- The Vedic Tarot
- Author: Dwina Murphy-Gibb
- Published by: REDFeather Mind, Body, Spirit – November 2024
- 81 Cards. Guidebook 287 Pages
- Guide Price: US$ 39.99
- ISBN: 9-780-7643-68202
- Reviewed by: D A Rehman (Maya)
About the author:
I have the pleasure of reviewing The Vedic Tarot deck by Dwina Murphy-Gibb. She is an artist, author, and playwright with a deep interest in ancient Irish history and mythology, comparative religions, and esoteric studies. She has also studied and practised various types of yoga, including Raja Yoga meditation, in India and Japan. Hence, imagine how I must have felt when I was asked to review this deck. It’s an honour and a responsibility, so I did my best to be as fair as possible and not go overboard with praise.
The first thing I noticed about this deck was the size and weight of the box. This wonder comes in a sturdy, magnetic red and black box, strong enough to hold the cards and the guidebook. It features the Traveller and Hermit printed on it, an invitation to begin the journey and seek solitude in enjoying the process of working with the deck.
I opened the box and noticed the weight was due to the guidebook, in red and black. This guidebook is A5 in size and just under 300 pages. The book itself is an interesting read; it includes a list of contents, a foreword by Caitlin Matthews, and a detailed introduction by Dwina Murphy-Gibb, the author of the deck. The introduction is 9 to 10 pages long. It discusses the Eastern revelations, tarot, Hebrew letters, Irish Ogham (the Irish Tree of Life), and the musical notes linked with the cards, along with the philosophy behind it. The introduction is quite dense; it includes philosophy linking across the disciplines in this deck. I would prefer larger print and a stronger back text, as the current text is hard on the eyes. Nevertheless, the information given is fascinating. It has a lot to offer. I can understand that larger text would have meant adding more pages to an already substantial guidebook.
The book is divided into two parts. The first part is about the cards, and the second part focuses on working with the deck. The first part of the book spans over 248 pages and explains the cards. In the part one, we are given a list of the Major Arcana cards, numbered from 0 to 21, with 3 additional cards: Supreme Soul, Arbor Vitae, and Oogenesis, bringing the total to 25 in the Major Arcana. The addition of these new cards enhances the list without deviating from the standard tarot Major Arcana sequence.
The guidebook explains the disciplines (Eastern, Irish, Jewish) and their links with the tarot cards. It provides a reasonable amount of detail about these connections. We also find the card backs explained, with a focus on the images and the purpose of using them. The court cards are referred to as Royal Court cards. This deck uses the Fool/Traveller as a bridge between the Minor Arcana cards.
The guidebook is evidence of the immense work that created both the deck and the guidebook. Dwina Murphy-Gibb has clearly delved deep into Indian philosophy, Irish traditions, Hebrew teachings, and music theory to bring these elements together. Writing the book was undoubtedly a labour of love, combining diverse systems and philosophies to create a cohesive and profound learning experience for the reader. It explains various spreads, including the Head and Cross, the Tree of Life spread, and the Mandala spread. Eventually, the book features a glossary of terms used in Sanskrit and Indian philosophy, as well as a section on Hebrew letters, musical notes and associated chakras. The glossary also provides definitions for specific words and phrases, bridging Eastern and Western philosophies.
The deck: The cards are a smart size, making them easy to hold and shuffle. They have a black outline, and the imagery features a strong colour palette of green, blue, black, yellow, and red. It is hard not to be drawn to the vibrant colours and images. The cards appear to be hand-drawn, using bold strokes, with imagery that lacks fine lines but blends with the overall theme of the card, yet highlights the essence.
Major Arcana:
This beautiful deck includes three additional cards in the Major Arcana, making a total of 25. We have the Supreme Soul, which is more for meditation, and the choice of whether to include it in the shuffling of the deck. The guidebook explains this clearly. We also have Arbor Vitae and Oogenesis. The book itself requires mindful reading; each card is linked to a deity or significance. It’s connected to a divine path.
The Major Arcana begins with the Supreme Soul. The remaining 24 cards are divided into soul three types: cards 0-8 represent the archetypes of the soul, cards 9-15 represent the power of the soul, and cards 16-24 represent the Eightfold Path of Enlightenment.
I will use the Fool as an example of the Major Arcana: The Fool’s journey begins as the Traveller, represented by Shiva riding a white bull, symbolising divine light and the prime ancestor. This figure embodies values that link Vedic traditions with Irish symbolism and trees, offering a vivid portrayal of the life journey, the follies that blow with the wind, and the description of Shiva. The guidebook explains how this figure connects to the key card, detailing Shiva’s attire, energy, and colour symbolism, along with the mood and transport associated with the card. Subsequently, it explores the divinatory purpose of the card, guiding us on how to connect with its spiritual meaning. In Sanskrit, the identity of the figure depicted on the card is revealed. Each card is accompanied by several pages of detailed descriptions, examining the Tree of Life, its significance, and its associated symbols and musical notes. A notable feature of the guidebook is the table linking the 21 Major Arcana cards with Hebrew letters. For example, Alef represents Shiva, or the Traveller, and the table connects each card with Hebrew letters, numbers, and their corresponding associations. The cards contain musical notes, with the Traveller card linked to the Shiva’damru (drum). In the Vedas, it is the expansion and collapsing of the universe again and again, the continual creation, ‘I am ever becoming.’ These notes can be tuned to align with the philosophy behind them.
