The Fairy Tale Tarot

At the time of this writing, others have already posted some fantastic reviews on this product, and those reviewers offer helpful specific information for serious Tarot practitioners, especially those who prefer traditional representations and handling of Tarot materials. I found those reviews helpful when I was shopping. Nevertheless, I will share my own observations about the product and hopefully add another voice for the consideration of future buyers. :) WHAT I LIKED: The first thing that caught my eye with the Fairy Tale Tarot Box Set was the exquisite artwork. The richly detailed book cover "Once Upon a Time..." was as attractive as it was thought-provoking, otherworldly yet approachable at the same time. A fan of fairy tales, folklore, mythology, and archetypes, I felt an instant connection with it, and I was instantly interested in learning about the deck of cards that accompanied the book. I generally tend to like the whimsical and unusual in things, which is why the Fairy Tale Tarot appeals to me. Traditional decks, for me, often range from very dull to disturbing, depending on their given imagery. So, I was well pleased to find a creative product that paid tribute to traditional Tarot while also presenting a fresh, unique treatment of topics. To illustrate what I mean, I have uploaded some images of my Fairy Tale Tarot box set. Check out images near the topic of the product's page. The author / artist Lisa Hunt has put immense amounts of time, effort, intellect, spirit, and heart in rendering this amazing product. I appreciate the multicultural sensitivity in her choices. Honoring diversity, Hunt has definitely pulled ripe fruit from the world's best loved stories. The book and cards offer ideas and imagery from such cultures as these: English; Welsh; irish / Celtic; French; Spanish; German; Danish / Norwegian / Scandinavian; Czechoslovakian; Polish; Romanian; Serbian; Lithuanian; Italian; Russian; Indian; Chinese; Japanese; MidEast / Central Asian; Laplander; Inuit; Native American; Canadian; Brazilian; African; and Maori. You'll recognize popular fairy tales, and you'll be introduced to ones you've never encountered. Fans of Harry Potter may find some "aha" moments as they make mindful connections between traditional world tales as depicted in this set and the spin that JK Rowlings often puts on them (or elements of them) in her works. Each of the 78 cards in this deck is alive with universal ideas, metaphors, and emotions. In truth, they are mini, soulful portraits that can spark healthy contemplation for those who are open to them, to their visual and spiritual depths, stories within stories, stories that connect to other stories. In Lisa Hunt's art work, you can often catch a glimpse of faces and other designs hidden in trees, clouds, water, gnarled roots, etc. The book that accompanies the deck offers sections called "Symbols and Meaning." These sections describe what can be found in the card's image, overt and subtle, and possible interpretations. Included in the book are the fairy tales--the stories--depicted in each card, and these are given to underscore the meaning of the cards. The basic "section" plan in the book is... 1) A black and white image of a card 2) The title of the card, which is the title of the section about it 3) A correlation to traditional Tarot card, if necessary 4) The name of the Fairy Tale story represented and the cultural it is from 5) Keywords about the story and the card's content for thought 6) Symbols and Meaning section (length varies according to story and card explanation) Example of an opening text for a card: II * The Sorceress Traditional: The High Priestess Story: The Lake Maiden Culture: Welsh Keywords: Intuition / Secrets / Mysteries WHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE SET: I love this set, don't get me wrong. However, there were a few things that would have really made this book / card set truly stellar if these had been included. First, I would have liked some more detailed beginner "How to Conduct a Reading" and "How to Use" information that addressed the importance / significance of the various suits, specific types of layouts, and finer-pointed interpretations such as what it means when a card appears reversed or what it means (if anything) when you have a majority of one group in a spread---say three cups and a wand. Second, I think it might have been helpful to have a "Quick Reference / Index" section at the back of the book that listed the cards and their page numbers for quick locating. Without the index, the user is flipping constantly through the book until he / she becomes accustomed to the order. Third, I would have preferred that the book be hard cover with at least a few colored pages; the hard cover would have been a strong choice for repeated use, especially since there is no page index. People who are absolutely new to Tarot may have to do a bit of research to appreciate Traditional Tarot as it relates to the Fairy Tale Tarot, but discovery is part of personal journeys. The author's own comment underscores this: "My descriptions are there to help guide you as you explore the nuances of the tales but it is up to you to take these tales to where you want to go" (page 5). Of course, the user is free to imagine how best to use Fairy Tale Tarot. This book and card set may not appeal to everyone. Before purchasing, read other reviews and look at images so that you know what to expect from this product. SIDE NOTE: Oddly enough, we've found that the Running Press' Miniature Tarot with Tarot Nova--a tiny book and card set--makes a fun, entertaining, and often helpful companion set to the Fairy Tale Tarot.

