Alchemical and psychological synthesis permeates the foundation of Arthur Taussig's Alchemical Visions Tarot. Feeling at times like a Terry Gilliam fever dream, the imagery mixes stylistic elements of anatomy, engraving, and mystical symbolism to create a visual experience for self actualization. This is not an ideal deck for readers, as the cards are greatly oversize -- about 5.25" x 7.25" (13.5 x 18.5 cm) -- and printed with an extremely slick coating that causes them to slide with more ease than might actually be preferable. But for those seeking a deck for meditation, self exploration, and/or metaphysical studies, the large format happily avoids shrinkage and obscuring of the many fine details contained with in each illustration.
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Alchemical Visions Tarot
This is not a deck for reading because the cards are 5"X7", too big for an average person to manipulate. The pips are RWS based. It is a mosaic deck made of many images put together, some from an anatomical text. There are b&w and color images on each card, The colors are mostly red and cream with green and blue thrown in occasionally. It says it is a deck for meditation, to unlock your subconscious mind. The images are industrial, dark and sometimes disturbing. He places the Fool at the end of the deck for he is the end and the beginning of the journey. I understand what he wanted to do with the symbolism, but it is a bit dark for me. The ceremonial crowd will like this one, for sure.
