HoroscopoDiario
- The Light and Shadow Tarot by Michael Goepferd and Brian Williams
- Published by Destiny Books
- RRP: $19.95 (US)
- ISBN: 978-0-89281-503-6
- Reviewed by Harandayl
Published in 1997, this deck has been around for some time but its impactful, block printed images offer something different in a very crowded market. Brian Williams, a tarot creator himself, was so taken with Michael Goepferd’s artwork that he knew he would need to write an accompanying book for the deck so that it could be published, and I’m very glad that he did.
Let’s get the obvious out of the way first – it’s black and white. That’s not going to appeal to a lot of readers I know, as colour can be a key feature in their readings. However, I love black and white decks and here it’s used to great effect to explore opposites, yin and yang, positive and negative space and so forth. The block printed images hearken back to tarot history and Marseille decks; however, unlike the Tarot de Marseille, this is a fully illustrated deck. The minor suits clearly draw from the designs of Pamela Colman Smith but this is no clone deck – some images are akin to Thoth cards and many are their own unique design.
In this deck the Queens are regarded as the fullest expression of their suit, followed by the Kings, who look very much like Knights as they are all on horseback. Princesses follow with Princes as the fourth court position. As such there are strong similarities with the Thoth Court system. This deck is its own beast though, but, in my opinion, if you’re wedded to one system it may not be for you. It’s probably not an ideal deck for beginners either although if the cards speak to you who’s to say. However, an experienced and flexible reader will, I’m sure, find no issues using this deck.
The cards are large and unusually wide – you would need a fair bit of space to do a reading containing more than a few cards. I could manage overhand shuffling fine if I rotated to shuffle on the short edge but those with small hands will struggle. Personally I also feel that, aesthetically, the expanse of white border at the sides is too much for the size of the image, especially as there is already a white border before the number and title. On the plus side the images themselves are large enough, which is important given the level of detail that you will want to see in all its glorious eccentricity.
The cardstock is disappointing in being quite thin (although that does help a little with shuffling as it is not a thick deck). There is a nice coating to the cards at least but I would be worried about damaging them through just normal use. The card backs show an illustration of the suits which I’m not a fan of, but that’s personal taste; they are not reversible if that matters to you.
All that said though, when it comes to the actual images each one feels like a unique, considered work of art. There is a clear thematic and stylistic link but references and influences are satisfyingly broad. There are so many details that you can draw from for rich readings but a clear message comes through in each image. Goepferd travelled extensively as a young man and influences from many cultures are clear. Astrological correspondences are also clearly indicated on all cards and satisfyingly woven into each image.
The accompanying 208 page book is excellent. The introduction explains how Brian Williams worked with Michael Goepferd to understand and explore his unique designs. It provides a wonderful insight into these fascinating cards, and teases out details and symbolism which you might otherwise miss. There is a generous amount of text for all cards, which is at times both poetic and philosophical. The symbology and links to wider belief systems are helpfully identified and explained. Meanings are given for each card; keywords or the numbered suit cards with additional observations given for Courts and Majors. The Courts get as much attention as the Majors, and the numbered Minors only a little less. There’s a small section on reading the cards which includes the obligatory Celtic Cross, although you’d need a big table to do that spread with this deck.
I did a quick three card deck interview (main characteristics/how to work together/potential) and found it easy to work with. In a nutshell it told me that this is a deck which can help make clear how things are connected and if I can work in a careful manner with it we can navigate challenges to provide a satisfactory and fulfilling experience.
If there were to be a reprint I would love to see the central images kept to a similar size but the borders reduced and the cardstock improved. The box is basic and so an upgrade there would be a bonus. However, the deck as it is would be an unusual but powerful addition to any collection.
Harandayl
