The Archeon Tarot Deck Review
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The Archeon Tarot Deck
The Archeon Tarot by Timothy Lantz is a 78-card deck and mini guidebook.
From the cover:
“Artist Timothy Lantz has skillfully woven together intriguing elements from mythology, mysticism and dream imagery to create this hauntingly beautiful tarot deck."
The contemporary artwork blends photography with digital collage, using mysticism and symbolism as a reimagining of traditional tarot imagery, while staying true to the underlying meaning. If you're new to the theme of symbolism, this description from artcyclopedia captures it perfectly:
"Symbolism is a 19th-century movement in which art became infused with a spooky mysticism. It was a continuation of the Roman Catholic tradition, which included such artists as Caspar David Friedrich and John Henry Fuseli.
Anticipating Freud and Jung, the Symbolists mined mythology and dream imagery for a visual language of the soul. The leading Symbolists included Gustave Moreau, Odilon Redon and Pierre Puvis de Chavannes.
More a philosophy than an actual style of art, they influenced the contemporary Art Noveau movement and Les Nabis."
Review of The Archeon Tarot
As the second deck I ever purchased - which seems like a hundred years ago since I was a teenager - The Archeon Tarot carries a lot of nostalgia. The dreamlike, moody and slightly melancholic aesthetic appealed to me during a time when I was discovering my inner goth. Each card carries deep layers of meaning that have a way of pulling you in, and if you find yourself drawn to this deck, I guarantee there'll be a message for you.
Before delving in, here's a brief outline of what to expect from The Archeon Tarot.
Suitable for experienced readers or those with knowledge of the tarot.
Has nearly all the same meanings as the original Rider Waite.
Made for intuitive reading.
Upright and reversed meanings.
Includes mini guidebook.
Packaging
The Archeon Tarot is supplied in a simple box with a pocket-sized guidebook tucked inside. The High Priestess is a perfect choice for the cover, shown holding a large glowing orb of universal secrets. The blue hues of her flesh make her appear alien and otherworldly - beautifully mysterious. There's no fancy presentation here, but it makes a great portable option.
Guidebook
Unfortunately, I misplaced the little white booklet years ago because I never needed it beyond the first read-through. It opens with an introduction from the artist, Timothy Lantz; his inspirations for creating the deck and how he came up with the name "Archeon Tarot". I found this very interesting, and it was rather heart-warming to learn that he used his wife for the Queen of Cups.
The Archeon Tarot follows the traditional 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcanas. More emphasis is placed on the Major Arcana, with a few paragraphs about the card, along with keywords for the upright and reversed meanings. The remaining Minor Arcana are described with a brief quote and keywords only.
It may help to have previous experience with tarot before doing a reading; although the deck is designed for exploration of the imagination, with layered imagery and hidden symbols. The good news is that descriptions are in line with Rider Waite, so there's no need to learn an entirely new tarot system. However, some might find it confusing on first impression.
Deck
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The first thing you'll notice about The Archeon Tarot is the gloomy tones - which definitely won't be for everyone. Personally, as someone who's drawn to darker aesthetics, the imagery is hauntingly beautiful to me, like an ancient castle filled with mysteries and secrets waiting to be discovered. I've always been a visual person, and the unusual artwork really digs into the imagination, forcing you to connect with your deepest, darkest emotions.
As Stephanie Meyer wrote: "Without the dark, you'd never see the stars." A quote that sums up this deck perfectly, if only you dare to begin the journey.
The imagery on some cards is mottled and indistinct, with stark contrasts between light and dark. It was Lantz's intention to create layers of meaning, as we can see from the obscure images superimposed over one another. This does give them a "thrown together" sort of feel, but it's designed to activate the intuition by forcing one to look beneath the surface.
There are two predominant colour schemes: warm hues of oranges and reds, and cool blues and greys. There's a fair amount of nudity, more so of the female variety, although I consider it to be tastefully done. I've taken the liberty of blurring out some parts for the easily offended!
I really found it difficult to pick out my favourite cards for reviewing, because every single one has something unique and special about it.
The High Priestess, as featured on the cover, is one of the most spiritual cards of any tarot deck - just what can she see within the orb? Meditate on this card and perhaps you'll trigger a vision, a flash of inspiration or connect with the crown chakra - the doorway to your higher self.
The Fool is one of the more "colourful" cards, as reflected in the carefree and spontaneous energy of the jester-like character. Just behind and above The Fool are two masks, which appear symbolically throughout the deck: The Hierophant, Ace of Cups and Six of Cups, amongst others. Some other common signs include moons and crows.
