Even tho I had my reservations, I really like this deck. The colors are very pretty, which is something high on my list for me to like a deck(one reason I hated the Rider-waite deck, bleh colors!). I'm a purple lover and theres plenty of that in this deck. I also find the images pleasing. They are your basic cartoonish looking images but they do have depth to them. One thing I'm sure some would hate about this deck, for the most part all the witches are young, thin, cute, and have on cute clothes(and pointed hats) But I think its kept from being too trendy in that all the scenes are outdoors with the witches being in harmony with nature. I for one like seeing witches pictured as being pretty versus the age old ugly green faced purple haired cackling hags. There are a few crones in the deck, respectfully done as 'wise women'. And in all the scenes when theres a house or building, its very rustic looking which I like. This deck does border very slightly on 'fluffy bunny wicca' on some cards at least, but it balances it to the point where I think its just having a little playful fun with 'magic'. I personally don't like taking things too seriously when taking a walk on the 'woo-woo' side ;)
Now, the things I don't like about the deck. They have changed the suits in the minor arcana(boulders,flames,broomsticks, and cauldrons), which doesn't bother me, but usually in such suits like say the 3 of broomsticks, you'd see a scene with 3 broomsticks. Not so in this deck, there is only 1 of each item in each scene, which is a problem for me because in many of the cards, even tho its a card for the flames, it would still have rocks that can be percieved as boulders. Hence I always have to look a the title at the top of the card to know not only which number but which suit it was. For instance, the Trial(King) of cauldrons card has a cauldron, but also a ring of boulders and 2 flaming fires. And the card Goddess of broomsticks doesn't even have a broomstick in it. A minor irratation. So if your most familar with decks that stick close to the Rider-Waite images, you might have a bit of trouble reading this deck. You pretty much have to throw everything you know about that deck out the window and look at this one with fresh eyes, which isn't a bad thing IMO. Why have 4 different decks that all read the same way, mimicking the same old images?
And of course the 'book' that comes with the deck is your typical worthless folded bits of paper stapled, with contradicting one word adjectives describing the card. This 'book' also lists a second title for each card that is supposed to describe it like the witches dance or witches kiss, ect. This descriptions are fairly contradictory in my eyes, but what to expect when these little acompanying 'book's are almost always worthless. It also features a 13 card spread(too many in my opionion) called the Circle of witches.
Even with the above complaints and irratations, I still really like this deck. It has a very playful vibe. If you want to have some fun with your tarot readings this would be a good deck.
This deck is really focused on the concerns of young women. Although you can read for young men with it as well. The Images are very color full. The Ladies Lovely and the Gents quite handsome. There is a lot of unapologetic "wish craft" going on in this deck.
The conventions of the Waite deck have been basically tossed out, and the artist has taken the maximum creative license with the images and themes. She is however quite talented, and it is no great challenge to read a spread intuitively from her well drawn images. Which is just as well as the LWB is all but worthless.
The deck is a wonderful exercise in comparative Tarot. Older/ more experienced readers will discover challenging new visions of various cards. Also beautiful interps of familiar themes. The 6 of Broomsticks (Swords) is my personal favorite presentation of that theme. The courts have been changed radically. The Pages are the Celebrations, the Knights the Moons, the Queens the Goddesses, and The Kings have been replaced with the Trials. I think the Kings are the Artists greatest coup. Laura has really captured the Shadow side of the benevolent Patriarch depicted in other decks. After working with this deck you will never see the Kings Rx quite the same again.
This deck looks like a light weight at first glance, but its not. Its actually a beautifully realized, if very personal vision of the Tarot.
