Silver Era Tarot: A Review
(c) Cheryl Lynne Bradley 2010
Artist: Aunia Kahn
Author: Russell J. Moon

Published by Schiffer Books
ISBN 978-0-7643-3438-2 $24.99US

Silver Era Tarot: The Tower

The Silver Era Tarot is a new deck and book set featuring the artwork of Aunia Kahn and the writing of Russell J. Moon. It is a standard 78 card deck which follows the traditional styling of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck and comes in a lovely little box. The cards are black and white photographic images, predominantantly female, with a classic and elegant sensibility. Each card has one splash of subtle colour on it. The deck is accompanied by a 96 page Little White Book which contains divinatory meanings , both upright and reversed, two classic card spreads and biographical information on the artist and the author. I find nothing to disagree with in the content or interpretations of the cards and it would be a handy resource particularly for a beginning reader. Russell J. Moon has done a good job with the companion book considering the limitations of the LWB format.

This is a dark and dreamy deck, reminiscent of the Silent Screen Era if it was set in the times of Henry the VIII. The photographs are high contrast black and white – blacks are deep black, greys are dark as well but there are subtleties in the backgrounds, gentle movement almost cloudlike in some and blurry in others that is appealing. It is moody, gothic and deeply reflective. Some of the images are somber and intense in their aspect. They are deep and brooding, secretive but not cold, empty or distancing. Even the joyful cards have a certain subdued quality about them. They seem guarded, as if to remind us that happiness can be transitory and is not to be trusted completely. It has the same type of darkness in the imagery as The New York Tarot; another black and white deck in which models were used to depict the images.



4 of Cups and The Fool from the Silver Era Tarot

The 4 of Cups is an interesting image. A woman , showing complete disdain for the cup being offered her; her arms are folded across her stomach, closed to everything around her. One cup slips off to the side and two full ones sit on the ground in front of her. Her hair is dark with severe bangs, her eyes are dark and dramatic, her mouth dark and closed. You would think she was being offered a cup full of piss such is the level of her disgust . The Fool looks like she ready to dance the dance of life, ready to twirl and swirl her way forward – the same dark hair and dark eyes. Her hands are holding the edges of her frilly layered dress and she has just the slightest hint of a smile. Ms. Kahn has stayed true to the traditional symbolism of the Rider Waite Smith Deck and is to be commended for her efforts.

This deck would appeal to anyone who loves a photographic deck, likes traditional Tarot symbolism and who has a dark dreamer side to their nature. Personally, I have always thought one should be able to move from one deck to another deck and be able to do a reading. This is certainly a functional deck and the companion book is a worthwhile resource. Ms. Kahn and Mr. Moon aren’t trying to teach us anything new about Tarot, which is refreshing, they are showing us that the future of Tarot will always be built on its past . They have proven again that Tarot is the most fluid and flexible of divination systems and that Tarot offers an endless wealth of creative interpretations. Beginners, advanced readers and collectors would all find appeal in this deck.

As a photographer who loves black and white work, each card is a portrait lovingly depicted and rendered with devotion and respect to Tarot. Well done.

To view images of this deck please visit their website at http://silvereratarot.com