Tarot & Oracle
The Tarot is at its tabletop practical basis a deck of decorated cards. Its order and appearance began to be somewhat uniform in the Renaissance, roughly the 15th Century. More complex meanings and purposes of this tool of gamesmanship seem to have begun early in the 18th Century, eventually growing and roaming into the wide spectrum of entertainment, interrogation, divination, and cartomancy that we know today.
A friend introduced me to the I Ching in college, and I quickly understood it to be an effective and enjoyable method of psychological investigation. After years of being put off by some of the more arcane and ambitious claims of tarot enthusiasts, I finally saw the analogy to the I Ching. After many years of resisting carrying the tarot in the store, I now stock it in the simple and inquiring spirit of my understanding. I am attracted to eye-catching art, of course, and I like the idea of cats being involved, of course, although I suspect cats may be more interested in pushing the cards off the table than in being supportive familiars. I respect the tarot’s history, and I will seek out books that place in the context of its origin and survival.
I am aware that the supply and diversity of decks is enormous, but I begin simply and humbly, alert to what my customers like.
A Jane Austen Tarot Deck: 53 Cards for Divination and Gameplay
A Jane Austen Tarot Deck: 53 Cards for Divination and Gameplay
The ultimate must-have for any Jane Austen fan, this gorgeous set of 53 tarot cards features hand-drawn characters and objects from Austen’s enduring novels.
Noted Jane Austen artist Jacqui Oakley brings her beautiful work to the world of tarot with this sublime and whimsical package. Featuring 53 characters (including Elizabeth Bennet, Mr. Darcy, Elinor Dashwood, and more) and objects (such as well-trimmed bonnets and a stack of novels) from Austen’s books, each card doubles as a playing card and tarot card. With Mr. Wickham from Pride and Prejudice as the Devil, a teapot representing strength, and Austen herself as the Magician, it’s perfect for both longtime and new Austen fans.
Oversized, sleek, and sophisticated, this deck comes in a hinged cigar box decorated with foil stamping and a wafer seal enclosure, and is accompanied by a booklet containing a brief overview of tarot and a guide to the cards and the world of Austen.