NUSANTARA TAROT

Here we are! At long last, a comprehensive review of the beautiful Tarot Nusantara. This is perhaps one of the hardest popular tarot decks to attain at this time, and one that took me nearly three years to find. Getting anything out of Indonesia is a great head ache, and from the looks of it the word on the street is that the tarot deck is now out of print. I have searched for this tarot deck through collectors forums and just about any corner that you can string a message with the subject of "Tarot" on it.  I spent many nights writing to my favorite sellers and other members of the community that had acquired their copy. Nobody seemed to have any leads, so I wrote to Gagas Media, Transbonja, Hisyam Fachri himself, and numerous stores across Indonesia. All they told me is that the tarot deck was not available and that they were sorry.

I was annoyed after the first year because I didn't understand how much harder it was to find a recent deck than my authentic 1983 Keishobou Tarot from Japan. The Keishobou Tarot only took me an Ebay search to find, and I bought it after six months of debating whether or not it was worth it. It's actually one of the first tarot decks ever published in Japan. Back to the Nusantara Tarot — not even the legendary Chialing could find it! The search started to stall and lag when I ran out of leads, but every now and then I would still contact somebody about it or search for it on Ebay. Recently I came to find one had been sold relatively cheap on Ebay while I was celebrating my birthday in Japan, so I was mortified to find that I had lost my chance to get an inexpensively priced copy without the fuss of searching.




Finally, I found myself two original copies. I won't go into many details, but I can say that I found one from my seller and paid an exorbitant pretty penny for it, and the other from a professional tarot reader native from Indonesia. One will be used and worn with pride, the other is to be kept pristine for study and admiration. Who knows? I may come to use them both, that's how much I love this tarot deck.

The Nusantara Tarot doesn't read to me as the RWS usually does. Rather, you are made to contemplate the string of cards. I can't say that they interact with one another, but the scenes are quite lively. It isn't very difficult to get pulled into the card to interact with the players contained therein. I can see that Devil dancing over his chained prisoners, the dogs howling at the Moon as it shines down with madness of the night, the Magician prepares for his ritual and the Hanged Man isn't going anywhere anytime soon. You can see that everyone is immersed in what they are doing, and they don some very interesting attires to add to our imagination. There is no dialogue amongst them, they are too centered in their world to really preoccupy themselves with anybody looking into what they are doing. This helps preserve the magic for me because it makes the characters stand out with no doubt of their purpose and their responsibilities as divine staples of archetypes. There is life and magic contained in this deck, and I love it.

The illustrations themselves are quite whimsical and charming. Illustrations are graphic and flat with printed motifs to add a little texture. There are also smudges that make the images look old; to me they were quite unnecessary, but they look just fine. I think that the brighter, the better with cards like these. There was really no need to push for the tarot being aged and worn, but its part of their charm. The figures are slender and lanky, and they come to life as they depict the scenes we are familiar with while adding a new twist. I love the Tower and Devil cards, which are usually the cards that people tend to shy away from because they don't understand tarot. Here, even the darkest cards have a speck of whimsy and a silver lining that you're not likely to miss when you are reading with them. The cards are so sweet that we are more receptive to what we have to hear, whether we agree with it or not. It will tell us what we need to hear through a soothing voice, but still show us the more erratic moments in life. I can say that it's quite tasteful even though it's so colorful.

The cards are poker size and very thin, but also very easy to shuffle and fan out, which I really like. They fit comfortably in my hands and in a tin I have found to house them in. Hopefully this will help in keeping my copy pristine; I wouldn't like to leave it up to chance. My only complaint is that up front the laminate makes the image hard to read. There are so many diminutive details that can get lost if your eyesight is not so good or if the lighting is not ideal. If the light hits them directly, they will look glazed. In dimmer light, you will be able to appreciate the details a little better. If you have the replica, neither the stock or the illustrations are an issue. The replica is much larger, but I think the texture in the backs is quite important, and that is lost in the replica.



The cards are in bahasa Indonesian, as is the book that they come with, titled The Real Art of Tarot. I am sure that Hisyam Fachri included in it his psychological reason behind the changes to the standard RWS meanings, but I honestly don't feel like I am missing out on a big secret. The importance of tarot is the bond that we make with it, not so much what was originally meant for it. I really love the fact that they were made by someone who loves tarot but is not a participating member in the American market for tarot. It brings fresh ideas to the table, not just recycled and regurgitated fragments from books that are passed on through distribution for popularity, and not so much the content. It's a rare tool for me to work with that has been encapsulated and protected by the culture it was forged in; to me that's quite invaluable. I feel as though I am an outsider getting to see and experience their best kept secrets, and I say that with utmost respect for Indonesia. The cards themselves are loaded with spirituality without being of an obvious religious doctrine, which is what probably makes Tarot Nusantara so popular for those of us who are not in Indonesia.

