The Wild Wood Tarot – Wherein wisdom resides
By: Mark Ryan and John Matthews
Illustrated by: Will Worthington
Publisher: Sterling Ethos
ISBN: 978-1-4027-8106-3
Book Size: 6″ x 8.25″
Book Pages: 160
Card Size: 3″ x 4.75″
Re-release Date: 2021 (First published 1996)
Purchased or Gifted : Purchased
Price: Package marked at $24.95 retail.
Favorite: “The Wheel of the Year underlies the Wildwood Tarot system, reflecting the natural turning of the seasons, the movement and migration of animals, and the physical the elements….”
Description of Deck:
The Wildwood Tarot Deck
The biggest issue working with this deck is that the Four Suits are renamed – Arrows, Bows, Vessels, Stones. Most of the names of the Major Arcana are also renamed. So, there are a lot of changes that the reader would need to get familiar with. The illustrations are really lovely. They look like pen and ink drawings. There is a white border around the cards with the title located at the bottom. The cover of the card is a Celtic design which fits the style of the deck.
Layout of Book:
The Wild Wood Tarot Guidebook
There are about 33 pages of introduction, then the cards and their meanings, and a section on how to use the deck.
Each page includes a small black and white image of the card, which I always find helpful.
The Major Arcana:
- Title
- Position on the Wheel
- Description
- Meaning
- Reading Points
- Roots and Branches – key words
The Minor Arcana’s order:
- King
- Queen
- Knight
- Page
- Ace – Ten
The Royal Cards:
- Title
- Description word
- Position on the Wheel
- Meaning
- Reading Points
- As a person in your life
- As an aspect or process
- As an event/ happening
- Questions
- Tracks and Pathways – key words
Ace – Ten Cards:
- Title
- Description word
- Description
- Meaning
- Reading Points (but not broken down like the Royal Cards.
Packaging:
The book and cards are packed into a nice, heavy duty, two piece box. My only objection is that the cards are split into two sections, which the cards never tend to stay in position. I realize this is to help make the box not as thick, but it doesn’t help that much.
Final Thoughts:
Overall the deck and book are done well. However, there is having to learn all of the changes to the names of the cards. But, the biggest part for me is that I do not “identify” with this deck. It is written by two men and is geared to the masculine reader. I actually had a difficult time adjusting to this deck, so I quickly realized that I needed to move on to another one, instead of trying to force this one to fit me.
Would I recommend this? Yes. I can see where some would really love it and identify with it more than I did.
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