Dreams of Gaia Tarot Deck
There is an opinion that the physical world is just a fiction. It is perceived as unshakable, but in fact it is a hologram, colored by human emotions. Reality is made up of energy, vibrations. And all these subtle matters are created from emptiness. The Dreams of Gaia Tarot reflects the world from a spiritual perspective. At the same time, the material here is connected with something higher. Man himself becomes a creator. And what is inside of him turns out to be an external manifestation. The deck teaches you to live fully, develop talents and work on fears and insecurities. Only this way can lead to harmony. Gaia patronizes the creators of their own destiny. And if the world is really unreal, then it is better to be happy in it than to suffer in an attempt to fight your own shadow.
History of creation of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot Deck
The Dreams of Gaia Tarot is a wonderful project by Australian artist Ravynne Phelan. Her past work as the Oracle of the Messengers managed to win the sympathy of many people. In all decks, the author shows the wonderful world of elves, spirits and other magical creatures. Ravynne Phelan creates their own Universes with certain laws. So, the Tarot deck of Gaia’s Dreams has become the very magic that connects with familiar reality. The cards were first published in 2016. At the same time, the large size of the Arcana emphasized the oracle of the deck. Each card carries a lot of meanings, shades and halftones. All together it adds up to a certain symphony, music in which the answer must be heard.
Ravynne Phelan herself offers an unusual approach to card interpretation. The main idea of creating the deck was the idea to combine the material with the spiritual. No wonder the name of the Tarot appears Gaia – the ancient Greek goddess of the earth and fertility. She personifies the physical world, the planet itself. And the sublime images symbolize the inner Universe. Man stands on the edge of these worlds. His task is to achieve harmony, transform dreams into reality. Ravynne offers a helping hand along the way.
Key features of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot
The Dreams of Gaia Tarot is an original deck. It cannot be attributed to any particular school. There are 81 Arcana in the system. There is no analogy with Waite in the major group, but it is divided into subgroups. The first 9 Arcana are called Stages of life. Here you can see the development of a person from the Child to the Sage. The eighth card is Death/Rebirth. Instead of the Fool, Choice is included in the deck. This is the beginning of the journey, the first step into the unknown. Next comes the subgroup Meaning of Being or Purpose of Life. Knowledge, Wisdom, Healing and other cards represent certain truths that a person must comprehend on the path of becoming a personality. Indeed, in addition to physical age, there are also spiritual levels. Number 16 is the Destiny. This is the crown of the search for the true self. And the third subgroup is Influence. These are external factors that affect the personality, but also become a reflection of internal fullness. Faith is the final card. This is the force on which the world rests.
The Major Arcana in the Dreams of Gaia Tarot differ from the classics not only in the system itself. The author attached great importance to the visualization of cards. She included many symbols, sealing the secret meaning in them. At the same time, some Arcana still resemble traditional ones. For example, the Mother shows a pregnant woman seated on a throne. In general, the image refers to the Empress, a loving and caring archetype. On the 10th Arcana of Wisdom, the character is a man in a robe, making his way through the forest thicket. In his left hand, he holds a lantern. This concept is very reminiscent of the Hermit. On the 17th Journey card, two paths are shown. The hero is dressed in a multicolored cloak, holding a wooden staff. In part, this Arcana refers to the Chariot. The Integrity depicts a girl surrounded by a cheetah, an owl and a snake. The card combines the meanings of Temperance and the World. This is the Arcana of the connection of polar energies, harmony and balance.
The suits of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot correspond to the elements. Each group has its own patron. This is very clearly seen on the Aces. For example, a green dragon is shown on the Ace of Earth. In his paws he holds a sprout, symbolizing a new beginning. The character himself has horns, which indicates perseverance and power. On the Ace of Air, the dragon is white. His forehead is decorated with a blade – a symbol of the elements. The court cards are also interesting. Instead of the standard Pages in the Dreams of Gaia Tarot, the author created some suit keepers. They symbolize the balance of two opposites. For example, the Heaven/Earth card is an analogue of the Page of Pentacles, Emotion/Intellect is an alternative to the Page of Cups. Knights are replaced by certain roles: Hero, Scribe, Seneschal and Counselor. Next come the Queens and Kings. Ravynne writes in detail about all the characters in his book. If we transfer these heroes to real life, then they will denote various archetypes, stages of personality formation.
The Minor Arcana of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot, from Ace to Tens, have similar features to Waite. A traveler is depicted on the Three of Fire. Before the hero opens a view of the mountains, he expands his horizon of knowledge. The card is close in meaning to the Three of Wands – perspective, development, enthusiasm. The Five of Water shows a sad mermaid sitting on the sea floor. The rays of the sun break through the blue waves, but the girl does not even look up. The Arcana, like the Five of Cups, denotes longing, loss and melancholy. But on the Ten of Air, a more rosy picture is shown than in Waite’s deck – the angel is heading towards the magic gate. Behind them is a black abyss. It may be that all the bad things are behind, and the heroine goes to eternal rest. In terms of everyday life, the card denotes the release of energy potential, the point followed by a new beginning.