I'll let you in on a little secret: This was meant to be a tarot deck for beginners, to get them familiarized and comfortable with the teachings of the tarot. Somehow, it ended up being a jewel for collectors and professional readers. Most everyone on AT has it on their wishlist, and multiple boards and messages are exchanged about it each year. Once we own a copy, we seek another because the deck absolutely demands for backup. We don't need a backup because of wear and tear, — even though I'll tell you right now they are quite delicate, — it's just because if you lose your copy, finding another will be close to impossible. Take it from me, I have been searching for mine for over two years.



INTERVIEW WITH THE TAROT NUSANTARA:

♡ What is your most important characteristic?
Knight of Coins. A gift from a faraway place that brings with it stability and satisfaction. He looks like hes been around, but his garments are quite beautiful still. It must be the wealth collected over his extensive travels. His hair falls in long ringlets, he's quite beautiful. This crowns the last out of print deck desired for my collection and an overwhelming sense of satisfaction because of it.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Seven of Wands. Persistence in the face of opposition. Just when you think the battle is won, something always pops up to try and rob us of our peace of mind, but this deck is persistent also in the struggle for mental peace. It could in turn present us with things that are challenging to accept because they present mental hurdles for us to overcome. We should be on our feet always if we expect to be able to deal with the trials coming our way anyway.

♡ What are your limits?
Two of Swords. This seems to be a favorite, we saw it in last week's Tarot of Prague entry. The Two of Swords states that in refusing to have an open mind to messages, we block out our intuition. If we are not receptive, we won't get the point of why we are asking the tarot for aid in the first place. If we're not ready for the message, we won't be able to gain anything from it.


♡ What are you here to teach me?
Seven of Cups. How to make choices based off what is best for me rather than what I think is best for me. All options are attractive when they are presented, but they aren't always what we need in order to be able to make something come out of the choice. We will be able to examine and discern to clear confusion, whether mental or in this case emotional.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Four of Coins. Hanging onto what I've got. It feels like it's suggesting to accept the foundation laid out before the deck came and to use it instead as another part of the puzzle that was already there. Basically suggests that it will help keep things in the same balance they were in when I first started reading with the RWS tarot deck.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
The Magician. Magical alchemy once more. This one states that the relationship brings with it divine inspiration that we can manifest into a reality. When we accept the inspiration that comes towards us, we become open to a divine plan of action. We learn and we grow, and we become masters of what we do. Mastery over the tools is suggested here, and with that comes mastery over the ritual as well.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Hanged Man. See how he hangs, suspended and enlightened. He reaches the realization of purpose simply by turning his gaze on the same matters in a new way. The world looks different from another angle, and in being able to appreciate that angle, we gain new perspectives and solutions. It's saying that even if the terrain is familiar, there are new additions sprinkled in that will make it nice to work with.

♡ How do you see me?
The Sun. The outward expression of joy and being very centered in the present. It is a card of sweet vanity and merry laughter ringing through the ears of those present. I have been after this tarot deck for a very, very long time... so naturally, working with it does make me very happy. It is the newest addition to my collection, a fragile one but one that brings me much joy.

♡ How do you see yourself?
The Moon. The shady opposite to the sun and my absolute favorite signifier. When it popped up, it made me smile. The moon looms over the dog and the jackal with its third eye open and the traditional drops of blood raining down upon them. The crayfish is a lobster this time around and it emerges from the waters of the sleeping subconscious to find itself in a peculiar scene. The dogs are dancing and there is a lot of swirling movement around. It's quite lovely and speaks of pure intuition without harness.

I will have a limited number of replica copies for sale in case anybody is interested in them. They came straight from Indonesia. Please contact me. All copies are now spoken for.

♡♡

TAROT OF PRAGUE

Have you ever wanted to visit a magic city? There are a bunch of them in the world, but some rank above others. To me, Tokyo has always been the most magical city in existence until I was introduced to Prague by this tarot, which was made by the wonderful Baba Studio. Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov have made some of my favorite tarot decks to look at; everything is quality over quantitiy. I know recent times have been a little hard for them, but they make excellent products that enchant their clients. I am one of them! The Tarot of Prague came into my collection off Lisa Friedrbord Lloyd, a wonderful professional tarot reader and blogger whose writing I have come to resonate with. She's got quite a handful with Tarotize, Love Dove Tarot and Seer Pathways. I ran into her listing on Ebay by the time I was ready to attain a copy, and I was delighted with mine upon its arrival.

