Deck Review: The Halloween Tarot

Karin Lee (author) and Kipling West (artist), The Halloween Tarot. Stamford, CT: U.S. Games Systems, 2002. (Link to publisher.)

 

Genre: Tarot, cartomancy

Subgenre: Halloween, Samhain, fall season

Format: kit with 78-card deck, companion book, and poster

Source: I own this one

 

This kit includes the 78-card deck, a paperback companion book, and a poster mat featuring a 10-card spread. The spread is basically a Celtic Cross variant. 

The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. A short statement about Halloween and the book's content from the author Karin Lee. 
• Chapter 1: The History of Halloween. This is a short overview of the Halloween celebration. 
• Chapter 2: Halloween Symbols and Traditions. This chapter goes over some specific symbols and traditions: trick-or-treating, jack o'lanterns, ghosts and skeletons, witches and black cats, and fortune telling. 
• Chapter 3: The Halloween Tarot. This explains the deck's concept. The chapter also includes some basic instructions on how to read the cards and two sample card spreads. This chapter has the entries for Major Arcana and Minor Arcana cards too. Minor Arcana Cards are organized by suit. 
• More Books About Halloween and Tarot. This has two short lists. One is a list of Children's Books About Halloween. The other is a list of Other Books About Halloween and Tarot. I like the inclusion of children's books, a reminder this is a celebration for all ages. 

The Magician-I card

The companion book is an easy and very accessible read. It is written in simple language, and the material is presented with a bit of playfulness and charm. It is not a deep text; it gives you the basics to learn about Halloween, the traditions, and the deck. 

The Major Arcana entries include a black and white image of the card, and about a page and a half of descriptive interpretation text, divinatory meanings, and reversed meanings. The Minor Arcana entries include shorter text, but otherwise the entries are about the same as the Major Arcana. 

The deck came in a tuck box with its own little white book (LWB). These days you can just buy the deck. I would suggest getting the kit with the companion book if you can. The book has additional material, mainly in the card entries and the book lists at the end. Can you use the deck without the companion book? Yes, you can do so just fine. However, I think you get a bit more value with the kit. 

 

Two of Pumpkins card.

The cards in essence are a Rider Waite Smith clone, so if you use that system this deck should be easy for you. Given how popular RWS is this deck can be easy to use for most readers. The strength lies in Kipling West's playful, lighthearted, and wonderful Halloween art. The art blends old style Halloween with a childlike sense of wonder and play. The colors are bright, and the images are playful and expressive. The images are easy to read, and they will often bring you a smile. Fall season colors are predominant. It may be a playful deck, but it can deliver serious messages when necessary. 

The card suits in the Minor Arcana are changed to reflect Halloween. This does not detract from the deck's usability. It does enhance the Halloween mood. The changes are: 

• Pentacles = Pumpkins (Earth).
• Ghosts = Cups (Water).
• Bats = Swords (Air).
• Imps = Wands (Fire). 

The Major Arcana cards retain their traditional names. 

This is a solid deck to use during fall and Halloween/Samhain season. If you love Halloween as I do you could consider using it year round. For folks who want a deck without the "scary" elements, this is a good choice. It evokes the playful elements of Halloween that is safe for children of all ages. This is a deck you could give as a gift to pretty much anyone, more so if they love Halloween and the fall season. This is also a good kit for beginners with a good book and a very nice deck of cards.

The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 2 3/4 inches. They do have a white border, but I do not see that as issue. The glossy finish is very light. These cards slide easily and can be shuffled with ease. The card back design is reversible. 

Overall, if you are fan of Halloween and fall season then this deck is indispensable. It is also a very accessible deck for readers of all levels. This is a deck I would be happy to use for public readings, especially in the fall season, but you could use it year round. I highly recommend it, and I am very happy to have it in my collection. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

Note: Photos are mine from my copy of the deck.