Crystal Visions Tarot
Deck by author and fantasy artist Jennifer
Galasso
© 2011 U.S.
Games Systems, Inc.
When I saw images of the Crystal
Visions Tarot deck online, I thought it was very pretty, but
I just didn't realize how beautiful these cards actually
were until I bought them and held them in my hands.
For many decks, sample images don't truly do a deck justice,
and this one is no exception. Having these cards in my
hands to shuffle and read with on an up-close-and-personal
basis allowed me to quickly connect -- and to classify this
deck among my favorites!
This deck also has a website, and you can visit at: http://crystalvisionstarot.com/
I love the feminine feel of this deck. The imagery is
beautiful with rich tones that speak to me on an emotional
level. And for those who prefer the RWS
(Rider-Waite-Smith) style of Tarot, the symbolism of the
Crystal Visions Tarot remains true to tradition -- from the
titles and ordering of the Major Arcana Cards (with Strength
as #8 and Justice as #11) . . . to the suit names:
Cups, Swords, Pentacles, and Wands . . . to the traditional
court card names: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.
The cards have a white border around them, and that's
probably the only thing I would change about this deck since
I prefer borderless Tarot cards. But I won't let a
petty quibble and personal preference stop me from using
this gorgeous tarot deck. In fact, I will eventually get
around to simply removing the white borders on the
cards. But until then, they still read as beautifully
as they look. If this deck were a person, I would say
that she is as beautiful on the inside as she is on the
outside. I refer to this deck with a feminine
reference, because I feel a lot of feminine energy radiating
from the cards.
Additionally, while the deck is beautiful to look at, it
also renders such beautiful and meaningful energy in reading
the cards. As mentioned, this deck really speaks to me
on an emotional level. In fact, I quickly made friends
with the Crystal Visions Tarot. Doing my first reading
with this deck of cards was like connecting with a dear and
trusted friend -- even though the cards and I just met
during the first week of January 2012. What a lovely
way to start my new year in the world of Tarot!
Even though this deck is based on traditional symbolism and will have a familiar feel to those who enjoy using a Rider Waite styled tarot deck, the Crystal Visions Tarot has a bonus card, making this a 79-card tarot deck. But don't let that difference scare you away from this beautiful deck of cards. What I always advise, for those who insist on using only 78 cards for any deck, is to just take out the extra(s) if you feel uncomfortable with them. The added card of this deck is titled "The Unknown Card" and it has no number on it, but it is designated as a Major Arcana Card.
"The Unknown Card" reminds me a lot of the High Priestess
card in terms of traditional interpretation. In the
63-page little white booklet, this is the only card that
does not include a reversed meaning. I've always liked
the High Priestess in the Tarot, even though some people say
they dislike it because of the "unknown" factors involved
and the sensation of things being delayed or not yet out in
the open.
As an example of this well-written LWB (little white
booklet) that accompanies the Crystal Visions Tarot, let's
compare the High Priestess and The Unknown Card:
II. The High Priestess (p. 5-6)
"The High Priestess
represents mystery, the unconscious, intuition, and divine
realms. She brings a sense of calm to our lives, and helps
us find deeper meaning through understanding, wisdom, and
knowledge. The keeper of all things magick, the High
Priestess stands upon a crescent moon, symbolizing
intuition, psychic force and unseen energy. She
holds a pomegranate in one hand, and an ankh staff in the
other, and is surrounded by butterflies; all symbols of
rebirth and eternal life."
REVERSED: "The High Priestess can
signify someone who is not as deep as they appear, or uses
their keen senses and intuitive abilities to control and
manipulate. There is a sense of falseness, superficiality,
and entitlement about the High Priestess when she appears
reversed."
THE
UNKNOWN CARD (p. 19-20)
"The Crystal Visions deck includes one Unknown Card, which
represents an answer that's not yet meant to be
revealed. It can signify something from the past
that one may not fully understand, or something that will
happen soon. Wherever the Unknown Card falls within
a spread will indicate what area still needs to unfold and
that further steps need to be taken in order to clarify
the bigger picture. The Unknown Card can also
signify the importance of one looking deeper into the
issue at hand in order to find answers. It can also
represent the importance of moving forward with an open
mind and without bias."
"The figure in the card
beckons the querent to take a look into her crystal ball,
however, the image in the ball is cloudy and
unclear. With time, patience and introspection, the
picture will soon be revealed."
While there is no reversed interpretation for The Unknown
Card, I think a reversed interpretation could state that
what has been a mystery is soon going to be solved.
There were things you were not previously ready to know, but
revelations for the mysteries are just around the corner --
because the time is right and you will soon be ready to
know. So be prepared, watching for signs and symbols
that will show you the steps to take next. Again, I
feel that the interpretation of this card is very similar to
the High Priestess. If one was opposed to having this
extra card in the deck, they could simply take it out before
doing a reading. I personally don't mind having the
extra card in the deck.
If you are familiar with a RWS deck, you can read the
Crystal Visions Tarot straight out of the box with the
understanding that there is that extra card in this
deck. But for those who are new to the Tarot, I like
the way the author and artist has written the 63-page
accompanying booklet. It's far better than most LWB's
available for a deck. I feel that even a beginner to
Tarot could successfully learn Tarot with this deck and the
proper books for learning this subject.
A fascinating thing I noticed in this deck is that for the
cards that can signify change or rebirth on some level,
there are butterflies as part of the symbolism for those
cards. In the description of
the High Priestess card above, the author tells us that
butterflies are a symbol of rebirth and eternal
life. I definitely agree, and I would add to that
description that butterflies are a symbol of change.