I have read through the book and also some of the stories published on the internet about Prague. The tarot deck has built its reputation also through notoriety and magical events happening throughout the city and with those who have used it. Examples of this include stories of chambers you may not have noticed before that suddenly seem to be there, or little alleyways you're looking for that you could have sworn were there last night. You can find the hanging places for alchemists and magicians, or perhaps the periodical delight of ghost musicians playing past their times. I don't want to spoil all the magic for you, but here is a little taste of the stories contained inside the book:

SIGNATESIGNATEMEREMETENGISETANGIS
ROMATIBISUBITOMOTIBUSIBITAMOR

The translation of this would be "Revel yourself in the form os a sign (in the sky) in vain you reach for me, I am your desire. Rome, through movement (stars) suddenly love comes to you." Its purpose? Well, apparently it was put there to fool any demons that might want to harm the tower. It is believed that these demons, faced with a word puzzle, would read it again and again, unable to figure it out, until they became exhausted and went away. Who knows, perhaps it worked? — The Tarot of Prague. Karen Mahony. p. 22-23.

The inscription is also in the back of the cards, which means the deck itself can be used in ritual of high or ceremonial magic. It's a practical choice for those who work with charms and/or spells, and those who believe in magic as an alternate lifestyle. The story I chose is not the most impressive of the ones available inside the book, but I trust it will pique your curiosity to find out more about Prague and this wonderful tarot deck. Imagine being able to walk through the city with these cards in hand or in your bag and coming face to face with the characters contained in the cards. It would be fun to follow the signs and see where they take us to; no doubt a wonderful adventure. Since we can't just hop in a car and drive over, I decided to pull up a Baba Studio creation: All That We See or Seem is But a Dream Within a Dream.

 I was drawn to the First Edition Tarot of Prague because of its storybook binder cover, closed by golden ribbons. I have #1361 in my possession, but would gladly get a backup for my collection if another copy were to come up for a reasonable price. The tarot bags that were made for this deck are almost impossible to find online, but I have good faith that one of the Moon will pop up at some point. There has not yet been a tarot conquest I have not made, so keeping fingers crossed!

I really like the card stock of this deck because it is durable and the color printing is vibrant. It may not be easy to shuffle because the card stock is stiff and you do need to keep in mind that this is an out of print deck, but I find that I can work with it nicely if I employ an overhand shuffle. It is kept in a wonderful binder with the little white booklet attached to it, but I have not yet read it for fear of not being able to get the bows just right afterwards. I love keeping my cards either pristine or well worn, and this deck begs to be kept pristine so that it will last through years of loving use. I guess that even though I am curious about the little white booklet, I find salvation in the large book that it comes with. The stories it narrates and the connections drawn from the city to the cards are really thoughtful and add a little spice to this deck.

I recommend this deck to seasoned readers, people that are already comfortable with the definitions and traditions of reading with cards. If you desire to use these in rituals, they're good for that too. It is easy to find metaphysical principles hinted in the symbols of the cards, and manifesting through a reading as an underlying subject. This can be limited to a deck that you use to read for more mundane situations and sitters, but will really sing to you if you are open to its darker allusions. It draws connections from the divine to the mundane and the Hellish. Where you take it is in the end up to you.



INTERVIEW WITH THE TAROT OF PRAGUE:


♡ What is your most important characteristic?
Two of Cups. We got off on the right foot. This card suggests that the Tarot of Prague provides alchemy of two into one. The soul and the mundane blend harmoniously to coexist, as do the landmarks of the city in collaged unison to spring into life the principles of the tarot. Lastly, to bring together the magical features of the city of Bohemia with a tarot reader that perhaps lives far, far away. I am sure that there are many lucky tarot readers – with the creator of this tarot deck amongst them – that live in Prague and are able to refer back to the scenes they see day to day in their readings. I can’t imagine what it is like to live there and refer to the ancient stories to aid me in my relationship with the cards, but I know that somewhere out there, someone enjoys that luxury. I delight in a very kind of Prague – the one nestled in my imagination. It grows with secret passages that may or may not exist and fuels my imagination to run wild with possibility.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
Six of Cups. Melancholy of olden times and meeting with a friend once lost. In this card we see children drinking in plain sight of day, but I think those children are actually adult people remembering olden times. If we mix it in with what this deck does, then we take into account the stories that the city has witnessed. In personifying the city through a tarot deck, we learn from the alchemists and villagers of old. We also learn from current people from Prague going through current things. It is the gift of knowledge through aging, and feeling as if what we are doing is in fact catching up with an old friend. How delightful it is to get up to speed on what has been going on in the past years!

