Mythical Goddess Tarot

“Our planet and all her species are at a delicate crossroads. The key to the survival of life on Earth in these days is the integration and expression of the Sacred Feminine in all of us, women and men. At this crucial time on the planet, humankind is being forced out of denial of its own divinity. Specifically, this is the spirit of the Goddess on Earth, not necessarily in worship, but in honoring, in each of us, our feminine core of being. She has always existed in all of her forms, no matter how buried, and is now returning in full expression for the healing of humankind.” – From the Mythical Goddess Tarot companion book - Sage Holloway (Author) and Katherine Skaggs (Artist)

From Mother Mary to Lakshmi, White Buffalo Calf Woman to Brigid, the Major Arcana of the Mythical Goddess Tarot glows with diverse faces of the Divine Feminine. Bordered in purple with some Trumps renamed, the Majors speak to the deep inner desire for healing, creation, acceptance, initiation and union.

Although woman-centric in imagery, the messages of Mythical Goddess Tarot speak across gender lines and racial divisions, spiritual paths and personal needs. Richly illustrated in vibrant hues by Katherine Skaggs, this deck is compassionately honest, surprisingly blunt, incisively accurate, and ultimately hopeful.

The Minor Arcana suits are Seas, Fire, Earth and Wind, with the Court Cards following Child, Maiden, Mother and Crone designation. Each has a relevant keyword adding to possible intuitive insights, with several cards offering delightful, clever expansion on traditional meanings.

Several of my favorite cards (a few because of the utter originality) from the vivid, lavishly illustrated Mythical Goddess Tarot include:

• 8 of Earth (Nurturance) – A full-figured woman surrounded by vegetation waters a mound of daisies, healing and love emanating from her other hand.

• 10 of Wind (Illusion) – On a sunny day, a person garbed in full yellow raingear stands under a red umbrella while a tiny rain cloud hovers above.

• Crone of Fire (Transmutation) – A smiling phoenix raises triumphantly from the ashes.

• 7 of Earth (Failure) – A leafless gnarled tree fails to thrive amidst city skyscrapers and gray skies.

• Child of Seas (Innocence) – A child lies asleep in a giant conch shell, protected from a heaving wave.

• 9 of Wind (Criticism) – Lightning bolts emanate from a figure’s head and mouth with a hand points in seeming accusation, powerfully capturing the damage inflicted by harsh judgment.

The 127-page companion booklet to the Mythical Goddess Tarot is one of the most finely crafted I’ve seen, with each card reproduced in full-color miniature. Sage Holloway provides the astrological correlation for each card (unobtrusively painted on each card), as well as detailed explanations and encouraging advice. The shiny box it comes in is very sturdy and easy to open (thankfully!)

The glossy cards measure approximately 4 ½ x 3 ¼ inches with an intricate reversible pattern on back. Each of the Minor Arcana cards has an arresting border reflecting their elemental association: Wind cards are bordered with cloud-strewn skies, Seas have steel gray waves, Earth depicts leafy trees, while Fire cards have orange flame borders.

I’ve been using the Mythical Goddess Tarot for several months now and it’s one of a few “go to” decks that I use for personal readings and spiritual contemplation. I’ve found it especially helpful for ascertaining values, aligning with soul purpose, gaining insight into familial relationships, deriving comfort in stressful times, and sorting out emotional signals.

This deck is truly one of the finest I’ve come across in recent years and has become one of my favorites. It’s warm, user-friendly, diverse (in imagery and message), and clear. Although it’s self-published, it rivals any deck produced by known publishers in both quality and presentation. (It’s available from Amazon.com at this link.)

Thank you, Sage Holloway and Katherine Skaggs, for being a wide-open conduit for such an energizing and empowering Tarot deck!

To see 13 additional images from this deck, click here.

-- Janet Boyer, Editor at TheTarotChannel.com - Author of The Back in Time Tarot Book

Comments

[Sage Holloway]

Janet...thank you so very much for seeing this deck with true eyes! I am so thrilled that you have honored Katherine and me with your kind and astute words. Our intention in creating this deck and bringing forth the wisdom and support of the Goddess in these days has been expertly and exquisitely voiced by your beautiful words. Bless you and thank you my Dear! Sage Holloway, author of the Mythical Goddess Tarot

[Abbe Anderson]

I've bought this deck for many of my friends. It's the perfect gift, offering them ongoing hope, wisdom, humor, and access to the great mystery. Great art, thoughtful integration, wonderful work.

[Balakirev]

"Although woman-centric in imagery, the messages of Mythical Goddess Tarot speak across gender lines and racial divisions, spiritual paths and personal needs."

