By Sheila Kelly

Recently I came across a deck that speaks volumes to me. I always know if I'll be able to build a relationship with a deck, because I always shop in person. Many chain book stores will have a new age section with a decent collection of cards available, although I recommend that you visit a proper new age store with a divination section.  If you can, open the deck and have a look at the cards.  I look at both the minor arcana and the major arcana.  I see if they speak to me.  If they do not, then return them to their rack.

One day, when browsing, I came across the Gaian Tarot by Joanne Powell Colbert, and it spoke volumes. Each picture is beautifully illustrated and conveys its message in a calm, authoritative manner.  In short, they were going to tell it to me straight, whether I liked it or not.  I actually like that in a person or a tarot deck.  They came home with me that very hour.

Just as with getting to know a person, one has to get to know her tarot cards.  I spread mine out and gazed at the many incredible designs.  I picked them up one at a time and got a feel for them.  They weren't quite like my other cards, a Giovanni Casselli deck from 2001.  Of course, I have had about five or six years with them so we know each other rather well.  Still, I like to keep a spare set around just in case someone wants her cards read and does not like the way a set of cards reacts.  Believe me, I can sympathize; I once used an Alice in Wonderland deck that absolutely hated me, although it still gave good results.  With these I also hoped to make my "clients" feel at ease when I performed a reading, as some are wary about tarot cards in general.

After playing around with the Gaian Tarot for a while I decided to try them out on my friend, Lane.  He had some questions about his career, which we shall not discuss here.  I did a five card spread to get a feel of the situation, then he reshuffled and we did the Celtic Cross.  The results were not as good as my old deck, but as I mentioned before, it takes time to get to know a deck of new tarot cards.  Still, Lane felt he received the answers he needed.  When he left he was feeling much more at peace with his decisions and I felt I had made some new friends.  I figure that is not half bad for a deck of brand-new tarot cards!

I have used these cards several times since then, with the results getting better and better.  People seem to like them and those who are ill at ease about tarot cards often feel more relaxed with the Gaian Tarot cards.  They are currently sitting on my bookshelf, placed alongside my Giovanni Caselli deck, my Rider Waite deck, and my hand-made Brood Chronicles deck.  In the years that follow I am sure that they will come to be as insightful and fundamental as my other "friends".

ISBN-10: 0738718912
ISBN-13: 978-0738718910