About this item
- The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot is suited for those who practice or are interested in the four cults of Voodoo, Santeria,
- Petro, Congo and Rada. The major arcana feature historical Voodooan characters.
Specifications
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Name
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New Orleans Voodoo Tarot
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Creators
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Louis Martinez
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Publisher
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Harper San Francisco 1992
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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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Mixed
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Suits
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Court Cards
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The Fool
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is 0
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Strength
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is 11
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Justice
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is 8
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Card Size
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2.76 x 4.33 in. = 7.00cm x 11.00cm
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Card Language
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English
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Card Back
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Unknown
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Back Design
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Design of authentic voodoo veve which acts as a 'beacon' for the Loa.
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Reviews
is a
superficial statement to make, it is quite valid. Different
people have different reasons for choosing decks, and
this is as valid as any other. However, when it comes
to using this deck for readings and other purposes of
divination, it is in no way like any of the typical decks
which follow either Waite symbolism or Marseilles
design. I would even go as far as to say that this is not
a 'tarot' deck (in the way that I don't consider the
Osho Zen deck a 'tarot' deck, either), but instead a
tool for introspection and a great gift to anyone
interested in the aspect of Voodoo and the occult — a sensitive
topic for many.
Because Voodoo, or Voodoun has such a
questionable connotation to most westerners, the deck's title
alone might offend some, or at the very least, make them
uneasy. However, when the book, which is an excellent
companion to the cards, is consulted, it can be seen that
these cards, although they have the titles of
African-Caribbean deities and cultural legends,
have been influenced
by everything from Jewish symbolism to French and
Greek linguistic inspiration, although the names and
words on the cards are primarily Creole.
The cards are
approximately two by three inches in size, and are of
good-quality card stock; not too thick and not too thin.
Additionally, the cards have a good finish, because they are not
too glossy and therefore shuffle and separate very
well. The backs, however, are not in the traditional
style; they are non-symmetrical, which means that in
dealing them out, it will be apparent before they are
turned over whether or not they will be upright or upside
down. The artwork on the cards is intense, and it uses
bold, deep shades of blues, purples, and reds. The
style of the artwork looks like a cross between woodcuts
and paintings, although the painting-like influence is
more apparent. There are a lot of black outlines in
the drawings. The symbolism of many of the cards is
subtly sexual in nature, which gives it an i
nteresting
edge.
This deck has more cards than the standard deck. There
are twenty-two cards in the deck which, according to
the book, correspond with the traditional cards of the
major arcana, although it is impossible to know this
without having read the chart in the accompanying book
which explains it all. Forty cards in the deck are
numbered 1 through 10, and are in, naturally four suits:
Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. Additionally, each of
these forty cards follows a particular cultural
tradition: Petro, Rada, Congo, and Santeria, which are
likely variations of Voodoo based on the book's text.
There are sixteen temple cards, rounding out the deck:
four of each Drum (King/Wand), Serpent (Queen/Cup),
Crossroads and Machete (Prince/Sword), and Calabash
(Princess/Pentacle).
Does all of this sound complicated? Yes. Is the
deck really as deep and as complicated as it sounds? A
resounding yes. This is why I've spent the better part of
four years studying the book and d
eck. I must say
that, even though a lot having to do with this deck
isn't obvious, it is growing on me, and it would have
the potential to grow on other enthusiasts. While I
would not recommend it for anyone as a first deck (I
purchased this one after having owned over twenty others),
and while I wouldn't recommend it to anyone as a
primary deck for reading, for anyone who is interested in
African-American or Black art, the Voodoo culture, or simply anyone
who wants a different type of deck that not everyone
is using, it is ideal. Every session spent studying
and learning the cards reveals something not uncovered
during the previous session. Getting to know these cards
is definitely a learning process, and being able to
use them more easily than I do now is something to
aspire to.
This deck is recommended for collectors and
cultural enthusiasts, as well as those interested in
deep-seated occult (hidden) archetypes that can be interpreted
on many levels.
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