The New Mythic Tarot Deck

Measurements: 2.77 x 4.75 inches; or 70 x 120 millimeters.

Back of card: Solid purple with tiny emblems of the four suits drawn in white line around the very edge, as a border. May be inverted.

Book included: Yes, 256 pages, dimensions: 6.1 x 9.5 inches; or 155 x 242 millimeters.

Publisher: St. Martin's Press. Printed in China.

Comments: The New Mythic Tarot is here at last. The major change is the replacement of the artwork of Tricia Newell with that of Giovanni Caselli. Caselli has closely copied Newell's work. For those of you who are not terribly critical, the new deck is more colorful, but is otherwise largely unchanged.

You will note the deck itself is slightly smaller, which makes it easier to handle (you will not notice it otherwise). The book is significantly larger. The interior text is printed in a pretty purple ink.

The deck is as muddled as it ever was. The Magician, for example, has gone from a man leading us in the wrong direction (left hand upraised), to a swastica. It reminds me of one of Crowley's attempts at a magician. The Two of Swords has gone from "stop fighting over me!" to "please take those swords and fight somewhere else!", i.e., he now looks away. The Hanged Man (St. Peter) is still in the shape of a crucifix (not a hanging) and still has his right hand restrained. The eagle (falcon?) has gone from diving, to landing. The Ten of Swords still shows nine swords forming a barricade, with the tenth in the hands of one who will use it to protect the figure lying at its feet. You will note that all four cards on the bottom row show a strong red disk on the horizon. Checking the book, I find it to represent the rising sun on Death, Ten of Swords and Page of Wands. The same red disk represents sunset on the Hanged Man, or so says the book. I don't see any clear difference between them. Myself, sunrise is subtle and golden, whereas sunset is harsh and red, so I would view all of these as sunsets.

Up on my monitor at the moment, I have what you do not: My scans of eight cards from the original deck, and scans of the same eight cards from the new deck. The new deck is cleaner and more brightly colored. I prefer the new deck.

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