August Magazine 2014 Becoming Psychic Magazine February 2014 | Page 51

It’s In The Card’s
Review By Little Toes

February is the month when we take a day out to celebrate love and in
many spiritual traditions, the promise of Spring returning. I can not
think of a better deck to use during this time than The Joie de Vivre
Tarot. French for joy of living, the Joie de Vivre is a whimsical deck
with child like energies that is not too cutesy.
Think of a Tim Burton movie coming to life in a tarot deck or a
Victorian Dr. Seuss. With
a slight Gothic feel it is romantic without being too dark.
Each character has its own unique personality. The artist even gives her dear little creations names. From Blossom the Empress・ with her nest of
eggs on her head to Wistful on the Five of Cups・who looks a little lost and doesn't see the beauty in front of him. The little white booklet gives only a
brief introduction to these creatures leaving me wanting for more. An expanded version with the artist giving us the back stories of these little guys
would be most welcomed.
The playful energy of the deck made me want to share it with every other Tarot enthusiast I know. They too were delighted by the magical creatures
that seem to come alive and dance off the deck. The back of the deck is a mix of gold and orange, reminiscent of the colours in a sunset with a delicate
vine pattern.
Being inspired by the images Alice in Wonderland feel (the Magician, Prezto, definitely looks
like a Mad Hatter!), I sat down with the cards and a cup of tea to spend an afternoon trying to
unlock their secrets. The mischievous gleam in their eyes tells me they never will tell all. My
fantasy tea party was filled with wonder thanks to this imaginative deck.
After first purchasing this deck, take some time and lay out all the cards across the table in a
random order. Allow the charters come to life for you. Let Dash, the King of Swords’ charm
you, let The Sun, Flare・warm you as she dances across the table on her sea horse named
Light. Take some time and let them tell you a story.
They are definitely not traditional tarot images and it is an excellent deck for letting your intuition soar as well as the more traditional uses. It would be a recommended deck for those who
may seek creative inspiration from the Tarot. In my professional practice, I will often use this
deck if the client seems hesitant of the Tarot as the soft pastel colouring of the images seem to
put them at ease. It is also appropriate for a younger audience.
The cards are 2 3/4" by 4 3/4", (usual size for most Tarot decks) of good quality card stock. The glossy finish makes them easy to shuffle. They come in
a very simple box wrapped in plastic. The box is not a very sturdy one so you may want to consider storing them in and alternative bag or box more
suited for long term use. The little white book that comes with it gives only brief descriptions and reversals are used but there is no images. If you are
new to the Tarot you may want to consider purchasing a separate more thorough book on Tarot meanings. This would not be my first choice for a beginner reader.
Tucked in the back of the little booklet is a unique spread called spreading the Joy・It is a light hearted simple five card spread focusing on joy. Just
like the images on the deck, it will uplift your heart and encourage your spirit. Checking out the short biography on the artist you can see how her 10
years as an energy healer has translated into her work.
In honour of the day of love, Valentines Day, here is an eight card spread for you to use to determine if a new connection may be with a soul mate. A
soul mate may not always be a romantic one, sometimes they come to us in the forms of friends, teachers and even family members.
Placing eight cards in a row from left to right, starting with the first card on the left ask yourself these questions one at a time. As with all readings give
yourself a moment with each card and never try to force the answer or to make it fit. Sometimes the answers are not meant t