Deck designed by Eileen Connolly and her son Peter 

© 1990 US Games Systems Inc.

The Connolly Tarot was created by Eileen Connolly and her son, Peter, who did the artwork.  Peter brought to life the vision his mother had in the meanings of the cards.  He used colored pencils for his drawings, and in 18 months, the Connolly Tarot was created.  This deck is influenced by Waite, but is not a Waite clone.  It's a good deck for intuitive readings -- where you can let the pictures speak to you without feeling you must always refer to a book.

This is considered a Christian type of deck.  It is filled with vibrant color, and it a very pretty deck.  There really are no offensive cards in the Connolly Tarot deck, and there is very little nudity which makes it a nice deck choice for most anyone.  There are some variations from the Rider-Waite Tarot, so a beginner may find the deck confusing in some aspects -- although if used as a second deck, a beginner can gain deeper understanding of the cards by comparing the Connolly cards with the traditional Rider-Waite cards.  The Connolly Tarot is based on traditional themes, but with a gentler approach.

When I first began using this deck as a newbie, I did find the cards to a bit confusing as I had started with the traditional Rider-Waite deck.  However, once I began to compare the cards to the Rider-Waite, I saw the deeper meanings in the cards that Eileen Connolly has presented.  By working with this deck and the Rider-Waite and doing comparisons, it certainly was a help to me in my initial Tarot studies.

Another thing I especially like about this deck is that, in the Major Arcana, two of the card names are renamed from the traditional titles.  The card that we normally see named "Death" (which by the way, absolutely does NOT mean a physical death!), is called "Transition."  I like this name, because that is what this card really refers to -- a transition or a major change; a rebirth that can occur after a death of some issue or way of life (but not a physical death).  The other renamed card is "Materialism" which we see as "The Devil" in a traditional Tarot Deck.  This card often refers to materialism or bondage to bad or unhealthy habits.  Many people mistakenly believe that the "Devil" card represents evil.  Certainly it could represent someone cruel, unkind, and uncaring, but it's not representative of "evil" in the sense that one normally first thinks of.

The overall quality and appearance of the deck is very user-friendly and is excellent for most clients.  It's an excellent deck for anyone who naturally shies away from cards that are often viewed as "bad" such as the Death card, the Devil card, and even the 10 of Swords.  The Connolly Tarot makes it easier for anyone who is nervous about getting a Tarot Reading . . . or anyone who is nervous about Tarot in general.
 

Number of Cards in Deck: 78 (22 Major/56 Minor)

Size of Cards:  2-3/4" x 4-3/4"
A standard-sized deck which shuffled easily.

Included with deck: LWB (Little White Book), 21 pages.
Two extra cards are included which can be used as extra or blank cards.

Major Arcana:  (Non-traditional titles are highlighted.)
Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant,
Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice,
Hanged Man, Transition, Temperance, Materialism, Tower, Star, Moon,
Sun, Judgement, World

Suit Names: Cups, Wands, Swords, Pentacles

Court Cards:  King, Queen, Knight, Page
 

Back Design of Cards:

THE CONNOLLY TAROT

This Deck is Available from Amazon.com:

Also available, by Eileen Connolly:

Tarot:  A New Handbook for the Apprentice
Book Description
The Tarot has long been known to contain the accumulated secrets of the universe in esoteric symbology. In order to decipher the true meaning of these symbols, the student must approach the Tarot with an open mind and an open spirit.

This new approach to the study of the Tarot provides a clear but profound method of exploring and discovering your own inner depths, a necessary prerequisite to a thorough understanding of the ancient symbols. In addition, this handbook relates the Tarot to other occult sciences such as astrology, the cabala, and numerology. Here you will find basic lessons and exercises, procedures, and fundamental esoteric philosophy which will open up new dimensions to the inquiring mind, and allow you to fully comprehend the tarot and its powers of enlightenment and divination.
 

Tarot: The Handbook for the Journeyman
Book Description
In this second volume of Eileen Connolly’s best-selling Connolly Tarot series, the student advances on the upward path from apprentice to journeyman, and the tarot-as-oracle blooms with depth, detail, power and light.

Eileen Connolly offers new and practical techniques for rich and detailed readings, including material never before offered in any book on tarot. Her new conjunction concept provides deeper insights for establishing the time of influences and events; she shows how to use tile focusing power of crystals and presents many new and exciting spreads for exploring the details of both karmic and mundane issues.

Basic tarot is covered in Ms. Connolly’s first book, Tarot: A New Handbook for The Apprentice, and that basic information and experience are prerequisites for using this volume.
 

Tarot:  The First Handbook for the Master
Book Description
This volume is the first book in a series of handbooks for the master Tarotologist. While basic and intermediate Tarot are covered in Dr. Connolly's early works, such as Tarot: A New Handbook for the Apprentice, and volumes I and II of Tarot: The Handbook for the Journeyman, this long-awaited volume presents skilled lessons for serious students.

Fully illustrated with the Connolly Tarot deck, this groundbreaking guidebook contains the results of a lifetime of Dr. Connolly's research into the ancient concept of the Tarot. Her purpose is to aid the master student in uncovering the karmic force or purpose of intimate relationships, comprehending life's obstacles, and attaining a true understanding of one's soul and others' souls.

The mysterious forces of karma are penetrated in these pages, as they unveil a unique focus on life's journey:

Exciting extensions of the Minor Mentor and Master Mentor interpretations, building upon concepts presented in Journeyman volumes I and II.
Malkuthian Keys, which reveal the impact of karma and why all serious students need them to fully realize their karmic fate.
Karmic Crossroads, and the hidden wisdom that defines the karmic law one has to master in life.
Verification cards for every aspect of the Master Tarot Spreads.
Connolly Chronicles, which open every verification in the Spreads.
Liplkas or pertinent obstacles to overcome in the next ten calendar months.

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