- Deck Name: When Women Had Wings
- Author: Angi Sullins
- Artist: Jena DellaGrottagia
- Publisher: U S Games Systems
- Recommended retail price: $37.95
- ISBN 978-0-7643-6863-9
- Review by Melissa Stratton-Pandina
When Women had Wings is a beautiful tarot deck. The theme of the deck is one of quiet empowerment where women can reclaim their power and connection with nature. It has a dreamy quality to all the cards. It is a full tarot deck with the pips being fully realised. It is based on the RWS but strays quite a bit, which can make it hard to read. It has a lot of details in each card, so in theory it is readable but I struggled with it. It has more of the feel of an oracle deck. Nevertheless, it would make a great choice for a collector or for an advanced reader who is willing to put the time into making this deck their own. While I loved the feel, I found reading with it frustrating.
The art is made up of digital photography. Images are combined together with beautiful lighting to create dreamy images. While this is not my personal favourite type of work, it is masterfully done. Each image has life in it and tells a story. Even with my prejudices against this type of art, I have to admit each card is gorgeous. Nothing is harsh or garish. Each card is something out of a fairytale, and the best images I have seen in this style. One of the highlights is that the women are not all young. Several cards feature older women shown as strong, wise and beautiful. There are some cards with darker complexions but not very many.
The book, on the other hand, is huge. At 195 pages of full colour images, this book is a visual powerhouse. Each description has a full colour image and a spot illustration. The guide book begins with a meditation-like description of when women had wings and what that meant. It then goes on to entreat the user to reclaim these wings. The descriptions of the cards are just key words in paragraph form. I wish the melodic prose had continued or the key words were put into bullet points for ease of use. There is a lovely poem in the middle of the book but no section on spreads.
The packaging is wonderful. While it’s a simple two part box, it has so many features. The cover is so beautiful, and it has foil accents on the title. Inside the box there is a support cradle and pull out ribbon so the cards don’t get damaged. It also comes with an organza bag to house the cards. The cards themselves have purple gilt-edging. To be honest, the packaging just adds to the value of this deck and makes it feels like you are opening a little treasure box.
Three cards stand out as my favourite images. The Four of Cups shows a women sitting on a dead tree in the snow. Her mauve and red dress contrast the cold feeling. The image is moody and sad. The Queen of Swords’ aged glare stares directly at the viewer, challenging them to claim the sword. She has a winged head dress and is surrounded by clouds. This card is austere and demanding. The Seven of Swords has a naughty feel to it. The woman stealing the swords is late middle-aged and has a sly grin. She is walking away from a plume of heavy smoke. She seems to be saying, ”what disaster” after she caused it.
In the end, I think I would call this a “sugar” deck. It’s full of beauty. The deck is beautiful, the book exquisite, and the packaging is delightful. Even though it has a soft empowering world view, it just doesn’t have the substance I look for in Tarot decks. I would, however, buy this deck for someone struggling with hardship. Sometimes beauty and sweetness is what someone needs in times of trouble. It’s a hard deck to read with but some extra work could make it easier. The highlight of this deck is the airy feeling it engenders. Perfect for those hard times when you just need some healing.
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