- Author and Artist: Lynda Stevens
- Self-published and purchasable at:
https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/the-chalice-tarot-book-with-full-interpretations
https://www.printerstudio.com/sell/lrstevens - Website: lyndastevens.com
- RRP: Depends on size, UK, from £24.25 – £60.15; US from $36.99 – $73.99
- Reviewed by: Helen Diamond
Lynda Stevens is a British artist, living in Budapest, Hungary. Since moving there in 2000, she has worked freelance and as a member of the alternative Budapest arts scene. Her specialty is highly textured, abstract mixed-media pieces, and she has held numerous solo exhibitions. However, her website notes that perhaps her most important work has been The Chalice Tarot.
The deck is a standard 78 cards, with the expected 22 Major arcana and 56 Minor arcana. There have been creative decisions made regarding some card titles. For example, card 5 of the Majors is called The Guru, and card 8 is Fortitude. In the Minors, the four suits are Wands, Cups, Swords and Coins. The court cards comprise Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses. There is copious use of colour. The author has noted there were some later tweaks made in Photoshop to update and refresh some of the imagery, otherwise this deck is very clearly handmade, which makes luddites like me very happy.
The deck appears to blend systems, particularly with regard to the pips. There are some hints at the RWS theatrical scenes, such as swords in a figure’s back on the 10 of Swords, and the 3 of Swords utilises the classic swords through heart image. Use of the term ‘Coins’ over Pentacles or Disks is redolent of the Marseille, but with an interesting development in the higher numbered cards, as the coins appear purposefully more worn as the suit goes on. Other minor cards even evoke the colourful abstraction of the Thoth, particularly the 8 of Wands, with its use of rainbow colours, form and negative space. However, I don’t see any further similarities; the deck is very much its own thing.
Lynda Stevens has stated the deck is “intended as a commentary, sometimes even a polemic, on tarot symbolism from a very individual viewpoint and perspective” and that the use of colour is “intended to speak to the user directly”. There are nods to other esoteric systems, the tarot’s medieval origins, but also the contemporary world (having visited Budapest a few times, I think I recognise the background of the Princess of Swords). However, it’s a deck made by an individual, for individuals, perhaps in a similar sense to “the personal is political”.
The imagery evokes some 70s psychedelic science fiction, full of witches, druids, ascetics and seekers. The journey takes the reader through different dimensions, from the astral realm to the underworld, with side quests along the way in the circus and the devil’s boudoir, encountering aliens and fellow road-weary travellers. It’s one of the most vibrant decks I’ve ever seen, and I make it a point to collect the most colourful tarot I can. At times it evokes Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain, with its bursts of colour and dramatic portraiture.
The card borders are different colours, creating a spectrum across the entire deck. Being neurodivergent, I organised the cards to see if there were any secret messages within this progression of shade and tone. I couldn’t find any particular connection in this way, so this may have been simply to help the colours within the imagery pop, which it does. If nothing else, slightly fanning out the deck is very pleasing to the eye.
The card stock is an interesting choice. This is light card with a plastic coating. This makes the deck very flexible to work with. It’s not as slippery as decks from say, Artisan Tarot, as it has some texture to give it a bit of grip. As a reader who prefers riffle shuffling, I find this easier to work with, as some thicker decks can end up giving me cramp in my hands.
I’ve found this deck very enjoyable to read with, thanks to its colourful design and ease of shuffling. The readings themselves have also been especially reliable, with the deck’s unique take on certain cards helping to express the message within eloquently. I think this deck is useful for beginners and seasoned readers alike; as mentioned earlier, Lynda intended for the Chalice Tarot to speak to each reader individually, which would mean regardless of one’s stage within their tarot journey.
Lynda Stevens is also the creator of the Cascades Oracle. For more information on Lynda, please visit her website: http://lyndastevens.com/
The Chalice Tarot is available for purchase via the following links:
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