The Dark Grimoire Tarot (English and Spanish Edition)
by Lo Scarabeo
List Price:
Our Price: $15.41
You Save: $7.54 (33%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $12.72 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: Lo ScarabeoEdition: Cards
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published); Spanish (Published)
Published: 2008-09-08
ISBN: 0738713848
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Book Reviews of The Dark Grimoire Tarot (English and Spanish Edition)
Book Review: Haunting Deck in Sepia Tones
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Dark Grimoire Tarots are therefore a true Clavicula due to their intrinsic nature and genesis: a key that can open forgotten doors in the darkest corners of the psyche, those doors hidden in the shadows and engulfed in spider webs. Opening those doors can mean gaining knowledge of our own fears and recognising our own dark side, learning how it can balance our whole being." - From the L(ittle) W(hite) B(ook)
Tales of "black books", heretical priests, forbidden rituals and dark magic weave through horror literature and films. Supposedly a mere literary device to awaken fears, reflect existential dread or "entertain" through vicarious catharsis, some individuals theorize that these types of stories--especially those of H.P. Lovecraft and The Necronomicon--contain couched truths of esoteric practices.
In this spirit of these occult mythologies, the Dark Grimoire Tarot unfurls the arresting artistic depictions by Michele Penco. Illustrated with a minimal color palette--mostly sepia tones, silvery purples, blue-gray and a smattering of green--Penco manages to capture the threatening, chaotic and maddening world of the "Great Old Ones", Cthulhu, Dagon and company.
Not being familiar with the works of Lovecraft, I wondered if the Dark Grimoire Tarot would be a dense mystery, only to be understood and appreciated by the "initiated". However, Panco's stark yet evocative images pulled me in, begging to reveal their secrets.
Many of the images are close enough to Rider-Waite renderings to be accessible to a wide audience. Some of the Minor Arcana evoke the situations and emotion imbedded within common interpretations, but those that don't are animated enough to stimulate intuition, invite speculation and encourage contemplation.
In some cases, the LWB to the Dark Grimoire Tarot conveys interesting observations but, unfortunately, it falls short as a guide--even for LWB standards. For example, there is NO description of the Minor Arcana cards other than a general guide to numerological and court meanings, and even those don't correlate with the actual imagery.
In addition to Panco's awe-inspiring, dramatic artwork, I was pleasantly surprised at how such a supposedly "dark" deck conveyed (to me) very practical perspectives on the Tarot. For example, in the Two of Swords, a blindfolded man stands fiddling atop a tree stump as demons encircle him on the ground. This brought to mind the proverbial "fiddling while Rome burns", a phrase often used to describe someone oblivious or apathetic to the destruction around them (even if set in motion by their own actions).
The Four of Pentacles shows a shriveled man clutching a book (presumably a dark grimoire) that almost looks to have his mouth sewn shut. This image suggests to me that hording possessions that may benefit others--even if it's something as seemingly innocuous as information--brings soul-rot, causing everyone to be poorer in the end.
As with most Lo Scarabeo decks, the Dark Grimoire Tarot cards measure approximately 4 ¾ x 2 ½ inches with an intriguing--but non-reversible--backing. The front images feature a slate gray border (I love the look of dark borders on decks like this!) with a parchment scroll banner at the bottom noting the card/suit in four languages.
A small suit emblem hovers above the numbers in the Minor Arcana (a sword, a chalice, a brass coin, etc.), and in this deck, Justice is Trump 8 and Strength is Trump 11. The court cards follow the Knave, Knight, Queen and King designation.
Because I'm not familiar with The Necronomicon, I can't say with any certainty if fans of Lovecraft will love this deck. However, I think that those who appreciate striking artwork will want to add the Dark Grimoire Tarot to their collection, as will those who enjoy horror books, zombies, and tales of evil unleashed on the world as a result of consulting a secret tome. It's a very readable deck, but those disconcerted by images of monsters, "black magic" and demonic entities might want to pass on this one.