♡ What are your limits?
Two of Swords. Whoa! What a mean bite. To a closed off mind, no words can resonate. I feel as if the texture and shape of the swords in an X means that resonance will not continue if we are not ready to see what we need to see in the situation. The lion at the bottom is crowned, but looks possibly frustrated or scared. It is the lion of Bohemia reminding us that those that wish not to see will in fact not get it, no matter how many times we repeat ourselves. Behind the blindfolded lady lies the city and what seems to be the bridge. It feels like the secrets are in the city, but as outsiders, we may not directly participate in the magical ceremonies carried out therein. That’s okay, at least we can enjoy the journey through the cards.


♡ What are you here to teach me?
The Devil. Well, it’s there in black and white. The horned devil towers over a stage of puppets carrying out his plans. It lacks color and life as a naughty allusion to what our lives turn into when we don’t question why things run as they do. This card says that in conforming to the limits of society, we turn to lifeless puppets. To me, this is a creepy connection to make. I almost feel as if it is suggesting total rebellion; to take off the chains and to see things in color. In color could be much more fun, but also dangerous according to the suggestions of this deck. I should not have been surprised to read this, and I find it quite surprising how subtle yet persistent the message is. I’m dancing around this one in failed attempts to word it correctly, but then that’s the game it’s trying to present. Bravo!

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Six of Wands. Moving forward full force with little to no regard for traditions and perspectives of the past. This is saying to just go for it and to celebrate. The statuesque angels send their blessings and their protection as the soldier rides forth in victory on a horse statue. The vehicle is not really there or alive, but it suggests that the rider can still go where he needs to. It suggests magic and bringing inanimate figures to life. They look so real though that you have to wonder whether or not they already are. This interview has been quirky and entertaining, and honestly a little scary.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
The Fool. There is no outcome because it’s just the beginning. That sounds like something a revered Magus would say. There are principles of an afterlife suggested, even though it is quite clear to me I can’t take physical belongings with me to the afterlife. It suggests that this is just the first step or stage to a really long journey to enlightenment, and that there never really will be an end.


♡ Which card do you want to show off?
Ten of Swords. Lack of life or an attack on that which feels as if it has no life. Over the sleeping woman we find an array of menacing swords and the towers eerily looming overhead. It is a confirmation that this deck can be scary if we let it, and it has a rather sinister personality to it once we get to know it more deeply. It is a confirmation that even in an inanimate object we can find life is etched or divined into it. We either keep on climbing or find ourselves warded off. I choose to keep climbing.

♡ How do you see me?
Page of Swords. Where other decks see me as Queen of Swords or Wands, this one sees me as a page. Youth and smarts aid the Page of Swords, also the awareness of a sharp mind. Writing is a great way to make confusing thoughts into clarity. See how this androgynous page looms over the rooftops of the city, sword in hand and ready to take on any areal challenges. The city seems like a dreamscape, and fades towards the horizon. There is only so much reality manifested near us, but a world yet to be discovered if we step out of our tiny box. Into the ether, the quest for knowledge commences.

♡ How do you see yourself?
Five of Swords. For the first time ever we have two cards under this category. The first one is rather aggressive, the deck presents itself as a green monster concocted from our dreams, nightmares and fears. He seems very real as he wards people off in his defense. What he guards is a mystery and a treasure of old, judging by the arch over them all. The arch compliments the World card up next.


The World. What a glorious sight indeed, here we have an angel in between worlds inviting us to have a closer look into transcendence. It is reminding us that as soon as we are ready, we may set forth into another layer of consciousness and higher learning. It waits for us at the threshold into another world, and once we are ready we will venture through the gate into an unknown world.

I guess that’s the secret that this deck guards. The secrets of preparation for the next life while we deal with the happenings of the life that comes later. If we seek it for the wrong purpose, we turn back empty handed. If we accept the proposal it gives us, we can move forward. The treasure of knowledge comes after getting the riddles right and mixing our own alchemical formula to get where we want to go.



I don't think I have been faced with a deck that opens up to me with such an enticing and scary proposal. To onlookers, this will be a farse and a dramatization to build a name for a deck that is already out of print. To me, it's rather scary to have developed this connection with a tarot deck that has been sitting in my collection for approximately four to five months. I find in the Tarot of Prague a world of magic as carried through depictions of a magical city that lies far beyond my reach. This isn't a marketing ploy, this is tarot.