The premise of this deck is innovative. Welcome to the world of imagination, childhood and magic. The creator has done an amazing job of bringing to life these stories and making their more subtle meanings accessible. It is undoubtedly one of the most creative, beautiful, inventive twists on the Tarot I've seen, and has quickly become one of my favorite decks. Many of the tales that are employed to interpret the Tarot will be familiar to you--Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk, ect. Some of them will be new, and, in addition to enriching your readings, will add to your repertoire of bedtime stories for children! My only criticism is that the creator has a tendency to stray so far from the traditional meanings of the Tarot that it can be hard to recognize any resemblance to a more universally-based deck. The creator has clearly put an enormous amount of energy into these cards, but she expects you to put a great deal of energy into learning them. Fluent readers be warned: this is not a deck you can just pick up and read. Relying heavily on a conventional understanding of basic meanings will not be sufficient if you want your quarent to really be able to visually connect the meaning with the art. To me, the best part of the Tarot as a divination system is its unique and immediate aid in visualization, but if you lean on standard interpretation of the Tarot, its connection to the art may be lost on your client (and perhaps even you). If you intend to use these in a professional setting, I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with the fairy tales and how they connect to their traditional meanings. Paradoxically, and especially if you take the time understand the creator's intentions, these cards can actually be EASIER for your client to immediately connect with, because like you, he or she will be familiar with many of the stories depicted. All in all, it is more than worth the effort.

Tarot is not a fortune-telling instrument or a magic wand; rather, it is a therapeutic tool to assist us to realign our perceptions in order to tackle our problems creatively, and non-linearly. Tarot uses universal narratives/symbols/metaphors, and archetypes, and a good deck can provoke clarity through active meditation on the cards. Swiss psychologist Carl Jung referred to the deepest of the three states of consciousness as "the collective unconscious", or the "second soul," where our shared symbolism occurs. The Tarot, especially the Major Arcana, represents the three states of consciousness Jung has described. Tarot's beginnings go back to the 15th century. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent core or archetypal images, and the Minor Arcana represents the ways that our consciousness obtains its orientation to experience--intuition, sensation, emotion, and intellect. Jung used the Tarot with his patients in order to unlock the gates to the unconscious mind and creatively explore areas of concern, (in a similar way that he used dream analysis). Artist Lisa Hunt has designed an extraordinary deck of fairytale images representing the tarot deck. She captured the spirit of Jung's approach to tarot through her artistry and her narratives. Most of us grew up on fairytales. Why are they so universal? Because we can all relate to the passageways they light into the human condition. Hunt's deck of cards and companion book illustrate fairy tales as a touchstone of archetypes and interpretation through stories. My favorite Tarot card has always been The Fool--the card of innocence and childlike spontaneity. The accompanying fairytale that the artist chose was Little Red Riding Hood. The little girl is growing up and venturing out on her own. The wolf is the girl's own animal nature, "the shadow initiating the awakening of the ego..." and "the drives that are imbedded in our psyche." The artist/author weaves a narrative from these images and fairytale story. Little Red Riding Hood is an apt symbol of The Fool. The picture on the card illustrates the conscious and unconscious states that become more apparent the longer you study it. The trees and forest represent ancient wisdom; the red cape is the girl's vitality and openness to life. As I continued meditating on the card, I saw what at first seems hidden, such as the whisper of faces in the trees. Every card is dynamic, a story in itself that keeps on evolving. The process of divination arises from the relationship between the story and its symbols, the artistry of the card, and the mind of the person interacting with the deck. The Fairy Tale Tarot is both intimate and mindful. I have been meditating on these cards for several weeks now, and each time I come back to the deck, I feel inspired by new perceptions arising from familiar images. I encounter something revealing about my emotions and state of being, and a fresh way of relating. I look forward to exploring more of Lisa Hunt's acclaimed Tarot decks.

