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Witches Tarot Kit
Boxed kit: paperback book with 78-card deck.
302 pages, Kit
Published January 1, 2010
24 people are currently reading
566 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Dugan
77 books504 followersEllen Dugan is the award winning author of over thirty six books and the Witches Tarot. She branched out successfully into paranormal fiction in 2015 with her popular Legacy Of Magick series. Her portfolio of work also includes dozens of articles in the Llewellyn Almanacs and Calendars and 15 non-fiction books. Ellen's non-fiction titles with Llewellyn Worldwide have been translated into over twelve foreign languages. She is a psychic-clairvoyant, and has been a practicing Witch for over thirty-five years.
With over 300K books sold Ellen has a global following. She currently has over twenty published novels, the eleven book Legacy Of Magick series and three other paranormal series: The Gypsy Chronicles, Daughters Of Midnight, and Hemlock Hollow. The first four books in her Legacy Of Magick series were made into audio books with Tantor Audio in 2018.
Ellen was featured on the cover of Witches & Pagans Magazine. She has been interviewed in the studio on KMOV News Channel 4 in St. Louis, done numerous newspaper and radio interviews, and a two hour guest spot on the national syndicated live radio show, Coast to Coast. In 2017 Ellen was also featured in USA TODAY'S HEA column. More information on Ellen's work can be found at www.ellendugan.com on Instagram at www.instagram.com/ellendugan/ or on Facebook www.facebook.com/ellendugan
With over 300K books sold Ellen has a global following. She currently has over twenty published novels, the eleven book Legacy Of Magick series and three other paranormal series: The Gypsy Chronicles, Daughters Of Midnight, and Hemlock Hollow. The first four books in her Legacy Of Magick series were made into audio books with Tantor Audio in 2018.
Ellen was featured on the cover of Witches & Pagans Magazine. She has been interviewed in the studio on KMOV News Channel 4 in St. Louis, done numerous newspaper and radio interviews, and a two hour guest spot on the national syndicated live radio show, Coast to Coast. In 2017 Ellen was also featured in USA TODAY'S HEA column. More information on Ellen's work can be found at www.ellendugan.com on Instagram at www.instagram.com/ellendugan/ or on Facebook www.facebook.com/ellendugan
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
April 9, 2020
After I bought the book/deck set, I saw a rather bad review on it on the website Aeclectic Tarot. I was disheartened, because when I went to the bookstore to find a deck to replace one I gave away...because it didn't work out for me after years of ownership, my eyes locked onto the artwork on the box....and I couldn't take my eyes off it. So of course I had to buy it. What I should have done was not read the review until I reviewed the book and deck together myself. I might have enjoyed it even more. Let's just say that so far, this deck is the only one I really resonated with since the Waite deck I got long time ago. (That was up until yesterday, when I went and bought the Wizards Tarot, which I'll review later. The artwork in both are equally amazing.) But my attraction to this particular deck tells me a lot about who I am as a person too, even though I don't actually read fantasy novels.
I'm not a Wiccan witch, but I pretty much fell in love with the deck. Although the artwork in the book that comes with it is the black-and-white version of the deck itself, it is every bit as amazing as the color version....it’s just simply awesome and captivating. I would have just taken the artwork of Mark Evans alone.
Unfortunately, where I run into problems is with the interpretations of the deck made by its original mastermind (mistressmind?), Ellen Dugan. Okay, like I said, I'm not Wiccan, and at the outset, Ms. Dugan did explicitly make it clear the deck is for those of the more Wiccan persuasion, so I got that. But truthfully, it somehow doesn't justify for me why she didn't stick closer to the Waite interpretations the way she said she meant to. Let me give you a few examples.
