Review by Bonnie Cehovet
The mystery of the Holy Grail has always been larger than life for me – sometimes seeming more real than my own physical existence. In “The Grail Tarot”, renowned author and authority on Celtic, Arthurian, and shamanistic spirituality John Matthews (the “Hallowquest Tarot”, the “Arthurian Tarot”), and internationally acclaimed artist Giovanni Caselli (the “Sharman-Caselli Tarot”) come together to present the quest for the Holy Grail in Tarot format, with the inclusion of the Knights Templar as an intriguing addition to the story.
The deck and book set are presented in a sturdy box with a lift-off top, and an inset for the cards inside (with the companion book placed on top). The background of the box is black, with text in gold. The front of the box shows the cards as a frieze across the top and the bottom, with informational material on the back of the box.
The 198 page companion book begins with a brief background on the Grail, and its association with the Knights Templar. Matthews also makes note of the ninth century Welsh poem, the “Preiddeu Annwn”, attributed to the bard Taliesin, as the oldest written reference to the Grail. The “Templar Vision” connects the Knights Templar to the Grail. This is the background for the “Grail Tarot”.
The journey through the Major Arcana is seen as the Seeker’s Quest. What in the Tarot is seen as the Fool’s Journey is associated with the Templar novice from Brother to Grand Master, and the spiritual journey of the Seeker in the Grail mysteries. The magic in the “Grail Tarot” is that, set side by side, the 22 cards of the Major Arcana present a frieze where events follow each other in a very natural sequence.
The cards are presented with black and white scans, a description of the card, background on the card, a “Grail Question”, and the card meaning, along with keywords. The “Grail Question” is a one-line question asked by the reader of the archetype represented in each card.
The cards have been retitled as follows:
0 - The Grail Seeker (The Fool)
1 - The Gnostic Christ (The Magician)
2 - The Magdalene (The High Priestess)
3 - Sheba (The Empress)
4 – Solomon (The Emperor)
5 – Melchizedek (The Hierophant)
6 – The Two Knights of the Temple (The Lovers)
7 – The Ship of Solomon (The Chariot)
8 – The Commanderie (Justice)
9 – Prestor John (The Hermit)
10 – Fortune’s Wheel (The Wheel of Fortune)
11 – The Shekinah (Strength)
12 – The Wounded King (The Hanged Man)
13 – The Holy Sepulchre (Death)
14 – Sarras (Temperance)
15 – Lucifer (The Devil)
16 – The Fall of the Temple (The Tower)
17 – Perceval (The Star)
18 – Dindrane (The Moon)
19 – Bors (The Sun)
20 – The Restoration (Judgment)
21 – Procession of the Grail (The World)
In the Minor Arcana, the suits and Court Cards have been renamed as follows:
* Stones (Pentacles), elemental quality Earth, representing that aspect of the Grail called the Green Stone
* Swords, elemental quality Air, representing the Sword of John The Baptist
* Lances (Wands), elemental quality Fire, representing the Lance of Longinus
* Vessels (Cups), elemental quality Fire, representing the Holy Grail
* The Lady, representing the four aspects of the Virgin Mary, to whom the Templars had a particular devotion. The Lady (Queen) is placed first as an indication of her importance.
* The Master (King), representing four different Grand Masters of the Templar Order.
* The Preceptor (Knight), representing the initiatory aspects of Templar hierarchy.
* The Brother (Page), representing the Seeker and the Neophyte of the Order.
Each card in the Minor Arcana is presented with a black and white scan, a description, background, meaning and keywords.
At the back of the book is a section on reading with the cards, a table showing the “Grail Tarot” titles and the traditional card titles, along with several spreads, including the Grand Master spread (a 22 card Major Arcana spread). Included with the Grand Masters spread is a template listing the 22 Major Arcana cards and the Grail Questions that Matthews developed for them.
The cards themselves are approximately 3” by 4 ¾”, of good quality, glossy card stock. The backs are mesmerizing – a deep burgundy, with a lighter pink imprint of the great Templar seal, which shows two men riding on one horse, representing brotherhood and the quest. The backs are not reversible.
The card faces show the scenes going to the edge of the card – there are no borders. The colors are intense, and the art style very much that of the Renaissance era. There is a gold strip at the bottom of the card carrying the card titles: for the Major Arcana, we see the card number, in Roman numerals, and the card title; for the Pips (numbered cards) we see the card number and suit written out in text; for the Court Cards we see the title and suit.
The story of the Seeker from the Major Arcana is continued in the Minor Arcana, from Neophyte, to Knight, to Master, and, finally, to Guardian of the Grail.
One of my favorite cards is the Grail Seeker (The Fool), a red robed figure with his back to the reader, looking out over mountain and valley, with the Grail Cup floating in the sky above him. The Gnostic Christ (The Magician) in a white garment with a red robe, his hands in the “As Above, So Below” position is also striking. The Ship of Solomon, floating along with the symbol of he Holy Grail on its sail, and the novice Grail Seeker on its deck is stunning! In the Commanderie (Justice)we see a massive fortress surrounding a Templar church. In the sky above floats the symbol of the Holy Grail.
I am impressed with the quality of the artwork in this deck, as well as the thought that went into it. It is a deck that carries a contemplative quality to it, making the cards easily accessible for all levels of Tarot students. This is a deck that could be used for readings of all types, for meditation, as well as for journey, ritual, or ceremonial work.
© September 2008
Bonnie Cehovet is Certified Tarot Grand Master, a professional Tarot reader with over ten years experience, a Reiki Master/Teacher and a writer. Bonnie has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, is co-founder of the World Tarot Network, and Vice President (as well as Director of Certification) for the American Board For Tarot Certification. She has had articles appear in the 2004 and 2005 Llewellyn Tarot Reader.
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