The Mythic Tarot deck is themed around Greek Mythology. With all kinds of stories from Greek Mythology converging in both the Major and Minor cards, it makes sense that this is the deck to have if you are a big fan of Greek Myth. Conversely, it also makes sense that this deck is not for those who aren’t fond of Greek myths. But, if you are looking to get a great head start into the subject, and especially via the route of the Tarot, then it is an absolute must to have this deck with you!
Greek Mythology has played a very important part in the development of the Western Psyche. Simple common words (psyche included) owe their origins to these Greek Myths. And the Mythic Tarot does an absolutely fantastic job of bringing all of the elements that are integral to these myths – the intriguing stories, the stellar star cast, and the interwoven plot lines – all together into these wonderful cards.
The Mythic Tarot deck is a joint creation by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Liz Greene, and the cards are illustrated by Tricia Newell.
If you buy the Mythic Tarot Kit, you get a deck and a very nice book along with it. The book is a lot more than your standard LWB (Little White Book) that comes along with other decks. It is detailed and chock-full of information about the cards – the characters on the cards, and their stories, and how it all falls into place on that particular card.
This book really makes a lot of sense for those who have not acquainted themselves with Greek Mythology, and can serve as a primer / introduction into the topic. Not only does the book relate the stories connected with the characters on the cards, but it also talks about what the whole image means on both an inner level, and on a divinatory level.
The Majors
The Major Arcana cards in the Mythic Tarot Deck aren’t numbered – though they do bear the standard card names on them. However, in the book, Justice is referred as the card that follows the Chariot, and Strength as the card following the Wheel of Fortune. Their ordering is also a bit different – if you choose to follow the ordering that the book presents them in.
The images on the Major Arcana cards feature the key players of Greek Mythology. Here’s a quick list:
•The Fool – Dionysos
•The Magician – Hermes
•The Empress – Demeter
•The Emperor – Zeus
•The High Priestess – Persephone
•The Hierophant – Chiron
•The Lovers – Paris judging the beauty contest between Hera, Aphrodite and Athene
•The Chariot – Ares
•Justice – Athene
•Temperance – Iris
•Strength – Heracles
•The Hermit – Cronos
•The Wheel of Fortune – The Moirai / The three Goddesses of Fate: Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos.
•The Hanged Man – Prometheus
•Death – Hades
•The Devil – Pan
•The Tower – Labyrinth of King Minos being struck down by Poseidon’s lightning
•The Star – Pandora
•The Moon – Hecate
•The Sun – Apollo
•Judgement – Hermes
•The World – Hermaphroditus
What I truly love about the Majors is that by the time you are done reading / learning about them, you will not just have a firm grasp of some of the key players of Greek Mythology, but also have a real deep understanding about the origins of most of the archetypes present in the Major Arcana of most standard Tarot decks.
The Minors
Each of the suits of the Minor Arcana feature an important story from the Greek Myths. As it stands, there are more stories in Greek Myth than I can ever completely know. But the deck creators have chosen their stories well, especially since they fit so beautifully with the flow of the energy of each of the suits! The suits and their stories are:
•The Suit of Cups – Eros and Psyche
•The Suit of Wands – Jason and the Argonauts
•The Suit of Swords – Orestes and the curse of the House Atreus
•The Suit of Pentacles – Daedalus
Each of the stories is a lesson in itself, and the cards and the description in the book really makes the whole story come alive.