The Mary-El Tarot Cards – April 28, 2012

I received the Mary-El Tarot today, quite unexpectedly. Amazon has listed it as back-ordered for awhile now, and I hadn't noticed the e-mail telling me it had been shipped ... but suddenly it appeared. I opened the package with some trepidation -- would it live up to the expectations I've had for it over the past four or five years? The answer is an unqualified YES.The presentation is excellent: the sturdy box has a hinged top that stays closed with a hidden magnet. The compartment for the cards is much better quality than many similar boxes. (But it's necessary to tip the whole box over to get all the cards out; the thumb hole doesn't go all the way to the bottom of the box. A ribbon attached to the bottom of the compartment should fix that.)When I pulled the cards out of the box and began my initial quick glance through the deck -- to get a feel for the cards and to make sure they were all there -- the first thing I noticed is that one of the cards was backwards in the deck, and out of order: the Queen of Cups. I set it aside and started going through the rest of the deck, expecting that maybe I'd find another card was missing. But no: they were all there. I just had an extra Queen of Cups. The wise woman in that card is staring at me now as I write this. About her, Marie White says this: "The Queen of Cups _is_ the Holy Grail, the reservoir and container of all our subconscious and ancestral wisdom, the dark waters of the abyss." Oh my.I've now spent two hours going through the deck slowly, card by card, spending a few seconds or a minute on each one, then going back to them again and again. I've never seen a Tarot deck as rich, beautiful, and haunting as this one. The images all seem utterly unique, yet utterly familiar. With every card I have a sense of deep familiarity, as if I've been seeing the images my whole life, but I can't quite name them or remember where I saw them; but every familiar image is also deeply surreal, alien, new.A few initial reactions:--The box describes the Mary-El Tarot as inspired by the three main Tarot traditions: Rider-Waite, Marseille and Thoth. I've had a Thoth deck for a long time, but never really paid much attention to it: Crowley's occultism never appealed to me. But I just took it out again and looked over the cards, and the strong influence of them on the Mary-El is quite apparent (and makes me appreciate Thoth in a way I never have before). Many of the cards in this new deck have the swirling, cosmic feel of the Thoth cards, the multiple layers of surreal symbolism, and the odd presence of simple geometrical forms: a few lines forming a triangle, for example.--Some common elements: lots of runes (I have no idea what they mean); lots of tattoos; a strong eroticism, including explicit male, female and (in the Aces) androgynous nudity; a surprising degree of variation in approach from one card to another, including strong human portraits (the Queen of Cups); landscapes (the Fours); close-up animal "portraits" (the Knight of Wands); symbolic abstraction (7 of Disks); and so on.--The colors are extremely rich and dense: you'll find no airy-fairy pastels here. This is the earthiest Tarot I've ever seen.--Each card has a simple black border that makes the image really pop. The titles are printed in a simple font (maybe too simple; to me it lacks character).--Occasionally the level of detail in the original painting is so fine that it's hard to see in the cards. There's some not-quite-legible writing in the King of Swords, for example.--The style of much of the art is reminiscent of Leo and Diane Dillon, especially their more psychedelic SF/fantasy book covers from the 60s and 70s, which were some of favorite book covers growing up.--There are several cards that didn't appeal to me, or that I actually didn't like, when I first saw the images on the author's website. But today I've found that in every single case, by lingering over the card, looking more closely at the details, and simply questioning their meaning, I've changed my mind. I can honestly say now that there's not a single card in the deck that doesn't strike me as profound and beautiful.--There's also not a single card in the deck that I can really say I understand with anything like a firm grasp of what's going on. That's a good thing!--Is it my imagination or is there quite a bit of biblical imagery in these cards?--The cards are large and glossy. They seem very good quality, but I'm still a little worried how they'll react to much handling. The glossiness is almost sticky, which makes me think they may attract dust and grit which might start to scratch the cards. Also, I do wonder if the edges of the cards will hold up: will the high gloss coating start to peel over time? No idea. But it's a concern. The quality is high, but not as good as the best (i.e., the Kat Black's Golden and Touchstone Tarots). At least that's my first impression.So my conclusion is this: The Mary-El Tarot is (and here's a phrase I usually _loathe_, but it's totally appropriate here) an instant classic. I can hardly conceive that there might be a better Tarot published this year, or this decade. It's that good.

