I’m a sucker for anything cool.  And in my mind, tarot is extremely cool.  So is New York.  Put them together and it’s like peanut butter and chocolate combined  – irresistible! Being that this is my mindset, you are probably not surprised to hear that I love the “Tarot of the Boroughs” by tarotist Courtney Weber and photographer George Courtney, a contemporary tarot deck based on the heartbeat and imagery of New York City.

This vibrant deck is a visual masterpiece comprised of stunning original photography.  The deck stays true to the traditional Rider Waite format but don’t be fooled as this deck is anything but traditional. The pictures are a fresh, hip take on the usual tarot images making this deck absolutely unique and a good antidote to the accepted standard.  Many of the people featured in the deck are well known artists and writers (techno musician Moby!) as well as typical native New Yorkers.  This captures the spirit of  modern New York better than any painted deck could.

Moby as the King Of Coins!

The titles for the Majors are the norm with the exception of the Fool who becomes the Seeker.  Suits are Cups, Wands, Swords and Coins.  The Court cards remain as King, Queen, Knight and Page.  The cards are printed on a glossy card stock that seems to be pretty sturdy.  Borders are black all the way around and the back is black as well with a reversible image of the city in a little circle (sweet!).  They shuffle well and feel good in my hands – another plus.  It is obvious that the authors took pains to make this a quality deck.

It comes with a small book but there isn’t much in there.  They give short, pithy explanations for the cards but encourage the reader to come up with their own meanings.  The interpretations provided are sometimes hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud over a few:

5 of Cups: Country music required

Queen of Swords: Don’t piss her off

Knight of Swords: Asses will be kicked

Some of the images are simply amazing  (Be sure to visit the website for bios on each of the models – I loved this clever feature.):

The High Priestess becomes a Santeria goddess in full regalia, lighting her cigar on a votive:

The Hermit is a homeless man sitting by candlelight outdoors (this card reminded me of a homeless man that my husband befriended in San Francisco named Zeus who would sometimes be given to brilliant and deep spiritual babbling – a wise hermit indeed):

The 3 of Swords shows a purse snatching in progress and the look on the victim’s face suggests pain and fear clearly (My favorite suit is the Swords in this deck, by the way.):

The 5 of Cups shows a man bowing his head sadly towards a half finished glass of liquid:

The details are eye catching and I found myself developing whole new concepts for the cards.  It definitely will inspire you to get creative with the meanings – making this deck a good one if you are in a “tarot rut”.  This deck will also appeal to deck collectors, photography fans, New Yorkers and anyone who is looking for a more modern twist on tarot tradition.  This is not your mama’s tarot!

I asked tarot what I need to know about this deck – I pulled the Queen of Wands.  The book gives this interpretation: Creative power; enterprise.  I think that perfectly sums up the energy of Tarot Of The Boroughs as it is one of the most creative decks I have seen in a long time.

I give this deck an enthusiastic Two Swords Up!

Blessings!

Theresa

http://www.thetarotlady

http://www.tarotmentor.com

© Theresa Reed 2011 | The Tarot Lady

I consider myself to be a very straightforward woman.  I’m the type that won’t mince words and will tell you if your breath smells like cat litter.  It’s just how I roll.  And I happen to like books that have an honest and no b.s. tone as well.  You’ll find that here in Tarot Dynamics, which I found offers a very straight up approach to tarot reading.

This book is different than the rest in that it combines numerology and Tarot in a way that simplifies yet adds depth to the meanings of the cards.  While that may sound like a contradiction, trust me, the author Anna Burroughs Cook manages to lay a foundation that is solid yet open for interpretation.

The author chooses simple keywords for each card, based on the numbers and the suit, or in the case of the Major Arcana, one word to symbolize that particular card (ex: Hanged Man = Tranquility).  This breaks the tarot down to manageable bites – which is incredibly helpful especially for those who are just beginning to explore the cards. She then adds depth by giving different interpretations for the cards based on whether the reading is negative, positive, reversed, or romantically focused.  She also adds information for what the card could mean if it was surrounded by less reassuring cards.  This gives the reader a lot to work with.

There is a picture of each card from the Universal Tarot but this book is not limited to any one deck.  With Burroughs’ method, you’ll get a solid grip on the tarot that can be used with whichever deck you prefer to work with.

In the final chapters the author covers timing, which I consider one of the most difficult aspects of tarot reading. She once again offers a simplified method (based on astrology) that anyone can use – even if you do not have a background in astrology.   Burroughs then includes a few tarot spreads using her methods as well as sample readings which clearly paint a vivid picture of her techniques in action.  (I only wish she would have had visual images to go along with the samples as I am lazy – but after laying out the cards myself, it brought the impact of her formula to life!)

The thing I enjoyed the most about this book was her section on do’s and don’ts and FAQs.  This part was full of practical advice, written in a manner that felt like my “tarot mom” was giving me the straight talk I needed so that I could avoid the pitfalls and problems that many tarot readers struggle with.  I nodded my head often in agreement and enjoyed her down to earth approach to these issues.

If you are new to tarot or just looking for a new perspective, you cannot go wrong with this book.  I give it Two Swords Up!

Blessings!