XX Karma (Judgement) - Yes, this is a Wiccan deck, I got that. But to rename the Judgement card as Karma doesn't seem to be the best reinterpretation of the Waite deck in the world. The Judgement card does represent resurrection, true; and the idea doesn't fit that well within the Wiccan paradigm, which is also true. But Judgment also represents liberation, release, starting again, rescue, the returning of something previously thought of as dead, and simply coming back to life. How she interprets the card in her book, though, is closer to the day of reckoning, which can be very appropriate, but she goes further by implying it means the necessity of making a choice; of the balance that has to be maintained, if not outright restored; "of results of past actions"; of simply karma, implying to me some kind of a backlash. That doesn't sound right (unless it's reversed maybe.) That sounds more like an interpretation that belongs to the XI Justice card rather than the XX Judgment, renamed Karma, card. I mean the artwork is awesome. But the rendition feels wonky. The Tarot already has a Justice card. That's severe enough as it stands. It doesn't need two kinds of Justice cards. I think one is enough.
The Suit of Swords - I don't think the author, Ms. Dugan, has a lot of respect for swords. They're sharp, they're nasty...I mean really nasty...and if I had my way, they would be a fire suit rather than an air suit. (As a matter of fact, I read recently that Author E. Waite, the original interpreter of the Waite deck, would have had his artist depict the swords as fire and the wands as air but by doing that, he would have broken his oaths he swore to his order to keep secrets hidden. I guess this was a sample of this.) But the way she interprets them in the deck...."eh, it's not really that bad." Uh, yes, they are. They really really are, even for a witch, and they really really should be taken that seriously when a person does a reading for another, even if that person is a witch, too. I personally wouldn't have taken the "Oh, don't get all freaked out over it. You can do something about it if you really want to" approach. But then she would have worked the cards differently than I would have, too. If a bunch of swords come up in a reading, especially of the destructive kind (Five, Eight, Ten of Swords...) I wouldn't have taken them lightly or blamed the victim. That's leaning too much on the "sweetness and light, New Ashee" interpretation that tends to put the weight on the client to "just snap out of it and get over yourself."
An extension of the above example: The author's interpretation of the Nine of Swords. Like seriously? In the artwork (which was well-done by the way, in spite of the circumstances under which it was created), a woman is lying face up in a fainting pose with a vampire bite on her neck, with nine swords covering the window above her. Ms. Dugan calls this the "Drama Queen Card." I don't see anything trauma-and-drama about two puncture wounds on the neck. This depiction is kind of fitting for the card, but not the meaning. Something really is wrong with the woman in the card. And suggesting to her to just pick up the sword closest to her and defend herself from the vampire that repeatedly comes to see her isn't going to kill it....A stake in the heart will, according to the old movies. And even if the sword could (lets hope the sword is made out a very special kind of silver that one can sharpen), the damage has been done already...she’s been turned. There's nothing she can do about it. So there's nothing drama-queenish about that unless the card is reversed in a reading, thus signifying that she is, in fact, playing the "Perils of Pauline" act, and there are no vampire bites on her neck after all. But it's a good work of art nevertheless. (I guess I've been a fan of too many creature-features for too long.)
I could go on with this (the Emperor being in a glen watching over kids rather than being on a very high place watching over civilization; both the Empress and the Queen of Pentacles needing to be more full-figured if they truly are to represent Nature's fertility and being "Earth Mama"...no Earth Mama is that slender; the meanings of the Page of Swords should really go to the Knight of Swords...I could go on and on...and on...), but suffice it to say that the interpretations in the Witches Tarot Companion are a kinder gentler treatment of the deck than what I really would have liked to see. Maybe Ms. Dugan feels that magic conquers all, especially the magic of love or something, but I myself am a little bit more cynical. If I had my way, I would have kept the deck with just a few tweaks made to it, officially removed a little over half of her interpretations, and somehow replaced them with Waite's own interpretations. The deck would be more balanced somehow to fit real life, rather than some perceived idea of life through rose-colored glasses. But admittedly, if it weren't for the author's inspirations, we wouldn't even have this deck in the first place. So there’s that trade-off. After all, it is an amazing deck....
