Review: Spirit Within Tarot

Spirit Within Tarot
Author: Steven Bright
Red Feather, 2017

Description: 78 cards and a 96 page guidebook in a sturdy cardboard box, with magnetic closure.

Card Size: 3” x 4 ½”

"With little more than your enthusiasm and an open heart, it's time to let your own spirit take its first steps in between the world of the shadows."

The Spirit Within Tarot is intriguingly simple. The silhouettes give your imagination a playground to choose its own characters. The deck's images follow the traditional Rider-Waite, but the author has brought a little extra to the scenes. The simplicity of the images seem to explode with complexity, almost as if the cards are three-dimensional.

The Guidebook focuses on the cards, with a personal thought, a brief look at the card meaning, and a few keywords. The author only suggests one spread, but this turned out to be a wonderful spread. The five-card spread gives Spirit a voice in choosing the topic and offers an overview of the situation and guidance. I tried the spread a few times and was amazed by the results.

Ten of Swords ~ "I present problematic transitions. I am the one you will find at the end of any situation that has been difficult to the end. Are you suffering from a fight you couldn't win? I'm here to remind you that the worst is now over."

Eight of Cups ~ "I am on a quest. My life is not bad, but I realize that something is missing. The road towards finding it is not easy, but I will no longer settle for second best."

This deck is a great for both beginners and the experienced reader. I always suggest the Rider-Waite deck for beginners, but this would be a great starter deck. But, there's enough depth in this deck for the experienced reader or tarot enthusiast to find pleasure with the Spirit Within Tarot. 

Grab your copy from Schiffer Publishing.


(Review Product supplied by Schiffer Publishing)

Review: King Billy and the Royal Road

King Billy and the Royal Road
Author: RC Ajuonuma
SilverWood Books, 2017

Description: 81 page book

"King Billy and the Royal Road" is a story of a boy who wakes up one morning and begins a journey through the Major Arcana cards of the Tarot.


The story is formatted in three line poetry verses, with some rhyming. The flow of the story is of a sing-song melody. The black and white images, provided by Beverley Young, are delightful and compliment the story perfectly.

"He opened the bag,

which he wiggled and wagged,

and pulled from inside an old sword."

The book is divided into three parts which coincide with a three part break down of the Major Arcana stages of progression: Part 1 - The Way to Your Heart (Consciousness), Part 2 - Be Brave, Be True (Subconscious), Part 3 - What Was Lost Can Be Found (Superconscious).

Young Billy wakes up one morning to an empty refrigerator and is unable to wake his mother, so he decides to go find some food. What he finds is much more. He discovers a whole new world, as he's never ventured beyond his own backyard.

With a sack and a stick, young Billy (The Fool) skirts past his growling dog and sets off on his journey. His first encounter is with a man in a hat with a cape and a tan (The Magician). And the journey continues with Billy moving through the characters and the lessons of the Major Arcana of the Tarot.

The book is presented as a children's book, but I do suggest scanning through the book before you begin the story with your child. There is one section I found a little unsettling, but this may just be me. In Chapter 8, the king (not Billy) has been slain, beheaded. This one part made me feel the book may be more suitable for young teenagers. Again, this is only my opinion.

"With hands glowing red

round the king's severed head,

she lifted it up like a crown."

It was a pleasure to have the chance to read this book by RC Ajuonuma. Young adults will enjoy this introduction to the world of Tarot. It would also be an enjoyable read for adults and experienced tarot enthusiast.

Grab your copy from SilverWood Books or Amazon.


(Review Product supplied by RC Ajuonuma)