Essentially, all the major cards are linked to deities such as Shiva, Durga, Brahma, Vishnu, and Saraswati, to name a few. Some cards are not linked with any deity; these cards are Arbor Vitae, Hermit, Hanging Man, Tower, Star, and World. They are in line with the philosophy of the deck and serve the purpose. Death is called Change.
Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana have the same bright colours and black border. Each card gets two pages of description in the guidebook. The cards contain a central image, Sanskrit references, Hebrew associations, Ogham symbols, and musical notes.
The suit of Pentacles is referred to as Shields in this deck, and this terminology is reflected in the divinatory descriptions. For the minors, we find the guidebook offers meanings of the cards, divination & applicability, Sanskrit and Hebrew associations, Ogham tree, and musical instrument. Some minors are linked with deities, such as Kali for the 9 of Wands and Tara for the Queen of Cups. The imagery somehow resonates with traditional Rider-Waite-Smith decks, such as the King of Cups holding a cup or the 10 of Cups featuring a couple with cups around them but we cannot label this deck as RWS themed. We see blue, magenta, green, yellow, red, and orange colours inviting us to explore further.
Example: 2 of Wands
We see two figures in the image, male and female, indicating dominion through partnership, although this is not specific to opposite genders and is equally applicable to any partnership. This is referred to as Shakti and Pandava in Sanskrit. Shakti is the divine energy that comes from the source of ultimate reality. Pandava is the protective warrior power of Shakti. On the same card, we find Lamed/Ox Goad (growing in strength, keeping balance between times of darkness and light), Irish Ogham (Luis, associated with the Rowan tree: protection against enchantment and enticement), and the musical note: Lyre F-Sharp (hope for humanity). With this imagery, one can assert the meaning of the 2 of Wands in a reading.
Observation
This deck is an amazing tool for tarot readers and collectors. The amount of love and time it has taken to integrate ancient knowledge from Eastern philosophy/religion, Irish Ogham, and Jewish Kabbalah is awe-inspiring. As for the imagery, the deck heavily draws on Eastern/Hindu mythology, with the cards adorned with symbolism from these traditions as well as other disciplines.
In terms of usability, this deck is ideal for intermediate to professional tarot readers who have a background in Eastern ideology, Ogham, and Kabbalah. For an average user, however, they may need to rely on the images printed on the cards, such as Durga (Strength & Empress) or The Hanged Man, to interpret the meanings. That said, this deck encourages users to explore the origins of the deities and philosophies represented. Not everyone is familiar with Ogham, and many people are still learning the Jewish alphabet, so fully applying this knowledge will require time and effort on the reader’s part.
The simpler approach is to follow the traditional tarot path initially, and as the deck opens up, the reader can gradually learn and expand their knowledge and practical skills. It would be a missed opportunity if the reader doesn’t utilise the full depth of knowledge for personal development or professional/predictive readings for others. Personally, I have been reading the guidebook alongside the cards and gaining additional insights from other sources to enhance my understanding. The deck presents a unique opportunity to explore Eastern & Western mysteries and identify the common parallels in spiritual journey and growth. The best use of this deck & guidebook is to give full attention and delve deep into the philosophy to enhance the personal journey. It would be extremely beneficial for divination purposes, predictive readings, and much more for a keen seeker. I feel that once a seeker realises the full potential of the deck, it will advance their readings to an extreme refinement and insight.
A Quick Reading with the Deck
I decided to do a quick reading with the deck. After meditating, I shuffled the deck and drew two cards. I was not surprised to see the Supreme Soul and the Nine of Wands. According to the guidebook, the image on the card is of Kali (nature goddess), who knows and also devours. It’s about creation and destruction. In Sanskrit, she is the Dark Mother, queen of winter, and tantric energy. She protects the innocent by destroying evil intentions.
The linked Hebrew letter cheth/Kayth represents the fence that encloses the field, creating a protective shield of refuge and shelter. It also emphasises the use of words and the consequences they carry. Words can be protective if language is used correctly.
The Nine of Wands is linked to Hazel in Ogham. Hazel indicates intuition. The card is also associated with Cailleach (an Irish divinity, the old wise woman), who tests us with nature. Even when the whole world shakes, intellect needs to remain constant and resilient.
The musical instrument associated with this reading is the drum, representing the deep beat of the heart. The sweeping sound of the brush on the drum symbolises the breathing that keeps the heart beating. Cailleach sweeps the land in preparation for winter, as the great mother of darkness who carries the long arm of flight through the winter solstice.
By combining the above knowledge and meditating on the cards, I was able to see the message clearly. I am reminded to return to the divine source (I am lacking in my practices and meditation) and am also nudged to focus on my current state. In preparation for the desired outcome, I am told to seek and trust my intuition, be mindful of my thoughts, and mind my words. I need to ensure that the boundaries around me are well-defined and that I am aware of them. I am also told to be mindful of darkness/challenges in my path.
I loved reading about the drums. I am a huge fan of drumming and the meditative beats it generates. I always thought of Kali as representing darkness, but now I understand the light associated with her, which I couldn’t see before. I believe this message is straightforward yet deeply spiritual and much needed at the moment.
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