Tarot of the Elves

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Name of deck: Tarot of the Elves
Publisher: Lo Scarabeo 
ISBN (deck only): 9780738711713 
ISBN (book only): 9780738711720 
ISBN (deck and book kit): 9780738711737 
Creator’s name: Mark McElroy 
Brief biography of creator: Mark has designed many Tarot decks and written many books on the subject, such as the Da Vinci Tarot, Mona Lisa Tarot, Lo Scarabeo Tarot, Bright Idea Deck, Putting the Tarot to Work, and Lucid Dreaming for Beginners. 
Artist’s name: David Corsi 
Brief biography of artist: David also did the art for The Vampires Tarot of the Eternal Night. 
Name of accompanying book/booklet: Tarot of the Elves
Number of pages of book/booklet: Book: 160; Booklet 63 (14 in English) 
Author of book/booklet: Mark McElroy 
Available in a boxed kit?: Yes. It has the deck and full book. 
Reading Uses: General. 
Artistic Style: Computer generated fantasy 
Tarot, Divination Deck, Other: Tarot 
Does it follow Rider-Waite-Smith Standard?: Yes 
Does it have extra cards?: No 
Does it have alternate names for Major Arcana cards?: No 
Does it have alternate names for Minor Arcana suits?: No 
Does it have alternate names for the Court Cards?: No 
Alternative decks you might like: (The following have similar art) 
Vampires Tarot of the Eternal Night 
Gilded Tarot 
Legacy of the Divine Tarot 
Other narrative decks: 
The Jane Austen Tarot 
Mystic Faerie Tarot

The figures on the earliest Tarot cards were no doubt inspired by the popular medieval "triumphal processions"―parades that taught moral tales to the watchers. By mimicking these archetypal parades, Tarot decks also told stories. These were not new stories, but ones that were familiar to everyone of the time. 

While the stories of the Greek and Roman gods may not be quite as universally familiar to everyone as they were in the 14th century, most people understand the archetypal story of the hero’s journey. The hero’s journey is the most commonly recognized story in Tarot decks. One strength of this approach is that people know the basic story. One weakness is that because it is archetypal, it is very generalized. 

Until recently, many decks told the same archetypal story simply dressed in different clothes. The stories were still general and could be applied to any situation. In some cases, they depict slightly different or more specific faces of the archetypes. But since they are not set in context (like a story), they are harder to learn. 

The more recent narrative decks, such as the Tarot of the Elves, also tells a hero journey story, but it is specific story. There are specific actions, specific characters, and specific ramifications. In short, the stories provide context and consequently two very great benefits. The first is that the cards are easy to learn. You read the story and when you see the picture on the card, you know the part it plays in the story, and consequently, the meaning of the card. 

The second benefit is that the story also allows a clearer understanding of the nuances in meaning. For example, the archetypal idea of Strength as a card has many facets. In the Tarot of the Elves story the Strength card shows the main character, Albrerich, fighting with an evil machine that contains a magical sword that Alberich needs. In this case, Alberich must overcome something by his force and his will and by doing so gains a great reward. 

The images on the cards can be powerfully evocative and beautiful, such as The Empress, Temperance, and the 5 of Wands. The High Priestess shows a murdered High Priestess on the altar. Tarot expert Barbara Moore wrote this about it:

"The High Priestess from the Tarot of the Elves is probably one of the most controversial images in Tarot. Many people were appalled and had a very strong negative reaction to this card. However, people don’t have a problem associating The High Priestess with the Greek goddess Persephone. She was kidnapped by Hades, the god of Death, and taken to the underworld to live―kidnapped, taken from her family and a life she loved to live underground. She was, in a sense, dead. Without the experience of her death, the joy and power of her consequent rebirth could not have been. Many initiatory experiences recreate a symbolic death. We find them in most mystery religions, many modern Pagan and shamanic traditions, and even in the Protestant full immersion baptism. Study, a function of The Hierophant, comes first, followed by experience or the initiation. There are things, truths of the universe, which cannot be learned by study; they must be experienced and death symbolizes a strong transformational experience. And despite the calm, peaceful demeanor of most High Priestesses, I cannot imagine that such a death is easy or clean. For this reason, the pain and the immediacy of this card draws me in, even as it does, as it is meant to, repels. It speaks of the experience that comes before the calm and the knowing." 

This deck could be used very well by a beginner who read the book. The story is a great way to remember card meanings. For a study deck this is a wonderfully creative and challenging work.