Monday, August 28, 2017

Review: Beautiful Creatures Tarot - Second Edition

Beautiful Creatures Tarot - Second Edition
Author: J. R. Rivera
Artist: Jasmine Becket-Griffith
Schiffer Publishing, 2017

Description: 80 cards and a 168 page guidebook in a sturdy cardboard box, with magnetic closure.

Card size: 3 1/2" by 5


Two years after the publication of the Beautiful Creatures Tarot, the creators have decided to bless us with a Second Edition. The new cards and guidebook have some minor upgrades. Will these changes be enough to make it worth purchasing the second edition? Maybe. If you are a collector, you will definitely be buying these. A reader? You may be happy with what you have.

Let's look at what's so different in this second edition.

Four brand new images, new card backs, and purple edging will be at the top of the list for the collectors.

"For this second edition Tarot deck, the traditional groups and titles of the traditional Tarot have been applied to each of the cards."

Although many of the Major Arcanas use the traditional names, many do not. As you see with the position fifteen, the card is the Habit rather than the Devil. And, the position sixteen is called the Decadence rather than the Tower. There are a few more Major Arcana cards which do not follow the traditional names.


You do have the original elements and the traditional Court Card titles for the rest of the deck. Keywords have also been added to the cards, directly under the titles. The first edition cards were glossy, these are not. But, they are the same size and are on good stock.

The guidebook is fully colored and has a few more pages. There are six additional spreads and an Astrological Game. And, the Court Card pages are more descriptive.



These cards are beautiful, both versions. I'm proud to have both decks. But, I do like the second edition better, mainly because of the traditional groups and titles.

Grab your copy at Schiffer Publishing.

(Review Product supplied by Schiffer Publishing.)

Monday, August 14, 2017

Review: Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards

Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards
A Beginner’s Guide to Understanding the Tarot
Author: Sasha Fenton
Red Wheel/Weiser, 2017

Description: 224 page book

"Lay your future out before you with tarot cards. Once you know how to interpret them, you can understand yourself and others better and be able to accurately predict what’s going to happen in the future.”

Note: Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards by Sasha Fenton is a reprint of a 2002 version.

Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards is exactly what it says: A Beginner's Guide to Understanding the Tarot. There are many of these types of books out there, but some are better than others. For me, this one feels like one of the good ones.

After a short introduction, the book is divided into three parts.

Part One: Tarot and Fortune Telling

The author covers the History of Tarot and then Guidelines, Ritual, and Procedures. And then, you get some extra bits with chapters on the Arcanas and the Court Cards. It's not really what she shares but how she shares it that I enjoyed. In fact, the author's voice has a great deal to do with my enjoyment of this Beginner's Guide.

One of the areas covered in the Arcana chapter is the suits. The author shares a story she uses in her beginner workshops.

“You are fed up with your job. The job is unsatisfying … This is a Swords matter, as it shows something needs to be done.”

“Finally, you find the job you want. The pay is good… The practical side of this looks good, and practical matters are related to Coins.”
– The author uses Coins when referring to Pentacles.

The Court Card chapter makes it clear we all have trouble with their interpretations, and gives a few ways to attempt to interpret them, and then makes it clear how randomly these may work once, but not the next time.

“The Court cards usually give beginners a great deal of trouble, because there are no clear cut rules for reading them, and while many tarot experts have tried to lay down various rules none can really be relied upon.”

Part Two: Card Interpretation

The Major Arcana includes Card Title, Image, Keywords, Key Ideas, Upright Meanings, and Reversals. Some of the cards also include an Additional Suggestions Section.

(Note: Although the Waite Deck is used for illustrations, the author has put Justice in the No. 8 position, rather than the No. 11 position.)

The Star - "This card is truly the Star of hope, as it brings hope, faith, and optimism to any part of the spread that it touches."

The Minor Arcana is divided into chapters by Suit, and includes Card Title, Image, Keywords, Upright meanings, and Reversals. Again, some of these include an Additional Suggestion piece.

Six of Coins - "Sharing out money and resources."

The author ends this part with a chapter on Linking Cards. She goes over various methods to help link the cards to form a comprehensive reading.

Part Three: Reading the Cards

In Preparing Your Deck, the author gives methods for using Upright and Reversals in a reading. There are two chapters focused on Spreads - General and Focused. Other Areas covered include: Timing Events, Energies of the Cards (the Elements), and Failed Readings (the Why and useful alternatives). 

The book ends with a Quick Card Lookup, which includes Quick Clues to the Majors and the Minors and the Cards Categorized by Concept.

I highly recommend this book for beginners.

As a seasoned reader, I found both the information and the author's voice refreshing. I will be keeping this one on my shelf.


Grab your copy of Fortune Telling by Tarot Cards at Red Wheel Weiser.

(Review Product supplied by Red Wheel Weiser)

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Review: Claiming Your Power Through Astrology: A Spiritual Workbook

Claiming Your Power Through Astrology: A Spiritual Workbook
Author: Emily Klintworth
Schiffer Publishing, 2017

Description: 128 page Spiral-bound workbook

I’ve been trying to complete this workbook, so I could give a full review, but yet again I find myself in the world of Astrology and not enough time to do the exercises justice. I'm at the halfway point of the book. I'm jumping in to give you a quick review, so you can grab your copy and get started. That’s how sure I am that you are going to want this one.

“You are about to embark on a journey, one where you will be provided with the opportunity to step outside yourself – to view your life through the lens of the cosmos.”

Claiming Your Power Through Astrology gives you everything you need to help you to discover who you are, where you are going, and what you might expect to experience in this lifetime. You will need internet access to grab a copy of your Natal Chart Navigator. You may also need a copy machine if you wish to use the exercises more than one time. The rest is following along, step by step, and filling in the worksheets. It’s not a fast process, nor is it an easy road to follow. You will most likely need to reference the example exercises at the back of the book. All you have to put in is a little time and effort, but the results are amazing.

Section One - Exploring Your Natal Chart
As you read through the Chapters, you’ll learn about each topic and move into an exercise. The author guides you with clear instructions and examples at the back of the book. Remember to have patience as you move along. Sometimes, you may feel as if you are wandering around, a little lost, but keep following along. You end the first section with a nice little bow, pulling it all together and gaining a glimpse of the plans you made before you arrived here for you journey.

“Piece together all the information you have decoded in the previous exercises – gain the awareness needed to understand yourself through the cosmic perspective.”

Section Two - Aligning with The Cosmos
Each chapter brings more knowledge of the planets, their effect on your life, and the best way to align yourself for the best life possible. From relationships to life lessons, there’s much to learn in this section. I can’t wait to get started on this second section of the book. It’s sure to be an enlightening endeavor. Flipping to the back and final exercise, you’ll be producing an official Natal Chart, which looks to bring everything you’ve learned from beginning to end into one tidy chart.

Personally, this workbook has taken me to a level of astrology I wasn’t even aware of existed. Years ago, I signed up for a predictive astrology course, but to be honest it’s still sitting on my computer, pretty much untouched. I have to pick and choose where to put my energy and this one just never made it to the top of the list, although it continues to be on my list.

No one was there to hold my hand and guide me forward. With this workbook, the author is there by your side, easing you forward and walking you through step by step.

Grab your copy at Schiffer Publishing.

Learn more about Emily Klintworth and her mission “to provide easy do-it-yourself astrology books that empower and support you on your path” at www.AbsolutelyAstrology.com.

Enjoy your Spiritual Awakening!


(Review Product supplied by Schiffer Publishing)