♡♡

HELLO WITCHES Nº44

It is with great pleasure that I am using the Tarot Nusantara for the very first time. I am posting an extensive review this Friday. This is a deck I have been looking for two years now. It is absolutely beautiful and impossible to get, seeing as very limited quantities made it to the United States. It's small and glossy up front, which makes it hard for me to see the details, but at least I have it. It's mine... even if my boyfriend accidentally dented the Magician card already. When I realized it, my face went all kinds of colors. Let's not dwell. He's burning hot right now and he knows it.

Two Major Arcana cards accompanied by one of each suit. Lately the double numbers have been making an appearance in my readings. Two twos, two fives, etc. The reading suggests springing into action after periods of uncertainty and wait. The spread is talking to me about the efforts that go into mending and working on situations that keep our mind spinning. As we edge into the week, I get the feeling we will be more immersed in work.

I get the feeling this would be a wonderful deck to work alongside with the Thoth. Even though it is clearly in RWS tradition, I get the sense some of Aleister Crowley's depictions could help us make sense of what the people in these scenes are doing or feeling.

WEEKLY PROJECTIONS:

♡ Monday. Magician. Watch him as he works. He brings out in us that smart, intuitive quality to bring down divine aspirations to materialize in the real world. It shows that if we really want something, we can make it happen by rearranging the energies around us. This guy is clever, and in this case I feel like he's capable of hiding a series of tricks up his sleeve. Things won't be as simple as they seem because the Major Arcana card starting the week sets the grounds for illusions and games. If we're going to play the game, it may as well be a fun one. He's shirtless and there is a snake on his waist, denoting to me powerful masculine energy and influence over the week.

♡ Tuesday. Ace of Swords. This ace puts a stop to doubt. Representing the element of Air, this card provides the wit to say what we need to say. Poignant points are sometimes necessary, but we can also take another approach. I know that this card suggests clear thinking to blow away cloudy situations with precision. I love that crown as well. Nothing is more satisfying than having an opinion and getting it out. Let's talk about it!

♡ Wednesday. Wheel of Fortune. Great change that brings with it radical new things. This is a really beautiful Wheel of Fortune card, it has five figures rather than four. Notice the clouds holding it up and the fact that it isn't spinning. When things are in place, you know it's a matter of time before they start to spin again. Then you know that when they do, you can't hang on. Spin along with it instead, go with the flow. Change can be favorable.


♡ Thursday. Eight of Wands. Phone calls, fast action and not having enough hours in a day. Fast action can be as positive as it can be bothersome, and it's up to us to know how to handle whatever surprises are launched our way. If we are aware of our surroundings, we can dodge projectiles meant for us in time. If we aren't, then maybe we should not expose ourselves to fast trouble. Let's think things over a little more rationally before we make a crazy jump.

♡ Friday. Eight of Coins. Another eight, but this one is quite different! Where the previous eight shows movement, this one shows somebody quite still. The work we dedicate ourselves to absorbs us, it makes us focus on a task to the point of going into smaller detail. Let's focus on finishing a daunting task that seems long and wound out. Focus!

♡ Saturday. Nine of Wands. That seems an awful lot like burnout. While the task is almost done and everything is almost in place, the person in the card reclines for a moment to huff. I sense tiredness and possibly even dissatisfaction. Let's truck it through to the end.


♡ Sunday. Five of Cups. Yikes! So much doom and gloom. The day is ending and this person is left alone to wallow over something lost. To focus on what is lost is to intensify the feeling, to swirl in them for a while and to soak up the spill of the emotion. It's okay to release, to grieve and to accept things as they are. Let's not neglect a very human side to us, since we need to experience the positive and the negative as well.

♡ What to avoid. The Hanged Man. Well, well, well. Stay away from those that can't make up their minds about you. If you feel they're stalling for time or don't seem to want to face you, it may be time to accept that they're not going to start. We can't force those to listen that don't want to, and while they hang in their indecision, it's okay to move forward with our own preoccupations. What if we're the ones hanging up side down and waiting for things to progress? We have to accept the circumstances we're in, but we shouldn't get ourselves in that position if we're not ready to deal.

