Deck Review: Tarot of the Dream Enchantress

Marco Nizolli (artist/creator) and Barbara Moore (booklet author), Tarot of the Dream Enchantress. Piedmont, Italy, 2009. ISBN: 9780738715308. (Link to Llewellyn, US distributor).

Genre: Tarot deck

Subgenre: fantasy, dreams, surreal

Format: 78-card deck with little white book

Source: I own this one

 

This is a 78-card deck with a little white book (LWB) with a theme of dreams and fantasy. 

The LWB is written in five languages: English, Italian, Spanish, French, and German. The LWB has 63 pages total; it has 14 pages of English content. The LWB includes: 

• Short 2-page introduction. "Tarot of the Dream Enchantress," where it discusses dreams and how Tarot is very much like dreams because it "forms a bridge between our conscious and subconscious. And like dreams, Tarot speaks to us in symbols and images" (3). We also learn a bit about the Dream Enchantress whose magic imbues the cards. 
• "Using the Tarot of the Dream Enchantress." Some tips on how to use a Tarot deck. 
• Meanings. Start with the Major Arcana cards, then the Minor Arcana cards: chalices, pentacles, wands, and swords. Each card gets about a paragraph of content. 
• Spreads. You get two spreads to try out. 

The Emperor-IV

The meanings overall reinforce the theme of dreams. The meanings are basic. Some fall within Rider Waite Smith (RWS); some deviate a little bit, giving readers new ideas to consider about the cards. Can you read the cards without the LWB? Yes. I would still recommend reading the LWB at least once to see what it offers. I found I got some new insights into some of the cards. Some card entries include questions you can consider for your readings and journaling. 

The cards on the deck are great. Art features a dream-like enchanted fantasy setting. It is very much a female-centric deck. Only two cards have what appear to be males: The Lovers-VI and the Two of Cups. So if you want a deck with some strong feminine energy, this can be an option. 

The art is colorful, but I would say the colors are a bit subdued; they are not too bright. That works well with the dreams concept. Some of the cards can have a bit of a surreal element. The art for the most part falls well within RWS, the deck works well if you work in that system. There are deviations from RWS, but nothing readers can handle. In this deck, Justice is VIII and Strength is XI. The deck can work well with intuitive readers willing to dig a bit deeper. People and characters in some cases may not be as expressive due to wearing masks, but if you look closely the masks often reveal details as do the settings depicted.

Four of Pentacles

The cards measure about  4 1/2 inches by 2 1/2 inches. The cards have a border on top and bottom that includes card number and suit symbol. Major Arcana are identified with Roman numerals. Art on the card back is reversible. The card stock is flexible and thin but not too thin. The cards have a very soft glossy finish; they slide easily when shuffled. 

Overall I really liked using this deck. It has art that draws you in. They are relatively easy to use and read. I can see using this deck from dream work and some shadow work. It feels like a deck you can use year round. It also feels a bit like a deck to keep close to your bed when sleeping. It works well for me, and I am glad to have it in my collection. It is a deck I would consider getting a back up copy.

5 out of 5 stars.

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