The Fairy Tale Tarot Cards – Box set, September 8, 2009

At the time of this writing, others have already posted some fantastic reviews on this product, and those reviewers offer helpful specific information for serious Tarot practitioners, especially those who prefer traditional representations and handling of Tarot materials. I found those reviews helpful when I was shopping. Nevertheless, I will share my own observations about the product and hopefully add another voice for the consideration of future buyers. :)WHAT I LIKED: The first thing that caught my eye with the Fairy Tale Tarot Box Set was the exquisite artwork. The richly detailed book cover "Once Upon a Time..." was as attractive as it was thought-provoking, otherworldly yet approachable at the same time. A fan of fairy tales, folklore, mythology, and archetypes, I felt an instant connection with it, and I was instantly interested in learning about the deck of cards that accompanied the book. I generally tend to like the whimsical and unusual in things, which is why the Fairy Tale Tarot appeals to me. Traditional decks, for me, often range from very dull to disturbing, depending on their given imagery. So, I was well pleased to find a creative product that paid tribute to traditional Tarot while also presenting a fresh, unique treatment of topics. To illustrate what I mean, I have uploaded some images of my Fairy Tale Tarot box set. Check out images near the topic of the product's page.The author / artist Lisa Hunt has put immense amounts of time, effort, intellect, spirit, and heart in rendering this amazing product. I appreciate the multicultural sensitivity in her choices. Honoring diversity, Hunt has definitely pulled ripe fruit from the world's best loved stories. The book and cards offer ideas and imagery from such cultures as these: English; Welsh; irish / Celtic; French; Spanish; German; Danish / Norwegian / Scandinavian; Czechoslovakian; Polish; Romanian; Serbian; Lithuanian; Italian; Russian; Indian; Chinese; Japanese; MidEast / Central Asian; Laplander; Inuit; Native American; Canadian; Brazilian; African; and Maori. You'll recognize popular fairy tales, and you'll be introduced to ones you've never encountered. Fans of Harry Potter may find some "aha" moments as they make mindful connections between traditional world tales as depicted in this set and the spin that JK Rowlings often puts on them (or elements of them) in her works.Each of the 78 cards in this deck is alive with universal ideas, metaphors, and emotions. In truth, they are mini, soulful portraits that can spark healthy contemplation for those who are open to them, to their visual and spiritual depths, stories within stories, stories that connect to other stories. In Lisa Hunt's art work, you can often catch a glimpse of faces and other designs hidden in trees, clouds, water, gnarled roots, etc. The book that accompanies the deck offers sections called "Symbols and Meaning." These sections describe what can be found in the card's image, overt and subtle, and possible interpretations. Included in the book are the fairy tales--the stories--depicted in each card, and these are given to underscore the meaning of the cards. The basic "section" plan in the book is...1) A black and white image of a card2) The title of the card, which is the title of the section about it3) A correlation to traditional Tarot card, if necessary4) The name of the Fairy Tale story represented and the cultural it is from5) Keywords about the story and the card's content for thought6) Symbols and Meaning section (length varies according to story and card explanation)Example of an opening text for a card:II * The SorceressTraditional: The High PriestessStory: The Lake MaidenCulture: WelshKeywords: Intuition / Secrets / MysteriesWHAT I DID NOT LIKE ABOUT THE SET: I love this set, don't get me wrong. However, there were a few things that would have really made this book / card set truly stellar if these had been included. First, I would have liked some more detailed beginner "How to Conduct a Reading" and "How to Use" information that addressed the importance / significance of the various suits, specific types of layouts, and finer-pointed interpretations such as what it means when a card appears reversed or what it means (if anything) when you have a majority of one group in a spread---say three cups and a wand. Second, I think it might have been helpful to have a "Quick Reference / Index" section at the back of the book that listed the cards and their page numbers for quick locating. Without the index, the user is flipping constantly through the book until he / she becomes accustomed to the order. Third, I would have preferred that the book be hard cover with at least a few colored pages; the hard cover would have been a strong choice for repeated use, especially since there is no page index.People who are absolutely new to Tarot may have to do a bit of research to appreciate Traditional Tarot as it relates to the Fairy Tale Tarot, but discovery is part of personal journeys. The author's own comment underscores this: "My descriptions are there to help guide you as you explore the nuances of the tales but it is up to you to take these tales to where you want to go" (page 5). Of course, the user is free to imagine how best to use Fairy Tale Tarot.This book and card set may not appeal to everyone. Before purchasing, read other reviews and look at images so that you know what to expect from this product.SIDE NOTE: Oddly enough, we've found that the Running Press' Miniature Tarot with Tarot Nova--a tiny book and card set--makes a fun, entertaining, and often helpful companion set to the Fairy Tale Tarot.