I give it five stars for the art and three for the book.
I'm not a Wiccan witch, but I pretty much fell in love with the deck. Although the artwork in the book that comes with it is the black-and-white version of the deck itself, it is every bit as amazing as the color version....it’s just simply awesome and captivating. I would have just taken the artwork of Mark Evans alone.
Unfortunately, where I run into problems is with the interpretations of the deck made by its original mastermind (mistressmind?), Ellen Dugan. Okay, like I said, I'm not Wiccan, and at the outset, Ms. Dugan did explicitly make it clear the deck is for those of the more Wiccan persuasion, so I got that. But truthfully, it somehow doesn't justify for me why she didn't stick closer to the Waite interpretations the way she said she meant to. Let me give you a few examples.
XX Karma (Judgement) - Yes, this is a Wiccan deck, I got that. But to rename the Judgement card as Karma doesn't seem to be the best reinterpretation of the Waite deck in the world. The Judgement card does represent resurrection, true; and the idea doesn't fit that well within the Wiccan paradigm, which is also true. But Judgment also represents liberation, release, starting again, rescue, the returning of something previously thought of as dead, and simply coming back to life. How she interprets the card in her book, though, is closer to the day of reckoning, which can be very appropriate, but she goes further by implying it means the necessity of making a choice; of the balance that has to be maintained, if not outright restored; "of results of past actions"; of simply karma, implying to me some kind of a backlash. That doesn't sound right (unless it's reversed maybe.) That sounds more like an interpretation that belongs to the XI Justice card rather than the XX Judgment, renamed Karma, card. I mean the artwork is awesome. But the rendition feels wonky. The Tarot already has a Justice card. That's severe enough as it stands. It doesn't need two kinds of Justice cards. I think one is enough.
The Suit of Swords - I don't think the author, Ms. Dugan, has a lot of respect for swords. They're sharp, they're nasty...I mean really nasty...and if I had my way, they would be a fire suit rather than an air suit. (As a matter of fact, I read recently that Author E. Waite, the original interpreter of the Waite deck, would have had his artist depict the swords as fire and the wands as air but by doing that, he would have broken his oaths he swore to his order to keep secrets hidden. I guess this was a sample of this.) But the way she interprets them in the deck...."eh, it's not really that bad." Uh, yes, they are. They really really are, even for a witch, and they really really should be taken that seriously when a person does a reading for another, even if that person is a witch, too. I personally wouldn't have taken the "Oh, don't get all freaked out over it. You can do something about it if you really want to" approach. But then she would have worked the cards differently than I would have, too. If a bunch of swords come up in a reading, especially of the destructive kind (Five, Eight, Ten of Swords...) I wouldn't have taken them lightly or blamed the victim. That's leaning too much on the "sweetness and light, New Ashee" interpretation that tends to put the weight on the client to "just snap out of it and get over yourself."
An extension of the above example: The author's interpretation of the Nine of Swords. Like seriously? In the artwork (which was well-done by the way, in spite of the circumstances under which it was created), a woman is lying face up in a fainting pose with a vampire bite on her neck, with nine swords covering the window above her. Ms. Dugan calls this the "Drama Queen Card." I don't see anything trauma-and-drama about two puncture wounds on the neck. This depiction is kind of fitting for the card, but not the meaning. Something really is wrong with the woman in the card. And suggesting to her to just pick up the sword closest to her and defend herself from the vampire that repeatedly comes to see her isn't going to kill it....A stake in the heart will, according to the old movies. And even if the sword could (lets hope the sword is made out a very special kind of silver that one can sharpen), the damage has been done already...she’s been turned. There's nothing she can do about it. So there's nothing drama-queenish about that unless the card is reversed in a reading, thus signifying that she is, in fact, playing the "Perils of Pauline" act, and there are no vampire bites on her neck after all. But it's a good work of art nevertheless. (I guess I've been a fan of too many creature-features for too long.)
