Guest Author - Deanna Joseph

When I first received my “Mystic Faerie Tarot,” by Barbara Moore and Linda Ravenscroft, I was so excited. I am especially passionate about Celtic folklore, and anything that comes my way that is about the faeries is especially welcome.

Originally I had thought that the Mystic Faerie Tarot would be similar to the Faery Ring by Anna Franklin, which is based on actual faerie folklore. The Mystic Faerie Tarot is not based in folklore, though it does feature its own tales from the fey folk.

The creator of the deck is the renowned faerie artist, Linda Ravenscroft. And the cards are among some of the most beautiful that I’ve ever seen. The cards seem to be done in watercolor and the colors of the minor arcana are done in gentle hues, with the colors of the major arcana being just a bit brighter.

The guidebook is by Barbara Moore, author of the Gilded Tarot. Barbara really knows her tarot. She has served as the Tarot Specialist for Llewellyn Publications, and has been featured in many tarot publications.

The cards are so beautiful, they are impossible to put down. I just can’t stop playing with them! They don’t seem to be based on the traditional tarot at all, but rather each suit tells its own faerie tale.

Pentacles, for instance, tells the tale of a young fey who goes out on her own; the challenges she must overcome and the beautiful friendships she forms along the way. Cups tells the story of love, and the commitment necessary to make relationships work. Swords tells the story of three fey who must learn that sometimes pain and loss are part of life, and that some things just have to be released. Wands tells the story of two fey friends who travel on a grand journey together, only to find that they must eventually part ways due to differing opinions.

The guidebook carefully (and simply) lays out the story for you, so that you can look at the cards and get a clear picture of the meaning of the cards.

This clever design makes this one of the easiest decks I’ve ever worked with (aside from the ones that actually have the keyword printed on the card!). And mind you, I would never have considered myself a tarot reader.

The guidebook itself is 284 pages, and includes sections on interpreting the major arcana, the suits and the court cards. It also includes a chapter on “Visiting the Faerie Garden” which gives guidance on creating sacred space, asking a question, selecting a spread, shuffling the cards, laying out the cards, interpreting the reading, thanking the faeries for the help and cleansing and storing your cards. The chapter on spreads includes nine spread examples (and they are all fun). There are also sample readings and a quick reference guide.

All in all, I must say that the Mystic Faerie Tarot is one of the most lovely decks I’ve ever worked with, and would highly recommend it to anyone who wished to wander into the magical realm of the faerie.