About this item
- The Wyzard of Odd Tarot is an eclectic blend of tarot, geometry, runes and music, with 78 illustrations formed from a
- unique method of incense smoke photography. Self-published and available from the artist.
Specifications
Name
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Wyzard of Odd Tarot
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Creators
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Bryan Lahr
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Publisher
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Self Published 2014
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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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Reviews
readings and collecting tarot and oracle decks since 1999.
My collection (at last count) was over 120 decks.
This is definitely a small collection in comparison to
many of my online friends. However, it has given me
over 100 excuses to view some of the most beautiful
decks that have ever been created! The Daughter's of the
Moon Tarot, the World Spirit Tarot, the New Orleans
Voodoo Tarot, the Tarot of Burroughs, the Wizard's Pets
Tarot, the Gaian Tarot, the Japardize Tarot, and the
Urban Tarot are just a few of the lovely decks that I
have the pleasure of owning and loving!
I am extremely
specific about the types of decks that I will collect.
First of all, I only collect decks whose artwork blows
me away! I mean the kind of art that I can feel the
passion of the artist through the pictures themselves. I
have to literally feel the art intuitively. Secondly, I
have to feel connected with the deck. When I throw the
cards, I need to feel like I'm talking to an old friend.
The cards are my tools of choice and I have to feel
like they fit me. Kind of how Excalibur fit King
Arthur. My cards have to feel as if they were made to be
wielded by my hand. Lastly, I only collect decks that are
multi-cultural, not cultural at all (like animal decks or abstract
decks), or decks that are representative of cultures that
I study. I study people of African descent around
the world as well as other indigenous populations.
Mostly, I prefer these types of decks because that is my
area of expertise. But, also because of the fact that
so many tarot and oracle decks only represent people
of European descent. To me, this is a signal from the
creator of the deck that this deck isn't for me. If I'm
not represented in the deck, it's difficult for me to
use it and it ends up collecting dust under my altar.
I believe that tarot and oracle decks are universal
and applicable to us all. I find it important that the
decks I choose celebrate all of humanity and not just
one percentage. I believe that the cards show us how
to be loving, kind, united, accountable, and diverse.
If you think about the Fool's journey, it teaches us
all of these lessons. His quest is all about learning
to embrace the unique and extremely different people
that he meets along the way in order to experience
enlightenment. Therefore, my choices for my ever growing
collection mostly come from creators that appear to share my
deep feelings about the inclusive, pluralistic nature
of tarot as well as our society. In order to
experience change, we have to be the change that we want to
see in the world! I want to live in a world that is
serious about cooperation, equality, healing, and peace.
Everything from my friends to my tarot decks reflects this
vision.
One of my favorite decks is the Wyzard of Odd Tarot by
Bryan Lahr for those very reasons. The Wyzard of Odd
Tarot is a self-published 80 card tarot deck that came
out in 2014. This amazing, limited edition deck sold
out twice and is on it's third printing. The images on
the cards are photographs, but not just any
photographs. These are the most unique photographs that I have
ever seen. Basically, the creator photographed incense
smoke in different formations and colors with images
and/or lights in the background. The Trumps and the court
cards are all photographs of incense smoke with varying
degrees of light. For example, one of my favorite cards is
the Sun card! This card is a photograph of incense
smoke with light and rainbows in the background. It
really creates the feeling of joy and happiness that this
card is known for. The Knight of Cups is different
shades of blue incense smoke that really speak to the
energy of the Cups. As you stare at the blue smoke, you
can get lost in the emotional depth of the Knight of
Cups.
The Major Arcana is labeled as follows at the
top of the card next to the card's number:
0) The
Fool
1) The Magus aka Magician (There are 3 different
Magus cards.)
2) Priestess
3) Empress
4) Emperor
5)
Hierophant
6) Lovers
7) Chariot
8) Adjustment aka Justice
9)
Hermit
10) Fortune
11) Lust aka Strength
12) The Hanged
Man
13) Death
14) Art aka Temperance
15) The Devil
16) The
Tower
17) The Star
18) The Moon
19) The Sun
20) The Aeon
21)
The Universe
This deck definitely has the
breathtaking beauty that I require. But, even more so it has a
hypnotic effect. The cards seem to swallow you up and you
feel like you are inside of the deck and not just
viewing it. This takes us back to the feeling of
connection that I mentioned above. As you are swallowed into
each card, this deck connects with your third eye and
leads you to the answers that you seek. For this very
reason, this deck is an excellent tool for meditation as
well.
This deck more closely follows the Thoth tradition than
the Rider-Waite. So, the court cards are the Princess,
the Prince, the Queen, and the Knight. The Suits are
named as follows: Wands, Swords, Cups, and Disks. Each
Minor Arcana card is illustrated in great detail and has
the appropriate number of items in each card.
The
cards also have astrological, musical, elemental, and
planetary correspondences. Geomantic figures, runes, sigils,
key words, Hebrew letters, root meanings, as well as
the 16 Meji Odus from the African spiritual system of
Ifa are also used throughout the deck. Obviously,
corresponding with so many different cultures for each of these
divination methods satisfies my love of diversity- big
time!
The Wands, Swords, Cups, and the Disks all have
matching images in the background. The Wands have incense
sticks along with the smoke. The Swords suit is swords
with incense smoke. The Cups are beautiful chalices
with a watery looking liquid in and/or around them.
And, the disks are illustrated with lovely, shiny
crystal spheres with accompanying incense smoke. For
example, the 8 of Disks is 8 red, crystal spheres
surrounded by formations of incense smoke.
The deck does
not come in a traditional box, but is wrapped in
plastic. The deck does not come with a companion book, but
it does come with 5 companion cards that teach the
recipient how to use and decipher the cards. The companion
cards make it so that any reader on any skill level from
beginner to Tarot Master can pick up this deck and read
from it easily. There is a separate companion book as
well as other forms of multimedia that can be purchased
for this deck on the creator's website as well.
The
card stock is good, but not glossy and they are easy to
shuffle unless you have small hands or difficulty with
large cards. The cards are larger than standard decks.
The are 6 inches long and 3.5 inches wide. The images
on the cards demand that the cards are larger. In my
opinion, certain art needs to be on larger cards to really
be seen and appreciated. The cards are not reversible
and are black with black borders.
As you can tell, I
highly recommend this deck! Especially, if you adore the
types of decks that I enjoy collecting or if you are a
connoisseur of unique decks. This deck holds up to tarot
tradition, but it also adds in a few extras that are not
typically seen in tarot decks. I use this deck often and my
clients take very well to it because the images are
beautiful and not off putting or frightening. You wouldn't
believe how many clients see the traditional Death card
and get nervous unless you too are a reader. But, when
I pull the Death card or any of the other cards that
usually make clients feel uncomfortable; I get more
relaxed reactions with this deck. This deck is an
excellent divination tool and it is also a work of art. Mr.
Lahr is definitely a wizard! And, he has cast a spell
with this deck that will not be broken for many
centuries to come.
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