I could go on with this (the Emperor being in a glen watching over kids rather than being on a very high place watching over civilization; both the Empress and the Queen of Pentacles needing to be more full-figured if they truly are to represent Nature's fertility and being "Earth Mama"...no Earth Mama is that slender; the meanings of the Page of Swords should really go to the Knight of Swords...I could go on and on...and on...), but suffice it to say that the interpretations in the Witches Tarot Companion are a kinder gentler treatment of the deck than what I really would have liked to see. Maybe Ms. Dugan feels that magic conquers all, especially the magic of love or something, but I myself am a little bit more cynical. If I had my way, I would have kept the deck with just a few tweaks made to it, officially removed a little over half of her interpretations, and somehow replaced them with Waite's own interpretations. The deck would be more balanced somehow to fit real life, rather than some perceived idea of life through rose-colored glasses. But admittedly, if it weren't for the author's inspirations, we wouldn't even have this deck in the first place. So there’s that trade-off. After all, it is an amazing deck....
I give it five stars for the art and three for the book.
Read
February 9, 2019I bought this set at a lovely shop, Dervish, in Cork, Ireland. I found the images gorgeous, like so many of us- the actual box it what caught my eye in a shop chock-o-block full of visually gorgeous things. When I handled them, the cards were sturdy, easy to handle and not to 'slick' nor to 'rough in the hands. The images are gorgeous. but, and isn't there always a 'but'?
The card descriptions in the booklet is heavy on describing the archetypes as white. Most of the descriptions are of the image being a white person, especially the Queens: physically this card may represent a fair woman, pale eyes, red hair, hazel eyes and light brown hair...it was distracting and quite honestly not in the spirit of the cards, where images are not literal, they are representations, they are archetypes that represent all of us, not just the white-of-us.
Thankfully, I do not use this kind of language (skin color or description of hair color- and I am not sure why anyone would?) when I read. Recently have been touching into the pagan and Qabalistic symbolism and this deck is robust and rich with symbolism, but the descriptions with it threw me enough to want to mention it.
The deck is fast becoming one of my favorites. I love the size of them and and the symbols are deeply touching. But the author could have easily left out the physical descriptions on the cards and it would not have changed one whit of their power.
The card descriptions in the booklet is heavy on describing the archetypes as white. Most of the descriptions are of the image being a white person, especially the Queens: physically this card may represent a fair woman, pale eyes, red hair, hazel eyes and light brown hair...it was distracting and quite honestly not in the spirit of the cards, where images are not literal, they are representations, they are archetypes that represent all of us, not just the white-of-us.
Thankfully, I do not use this kind of language (skin color or description of hair color- and I am not sure why anyone would?) when I read. Recently have been touching into the pagan and Qabalistic symbolism and this deck is robust and rich with symbolism, but the descriptions with it threw me enough to want to mention it.
The deck is fast becoming one of my favorites. I love the size of them and and the symbols are deeply touching. But the author could have easily left out the physical descriptions on the cards and it would not have changed one whit of their power.
July 7, 2016
Like most everyone else I was drawn to the cover of the box and the description of the cards. The cards are some of the most beautiful that I have ever worked with. I can't wait to use them to read for someone!!! My daughter could not have bought me any thing better for my birthday!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE them!!!
Have a Blessed Day!!
Have a Blessed Day!!
May 28, 2019
Very thorough, easy to understand explanations of the symbology of the Witches Tarot deck. I have to say, this deck is so gorgeous I just want to do readings 24/7! I'm constantly finding a reason to pull it out, and now I've started incorporating the cards into spells.
March 4, 2015
helps manifest magick in your life.
August 13, 2024
This is my personal deck of choice. In fact, I think of it as The Me Deck, my absolute favorite that I save for self-readings. Nobody else's paws or vibes get anywhere near it. Of all the decks in my collection, none speak to me as much as this one.
