by
~*~Velvet
Angel ~*~
by
~*~Velvet
Angel ~*~
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Northern Shadows |
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This
deck is suitable for any question you wish to ask of the Tarot.
Deck by Howard Rodway;
Art by Sylvia Gainsford
© 1997
Tarot of Northern Shadows is another Tarot deck creation by the artist and author of Tarot of the Old Path. Artist Sylvia Gainsford and author Howard Rodway have combined their efforts once again, this time producing a deck that draws upon Viking and Celtic mythology and legend. It holds a Celtic emphasis, drawing upon Welsh tales of "The Mabinogion," which is a book of eleven legendary stories of Welsh folklore and history.
Court cards are named Rods, Cups, Swords, and Discs. The titles of the cards are shown in German with the English title just below it. With the exception of the traditional Tower card which has been renamed "Destruction" in this deck, all other Major Arcana titles are the same as traditional Tarot structures. The Major Arcana cards feature Norse and Celtic figures with their companion animals. The suit of Rods portray Norse gods and goddesses. Cups feature heroes and heroines from "The Mabinogion." The suit of Swords contains characters from British Celtic and Continental legend. The suit of Discs features Irish Celtic personalities. The pip cards of the Minor Arcana include a comprehensive range of Norse and Celtic myths as well as beliefs and folklore from "The Mabinogion."
The cards have an open white background, much like the first creation by this author and artist team in the Tarot of the Old Path. The feel of this deck for me is much like the Tarot of the Old Path. Even though it's not intended to necessarily be based on a Wiccan theme, it still has that flavor with the feeling I get, but others can experience it differently. I knew when I saw images from this deck for the first time that it had a familiar feel, and then I discovered that it was created by the same artist and author who brought us the Tarot of the Old Path. I was really drawn to their first work, even though I don't personally follow a Wiccan path, and the Tarot of Northern Shadows was the same for me in terms of how I was drawn to the deck. It has a certain appeal with such interesting art that it's easy to be drawn into this deck, just like its predecessor. I particularly like the open white background, although some people prefer bordered cards.
There are a lot of cards I really like in this deck, and some that I don't like so much, but overall, it's an attractive deck that has a certain intriguing appeal for me.
The cards shuffle with ease, measuring 2-3/4" x 4-3/4." They have a smooth matte finish on front and back. The back of the cards are simply done with a black and white Celtic pattern drawing which is reversible.
The LWB (little white book) that accompanies the deck is 53 pages in length, providing some basic interpretations for the cards with both upright and reversed meanings. This is definitely not a Rider Waite Clone Tarot deck when it comes to the imagery, so I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner to the Tarot, even though the interpretations in the LWB are traditional meanings. It could work perhaps if one used it as a second deck to work with their Rider Waite version deck in their learning of the Tarot. I think anyone who liked the Tarot of the Old Path will also find appeal for this deck, and of course, deck collectors will likely want to include this deck among their Tarot collections.
Velvet
Angel
Email
Velvet Angel
Number of Cards in Deck: 78
Size of Cards: 2-3/4" x 4-3/4"
Included with deck: A 53-page little white booklet
Major Arcana:
Fool, Magician, High
Priestess, Empress, Emperor, High Priest, Lovers, Chariot, Strength,
Hermit, Wheel of Fortune,
Justice, Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, Devil, Destruction,
Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement,
World
Suit Names: Rods (Wands), Cups, Swords, Discs (Pentacles)
Court Cards: King, Queen, Knight, Page
Back Design of Cards: 
 |
 TAROT
OF THE NORTHERN SHADOWS
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