Theresa

Learn more about the author Anna Burroughs Cook at her website: http://tarotdynamics.com/

I’ll admit to being one of those people who likes to stick with what I consider to be tried and true.  For example, if I need a pair of shoes, I will usually hit Birkenstocks and purchase the same clogs that I have worn for years.  I know what fits and what works for me – and I have the philosophy that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.  I’m the same with Tarot.  I prefer using the Rider Waite.  I’ll deviate from time to time but inevitably, I will always go right back to RWS.

While I like the consistently good readings the RWS delivers, I have to admit that on occasion, I get into a safe comfort zone.  It’s not necessarily a bad thing but my Gemini brain demands a mental challenge.  I recently gave myself a very good tarot workout when I got my hands on a new deck by US Games, the Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot.

To say that this deck is out of my comfort zone is no small exaggeration.  Nothing about this deck is the standard or ordinary for me!  There are no familiar figures, symbols or words to guide my intuition.  I had to really THINK when I worked with this deck.

The Brotherhood of the Light Egyptian Tarot is based on the book “The Sacred Tarot” by CC Zain.  (You may want to purchase that book to go with this deck for the full scope of information contained within these cards.)  This deck was originally designed by Gloria Beresford in 1936 – and were black and white. Vicki Brewer redesigned the cards and made them full color in 2009.

There are 78 cards like a standard tarot deck with 22 Majors, 40 Minors (Pip cards, not illustrated) and 16 Court Cards.  But this deck has a few stark differences: instead of Wands, the suit is Scepters; some of the Majors have different names such as Veiled Isis for the High Priestess; the Fool is numbered 22 instead of Zero (he’s also called The Materialist); and Pages and Knights are renamed Youths and Horsemen.  This takes some getting used to and I found myself relying on the little white book often to find my way.

The deck is smaller than a regular tarot deck and fit nicely in my hands.  Once again, US Games never sacrifices quality – this is a well made deck and shuffles very smoothly.  The back has a reversible image that was inspired by the tradition of the “carpet page”, pages of geometric designs that are part of  insular illuminated manuscripts.

Each card is rich in color and symbolism.  Kabbala, Astrology and Numerology symbols are on every card – but even with all the imagery, the cards remain stark and uncluttered, leaving the reader plenty of room to form their own interpretations. I found myself poring carefully and methodically over the cards with each reading.  Between reading the interpretations provided by the little white book and adding my own insights, I ended up spending more time with each reading than usual.  I was unable to just drop an interpretation as I normally do – I had to really work!  While this may sound frustrating (and it times I’ll admit it was), it was also a good challenge and I feel that ultimately this made me slow down and really study those cards – I could not rely on rote meanings nor could I just allow my instincts to take over.  For a long time reader like myself, this was the kick in the pants I needed!

Here’s an example:  I asked the cards “what can I learn from this deck”?  I pulled the Queen of Cups, 5 of Cups and King of Scepters (water, water, fire).  The Queen sits serenely and regal on a throned with a moon base.  Two eagles reside below her and Eyes of Horus (a symbol of protection) surround her. On the other hand, the image of the King shows a man driving a chariot with a fierce focus.  He seems to be in full control, leading the horses with a forceful blow.  The little white book interprets these three cards as: a person ruled by the sign of Scorpio, reserved and thoughtful; good fortune in love, responsibility; a person ruled by Aries, fiery, headstrong, ambitious.  The abundance of water makes the King card weakened – this combination suggests that this deck will put a damper on my normally rapid fire method of reading.  It will force me to be more reserved in my interpretations.  In other words, it will bring RESTRAINT.

This deck will be especially appealing to fans of Egyptian art or magick as well as those who want a unique tarot deck to add to their collection.  I would suggest this deck for advanced readers.  Beginners may find it too difficult to work with.  And to be honest, this is not a deck I would use regularly.  This is the kind I would drag out when I feel stale and need a new perspective.

I give this deck One Sword Up, One Sword down because it will not appeal to everyone.

Blessings!

Theresa

What deck do you like to use when you need a challenge?  Post your opinions in the comment section below:

I’m excited to reveal a new feature that I’ve been working on: The Deck And Book Nook.  This will be a bimonthly post with reviews of different tarot books and decks.  I’ve got a huge appetite for books and you’ll usually find me at home with my nose in one.  I’m more choosy with tarot decks but always open to new perspectives that each unique deck offers .  I aim to offer an honest, unbiased, and detailed description of each deck and/or book that will guide you, the consumer, in making informed choices.

I’ll be posting images to illustrate and will also include links to the authors websites if available.  I also have a “grading” system that will further define my viewpoint (a tongue and cheek nod to Siskel and Ebert):

Two Swords Up – This is an enthusiastic YES!  Buy the product!

One Sword Down/One Sword Up – This is a neutral response – some praise, some criticisms.  May only appeal to some.

Two Swords Down – A big NO.  Too many issues to make it a worthwhile investment. Pass.

I hope that you will find these reviews to be a trusted resource before you open up your pocketbook.  Look for the first review tomorrow!

Blessings!

Theresa

PS If there are any decks or books you’d like to see featured here – please email me your requests and I will try to honor them.  If you are a deck or book author and would like to have me review your creation, please email me to discuss.  I may already have it in my collection!  You can reach me at tarotlady@wi.rr.com.

images courtesy of TaoXproductions