From the moment that I first clapped my eyes on the Auset Gypsy Tarot, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the deck as the imagery reminded me very much of the traditional seaside, circus, or fairground fortune-tellers which the seaside towns ‘here up north’ are adorned with during the summer months.
Created by James Jacob Pierri and illustrated by Rebecca Stotsenburgh and Heather Scott, the Auset Gypsy Tarot was first published in 2021 by Red Feather/ Schiffer Publishing.
James Jacob Pierri
Nicknamed ‘Auset Gypsy’ in his youth, James Jacob Pierri worked at the Mystic of the Seven Veils Psychic Venue in Universal Studios, Florida whilst he studied at the College of Natural Health & Holistic Sciences. James transformed his nickname from a label to a brand delivering services to private clients including celebrities, politicians, authors, athletes, and others. James also had great success with his online services, he has appeared on TV shows including MTV’s ‘House of Prophesy’, Bravo’s ‘Housewives of New Jersey’, and Psychic Friday’s on the WIPIZ (New York) Morning Show.
After years of dedication, practice, and studying metaphysical and occult arts, James has put his skills to use for clients and in travelling presentations. He gives lectures, talks, and presentations upon a variety of magical subjects including candle magic, divination, astrology, Wicca, goddess worship, spell casting, and more.
Presentation & Packaging
The Auset Gypsy Tarot arrives packaged in a pretty purple, magnetic-close, cardboard box that contains a matching guidebook, and the deck which has been split into two and placed into a removable card housing. I’ll be honest, whilst I love the colours and the imagery printed on the packaging, I’m not particularly keen on the fact that the deck has been split into two and at some point, I plan to make a matching drawstring bag in which to store this deck.
The Guidebook
The Auset Gypsy Tarot comes with a ninety-six page, colour-printed guidebook which includes a dedication, full contents, foreward, the story of the Auset Gypsy Tarot, a double-page guide to each of the major arcana cards (featuring the traditional meaning, the adapted Auset Gypsy meaning, and the story behind each card), a short sentence upon each of the minor arcana cards, three spread examples, tarot advice, a double-page section to jot down notes, and a page upon the author.
The Cards
The Auset Gypsy Tarot deck is a standard size Tarot- deck that features gorgeous, gold-gilded edging, with purple, reversible card backs which include mirrored titling bordered by circles featuring the signs of the zodiac. A thick white border frames the image on both the front and the back of each of the cards.
At first, some of the cards were stuck together due to the gilding but this took little effort to rectify and once the cards had been separated, the deck is really simple and rather satisfying to shuffle as the cards seem to glide with ease.
The Major Arcana
Featuring stunning imagery and illustrations from the incredibly talented Rebecca Stotsenburgh and Heather Scott, the major arcana is clearly numbered and titled using the traditional Rider Waite Smith (RWS) system.
The Minor Arcana
The Auset Gypsy Tarot follows the traditional RWS in terms of the suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Coins). However, the court cards have been retitled as Prince/ess (Page), Cavalier (Knight), Queen, and King. The minor arcana uses a pip style (similar to playing cards) and though I am more than able to use this deck as I have a solid understanding and prior knowledge of reading Tarot, I would suggest that this isn’t really a deck for beginners.
Flipping Through The Auset Tarot
Reading With The Auset Tarot
I’ve read and worked with the Auset Gypsy Tarot for almost a fortnight now and though I adore the major arcana cards, I wasn’t all that keen on the minor arcana. I’m not really a ‘pip-deck chick’ and having seen the major arcana, I was really hoping that the incredible imagery would have continued throughout the deck thus was a little disappointed to find otherwise.
It seems as if a great amount of effort and focus was put into creating the major arcana as the imagery is incredible, and the guidebook includes great amounts of detail upon each of the cards. However, in comparison, the minor arcana is lacking somewhat as the cards are much like playing cards, and the guidebook only offers a sentence or so regarding the meaning behind the cards thus is next to useless for beginner readers.
Purchasing & Pricing Information
The Auset Gypsy Tarot has a recommended retail price of £22.99 and is available to purchase online via Schiffer/ Red Feather Publishing for $24.99, or alternatively if you are in the UK you may purchase this via Gazelle Book Services for £22.99. Alternatively, you can grab a copy of the Auset Gypsy Tarot (as of August 2021) via Amazon for only £15.99.
To Summarise
Blending a colourful, cartoon-style major arcana with a simple, pip style minor arcana, the Auset Gypsy Tarot is a contemporary take upon the traditional RWS Tarot suited to more advanced readers. Though I’m rather fond of the major arcana, I feel the minor arcana lets the entire deck down as both the cards and the guidebook lack intuitive and written information upon the minor arcana, that and the court cards are somewhat confusing due to the alternative titling.
Though I appreciate and admire the imagery within the Auset Gypsy Tarot, I’m just not a ‘pip-chick’.
For further information upon the Auset Gypsy Tarot or alternative Schiffer Publishing / Red Feather publications visit www.schifferbooks.com
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Product Rating
Disclosure: I was sent the above product for the purpose of this post however all opinions are my own.