About this item
- Made from a collage of Victorian era steel engravings of late nineteenth century figures and settings, these black and
- white cards in the Victoria Regina Tarot are complicated and fascinating.
Specifications
Name
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Victoria Regina Tarot
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Creators
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George Patterson,
Sarah Ovenall
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Publisher
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Llewellyn 2002
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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
outstanding! Good thing, too, as the box they came in literally
fell apart (as if it weren't glued together at all) and
had to be stapled back together!
At 3 1/4" by 5
1/2", this deck is a little larger than some. It is done
on good quality stock glossy stock with a slick
finish, so it will be a little difficult for those with
small hands to work with. However - they will find a
way, as this is really a "one of a kind" deck ... a
genuine "find". It is done with the use of collage, in
black and white, based around a Victorian theme and
using Victorian engravings.
The backs of the cards are
white, with a black edging 1/4" in from the edge,
followed by a smaller black edging 1/8" from that. In
the center is the profile of Queen Victoria,
surrounded by a lotus like circular edge. A white edge
surrounds this, with three cornered leaves coming out from
the circle at the four corners.
The face of the cards
has a 1/4 " white edging, with the central picture
outlined in black and the graphics done in black and white.
At the bottom of the card is the card number and
name. The symbols for the suits are unique to this deck,
and to the Victorian era. Wands are represented by
steel writing pens; Cups are represented by mason jars;
Swords are represented by guns and Coins are represented
by pocket watches.
The introduction contains some
background on the Victorian era, but not enough to become
overwhelming. It serves its purpose well - as a backdrop for the
cards in this deck.
The pictures in the book, as in the
deck, are black and white. For each card there is a scan
of the card, a description of the energy of the card,
an interpretation and a short section on what that
card could be in the Seeker's life. There is also a
wonderful note at the end of each card on the sources for
the graphics for that card. An added comment here -
although this is a Victorian deck, there is cultural
diversity - i.e. the Four of Coins references Asian culture,
while the Star references a seeming Gypsy culture and
the Nine of Wands references African culture.
I loved
all of the cards, especially the Aces (all of them),
the High Priestess, Strength, the Two of Coins and the
Hermit. The example below shows the write-up for the Two
of Coins.
"Description:
A man stands holding two
clocks, one in each hand. He is dressed for the outdoors
and stepping forward. He may have lost his grip on one
of the clocks, or he may be about to regain it.
Behind him is an inverted stonework
arch.
Interpretation:
The Victorian era was a time of great invention, yet
it held on fiercely to the traditions of the past.
People traveled by railroad and steamship. The cities
were lit up by gas, and then electric light. But even
without considering questions of poverty, of those left
behind by progress, there were always old things existing
with the new. Candles did not cease to exist when gas
lights became available in the house. While some wanted
the newest mass-produced fashions, others sought out
designers like William Morris. The nineteenth-century Arts
and Crafts Movement in England and the US explicitly
equated the new and modern with the shoddy and ugly and
strove to return to the grace and style of earlier times.
At the same time, Morris was influenced by Karl Marx
and the socialists and understood the extent to which
many were not able (and had been historically unable)
to acquire beautiful things.
The clocks we see in
the Two of Coins may show the same time, or t hey may
be twelve hours apart. Are we attempting to balance
opposites, or are we failing to see connections? Just as the
Victorians attempted to resolve their fascination with the
new with a respect for tradition, we often find
ourselves faced with forces that seem to be pulling us in
opposite directions. It is a delicate balance that we must
maintain. One of the lessons that we can learn from this
card is that we must take an active role in life. We
cannot stand passively by and expect everything to work
out. The goal is to understand our options and act. If
there are conflicts, we must attempt to understand them
and resolve them. If we forget the lessons we learned
in the past, we may not be able to understand what
happens in the future. If we cling too tightly to what is
safe and secure, we will stagnate and not make any
progress in our work.
The Two Of Coins In Your Life:
The
Two Of Coins, with its focus on balance, can refer to
problems of financial juggling or trying to make ends meet.
Or it may be other resources that you are trying to
balance. If you're overextended at work or at home or both,
it may be time to make some decisions. Unless you
want to keep juggling forever, you have to decide which
things are most important and which you might be able to
drop, even if only for the moment.
Notes on Sources:
The figure on this card was originally shown "Slipping
the Greyhounds", that is, releasing his dogs at a
sporting event."
I always go to the back of the book
first (after playing with the cards) - looking for new
spreads. I was not disappointed. Sarah gives some very nice
tips on setting up a reading, forming the question and
interpreting the cards. She presents a Five Card Spread for use
as a general spread; the Victoria's Sceptre spread as
a spread for use in dealing with creative endeavours;
and the Victoria's Chalice spread for dealing with
emotional questions (this spread has a sample reading along
with it).
The Victoria Regina Tarot Deck and companion
book are very well done - in fact, a true joy to work
with! I recommend this deck (and book) highly to all
Tarot aficionado's - at all levels.
PS - It came with
its own very lovely Tarot bag!
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