Tarot Grande Luxe Cards – June 26, 2019

Tarot Grand Luxe is my favorite Ciro Marchetti deck, and I am overjoyed to report that U.S. Games has produced a genuine tribute to the out-of-print original limited edition. This is a gorgeous mass-market publication -- almost a twin to its self-published sibling.The thing I’ve loved best about reading with the Tarot Grand Luxe is the way the cards interact -- symbols meet one another across cards to create wonderful aha moments. I began discovering these symbolic connections by turning over pairs. My process is to go through the deck fairly quickly, not stopping to meditate. I just take a good look at each pair, reshuffle and start over — the stories reveal themselves.At times, I've also found that the colors and patterns in Ciro Marchetti’s artwork suggest something surprising — an answer or message originating outside the traditional parameters of the card’s meaning. And while this observation could be applied to most tarot decks, I’ve found that the Tarot Grand Luxe is especially rich and evocative compared to many other decks in my collection.U.S. Games packaged the Tarot Grand Luxe with a LWB in a beautiful sturdy 2-piece box. Happily, the lid features those crescent cutouts that make it nice and easy to remove the lid.The magnificent King of Swords adorns the cover of the 56-page LWB. And in it, Ciro Marchetti writes about his use of symbols and shares his thoughts on the meanings of the cards. A black and white thumbnail image of the card appears with each description.The cards are not only gorgeous to look at, the deck is wonderful to hold. The stack is thick (I measured 1.3 inches). The card stock is heavy, not flimsy. The surface is a smooth silky matte finish — slick, but not overly so. The cards slide easily against one another. I’ve riffled them, and I’ve mixed them. Perfect.The deck contains 78 cards, no title or ad card.The card dimensions are 3x5 inches, which is large enough to allow for appreciation of the lush artwork and yet a manageable size for shuffling.The colors are treasure chest of jewel tones.The images are true and sharp. My takeaway:U.S. Games is offering a fabulous, high-quality, standard Tarot Grand Luxe for about 30% of the cost of the limited edition.

Magnificent, superb, wonderfully intuitive, visually stunning, and without equal, Mr. Ciro Marchetti's "Tarot Grand Luxe" meets the desires of all who work with the Tarot.Nearly a half century ago, I tried to get in sync with Tarot. First, came the venerable Rider-Waite Tarot deck. After much frustration, I went on to other disciplines. Over the intervening years, numerous oracle and tarot decks were hawked, tried, discarded. Nothing called to me...Enter Mr. Marchetti's "Tarot Grand Luxe," which I just received and unpacked. Immediately, I was taken with it's majesty and power. It SINGS to those who hold and behold it. It will not let you go, for you are gifted with infinite possibilities, untold, as yet, adventures... These cards are not only ALIVE, but they have their own personalities. Some, the intent of previous artists/writers, are put aside, replaced with genuine meaning- at least to me...In going through this marvelous deck, I'm struck with Mr. Marchetti's artistry, attention to detail, and unstinting effort to create something well beyond the previous Tarot incarnations. The mystique of Tarot is now much easier to understand, and adapt to what YOU, as the Tarot practitioner perceive in your mind's eye. Suddenly, you see, sense, and feel what was not there, in previous decks- all previous decks...Card stock and printing are the best I've seen. These cards will stand you in good stead. Personally, I've decided that they'll go with me everywhere. Too, I'll be buying another two or three decks. At only 70, I expect to get lots of use in plumbing their depths... I encourage ALL Tarot practitioners to get this deck- you will be amazed, enlightened, and delighted.The quality Mr. Marchetti's art work, as previously stated, is unequaled. The deck arrived in superb condition, thanks to Amazon's great staff. To put a cap on this, Mr. Ciro Marchetti's "Tarot Grand Luxe" is far and away, the greatest Tarot deck yet created.Thank-You, Mr. Marchetti, and may You and Yours have long, happy, and productive lives...