The Halloween Tarot Deck and Book Set

I started tarot in April and resisted the urge to buy additional decks until October. This was the first one I bought, and it's fantastic. I heard about it in one of my tarot books, maybe Dusty White? Unlike most collector decks, which are purely illustration / graphic design projects, this seemingly innocuous, puerile, fun, innocent deck is actually a coherent esoteric system. They put some thought and feeling into it. I got insights from this deck that I wouldn't have found otherwise. It's worthwhile to do a reading with my main deck and then hit up this deck with the exact same question - which often gives equivalent cards, but it still gives you a different perspective. And obviously extra credit for putting the black cat on every card. 🐈‍⬛ Seriously. The arrival of my very first cat roommate, an all-black cat with bright yellow eyes, coincided with a period of unusual productivity in my inner work. I could fumble through some intellectualization of what this means or how it works, but it's enough to note it. I bought bookshelves full of decks in rapid succession. The most pernicious aspect of tarot collecting is that it's so accessible. I can't think of another collecting hobby with this kind of pleasure-to-cost ratio. And the fact that the boxes are so small makes it easy to miss the fact that you're becoming a hoarder. Anyway, I was cured of the collector habit almost as soon as it formed. Lots of big disappointments, but this deck will forever remain my first, if not also my favorite.

This is my first real tarot set. I had a couple in my teens, but I didn’t have quite the spiritual or mental maturity to embrace it. Firstly, I love the thickness of the cards. I enjoyed the book with the background of Halloween and thorough card explanations. As a life long Halloween lover, visually these are engaging and fun. As a newb I thought these would be comparable to the standard decks with simple changes, ex bats and pumpkins vs cups and swords. I’ve done three simple past, present, future type readings and amazed at the personal connection. I believe this is the best deck I could have purchased and I looked and pondered for months. Absolutely recommend!!!

I was skeptical at first, about whether this deck could be used for serious readings...but after using them for s good amount of readings, I'm sold! This is not only now my favorite deck, but I would actually call it a "fun" deck. Since I'm a goth and every day is Halloween, this is going to be my year long cards of choice. I have a goodly collection of tarot decks and I can honestly say I havent used a different deck since I found these. I highly recommend.

"Successful Tarot readings are based on insight into what you *do* see, and whatever flashes of insight into your own life the pictures may offer you. In fact, think of yourself as the black cat that appears in every card of the Halloween deck. He is your touchstone, and travels through the deck with you as your companion." - From the companion book For quite some time, I've had my eye on The Halloween Tarot deck and book set by Kipling West (illustrator) and Karin Lee (companion book and LWB author). Although I assumed I'd be pleased when I eventually bought them, I had no idea just how thrilling it would be to actually SEE the deck! While the outstanding cartoon-like artwork of The Halloween Tarot is colorful and clever, I wasn't prepared for the intuitive and symbolic richness of the cards. Designing many of the cards based on Rider-Waite iconography--but tweaked and twisted to incorporate themes from Halloween, old monster movies, circus images, and the German-made "Vegetable People" that were popular Halloween toys/decorations in 1920's America--Kipling West has given Tarot an influx of fresh perspective--while still paying homage to ancient esoteric symbolism. As I went through the deck one card at a time, I noticed how certain phrases popped into my head--a silent commentary to the arresting depictions--and a very good sign that this is a deck that would "speak" to me. From the terrified man strapped to the ever-turning Wheel (and the target of knife-throwing!), to the experimenting mad scientist in The Hermit--the jolly Pumpkin Man careening through paved cemetery roads in a hearse (The Chariot) to a chained Frankenstein fixed on his cement throne (The Emperor), associations both practical and divine made themselves known. Reading the delightful illustrated 137-page companion book was more than just a treat: it provided solid, yet innovative, ways to see and interpret the cards (including upright and reversed meanings). While you *can* buy The Halloween Tarot by itself--and it *does* include a LWB by Karin Lee--the companion book found in the box set is a not-to-be-missed traveling companion through this particular deck. The suits of the Minor Arcana are Ghosts (Cups), Imps (Wands), Bats (Swords) and Pumpkins (Coins)--and the Court Cards follow the Page, Knight, Queen, and King rendering. The whimsical orange and black card backings are fully reversible, depicting a black cat, spider, smiling skulls, bats, vines, stars, full moon, and an all-seeing eye in the center. There is no nudity in The Halloween Tarot, nor are the images gruesome or threatening--making it a *wonderful* for deck for children. (My 8-year-old son is enraptured with both the cards and book!) But make no mistake: the light-hearted appearance of the cards belies the abundant symbolism nestled within the images, as well as the rich repository for intuitive insights. I was blown away by a three card reading I performed with this deck, mostly because two of the cards contained specific (to me) references about a book I was reading--a direct answer to my unspoken query about my spiritual path. So if you're tempted to think that The Halloween Tarot is only for holiday readings or as a quirky, light-weight addition to a deck collection, think again: this is a great reading deck than can also speak to weightier matters! If you're a huge fan of Halloween, there's no question you'll love this deck. However, even for those who *aren't* rabid for this particular holiday or its accoutrements, a charming, readable deck awaits you--no matter *what* time of the year! (To see 10 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at [...]) Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present (coming Fall 2008 from Hampton Roads Publishing)

This beautiful tarot deck has been my go-to deck for at least 30 years, ever since they called me over during a visit at the spiritual bookstore. I was just browsing & not planning on purchasing much more than about $5 worth of anything, then I heard this deck call me (no, I'm not schizophrenic). I went over to the Tarot Section & there it was, on the shelf, not particularly standing out amongst the other decks. But I was drawn to it like I knew where it was. I spent much more than $5 & have never regretted it. I have several tarot decks but the Lee/West Halloween Tarot deck is the best one I have.

