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

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.)