Deck Reviews

Unboxing the Green Glyphs Collection!

Deck Reviews, October 2022 / By / October 10, 2022

Join me as I unbox the Green Glyphs Collection by Jame R. Eads (creator of the Prisma Visions Tarot and Cosma Visions Oracle)! This boxed set contains four different decks – Tarot, Oracle, Lenormand and a Rune deck, as well as a hardcover glossary. Let’s dive in!

Timestamps: Tarot deck: 2:00 Oracle: 15:37 Rune deck: 22:40 Lenormand: 27:46 Glossary: 33:20

Kickstarter (ends Oct 31): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jamesreads/green-glyphs-tarot-runes-oracle-and-lenormand-decks
Instagram: @prismavisions / @james.r.eads.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JamesREadsArt
Website: https://www.jamesreads.com

A few highlights about these decks:

♥ Card stock is very high quality – matte finish, good thickness, gilded edging, vibrant colours!

♥ The boxes are all lovely – good quality, attractive and with a magnetic flap (yes!) and each deck comes with it’s own little guidebook.

♥ The guidebooks are larger than your typical LWB (little white book) making it easier to read (no tiny print!)

♥ Decks are smaller sized (cards measure 2.5 x 3.5 inches) making them easy to handle, travel friendly and it kind of brings a more fun, carefree energy to a reading.

♥ All card backs look the same across all the decks, allowing you to mix and match the cards to create your own, unique “hybrid deck” (info on how to do this is included in the hardcover glossary)

♥ The Major Arcana in the Tarot deck all form a continuous picture if you line them up side by side (I demo this in my video). And each minor suit tells a story – I particularly love the story told in the Suit of Swords (you’ll see what I mean if you watch the video above).

This is a really lovely boxed set and I feel lucky to have it in my collection.  I’m especially excited about the Tarot deck – the images are simple, sweet and really capture a particular vibe – I can’t wait to start working with it!

I’m also pretty excited about the Rune deck – I made myself a set of runes many years ago and just never learned what they all meant but with this deck in my possession I can see myself finally learning.

All decks (and the glossary) in this set can also purchased separately.

Disclaimer: I received this boxed set in exchange for an honest review.

Unboxing the Wide Open Tarot!

October 2022, Deck Reviews / By / October 10, 2022

Join me as I unbox the Wide Open Tarot! This bright, sparky, minimalist Tarot deck is unique, full of personality and really fun to read with….

 

Kickstarter Campaign (ends Nov 4): https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/earthmoonmagick/wide-open-tarot-deck-with-guidebook

Creator’s website: https://medicinethebrand.com/products/wide-open-tarot

A few highlights about this deck:

Card stock is very good – it’s sturdy and thick with a nice, matte finish (my favourite!) and cards are a nice size (7 x 12 cm) making them pretty easy to shuffle.

The box is super cute and sturdy and the guidebook is also thick and full of helpful info about the cards. I don’t pay much attention to the little books that come with most decks, but if you’re a beginner, you probably will and so this detail will be important to you.

The cards don’t have borders on them – YAY! And the style is very clean and uncluttered with minimal detail and symbols, but just enough symbolism to help you tap into each card and jump start your intuitive process.

This is a fun deck to have, no matter what your level of Tarot skill is, and I look forward to exploring this deck more in my weekly readings and Tarot journalling sessions 🙂

This deck is illustrated by Camamblo and guidebook is written by Ashleigh Henry.

Disclaimer: I received this deck in exchange for an honest review.

Unboxing Zeke’s Arcana Tarot Cards!

Deck Reviews, October 2021 / By / October 6, 2021

Join me as I unbox Zeke’s Arcana – a vibrant, otherworldly Tarot deck that is surely one of the most unique decks in my Tarot collection!

 

At the time of making this video, this deck is still in it’s kickstarter phase: https://zeke.ink/Tarot

Zeke’s Arcana succeeds at being wildly trippy and colourful while also being very readable and easy to work with.

The artwork, done by Julia of Zeke’s Lunchbox, is fascinating and sometimes bizarre, which really shakes your intuition awake and makes you look at the images, instead of just going through the motions of a reading.

