Robert Wang and The Jungian Tarot

Robert Wang designed the Jungian Tarot as a “visual gateway into the complexities of Jungian psychology.” The major arcana cards show archetypal figures within an archway surrounded by a mandala and other related symbols. The court cards are family members (father, mother, daughter and son) with personalities relating to their suit element (shown in the background). These cards have color-coded frames. The numbered suit cards show the suit token within a rope-style border. There are no titles or identifiers of any kind on the cards. The Jungian Tarot was originally published as a deck/book set with the book Tarot Psychology: Handbook for the Jungian Tarot. This set is now out of print. The deck itself has been reprinted, but does not include an instruction booklet. A different companion book The Jungian Tarot and Its Archetypal Imagery by Wang is still available. It describes the history and symbolism of the major arcana cards.

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Are Tarot Readings Real?

Are Tarot Readings real? Do all Tarot Readers have the very same skills… or is it only certain “special souls“ who are gifted with such amazing intuitive abilities?

I thought they were all just good guessers!

Absolutely not! The truth? A good Tarot intuitive is like an amazing artist in the understanding of human emotion, power and potential. Each of us has a destiny of one sort or another. And while I do believe that the choices we make define our destiny… I also KNOW for a fact that there are some paths more successful for us than others. A gifted Tarot Reader can certainly help you along that path.

Okay… but are ALL Tarot Readers created equal?

Absolutely not! We all have the ability to read the Tarot, but some are more gifted than others. It’s like singing, we all can sing, but how well? Some readers, I’ll be honest, are simply guessing and making the whole thing up. Other intuitive Tarot Readers are the REAL deal, and can literally change your life and path.

Finding a Tarot Card Reader is not an easy task. There are thousands of advertised tarot readers, but that does not mean they are all good at reading cards. Just like with any thing else in life, some people are naturally better at reading cards. One of the best Tarot card readers is someone who has many years of experience. It is someone who has studied the meaning of the cards, and also had so much experience with them that they have found their own interpretation of the cards based on the classic meaning combined with their own personal interpretation. Some readers can become proficient quickly, but in my opinion, experience can not be learned.

It is obvious that any Tarot reader will advertise that they are accurate and have many years of experience and even if they do have many years of practice it still does not make them a master at reading the Tarot.

You have to listen to your intuition first. Everybody has a psychic power, it is called our intuition or gut feeling.

What I can tell you about finding a Tarot reader is that there are four basic kinds of tarot readings. There are the phone tarot readers, the instant messenger readers and the email tarot card readings, as well as the live reading. The phone readers typically charge a per minute fee so things can get pricey quickly. The instant messenger readings or live readings, have to be made by appointment which can sometimes be difficult to schedule.

If you can’t meet your Tarot Reader in person, having an email tarot reading is one the best ways to have your cards read because there are no appointments or waiting by the phone or computer. You do need to communicate well with the reader, but if you need a reading, you email your reader with your questions and they reply with your answers. It is really that simple.

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Tell Me Tarot

Designer, Artist: Arik Eyal, Nir Cassuto
Country of Publication: U.S.A.
Number of Cards: 78
Publication Year: 2009
Publication Status: In Print

Description: Tutorial tarot in the Waite-Smith vein, with keyword lists included at the bottom of each card. Bright, flat colors and a more cartoonish illustration style make this feel more modern than the RWS itself.

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Intuitive Tarot

Designer, Artist: Cilla Conway
Country of Publication: U.S.A.
Number of Cards: 78
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Status: In Print

Description: The Intuitive Tarot is… “a sophisticated tool for self-development. The accompanying book demonstrates various techniques to working with the cards on whatever level you choose. You can use them simply to gain insight into day-to-day issues and what may lie ahead in your career, relationships, health and home life. Or you may wish to see them as a mirror, to see underlying motives, patterns, and possibilities in your life. Going deeper still, you can use them as spiritual feedback, discovering the invisible archetypal energies that surround you, assisting or challenging you to gain your highest potential in life.

The Intuitive Tarot is a tarot deck forged from passion. These are not just illustrations; they have a power and sense of connection all their own.”

From the authors website.

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Ator Tarot

Designer, Artist: Robin Ator
Country of Publication: U.S.A.
Number of Cards: 78
Publication Year: 2002
Publication Status: In Print
Composition / Packaging: Shrink wrapped cards; no box or LWB (Little White Book) included by the publisher
Reference: Encyclopedia of Tarot, vol. IV, pg. 228
Price: SOLD OUT / Reorder pending

An earlier deck from the creator of the ‘International Icon Tarot‘, the ‘Ator Tarot‘ is a fanciful, simplified redrawing of Pamela Colman-Smith’s illustrations for the Waite-Smith Tarot that doesn’t sacrifice as much esoteric impact as you might expect. The goofy, comic book little characters that populate the cards make it suitable for beginners of any age or for experienced readers looking for something quirky that isn’t to far off traditional archtypes.

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Arcana of The Red Jester

I have presented Beth’s Seilonen’s Tarot, ‘Arcanic Hues‘ previously, and now I would like to introduce ‘ The Arcana of the Red Jester‘. This deck of 22 cards has the Jester present throughout the Fool’s Journey. Beth has focused on simple symbols to express depth of meaning through line and limited colour. A few self-published decks are available from the artist.

UPDATE: Beth has sold all 1st edition copies of the Red Jester, but she has a number of other decks available, and new decks in design, that are unique and communicate with heartfelt expression. Visit her site for more information. Thank you, Elizabeth

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Swiss 1JJ Tarot Deck

1JJ (Swiss) Tarot Deck

Designer, Artist: Unknown
Country of Publication: U.S.A.
Number of Cards: 78
Publication Year: 1970
Publication Status: In Print
Reference: Encyclopedia of Tarot, vol. I, p. 270

Description: Popular tarot deck depicting 19th century-style artwork and costumed figures. Early North American editions used French titles on the cards; later editions changed the titles into English. The High Priestess and Hierophant cards are represented by (and titled after) the Roman deities Junon and Jupiter respectively. The pip cards are unillustrated. I prefer this deck because the Junon and Jupiter cards are a refreshing Archetype from the High Priestess and Hierophant. Because the origination of Tarot Cards has Renaissance influences, many decks followed the religious icons of these two. (refer to my article on Tarot history)

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