HazelMoon’s Hawaiian Tarot
Author: Katalin E. Csikos
Artist: Katalin E. Csikos
Independently Published
2003
ISBN #978-1-61623-636-6
“At the beginning
of time,
we were all highly
evolved spiritual beings.
We lived our life
in accordance to the sacred
template of Cosmic
Law, which we fully honored
in thought word
and deed. Gradually we became
intoxicated with
the dream of separation and
ego
identification, listening to the mind, a
collection of
thoughts, and forgetting
the song of love
and unity …”
from the book
I was drawn to this deck for many reasons. Csikos did not
create a deck from a history book background, she created one from living
history … from living on the land of Hawaii, and with the people of Hawaii. Out
of her interest in and respect for Hawaiian culture and mythology “HazelMoon’s
Hawaiian Tarot” was born.
This deck has the same draw for me that the “Gaian Tarot”
(by Joanna Powell Colbert) does – it is
based n the land and the people where the respective decks were created. “The
Gaian Tarot” is based on the lands of the Pacific Northwest, where I grew up as
a teenager, and where I have been living for the past fourteen years.
“HazelMoon’s Hawaiian Tarot” represents the five years that I lived in Hawaii
when I was in my twenties.
This deck is a celebration of life and the “Aloha Spirit”.
This is an all-pervasive spirit that I am reminded of every time I open my
college newsletter (I graduated from the University of Hawaii). Csikos defines
this spirit as the coordination of the True Self’s mind, heart and soul
manifested by thinking good thoughts, emoting good feelings and sharing
goodness with others. She goes on to say that Aloha must be experienced, that
it brings each person to the Self.
Csikos goes on to talk about Hawaiian wisdom, and what
Hawaii taught her. She moved to Hawaii to heal, and heal she did … on all
levels. The ability to be healed is expressed clearly in this deck. This is a
self-published deck and 108-page companion book. The deck is traditional in
structure, with traditional titles for the Major Arcana. Strength is VIII,
Justice is XI. The suits are Sticks
(Wands), Cups, Swords, and Lava Stones (Pentacles). The Court Cards are
King, Queen, Warrior, and Boy.
The companion book includes a short history of the Tarot,
along with how to take care of the cards, and how to do a reading. The cards
themselves are presented in text only, with no images. There is a description
of the cards eergy, a description of the scene portrayed, and upright and
reversed divinatory meanings. The traditional Celtic Cross spread is presented
at the end of the book.
For the King of Lava Stones, Csikos writes: “This card is
the representation o the final fulfillment of a creative task, business
venture, or an investment. A loyal and trustworthy man may be too methodical to
gain complete success. In other cases it is the symbol of wealth. Wealth may
come in the form of associates, money or knowledge. As a talisman, it is a
symbol of luck. It also means wanting to make money, to be more successful, and/or
to unite or reunite with someone.”
For the Star, Csikos writes: “The Star is the light of hope.
Shining in the night in the darkness, the stars provide direction to sailors
and present a field of dreams. People are used to looking up at the sky and having
a desire to be there. Besides hope, there is mystery, filled with excitement of
the knowledge yet to b discovered.”
This is a nature based deck. The box itself, and the cover
for the companion book, are done in warm
earth tones. The cards are 3” by 4 ½”. The backs have a dark brown border, with
a cream colored center. In the middle of the back, and fanning out on three
sides, is a leafy palm tree. The backs are not reversible.
The card faces have dark brown borders on the top and
bottom. For the Major Arcana, the card number in Roman numerals is at the top,
with the card title at the bottom. For the Minor Arcana Pips (numbered cards),
the card number is in Roman numerals on the top (except for the Ace), the card
number and suit along the bottom in text. The Court cards show the card title
and suit along the bottom of the card. Along the right and left hand sides of
the card we see primitive drawing in dark
brown against a cream background. Depicted are a turtle, what appears to
be a gecko, and several images of humans in different poses. It gives a warm
and “ancient” feel to the deck.
I dearly love the focus of the art in this deck – the land
and the water carry much more import than the figures in the scenes, making use
of intense color and nature itself to convey the necessary energy. It is hard
to define which are my favorite cards – they all draw me in! Let’s start with
the Wheel of Fortune – against a background of the Islands we see a circle of
life – stick figures, plumeria flowers, an adorable gecko and more!
In the Boy of Sticks we see a lone figure strongly paddling
his canoe over the blue waters. The
Queen of Swords shows a lone female figure seated, head on her knees, sword at
her side, volcano in the background. The Four of Sticks shows lush greenery and
beautiful red flowers surrounding a rushing waterfall.
The Two of Swords features a beautiful rainbow, while the
Empress stand regally in her royal purple gown. The Emperor stands, wearing a
gold cape and crown, staff in his left hand, surveying his lands. Death shows a
quarter moon over blue water, upon which floats a plumeria lei. The Five of
Sticks shows a barren, broken highway, while the Six of Sticks shows a lush landscape with beautiful blue water in
the background.
This deck is very much a coming home for me. The time that I
spent in Hawaii filled me with good memories … memories that I will always have
to fall back on. This deck is a great addition to any collection – a valuable
tool for self-exploration, as well as a gentle deck to offer clients. Enjoy!
ONLY for $14.95
No comments:
Post a Comment