June 4 - 10 ~ The Arthurian Tarot

The Arthurian Tarot
John and Caitlin Matthews
Connections Publishing, 2007 (white borders)

In May 2011, I purchased the 2007 version from a member at Aeclectic Tarot for $10.00.  I received a beautiful practically new deck of cards in a two part box with a teeny tiny print Little Purple Book.  I was enthralled.   In August 2011, another Aeclectic Tarot member located in the UK sent me the 1995 version along with the book that accompanied it.  I was overwhelmed!

Both decks have similar card stock, weight and feel.  The backs are completely different.  The new version has relatively plain green backs while the older has beautifully illustrated backs.  There is also the matter of the border - and with a deck like this, where the border is an integral part of the deck itself, it is a huge matter!  The older cards have sold black backgrounds.  When you look at the cards, it is as if you are looking through a window from your own reality to another.  You enter the cards, you don't read them.  Quite fascinating actually.  With the new ones, there are white borders with some gold scroll work.  Oddly, both are equally nice.  It is less dramatic with the new ones, but you still get the feeling of stepping into another reality.

The aces are referred to as "Hallows," and the structure  is similar to that of the Grail Tarot (Stones, Swords, Spears/Lances, Grails).  The majors are characters from the Arthurian stories (Guinevere, Taliesin, Merlin, and The Green Knight).

I haven't had a chance to read the book, but I doubt I'll be disappointed.  I have always enjoyed the writings of John & Caitlin Matthews.  They are good at what they do, well - versed in their topics, and very good writers.  I haven't read with the older version, but the new version was absolutely amazing.  The responses to my queries were more in the form of "words of wisdom," rather than in anything concrete.  As if, almost, the cards were helping me find the answers rather than give me the answers, taking me deeper within myself.  I hope that in the next year I will have the opportunity to work closer with this deck.

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