Artsist: Jack Sephiroth
Text: Jaymi Elford
Publisher: Lo Scarabeo, October 2020
Purchase from:
https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738767314
https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Earth-Tar ... 731X&psc=1
This is one of the few decks that I’m aware of that actually credits the artist first (my personal cataloging preference).
The artwork is very dynamic but not overwrought, but that’s just IMHO.
The crepuscular atmosphere is well executed and not contrived just for the sake of evoking a “dark” or “ominous” mood.
The color palette is vaguely (I emphasize vaguely) reminiscent of some of Picasso’s monochromatic Cubist paintings,
but art experts will form their own opinions.
Some of the imagery is inspired by the Thoth Tarot as evidenced by the Hanged Man and the Nine of Cups. Many of the card titles are also Thoth inspired, but are concise enough to simply imply the suggested meaning/keyword without being overly dramatic, and work well graphically with the beautifully designed title banners in the lower border of the cards.
The stylized font is elegant and appropriate to the overall style of the artwork; while some reviewers have noted that the titles are a tad difficult to read,
I personally welcome this as an attribute rather than a hindrance.
This deck suggests a hybrid of Waite-Smith and Thoth, but the overall focus/energy of the imagery, to my mind, is solidly RWS, even taking into consideration the replacement of the Pages for Princess cards and the aforementioned Hanged Man and Nine of Cups.
Astrological, elemental and other symbols are evident but discreetly included, unlike some of the earlier decks of the 70’s and 80’s where they threw in everything but the proverbial kitchen sink to the point of being ridiculously intrusive and distracting.
The artwork showcases the artist’s skill at presenting the imagery from the most advantageous and revealing perspectives and vantage points, which add a tangible sense of depth and dimension.
……..and yes, of course I ordered this, but you figured that one out already
YouTube reviews:
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A very polished presentation of the Heaven & Earth Tarot Kit and matching bag.
The bag is sold separately, it is NOT included in the boxed set.
There is no commentary, but this video is beautifully produced from a technical and aesthetic perspective and offers the best visual guide to the card images.
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This video provides a detailed description of the companion book, which is all too often overlooked in many un-boxing videos.
The camera angle unfortunately doesn’t provide optimal viewing of the cards.
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Here's an interesting side-by-side comparison of the Heaven & Earth Tarot, the Darkness of Light Tarot, and a standard Rider Waite-Smith deck.
