Athene Noctua, The Unfolding Path Tarot.Carlsbad, CA: Hay House, 2023. ISBN: 9781401973148. (Link to publisher.)
The guidebook is 115 pages, and it is arranged as follows:
- Introduction. This is a creator's statement describing the deck's concept and how it originated.
- Tarot Basics. Some brief and basic instruction on how to read the cards. It describes the Minor Arcana suits, and it gives some advice on reading reversals.
- Using the Unfolding Path Tarot. Some brief guidance on using the deck and making a practice.
- Card Spreads. Five spreads you can try out.
- Major Arcana. Each card entry includes card name and number, keywords, and a paragraph or two of interpretation. It does not include card illustrations.
- Minor Arcana. Entries are arranged by suit-- wands, cups, swords, and pentacles. The court cards are included with their suit. Card entries are the same as the Major Arcana.
The book is a very easy read. The esoterica is very minimal. It is grounded in Rider Waite Smith (RWS), but the interpretations are updated, expanded, and reimagined for our times. I found the meanings to be plain, honest, and insightful. If you want to learn Tarot in a welcoming way with modern insights, this is a good guidebook for a great deck.
As for the deck, the art is within the RWS tradition, but envisioned for our times. It blends a bit of fantasy with contemporary realism. The images are beautiful, colorful, and clear. The cards are great to look at for meditation. It can also be a great deck for personal readings as well as public readings. The art shows great attention to detail, and the deck is easy to read and interpret. You can use the deck intuitively with ease. I always advise folks to read the book, which I found useful, but the art is so clear, expressive, and well made you could read the cards without the book as an intuitive and/or if you have a basic Tarot foundation. Heck, I think beginners can grab this deck and start reading with ease. This deck speaks clearly and beautifully. It can be very nurturing.
For folks looking for representation, this deck has it in terms of color, gender, age, body shape, etc. This is another reason this can be a good deck to read for others. It can also work for folks who are not as much into fantasy art.
I fell in love with this deck right away. I found it very easy to use and read. The images and art are great, expressive, very responsive for questions. I started using it, and I felt a bond forming right away. I enjoy looking at the images as well as sharing the deck with others. The deck is on point for readings. I would definitely use this deck to read for others. I would not want to be without this deck. It is one I would buy a back up deck.
The cards measure about 4 3/4 inches by 2 3/4 inches. The card stock is on the thick side, so the deck can be a little heavy. It has a soft matte finish, and the cards slide with ease. The flower art on the card back is reversible.
Overall, a great deck I am glad to own, and I highly recommend it.
5 out of 5 stars.
This deck kit qualifies for the following 2024 Reading Challenges:
Note of decks that may share similar appeal factors:
- The Light Seer's Tarot (link to my review; to the deck interview spread).
- The Gaian Tarot (link to my review; to the deck interview spread).
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