Style and symbolism of the deck
The Dreams of Gaia Tarot deck is made in a fantasy style. There are many references to Celtic culture and mythology here. The very concept of a girl-woman-old woman is reminiscent of the cyclical nature of life. Secret symbols are inscribed in the clothes of the heroes, the background, in unremarkable areas on the map. On closer examination, one can notice triquetras, pentagrams, signs of the planets. Many cards of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot deck contain totems – sacred animals, birds or insects. They are designed to reflect the character of the hero or the ongoing event, to give color to the phenomenon. For example, butterflies will denote lightness and sharpness of mind; bear – brute force and power; owl – wisdom. Horns and wings, combined in one image, hint at a balance between the earthly and the spiritual.
In terms of visualization, the Dreams of Gaia Tarot deck is quite simple. The author limited himself to a black frame and a plate in which the name of the card is inscribed. Ravynne made the main emphasis on bright characters, rich colors. The color of the Earth is green; for Air – white or black; for Water – blue, purple; for Fire, yellow and red. At the same time, the faces of people in the Dreams of Gaia Tarot deck are well-developed, the facial expressions are “speaking” and understandable. Often, signs of chakras – energy centers – will appear on the image of a person. They also differ in color and represent different spheres of manifestation. The characters have characteristic items – keys, mirrors, staves. All this can be considered hints for obtaining a correct prediction. The shirt shows the night sky with shining stars, enclosed in a thin golden border.
Interpretation of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot cards
The interpretation of Dreams of Gaia Tarot can be done intuitively. The color scheme of the cards, the characters that appear, their facial expressions and gestures should be taken into account. All these details give a clear description of a particular person or event. Age and gender are also important here. For example, the heroine from the Maiden Arcana will symbolize a young girl or the beginning of some business. A character from the Four of Earth will show a strong-willed man, but at the same time, a certain stability in life. The royal couple in the Dreams of Gaia Tarot will almost always refer to specific people. However, the symbolism of the deck speaks more about character traits than about age or appearance. A young guy could very well be the King of Air, and an older woman the Queen of Water.
The spreads of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot are rightly interpreted by the fortuneteller, both according to their own developments and according to the author’s book. In the accompanying literature, Ravynne Phelan describes the mystical universe with its peculiar laws. At the forefront, the artist puts the man himself with his attempts to create his own reality. The individual struggles with inner fears, explores his talents and brings to the surface what is hidden. This is the only way to achieve harmony and balance. In terms of interpreting the Minor Arcana of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot, it is possible to focus on the Waite system. However, the major group still emphasizes the otherness of the cards, their magical world.
What questions is the deck suitable for?
Fortune-telling on the Dreams of Gaia Tarot primarily illuminates the spiritual life of a person. The deck well shows hidden talents, undeveloped moments, various psychological traumas. It focuses on the energy potential of a person, his chakra system. That is why the Tarot deck is suitable for viewing magical abilities or identifying negativity. The Arcana by themselves are pretty neutral. They teach the questioner to take everything for granted, to work with what is. In this regard, the Dreams of Gaia Tarot deck has a therapeutic effect. It helps to cope with fears, insecurity, laziness and apathy. After all, each person is unique. The deck allows you to look at yourself from a different, more unusual side.
Also, the Dreams of Gaia Tarot helps to find exactly your goal in order to realize the existing potential in an environmentally friendly way. Understanding one’s own tasks facilitates the path, protects one from exhausting searches and comparisons of oneself with others. At the same time, the deck is able to show the character of a suitable partner both in love and in various work projects. As a result of the Dreams of Gaia Tarot, it indicates the path to complete self-realization, the fulfillment of a secret dream. Scale does not play a role here. After all, even the smallest detail in the context of one person is very important. The person is shown here from the point of view of the microcosm – a reflection of the vast universe.
Who are the Dreams of Gaia Tarot cards for?
Fans of the fantasy style will love the Dreams of Gaia Tarot deck. Also, the cards will be appreciated by people practicing yoga and those who want to understand the chakras, the human energy field. The Arcana focuses on spirituality and the search for oneself. At the same time, in order to understand the language of the deck, you need to have a developed imagination. That is why the system will be appreciated by creative people who are not afraid of change. In everything new, they see a challenge, internal development in the future. Definitely, the deck is not suitable for neophytes and followers of Arthur Waite. Still, the cards are quite oracle, wayward. Attempts to one hundred percent draw values to the classics will be a failure. In order to avoid mistakes, the questioner is advised to study the approach of the author himself.
At the same time, the Dreams of Gaia Tarot deck is also suitable for those who practice magic. The Arcana are full of various symbols, which facilitates interpretation in the context of various influences. The system will issue a patron spirit and a totem animal. The practitioner will be able to determine for himself the dominant character traits, strengths and weaknesses. This information will contribute to the search for the true path in magic. Gradual development guarantees good luck in many aspects. You can consider the Dreams of Gaia Tarot deck as a roadmap to your own success. It is important to correctly read the signs on this path, to trust yourself and the Universe. The deck will become a guide to the world of spirits and elements. Each Arcana is one of 81 ways to reveal talent and yourself as a creator.