When I saw this tarot deck I just had to have it! If you are new to tarot I would recommend getting the book set over the tin set even though it's cheaper because the book alone is worth the extra price. The book that comes in this set tells a story about what is going on in each card making it easier to remember while the lwb that comes with the tin set just gives simple meanings. However, in my box set I got both the book and the lwb which I thought was a nice touch. Each card is so fun to look at I don't get bored studying tarot with this deck and it's my third favorite learning deck that I own.

If I were only reviewing the deck, I’d give it 5 out of 5 stars! Nice coated cards, very bright and cheerful Halloween colors, love the cat, and very nice lwb….bigger than most. The regular book that came in this set is nice and has good info, but it was smaller than I anticipated. Also, black and white photos of the cards and average paper quality, so could have been done nicer. My main complaint is with the packaging, and the paper mat for reading….the paper mat is just some kind of laminated paper, and not of good quality. It’s also folded into quarters in order to fit inside the box. Basically, it’s useless, and the only thing it does is get in the way of either the cards or the book when you are trying to put the set back inside the box it comes in. The box itself is beyond cheap, and is the kind where you slide in the cards, in their own “cards only” cheap box, slide the book in beside it, and try not to bend or get hung up on the silly folded paper mat. It has a square “spacer” inside as well, so everything looks nice inside the box. So many companies are using these types of boxes now, and I really wish they wouldn’t. A nice sturdy box that fits both the cards and the book (skip the paper reading mat…it’s useless anyway), with a magnetic side lock lid would be so much better. Really, the box it comes in is prob only suitable for shipping. It won’t hold up over time, and it’s a real pain to take the cards and book out, and also to slide everything back in, just so. Otherwise, a delightful deck! The mini tin version is very very nice as well, and although the cards are quite small, it can be easily transported; you can simply throw the tin in your bag, or put it in your (medium sized) pocket. Very nice deck(s)!

i LOVEEE this deck so much, the art really gives you a nostalgia warm halloween feeling. The best halloween deck i’ve seen. I will definitely use this deck all year long

Déçue de mon achat. Une drôle d'atmosphère se dégage de ce tarot, que je n'apprécie pas. Article renvoyé.

Molto bello come sempre

Es maravilloso, me gusta coleccionar mazos de tarot con la temática de Halloween y desde luego este mazo me ha dejado sin palabra es original desde la primera carta hasta la última con una gran variedad en la paleta de colores, tanto si eres esoerimentada o nuevo en el tarot conectarás rápidamente además se identifica con el Raider Waite. 👻👻👻👻🎃

I think this is going to be a 'marmite' deck - you'll either love it or hate it. I love it. The deck and book set comes in beautiful packaging which would make an excellent addition to your collection or a lovely gift for someone else. The images are loosely based on the Rider-Waites which helps guide you to the meaning of the cards behind all the crazy images. The suits are renamed to fit the Halloween tradition: Pumpkins, Ghosts, Bats, Imps but the Major Arcana have retained their original names. The deck itself is made from very good card stock, nice and thick whilst not too stiff or difficult to shuffle and, unusually for decks issued by US Games, they are not laminated so you don't have that overwelming plastic smell that you usually get. The cards have a nice, smooth, pleasant feel and actually feel like card rather than plastic. Each card features a Halloween character for example the Empress is Frankenstein's Bride; the Magician looks like Gomez Adams here but even though the characters are cartoon-like, they retain the symbolism present in the Rider-Waites for example - Gomez is still in the classic magician pose 'as above so below' even though he is pulling a rabbit out of a hat rather than brandishing the customary wand... The deck is very bright - lots of white, orange, reds, greens, yellows with black borders. Although on a first glance it might seem that this is a collector's deck only and not for serious reading, look again and you will find lots to interpret here - the white lillies, red roses, pomegranates they all make their appearance. The position of the characteres and the others around them also link to the esoteric meanings of the cards. So, it's fun, it's kooky but can you read with them? Yes. Get into it, have a really good look at the cards, and you will find that apart from the theme, most of the RW symbolism is still there. There have been many discussions about this deck on Tarot Forums and it is agreed that this deck could be used for 'serious' readings as well as lighthearted ones. I liked the book that came with it, I thought that for the extra few quid, it would be worth having the set and I was not disappointed. The book contains quite a lot of useful information although you do have to know a bit about Tarot symbology in general. Can you use these as a beginner? Why not? Get some books on the Tarot based on the Rider Waite and yes, you could do it easily. Is this a deck you could use all the time for readings? Yes definitely - the little cute black cat that appears on every card reminds you of the journey of self-discovery that you are on and you can use it to track your personal journey. Overall, I think the creators of this deck have acheived two things - creation of a deck that is excellent for collections and for those who use their cards for reading. A really good investment.

El mazo viene en su caja normal pero forma parte de la caja del paquete donde incluye un libro descriptivo y una hoja descriptiva para una lectura de carta y un librillo guía, la caja que contiene todo el paquete es colorida y llamativa, los elementos están representados de forma diferente, los oros están representados por calabazas, las espadas por murciélagos, las copas por fantasmas y los bastos por diablillos (gárgolas), las cartas son plásticas, manejables y descriptivas, con colores muy apropiados al Halloween, pero no lo recomendaría para los usuarios principiantes ya que la diferencia de los elementos pudiera dificultarles una lectura fluida, pero lo recomendaría para usuarios de nivel intermedio en adelante. Me parece que irradian una energía positiva aun y cuando la temática de sus dibujos hace referencia al Halloween, ya que hay cierta comicidad en ellas por su diseño caricaturesco, sin dejar de representar la intensidad energética correspondiente a cada arcano.