Since many decks deliberately reject man-centric imagery, I have to question whether woman-centric imagery provides a message that speaks across gender lines, at least. At best, to me, such a deck provides a selection of influences as notable for what it limits and refuses to allow in, as what it embraces. At worst--not present in this particular deck--it redefines half of humanity as evil, power-mad, and/or insignificant.

[Janet]

Hello Sage!

It was my pleasure; what a treasure you and Katherine have created! Thanks for stopping by The Tarot Channel and for your kind words. :o)

Hi Balakirev!

I respectfully disagree with you. Masculine/Feminine, Yin/Yang, Light/Dark--to me, these states aren't expressed merely by gender (as some assume) but by particular energies (in my opinion).

Some women-centric decks don't speak to me because they are, as you say, imbalanced (e.g. Motherpeace).

But although the Mythical Goddess deck is dedicated to the Divine Feminine, I feel its energy is quite balanced. For example, Pele is one of the Major Arcana; she is a fiery Yang/male energy. Athena, clad in a helmet and driving heavy-breathing steeds, also communicates Yang energy of determination, activity, decisiveness, etc.

Quite a few (perhaps at least half?) of this particular deck shows androgynous figures, lanscapes and animals. You can see additional pictures at the Star Chalices website:

http://tinyurl.com/M-Goddess

So although this deck contains the word "Goddess" and is dedicated to enhancing the Divine Feminine (which is decidedly OUT of balance in this world, IMO), I feel it is very balanced and describes ENERGIES, not a particular gender.

Thanks for stopping by The Tarot Channel and sharing your thoughts, Balakirev!

Janet

[Danielle]

Hi Janet,

I love this deck and I thank you for bringing it out of the dark because its not a deck that is highly featured in many metaphysical, new age, or bookstores.

I personally own this deck and was not into Goddesses stuff (I'm a female and thought these ideas were crappy). But someone at a metaphysical store picked this out for me and I must say this was an excellent pick.

The deck, itself, is alive with much energy and accuracy. At first I wasn't one comfortable with the images of well endowed bare breasted women, but the deck is infused with some wise and insightful energy that I wasn't focused on it. At best I see the deck using female archtypes in replace of the male archtypes found in the Tarot tradition.

So try the deck... you might be surprised. I was, I always hated the notion of goddess decks, but this deck is just really a great deck.

[Balakirev]

"I respectfully disagree with you. Masculine/Feminine, Yin/Yang, Light/Dark--to me, these states aren't expressed merely by gender (as some assume) but by particular energies (in my opinion)."

Some women-centric decks don't speak to me because they are, as you say, imbalanced (e.g. Motherpeace).

But although the Mythical Goddess deck is dedicated to the Divine Feminine, I feel its energy is quite balanced. For example, Pele is one of the Major Arcana; she is a fiery Yang/male energy. Athena, clad in a helmet and driving heavy-breathing steeds, also communicates Yang energy of determination, activity, decisiveness, etc."

Absolutely, Janet! Couldn't agree more with you concerning energy polarities. But as that's the case, I can't help wondering why all the cards needed to express these polarities have to be of one sex, only. In other words--and pardon me for struggling to find the right words--I don't see what's gained by creating a deck that is balanced on one level, and completely out of whack on another. Unless, of course, the purpose is to make a sweeping, unnuanced political statement about the two sexes.

"Thanks for stopping by The Tarot Channel and sharing your thoughts, Balakirev!"

Thanks! I've been posting comments here regularly for over a year, and enjoy the site quite a lot. :)

[Janet]

Hi again, Balakirev!

Of course you're a long time poster here, and you're comments are always insightful and thought provoking. I just appreciate that you take the time to stop by and share your thoughts so readily. :o)

I truly know what you're saying; I'm the one having problems putting my "gist" into words! *smile*

Personally, I have problems with decks that show all the females as young, big breasted, and half naked/all naked (ala some of the Lo Scarabeo decks).

Even though these decks also show males, they are "imbalanced" in my opinion because they seem to portray women as sex objects, especially with the lack of variety regarding age, body type, clothing, etc. Men seem to get a much more wide representation in such "mixed" decks.

But the Mythical Goddess has quite a few androgynous characters (for example, see the Ace of Manifestation above), as well as cards that show no humans but rather animals/landscapes that reflect a particular energy.

I can't speak for the deck creators, but from what I've taken from the deck, they've simply used archetypes/mythos from goddesses (especially with the Major Arcana) to convey to truths/energies often ascribed to the Tarot.

The Minors are even more mixed in terms of androgyny, animals and landscapes. So, for me, this doesn't feel like a feminist deck in the *least*, nor does it feel as if the deck creators have any ax to grind with males/masculinty.

Maybe a "balanced" deck is in the eye of the beholder. Or, maybe it's like the saying goes: I can't define pornography, but I know it when I see it! LOL

Janet