A new way of looking at Tarot. The new MAAT TAROT

by Lorelei Raven

The MAAT Tarot is an innovative new deck by Julie Cuccia-Watts. Artistic, beautiful and very useable, are just a few adjectives to describe these cards. MAAT Tarot takes the tradition of the 78 card deck and blends it with the Wheel of the year. Each card fit in as the spokes of a wheel. Julie the creator of Ancestral Path Tarot and the Majors only Blue Moon Tarot deck has interpreted tarot as no other. Julie's work on the Blue Moon deck lead her to placing the cards in this system relating to the Lunar calendar.

The lunar emphasis of this deck, naturally, required a complete restructuring of the traditional order of a tarot deck.  The 56 Minor Arcana Cards became the 52 weeks of the year, with the four Aces each representing a Season of the year; each month of the year the Minor Arcana follows the course of the phases of the moon: with one card representing the New Moon in a particular sign of the Zodiac, another the First Quarter Moon, another the Full Moon, and another the Last Quarter Moon.  The 22 Major Arcana cards, on the other hand, became the 13 Full Moons of the year (including the Blue Moon) and the 8 cross-quarter days of the year (Autumnal Equinox, Halloween, Winter Solstice, Candlemas, Vernal Equinox, Beltaine, Summer Solstice, and Lammas), with The World serving as the Center Card of the Lunar Wheel of the Year.  MAAT begins with the Witch's New Year, the first lunar cycle after the Autumnal Equinox, when the Moon is in Aries.

This deck is accompanied by a 291 page hardcover book explaining the system and complete card by card interpretations. No little white book here. The book is as luscious as the deck. The cover and typeset give it the feeling of a 400 year old book. The imagery of the deck is such that even without a peek at the book one can do a reading with this deck. The 4x6inch card size makes it easy to see and enjoy the art. I have found no problem shuffling or working with this plus size deck. Each card was first a 14x18‚ oil painting on canvas. this giving the deck rich and intense colors and clear imagery. The images span the ages. Modern, medieval, and primitive cultures are contained in this unique Tarot deck.

One big gold star for Julie for her work in sharing this new vision of Tarot with the world. If you are a Tarot neophyte this deck can help you learn the language of Tarot. Experts and collectors will value this deck for accuracy and beauty. I have used it for myself and my friends. After a little more practice with it I plan to use it for clients and it will be perfect for doing past life Tarot work.

Decks are available at select retailers and can be ordered directly from the artist. The artwork for Blue Moon and MAAT Tarot are also available for purchase through the artist. Her website also as automated readings, the perfect way to test drive a new Tarot Vehicle.

Whether a Tarot beginner or expert this deck will enhance your readings by combining lunar calendar with Tarot knowledge. This is the deck for witches. Certainly a lovely gift for the upcoming season.

Happy Reading Lorelei Raven