Tarot of the Dream Enchantress Review
Summary:
The Tarot of the Dream Enchantress will sweep you away on flights of fancy where you will see many strange and marvelous things, and where you will find yourself along the way. For readings and experiences that are anything but non-traditional, use these cards as a magical mirror to reveal the Dream Enchantress within yourself.
In-Depth Review:
Many people say that dreams are one way that the subconscious speaks to the conscious mind. Dreams use images and symbols to create a bridge, to form a way communicating that both parts of the mind can understand. Tarot works very much the same way. The images on the cards awaken our souls, stir our intuition, and open up new realms of understanding.
In the Tarot of the Dream Enchantress, there is a mistress of this bizarre world. This enchantress weaves together seemingly random images to convey messages that we most need to know. You may not be quite sure if she is a goddess, a force of the universe, or part your own being; perhaps she is all three. Indeed, I rather think she is.
Thoughts of dreams nestle in very comfortably with thought of darkness, the night, and moon, all of which are associated with feminine energy. The goddess is associated with the moon and is queen of all that she sees in her shadowy kingdom. So it is no surprise that this deck is filled with feminine figures and shapes. It is a very soft and fluid world, although not flowery and sugary-sweet. There is danger and action present as well.
Starkly contrasting with the often-nude female figures are a few of the traditionally male figures. These characters are all masked and most of them appear to be female (judging by their bodies). They include: The Fool, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Tower, 2 of Wands, and all of the Kings. That is a very interesting thing for a Tarot artist to do, don’t you think? What do you make of it, I wonder? And what does what you think of it say about you? And that little string of questions is part of the fun and beauty of this deck.
Many of the cards, particularly from the Major Arcana, harken to traditional RWS images, but I wouldn’t call this deck a RWS clone by any means. It is not for yanking quickly from the box, roughly shuffling, and slapping onto a table with answers demanded from it. This deck will not reveal its secrets by force or even by sincere study. No. This deck requires quiet, gentle, non-hurried contemplation.
It is difficult to describe the world these cards portray. They are at once otherworldly and primitive. And although there really isn’t anything sci-fi about them, there is a futuristic feel as well as the patina of the ancient past. You know how a really excellent writer can convey scads of meaning with a few words, deftly painting an entire character with one or two lines? These cards are like that. Yes, I know: a picture is worth a thousand words, but these pictures, more than most, have epics within them. I can looks at the 3 of Wands or Strength or even the Page of Wands and feel entire novels well up within me. And I must say, The Magician is hands down one of the coolest I’ve ever seen.
The LWB is pretty good, as far as LWBs go. The tone of the meanings reflect the feeling of the deck overall. That is to say, they are appropriately vague and (one hopes) inspiring. Here are a few examples. "The Magician: You have knowledge. You have intuition. You have resources. Mix them well. Apply the heat of your will, and there is nothing you cannot create. Make sure you really want what you intend to make." And, for the 10 of Wands: "A grand achievement, yes, but the work is finished. You have done well but to continue on now is fruitless and merely stressful."
How is this deck for reading? Depends, I suppose, on what kind of readings you expect. For me, they’ve been inspirational, revealing, and at times harsh (although never brutal). Practicality, however, has not been this deck’s strong suit. But I have other decks for that. When I want to dream, to explore, to be carried away, this is the deck I use.
Deck Attributes
Name of deck: Tarot of the Dream Enchantress
Publisher: Lo Scarabeo
ISBN: 9780738715308
Creator’s name: Marco Nizzoli
Artist’s name: Marco Nizzoli
Name of accompanying book/booklet: Tarot of the Dream Enchantress
Number of pages of book/booklet: 63 (14 in English)
Authors of booklet: Barbara Moore
Brief biography of author(s): The Tarot has been a part of Barbara Moore’s personal and professional lives for over a decade. In college, the Tarot intrigued her with its marvelous blending of mythology, psychology, art, and history. Later, she served as the Tarot specialist for Llewellyn Publications. Over the years, she has been active in the American Tarot Association and has spoken at Tarot conferences around the United States. Barbara’s articles on the Tarot have appeared in several Tarot publications and in Llewellyn Publications New Worlds of Mind and Spirit magazine. She has also sat on the Tarot Journal editorial board. Barbara’s own education in the Tarot has been and continues to be broad and enlightening. She has studied under renowned Tarot scholars Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack, and she has taught the Tarot to all manner of would-be Tarot readers.
Barbara enjoys the challenge of giving a voice to Tarot cards and oracle decks. She has had the good fortune to write books for several decks, including A Guide to Mystic Faerie Tarot, The Gilded Tarot Companion, The Hip Witch Tarot, Enchanted Oracle and The Mystic Dreamer Tarot.
Available in a boxed kit?: No.
Reading Uses: General.
Artistic Style: Surreal.
Tarot, Divination Deck, Other: Tarot
Does it follow Rider-Waite-Smith Standard?: Yes.
Does it have extra cards?: No.
Does it have alternate names for Major Arcana cards?: No.
Does it have alternate names for Minor Arcana suits?: No.
Does it have alternate names for the Court Cards?: No.
Book suggestions for experienced Tarot users and this deck: 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card by Mary K. Greer
Alternative decks you might like:
The Secret Tarot
Circle of Life Tarot
Harmonious Tarot
Lo Scarabeo Tarot
Tarot of the Mermaids
Tarot of the Secret Forest
Universal Fantasy
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