(To see 15 cards from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)
-- Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book
Summary of The Dark Grimoire Tarot (English and Spanish Edition)
Deliciously dark and grimly enchanting, this dread tarot will help you connect with your inner shadow. Strange creatures and powerful sorcerers dwell in savage landscapes?an inspiring realm where magick is reality. This ominous, exquisitely crafted tarot is ideal for magicians, witches, horror fans, and anyone drawn to the dark side.
Boxed deck includes 78 full-color cards and instruction booklet
Flip side of box is in Spanish: Tarot Oscuro de Grimoire
Publisher Review:
Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890?1937) was a mildly successful writer of short stories known as "pulp fiction." This was a designation based on the inexpensive, pocket-sized magazines where his stories appeared. These small magazines were published on cheap paper known as "pulp." Today, only a few magazines that were originally "pulps" remain, one of them being FATE magazine. Most of those that survived are now full-size.
Lovecraft was deeply influenced by earlier and contemporary writers such as Ambrose Bierce and Robert W. Chambers, who not only told a story, but projected a mood. He eventually developed a style that featured a mood of horror lying just beyond what we normally see and hear, horror that is liable to break through into our unknowing world at any moment. He created an entire other world populated by evil powerful beings intent on taking over the Earth. According to the stories...read more.
Tarot Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Tarot Books
Golden Tarot of the Tsarby Lo Scarabeo
Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2002-06-08; Cards; Book
Best price: $19.77
Price in other shops:
Original Rider Waite Tarot Deckby a E Waite
Random House; Published: 1999-06-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $19.75
The Key to the Tarotby A.E. Waite
Rider & Co; Published: 1993; Paperback; Book
The Atavist Tarotby Sally Annett, Rowena Shepherd
Foulsham & Co Ltd; Published: 2003-11-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.64
Price in other shops:
The Tarotby Richard Cavendish
Crescent Books (NY); Published: 1987-09-13; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $86.00
Complete Illustrated Guide to Tarotby Rachel Pollack
Gramercy; Published: 2004-09-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $24.95
An Illustrated Guide to the Tarotby Jonathan Dee
Gramercy; Published: 2001-08-21; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $28.00
Lovely Lady (Signet Books)by Eden Gray
Signet; Published: 1969-11; Paperback; Book
Price in other shops:
The Tarot Readerby Nancy Shavick
Berkley; Published: 1991-05-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $64.98
Tarot in the Spirit of Zen: The Game of Lifeby Osho
St. Martin's Griffin; Published: 2003-06-05; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.14
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
Cat's Eye Tarotby Debra Givin
U.S. Games Systems Inc.; Published: 2011-10-25; Cards; Book
Best price: $11.01
Price in other shops:
Tarot of Metamorphosis (English and Spanish Edition)by Lo Scarabeo
Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2006-04-08; Cards; Book
Best price: $16.40
Price in other shops:
Paulina Tarotby Paulina Cassidy
U.S. Games Systems Inc.; Published: 2009-01-05; Cards; Book
Best price: $10.87
Price in other shops:
Shadowscapes Tarotby Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Barbara Moore
Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2010-05-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $18.04
Price in other shops:
The Gothic Tarotby Joseph Vargo
Monolith Graphics; Published: 2002-10-01; Cards; Book
Best price: $18.00
Price in other shops:
The Wildwood Tarot: Wherein Wisdom Residesby Mark Ryan, John Matthews
Sterling Ethos; Published: 2011-06-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.57
Price in other shops:
Legacy of the Divine Tarotby Ciro Marchetti
Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2009-09-08; Cards; Book
Best price: $18.44
Price in other shops:
Necronomicon Tarot (Necronomicon Series)by Anne Stokes, Donald Tyson
New Age; Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2007-09-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $16.20
Price in other shops:
Mystic Dreamer Tarot (Book & Cards)by Heidi Darras, Barbara Moore
New Age; Llewellyn Publications; Published: 2008-09-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $17.78
Price in other shops:
Deviant Moon Tarotby Patrick Valenza
United States Games Systems; Published: 2008-06-24; Cards; Book
Best price: $12.99
Price in other shops: