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Review by Rose Red
(of
Tarot to Go)
May 2010
The Lucky Pack from Arnell Ando
I had picked up the 2006 Tarot Calendar featuring Arnell Ando and Leslie Cochran collage tarot cards at
SF BATS
in 2008. Even though the calendar part was not relevant anymore, the pictures were amazing. I cut them out and put
them up in my office to inspire me with my work.
I was able to meet Arnell Ando at the 2009 SF BATS when she gave a talk about Tarot and Art and throwing Tarot themed
parties. She shared some amazing art she had created such as her Tarot Mirrors and Tarot Masks. She shared with us
ideas on how to make tarot themed invitations as well as activities to enjoy. She also shared with us music that
inspired her art.
This led me to her website,
Arnell's Art
, and finding out that I could still get her
Lucky Pack
! So I ordered it
without delay. I love collage decks and this one was amazing. I received it a week later, in a package with Tarot
stamps on it. =)
Inside I found four mini artistamp sheets of 6 stamps each, depicting details from the cards, as well as a lovely
green cardboard box tied with a lovely rainbow ribbon. In the box was a scroll of authenticity, Arnell's version of
the Little White Book and the cards wrapped with another ribbon of fall colors. I was in heaven. The backs of the
cards have her stamp with her special mark.
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Upon looking through the deck I was amazed by the art and vision Arnell had created. She had made a Majors only deck with 23 cards which included two Lovers cards. Of course this made me even more enamored with this deck as The Lovers is my birth card. As I looked through the deck I found that the beauty of this deck was best viewed in the Death card.
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I loved the use of the old fashioned typewriter and typed message coming out of it. It expressed how I think of Death,
being free of the body and able to be free from conventional ties to one's memories no longer. When it is time to go,
I hope it will be like floating away from this place. I like the image of the mask coming away and freeing one from
the Ego.
I looked through the other cards and found the one that was hanging above my desk at eye level so I could look at it
whenever I am feeling low: The Wheel of Fortune.
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As I read through the accompanying book, Arnell had made sure to show the many different ways one could gain
information about one's future fortune, with a Magic 8 Ball, playing cards, a crystal ball, a wheel of fortune,
and of course tarot cards. Madame Fortuna challenges one to decide if they will take a chance of giving up what
they have for what could be. And anything can occur if one takes a spin on the wheel.
The next card that caught my attention was The Moon. I often get this card and thought that the two towers made from
interesting blocks Arnell had made herself was just another layer she added to this card showing her personal style.
The Moon, winking in the center of the card, seemed to be showing the playfulness that can be found in the moonlight.
The two wolves in the picture also show the wild nature that can come out during a full moon, with one howling and
the other seeming to invite the viewer to explore their wild side.
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And of course the two Lovers cards intrigued me.
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This card shows many different ways of expressing love. It implies a simpler and gentler time. There are many types
of couples in this card. They show romantic love as well as camaraderie between each other. I felt like this card
could come up in a reading about love between couples but also as friendships and relationships between family
members and siblings.
This was in contrast to the other Lovers card, showing a Wolfman, and his two choices in lovers:
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The Wolfman has his feet in the waters of Venice clutching two love letters from the two women in his life. One of
these ladies is depicted as a masked woman with a voodoo doll and the other as a beauty preparing for a visit with
her love. These two women represent the Wolfman's choices in his world between mystery and beauty according to the
artist. I see this card as one that warns of the fickleness of love. It also cautions one of hidden motives of
misguided lovers. It can warn of a relationship that is not completely what it seems.
I will leave you with the last card I drew, the High Priestess and say ''Ride Lady, Ride!''
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Lucky Pack Tarot
Handcrafted, Limited Edition Set by Arnell Ando © 2006
Reviewed by Rose Red © May 2010 for roseredtarot.com
