This beautiful Tarot deck comes with 78 cards, a fully illustrated guide book and a sturdy pull apart box. The cards are matte finished, composed of sturdy card stock and have gilded edges. The borderless artwork are the stuff of dreams. As I perused the deck I was reminded of post impressionistic artists such as Henri Matisse.
Gorman's interpretation of the Tower, for example, depicts a broken spine instead of the traditional lightning struck tower. Meditating on it is jarring and somewhat hard on the psyche. It's all very Jungian; almost uncanny valley in its depiction, which makes it so powerful. Gorman, however, describes this card as being the ultimate overwhelm. You are stressed beyond endurance and it's making you ill. This interpretation works well; especially when coupled with other cards, such as the Nine or the Ten of Swords.
Experienced readers will find working with this deck exhilarating. Beginners may find it overwhelming, whereas those who work with Jungian archetypes will love this deck as the images are excellent for shadow work.
The perfect bound 160 page book contains interpretations that are detailed and easy to understand. They somewhat stray from the traditional meanings, but the interpretations are still valid. For example, I was taught that the three of swords depicted someone with a broken heart due to a heavy personal loss, such as a divorce.
The Minor Arcana is subdivided into court cards and the ten to ace. It felt a bit unwieldy at first because the court cards are all grouped together, but it got easier as I continued my 'test drive' of this deck. I also appreciated her understanding of the court cards themselves. Instead of using the traditional meanings, which are vague and confusing, Gorman gives them strong personalities, which makes them a lot easier to read.
I loved the way the deck handled. It was small enough for my arthritic hands and not so large as to be awkward. The beautifully gilded edges make this deck shine. The gold coins on the back are in honor of her beloved Greek grandfather, and are also the inspiration of the suit of Pentacles.
Even though money is getting tight, this deck is worth every penny. It's one of the best decks I've used so far. It's become a staple in my Tarot collection.
~review by Patricia Snodgrass
Kristine Gorman
Weiser Books, 2025
p. $29.96, pp. 160
