glamourzombie:

I went ice-skating for the first time in my life, and it didn’t go smoothly haha. Let’s say I can’t do it to save my life. However, I do not really want to give in to frustration (I only fell once after all…!) and may try it again soon. To counterbalance a bruised buttock, I needed some pretty colours and joy-bringing cards, so here is my answer: the Crystal Unicorn Tarot, by Pamela Chen!

Merging the Rider-Waite tradition with unicorns, pastels and the added
energies of the crystals, this tarot deck results in a very complete, layered and cheerful meditation tool particularly good for those who like unicorns. The idea came to Pam as
she is the co-owner of a crystal
boutique called Luna Prosperity, and she felt like she just had to create this deck.

The artwork, by
Lisa Higuchi, can safely be labelled as “cute” – but of course, a deck needs more than this to become helpful, and this one does by including many symbolic elements without sacrificing the cutesy aesthetics.

A very important factor in keeping things cute without sacrificing symbolic meaning is the flawless way in which pastels have been used. The combinations are pleasing enough even without taking the unicorn factor into account, and result in textured images that draw you in. But of course, the unicorns are the real protagonists, and I can’t get over the hooves in the aces – which are some of my favourite cards! One aspect I’d like to highlight about them is the way in which their postures speak, as they are very expressive and well chosen. Even the way in which their types of walking is pictured is meaningful (which can be seen for example comparing the Sun and Death).

As I mentioned, crystals are an integral aspect to this deck. This is particularly evident in the major arcana, where each is associated with a particular crystal. The arcanum-crystal relationship is explored in the 45 page companion booklet, and although it is done briefly, it is also straightforward so the common energy really sticks in your mind. The minors have a crystal picked for each suit (wands-smoky quartz, cups-rose quartz, swords-amethyst, pentacles-citrine). Aside from the crystal exploration, the booklet also features an introduction, tips, spreads and more information on each card (including keywords for upright and reversed positions). Both the deck and the booklet come in a very sturdy two-part box that matches the design of the backs.

The Crystal Unicorn Tarot (also available at Amazon) is really one of its kind. It is one of the most magical decks out there, and the images of the unicorns together with the soft pastels really work together to transmit a chill, comforting vibe – a mellow energy which is especially useful for the moments where we seek kind advice and support.