First of all, I have to give this deck 5 stars no matter what because the artwork on this deck is just art gallery worthy. Not in a long time of Tarot have I seen a deck as beautifully done in an artistic way as I've seen this deck... with that said...I first saw this deck online and thought "hmmm what a great deck for my friend." She got the deck and showed it to me. I, thinking I have enough decks and was quite content in my current ambition of whittling my deck collection down; thought when I see this deck in person I could probably control myself because after all I have my favorites already (Inner Child Cards, Thoth, Touchstone Tarot, etc.). So she shows me this long tobacco/cigar type of box and I nearly fell of the chair. We both agreed with how well Schiffer knows how to present their decks (so much so that I'm considering buying more Schiffer divination sets). It has a sturdy magnetic closure, its like getting served a fine cigar to you as one opens it. So when she opened the box I basically peed my pants...It never fails, but whenever I buy a deck based on online images I am always disappointed when I see the cards in person. Never are they as vibrant as what they seem to be online. BUT THIS DECK IS A RARE EXCEPTION. .. OMG so extremely beautiful!! If in any other reviews I've said the artwork of a deck is beautiful, I was lying because this one is exceptionally beautifully balanced color and clarity to the art... its so art gallery worthy... its so rich.So that was my OMG moment, I'll talk more about the cards themselvesHOW IT READS: It may be overwhelming for some people... the artwork as its a little bit of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust feel to it crossed with the rogue of Mad Max. Some of the images may be controversial (like the Heirophant as its a nun breast feeding two huge alien heads) and there is a lot of nudity of a hermaphaditic nature. So its not uncommon to find a human form that has breasts and a penis. There are also a lot of beautiful serene cards of kids that are of pure form (no confusion of sex with the kiddie cards). There are nice images of strong animal totems found throughout the deck too (Water Tiger for Temperance) not to mention beautiful scenic pictures with no human/alien/animals (4 of disks, a winding wooded path that leads one through the mountains). Its a very empathic deck.With that said it doesn't read like your regular RW or Thoth, etc. Its a combination of all. You may not always infer the meanings of the cards from the pictures, which makes one realize you have to be more intuitive with this deck at times.The LWB details the history of the Kaballah and other tarot traditions and gives you insight in her vision of the card. So the card meanings provided is RW, White's take, Thoth, and other traditional forms with a blended history of the Kaballa. So you can read this deck in any way you intend to. I prefer reading the cards according to White's interpretations as there is much more depth and accuracy. Her meanings tend to touch on the abyss... the stuff that blends the reality of the situation with the psychological aspects of the situation which often gets hidden in an average reading. I find this deck accurate... and gives insight you've never gathered before.OVERALLThe deck is so beautiful I hate reading with it because I don't want to destroy it despite having a pretty solid cardstock to boot. I tend to look at the cards and long for that distant galaxy or planet where all of these people or messengers in this deck may come to speak from. Because the meanings can be unique, its not the first deck I jump to for a quick read.. .but if I want to gain a 3rd perspective, its an awesome deck. It also predicts well, I've had a good predictive streak of runs with this deck.Due to the nature of the artwork, it may make some people squeamish, or make them relaxed, or make them let go of all preconditioned thoughts. It makes you let go of judgement as the images and forms are soo different you learn to look at the images through their spirit more than their outward message. If you were to look at each person in your life more from the viewpoint of spirit then you will understand what it is the universe asks of you spiritually than of corporeal directions in life... as the universe is both of these things and more...see this deck turns you into the philosopher you never thought you could be.I think this deck is worth everyone buying just for the quality of artwork alone. It has a new way of relating to the nouveau tarot world that I think it will be the next major deck (RW, Thoth, Voyager, now this one).

