By Terri C.
Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
Companion Book Introduction by Barbara Moore
Published by Llewellyn Worldwide
ISBN 978-0-7387-1579-7
Six years in the making, the Shadowscapes Tarot makes its debut. It is a deck of seventy eight exquisite and unique pieces of art. You will find delicate lines, combined powerful imagery and subtle use of color with hints of iridescence. Each card is packed with detail and if you allow yourself to experience them, each will take you into a different magical world. Shadowscapes Tarot will take you to places where your intuition can float with butterflies, slide through rippling waters with mermaids, or flutter with the faeries in lush landscapes.
The art is done in water color and is a combination of Celtic, Asian and Fantasy. Some of the finer detail is a bit difficult to see in this deck. The art might have been served better as a larger deck, however larger decks are increasingly difficult to shuffle and would be subject to bends in the cards.
While I would not consider this a “fluffy bunny” deck, the traditionally darker cards are, however, given a bit of a lighter approach. Such as the Tower, even though you see and feel the destruction, you can also see how easily it can be rebuilt and that there is still hope and encouragement to push through the situation, in order to restore the balance and beauty that once was.
The images are printed on quality cardstock. The cards themselves are fairly flexible and riffle/bridge shuffle as smooth as silk. The edges are cut very crisp and should break in nicely. The cards measure 4 ½” tall by 2 ¾” wide.
Strength is number eight and Justice is number eleven in this loosely RWS based deck. The suits are standard, Cups, Wands, Pentacles and Swords. The court cards are titled Page, Knight, Queen and King. The card backs are reversible. Card titles are very small and centered at the bottom of each card. There is a very thin metallic border.
The deck comes with a soft cover two hundred and fifty-three page paperback companion book with an Introduction written by notable Tarot author, Barbara Moore. The companion book covers Tarot basics, meanings, artist notes, how to form a question, and much more. A larger image of each card, done in black and white, is included in the book, and can be used to see some of the finer details in the imagery. You will also find artist notes and meanings for each card in the book.
Those who are fond of the Paulina Tarot will also enjoy the Shadowscapes Tarot. This deck/book set can easily be used by the beginning reader all the way through to the professional.