Colette is "the" Oracle master so I imagined that, if she had to create a Tarot deck, was never going to be a replica of the RW Tarot. The structure of this deck is, however, that of the classic tarot, but the imagery has been freely interpreted and simplified. Also a very feminine vibe has been added, as well as characters of different ages and ethnic backgrounds made part of the deck. Colette says in the booklet that she has added some LOA and positive psychology principles, but I am not sure is this is just blah blah blah. For sure, the deck has a positive vibe as reversals are gone as well as any 'distressing' imagery. The LOA and PPsy is more clearly found in the meanings in the booklet.
THINGS I LOVE
> The concept is perfect for beginners as there aren't reversals.
> The "frightening" images in the RWT are not there, so all the imagery has a positive feeling.
> The artwork by DellaGrotaglia is stunning once again. Her layering, textures and colouring are superb. Despite the sophisticated symbolism of her imagery and the richness of symbolic elements, the images feel clean and sophisticated at the same time. The imagery has a wonderful oneiric fairy-tale feeling that I love.
> The interpretation given to each card is short and sweet and captures the essence of what the original card meant upright.
> The fancy lettering describing the suit card and number is fanciful wonderful.
> Beautifully simple card back.
> The
Good Tarot has a mythological ethereal whimsical archetypal feel that
roots in the Tarot and in traditional fairy tales and angelic realms.
> The cards Strength and Love are wonderfully related with the women first controlling the beast and then falling in love with it. Like Beauty and the Beast.
> Sturdy beautiful keepsake box.
THINGS THAT BOTHER ME
>
This deck is massive and extremely difficult to shuffle even if you
have average-size hands, so it's really a pain for people with small hands.
> The cards gloss coating makes them stick together so they are difficult to shuffle. Shuffling well and easy is at the core of any reading, so if the cards don't shuffle well, what's the point?
> The booklet printing quality and paper stock are average.
> Some of the cards are slightly blurry.
> The major arcana card numbers aren't placed on a fix position, something that really annoys me.
> The blue tones from air and water suits are so similar that is difficult to identify which suit is which one by the color. The same re the earth and fire suits. Why not having completely distinct suit color palette for each suit?
> Too many winged beings in this deck. The air suit with angelic winged beings and the earth suit with butterfly-ish fairy beings and there are wings everywhere, really.
MIND
> The overall feminine tone of the deck might not speak to male readers or tarot aficionados. The only male figures are the Kings plus the hanged man and the page of earth. Figures that are usually depicted as male in the RW Tarot like the knights (messengers) and the Hierophant are here feminine as well.
> This is a simplification of the Tarot most common meanings, so it is not as rich and deep as the original.
SUGGESTION TO THE PUBLISHER
US Games Systerms has the best card stock in the market. It not only make shuffling a pleasure, it is good enough to have any artwork really pop up and display the right way. I think Hay House should just copycat the card stock, because most of HH Tarot decks, like this one, are too bulky, too heavy and to mass-produced.
This is such a well-known oracle, ubiquitous on YouTube tarot-reader channels that is difficult to say something that it hasn't been said before.
The oracle is personified in the human head/face that appears on the back as well as blended in in most front cards.
THINGS I LIKE
> Beautiful digital artwork by DellaGrottaglia, a digital artist with whom Colette collaborates and has a wonderful eye for intuitive imagery in divination decks. Overall, the whimsical surrealist clean imagery is wonderful: polished, simple but rich enough to be used on its own or with the guidebook interpretations. The deck has a strong presence of spirit animals and fairies, and it's embedded with tenderness and sense of humor.
> Presence of racial diversity in the characters depicted on the cards.
> The symmetric colorful back is a stunner.
> The guidebook contents. Each card has an oracle message, a relationship message, a prosperity message (career, business, work, projects) and a protection message, so it's not only practical but versatile and in-depth.
> Good quality card stock
> Sturdy keepsake box.
I DON'T LIKE
>
At the end of the day, what matters the most when using any oracle
deck is that things flow and your answers are replied with precision. You ask a query about work and the card imagery and/or guidebook
text are spot on and go to the core of the matter. I tend to ask any
deck, when I first start using it, questions about things I know the answer about or things about myself that I obviously know. Unfortunately, I have a mix bag of results with my queries on that regard and the oracle has been less magnificent than expected.
> The beautiful flourished numbering is not positioned on the same spot on each card. Sometimes, it's on the right hand side (in most cards) but not always at the same height. In one case, it's on the middle tip, while in other cases, the numbering is located on the left hand side but at different heights. This is simply bad design.
> The card stock isn't flexible enough and the glossy coating makes cards stick to each other, and, as a consequence, shuffling it's not natural or pleasurable.
> Average guidebook printing quality and paper stock.
> 23 cards have a flag garland on the top while the rest have none.Why? Does the flags signal something different on those cards that have them?
> The cards are on the large side so they're easy to shuffle if you have small hands.