Butterflies can show us a "lighter" side of a situation,
or can show how thought transforms or changes one's
understanding of life and circumstances.
The bottom of the cards have a
colored border in which the name of the cards is
placed. The Major Arcana's title border is a maize
color, Cups are pink, Wands are peach, the border for
Swords is a light blue, and the Pentacles cards have a
light forest green bottom border. Roman numerals are
used to designate the Major Arcana card numbers, and the
numbers for the suit cards are spelled out.
The back of the cards are reversible
and feature a crystal ball globe surrounded by rose vines
and blue jewels. On the outer part of the card back,
there are red roses and a Pentacle in each corner, and at
the top and bottom there is a chalice centered between two
swords. So when you turn the card upside down, you
can't tell the difference between the imagery you see
reversed versus an upright card. The cards measure
2-3/4" x 4-3/4" and have a smooth finish which makes them
easy to shuffle. (See
image at bottom of page.)
This is a deck that I plan to use
frequently since it feels as comfortable to me as the RWS
traditional tarot deck, and thus I appreciate the fact
that a quality cardstock has been used for this
deck. The quality cardstock will allow the Crystal
Visions Tarot to stand the test of time with heavy usage.
While I couldn't recommend this
lovely deck for children due to the fact that there is
still the bloody 10 of Swords scene in this deck, and some
very minor nudity in just a couple of the cards, it could
be an appealing deck for the mature teen, perhaps
especially for young women. While men can certainly
appreciate this deck, too, I think it's going to appeal
more significantly to women due to the feminine feeling
that exudes from the cards. For me personally, I really
like the feeling of this deck.
Each of the suits corresponds to a
season of nature, an element, and an astrological
sign. Within each suit of this tarot deck, you will
also find certain symbols that are predominant:
Swords
- Winter Season
- Air Element
- Astrological Signs -- Aquarius, Gemini, Libra
- Predominant Symbols -- birds, ravens, butterflies, and winged people that bring to mind fairies
Cups
- Spring Season
- Water Element
- Astrological Signs -- Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio
- Predominant Symbols -- various moon phases, water lilies, and dragonflies
Wands
- Summer Season
- Fire Element
- Astrological Signs -- Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
- Predominant Symbols --
candles, dragons, crystal balls, horses, unicorns,
lions
Pentacles
- Autumn Season
- Earth Element
- Astrological Signs -- Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo
- Predominant Symbols -- crystals and gems, earth spirits, dryads, wildlife, fruitful trees and plants
I'm
very impressed with the use of color in this deck.
The tones are rich and warm, but are done in a way that
feels gentle. I think the coloring of the cards
themselves are a big part of what draws me in and connects
me emotionally to this deck.
I
could talk about each and every card to the point of
writing a book, but since this is a review of the deck, I
will have to restrain myself. But I will mention the
card I drew from the Crystal Visions Tarot to ask, "What is our connection?"
I wanted the Tarot's response from this deck as to why I
connected immediately and without hesitation or any
reservations. I wanted to understand why this deck
felt like an old friend whom I had just met. While
there are many decks on the market I absolutely love, I
don't always connect so quickly and easily even to those
that become favorites.
I drew the 5 of Pentacles. Now
understandably, a lot of people wouldn't see this as being
much of a connection, but I related immediately to what
this message and connection is all about! There is a
long story behind the 5 of Pentacles experience in my
life, and I won't get into all of that. Here is
neither the time, nor the place.
What I can say, to keep things brief,
is that I was instantly reminded of the care and
protection I've provided my grandson since he was a
baby. This card's message seemed to say to me, "I
will be your safe haven from the storms of life.
When you feel left out in the cold or betrayed by life,
I'll be here for you. I remind you of your faith and
that there is indeed light at the end of this dark
tunnel."
In this card, we
can literally see the light at the end of the forest
trees. A woman and child have huddled together
beneath a tree. As this suit represents the season
of Autumn, it seems that there has been an early snow, and
they are keeping each other warm. They may have lost
their way in the dark, but the dawn brings new
light. There is that old saying that comes to mind
with this card, "It's always darkest before the
dawn." This isn't a card that promises easy times;
in fact, this card speaks of a hardship on some level --
even feeling "left out in the cold." But I love how
the light of day is shown beyond the trees that reminds me
of the light at the end of the tunnel.
Of course, I don't want to leave you with the impression that this deck is filled with fluff and can't tell it like it is. It definitely can tell the tale of a difficult and challenging story in your life, but at the same time, it's like having a friend by your side who will offer comfort, support, and guidance to get through whatever you're going through. This is the kind of gentle strength that offers empowerment.
I highly recommend this deck to anyone who enjoys the RWS tarot decks, to those who want a gentle deck that has a softer approach (yet still powerful!), and even for those who are just starting with the Tarot. The Crystal Visions Tarot follows RWS tradition in a way that doesn't clone or copy the familiar and well-loved kind of traditional tarot deck, but is still similar enough to immediately resonate with. Collectors will also want to get a copy of this deck, too.
Deck Details - Crystal Visions Tarot
Number
of Cards in Deck: 79
Size of Cards: 2-3/4" x 4-3/4"
Included with deck: Nicely written 63-page booklet that includes several blank pages at the end in which you can make personal notes if you wish.
Major Arcana: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The
Empress, The Emperor,
The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength (card #8), The Hermit,
Wheel of Fortune,
Justice (card #11), The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower,
The Star,
The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, The World
Suit Names: Swords, Cups, Wands, Pentacles
Court Cards: Page, Knight, Queen, King
Back Design of Cards:
