The book is beautifully written by Farber, whose expertise as a proven psychic is employed in helping readers to get the most out of the tarot. He covers the various methods in utilizing this unique system for gaining insight and wisdom on how to overcome adversity and solving everyday problems in today's chaotic society through the meanings of the 78 tarot cards, which each convey a message to our conscious and unconscious selves. 

 

        The manner in which the interpretations of the cards are presented is quite different from what tarot readers are most used to. Instead of the typical upright/reversed meanings practiced by most tarot schools, Farber breaks down the interpretations into three(3) separate levels: The Dream, The Awakening, and The Enchantment. The Dream gives the symbolic meaning via a story-like narrative, The Awakening a straightforward elaboration, and The Enchantment an actual exercise to infuse positive energy into the card representing your life. Of note is the omission of the "reversed" card meaning to allay any fears and negative thoughts often associated with it, which I personally thought was a sincere and nice touch by Farber; a tarot deck which can do you no harm.

 

        Equally impressive is Amy Zerner's colorful and richly detailed artwork, expertly lending credence to Farber's prophetic vision. The cards, although a bit oversized, are sumptuous with an Edwardian flavor that evokes a more simpler, romantic period than today's frenzied pace. The cards are also cleverly color-coded based on suit and healing power: Hearts Purple, Pentacles Green, Wands Red, and Swords Blue. What really sets The Enchanted Tarot's artwork apart from most other tarot sets is that Zerner's illustrations are not merely paintings rendered on a computer. Each image is actually a 2' X 1' fabric collage tapestry painstakingly laid out, and then sewn together in her unique, exquisite style. These gorgeous, award-winning works of art are recognized as paintings by the National Endowment for the Arts. The colorful illustrations are also well represented in the glossy high-quality book, which you don't often find in most tarot/book sets these days.  

 

        The conclusion of the book includes a short section on preparing for and doing actual readings, using the three most popular layouts in tarot: The One-Card, Three-Card, and the beloved Celtic Cross spreads. All-in-all, Farber's "The Enchanted Tarot" is a benign and gentle tarot. Zerner's stunning illustrations bring Farber's words to life and vice versa, as they complement each other. "The Enchanted Tarot" may not fall in line with those who might prefer a more traditional approach to the tarot, but with one of the highest accuracy rates in the world amongst living tarot readers, Farber's system should not be taken lightly. Instead, it should be looked upon as a consummate tool for those who are looking for self-help through alternative means. "The Enchanted Tarot" is just too damn good that I'm doing to do something which I've never done before using a 5-star rating system.  I'm giving this one 6 stars with the highest recommendations. WELL DONE, MONTE AND AMY!

 

My Ratings Scale are as follows: