Nitasia Roland’s Starlore Arcana is a very thorough and interesting look at several elements of tarot, astrology, and cartomancy.
The box is beautifully decorated and sturdy, though the insert holding the cards is a little more delicate and arrived torn. The cards themselves are sturdy, edged on gold (which I love), and easy to shuffle.
The art has a lovely old-fashioned feel to it; of old drawings of constellations and the associations we’ve built around them. For example, the first card, Ursa Major, has a bear on it. The drawing looks like something from an old manuscript, with the stars placed on it the way we would see them in the night sky. Also on the card is extra information for the reader depending on how they are using the deck: a single club (Ace of Clubs), Wands (Ace of Wands).
The corresponding page(s) in the accompanying booklet is laid out very nicely and is easy to read. First is a paragraph of star lore, which tells the mythology behind the constellation named. Then the meanings for Cartomancy, Tarot, and Divination (respectively) are given.
I did a simple three-card spread, with a focus on the tarot meanings as that is what I am most familiar with. The tarot meanings on their own are informative but take on a lot more depth with the other information provided regarding cartomancy and divination, and the star lore is an added layer that really makes this deck shine.
I also liked the introduction, and the inclusiveness of pointing out that the imagery is not gender-specific and can be read far more openly than a binary allows for.
I think this deck will appeal to practised readers and new readers alike and would be an excellent addition to any collection.
~review by Mara McTavish
Author: Nitasia Roland
Publisher: Red Wheel/ Weiser
pp. 119, $29.95 USD