I have several Colette's decks and they are among my favourite as they are on point most times and are delightful to look at. In that regard, this deck fits the Colette's deck philosophy, but providing us with new intuitive insights and approaches to oracle readings.
The association of colours to each element, which is shown in the card number marquee matches the colours associated to the 7 chakras. Thus, green goes with the heart chakra, love and relationships. Blue goes with the throat chakra and communication. Purple goes with the third eye chakra and intuition. And so forth.
WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS DECK
> The cards and guidebook are beautifully packed in a good-quality cardboard box, with a pull-up ribbon to help get the cards out.
> The cards are quite large but not bulky or heavy and they are very flexible and easy to shuffle.
> Original conception. It mixes the four elements, the four tarot suits and the seven chakras.
> The cards can be used together with the guidebook or on their own. That is, it's a great deck for intuitive readings using your own system as the images are very evocative and symbolically rich.
> I love having some tarot cards reinvented, like the ace of cups, the ace of hearts, the world, the wheel of fortune, the high priestess, the trickster, and strength.
> No reverse readings.
> Amazing inspiring digital artwork that will get your intuition flowing.
> Good quality print.
> Good value for money.
ODD TO ME
> It took me a while to get used to the deck and to customize the meanings for me personally.
> Answers not always relate to my queries. So, this is, so far, not as mind blowing as other Colette's decks.
> The element air, which goes with swords and thought is nowhere to be found in the correspondence table in pages 7 and 8 of the guidebook. We guess it goes with the 7th suit, devoted to thought and light.
> I found at bit unsettling having images that go together in style and conception as part of different 'suits' as the show a lack of energetic and artistic congruence. For example, card 43 from the light suit is very similar in conception and style to card number 7 from the earth suit; the same can be said of cards no, 5 and 48.
> Many of the water lilies images fit together as a glove, but they are spread all over the deck with meanings that aren't always there, at least for me. Like the cards 5 body and soul, 45 Spirit of gratitude, and 48 a burst of magic for example.
> Some cards imagery and the intuitive value given to them do not match at all for me. Said differently, there is some sort of mismatch between the message and the image. Examples, 5 Body and soul; 6 It is what it is; 12 bearing fruit;16 royal you; 24 let it go; 35 a tall tale; 37 the oracle gift; 45 a spirit of gratitude, and 48 a burst of magic.
> I wish the cards had been text-less.
MY REINTERPRETATION
After going through the text, herewith my reinterpretation:
1- Grounded.
2- Roots. Rut.
3- Magic portal. Entering. You have to come in. The Unknown.
4- Ace of cups.
5- Lilly pond. Lotus flower.
6- Magic door. Door to magic. Enchanted portal.
7- Meditate. Calm your mind. Spa time.
8- Enlightened sensuality. Inner light.
9- Summer. Open rose. Fragrance of love.
10- Barriers are in your mind. Fly away. False trap. Trapped beauty.
11- Key to a magic new world. Starry night. The world is opening for you.
12- Ecosystem. Magic tree. Tree of life. Autumn.
13- The world is in your hands. A world of possibilities. Small world.
14- Opening of the heart. Heart shining through,
15- Chess king/queen. Ball in your court. Unlock your potential.
16- Crowned . Open heart.
17- I can hear you. Music is everywhere.
18- The wheel of fortune.
19- Wilderness. Strength.
20 - Magic night. Enchanted.
21- Divine eye. You see everything. Crown chakra. Connection with spirit.
22- Caress. Thick skin.
23. In my heart. Healing of the heart.
24- Thriving heart. Unbreakable heart connection.
25- Birds of a feather flock together.
26- My heart sings. Sparks in my heart. Mystical heart.
27 - Symphony of love. My heart sings.
28- Mind-heart-body connection. Enlightenment.
29- Dream power. Inner Shaman.
30- Inner burst. Orgasm.
31- Enticing. Dancer. Sensuality.
32- Meditate.
33- The trickster.
34- Portal to a new world/life. Night dream travels.
35- Looking for the maker. Vital journey. Find you identity.
36- Heightened intuition. Third eye. Seeing through and beyond.
37- Use your oracles. Witchy. Potion. Have a tea.
38 - We are the Universe. Magic is everywhere. Magical thinking. Feel the magic.
39- Dream magic. Introspection. Making a heartfelt wish. Inner child.
40- Convergence. Heading to the same destination.
41- Eagle point of view. Look at things from a different point of view. Wise woman.
42- Distorted mirror. Confusion. Unclear image.
43- Beautiful mind. Mindful gift.
44- Heaven. The Universe. Magic realms. Connection to the divine.
45- Beyond the ordinary. Soulful person. Special person.
46- Navigate your emotions. Feelings and emotions as a your guide.
47- Universal love. Love made in heaven.
48- Night opening. Sweet smell.
49- Let the wind will carry you. Fragile beauty. Lightness.
Posts