Dugan's deck is right for me in every way. It uses the Rider Waite Smith system whose familiar visual vocabulary is brought to life and even greatly enhanced with evocative imagery that makes it easy to recall the meanings of the cards. The artistry is gorgeous. So lush! (I've almost gotten several of the images tattooed, and most likely eventually will.) Of vital importance, Dugan's text really speaks to me. It builds upon the foundations of AE Waite's original "official" interpretations, and has really opened up the meanings for me. Especially for cards my stubborn brain has frequently found difficult to remember in the past.
If you find the art visually appealing to you, the book won't let you down, so get it! You will be glad you did, 100%
--Great for beginners teaching themselves tarot (Rider Waite Smith tradition).
--Equally good for experienced readers who want to expand their understanding of the core tenets while also giving you rich, evocative, delicious new eye candy for your collection.
Dugan's deck is right for me in every way. It uses the Rider Waite Smith system whose familiar visual vocabulary is brought to life and even greatly enhanced with evocative imagery that makes it easy to recall the meanings of the cards. The artistry is gorgeous. So lush! (I've almost gotten several of the images tattooed, and most likely eventually will.) Of vital importance, Dugan's text really speaks to me. It builds upon the foundations of AE Waite's original "official" interpretations, and has really opened up the meanings for me. Especially for cards my stubborn brain has frequently found difficult to remember in the past.
If you find the art visually appealing to you, the book won't let you down, so get it! You will be glad you did, 100%
--Great for beginners teaching themselves tarot (Rider Waite Smith tradition).
--Equally good for experienced readers who want to expand their understanding of the core tenets while also giving you rich, evocative, delicious new eye candy for your collection.
December 28, 2020
I really wanted to give this 5 stars, if for no other reason than the illustrations.
the good:
This is an amazing deck and the accompanying book is also great. The illustrations for this deck are over the top beautiful, the symbolism is rich and deep. I would highly recommend this deck.
the not as good:
I say "not as good" because I don't find anything "bad" at all about this deck and book kit. There are a couple things however, that I think could have been improved upon. Namely, the cards are thinner and less sturdy than I prefer, the book does a great job of detailing the meanings of each card and shows a couple associations for each - though I would have like to have seem more associations in regards to the Tree of Life, elemental, etc...
The only thing I would add to the illustrations would be with the major arcana. I personally would like to see a clear indication of the qabalistic path associated with the card, maybe small circles in the corners relating to the color of the sephirot that the path connects or something.
Other than those things I would highly recommend this set, it's sure to be a collector item in the future.
the good:
This is an amazing deck and the accompanying book is also great. The illustrations for this deck are over the top beautiful, the symbolism is rich and deep. I would highly recommend this deck.
the not as good:
I say "not as good" because I don't find anything "bad" at all about this deck and book kit. There are a couple things however, that I think could have been improved upon. Namely, the cards are thinner and less sturdy than I prefer, the book does a great job of detailing the meanings of each card and shows a couple associations for each - though I would have like to have seem more associations in regards to the Tree of Life, elemental, etc...
The only thing I would add to the illustrations would be with the major arcana. I personally would like to see a clear indication of the qabalistic path associated with the card, maybe small circles in the corners relating to the color of the sephirot that the path connects or something.
Other than those things I would highly recommend this set, it's sure to be a collector item in the future.
March 30, 2019
The book definitely helps you read the cards. I love the way the deck looks. The book helps you break everything down. But I can’t connect to the deck and I’m just starting to learn how to read tarot. I do recommend this book and deck set. So if you wanting to get it. I would. The deck just didn’t fit for me
November 29, 2020
I LOVE this tarot deck! This is so well done and the guidebook to go with it is large enough to read (older eyes appreciate this). I always get accurate readings and find that using this deck with people who know nothing about tarot can also get a good feel for what the reading is saying. Excellent deck for new and experienced readers of Tarot.
