About this item
- The Tarot of the Hidden Realm has 78 expressive, intriguing, and borderless images. Rather than relying on traditional
- tarot symbols, it strips back its images to the raw elements of nature and the fae. The art is full of life, movement and
- feeling.
Specifications
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Name
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Tarot of the Hidden Realm
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Creators
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Barbara Moore,
Julia Jeffrey
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Publisher
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Llewellyn 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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Card Language
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English
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Card Back
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Works as though reversible
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Back Design
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Interlaced design in pale and dark grey
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Companion Material
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220-page bound companion book by Barbara Moore
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Reviews
realm of Faery. Its creator is Julia Jeffrey and the
accompanying book is written by Barbara Moore, who always
manages to enter the spirit of the many and various decks
she has written about. This one is no exception.
Practically, it’s a very user-friendly deck, standard tarot
deck size (4 ½ x 2 µ inches) and easy to shuffle. The
cards have a low sheen and are non-sticky. They are
borderless (yay!) with a light brown strip at the bottom for
the title. The backs are a twining pattern of shaded
grays, and non-reversible. The only other downside is of
these cards is their flimsiness. A bit more weight
would’ve made them perfect.
The artwork is of
astoundingly high skill. The deck creator used models for her
figures and faces, and it shows—beautifully. The people
all look familiarly human, with fey features that hint
at their otherness. Equal artistic attention has been
given to both Arcana; only the titles indicate which one
you’re looking at. In color and design also this is a
cohesive deck, every single card fits in.
Julia Jeffrey
made several Major Arcana changes to the standard RWS
titles. The Chariot becomes “Faery Stallion”; the Wheel of
Fortune is the “Fortune Faery” blowing a fluffy dandelion
seed; The Devil becomes “Shadowdance”, the Tower is the
“Blasted Beech,” while Judgment is titled “Life Renewed”
and shows a young girl offering a sprouting acorn to
the viewer.
The Minor Suits each have animal totems,
as shown on the Aces. Wands are introduced by a fox,
Cups by an otter, a heron by Swords, and Pentacles by a
hedgehog. In the rest of the Minor cards, similar
representative creatures interact with human/fey beings, or
appear in the background.
This deck is exceptionally
eye-catching, but never “fluffy”. While these fey people inhabit
the world of earth, river and tree, they are not
sentimental nature-lovers. The presence of swords and arrows
indicate that they are also hunters and warriors. The
savage expression of the woman in the Ten of Swords shows
in no uncertain terms that she has had enough, thank
you! Other cards show wistfulness (Six of Swords),
mystery (The Hermit) and deep tenderness (Three of Wands).
The accompanying 213 page book starts by giving the
essentials of tarot reading and finishes with ideas for
spreads and pathworking. Each card is shown in B&W and
followed by an evocative 2-3 paragraph description and
interpretation. As the meanings rely more on atmosphere,
environment and facial expression than on symbolism, there is
much scope for intuitive interpretation. Beginners
would therefore have no difficulty in reading with this
deck.
On first sight I had doubts about the emphasis
on human/fey figures, being used to seeing swords,
wands and other traditional elements. Looking again I
can see they are there, but often in subtle and
unexpected guises. As you’d expect, perhaps, in a message
from the hidden realms.
Dislikes? One thing that irks
me is the Magician’s moustache; it looks stuck-on
rather than real. And some of the Kings look a little
young to be holders of elemental power and wisdom—but
then, it’s said that among the fey no one truly ages!
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