 |
The Babylonian Tarot (deck and book set) |
I have had this deck for about a month and I have waited to write the review because I wanted plenty of time to explore it. This is a deck of 83 cards, which would ordinarily cause me to pass it by; however, I love the artwork on the deck so I was persistent and I don't regret it.
The one additional Major Arcana card is Genesis, an unnumbered tribute to the "time before". Since this deck ties very strongly to the Tree of Life, it is not surprising that there would be a nod to all that comes before anything is created. In a reading, this card plays the same role as "The Fool" but with more of a since of time.
The other additional cards appear as added Court cards, the Karubs, a group designed to cover the element of ether. I found these cards a little bit more difficult to work into my readings, since I have very concrete definitions for the other member of the Court cards. Each reader will have to decide how to incorporate this additional Court member into their daily Tarot use. I began looking at the Karubs as almost godlike.
The artwork on the deck is infectious. The illustrations are a very polished version of primitive artwork. I found the colors engaging and very conducive to meditation and pathwork. The 7 of Cups, Seduction, is one of the most intriguing illustrations I have ever seen on a Tarot card.The artwork on the deck is infectious. The illustrations are a very polished version of primitive artwork. I found the colors engaging and very conducive to meditation and pathwork. The 7 of Cups, Seduction, is one of the most intriguing illustrations I have ever seen on a Tarot card.
I found that many of the Minor Cards have meanings very similar to the Rider-Waite and to the numerology system of the Tree of Life. Because of these similarities, it is very easy to pick this deck up and use it quickly for readings.
I especially appreciated the simple, organic way Ms. Cicero teaches about the culture of the Babylonian region. Rather than bombard the reader with a lengthy discussion of the background of these cards, she introduces cultural tidbits throughout the card descriptions. I rarely like reading through card definitions, but these descriptions are loaded with cultural, religious and mythology that kept my interest from page 1 to page 171.
The Babylonian Tarot Deck and Book Set (ISBN 0-7387-0716-3) is a welcomed addition to both my artistic decks and reading decks. I would recommend this deck to anyone wanting a graphic history of one of the world's oldest civilizations.
"The Babylonian Tarot",
by Lisa Hunt
© Sandra Tabatha Cicero