July 7, 2025
I have had a several tarot decks over the years but this is one of my favorites. The cards have very vivid images and colors. This is the deck I use strictly for spell casting. The book has all the basic card definitions as well as information on card mediation and spell casting instructions.
July 17, 2018
The deck is awesome, easy to read with clear symbolism to add to your repertoire. The book is very informative and will help you learn to read if you don't know, and will assist the seasoned reader.
February 8, 2019
Very informative. Excellent read in learning to understand the cards
April 17, 2019
Very insightful, gave. me lots to add to my interpretation of my cards
February 19, 2020
One of my favorite decks.
November 24, 2021
I love this set!
August 6, 2023
Maravilloso, desde que vi este tarot deck conecte muchísimo con su energía. Me encantó conocer más a fondo sobre cada carta, un libro muy completo.
August 8, 2023
Aprovechando de marcarlo como leído ugu
December 29, 2024
Love the cards
January 31, 2019
This review can be found at The Book Review
April 28, 2016
I've always been fascinated with tarot cards. It's a yearly tradition to get my cards read at my local ren faire. It's fun always been something that was fun and I took what I need to from the sessions. I have read quite a few tarot books over the years and fun is one thing they all seemed to lack. They were so serious it was boring me. I would look at the cards and wonder just how the heck they got those meaning from it. I'm glad to say this book was different. I love Ellen Dugan's writing. She has the perfect blend of humor, with real life experiences, and a wonderful teaching voice. I always learn something and best of all, it is in a fun manner. The artwork on these cards is beautiful. I was able to look at the images and her descriptions of the cards and actually understand the connections between the two. For the first time while learning about tarot cards, I had that aha moment. I finally feel like i am starting to learn about them.
October 9, 2015
This is one of the most beautiful tarot card sets I have seen! The cover is ultimately what drew me in and happily each card is just as wonderful and there is so much within every illustration. Mark Evans is a truly amazing artist and I would definitely look out for anything else by him. The book accompanying the set takes the reader through each card describing them in great detail and the meanings are well thought out and match the corresponding images perfectly. The various card spreads are easy to follow and I can't wait to become completely familiar with each card. There is also an app version of the cards which are wonderful to use whilst on the go. I'm so glad to have found this set and the author Ellen Dugan and I'm looking forward to getting some of her other books. Buy it, read it, use it, love it!!
August 15, 2018
The Witches Tarot takes the Rider-Waite and incorporates Wiccan symbolism. One doesn't have to be Wiccan to use the deck, but it would be easier to understand. The Witches Tarot gives straightforward answers. The artwork is halfway between cartoonish and realistic. Reversed meanings are included in the companion book. Because of it's ease, any level of skill can use this tarot deck. The box and the cards do tear if the reader is rough with them. So be careful when shuffling or storing the box.
July 1, 2016
This is the most beautiful set of Tarot cards that I found. I cannot describe my love for this set and I really want to learn all the cards by heart but since my illness right now that's not an option. I read it, I won't memorize it yet, but it will come.
September 29, 2020
This is my go-to tarot deck. Each card has a beautiful, detailed illustration. The book explains not just the card's meaning, but also the artist's intention in creating the painting.
Witches Tarot hit all the right notes. It's the most well-rounded deck/book I've ever seen.
Witches Tarot hit all the right notes. It's the most well-rounded deck/book I've ever seen.
May 4, 2014
It's a great companion to the deck. The art is beautiful and the explanation of each card is quite detailed. I would've liked more tarot spells and uses. I love it.
October 16, 2014
Love this set of cards. They are so pretty and the companion book is really easy to read and understand. Lots of info and descriptions.
October 18, 2015
This deck is the most beautiful, and comprehensive, deck I have ever owned. So empowering and easy to read for those who consider themselves to be a witch.
July 11, 2020
https://youtu.be/GgKQ3DdJLqQ
Click on the above link to see a walkthrough of this deck.
Click on the above link to see a walkthrough of this deck.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews