The Efflorescent Tarot
Completely self-published by Katie Rose Pipkin, The Efflorescent Tarot reads like a dream. A wonderful combination of ink-drawn images and watercolor, these cards take the reader on a delightfully intuitive journey through the subconscious to the conscious where it offers up incredible insight.
Produced over a period of 2 years, between 2009 and 2011, the artist offers both a colored and black and white version of this deck. While both versions are absolutely stunning, I decided that I'd probably enjoy working with the colored deck a little better.
For some reason, I didn't make immediate use of the deck after first receiving it. Possibly I was enamored with another deck at the time, or maybe I just wasn't ready to rough up this artsy handmade deck. Whatever my initial reason or rationale, after allowing this deck to sit on my bookshelf for quite some time, it finally came to pass that The Efflorescent Tarot would no longer be ignored. I suddenly had the impulse to carry the deck with me on the days I offered intuitive readings. Even then I didn't use it right away. Mostly I'd just look at the cards, admiring the images. I did this for a while before I finally decided to give them a really good shuffle once and for all. I'm not sure what I expected, but it wasn't the ease with which I began shuffling the cards. Despite their size, I was pleasantly surprised at how well I was able to manipulate the deck.
The deck comes packaged inside a simple white gift box with a random image adhered to the lid. I thought this a very nice touch. My box has the lovely Ten of Cups. I like that the lid lifts completely off.
Printed on heavy semi-gloss paper stock the card backs are adorned with an elegant ink-drawn floral design, intricately detailed in black in white.
Larger than the standard tarot deck size, the cards measure 3.5 x 5 inches. There is an inclination to trim the cards down to a smaller size but I haven't quite decided whether I will do this or not. I pretty much like them just the way they are.
The deck doesn't come with an information booklet but follows the Rider Waite Smith tradition for the most part. However, it is not a Rider Waite clone by any means, as Katie Rose Pipkin very much offers her own personal perspectives throughout the deck, which I find particularly wonderful.
The Major Arcana have titles but no numbers assigned to them, so for those who have an issue with the placement of Justice and the Strength card, this will be an additional bonus.
Sensitively drawn, there is a certain honest vulnerability about The Efflorescent Tarot. It speaks directly from the heart...of love, heartbreak, tragedy, celebration, personal defeat, and triumph. The combination of ink-drawn images and watercolor has an essence of raw emotion that draws one in and makes the heart ache. It is a wonderful deck for, but not limited to, delicate, emotional, and heartfelt matters.