I am a tarot collector and artist. I purchased these cards after watching people rave about them on YouTube, call me over suspicious, but I have begun to doubt some reviewers who just seem to rave on about all decks they have been 'gifted'. Don't get me wrong there are many genuine people who make videos and some I trust implicitly but you know what I mean about niggling doubts. Anyway, I don't review hardly anything but I just couldn't help but write and support this deck. It is stunning, profound and genuinely something special. If you have doubts about some of the images (I did, the naked Fool and the odd alien babies on the Hierophant) don't be put off. When you hold the deck in your hands it feels right. It's kind of shocking but that's the point, this woman can really paint, I mean REALLY, paint and her composition and use of colour is beyond inspiring. You will react to these colours and images exactly how you are meant to. You are meant to feel uncomfortable and odd about the Hierophant just as you are meant to feel the purity of the 'true self' in the 8 of disks, or the soul resting in the 8 of wands. This is the difference so many people can't seem to put into words. There isn't one image in which artistic composition and colour hasn't been very carefully considered to make the viewer experience the essence of what the card is telling you. She really is a modern day William Blake, and I hope she gets recognised beyond her deck as someone very special. The fact her original art is selling for as little at £500 is frankly criminal.Go buy it and hold artistic genius in your hands. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. Go buy her art and make her famous. We need Marie White in the world of art as much as tarot. If you harbour even a tiny desire, to paint your own tarot (I guess many tarot collectors do, like me) then definitely buy the deck to see how it should be done.

WOW wow wow!! The artwork is utterly breathtaking. And the conventional meaning of the tarot is replaced with a somewhat alternative one... More emotional and somehow deeper .... I always read between the lines when it comes to meaning... As I like to feel my own path out.. The art work speaks volumes.. It inspires. Cards are Large though and if you have small hands shuffling them will be very tricky! Card stock is good and sturdy, accompanying book is similarly good quality. I am happy as Larry to have bought this deck. Please feel free to ask me questions about it if you are thinking of buying but aren't certain.. I am happy to help if I can.

I have been watching reviews online by tarot enthusiasts who own this stunning deck of cards. These range from the "show and tell" to the top five "I can't live without ", with the Mary-el being in the number one or two spot. For the last couple or three weeks, which seem like the same amount of months in comparison, my own thoughts upon this tarot deck has ebbed and flowed with the moon phases. I am not a seasoned tarotist and only began taking a tarot workshop this week but my life has always had an interest.As to the Mary-el tarot deck by Marie White.The post arrived today with a very special brown box. I was to tell the truth expecting a bigger package. Opening it up I was thrilled to see the lovely and beautifully designed tarot box. Online reviewers stated how large the cards were, unable to shuffle without the greatest of effort. I know the deck isn't a standard tarot card size but felt it wasn't huge!The accompanying book detailing the specific meanings and relating spreads is wonderful, and the cards themselves certainly deserve a whole lot of respect. I already know I have a tarot companion for the rest of my life. Many people have raved about the imagery so I won't go into detail in my review here. Holding the cards in my own hands I feel as though I have witnessed a new generation in tarot. Tarot has grown up and is demanding to be seen. This particular deck was first published in 2012, but until much recently has only come forth into the limelight.The Mary-el tarot will be my own personal divination tool, which I plan to use in the darkening seasons and may purchase another 'lighter' deck for the spring/summer months. I have another set of cards which have been cleansed and charged in preparation for my workshops.Update :Since purchasing the Mary-el I watched a couple of YouTube reviews by owners stating that they have trimmed off the deck borders. Some have even gone as far as removing the titles from the bottom of the cards and adding again with their own handwriting to the borderless card. One person revealed this technique was intended to be done, by the creator, Marie White.I did not umm and ahh over this! A week after getting the Mary-el tarot deck myself, I have spent a whole morning trimming off the black borders and bravely removed the titles. I have not written them back onto the cards yet, and may not do so, as I am hoping my intuition will gather strength by only seeing the intended imagery. The cards are now of a more manageable size to shuffle and look amazing when doing spreads.

Bought as a present. The cards are gorgeous with rich symbolic artwork. Theyre made from quality card stock, presented in a beautiful box with a in depth guide book. The reciever absolutely adores this deck

So insane so deep so luscious and seductive. The most powerful art energy and emotional deck in the world