Shapeshifter Tarot Book

By: Conway, D. J.

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1567183891
• ISBN13: 9781567183894
• Release Date: January 1998
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A powerful guide for ongoing spiritual work

I bought this expecting it to be a helpful adjunct deck, and it has become my favorite deck for daily use. There are several strengths: it is beautiful visually; the images and their spiritual/archetypal/historical connections are thoroughly explained; and there are some very powerful spreads. No interpretation of reversed cards is provided because none is needed -- the interpretation presents an energetic and spirtitual frame of reference as a whole -- with the seeker's actions determining how that energy will be used. I'm impressed with the Major Arcana interpretations particularly, as the good card/bad card shtick is bypassed altogether. Instead the authors look at the NATURE of each card, so that the reader can work with energetic resonances instead of simplistic prophecies of joy or doom.I'm still struggling a bit with the elemental assignments (Swords to Fire and Wands to Air), but I find the interpretation of the cards themselves excellent. Swords, as a suit, is always difficult to interpret (most of the cards seem so negative that one wonders what the point of the suit is), but in this deck, the energetic and spiritual purpose of the often difficult cards is made clear as part of a complete life.While this is a fine deck for a beginner, I think those who have experience with more traditional decks will really appreciate what the authors and artist have accomplished -- a beautiful deck that encourages an expanded and responsible spiritual life.

In a class by itself

This gorgeous tarot deck succeeds in so many ways! The creators of these beautiful cards and companion reference book succeeded at combining elements from many wisdom traditions into the most meaningful divination deck and book I've yet encountered. Bravo! It's rare to find a work of such beauty, grace and wisdom that is so useful and practical. Of the three tarot decks I've used, this one is the very best. I've used this deck with friends who've worked with many different decks, and they agree that Shapeshifter is the most sensitive and information-packed. The deck is extremely easy to work with, since the basic meaning of each card appears on the front of the card. In addition to the regular cards one finds in a tarot deck, this deck contains three new major arcana cards (the Double, the Journey, and the Dreamer), which I found to be some of the most interesting and useful cards in the deck. Unless you are already familiar with a traditional tarot deck that you feel comfortable with, I'm sure you'll enjoy and probably even prefer this deck. Obviously, any divination tools will work (even stones or tortoise shells), but an outstanding tarot deck like Shapeshifter sets itself apart from all the rest with elegance and eloquence; it's simply in a class by itself.

A deck you will use for life

This deck sparkles in thine eyes! The illustratiions are soft but powerful, and the cards are labeled as such to give the beginner a very comfortable time with the tarot. But the readings you will be able to do with these cards are amazing. The cards have been molded to the norm of the ancient shamanic ways and are an excellent tool from witches to shamans to animal lovers. I am a beginner myself and I have done successful readings in important places. Trust me.

The Shapeshifter Tarot is a powerful transformational tool.

When I first used the new Shapeshifter Tarot I had the experience that every student of divination most desires, that of picking up a deck and being able to use it right away. Now, I am a great believer in the power of working with a tool to make it mine in order to infuse it with my energy, things always seem to flow better for me when I follow some sort of process. I also know it takes some time and attention to become adept or even adequate with a new tarot deck. But, really, I was able to pick this deck up and just read it, based on the imagery it contained and the keywords listed on each card. The book is relatively easy to navigate around in, and to find what I was wanted to know when I needed to look something up. This set is designed for use as a daily tool whether for divination, meditation, spellworking or aligning with animal allies. The deck is based on the Celtic traditions and brings to light obscure information about Western European cultural practices of shamanism and shapeshifting. Very Goddess oriented in its scope; this tarot deck contains a traditional 9 times 9 or 81 cards rather than the typical 78 of most Rider-Waite types of decks. The three additional major arcana cards expand the tarot's archetypal imagery with #21-The Double, #22-The Journey and #23-The Dreamer. Oneness, the equivalent of The World card now becomes #24. The authors have given appropriate new titles to the cards that convey the general meanings in such a way that those familiar with the tarot can pick it up easily. The correspondence tables and keys words listed in the Appendix are quite helpful and user-friendly. The Shapeshifter Tarot is a strong collaborative effort between D.J. Conway and Sirona Knight. Both respected and prolific authors have their own unique styles. Each section of the book or description of an individual card is designated with a moon symbol representing D.J. or a sun symbol representing Sirona at the end of each passage. Their writing styles are distinctive but balance well, presenting many different aspects of working with the tarot. Each card is described in visual detail and an accompanying prophecy gives options of the various significances portrayed in a reading. There is an interesting selection of card layouts to try, although the deck does work well with the more traditional spreads like the Celtic Cross. I especially like the Standing Stones layout that is based on the past, present, future and the elements. In my experience, this method of query has uncannily depicted situations and probable outcomes during personal readings or for others. Lisa Hunt did a beautiful job of illustrating the images from the author's descriptions. The artwork is sensitive and striking. The colors would have been more vivid had the cards been printed on a higher quality of glossy cardstock. I also feel the cards should have been larger so that the detail of the paintings would be more promin

PHENOMENAL! DEFINITELY A DECK WORTH OWNING AND GROWING WITH

"The Shapeshifter Tarot is very impressive. The images on the cards are so ethereal, magically rendered from the realm of Camelot and the land of fairies. The book is a magical catalyst. Sirona Knight and D.J. Conway are a dynamic duo of writers whose styles and visions synthesize gloriously. "The Shapeshifter Tarot" stretched my magical vision beyond its limits. I predict that this will establish these authors as leaders in the spiritual writing field. There is a wonderful feeling of spiring and of nature's unexpected potential in this deck...Michael Peter Langevin, Publisher, Magical Blend Magazine.