The Light Seer's Tarot Deck Review

​Deck Title – The Light Seer's Tarot
Creator/Artist – Chris-Anne
Publisher - Hay House
Date purchased - 2019

Intorduction

I think the best word to describe the Light Seer's Tarot would be 'bohemian'. If you're a yoga-loving, green-tea drinking, real-book reading millennial (or wish you were), you'll love this colourful and instagram-able deck. This was a great hit when it was originally funded  on Kickstarter and it was picked up so quickly and published by Hay House. There were some initial reports of damaged cards but fortunately the deck I received is all smooth and even. So, what can you expect from the Light Seer's Tarot? 

What's Good?

• The images are original and a new take on the RWS system, so easy to work with but different enough for those who don't like Knights and Pages prancing around their cards
• The colour palette is bright and varied and the images have enough content but are not too fussy to accommodate the range of colours
• The cards are borderless and semi-matt finish but easy to shuffle
• There is some diversity throughout the deck in terms of age, sex and skin colour. Body size tends to be more like you're average yoga-bunny however 
• The information in the guidebook is original and although a bit 'airy' is well written. A bit more attention could have been paid to the editing
• Packaging is a sturdy two piece box, excellent quality, fitting both the cards and book easily 

What's Bad?

• The card stock is a reasonable thickness but combined with the semi-matt finish, it does feel a bit 'cardboardy'. They can be riffle shuffled but the feel of the cards makes me worry that they'll bend get creased. It hasn't happened yet but I am treating them a little more tenderly while shuffling, just in case
• The thing that stood out with the independent version of this deck was the bright green edging. It was so different to the shiny gold or black edging of so many decks. Missing out these details, of course keeps the production costs and therefore the retail price down, so the mass-market version isn't edged. I might be tempted to do it myself though to give it that extra something

Favourite/Stand Out Cards

The images really show the traditional meanings in a new way. The 4 of Swords resting in a birds nest is sweet and the little detail of her heart tucked in beside her  expands the possibilities of interpretation. The 8 Of Swords sees herself as tied and bound in the mirror, reflecting a more relevant image to modern-day experiences compared to the traditional image showing someone actually bound. Although the suit doesn't lean on showing the physical swords, replacing them in some cases with ravens, like in the 6 and the 8, the images evoke the meanings so well there is no need for them. The 3 of Swords is always a hard card to pull and this version manages to show the misery and heartache without the need for piercing the heart with swords or showing a poor stabbed animal! 

The Ace and the 2 of Cups are just beautiful interpretations. Interestingly the Queen of Cups is sitting in water, this reminds me of the Urban Tarot interpretation, although this queen is in a totally different setting, she's still immersed in 'emotion'. I was initially a bit confused by the flying pig in the Page of Cups, the guide book says it's to show the possibilities that are available when you pull this card. Makes a change from the traditional fish I suppose. 

I loved the colour-burst and the energy shown in the 8 of Pentacles. This is often a card of repetition and effort, but in this deck it shows work as something exciting and filled with potential. I loved this version of the 10 of Wands showing her sharing the load with the bull. The setting reminds me of one of the cards in the Way Home Tarot. The 9 of Swords isn't sitting in the traditional bed but the impression of a bed can be seen outlined in light. I love the 8 of Cups. Any image showing a beach generally has my vote. 

The Sun and the Star cards are just beautiful. It's not often that you can say the same thing about the Tower card but in this deck, it is. The lightening strike is still there showing uncontrolled chaos but the colouring and the way the little rabbit is just looking up worries me less when I pull this card. The Death card is also less frightening than the usual skeleton on horseback. Chris-Anne has also added the word Rebirth to this card and when you look into the face of death, you literally see light and a new horizon. The lemniscate between the two parts of the title reflect the eternal cycle. 

Summary

​This is the best deck for…anyone new to Tarot who is not interested in the traditional RWS deck. It's also a great alternative for anyone who has read for a while but wants a new version of the old images. I'd say, if you loved the Wild Unknown but couldn't quite connect with it, you might find this deck a better option. 

Where to buy?

Amazon for a reasonable price www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=light+seers+tarot&crid=2W4VGIRNIM70Y&sprefix=Light+Seer%2Caps%2C138&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_10
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