Review: Deck of Heroes Tarot

In 2012, I reviewed the Deck of Heroes Tarot on my Tarot Examiner page, which is no longer available. I noticed the broken link within one of the Tarot Combinations posts and wanted to repair it. Below, you will find the review of the deck I presented in 2012.

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Deck of Heroes Tarot by Richard ShadowFox

Complete with instruction book and Schiffer box, this 78-card deck features at least one male hero on each card. From knights to scoundrels, these images are sure to get your imagination rushing in many directions. This is a deck sure to please any collector or romance addict.

The artist did a wonderful job with the imagery of this deck. It’s more than a deck of men. The settings are very interesting. Some cards are on the dark side, but I find this richens the images. The card backs are different but entrancing - almost pulling you into its puzzle of lavender.

The deck is based on the traditional tarot card meanings, but this is not a good choice for a new tarot reader. While some of the cards are easily read, some may leave you confused about its representation of the usual card meaning.

For me, this is more of a deck for the sake of art rather than tarot reading. I would recommend this deck to collectors, art enthusiasts, and writers (especially romance writers.)

Purchase your deck at Schiffer Books.

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Images from this deck appear in the March 2012 posts - Tarot Combinations - 3 Empress and 2 High Priestess and Tarot Combinations - 8 of Pentacles and 6 Lovers.

(Review deck supplied by Schiffer Publishing)

Happy Halloween Tarot Spread

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Pumpkins

Once a year, there comes a day of celebration for things that go bump in the night.

Children parade through neighborhoods disguised in various costumes and collect candy in large orange bags. Adults become witches, nurses and chainsaw wielding psychopaths. For many this is a day of fun, surprise, and delight. However, a few will stir havoc through pranks and fear.

Porches display carved pumpkins, spider webs, and lounging skeletons. Parties supply delightful treats - fingers floating in punch, bleeding chocolate cakes, and a trough of floating apples.

On the other side of the celebration, many myths and/or truths rise up on this day. The veil separating the living from the dead becomes thin. Evil walks upon the earth. Spells and rituals gain extra power.

Halloween is a day many individuals seek out fear and anticipate the rush provided by innocent danger - haunted houses and mazes, joyrides and such.

Trick or Treat

My treat to you this holiday season is a Halloween Themed Tarot Spread and a peek at Tarot of the Night by Richard ShadowFox.

The Spread:

1) The Costume - the situation
2) The Trick - the unexpected
3) The Treat - the opportunity
4) The Sidewalk - the journey
5) The Doorway - the outcome

A Sample Reading (featuring Tarot of the Night by Richard ShadowFox)

1) The Costume - the situation - 2 of Cups is all about relationships and partnerships. Although the main emphasis is on romantic unions, it may also show platonic partnerships.

The current situation is one of harmony and union. You may be in a loving relationship, an emotionally charged partnership, or a faithful friendship.

2) The Trick - the unexpected - 3 of Wands is about looking into the future, having expectations due to past preparations.

The unexpected is how well the above relationship is going. You see a future here, you have high expectations, dreams you never expected to wish for.

3) The Treat - the opportunity - 2 of Wands is about preparations, planning and progression.

You have an opportunity here to go further, to capitalize on the dream that's already in progress.

4) The Sidewalk - the journey - Ace of Wands represents new actions, growth, and creation.

Your passion set this journey into motion and it is your passion which will keep you on course to greater heights and deeper love.

5) The Doorway - the outcome - 10 of Swords brings to mind, "It's all over, I give up," but the thing about Swords is there's a mental game involved. It's usually not as bad as you THINK it is.

The outcome is undesired, not at all what you expected or wanted. This doesn't always mean a bad outcome. It may only be different than what you'd planned on.

Notice the two 2's signifying balance of emotions (cups) and creativity (wands), and the abundance of Wands igniting passion and action within the spread.

Overview - An important message here is simple. The journey is so much more important than the destination, the outcome. Things are always changing. You may not reach the exact location or result you had in mind, but you still moved forward, you still challenged yourself and you accomplished something. Now it's time to ignite your passion, make more plans, and move forward. Keep striving for your dreams.

Hope you all have a Happy Halloween!

Tarot Combinations - 8 of Pentacles and 6 Lovers

Tarot Combinations are useful in both gaining a stronger relationship with the tarot and learning the meanings.

We are using the Deck of Heroes Tarot this week. My review of this deck is available here.

8 of Pentacles / 6 Lovers
Deck of Heroes

These cards are so beautiful, sometimes I want to just look at them rather than do a reading with them. But, we are here to discuss the combination of these two cards, right?

8 of Pentacles - The man in the card is intent on doing a job, and from the looks of it, a repetitious job. I've never really thought much of the produced product in this card, but here you see it is the same item created multiple times.

From the companion book: "The consummate craftsman in difference to the artist... the concentration to repeat a process with unmatched precision."

6 Lovers - The man carries his woman up the stairs sprinkled with rose petals toward... This card usually perceived as the relationship card is really deeper than such. Yes, it normally depicts a romantic scene of sorts, especially in this version. But, it is also about choices and commitment.

From the companion book: "a commitment to the choice."

I see a marriage of sorts within the combination of these two cards. On a romantic relationship tone, most married couples will agree the union is a lot of repetition. On a career note, most people end up feeling married to their job.

What do you see in this tarot combination?

Tarot Combinations - 3 Empress and 2 High Priestess

Tarot Combinations are useful in both gaining a stronger relationship with the tarot and learning the meanings.

Instead of posting a review of the Deck of Heroes Tarot, which is available here, I decided to feature the deck in a Tarot Combination post. Note this deck is high on the romance theme.

3 Empress / 2 High Priestess
Deck of Heroes Tarot

Using Image Combinations - The Empress, served by her servants, enjoys a relaxing moment. The blue waterfall represents her calm state. The green represents a moment of growth and the red flowers show the abundance of her emotions. The High Priestess, embraced by her lover, stands barefooted, absorbing the earth's energies. The view behind her represents her power to absorb these energies. There are battling forces within this combination, yet they also complement one another. Both are of receiving rather than giving. I'm thinking a moment of mediation is represented within this combo, from life and spirit.

• Take a moment to relax and absorb the energies of life and spirit.

Using Meanings: Empress: motherhood, growth, nurturing; High Priestess: unblocked intuition, listening to inner voice.

• Growth through connecting with one's higher self.

Using numerical values: 3 - creation and growth, 2 - Balance and reflections

• Growth and creation brought about through balance and reflections.

What do you see in this tarot combination?