Review: The Housewives Tarot
To get the ball rolling here at Shuffling Karma, let’s start off with a tarot deck review!
Ever since my visit to Kinokuniya’s tarot corner a year ago, I had already seen the Housewives Tarot. I hate to admit that I had, without pause, I had automatically delegated the kitschy-cool deck under “cute art but unreadable”. I picked up another deck and went about my business.
It wasn’t until last week that I happened across a few online descriptions and comments that my interest was highly piqued. I came across a few card images, and was stunned by how the cards interpreted the tarot images in ways that were delightful and stunningly accurate!
AESTHETICS
The deck is housed in one of the most innovative and well-made packages I’ve seen. While most precious decks are housed in fragile paper boxes, the “recipe box” that contains the cards is sturdy and well designed. We even have a small stamp on the side that states the deck has been “guaranteed by the housewife occultists of america”. Opening the box reveals more detailed touches along the side of the inner box, like testimonials from other housewives! It’s details like these that tell you how much thought was put into the deck – all the way from conception to actualization.
Within the box, the cards are wrapped in a velvet like form that fits snugly around the cards. The cards are separated by dividers that clearly state “minor arcana” and “major arcana”. When you flip over the dividers, recipies are revealed! We have the likes of Divinated Eggs and Ice Box Fortune Cake. The design on the back of the cards is a checkered red and white table cloth pattern that makes you think of picnic at the park and Sunday lunches.
The cards themselves are well designed, featuring that iconic americana look of the 50s, with a collage like feel to it. Design-wise, the cards were made to look older than they actually are, which gives you a deeper sense of mystical history to the whole thing.
The cards are amazingly textured (something the computer scans can’t quite capture), but are unfortunately not laminated. A few shuffles, and my deck is already showing a bit of wear and tear on the edges…fortunately, I like my cards with a “loved” feel to them. And by not being laminated, the cards come out of the box with a nice paper-smell to them, unlike most decks. The card stock is firm and thick.
VISUAL INTERPRETATION
You can tell the same amount of work and love for detail was applied equally among the major and minor arcana. The cards themselves are quite close to the original meaning, but use completely new forms of symbolisms to reach the same traidtions. For instance, The Four of Swords shows a woman in blue sitting in a relaxed yoga-like position, her hair up in a yellow towel, her eyes covered by revitalizing cucumbers, and a blue facial mask smoothening her features. She even has a bit of a glow about her head, wherein you have the full sense that this is someone in a state of rest: a bit of recuperation. The description from the accompanying instruction book is as follows:
RETREAT * REVITALIZE * REINVENTION
Times have been rough. Your outlook is wrinkled and your spirit is sagging. The Four of Swords is a sign that it is time to retreat and reinvent yourself before you are fit to be seen in public again. Try exfoliating your frown, moisturizing your morale, and rejuvenating with some relaxation. Give your attitude an over-all face-lift. With the proper pampering, you’ll emerge revitalized – friends will be dazzled by the “new you”.
While the cards are mostly “traditional” in their meaning (while adding a practical ZING to interpretation!), there are a few cards that go against the grain. The Two of Wands for instance, while typically the card of personal power and action-oriented themes, has a different meaning in this deck. We see instead a tired housewive with two “wands” (mops!) crossed in front of her tired frame. The interpretation from the book sees this card as a signal that a difficult decision needs to be made.
I do feel that certain liberties were taken with some major arcana cards, namely The Star and The Tower. Instead of a symbol of hope during the long night, the star features a woman who has won her first bake-off. The Tower illustrates a woman gracefully crowning a tower of gelatin. It’s in situations like this that I wouldn’t know how to read the card: traditionally, or no? The interpretations are just so far removed from their original! I usually end up winging it and go where intuition takes me: but this might be difficult for novice tarot readers.
INSTRUCTION BOOK
This baby definitely does not fall under the “little white booklet” category. The book begins with an introduction, the mystic nature behind the deck. The deck was apparently the secret behind the success of housewife extraordinaire Marlene Louise Weatherbee in the early 1950s. It’s well written and had me laughing out loud quite a few times!
The book also describes how the tarot will help you in ways that are mystical and practical, but warns the reader against hoping for direct answers from the cards.
Though the cards are quite powerful and seem to possess an uncanny knowledge, they can only empower you to find your own answers, and inspire you to make your own fortune.
The book then proceeds to describe the basics behind a reading, and offers some very cute and interesting spreads. Such as “The Dinnette”, which answers a seeker’s question in a celtic cross like fashion, but lays out the cards like dinnerware! There are a total of five spreads offered in the book.
The book then gives a brief introduction to the major arcana, and takes a page to describe each one. A similar treatment is done for the minor arcana.
The writing in the book, from introduction to spread description to card meaning, is all very well-done, funny, and insightful.
THE TEST DRIVE
I bought this deck while visiting a friend in Kuala Lumpur, so we decided to try out the deck that very night. Stephanie is a novice tarot reader, who claimed to have difficulty with her readings, as they always came out negative or inaccurate. After going over her twice with her own deck, we decided to bring out the housewives.
We had a great time reading from the deck, and Stephanie found the cards to be fun and erringly accurate. With the aid of the instruction book, she was able to weave her interpretation much like a pro. I underestimated the cards and asked a simple question, only to get a very thorough and mind-blowing answer. It felt like my grandmother was sitting down and having a stern talk with me, holding back no punches, but offering unconditional love and practical advice.
The moment I held the cards in my hand I felt an instant connection, and interpreting the cards for Stephanie’s questions were highly intuitive. I could see that this would soon become a staple of my small collection.
THE VERDICT
It’s very hard to be objective about this deck, as it has delighted me on a visual, intellectual, and spiritual level. The deck set is well priced, and are beautifully executed. Fans of the 50’s Americana look had definitely pick this up, as well as tarot deck collectors.
It’s also a fantastic tool for tarot and self-exploration, and I can imagine that this deck would be best at gatherings, parties, or readings done at coffee shops with friends. People who have not yet encountered the tarot will certainly not fear the images of the Death, Devil, or Tower cards. I find the cards have the ability to be truthful but candid.
I could also recommend this deck to beginners, who are (like me) not fans of the basic Rider-Waite imagery., and are not afraid to pick up the deck that isn’t completely traditional. But for those leaning towards more spiritual and mystic deck, then perhaps this isn’t the best one to pick up.
Final Score: B+
You can read up on other reviews here:
And view the ENTIRE deck at Arcana XV.
You can also of course check out the official website for The Housewives Tarot
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