Dalí: Tarot Universal

by Johannes Fiebig

Magician, death and the moon: Surrealism meets Symbolism in Salvador Dali's Tarot deck Legend has it that when preparing props for the James Bond film Live and Let Die, producer Albert Broccoli commissioned Surrealist maestro Salvador Dali to create a custom deck of Tarot cards. Likely inspired by his wife Gala, who nurtured his interest in mysticism, Dali eagerly got to work, and continued the project of his own accord when the contractual deal fell through. The work was published in a limited art edition in 1984, the first-known Tarot deck completed by a well-known painter. Dating back to the Renaissance era, Tarot thought by some to be an interpretation of dreams or a foretelling of the future had seen a new surge of popularity during the 1970s hippie movement. Here, TASCHEN resurrects Dali's fascinating deck of 78 cards, featuring compelling renditions of such characters and symbols as the Magician, the Lovers, the Moon, Death, the High Priest, and the Empress, in collage designs of drawings, icons, and color splashes. The deck is accompanied by a booklet by renowned German Tarot author Johannes Fiebig. Text in English, French, and German "

Genres: Reference, Tarot

199 pages, Cards accompanied by a booklet

First published October 1, 2014

Reviews

[D. Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not my first deck but I just couldn't resist buying the box set when I saw it in a small bookstore.
I am a fan of Dali's art and even if you are not interested in the symbolism behind the cards, I think the set still holds a great artistic value.

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I was well aware that it's not a beginner's deck, I chose Dalí Universal Tarot as my first deck because it's the only deck to which I found an intense, immediate connection. I adore this deck, even though it’s extremely biased in favour of a certain person in my life. The one thing I'm not sure what to make of is that my deck has been incredibly accurate in predicting the past, if that makes any sense. It keeps telling me things which have already happened, even when I ask about the potential future outcomes. As for the booklet, it can be a bit confusing for beginners who are not quite familiar with the divinatory meanings of tarot cards. It would be so much better if it provided brief explanations of reversed cards. Looking back, I guess I would have been better off without reading the booklet. As this deck seems to conform to the structure of the Rider-Waite deck for the most part, I can easily figure out what the cards generally mean when I just go with my intuition. Quality-wise, both the deck and booklet are stunning. Not to mention, Dalí's reinterpretation of the Rider-Waite Tarot is enchanting. This tarot box set is a definite essential to add to your collection if you're as into Dalí and tarot symbolism as I am.

[Mimielle LaFauve]

May 1, 2018 - I am working with this tarot deck for the month of May 2018 using various spreads, I will post my final thoughts, some notes and a review in June of 2018.