I have to say that I was surprised by how quickly I’ve formed a connection with these cards – while I liked the look of this deck from the start, it isn’t the usual style I’m drawn to, so I was curious how it would read…

On my first reading (which I do near the end of this video), it was like the cards could read my mind! It really felt like I was having a conversation with someone who is really clear and direct – it was almost eerie, but in a good way 🙂

If you want to see more of this deck, check out the artist’s website and  YouTube channel – she’s got some really fun art videos and videos showcasing her Tarot deck.

Unboxing the Oracle L’Absolu!

Deck Reviews, September 2021 / By / September 17, 2021

Join me as I unbox the Oracle L’Absolu – created by Ange De Gaia and Gabriel Leroy…

Purchase this deck here: https://editionspaondor.com/boutique/index.php/produit/labsolu-disponible-debut-novembre-2020/

Since making this video, I’ve used this deck a few times in mini-readings for myself (and for next week’s weekly forecast reading) and I’m finding it a joy to read with!

Cards are beautiful, easy to understand and always direct and clear. Whether I ask a simple question or want to explore a more complex topic, these cards both invite contemplation and provide clear insights.

This deck is perfect for beginners since they keywords are written on the cards, but experienced readers will also love it – I have a feeling I’ll be reaching for the Oracle L’Absolu quite a bit in the future ♥

Unboxing The Awakened Soul Oracle

Deck Reviews, September 2021 / By / September 13, 2021

Join me as I unbox The Awakened Soul Oracle – created by Ethony Dawn with art by Danielle Mulligan….

Purchase this deck here: https://shop.ethony.com/products/awakened-soul-oracle-deck

I’ve been using this deck for a few weeks now, particularly for emotionally charged, self-readings. I’ve found it to be freakishly accurate in reflecting back what is going on in my life, but it’s also been amazingly helpful in calming me down and helping me re-centre myself.

I have a big collection of oracle decks – some pretty, some very readable and some challenging and not all that useful – but this deck is in a category of it’s own…

The Awakened Soul Oracle Deck is gorgeous, readable and helpful but it’s also a deck that gives me goosebumps and tinglies when I read with it and an eerie sense that I am speaking directly to my soul/higher self.

Unboxing the Modern Love Tarot

Deck Reviews, September 2021 / By / September 7, 2021

Join me as I unbox the Modern Love Tarot – created by Ethony Dawn and art by Lucy Morningstar.

This deck is everything I look for in a Tarot deck – bright colours, matte finish cards, relatable scenes & characters and good vibes….

At the end of this unboxing video, I interview the deck and ask it:

1) What kind of a deck are you?
2) What kind of issues do you like to read about?
3) What do you look for in a reader?

The true test of a deck is how it reads for a variety of readings. I’m happy to say that after doing several readings (for myself and others), this deck has been consistently readable and has left me feeling clear and comforted afterwards. It’s uplifting and yet down to earth, with each card being easy to connect with and dive into.

This deck is now going into my rotation of go-to Tarot decks!

You can purchase this deck here: https://shop.ethony.com/products/modern-love-tarot-exploring-the-many-facets-of-love

Unboxing the Lux Ex Umbra Tarot!

4 Comments / Deck Reviews, May 2021 / By / May 21, 2021

Join me as I unbox the Lux Ex Umbra Tarot, a visual feast of lush colours and beautiful artwork…

To purchase this deck: https://mystiic.com/en/products/lux-ex-umbra-tarot

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!

To learn more about this deck and to purchase: https://mystiic.com/en/products/lux-ex-umbra-tarot

Happy Tarot Reading!
xoxo
Kate

Unboxing the Black Cat Tarot Deck!

1 Comment / Deck Reviews, May 2021 / By / May 13, 2021

Join me as I unbox the Black Cat Tarot Deck by Helena Isabel Isidro de Almeida!

Those who know me, know….I’m OBSESSED with cats!!! And I’m obsessed with Tarot. So when the two collide, I can’t help but get a bit excited….

To purchase this deck: https://de-almeida.art/product/black-cat-tarot-deck-pre-order-shipping-from-15-03-2021/

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.

To learn more about this deck, visit the deck creator’s site: https://de-almeida.art/product/black-cat-tarot-deck-pre-order-shipping-from-15-03-2021/