By Rita Rose & Jana Pesek
REDFeather Mind, Body Spirit, Schiffer Publishing, 2021
ISBN: 978-0-7643-6270-5
Note: This deck was sent to me by the amazing TABI to review for their website. This is a separate review, though both are by me and express my opinions. You can find my review at TABI here. You can also see my video review here.
When I first saw this deck, I was immediately excited. As an artist myself, I Iove artwork that is raw, expressive and feels like a tangible part of the person. I immediately resonated with the artwork, and could see the authentic shamanic influence.
I've come across many animistic or shamanic decks, and have often been disappointed to find corny illustrations with a strong indigenous influence. Rita Rose's deck is a refreshing change, as rather than looking at outside influences on shamanic practice, she opted to look within, to undertake her own soul journeys, and then express the raw vibrance she found there. The art is explorative, childlike and reminiscent of street art or zines. It is chaotic and has a "quick" feeling to it. I can't phrase this well enough, but it's very sensory stimulating. It looks like you could reach out and touch it, and feel the paint swirls on the paper. You can feel how as an artist, you might form the lines yourself, how the brush and paint would feel as each image is painted. It is an inspiring invitation to create.
Practically, the size of the cards really allows you to enjoy the artwork. I mean they are the biggest cards I've owned. I can shuffle them nicely and don't find them clumsy. The cardstock is nice and slippy! But I probably wouldn't use them with a client as shuffling would be an issue, as would table space. I find these better for meditation, inspiration and also for self use.
The pips are not pictoral. They do not show you any meaning; the three of cups is simply 3 cups, the two of pentacles just 2 pentacles and so on. This is the only thing that I wish were different in the deck, simply because it feels rushed. I love the way Rita Rose sees the unique energy of each card in the majors and court cards, so and would love to see how this manifests in the pips. She is so candid and open and wild with the rest of the deck. I really want to know how she sees every single card!
This deck appears to be intended for use with the book. I mean look at the book! It is huge, and comes in full colour. There is no "little white book" here. Each card is explained in detail. Some of the cards imagery is far removed from typical tarot imagery; but the book explains all, providing that link, testament to the creative zingy brain behind the deck. Some of the names of the cards have been changed, and this is clearly done with intention and in a way which understands and unfolds the existing meaning of the card (which is great for traditionalists like me!) The book explains this too. In fact even as an experienced reader, I think using this deck for self use with the book; the way many people start out here reading journey, is ideal.
I can fully recommend this as a great deck for meditation, and for when you're feeling wild and energetic and want to think out of the box. It's a deck that is meant to be used and read with, and designed as an invitation for you to explore the most primal parts of yourself.
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