This original deck of fortune-telling cards offers insightful advice concerning matters of love, money, health and general prosperity. This is a visually stunning Oracle deck created by Christine Filipak and Joseph Vargo of Monolith Graphics. The dramatic artwork is done in a beautifully detailed Art Nouveau style, and combines Egyptian, Greek and Celtic mythologies with Norse, Alchemical, Astrological, and Pagan symbolism. Each card contains a key phrase giving a hint to the meaning, and are easily read upright or reversed. The 48 cards are divided into 5 different categories:
I. The Royal Court - these cards represent powerful influences in the life of the querent, or person asking the question. Here we find The King, The Queen, The Wizard, The Seer, The Knight, The Maiden, The Minstrel and The Harlequin.
2. The Realm of Fable - these cards represent the outside forces that guide and influence the querent. In this category, we have The Golem, The Greenman, Hindrance, Medusa, The Satyr, Seduction, Serendipity, The Siren, The Sphinx, and The Spirit.
3. The Bestiary houses creatures both real and imagined. In this section you will find The Black Cat, The Chimera, The Dragon, The Gryphon, The Raven, The Serpent, The Spider, The Unicorn, The Wolf, and The Wyvern.
4. The Treasury contains the tools that will assist the querent in attaining their goals. In this section is The Caduceus, The Chalice, The Dagger, The Gate, The Hand of Fate, The Hourglass, The Key, Love, The Mystic Circle, The Oracle, The Shield, and The Talisman.
5. The fifth category is entitled The Elements, and are responsible for exerting specific energies on the reading. This group is comprised of The Sun, The Moon, The Stars, Air, Earth, Fire, Water, and The Winds of Change.
The accompanying booklet is very informative, though short. Many of the card titles, however, are self explanatory. For example, The Spider represents patience, while The Raven is a harbinger of doom. The Gate tells you that there is an obstacle in your path, while The Hourglass reminds you that time is of the essence. There are 4 Oracle spreads included in the booklet, but any of the traditional Tarot spreads would work as well. Although not a Tarot deck, Tarot readers will find much that is familiar. The Magician becomes the Wizard, the High Priestess is found as The Seer, and The Chimera is very reminiscent of the 7 of Cups. The Sun and Moon are also similar in meaning to those found in Tarot.
The cards are slightly oversized, but shuffle easily. This is the fastest and easiest way to discover what the future holds.
~ excerpt of review by Shadowfoxtarot
2003
Monolith Graphics (USA)
Set of 48 Cards
5.1 x 3.3 x 0.8 inches
$15.00
