Thank you so much for the incredible response to this first giveaway! I wish I could pass something along to all of you (do swing back around this month and drop your name in the hat again) but I pulled four names from the official October cauldron, and the winners are:
The Nomad Tarot - Jennifer from Sparrow Tree Journal
Antique Anatomy Tarot - Anne D.
The Magician candle - Conjured Cardea
The Empress candle - Johanna
I'll send a note off to you asap!
And the next giveaway starts...now!
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When I first picked up a tarot deck I was nervous. I grew up feeling as though I wasn't at all intelligent and that notion gave me pause when I looked at a stack of 78 images that had layers of meanings to commit to memory. I dove in, despite my concern, and I fell in love with the cards and never looked back. (I also learned that reading is much more than rote memorization, and traditional interpretations are just one part of a tarot practice.)
Some readers believe that there's a benefit to starting out with a deck rich in imagery. I have always gravitated toward detailed cards that kept with the Waite-Smith themes. I especially enjoyed having the Minor Arcana sketched out for me. It wasn't until I took a class with Camelia Elias and opened my first Tarot de Marseille deck that I learned to appreciate cards where the artist left the suits to figure themselves out, without an added story line.
The two striking tarot decks I bought this year are both artist-produced projects, and are as different as they are beautiful. The Major Arcanas are simple yet compelling and offer just enough detail for those of us who still get giddy over symbolism. However, in these decks there is little excess information in the Minor Arcana - they get straight to the point (but in such eye-catching ways).
I am really pleased to start this magical month of giveaways off with these two artists!
The first deck I have for you is the fifth anniversary reprint of The Nomad Tarot, by artist Jennifer Dranttel. In her words:
The Nomad Tarot is a modern, nature-based interpretation of the traditional 78-card Tarot Deck. Featuring striking white-and-navy linework illustrations and indigo shibori-covered card backs, this deck combines Pacific-Northwest flavored imagery with elements of Norse mythology, Native American totems, herbology, botany, alchemy, and the Kaballah.
The 22 Major Arcana cards feature lush, highly symbolic unique imagery, and the Minor Arcana are illustrated as "pip" cards in suits representing the four elements: earth (crystals), fire (moths), water (shells), and air (feathers). All illustrations are hand-drawn, and card layouts and text generated digitally.
The second artist featured is Claire Goodchild of Black and the Moon. If you were around a few years back then you might have spotted one of the editions of Claire's Oracle of Oddities deck that I passed along to a lucky visitor. This year she tackled an entire tarot deck and has given us the Antique Anatomy Tarot. This is her Ephemera Edition and gives a special nod to old time apothecaries.
"It’s no surprise that I love all things that fall into the oddities category and I have wanted to create something inspired by a Victorian Apothecary for so long.
People would go to their local pharmacy for all kinds of ailments, including magical needs and even minor surgery!"
And if the deck wasn't amazing enough, Claire was inspired to add two vigil candles, dressed with specific cards, to her collection. I knew you would swoon over them, so I picked up one of each for you too.
The Magician, according to Claire, speaks to manifesting, creativity and spiritual power. The Empress is all about abundance, beauty and fulfillment.
Is your trick-or-treat bag ready?
I've got one deck each of The Nomad Tarot and The Antique Anatomy Tarot to give away (please note: these decks do not come with books - these are cards only). I also have one each of Claire's tarot-kissed candles. You can feel free to mention in the comments which one of the four prizes you prefer and I'll do my best to match up names with their choices as much as possible.
This draw is open until Friday, October 5th at 9pm Pacific time. You may enter by either leaving a comment below, or contacting me via the "make contact" form (third tab in from the left, at the top of the page). I need to have a way to contact you if I draw your name, so please ensure your linked comment takes me to your contact info, or leave your email with your entry in a safe manner (for example: Jen (at) someplace (dot) com).
If you'd like a leg up on the competition, please feel free to share this post on your favourite social media site and then pop back and let me know in a separate comment that you've spread the love around, and I'll toss your name in the witch's hat a second time.
Welcome back, autumn friends.
*All photos in this post are property of, copyrighted to, and linked back to their respective websites and artists and are used only for the purpose of displaying the items purchased for the giveaway.
Legal Bits:
* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America, who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law. Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.
* Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada). The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =
* This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.
* This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.
* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.
* This giveaway (or "sweepstakes") is open to all residents of Canada, (exluding Quebec residents) the USA, Great Britain, Europe, South America, who are 18 years of age or older. This giveaway is void where prohitibited by law. Please be aware of the contest/sweepstakes laws in your area.
* Canadian residents will be subject to a skill testing question before being able to claim their prize (this is standard law in Canada). The skill testing question will be in a form similar to: 1 + 2 - 1 =
* This giveaway is not for profit and no purchase is necessary to enter.
* This giveaway is sponsored/administrated solely by this blog/blog author and is not affilitated with or sponsored by Blogger, Facebook, Twitter, or any other entity, nor can they be held liable.
* By leaving a comment intending to enter into the draw for the giveaway (or "sweepstakes") you are knowingly agreeing to these rules/conditions.
I have chosen all the books/cards featured this month myself. I have not been paid to feature a book, nor have I been asked to advertise for anyone. This giveaway is not endorsed or sponsored by anyone other than Rue and Hyssop
