The Herbcrafter’s Tarot

Product Information

The set includes a 78-card deck and a 124- page book full of herbal inspiration and ideas for crafting with the cards. She spent nine years creating the Gaian Tarot, which combines her love of symbolic, archetypal art with the mysteries of the natural world. It comes in a lovely presentation box which includes an instruction manual, explaining the meanings of the cards. As a long-term fan of The Gaian Tarot, I eagerly awaited receipt of the new Herbcrafter’s Tarot deck illustrated by Joanna Powell Colbert and written by Latisha Guthrie. Today is the day to let yourself delve into that side of yourself – and maybe work with someone else.

Find whatever it is – a comforting ritual, a creative outlet, time for yourself – to find your center through turbulent times.The box is one of my favorite kinds, a rigid two piece box sized to fit the deck and guidebook perfectly.

Familiarize yourself with the origins of your spiritual tools, where the botanicals are grown, and where the practices come from. The guidebook is lovely, with a number of ways to connect with the cards both through key ideas, longer description, and activities inspired by the plants featured on each. The suit of Air honors the medicine that comes from observing and noticing the plants as they are, and the Air cards show tall, sword-like plants growing outside. To see how you connect with the deck, choose one of the three cards above and remember which one you chose– left, center, or right. With the spirit of her foremothers behind her, she vows to respect the people and medicine of her home.

The Hya of water shows a small girl brewing chamomile tea with the help of her mother, the adelita of earth is weaving brigid’s crosses from the leaves of a yucca, the madre of fire is crushing thyme for potions and brews, andd the curandera of air has used a rounded boline knife to cut rosemary, and is raising it to the sky. Today, try to take some time for yourself, alone and preferably in whatever nature you have available to you, and seek wisdom and peace. We chose to leave people out of the images, except for the hands in the People cards, because we wanted to focus on the plants. It even has a ribbon attached on the inside for easily lifting the deck out of the box that works wonderfully. Pachamama (world mother) is a sovereign deity of Inca mythology who represents all that is whole, beloved, and complete.

While many days during the Imbolc season suggest recharging and giving yourself time, this pick encourages us to use our skills and pursue our varied interests today. It’s as if she is standing just outside the frame of the image and you can imagine her from the point of view of the plant. I also have a post on my blog, “Seven Ways to Get to Know the Herbcrafter’s Tarot,” which is helpful.That means each plant is explained, it’s environment is described, and even it’s uses in magic and folk healing. Joanna lives on the edge of the woods and village near the shores of the Salish Sea in Washington state.

Enjoy a cup of burdock tea and as you sip that tea, let its magic release away your anxieties, worries, and fill you with calm. The Majors represent the wilderness and the journey of the herbcrafter to learn about wildlife and use that knowledge to cultivate a garden for herself and one for the world.There are calm gestures, furrowed brows, sweet embraces, and the difficult to name feeling that comes from experiencing profound peace amidst a storm of grief. Like witch hazel blossoms that brighten a monochromatic winter landscape, adding levity to your tasks will lighten your load.