The Illuminated Tarot is a fully illustrated fifty-three card deck that can be used for gameplay and tarot readings.Â
The Iluminated Tarot by Caitlin Keegan is becoming a favorite tarot deck for me and other tarot practitioners. As a yogi, someone approaching tarot from a Vedic arts, science and philosophy perspective, this deck is amazing.
This deck has everything: beautiful colors, cartomancy, and references to the "deeper meanings" ( for me, deeper meanings include Vedfic references in regards to natural, healthy living as per the Vedas and Puranas including but not limited to Vedic astrology, Tantra/ Mantra/ Tantra meditations/ practices, ayurveda and what westerners describe as the physical yoga postures of western yoga studios).
The artwork is beautiful. This deck is in my humble opinion the ultimate card deck for meditation/ tarot reading/ mindfulness/ sacred spaces and is a MUST have for every tarot / cartomancy collector/ reader. This card deck will not disappoint. I have included a link to purchase the deck. I am not affiliated with Ms. Keegan. This is an independent, unbiased review of "the Illuminated Tarot."
Here are just some of my personal favorites:
Just wow. Immediately, I see Magha themes pertaining to the first house as well as the many themes of the Strength card. I feel this is a fantastic combination of so many thoughts pertaining to "as above so below" themes of Vedic culture and Vedic philosophies. Also, Tree of Life themes. Just an amazing card.
I for one. always love the Queen of Hearts/ Queen of Cups depicted as the Empress ( I recently described how perfect it is to combine the themes/ archetypes of the Queen of Hearts/ Empress in a post about Dame Darcy's amazing "Queen Alice" Tarot Deck).
Bharani Nakshatra. The clergy. Water. Emotions. Venus, the moon. Aries. Family. The Brahmins. Feminine energy. "The Bearer".
I see this as a beautiful representation of the Empress and the Queen of Hearts and how both archetypes are described by the Vedas and the Puranas. I love this as a yogi and as a tarot card reader.
9th house/ 9th Bhava. Signifies many, many things in Vedic Culture and philosophy including ( but not limited to) higher learning, higher wisdom, higher education, higher self, higher religion, distant travels, long distance travel, foreign lands, Jupiter, Jupiter related nakshatras ( Purnavasu, Vishakha, PurvaBadhrapada). The 9th House is also the natural karaka ( Significator) of the Rasi sign of Sagittarius. Sagittarius includes the nakshatra/ moon mansions Mula, Purvashada, and Uttarashada according to the Sidereal zodiac. Western sidereal nakshatras include Jyeshta, Mula and Purvashada. Also, planetary correspondece can be and often is interpreted Ketu/ or the South node of the moon . Ketu is the natural karaka of "what is on the inside", passive energy, feminie energ, past lives, what we already know, where we find our peace amlmgts many, many other things signified by Ketu as per Vedic culture/ Vedic philosophy. All of this can be seen simply because of the 9. Of course, the number nine can mean so much more to anyone using this deck and of course the card reading/ tarot reading community supports and recommends interpretations to be personal and up to each card reader.
Hearts/ Cups are traditionalky equated to the water elements or Jala in accordance to Vedic customs and Vedic traditions. Jala, one of five of the elements is important in understanding the natural health systems found in Vedic culture and traditions including traditions such as Ayurveyda, for instance. Keegan herself acknowledges the tradition of tarot readings/ card readings having many, many meanings other than the key words that she provides in the guidebook accompanying this amazing deck, which if course card readers everywhere are also in agreement.
Many interpret the 9 of hearts% 9 of Cups as a Wish fulfilment/ celebration card. That interpretation/ traditional meaning works here as well. Obviously, the green liquid seemingly poured into the cups is likely poisonous and harmful to those who may be consuming the liquid. Even as poison, this can be seen as a Wish fulfilment according to Vedic culture and tradition. Medicine and poison often go hand in hand according to the natural health care found in Vedic culture. Often, it is described that "poison is inflicted to bring out the illness," as found in inflicting venom for snake bites, for instance. Also, the purpose of the Ugra ( sharp, dreadful, fierce) nakshatras is to inflict pain or to destroy and is seen as necessary to good health according to the Vedas and the Puranas. According to the Vedas and the Puranas, alcohol was/ is considered medicine and not necessarily prohibited for consumption. Of course alcohol historically has been seen as medicinal and as destructive in all ultures and philosophy.
Vedic nakshatras/ moon mansions along with other "moon mansions" such as the Chinese and Arabic moon mansions all describe "muhurtas" or auspices times for destruction, attacks, and even poisoning on one's enemies. Ancient kings utilized Ugra nakshatras for all kinds of things including warfare, and the destruction of enemies, even murdur. Of course modern tarot readers/ yoga practitioners take into consideration what is appropriate to meditation/ card reading and adjust appropriately.
As a playing card, the 8 ♣️is described as one of 3 fixed playing cards. Traditionally, Tarot card readers use similar interpretations as something in the trajectory, on its way, something that is imminent, and it seems Keegan utilizes traditional meanings along with a beautiful peacock illustration. Peacocks of course signify many, many things in Vedic culture as well as other cultures. I personally have my favorite peacock Significators I use in meditation/ card reading as do many other mindful/ tarot practitioners. I love having achance to utilize the Peacock when meditating/ connecting with my higher self. LOVE having the the Peacock here.
8th house/ 8th Bhava signified many, many things including being the original Significators of Scorpio. Scorpio, is fixed water sign ruled by Mars/ co-ruled by Ketu ( according to Vedic tradition) and according to the Sidereal zodiac consists of nakshatras Vishakha, Anarudha, and Jyeshta. Western sidereal astrologers describe Jyeshta, Mula and Purvashada as the nakshatras / moon mansions, as well as Jupiter/ Sagittariys as 8th house Karakas as per Vedic astrology.
Themes of the 8th house often include transformation, death, genitals, secrets, inheritance, sudden events, accidents, secrets, the "Scorpio Sting" amongst many, many other things according to Vedic astrology/ philosophy/ culture and tradition.
The above three cards found in "the Illumnitaed Tarot," are cards I found to be useful on sharing my personal enthusiasm for this card deck in regards to meditation and tarot reading. I do hope this post has been useful in reviewing "the Illuminated Tarot," and it's potential for mindfulness, meditation, astrology, tarot reading, yoga, natural healing, natural medicine, card reading, art therapy, card playing, entertainment purposes and the many, many other uses/ purposes of using a deck of cards.
