The only deck I am really looking forward to receiving is the limited edition, 78-card Gaian Tarot, which, according to its creator is very much on track for an early March delivery. There are a few others decks I have been considering, and some I have my eyes on.
But when I was approached to read at a Valentine’s Day dinner/dance next weekend, I thought I would like to get a special deck to use at the event. I own Kris Waldherr’s stunning Lover’s Path but I have not taken the time to learn all of the legends and stories which illustrate the Major Arcana. Each card depicts a pair of lovers, such as Arthur and Guinevere, Isis and Osiris, Penelope and Odysseus, Romeo and Juliet, and Dante and Beatrice. But, the reality of reading at a large party means that the readings will be short, with no time to go into the stories that may appear.
So, I decided to take a chance on a new deck, The Heart Tarot, published by Lo Scarabeo, and illustrated by Maria Distefano. The artist has also illustrated the Circle of Life Tarot, which I also own. What is unique about the Heart Tarot is the fact that the deck is heart shaped! And is packaged in a beautiful two piece heart shaped box, along with a, you guessed it, a heart shaped LWB!
The deck is large as well, measuring 5 1/4 inches at its widest, and nearly 4 3/4 inches tall. The images are framed within a thin red border, with the titles in six languages. The artwork is quite lovely, and the details are easy to see. I like the people who inhabit the cards, their facial expressions, postures, clothes and situations…they are quite real to me. The deck depicts various aspects and stages of love, making it a perfect deck to read with on Valentine’s Day.
I am very glad I took the chance and ordered this deck. It is a unique addition to my collection, and will be a great deck to use for relationship readings.
I pulled a card, asking the deck what kind of relationship I will have with it. The answer was the 8 of Pentacles, which shows a young woman, eyes closed, against a starry sky, as a huge wave breaks over her. The wave is full of small stones and eight larger ones. I think the message is that our relationship will be multi-faceted, and that the deck will reveal many aspects of love and relationships, if I simply close my eyes and listen to the stories it wants to tell. The wave also resembles a road or path, signifying for me that love and relationships are journeys to be taken and to be re-lived in memories later on. We’re going to get along just fine.
Image from the Heart Tarot © Lo Scarabeo
