TEMPLE OF THE GODDESS REVIEW

REVIEW CONTINUED from Testimonials page . . .

It’s no surprise to find out Wells has been an artist, commercial illustrator, and graphic designer for over 20 years, and has exhibited her fine art throughout the country. The guidebook is well written. One can use it as a regular major arcana Tarot deck, or expand one’s consciousness by taking each card and following through with all the contemplations and exercises.

Each major arcana card has a printed affirmation at the bottom, so a card can be picked "on the go" for a thought for the day. For instance, number 11 card, Justice, states, "I am truthful with others and myself and I take full responsibility for my choices."

If you don’t buy this deck for the artwork, then buy it for the 120 page spiritual guidebook that comes with it. Each card, named in the traditional system, includes a keyword, and a short paragraph explaining the card, such as, "The Magician is master of the visible, external world. She asks the question, ‘Do you want to stay in control of the mundane, finite world in front of your eyes, or go on to the mysterious, infinite world behind your eyes?’ . . . Within each person, all of the elements of the larger universe are contained. The study of . . . yourself can lead to a greater understanding of all of creation."

One section for each card is called "Affirming". Number 16, the Tower, states, "If you surrender your spiritual progress for egoistic power, you will be living out a hellish nightmare of self-deception. At some point, the forces of life will arrange for your descent into the dark night of the soul where you will be given the opportunity to save your soul. Your descent to the underworld can be both a psychological awakening and a spiritual initiation or neither."

Each card has a list of ten questions for contemplation. Card number 13, Death, questions, "What am I afraid of?" and "Why is it difficult for me to give up my ego’s wishes?" Very tough questions that, truthfully answered, will allow you to grow.

There are quotes scattered throughout, from across the globe. Carl Jung: "Your vision will become clear only when you look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams. Who looks inside, awakens." Teilhard de Chardin: "We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience."

Each card section ends with an exercise for those who want to delve into their own subconscious, their own shadow, to shed light upon those segments hiding in the deep recesses of their soul. The Devil, card 15, has the exercise for shadow work – "What mask are you wearing?" and finally invites, "May I knowingly embrace the shadow parts of myself."

The above are reasons to buy these cards. The only negative I wish to voice is that although these are "Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess", the term "God" is found throughout. We at http://www.TempleoftheGoddess.org are trying to shine a light on the highly masculine, out of balance, Western Society by honoring Goddess. So, yes I was unsettled to find "God" in these Goddess cards.

To be fair, Wells brings up this very point in the introductory section since she states, "Throughout this guidebook and the wisdom cards you will find many names for God: the Divine, Eternal Self, Supreme Being, Absolute Pure Consciousness and so on. God is the most common name used in Western cultures and will be primarily used here. Feel free to substitute the name for God with which you most resonate if you come across a name that doesn’t resonate with you."

Well, okay. My personal choice of a name for the Deity is Goddess. And my personal recommendation is to buy these cards. This article gives but a small serving of the tasty dishes found within. If you use these cards to swim the underwater caverns of your psyche, you will find that you are indeed wiser, more spiritual, more human than you were before.

To purchase these very reasonably priced ($14.95/deck with discounts for larger orders) Affirmations for the Everyday Goddess Tarot Cards or to sign up for a free eNewsletter, Divine Feminine Way or to purchase posters of the Tarot cards go to: Http://www.ArtMagicPublishing.com More Pamela Wells art can be seen at: www.artmagic.net For information about her illustrative/website/graphics business, go to: www.IntegrativeGraphics.com