About this item
- The Motherpeace Tarot is an unusual deck with definite feminist leanings, but unlike many feminist decks it does show
- a few males. This was the first of the round Tarot decks.
Specifications
Name
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Motherpeace Tarot
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Creators
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Karen Vogel,
Vicki Noble
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Publisher
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US Games
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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
day and realized I have never written a review on it.
I’ve written reviews on so many other decks, it’s
surprising to realize that I’ve never written one on the
Motherpeace. Most Tarotists have a special deck; one that
carried them into the world of the Tarot. A deck that
made them feel comfortable and confident reading for
others, and unlocked its mystery in a spiritually
gratifying way. Back in 1984, Motherpeace was all that and
more to me. While studying the Motherpeace, I had also
become a serious student of Yoga, taking several classes
a week, and the writings of Carl Jung. When I
began studying the Motherpeace and found images of Yoga
positions and references to Jungian psychology, I felt as
though I had found a multifaceted tool that could be used
to adjust and aerate the deep recesses of my soul.
Yes I do tend to wax poetic about the Motherpeace!
I
was introduced to the Tarot (like so many others)
through a reading done with the Coleman-Waite back in
1974. I studied the deck for a few months but put it
aside when other demands on my time took increasing
precedence. In 1984 I was at the counter paying for a book in
the Toronto Women’s Bookstore, when I noticed the
Motherpeace Tarot on a shelf behind the clerk. I asked her
what it was and she explained it was a feminist Tarot
deck. I burbled over with mind-altering joy, “A
feminist Tarot deck!?”
Without a second thought, I
purchased the deck and book by Vicki Noble that explained
the deck. I spent months studying and playing with
this deck. I read and reread Vicki Noble’s book
several times until I felt like I had a solid grasp on her
material. In the spring of 1985, I had a brainstorm to
offer readings to women using the Motherpeace. I posted
ads up on bulletin boards offering my services at
parties. Within a surprisingly short time I was getting
invites to women’s functions and parties around Toronto.
It was so gratifying to read the Tarot from a
feminist perspective! I was soon teaching this Tarot in
evening, College continuing education classes. For several
years I taught this feminist deck at senior centres
where women flocked with excitement and participated
enthusiastically with stories of their own experiences of
discrimination and connection to the Goddess. It was one of the
most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life.
The Motherpeace Tarot with its focus on the Goddess
and matriarchy was a very unusual product back in the
early ‘80’s. It’s difficult to imagine today just how
rare, revolutionary and enlightening Vicki’s work was at
that time. I’ve often wondered throughout the years if
Vicki Noble realizes what a profound impact she has had
upon the psyches of women. Because the feminist
teachings were couched in a Tarot format many women were
attracted to the work for its enticement of play and
pleasure and garnered incredible consciousness raising
almost serendipitously.
The Motherpeace Tarot cards are
round affording more creative opportunities for
interpretation than square cards. Square cards can only be
placed upright or reversed but round cards can be used
like a dial – if it’s turned down too low, the energy
is slow and perhaps even blocked. If the “dial”
points to the right, the energy of the card may be
overbearing or in some situations extreme. The names of the
cards not surprisingly, have been changed in many cases
to a more feminine foundation. For example, The
Hermit is the Crone and the Hanged Man is the Hanged One.
It is in her feminist perspective of the card’s
meaning, however where Vicki shines brilliantly. The
Emperor is patriarchy (I continue to interpret the Emperor
from this perspective), and the Hierophant is the
traditional religious leader who oppresses feminine values and
her unique spiritual voice (this too lives on in my
interpretation of the Hierophant). The court cards have been
completely renamed to reflect family identities such as Son,
Daughter, Mother with the Shaman at the head of the tribe.
The meaning applied to these family members has also
been changed to reflect a more matriarchal
interpretation of the energy.
The artwork done primarily by Karen
Vogel is childlike, colourful and positive. When
observing the Motherpeace images, my Tarot students would
often comment on how delightfully engaging and uplifting
the imagery was to work with compared with some of the
darker imagery seen in the more classic decks. Vicki’s
interpretative work also guides the Tarotist to read in a
positive and constructive fashion. This deck is empowering
to women and fosters feelings of strong personal
agency and appreciation for the feminine in general.
For
people teaching a Goddess course this set should be on
their reading list and for those Tarotists who are tired
of the traditional deck or wish to explore an
alternative approach to Tarot, you will find this work deeply
satisfying and thought provoking. It’s not easy, simple or
superficial however, and I’d advise you to be prepared to
dedicate many hours to learning this deck well. It will
alter your relationship to the Tarot more profoundly
than any other deck on the market. Motherpeace
generated a wave of conscious awareness across the globe
whose ripples continue to flow to this day. In 2013,
Motherpeace celebrated its 30th anniversary and continues to
sell thousands of copies yearly. Like anything that is
true and honourable it will prevail for many, many
years.
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