I can't talk about The Archeon Tarot without mentioning The Magician, portrayed as a young man devoid of the usual tools that we see scattered around his workbench. This is the card that initially drew me to the deck - tarot crush aside - everything about him oozes the confidence that he's known for. The globe behind him suggests that he has the whole world in his hands.
Death is represented by a Grim Reaper, while The Hanged Man is a wasted, skeletal form - rather more sinister what we're used to. As a horror film buff, I find myself more curious than unnerved.
There are some references to mythology in the cards, with winged Pegasus horses and other imagery. I love how culturally and historically diverse the deck is: The Chariot and Ace of Wands both have Ancient Egyptian themes. Native American and Asian elements also feature in this deck.
You'll see a lot of mythology and Ancient Egypt in my own creations at Little Moon Tree - sometimes I wonder if this deck actually chose me!
The Archeon Tarot court cards are simply done, with the standard titles of kings, queens and knights. The only change is to the pages, which have been replaced with winged female "heralds". You'll also notice that the Knight of Swords is female and lacks the swift, high-intensity energy of traditional decks. Here, our knight has a more subtle presence; yet she looks the reader square in the eyes with an unshakable resolve.
To me, the sophisticated-with-a-touch-of-glam Queen of Pentacles is everything she should be; while the Queen of Swords possesses a quiet authority. The King of Cups appears to be deep in tranquil thought, surrounded by skulls as opposed to the turbulent waves as seen in Rider Waite.
The heralds, though different in name, are familiar in presence. We can see the sweet innocence of the Herald of Cups, chalice in hand; and feel the new spark of passion in the Herald of Wands, with the torch to light her way.
The suit of cups contains several cards that are quite different to what we'd expect, which is where it might get confusing for newbies. Ace of Cups has a deep orange-brown background, yet this causes the silver chalice to pop from the card, emphasising its beauty - and perhaps the glow of new love.
This darker theme continues through the Three and Ten of Cups, despite their celebratory meanings. Gone are the rainbows, happy families and dancing figures. Instead we see two lone women, one holding a crow and the other reaching towards a stack of cups with a crow flying in the distance.
Interestingly, the moon is present in both of these cards. What's the significance?
If you're worried about interpreting The Archeon Tarot, rest assured that many of the cards will seem familiar to traditional decks. The Ace of Swords delivers a powerful "light bulb" moment with a sword piercing an illuminated skull, and the character we see bound in ropes in the Eight of Swords conjures feelings of entrapment.
Slightly different versions include the Pegasus in Three of Wands, representing expansion and opportunity. The Six of Swords features another female who appears to be commanding an army of soldiers - not a warrior, but victorious nonetheless.
A lot of characters in The Archeon Tarot appear sombre, their nudity demonstrating the vulnerability of human nature, but this helped me to connect with them almost as if they were real people. Like they were speaking to me, sharing their thoughts and feelings so that, in turn, I was able to tap into mine. There's raw emotion in their facial expressions and body postures that's almost lost in more simplistic imagery.
Finally, the back of the cards are symmetrical so you can't tell if they're upright or reversed when pulling for a reading. This adds another layer of depth and mystery to The Archeon Tarot.
Summary
The Archeon Tarot might be one of my earliest decks but it remains a firm favourite, aesthetically speaking. That being said, I only use it for other people upon request. If it catches someone's eye, I know it contains a message for them that perhaps other decks wouldn't be able to deliver.
For readers, I think the usefulness of this deck largely depends on the personality of the individual and whether they can look beyond the moody undertones and nudity. It might not be the best deck to learn with, but once you're familiar with the divinatory meanings of the cards, it could take your subconscious to levels that you never knew existed.
The quality card stock has a glossy finish that shuffles nicely, albeit a little "slippery" at first. Cards are a good size at 11.5cm x 6.5cm. I must have had them over a decade and there's barely any wear and tear, even around the corners and edges which are usually the first to go.
The Archeon Tarot is highly rated, with users praising the artwork, attention to detail and realism of the characters. Customers say it's wonderful for intuitive reading and stimulating the imagination, but more for advanced or intermediate readers than beginners. Surprisingly, the darkness and nudity is rarely a problem, even for the prude! This highlights the powerful artwork created by Timothy Lantz.
Some find the cards a little large for shuffling, but speaking as someone with tiny hands, you do get used to it after a while. Overall, I highly recommend this deck for lovers of the dark, the obscure and the gothic.
Check it out on Amazon here: The Archeon Tarot
Have you got this deck or any other darker-themed tarot cards? Leave a comment with any tarot, oracle or angel card decks that you'd like to see reviewed next.
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