The DruidCraft Tarot weaves the teachings of Druidry and Wicca into a beautiful deck and companion book. Authors Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm are initiates of Druidry and Wicca, and their comfortable knowledge of both Mystery Schools makes for a very interesting and easy to read companion book. The book provides a background of the rationale behind the 78 card deck. This deck is designed to follow the wheel of the season, with each suit’s art taking one season. The cards are beautifully designed, with art close to traditional images, yet clearly influenced by Wiccan and Druidy imagery.
I found the book’s explanatory initial layouts very interesting, although not necessary to using this deck in a reading. In order to view their vision of the Wheel of the Year and the teaching parallels to Wicca and Druidry, the authors advise laying out the pip cards by suit in a circle, starting with the Ace of Pentacles at the top (Winter Solstice) and continuing clockwise so the Ace of Swords lays at the 3 o’clock position (Spring Equinox), the Ace of Wands at the 6 o’clock position, (Summer Solstice) and the Ace of Cups at 9 o’clock (Autumn Equinox). Within this circle, layout the court cards in a circle, matching the suits to the outer circle, and in the inner circle, layout the Major Arcana. This is authors’ view of the Inner Mysteries (Major Arcana), the faces/personalities we wear (Court cards) and the Outer world (Minor Arcana ). The middle circle of court cards can look within (realm of spirit) or without (physical realm).
Drawing on Wiccan and Druid teaching, the authors suggest laying out the Major Arcana in three rows of seven, beginning with the Magician card. This exercise explores the three levels of mastery in both schools, and suggests that within each row (cards 1-7, 8- 14, 15-21) lies a level of mastery of the power of self, of integration of masculine and feminine and finally of a deeper union of integration and attainment.
I found this deck very usable, very intuitive and the companion book interesting, easy to read and entirely usable. This deck has become one of my favorites and I highly recommend it.
~review by Karen Phillippi
Creators: Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm
St. Martin’s Press, 2004
pp. 192, $24.95
