I'll admit, this pack is NOT for everyone. The Swiss Surrealist painter HR Giger - perhaps more widely known as the artist behind the terrifying creatures in the Alien film series - certainly has a unique style, utilising both the biological and the mechanical to create nightmarish visions on canvas. Being quite the fan, I never thought I could own a copy of this rare, out-of-print and accordingly higher priced deck.
Let's just say I had a good birthday this year.
Initially, it seemed little more than a coffee table piece, a collectors' item. I was thrilled to have it, and it was simply stunning to look at, if you like that sort of thing (and I do). But it was difficult to form an opinion on the deck, not as a fan but as a regular practitioner. Their aesthetic value was instantly recognisable, but what about their use as a functioning Tarot deck? The accompanying book is by far the most valuable element to the set. The cards themselves are nothing new, being simple excerpts from the artist's previous works. What is really interesting about this set is the point of view presented, not just of the card meanings but of the Tarot itself. The book comes with a warning, and rightly so. These cards are not intended for daily use. Instead, they are presented as a tool to unlock the deeper, darker aspects of the human psyche. Also of note is the division of card interpretations according to gender. The cards in this deck have two similar but distinct meanings, depending on whether the querent is male or female.
All in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the HR Giger Tarot. If you are a fan, and if you are not easily offended, you can find out more about the deck here. But bear this in mind when using the Giger deck - don't ask unless you REALLY want to know, because there is no guarantee that you will like the answer you recieve.
Midnight Meadow Score:
Style: 9/10
Substance: 9/10 (if only for the originality of perspective)
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