Tarot of the Spirit

Tarot of the Spirit
Images by Joyce Eakins, text by Pamela Eakins, 1992

The Tarot of the Spirit is the collaboration between Pamela Eakins, who wrote the accompanying book, and her mother Joyce Eakins, who painted the images. The deck was published in 1992 by U.S.Games Systems.

Pamela’s book is excellent and stands by itself as a great tarot reference. She discusses using the cards in three different ways: as a divine oracle, as a comprehensive outline of spiritual study, and as a “psycho-spiritual” tool for meditation. Her book discusses the traditions which influenced the deck, which helps to bring sense to the rather abstract paintings. On the other hand, the paintings could be approached on their own as Yantras or Mandalas.

I see this as a ‘sister’ deck to Crowley’s Thoth Tarot. Both use geometry and pattern to create a mandala-like impression. Both integrate a variety of traditions into their symbolism, although these images don’t give you the feeling that you will have to study years before unraveling their philosophy. Yet the teachings of the Order of the Golden Dawn and its offshoots were a major influence behind this deck. Another reason for comparisons with Crowley’s deck is the titles of the forty suit cards. Whereas some of Crowley’s titles reflect only the negative aspects of a given card, Pamela’s titles reflect a more objective interpretation. This deck might therefore appeal both to those who enjoy Golden Dawn-related decks as well as to those who find Crowley’s titles too dark. More important than titles, though, are the detailed interpretations her book gives to every card.

The paintings themselves are full of movement and texture. There are a few figures on the trumps that I wish had either been painted more abstractly or painted with more anatomical accuracy. On the other hand, many of the court card figures have the look of spiritual visions. Some of her figures are rendered more realistically, such as The Universe, others are quite abstract, such as the Sister and Brother of Fire. All of the colors are rich, even on the darkest paintings. The artist has also woven white paint into every image, bringing life and optimism to the deck. Even the darkest paintings have swoops or sparks of white.

This deck has integrated many sources yet stands well on it's own. To those interested in acquiring these cards, I recommend getting the book/deck set.

Review by Mark Filipas, 12/8/99