Wise Gal Tarot
Amazing Ways to Read Your Fortune!
by Jane Burns and Dale Gottlieb
The Wise Gal Tarot is a very basic introduction to a variety of intuitive arts, written in a fun and warm style, just for girls. The section on tarot
is only part of the book (following sections on dowsing, tasseography, pyromancy, the Chinese zodiac, palmistry, and bibliomancy), but the book does
provide small punch-out tarot cards (sized for young girls), in the traditional tarot format.
I bought this book for my ten year old daughter, who quickly outgrew it. She has since discovered Mary K. Greer's "Tarot for Your Self," which she strongly prefers.
That is not to imply that other young girls wouldn't enjoy the book. My daughter did, just not for very long. The information is for beginners, really for those who are just
curious, and so it doesn't get terribly involved. There is a brief outline of the history of tarot, what tarot is, and how it can be effectively used by girls. And, despite
the subtitle of the book, the tarot section focuses on self-discovery and personal growth - which is a very good thing, in my opinion.
Card interpretations are good, and aimed specifically at young people of course. This means little in the way of negativity; I consider this a strong point.
My daughter is very interested in learning about the tarot, and I tend to keep her away from decks (or books) that lean toward negativity or drama. The interpretations
are extremely short, but again, this book serves as an introduction for young people (who often have short attention spans). The three spreads offered are fun, but encourage
introspection too.
The cards themselves use deep colors, and simple child-like, somewhat hip, artwork. They are racially diverse, another strong point. There are no figures on the pips - or numbered cards, they are simply
their suit and number. But, they do each have key words for understanding card meanings quickly. Court cards are straightforward images of Princess, Prince, Queen, and King.
The Major Arcana cards are playful, and images are based generally on traditional symbols. Titles have been changed on some of them, to be more appealing and appropriate for young people. The Hierophant is
The Teacher. The Lovers is The Soulmates. The Wheel of Fortune is The Wheel of Life. The Hanged Man is Suspension. Death is Change. Obviously, name changes do not affect meaning.
Overall I think the Wise Gal Tarot is fun, and offers enough to generate more interest in tarot. It could be a girl's very first deck. I would recommend it for kids (or parents to get for kids ...)
who like things written for them, and those who don't already have a strong beginning with the tarot. It might also be very good for those kids who are interested in tarot but whose parents aren't quite sure about it yet -
it presents tarot as a very safe, mainstream practice of self-development. For the low price, it'd be a great gift, and something that would be lots of fun to use with friends.
Card artwork by Jane Burns and Dale Gottlieb
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Illumination Tarot has been publishing articles, reviews, tarot spreads, and personal reflections for tarot enthusiasts and followers of alternative spirituality online since 1999.
All writing, reviews, and photography © N Levine - Illumination Tarot, unless otherwise noted. 1999-2021
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