The legends, history, and tradition of Arthurian Britain are the theme
of the Arthurian Tarot. The major arcana cards depict Merlin, Guinevere,
the Lady of the Lake and other familiar characters, while the minor
arcana have landscape scenes.
First published in 1991 ...Created by
Caitlin and John Matthews.
The Arthurian Tarot is a very high quality book and card set that is
nicely packaged and presented in a well-designed box. The cards are
printed on quality, durable stock with vivid designs. The card designs
are detailed and inviting, and they depict the essence of the grail
mysteries. This deck differs from traditional tarot decks in that the
suits of the minor arcana have been changed in keeping with the
symbolism of the Hallows. So instead of the sword, wand, pentacle, and
cup, we have the sword, spear, stone, and grail. The traditional icons
of the major arcana have also been adjusted to incorporate Arthurian
characters, for example, the High Priestess is now the Lady of The Lake,
Strength is Gawain, and the Magician is Merlin. Each card’s image is
bordered with a black frame which gives the reader the impression of
looking through a window into an alternate realm. The images themselves
are intricate, vibrantly coloured and have great depth, which
facilitates a detailed reading.
The book which accompanies the Arthurian Tarot is not merely a guide to
the meanings of each card, though in-depth interpretations are included.
It is a workbook which guides the reader, whether expert or novice, on a
personal grail quest called the Hallowquest. This is a meditation
course designed to be spread out over a 12 month period. The course is
divided into five parts. The aim of the first part is to enable the
reader to prepare for the esoteric journey, while the subsequent four
parts comprise the course’s seasonal sequence, which is intended to be
started at the closest solstice or equinox.