Tarot is not a fortune-telling instrument or a magic wand; rather, it is a therapeutic tool to assist us to realign our perceptions in order to tackle our problems creatively, and non-linearly. Tarot uses universal narratives/symbols/metaphors, and archetypes, and a good deck can provoke clarity through active meditation on the cards. Swiss psychologist Carl Jung referred to the deepest of the three states of consciousness as "the collective unconscious", or the "second soul," where our shared symbolism occurs. The Tarot, especially the Major Arcana, represents the three states of consciousness Jung has described.Tarot's beginnings go back to the 15th century. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent core or archetypal images, and the Minor Arcana represents the ways that our consciousness obtains its orientation to experience--intuition, sensation, emotion, and intellect. Jung used the Tarot with his patients in order to unlock the gates to the unconscious mind and creatively explore areas of concern, (in a similar way that he used dream analysis).Artist Lisa Hunt has designed an extraordinary deck of fairytale images representing the tarot deck. She captured the spirit of Jung's approach to tarot through her artistry and her narratives. Most of us grew up on fairytales. Why are they so universal? Because we can all relate to the passageways they light into the human condition. Hunt's deck of cards and companion book illustrate fairy tales as a touchstone of archetypes and interpretation through stories.My favorite Tarot card has always been The Fool--the card of innocence and childlike spontaneity. The accompanying fairytale that the artist chose was Little Red Riding Hood. The little girl is growing up and venturing out on her own. The wolf is the girl's own animal nature, "the shadow initiating the awakening of the ego..." and "the drives that are imbedded in our psyche." The artist/author weaves a narrative from these images and fairytale story. Little Red Riding Hood is an apt symbol of The Fool.The picture on the card illustrates the conscious and unconscious states that become more apparent the longer you study it. The trees and forest represent ancient wisdom; the red cape is the girl's vitality and openness to life. As I continued meditating on the card, I saw what at first seems hidden, such as the whisper of faces in the trees.Every card is dynamic, a story in itself that keeps on evolving. The process of divination arises from the relationship between the story and its symbols, the artistry of the card, and the mind of the person interacting with the deck. The Fairy Tale Tarot is both intimate and mindful. I have been meditating on these cards for several weeks now, and each time I come back to the deck, I feel inspired by new perceptions arising from familiar images. I encounter something revealing about my emotions and state of being, and a fresh way of relating.I look forward to exploring more of Lisa Hunt's acclaimed Tarot decks.

Have you ever heard about reading symbols the coffee leaves in an already drunk cup? Those images like birds, numbers, dragons, horses and so on lie on there. Well, you will find exactly these with the Fairy Tale Tarot by Lisa Hunt. I had the pleasure to thank her with a photo of her deck in facebook and i also had the luck to be thanked by her. The fairy Tale Tarot is a world of fantasy, fairy tales, composed of parts adapted to each card's general meaning. The box contained the deck which is composed of 78 borderless cards with an amazing ideal (i would say ideal) reversible back; a 300-page book companion of very nice paper and a black organdi tarot bag.as you will find there are some interesting changes in the name of the cards like for example The wise old man for the Emperor, Hapily ever after for the World card and so many more. The images itself are quite different. You will find Whitesnow history in the six of swords, or Bambi in the two of cups...The book contains a brief introduction than it goes to the Major Arcana, followed by the suit of Cups/Swords/Pentacles and then wands, first interpreting court cards than pip ones. For each card you will find the fairy tale where it's image was taken from, then the symbols and their meanings in a reading. You will get enchanted by the world of dragons, birds, boxes, forests, ghosts Lisa had depicted in there.Don't Forget to buy this one. It's pretty worth having this different one Tarot deck in your collection.

Nice cards to use. The Colours are a little dull but unusual.

a beautiful collection of traditional storys and wonderful tarrot cards that I will treasure for the rest of my life!

Ok

This is a lovely box set of Tarot Cards based on fairytales. The Set includes Cards, a nice Tarot Bag and also a BEAUTIFUL and very high quality book of fairytales with card meanings.However; I would find it hard to believe that many people would be able to read these cards very accurately, and that as beautiful as they are, the stories featured on the cards are simply too colourful and distracting for their own good...I thoroughly enjoyed the book and shared the author's enthusiasm and sentiment for such tales, The book features loads of delightful fairytales (including some lesser known ones - which is interesting) and although I do love the quality and style of the Cards, felt they wouldn't be much use to me for any serious Tarot Reading.... Personally, I keep them as part of a small collection of Tarot Sets that I have.I knock just one star off for the fact they probably are not too suitable for the purpose in which they are intended - but gorgeous all the same! : - )