Deck Review: Tarot Apokalypsis

Erik C. Dunne (artist/creator) and Kim Huggens (author/writer), Tarot Apokalypsis. Torino, Italy: Lo Scarabeo, 2016. ISBN: 9780738749822. (link to Llewellyn, the U.S. distributor.)

 

Genre: Tarot deck

Subgenre: mystery cults, ancient civilizations

Format: Kit with deck of cards and hardcover book

Source: I own this one 

 

Justice-XI card

I first used this deck during the month of July 2022. After the rough dark month of June 2022, where I was using the Tarot Z deck, along with the Kali Oracle for my weekly oracle card draws, I was tempted to continue using the Tarot Z in July or pick another dark deck for the month. In the end, I wanted something closer to traditional and a bit lighter. The sumptuous Tarot Apokalypsis made for a good choice. On a small side note, the Tarot Z and Kali Oracle made a pretty good match during the month of July 2022. I have the review of the Tarot Z coming soon, and I am in the process at this time of writing the review for the Kali Oracle, so stay tuned. 

I describe this deck and kit as sumptuous because it looks like a more expensive kit. The art for the deck is also great, and we'll get to that. This kit edition includes a hardcover book and a 79-card deck; the deck has an extra card. 

The book is definitely a highlight of this kit. The book is well written, and it has a generous amount of information. The book is arranged as follows: 

• Foreword.
• At the Beginning. This is a brief overview of what Tarot is and what the book does. 
• The Tarot Apokalypsis and revelation. Brief overview of the deck itself and its theme of revelation. 
• Using Tarot. This includes a discussion on symbols, how to read a card, and how to read a card spread. 
• Tarot spreads. We get five card spreads. 
• The Cards. This includes: 
• Major Arcana. This section's introduction explains how each card is based on a mystery cult, mystery religion, mystical or magical practice. It also includes a table of astrological and Kabbalistic associations for each card. Each card entry includes card name, the mystery/magic the card is based on, mystery (explains the card's mystery), revelation (the card's interpretation including negative aspect). 
• Minor Arcana. The introduction here tells us the suits of the Minor Arcana depict one of four ancient civilizations: Khmer Empire of Cambodia (Pentacles), Ancient Greece and Rome (Cups), Northern Europe Norse (Swords), and Ancient Egypt (Wands). The introductory text here also goes over elemental associations and a bit of numerology. The card entries here have the same kind of content as the Major Arcana cards. 
• Court Cards. The introductory text here indicates the court cards depict a deity worshiped in the cultures of the suits. We also get a basic explanation about court cards in general and a table of elements associated with each card. The entries for each card are like entries for the Major and Minor Arcana cards. 
• Continued Study. This provides some information to keep practicing including how to keep a Tarot journal, on doing a daily draw, the three symbol reading technique, and a small list of books for further reading. 
• On a small side note, from the provided book list I have read Around the Tarot in 78 Days (link to my review). 

Four of Cups card

This is a very substantial book and not just because it is a bit over 400 pages. The book's author does a
great job with an accessible text. The text is very informative, detailed, and includes footnotes throughout the book. If you want to learn more about the mysteries and civilizations described you can use the footnotes to find additional sources. Do note that sources in the footnotes are not listed in the readings list at the end of the book. The book offers a lot of material to study and work with the cards. To be honest, this is the kind of book the Tarot Illuminati, the deck's companion deck, should have included in the kit instead of the less substantial book that deck got (link to my review of the Tarot Illuminati). In addition to a well written and substantial text, the book is in hardcover, another nice quality detail. This is one of the better deck companion books available. 

The deck features 79 cards. This deck has an extra card: The All-Gifted. This card is not numbered; in the book, it is listed with the Major Arcana. You can either remove it or keep it in the deck. I left it in when using the deck. 

The digital art on this deck is beautiful, colorful, and very opulent. It is very rich in details and symbolism. You get plenty of lush imagery to work on. The cards lean a bit into the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) system, so if you read within that system, you can make the deck work for you. However, the art based on ancient mysteries and civilizations adds unique details and symbols to the cards, and this enriches the reading experience. If you read intuitively, the deck's art and detail offer plenty to draw upon. The figures on the cards are very expressive; you can see the emotions in images that you can spend time studying. For me, this deck reads very well. 

Prince of Wands card

The cards are borderless. Each card is identified by name and number with a small black banner at the bottom of the card. The card back is not reversible. The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 2 3/4 inches. The card stock is thing but feels flexible. It also feels durable as long as you don't shuffle them too hard. The cards have a light glossy finish, and they slide well enough without sticking. 

Overall, for me, this is one of the nicest decks in my collection. The kit includes a good companion book that goes beyond the standard basic book you find with most decks that come with a book. The cards feature beautiful art with a variety of themes yet the overall structure is clear and coherent. The art is rich in detail and color. This is a deck I know I can back and spend a lot of time studying it, and it is also a good deck to read. This is a deck kit I highly recommend and would not want to do without. The deck can work for beginners, but it may be more for intermediate and up practitioners. Still, it can make a good gift for any practitioner. On a final note, these days you can buy the deck individually, but I would say if you can get the kit.

5 out of 5 stars. 

This kit qualifies for the following 2022 Reading Challenge: