Summer is almost here (only 5 days away!) and since last Summer was kind of heavy and drab, I have high expectations for this Summer.
I’ve spent the last 12 months pumping iron in my basement like I’m training for the apocalypse. To reward myself, I bought myself a scandalously skimpy bikini that I actually plan to wear… in public (!)
And I realized I was craving a Summer themed Tarot spread that was fun, lighthearted and a little bit sexy, so I came up with this…
Today it’s rainy, cloudy and chilly and I just felt like reading with a deck that feels warm and cozy and familiar – so I reached for my Everyday Witch Tarot…
I had the pleasure of sitting down and chatting with Tarot superstar Sasha Graham! Sasha is a Tarot teacher and writer who teaches and lectures all over the world and is the author of several Tarot books and decks including 365 Tarot Spreads, the Dark Wood Tarot and the upcoming Magic of Tarot.
In this interview, Sasha reveals…
♥ why the popularity and interest in Tarot has exploded over recent years ♥ how she uses Tarot in her day to day life ♥ what she wishes she’d known about Tarot when she was a beginner ♥ how to approach a reading that doesn’t make sense ♥her bad Tarot reading experience
and so much more!
Learn more about Sasha Graham and her upcoming events, classes, books & decks on her website: https://www.sashagraham.com/
Chatting Tarot with Sasha has given me a burst of enthusiasm for my own Tarot practice and it’s renewed my curiosity for exploring spells and tarot rituals. I hope it’s inspired you on your Tarot journey as well 🙂
My mind was a bit scattered in the beginning of this reading – my poor cat Henry had a blockage in his urinary tract and had to spend 2 days in hospital – he is home now and doing well but I’ve been a bit spacey and overwhelmed the past couple of days. So if it seems like I sound like a space cadet in this video, that’s why, lol!
I’m using the Light Seer’s Tarot for this reading…
My first impression of this deck is that it’s a high quality Tarot deck, full of imagery that seems to glow and pulse with life. But let’s dig a little deeper…
The name of the deck Lux Ex Umbra means light & shadow, which is based on the idea that each card has both light and dark sides. When I’m teaching Tarot, I always stress this – that no card is 100% positive or negative – there is a good/bad or light/dark side to all the cards, so I love that this is the theme of this deck!
The card stock is that high quality, velvety matte that I love so much and the deck comes with a little booklet (in both French and English). What I like about the booklet is that it gives both light and shadow meanings for the cards, which is very helpful.
This deck is a Tarot de Marseille style deck, which is different from the Rider Waite Smith deck in that the minor arcana are illustrated only with symbols and not elaborate scenes and characters. For example, the Eight of Swords in a Marseille deck just shows eight swords, whereas the Rider Waite Smith deck shows a blindfolded woman trapped in a circle of swords.
I find Marseille style decks (sometimes called pip decks) a bit trickier to read than a Rider Waite style deck – since there’s less obvious imagery to work with, it requires a better knowledge of the Tarot. For that reason it isn’t the ideal beginner deck. But what I love about these kinds of decks is that they force you to slow down and gain a broader understanding of the cards – making the Lux Ex Umbra Tarot a good deck for readers who are ready to dive a little deeper into their Tarot journey.
The Hierophant
The Majors are absolutely stunning. They glow with so much light and almost seem to leap right off the cards. My favorite card has to be Le Pape (The Hierophant), which is a beautiful dark blue crow, holding a key in it’s beak. Even the minors seem to light up and radiate a mysterious glow that lends a feeling of magic to even the most mundane of readings! I love this!
I did find the court cards tricky to read. They are in French (as are the Majors) and are depicted as astrological symbols (not people). This made me really have to pause, think and refer to the book. I think if you use this deck regularly, and especially if you have some astrological knowledge, you’ll get comfortable with them, but I had trouble reading them right out of the box.
Knight of Swords
So how does the Lux Ex Umbra Tarot read?
It reads well, but it’s the kind of deck I gravitate to when I have some time to sit with the cards for a bit. It’s not a wham-bam, boom-boom deck that is super easy to read and gives quick insights – this is more of a slow burn kind of Tarot deck. It’s the kind of deck I plan to use for Tarot journalling and meditation.
This is a stunning Tarot deck of high quality that would be a wonderful addition to your Tarot collection. Perfect for readers looking for something a little different and maybe even a bit more challenging than your average deck!
I decided to do this reading in my foster kitty room so I could introduce you to my new foster cat Jules! She’s spent the last five months in foster care, coming out of her shell and learning to trust humans. She has come so far and now it’s up to me to bring her the rest of the way and get her ready for adoption.
The deck I’m using for this reading is The Light Seer’s Tarot…
When I first took this deck out of the box, I fell in love with the card backs – they’re very cute and eye catching.
The style of this deck is simple and uncluttered with the only colours being black, white and ochre yellow.
I wondered how it would read – sometimes simple imagery is easier to read than busy images and sometimes it’s harder. I’m happy to say it was easy to read – very easy!
When I read with this deck, ideas and words come easily to me and I find the images help me de-clutter my mind and just focus on the cards and their messages.
Is this a beginner friendly Tarot deck? I think it is. The cards follow the Rider-Waite-Smith format in imagery and symbolism, making it a good deck for Tarot newbies (and cat lovers!).
Card stock is medium in thickness and quality (not thick, but not too thin either) and the finish is not really matte or gloss but something kind of in between. Cards come in a cute and sturdy black box.
The cards have a fun and mystical energy to them and whenever I read with this deck I feel like a witchy, fortune teller lady who needs her own Tarot reading caravan! I have a feeling this deck will be in my regular rotation for a while.