♡ What to strive for. Two of Coins. Keep things in motion and keep the balance even if it requires action. It's not always easy to get into the hang of things while we feel people come and go with their own business. We're not all on the same page or going to the same place, so we should make a conscious effort to keep our business to ourselves while others toil with their own. Besides, we shouldn't distract ourselves for a second with whatever is coming and going, otherwise we'll drop the ball.
Nothing is quite in place, and every week there is a new surprise that strengthens the fact. Everything changes so fast that right when the dust settles, the winds pick back up and scramble everything. I notice the change in the air and embrace it, but everything feels like its changing now. We arrive at the crux of the moment in which we must close our eyes and go with it. Just go with it.
♡♡

THE WILD UNKNOWN TAROT

I am excited to finally get around to compose this entry. It has been on my queue for weeks now! Today we will be looking into the Wild Unknown Tarot illustrated by Kim Krans, evoking spirituality found through adventures in the forest. Since I have been enjoying a cover of The Cure's A Forest lately, it is quite fitting to be able to play in the outskirts of the city without having to leave my room. It sets the mood just right for the experience that we're about to have; please enjoy!

I do not yet have the companion book but I don't really feel that I need it based off opinions from the AT forums. Apparently it doesn't go into the conceptual intention for this deck. Rather, the author apparently took the traditional meanings of the deck and wrote them by hand to make a hipster-proof handbook. While I admire anything drawn by hand, I think that the author could have taken the opportunity to add something new to the tarot table, which is already pretty cluttered with redundancy and noise. At this point the market is pretty saturated and we don't need more fluff added to it. In a way, I think this is why so many experts have jumped ship and run off to the Lenormand instead. I'm not knocking the book, I'm just saying that after going through the trouble to make something so refreshing in terms of symbolic imagery, why not take it a step further with the intended meanings?

This deck reads in a bit of an oracular way, rather than the traditional RWS tradition anyway... but its readings are really strong. It has taken a life of its own rather than the promotion they have been trying to give it, which I am relieved about. I don't think that it should be forced to be something that it is not, because this tarot deck exceeds the boundaries placed on it. I feel that if you run wild with it, you'll find yourself immersed in a world of darkness and light in balance — that's beauty right there. The trend hit strong, and everyone's got Wild Unknown fever! As I scroll down the threads in AT, I feel like most everyone is using the Wild Unknown Tarot as a one deck wonder or as the source for card of the day. I have to add that it photographs beautifully, in case any bloggers were wondering.



This deck uses black and white schemes with color accents. It uses the color theory to convey moods and feelings, but it also has an energetic pull with its color use that is quite interesting. It could be the wild splashes of color contrasted with the bleak and lively strokes used; the cards really resonate with the vibrant life around them, and I love them for that. There are several allusions to the Thoth tarot contained, which adds a solid layer of feeling to a deck that is already pretty full of symbols and secrets. This means any seasoned reader will be able to get great insight and surprisingly witty responses from this unconventional tarot deck.

The most special attribute to this deck is the fact that there are no humans in it. It is purely symbolic, which can either super charge it or make it impossible for some to connect with it. I feel drawn to the symbols and the elemental qualities, and find it a great chance to work with animal guides. Oh, these animals... Whether they're dead or still breathing, they are the ones that really make the Wild Unknown as solid as it is. You can draw connections, relate them, contrast them, and enjoy their company as you stumble or run through the forest. I really love their depictions and wish there were more for us to be delighted with.



And how about that card stock? It has a wonderful matter texture and it doesn't bend or warp. It comes beautifully packaged in a box with a black pullout ribbon and a beautiful foldout with keywords. You know it's sturdy when Le Fanu himself says, and I quote: This deck doesn't need a back up (and that's me saying that!) The cardstock will not suffer wear and tear. Or rather, it should last me another 30 years if I live to be almost 80. That comes from the King of backup decks and enabling. For those of you who have not had the pleasure to read his reviews, I suggest you run over to his blog.

I have to admit that at first I was not a believer. I didn't like the fact the meanings were not as thought out as the deck itself, but I realized that gave me leeway to assign my own meaning to it. In giving it a chance, I found that I could learn from it as the nagging teacher that it has proven to be. Literally wise beyond its years, and a worthy addition to any collection. This deck grew on me because of its beauty, its voice and the experiences I have shared with it ever since it came out. Both of my copies are from the second print run, and top quality — and yes, a backup was absolutely necessary!



INTERVIEW WITH THE WILD UNKNOWN TAROT:


♡ What is your most important characteristic?
The Lovers. To fly freely with nature is to find harmony and purpose. We can get lost in the daily grind of life, but this deck intends for us to find magic in the cards and in every day life. They fly in unison and looking out for one another, but they fly as one and they're going to reach their destination together. I love how this card symbolizes the journey of the relationship, which will go through crazy obstacles and wintry weather to nourish itself.

♡ What are your strengths as a tarot deck?
King of Cups. Look at that rain of emotions! Being in control of your emotions is difficult, but look at that black swan go. He's cruisin' and he doesn't really care what anyone else thinks of him. He knows his worth and he'll teach you yours if you listen.

