About this item
- The Santa Fe Tarot uses true Native American symbolism, as would have been used by the natives themselves, rather
- than romanticised images. The artist studied Navajo sand paintings, mythology and symbolism to create a very different
- deck.
Specifications
Name
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Santa Fe Tarot
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Creators
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Holly Huber,
Tracy LeCocq
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Publisher
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Harper San Francisco
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Deck Type
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Tarot Deck
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Cards
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78
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Reviews
on how a deck of cards needs a certain amount of time
to align themselves to your energy, your karma, your
“medicine”. And with that particular Native-American term, a
spark of interest was ignited within me about any
similarly modifed cards that may be available. I looked on
this very site to see what was out there. I wasn’t sure
what I would find but I suppose I wasn’t surprised at
some of the “Proud Indian with superimposed spirit wolf
or eagle” sets. I was looking for something simpler,
and I found it in the Santa Fe Tarot by Holly Huber
and Tracy LeCocq.
If I was looking for simplicity,
what could be more simple than images inspired by
Navaho sand paintings? But that simplicity spoke to me
more than any great detail could offer. I also possess
a Rider-Waite-Smith deck (as well as others) and was
always attracted to its artistic simplicity. I’m not big
on photorealism. It seems to leave less open for
speculation and interpretation.
I was dismayed to find out
that this particular deck was out of print. However,
with a quick search on ebay, I was able to find a deck
(along with its accompanying book). I won the bidding war
and this interesting set of cards wound up in my
mailbox ten days later, not forking out much more than I
would for a current deck AND a book.
Upon opening the
box and fanning out the cards for an initial look, I
was completely taken in.
East meets West, so to speak,
with this particular deck and little is lost in the
translation. I possess scant knowledge of Native-American
religion and spirituality. That ignorance does not
translate into aversion. The little I do know garners only
great respect. The companion book included with the card
set will teach me much.
I refrain from doing any
actual reading for a while with any new deck, feeling
that it takes time for the cards to absorb your energy
(or “medicine” in this case). However, in shuffling
the deck with no intention of reading, the three of
Lightning (Swords) dropped out. I didn’t think much of it
until visiting with my ex-wife (we generally do get
along) later that day. Because of external pressures on
her part, there was much argument over nothing and
felt dismayed (and a bit heartbroken) that she would
allow so little to ruin the evening. With confidence
that I “impregnated my energy” (as the accompanying
book stated), I began reading from the deck shortly
thereafter.
I keep my readings simple, using only three card
spreads. I don’t seem to work with the usual
past-present-future paradigm all that much either, bringing the three
cards together in an interpretation. A Celtic Cross
without the Staff works for me as well. In doing simple
open ended “talk to me” queries with the Santa Fe Deck
this early on, I can say that I come up with good,
relevant, and coherent readings. I use my existing notes and
log from Rider-Waite-Smith deck readings. There’s
really nothing lost in translation and even though the
symbology and imagery are somewhat “foreign” to me, I find
myself grasping onto it at a much deeper and visceral
level. Perhaps it’s my previous affinity, as basic as it
is, for Native-American culture.
I don’t consider
myself a collector per se, intending on using any deck I
purchase. I merely find myself intrigued by the various
artist’s interpretations. This is my seventh deck, a
charmed number to be sure. In a sense, I feel satiated, no
longer feeling the inclination to possess another deck.
Perhaps that will pass but certainly indicates the
impression this deck leaves on me.
To be sure, these cards
may not be for everybody and since they are out of
print and may be available only through online auctions,
setting one back a few bucks. But images can be found
online. Check them out and see if you get the same
connection as I did.
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