Deck Review: Celtic Tarot

Kristoffer Hughes (author) and Chris Down (artist), Celtic Tarot. Woodbury, MN: Llewellyn, 2017. ISBN: 9780738744766. (link to publisher page)

Genre: Tarot decks, cartomancy

Subgenre: Celtic, pagan, nature

Format: Kit in hard box with 78-card deck and companion book

Source: I own this one

 

Two of Swords

To be honest, once I started using this deck I was a bit surprised I do not see it out there a bit more often. It is a very good deck with a solid and well written companion book. I first used this deck in June 2023. The kit comes with a 78-card deck and 328-page book. 

The book is a softcover in the full color style that Llewellyn is favoring lately. It includes full page color images of each card in the card entries. The paper also has a bit of a gloss finish. It looks nice in terms of aesthetics. The book is arranged as follows: 

• Introduction. The author shares their early experiences with Tarot and encourages readers to persevere on the journey of learning. 
• Chapter 1: the Art of Divination. A brief look at Tarot and divination. 
• Chapter 2: A Brief History of Tarot. This is a very brief history.
• Chapter 3: Mysteries of the Celts. As the author describes it, this is "a tidbit of history spanning over three thousand years of time" (17). At two and a half pages, it really is a short overview. However, we do learn more throughout the book, especially in the card entries. 
• Chapter 4: Seeing the Wood for the Trees. The author looks at commonalities between Tarot and Celtic myths and worldview. 
• Chapter 5: A Storehouse of Wisdom. Expands on the previous chapter. The chapter also dispels some common misconceptions. 
• Chapter 6: The Tree of Tradition. Looking at the Tarot as a tree as a way to study and learn it.
• Chapter 7: How to Use the Tarot. This includes how to do a reading and the structure of a Tarot deck. Some reference charts are included. 
• Chapter 8: The Major Arcana. Each card entry includes a quote, a statement, keywords, descriptive text, divinatory meaning upright and reversed plus the card illustration. 
• Chapter 9: The Minor Arcana. This is arranged in four suits: wands, cauldrons (cups), shields (pentacles), and swords. Note each suit starts with the court cards then the pip cards. Card entries have keyword, descriptive text, divinatory meaning upright and reversed, plus card illustration. 
• Chapter 10: Tarot Spreads. Naturally we get the Celtic Cross Spread. We also get two additional spreads. 
• A short bibliography with 13 books on Tarot, Kabbalah, and Celtic culture for further reading. 

I will say up front that this is not like other companion books, which I will not name, that read like they just cobbled some standard meanings in order to have a companion book. In other words, this is not the common very basic beginner book we often get with a deck. You can tell the author put some good thought in writing this book to show how well Celtic tradition and Tarot work together. The book is well written, very informative, and blends Tarot and Celtic ways well.  The initial chapters are short, so easy to read and learn the concepts. The card entries have meanings, but they also discuss images and symbols in the cards. All in all a solid and substantial book. 

The Chariot-7

Chris Down's art on the cards is great. Colorful and very evocative of nature. Readers interested in a nature themed deck will find this deck is a good choice. The images are well within Rider Waite Smith (RWS) tradition; they look at RWS with a Celtic worldview, and it works well. This can be a great deck for pagans, especially folks within Celtic traditions. I find the deck very accessible and very easy to read. This can be a good deck for pretty much any reading. It can be a good daily use, regular work deck. It does feature some natural artistic nudity, but it works with the deck. I think it is fine, but I offer the warning for some folks. 

The art is colorful and bright. For the most part, if you read RWS you can read this deck without the book. However, you may still need the book for some cards if you are not fully conversant with Celtic lore. I'd say read the book anyhow. I found it well worth it, plus I learned some new insights into the cards. 

The cards measure about 4 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches. The art is borderless. The cards are identified by a small banned on the bottom of the card. The card stock is the Llewellyn standard at this time, which is thin and flexible. The brown card back is plain, but nice and reversible. It may be a bit reminiscent of the Druidcraft Tarot deck, but it works well. 

Overall, this is a great deck for all around use. Great for spring and summer and/or when you want a nature deck. Deck also works well for folks who like working with RWS but would rather avoid the Christian elements. Good for pagans. I am very glad to have it in my collection, and I highly recommend it. 

5 out of 5 stars. 

Additional reading notes: 

From the author, some Tarot tips and setting the record straight. Some of these are things I have said once or twice myself as well: 

• "The tarot is not difficult to learn, but some learning is necessary.
• Learning is a requisite of occult knowledge and the expression of wisdom.
• The tarot is a craft; therefore, the move you use it, the more familiar with it you become and the better you will be as a reader.
• You are not required to learn anything by rote or repetition.
• Read the book for inspiration and guidance; do not rely on it" (27).
   

 The above are concepts that resonate for me as I went on my learning journey, a journey that continues to this day and do not anticipate ending. I wish more folks interested in Tarot and cartomancy were told those things instead of some of the gatekeeping nonsense I have heard and seen, but I digress. 

The Tarot is a system, and you do need to do the work: 

"There is no getting away from the fact that a system must be learned in order for us to get the most out of the cards, but that system is only as complicated and as convoluted as you want it to be. Shift your focus and your awareness to a platform of relationship, and your experience of the tarot will be as delicious and beautiful as making a new friendship or falling in love" (8). 

This deck kit qualifies for the following 2023 Reading Challenge: