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Description "The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot" is faithful to the vision of Leonardo, drawing upon the original sources of his note books, drawings and ideas. Caitlin Matthews has conceived the deck as a way of exploring his enigmatic mind in relationship to the singular and enigmatic destiny of the soul. The 78 cards create a portable notebook containing the macrocosm (minor cards), the lesser manifest world of every day. By discovering the sacred proportions and divine harmony of the macrocosm, the reader is able to attend to the balance and harmony of everyday life. As Leonardo wrote, 'It is an easy thing to make oneself universal.' The tarot cards are designed so that a beautiful Leonardo knot work pattern emerges as the whole deck is laid face down. This design then creates a puzzle in its own right: those cards that can be re-connected after shuffling reveal the strongest interpretations in a reading. "The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot" takes tarot reading to a more profound dimension than ever before - and presents an enigma within a enigma, to help decode the enigma within oneself. Review The minor arcana have suits that are purely elemental – Air, Fire, Earth and Water – and the courts are renamed Page, Knight, Lady and Lord. Some of the major arcana have been re-titled to better fit the Enigma theme. In order, they are: 0 – Fool The sketches and illustrations used are often, as seems logical, of a highly mechanical nature. Caitlin has used a few novel approaches with this deck, for example the use of 'Dimmi' to ask questions of each card. Dimmi - tell me - is, apparently what Da Vinci would write in the margins of his notebooks when seeking inspiration or understanding of a matter. Each card has been given a Dimmi phrase in order to prompt the user to find greater insights into the message of each card. This method is taught by a number of well known tarot masters, and is something that any readers who are not familiar with the technique may find useful. One very novel feature is that the reverse of each card, when placed together with the entire deck, forms a pattern, known as the Enigma Pattern. When cards are drawn face down, they can be studied to form as much of this pattern as possible, connecting some cards, whilst leaving others disconnected, or within patterns of their won. Using this tool, we are told, enables the reader to see where patterns of behavior and attitude may be disconnected with the overall pattern. The packaging of the deck seems to be of a high quality, and the instruction book is both useful and thorough.The cards are of reasonably sturdy card, and have a texture which does not allow then to be too difficult to handle. I will admit that when I heard this deck was due to be published I was concerned that it was no more than a marketing gimmick. However, having used them for a number of readings they do have an energy around them that may prove useful on occasions Nonetheless, I do think that they would be difficult for a beginner to get to grips with and some of the illustrations I found myself struggling to understand the connection with the traditional meanings of cards. If you are looking for something a little different, are a student of the work of Da Vinci, or are intrigued by the 'Enigma Spread' (which I found the most stimulating aspect of the deck) then this may be a deck worth considering. Paperback 144 pages (UK) 128 pages (US) Buy this book from amazon.co.uk
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