♡ What are your limits?
Eight of Swords. There are times when we close ourselves up and we don't listen to what the tarot is trying to tell us. We set our own boundaries, and it's up to us to break those boundaries too.



♡ What are you here to teach me?
Five of Swords. Breaking away from bonds and earthly pains that are of no help to us. What isn't worth it should be discarded. This also reminds me of 'solve et coagula', or rather, to differentiate different parts of the self. Here it is very clearly a division, and one that is going to cost us if we're not paying attention.

♡ How can I best learn to collaborate with you?
Eight of Coins. Work hard, work fast and work diligently! Spin a million tales, let them take their own turns and bask in the glow of what you make. Your work is your craft, you can either do it with pride or do it fast to push on. Take your time and it will be rewarding. I see the web stretching out as social networking with people.

♡ What is the potential outcome of our working relationship?
The Hierophant. Nag, nag, nag... Stop nagging me, Teacher! Just what I need to hear may not be to my liking, but it will provide the key to transformation. This is a crow, the shape shifter and the one who has the key. The key can be a solution that you haven't noticed to a problem, or it could very well be an opportunity that you have been waiting for. You won't be able to find your way if your head is full of noise and if you're not paying attention, which is why the crow nags.

During my time in Japan, I felt the crows were laughing at us or warding us off. They were huge, bigger than our heads in fact, and we decided not to get too close to them as they descended. They coexist with humans, but I'm sure they could be quite vicious if they wanted to be.



♡ Which card do you want to show off?
The Chariot. Horses are free, they charge when they feel threatened and they linger while they're at ease. This one has the moon branded on his forehead, symbolic for the mind. He wears the Pentacle as an amulet to soak up the rays of the sun, which flows through him — or her — as masculine energy. This deck is saying it will charge forward with assurance, and whatever stands in the way will be stepped on. That's a pretty wild signifier for the chariot! This horse doesn't draw the chariot, it is the chariot.

♡ How do you see me?
Judgement. A white dove rises to enlightenment amidst a sea of black birds. We face enlightenment when we can accept the call to action and to join a better cause. This is usually how those whose perspective senses are awakened feel, as diamonds in the rough finally breaking free from the coal. We're ready to rise, to seek light and knowledge, and we're comfortable in knowing the journey comes alone. Often we are persecuted for our beliefs and put down, but the internal light shines brighter than the dark words they try throwing over us. Uplifting!

♡ How do you see yourself?
Seven of Coins. As a token of wealth offered from a lovely time period. It is the builder and the ladder to another level of consciousness. Embark on the journey without care of going back and you'll find yourself something new, but the upwards climb is rarely ever as easy as you would like for it to be.

EXTRA CARDS:

♡ High Priestess

♡ Queen of Wands

♡ Ace of Cups

An extra card combo, and a positive one. It is saying that once we let go of the ideas we so vehemently protect, we will be able to sample happiness. We can clear our blind eyes to see more clearly, but that means we need to accept gifts when they present themselves to us. If we're not open, we lose. Our attitude automatically improves when we can see past that initial danger,

Hey, Wild Uknown... Would you make an oracle AND a Lenormand? Pretty please? Yes?
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THE LOGIC IN THE TAROT

Lately I have been thinking about how much whimsy there is in my blog, which makes it a little harder for people to resonate with the content if they don't already have some experience or interest in the tarot. I thought it would be nice to go back to the basics and define the mechanics of how it works here. I have read it with ease for years as a product of feverish study and constant effort into understanding the manner in which the cards interact with one another. After 12 years of reading tarot, I am certain that there is no religious — or otherwise malicious — affiliation to the cards, whether or not they have Catholic, Pagan or much darker principles featured. They run off a certain order and can be stripped of all religious meaning if desired. At the same time, the symbols can be added for context and for more depth in readings. That is always up to the reader, who can choose which tarot deck it will be out of a selection of thousands.

So what is tarot really? In essence, cards that are shuffled at random but somehow connected to all of the stages we undergo from the moment that we are born until we die. They allow us to trace meaningful connections back to our lives, and thus to gain a better understanding of ourselves. As we learn to read them, we employ techniques used by art historians and writers alike. They can be used for self-exploration and empowerment, but they don't really tell us things we don't already know and that's the beauty of it. What we are doing is finding a confirmation to what we already think, and from there we can have a better idea of the consequences to our choices. It allows us to think more deeply on our lives, all from a series of divination cards. We learn to derive meaning from pictures, and that is simply what it is.



