This is one of my very favourite decks of all time! It is so sweet and quaint and speaks to me at every level! I first saw it as it was represented as the "AnAn Tarot", a sample gift deck of 22 cards offered through the Japanese fashion magazine of the same name. Impossible to find. But, as luck would have it, I managed to stumble upon it entirely by accident while searching for the AnAn in its original incarnation as "Stella's Tarot"! I still thank the powers that be for steering me in all the right directions! I have written the complete story at Sleeping Gypsy's Blog. Make sure to go check it out to get the whole scoop!

Etruscan Tarot By Silvana Alasia 78 Cards ~ Published by Lo Scarabeo ~ September 2002 Imprint by Llewellyn Woldwide

From Llewellyn Worldwide:   "The valleys between Tuscany and Lazio were home to the Etruscans, a society that rivaled that of ancient Greece and significantly influenced the mighty Roman civilization. In dry, lifeless tombs, remnants of a 3,000-year-old civilization remained untouched and still. As the first archaeologists unsealed the tombs, colors faded, bodies shriveled, and we are left only with clues and traces of the magnificence of what once was. Artist Silvana Alasia incorporates colors and motifs found in an Etruscan necropolis near modern Tuscany. Her incredible art, coupled with Minetti's extensive knowledge of the Etruscan culture, create a Tarot for exploring and illuminating the sealed parts of your heart." I love the colours and the archaeology behind this deck! Being a seeker of all things *Tarot* beyond the usual 13-14th century time frame, this collection of ancient Etruscan images, taken from the tombs of that culture itself, helps to bring the timelessness of what tarot is straight home and right to the heart. The images are endearing (I especially love the Strength card!) and kindle the imagination! Talk about connecting the archetypes of tarot to the ancients! Whoever says that tarot started way later than this time has not done their homework! I highly recommend this deck to anyone on a tarot journey that is reaching back into time. I can promise you that you will make a connection with timeless and ancient images!

The Golden Tarot of Klimt By A. Atanassov ~ Based on the artwork of Gustav Klimt 78 Cards ~ Published by Lo Scarabeo 2005

From The Tarot Chest:   "In this stunning deck, the art of Gustav Klimt has been adapted to the symbolism of the cards to dramatic effect as pale figures stare out from a tapestry of abstract patterns stamped in gold foil. The thought that has gone into choosing the images is obvious; instead of the disjointed collection of pieces which some art decks amount to, this is actually something quite rare - a deck that is at once visually breathtaking and symbolically meaningful, making every reading a joy." I came across this deck in a graphic collection that I have on my computer. The moment I saw the images of this deck I knew I just had to own it. So, thanks to the magic of Amazon.com I became the proud owner of this beautiful deck. I love gilded decks - the more gold the better! This one has been done so artistically and with such detail, it is breathtaking! The deck also has a rich feel in the hand, plus there is nothing like the smell of a brand new deck! The images are compelling and stay so true to the symbols of my beloved Waite-Smith Tarot. The art deco style sparks the imagination and takes one back to the beginning of another century in the Austro-Hungarian Age of the Vienna Secession! Klimt dared to defy the norm of the day and I think by using this deck may help to assist one in breaking free from the traditional without losing the symbolism of the traditional Waite-Smith theme, which I find invaluable in making accurate readings. A must-have!

The Aquatic Tarot Watercolors by Andreas Schröter 1995-2004 78 Cards ~ Unpublished Aquatic Tarot

Having started out with the Waite-Smith original deck, I am naturally drawn to like decks. When I stumbled across this deck online, I probably felt like a lot of other Waite-Smith fans: I gotta have this deck! But...to my dismay I discover that it is not in print. This deck should be printed. I have sent an email to the artist expressing that and i encourage anyone who wants to see this deck published to do so. * aquatictarot@atarot.de * The thing I like about this deck are the colours used, the medium, and the way the artist has rendered the concept of the original deck. This deck has so much personality! The cards seem to speak like an original deck would, but echoes the true Waite-Smith tradition down to the most minute detail. All I can say is...simply amazing!

* The Egyptian Tarot * Illustrated by Silvana Alasia Published by Lo Scarabeo March 31, 2006

The Egyptian Tarot is a beautiful deck. It caught my eye and it has been one of my favourites since I first laid eyes on it shortly after it became available. There have been many Egyptian themed decks put out over the years, but this one stands out as one of the best. I have always been drawn to all things Egyptian, which I feel many of us are perhaps because of remembered past lives. The medium, colours, textures and subject matter of the ancient Egyptian culture (and even peoples from farther back, especially those of the ancient Mesopotamian areas) stirs me deeply and I feel this deck is one of among a few that adequately brings those past times to life in the here and now for tarot. I like the way it stays true to the Waite-Smith style, as I feel this is important, especially when working within the archetypal symbolism that is important to me when reading cards. The colours are soothing, the attention to detail is stunning and the overall look of each card is very well put together. I am not always a huge fan of Lo Scarabeo cards in general, but these are an acception. This deck seems to be hard to find. One can possibly locate a deck on eBay or Amazon, so keep an eye out for it. It is definitely one to have in your collection!

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Updated 03/29/10