The Deck and Book Nook: Crystal Visions Tarot

When you open up the Crystal Visions Tarot (US Games ISBN: 978-1-57281-702-9) by fantasy artist Jennifer Galasso, you are entering a different world – a colorful one filled with crystals, fairies, animals and mystical figures.

The artist was inspired by Stevie Nicks‘ latest CD “Crystal Visions” as well as her interest in crystal balls.

I was enchanted with the vibrant images right away. The artist’s color choices are bold and bright yet still ethereal. Purples, scarlet reds, deep indigos and lush greens make this deck a visual feast for the eyes. While the art is fantasy based, it manages to steer away from being too cheesy. Although some of the figures were a bit cartoonish, overall the look is whimsical, romantic and mythical.

Based on the standard Rider Waite Smith system, this deck stays almost true to the tradition – there is an additional card in the deck, giving you 79 cards rather than 78. This extra card is called “The Unknown Card” and when it lands in a reading, it represents something that is “not yet meant to be revealed”.

The usual Majors are featured and the suits are traditional Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles. Court cards are Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages.

Different flowers and animals represent each suit:

Cups: emotions – water lilies and dragon flies

Swords: intellect and conflict – ravens and winged creatures

Pentacles: material things and money – crystals, fruitful trees, wildlife

Wands: creativity – candles, sprites, dragons

While I enjoyed the art in the Minors, the Majors are the standout part of this deck. My favorites were the Hierophant with the pope sitting on a throne in front of a stained glass window adorned with different religious symbols; the eerie Death card with a ghostly figure standing above a seemingly dead female on a headstone; the mighty Emperor with his ram’s mask and The Devil with a playful Pan like figure in the background trying to entice a naked woman who lounging by a tree with an apple in her hand (who is tempting who?).

The back of the cards has a pretty reversible image that looks like a crystal ball.

The cards are the standard size (2.75” x 4.75”) and have a nice finish that makes them easy to shuffle. The card stock is really sturdy – this is a deck that can hold up well if you are a high volume reader. The deck also comes with a standard little white book complete with meanings for each card as well as reversed.

I decided to do a reading with the cards to see what message this deck has for me: Ace of Cups. The author writes that this card represents “new love, reflection, an outpouring of emotions, or renewal”. Sweet. Perhaps this is a deck that will give me a new outlook or maybe I will fall in love with it? Time will tell….

I would recommend this deck to any tarot collector, any fans of fantasy art, younger readers or beginners, as well as anyone who enjoys crystals and faeries. There are no really creepy images, making this deck appropriate for everyone.