Michele Knight-Waite is a celebrated, award-winning astrologer and psychic. As soon as voted “UK’s Favorite Psychic,” she is a media character, best-selling writer, and common astrology columnist at varied magazines. Today you can too discover her on Instagram and YouTube the place her beneficiant spirit is on full show.
I really like that she has channeled her many items into creating a contemporary RWS-based tarot deck that blends collectively the artwork of photograph collage, with cameos from a few of our favourite historic figures, and the acquainted iconography of Pamela Colman Smith, who’s featured on the Excessive Priestess card.
There are notable graphic design components right here that I actually love. Someway, it’s each borderless and it has a border, the place the complete composition continues all the way in which to the sting, however then there’s that basic tarot card white margin for the cardboard title. See additionally how, as an example, within the Seven of Pentacles, the Pentacles “spill” over and out of the border.
The deck has that gilded edging and manufacturing worth general giving it an “indie” vibe. I actually love the flip-top field it comes with.
A choice of historic figures are featured on this deck, “empowering, magical beings” who “paved the way in which for our freedoms – dazzling souls who modified the world,” writes Knight-Waite. W. E. B. Du Bois is The Hierophant, Aida Overton Walker is The Chariot, Maria Montez is the angel Temperance, Mata Hari is The Star, Bessie Smith is The Moon, and so forth.
Personally loving the inclusion of Anna Might Wong on The Hermit card. The again of the hardcover guidebook has a biography of all historic figures featured within the deck, together with tidbits on every determine’s astrological data.
Whereas I’ve seen many decks that characteristic a photo-collage of well-known figures, this can be the primary time I’ve seen the creator take the time to analysis and highlight every determine’s biographical background.
The guidebook is incredible. It not solely reveals a robust command of classical, canonized card meanings and RWS interpretation nevertheless it goes the additional step of discovering methods to make it extra relatable and related to now. The deck and guide set is ideal for a complete tarot newbie.
Oh, and it additionally doubles as a workbook with lined area to write down in your first readings with the deck. That means you’ll be able to take a look at drive the spreads that Knight-Waite, a seasoned skilled tarot reader, has shared.
Right here you see how the deck comes with three choices for Key VI: The Lovers.
One other facet I really like about this deck is the variety, however extra particularly, the way it does not really feel pressured. Typically it might really feel unnatural, just like the deck creator is giving the variety consideration a superficial and medical therapy, however not right here. I really like the artfulness and sensitivity that Knight-Waite has introduced.
I cherished studying that range was actually entrance and heart one of many details of consideration. Writes Knight-Waite:
I wished to do that challenge as a result of, though I’ve essentially the most profound respect for the Rider-Waite-Smith and different unique Tarot playing cards, I’ve additionally felt real frustration with their lack of range. . . . [T]hey don’t honor totally different sexualities and gender expressions, and are typically white-centric. I feel Pamela would have permitted of a extra inclusive imaginative and prescient, which is what led me on the journey to create this deck and to hold her imaginative and prescient on into a brand new, extra inclusive age.
The coloring on this deck is gorgeous, at simply the fitting saturation, richness, and steadiness. (Oops, sorry the above photograph fuzziness is my fault, not the playing cards. Precise printing on the playing cards is crystal clear and sharp.)
Humorous private mix-up: My first impression of the King of Swords, earlier than considering it by way of, was that it should be a portrait of Aleister Crowley. After which instantly I believed, no, wait, that’s not proper. So I regarded it up within the guidebook: it’s Oscar Wilde, who was born on October 16, 1865, a Libra solar; Aleister Crowley was born on October 12, 1785, additionally a Libra solar. And naturally there’s an affiliation of eccentricity with each of them. Type of an odd private mix-up, eh?
As for the deck’s namesake, humorous sufficient, Michele Knight married her now spouse Cathy Waite in 2020 firstly of the pandemic, a time frame coinciding with the completion of this deck. And so Knight’s deck grew to become the Knight-Waite deck. (Psst.. scroll again up: You’ll discover the creator depicted on The Magician, The Empress, and Demise playing cards.)
Not solely is there that meaty, prolonged hardcover guidebook that each the tarot newbie and the seasoned reader will love, there’s a quick-reference little white booklet (LWB) tucked into the field with the playing cards. And so really as a complete package deal, the Knight-Waite Tarot set would make for an amazing present to both the brand new cartomancer or the deck collector.
FTC Disclosure: In accordance with Title 16 of the U.S. Code of Federal Rules Half 255, “Guides Regarding Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Promoting,” I acquired the deck from the writer for potential evaluation. Every thing I’ve mentioned right here is honest and precisely displays my opinion of the deck.
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