January 21 - 27, 2012 ~ The Hermetic Tarot

The Hermetic Tarot
Godfrey Dowson
(c) US Games, 1980

I purchased this deck from The Tarot Garden in June of 2011.  It was an estate sale and I purchased several decks.  It was a unique deck as it had a custom cover over the box.  The box has been covered with what looks like a greeting card and then is completely covered in sturdy clear packing tape.  It is quite unique and wouldn't have it any other way.

This is not the very first Spanish edition, but is the first edition that was published by US Games.  It was printed in Belgium by Carta Mundi.  The LWB indicates that this is from the 3rd printing. It is well used and did smell heavily of cigarette smoke.  Luckily, it has greatly diminished!

The cards are a good stock and the printing is excellent.  The images are black and white line drawings and are very sharp.  The detail and intricate workings makes me wish the cards were much larger, but the clarity does make a difference. 

The Hermetic Tarot follows the Golden Dawn system quite well and anyone familiar with that and Thoth decks would have no trouble following along.  The zodiacal, elemental, and planetary markings on each card help jog the memory - they are part of the art and not obvious additions.   The LWB is extremely detailed and covers many of the esoteric aspects of each card.  There is a nice preface with the "details" (planets, elements, Tree of Life) presented as reference.

The one thing that was a bit confusing was the sequencing of the deck.  From the LWB, "V. The Hierophant; 0. The Foolish Man; 1. The Magician through IV, The Emperor; VI. The Lovers through XXI. Universe"  One thing that through me for a loop the first time I used it is that while he maintains the Knight, Queen, Prince, Princess court, the Prince's are called King.  I couldn't find why that was so. 

As a reading deck it is terrific.  My experience is that heavily decorated esoteric decks tend to give very good readings.  I think it is because there is substance to the symbolism - there is also that element of choice based on what aspects of the image really jump out. 

Rating: Keeper