Extispex: Tarot and Tarot Readings

A few months back I began to feel the urge to seek out a new tarot deck. This happens to me periodically, but I usually end up buying a new deck and within weeks returning to using my tried and true Thoth Tarot, which I’ve been using for over 25 years.

But when my Gemini impulses take hold, I have little choice but to obey. After much searching I decided to order the Archeon Tarot by Timothy Lantz, published by US Games Systems.

I was quite pleased when they arrived. The designs are beautiful, detailed and rendered in rich, dark colours. The illustrations are modern but retain a strong traditional influence. I was almost immediately drawn to the deck and found them very usable, with suggestive symbolism.

However I also noticed a strong negative vibe to the deck. Whenever I attempted a reading on myself or a client, only the worst possible outcome was displayed. When I would switch to my Thoth deck, I would receive similar readings, but with broader and more positive options. Since doing a ritual cleansing of the deck I have found its readings to be more balanced, and the deck seems to resonate very well with many of my clients.

According to Lantz, the name of the tarot is derivitave of several sources. From the word Eon, emanations of God, from Archeon as related to the field of archeology, and from the word Archon, the regents of Ancient Athens.

But he fails to mention that Archons are also supporters of the demiurge Ialdabaoth, who help him keep the divine souls of humanity entrapped in the illusion of the material world. This may well be the reason that the deck resonated negatively with me at first, since my beliefs lean very strongly toward the gnostic.

The deck is a tradition 78-card deck, with 22 trumps and 56 minor arcana. The size is well fitted to the palm of the hand; the cards are smoothly laminated and easy to shuffle.

This is a lovely deck and well-suited to the intermediate or advanced reader. A beginner may find the lush and chaotic designs a bit confusing, but with practice should be able to master reading with the Archeon Tarot.

This review was first published at Noumenal.Net

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