There is no hocus pocus in the tarot, nor is there any hoodoo voodoo. In reality it's just paper, there is no magic there. Sparks don't shoot out of wands and people can't levitate with it. The real magic is in the person who has gained a thorough enough understanding of the cards to be able to draw coherent connections amongst them. This is the stage in which the reader can find the symbols pertain to their personal life, or that of the person that they are reading for. It can take years to really understand the system and the manner in which the cards talk to one another, but if we keep an open mind and if we trust our inner intuition, the process is made much easier.

I have come to see that those that are generally unconscious about their surroundings have a harder time learning. They stick to canned meanings and they can't grasp at all what the tarot is saying to them. Often if they have more than one meaning to choose from, they choose the one that they like over the one that all the cards are pointing to. I don't blame them for trying as long as they don't believe themselves to be masters of tarot reading within the month of picking up their first Doreen Virtue tarot deck... oh, wait. Was it the Vampyre Tarot they picked up, or possibly the Witches Tarot?  In their inexpert enthusiasm, they decide they want to start reading for other people and then they get the bright idea of charging for their readings. They take on the guise of a seasoned reader and start telling people lies. Grim opinions, the Death card literally means death, the Devil card means you're in trouble, and other common misconceptions. They try to put on a show and what they do is give the rest a bad name. The people they read for get scared and revert to their comfort zone in religion, they push away the tarot and the Hollywood image lives on still. Slow down! Enjoy the process and don't read for others until you're really ready. The best route to go is to tell your sitters that you are only just learning, and that while it could be an enriching experience for them, there could also be some things that are off.

I don’t agree with the image Hollywood has dressed tarot readers with. Now people in general think of the tarot as something evil or religiously charged, when in fact it is not. The tarot rarely ever speaks of death or the Catholic entity of the Devil. The tarot does not damn your soul and it isn’t a break up with any religious doctrine, should you be affiliated with one. I respect religious beliefs even if not my own, and grow silent about the subject if someone says, “I don’t believe in those things,” or, “I am loyal to God,” as if I was suggesting to them otherwise. (And I wasn't.) It doesn’t matter what I think or what I have experienced; if someone I am talking to is uncomfortable about the subject, I drop it like a hot potato out of respect. It is unnatural for me to bring up the subject first unless I trust you. It only ever comes up when people find my blog or my personal Facebook. I was raised in a Roman Catholic household and high school so I understand where people are coming from, but as an adult I don’t discuss my religious background or practice because it is personal and secret. Nobody ever really asks me about it, but I am glad to declare it.



Why is the public image of a tarot reader so fearsome?
Notoriety. Gypsies are quite popular in California, you can find Egyptian, Romanian and just about any nationality there is. What they practice is a blend of metaphysical tools of divination laced with their own religious principles. Their lineages trace back to centuries of fortune telling and other mystical secrets that can cause the hair on your arms to rise, but this is extra. It’s not just tarot, it’s something more. People make the mistake of throwing the tarot in with the rest of the experience because it is what lured them in, in the first place. Their religion and the practice of tarot is separate. Tarot is for almost everyone. Another notorious entity in the world of metaphysics is Aleister Crowley, a proclaimed Magus of our time.

How and why Aleister Crowley earned the title of Magus is a long story for another day, but today we will talk about his notoriety and his image in the world of metaphysics. Brace yourselves, because this one’s a bit tough to swallow, and this is precisely why we must talk about him. He wrote many scandalous articles that were encrypted messages for something else much less controversial. He was a powerful visionary and an enlightened soul, but he mistakenly overestimated his readers as he coded the true message of his writings. He thought anyone could be able to crack the code and gain the benefit of writing, but instead he limited it to a select scholarly few that are fluent in Thelema and Kabbalah.

He fed off the negative press and the scandal that rose around him because he enjoyed the attention. He relished the fear of those who did not understand him and propelled many to read his literary works that way. Therein lies the problem; people could not crack his code. It backfired in a way, but at least he is still a hot topic today. He knew how to get a reaction out of people and he took advantage of it in order to get ahead. That sounds more like stealth than it does like being a threat... and I have to say, he was quite a genius.



The only thing I will ask you to do is not to believe everything movies say. They are sensationalist, exaggerated to impress and to scare away. Often people think they know what they're talking about, when in reality they haven't got a clue. They will go through great lengths to exaggerate and to dazzle, but the truth is often quite simple. Seek sources that are credible, and listen to those that have enough experience to know what they're talking about. Read on the subject if it fascinates you. It would avoid confusion and more misunderstandings to arise amongst the members of the metaphysical tarot community.
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