I often find the modern, artist-produced tarot cards to be lacking in depth. With the older decks, you can spend hours staring at the artwork and keep finding nuances. With this deck, not so much. The artwork is pretty and pleasant, but it's more to glance through than to meditate on. The fairy tales included tend to be the modern, whitewashed versions and not the darker originals. The step-sisters are pardoned and learn the error of their ways. The pictures do not always resonate with the supposed meaning of the card. For example, the ten of swords shows a young man flying through the air in a box. The fairy tale and associated "correct" card meaning is about making foolish choices and throwing away your benefits. Not at all the image of freedom in the picture. I would prefer to meditate on the artwork and the card position than rely on the formal book definition, but the disconnect was so huge I just put the card down. I feel a very strong connection to fairy tales and had hoped to find a similar connection to this deck. Some of the cards are inspired, but many others feel like a slog to finish the deck. So in the end, I feel this is just another modern deck with pretty art that's not very useful for readings.

I received the BOOK to this tarot deck, the item description says its for the cards... I want what I ordered.

This beautifully illustrated deck brings the fairy tales from multiple cultures into the Tarot. Lisa Hunt's paintings remain soft and filled with as much mystery and subtlety as in her previous tarots. If you ever wanted an illustrated compendium of fairy tales at your finger tips, this is it. Each card demands close examination, as one is sure to miss interesting details at a cursory glance, such as the occasional faces in the woods. Fortunately, the cards are borderless avoiding cutting into imagery for this regular sized deck. The back of the cards are fully reversible portraying two old fashion keys pointing in opposite direction from a centric adornment. The cards in this deck are labeled at the bottom within an ornate scroll. The Major Arcana are numbered with roman numerals, but starting at 0 with The Fool, which had been renamed Innocence in this deck. In this regards, many of these cards has been renamed to follow the Fairy Tale Theme such as: The Fool -> Innocence The High Priestess -> The Sorceress The Empress -> The Fairy Godmother The Emperor -> The Wise Old Man The Hierophant -> The Mentor Strength -> Courage Wheel of Fortune -> The Wheel The Hanged Man -> Entrapment Death -> Transformation The Devil -> Temptation The Tower -> Deception Judgment -> Redemption The World -> Happily Ever After In this deck, Strength is 8 and Justice is 11. I particularly like Innocence with Little Red Ridding Hood unaware of the ferocious wolf standing behind her, Deception with the Naked Emperor escorted by his court, and Happily Ever After with a castle seemingly reaching into the open sky. The suits in the Minor Arcana (swords, wands, cups and pentacles) are subtly integrated within the imagery of each card. For example: the Five of Pentacles have the pentacles sewed into a quilt, while the Ten of Swords have swords as an adornment to the side of a flying coffer. However, the correspondence of the suits to the four elements (fire, air, water and earth) is not as clear as in previous Tarots illustrated by Hunt. The court cards are labeled Queen and King, Princes and Prince akin to Crowley's tradition, with a subtle break from the hierarchal arrangement to move away traditional stereotypes The book that comes with this deck is perfectly suited to help you delve into the fairy tales portrayed on each card. Each card is described on three or four pages including title, culture of origin, keywords, brief story, symbols and meaning. This deck is an easy recommendation for seasoned tarot collectors. It comes in a box, which opens on the front like a chest, and includes a black organdy bag, and a companion book. Other decks by Lisa Hunt: Fantastical Creatures Tarot Animals Divine Tarot The Celtic Dragon Tarot Kit Shapeshifter Tarot

Since I happen to love the art of Lisa Hunt it came natural to buy this one too. But I really like the art in the cards, and the size. Even if I don't know all the tales that Lisa chose for the deck it's easy to recognize those that I do know about and reading the companion book (almost 300 pages) makes it easier to connect with the stories and what it's all about. The book gives lots of space for each card, what the common name for the card is, what culture the story comes from and some keywords. But there is also quite a lot of the fairy tale with it so one will understand what it's all about and why it is that particular card. Then there is added some about the symbols in the cards and suggested meanings for them. At the end of the book you find three spreads, well suited for this deck, or some other if you prefer. Love the book and deck and will take my tome to get to know it.

This tarot deck and companion book are slightly different. The names of some of the cards have been changed and the fairy tales are from many different cultures. The author supplies the fairy tale, culture, keywords, and if the name of the card has been changed she also gives the traditional name, as well as symbols and meanings. It's quite detailed and very beautiful. I learned a lot and think this is very much worth buying.