As you may have figured out by now if you've been following my previous blogs, I'm a fan of anything witchy and especially if it's be Deborah Blake. So when I was told I could review the Everyday Witch Tarot cards by none other than Deborah Blake, well... lets just say I was happily skipping around my kitchen, which led to a couple of equally excited little dogs.
Deborah's work is largely focused on how to make everyday a little more magickal, whether that's by adding intention to your morning tea or coffee, or lighting a candle everyday. And this tarot deck does not disappoint, it manages to be down to earth and practical, yet whimsical and magickal all at the same time.
If you missed the Oracle cards review, then you can find it here...
Before I get carried away, let me tell you why I am a big fan of tarot cards for personal growth.
They are a good way to check in with where you are in any aspect of life and can offer insight into actions you can take to support yourself.
When used for shadow work, they can highlight things that you may be unaware of - but you have to be prepared to be completely honest with yourself.
You can also look at both your divine masculine and divine feminine energies and how they are relating to each other, which can help you to be more aware of areas you need to work on to come into alignment.
When you've made a decision, tarot can give you feedback and reassurance that you're on the right path.
And of course you can study and begin to give readings to others with time and practice.
Advice on this has very kindly been provided by Deborah in the guidebook, covering how to use the deck to do readings for yourself and others.
Everyday Witch Tarot
Just as I'd hoped the Tarot cards artwork has been done by Elisabeth Alba, so they have the same feel to the images as the oracle cards do, which is part of why I love these so much.
I've been using these almost daily for about 3 weeks at the time of writing this and I honestly don't think I've clicked with a deck quite as quickly as I have these.
But if you're new to tarot or not feeling very confident about your ability to read them, Deborah has very kindly included steps you can take to become familiar with the deck and their meanings.
I also noticed the odd similarities between the decks, such as the Nine of Pentacles and Abundance and Prosperity card from the oracle deck. Which is pictured below.
As you can see, the images compliment each other beautifully and once again I found the imagery speaking to me of the trails and strength of our humanity, and the support of spirit in our growth.
For me there's a sense of freedom in this deck, a call to the Wild Woman within if you will, to tread lightly but fearlessly while weaving your our path in the world. The time to fear the judgment of others is over, there will still be all of the range of experiences expected from this human experience but for me this deck focuses on the healing and growth these can bring at a soul level.
The Chariot card really stands out for me in this deck, as rather than a surge of energy and willpower, there is a decision involved, either one that needs to be made or has been made to reach this point. And I love how this kick butt witch is on her motorbike with her familiar in the side kart, reminding us that no matter what we face in life we are never truly alone, and we are always guided by our intuition if we just stop and listen.
The description of the Chariot in the guidebook is as follows
'It doesn't matter which direction you pick, as long as you pick one and get moving"
"It can be difficult to choose a path, especially if they both look inviting. Ask yourself what it is you truly desire, and how hard you are willing to work to get it. Whatever happens, don't allow anyone to make the choice for you. This is your time to be in charge and make the decisions that will shape your future. Choose wisely, then move forward with confidence, knowing that you are capable of making the journey."
As you can see, my intuitive interpretation is slightly different than what Deborah had in mind, this is most likely because what I was picking up on was what I needed to hear at the time and I'll probably read something different again into it the next time this card comes out in a reading. But most of all make sure you're having fun and enjoying working with your deck, your intuition will lead you to what you need to know.
A little on the practicalities
The deck is beautifully presented in a magnetic closure box, which opens up to the companion book, which easily lifts out thanks to the green ribbon which runs under both the cards and book. The cards themselves are of good quality stock and are the standard size you'd expect from a tarot deck.
The guidebook contains descriptions of each card as you would expect and there are spreads included in the back of the book, providing a variety of options to get you started if you are new to using tarot.
There are a few spells included, A Consecration Spell for New Tarot Cards, A Cleansing Spell for Used Cards and A Spell for a Good Reading. Which is lovely to see, as I don't think I've seen this included in a tarot deck before nor in any stand alone tarot books I've read so far, not to see that they aren't out there, just that this is the first for me without the help of a trusty internet search.
A common questions and answers section and more are also covered in the companion guidebook.
As a pagan and tarot enthusiast, I can't say anything bad about this deck...They are definitely one that I will cherish for many years to come.
I would also like to thank Llewellyn Publications for the opportunity to review this oracle deck, if you would like to purchase a copy you can do so by clicking the link above, which will take you directly to their website or it can be purchased from most reputable bookshops and online retailers.
If you enjoyed this, you can sign up to have these sent directly to your inbox or you may also like my blog post on working with the full moon energy...
You can read more of my reviews on titles such as The Everyday Witch Oracle, The Soul's Twins and other informative pieces in my back catalogue.
Until next time..
Love & Light
Georgie
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