of the cards as well as the explanations in the accompanying book. Caitlin provides helpful first-hand descriptions of how the different spreads have been used with her clients, and many helpful suggestions in using and interpreting them.

If one is already even minimally knowledgable regarding the traditional Waite/Universal tarot meanings and symbolism, it is no great leap to accomodate the Arthurian symbolism. The book lists the traditional Celtic Cross spread along with several other interesting and useful spreads, Excalibur Spread, Merlin's Mirror etc. The Arthurian Tarot is the better deck for use in personal growth and enrichment, as the symbolism and mythology lends itself to this kind of psychological work.

I also own and heartily recommend the companion work by the Matthews, Hallowquest-The Arthurian Tarot Course, (purchased through Amazon.com) which more elaborately explains the mythology and symbolism, and utilizes the The Arthurian Tarot cards in a year-long personal journey of self-discovery and enrichment. There you see that the "arched-window" effect of the cards is carefully planned to assist the Seeker in shamanic meditations to enter the scene and interact within that realm rather than merely be an observer of it.

All things considered, this is a tarot experience that everyone could benefit from, and I heartily recommend the Matthews' Arthurian Tarot.

Rating:
Summary: A Well Thought Out Deck
Review: The Arthurian Tarot was the second tarot I bought (the first being the incredibly dull 1JJ!), and despite having since amassed a collection of 15 decks, it has remained my main reading deck for the last 9 years. This deck lends itself to the type of reading that I mainly carry out, which is that concerning personal developmet & exploration of issues, rather than prediction.

This deck follows the Rider-Waite initiative in having a pictorial minor arcana, rather than the bland arrangement of pips so beloved of occultists. The suits are different only in the fact that Spears replace Wands & Stones replace Pentacles, with Pages becoming Maidens. The illustrations embody the feelings of each card perfectly, you can feel the isolation & imprisonment of the eight of swords, the defenciveness of the nine of spears (wands) is clearly evoked by the strong cliff edges and the Washer at the Ford powerfully embodies the forces of Death.

This deck expresses the whole range of experience, refusing to soften the less desirable aspects of life by wrapping them up in soothing colloquialisms. The cards, like life, depict suffering, cruelty & harshness alongside those of love & abundance. This makes it the perfect deck for confronting your inner landscape, and journeying through it, in order to bring restoration & wholeness. This deck is also backed up with two further books, Hallowquest & the Arthurian Tarot Course, which aid those interested in going deeper into the cards than mere prediction.

The book that comes with the cards describes the myths that the scene on each card depicts, which aids the interpretation somewhat, with the myth often embodying a process that the person is currently going through. Also included in the book are some themed spreads, such as Merlins Mirror & Mabons Gate, which I have found are great tools in unravelling the Self.

I must admit that those interested only in prediction are most liklely going to be diappointed by the book, concentrating as it does on more esoteric matters than whether or not someones going to get that house they're hankering over. But that's not to say it's not adaptable to this use, just it's more suited to exploration.

And if anyone is trying to decide whether to go for this or that horrid Legend deck, go for this one, it has finer illustrations and its composition shows that the author's of this deck actually have a knowledge of their subject. The Legend deck is a poor attempt at a copy.

Rating:
Summary: Magical
Review: This deck is truly magical as is the book "hallowquest the arthurian tarot course" which is its companion. This book is out of print and I was fortunate to get it used after buying the deck! The deck is a teacher and will take you on many journeys. Arthur's lesson is a powerful one which we desperately need today. I think the expression "you and the land are one" holds true for all of us for when we separate ourselves from the land we perish, hurting only ourselves. This deeper message is evident throughout the deck. When returning to the land we return to ourselves. The mystery, magic, wisdom of this deck sings its song for all to hear.