About this item
- The Bonefire Tarot is a vibrant reimagining of the Rider-Waite, painted in a style influenced by vintage tattoo art. It's
- inspired by the symbolism of the 'bone fire', a time for ritual celebration, cleansing, rebirth and renewal.
Specifications
Name
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Bonefire Tarot
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Creators
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Gabi Angus West
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Publisher
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Self Published 2013
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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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Major Arcana
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22
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Minor Arcana
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56
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Deck Tradition
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Rider-Waite-Smith
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Card Language
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English
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Reviews
is the root of the modern word “bonfire.” It has its
own story: fires were (and are) lit ceremonially at
Beltane, the pagan festival to welcome the sun and give
thanks for survival of the long, cold darkness of the
winters of the northern lands. Animal bones, devoured
through the year, were gathered and formed the base of the
fires… The Bonefire asks one to renew oneself through
self-examination, transformation and learning. To keep out lives
clutter-free and our minds will follow. (From the LWB by Gabi
Angus West)
When assessing a new Tarot deck, I first
ask: is it attractive to look at, and could one draw
accurate interpretations from it? The Bonefire Tarot,
designed by Australian artist Gabi Angus West, certainly
fulfils both requirements.
The cards themselves have
many pluses: a perfect size to hold (3 by 4 inches)
and of durable thick cardstock. I find them easy to
shuffle, but since the firmness of the cards makes this a
thicker deck then average, some people may have
difficulties. The cards have a smooth matte finish; a wise
choice in the case of this deck, gloss would have made it
look overdone.
Aesthetically, this is not a subdued
deck. Tattoo enthusiasts will be pleased to note that
the cards are rendered in dark inky blue and bold
colours. The card designs are similarly bold, with an
emphasis on sinuous swirls and flames. Images leap out from
a midnight-blue background, and the artist’s
signature of crossed bones on fire is found in every card.
There is no letdown in visual intensity anywhere in this
deck. Both Court Cards and Major and Minor Arcana are
given the same emphasis. While the human faces all bear
the same distinctive style, they show emotions
appropriate to their card meanings. The narrow dark borders
blend into the images themselves, leaving enough room
for titles below. The card backs are black and white,
showing the Bonefire motif in the center and suit symbols
in each corner, and are reversible.
The Bonefire
keeps the Rider-Waite card titles, except for Pentacles which
have become Coins. Rirder-Waite images are also discernible
throughout the deck, but the designer has brought in
inclusions and innovations, all far too many to list. For
instance, the suit of Wands, the wands have become pine
cones. In the Nine of Cups we see Waite-Smith’s
well-dressed, pleased-looking man with folded arms, flanked by a
row of cups. But here the image is set in an ornate
frame, behind a foreground collection of objects: a
candle, a crystal ball, a quill and ink bottle, an apple,
a lemon, a skull and hourglass, everything floating
on the sea with a background sunset. I read this as
showing the various gifts and riches of life, accompanied
by a not-so-subtle memento mori. Other readers may
have their own interpretations, but this to me is the
sign of a good reading deck: one that offers
multi-levelled views and encourages questions. I would recommend
it to beginners and seasoned readers alike.
The
Bonefire is currently available for purchase from Gabi
Angus West. My deck came wrapped
in a hand-made felt pouch with a small wooden
Bonefire motif attached, and accompanied by a handwritten
LWB and a card signed by the artist. It is these
little touches that also makes this a special deck for
me: a delightful change from opening a slick,
mass-produced, shrink-wrapped box from a commercial publisher. If
you like this deck, remember that it depends on sites
like Aeclectic and word-of-mouth to become known, and
spread the word.
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