Dear citizens, We hope this message finds you well. It is with mixed emotions that we write to you today to announce a temporary ban on the practice of magic within our community. Over the past few years, we have witnessed an alarming increase in the misuse and abuse of magical powers, resulting in serious consequences for both individuals and the wider community. While magic has long been a part of our cultural heritage and has brought wonder and joy to many, it has also been a source of great harm. We have received numerous reports of magical accidents and incidents that have caused injury, destruction of property, and even loss of life. Additionally, the use of dark and forbidden magic has led to the rise of dangerous cults and criminal organizations, threatening the safety and security of our citizens.
The Green Witch Tarot, a 78-card deck that is based on nature-based Paganism, is a beautiful deck. The deck contains thoughtful, warm-hearted, as well as indeterminate cards. They have been reinterpreted to be eco-friendly witchcraft-friendly, but are still easily legible. The cards include a 240-page buddy guide.
Although the Major Arcana titles have been changed to reflect Green Witchcraft s ideas and the original definitions of the cards, they have not been altered. Although the Major Arcana titles have been changed to reflect Green Witchcraft s ideas and the original definitions of the cards, they have not been altered.
Additionally, the use of dark and forbidden magic has led to the rise of dangerous cults and criminal organizations, threatening the safety and security of our citizens. After careful consideration and consultation with experts in the field, we have determined that a temporary ban on magic is necessary in order to protect our community and preserve the well-being of its inhabitants. This decision has not been taken lightly, as we understand that magic holds deep meaning for many of you.
The Green Witch Tarot
Ann Moura is a long-time specialist on green witchery who has been writing books on the topic since 1996. She’s teamed up with artist Kiri Østergaard Leonard to create a tarot deck that targets people in this branch of the Craft. Green witchcraft promotes a strong relationship with nature, earth magic, elementals, and the immanent Goddess and God. The deck follows this theme with an emphasis on seasons, the eight sabbats, faerie lore, herbs, plants, animals, and the bounty of nature. Characters in the deck are displayed in the normal activities of daily life.
Moura elected to change the names of several Major Arcana cards to augment the deck’s theme: 0 – Greenman, 1 – Witch, 3 – The Earth Mother, 4 – The Horned God, 6 – The Lady and the Lord, 7 – The Battle Wagon, 8 – The Crone, 9 – The Holly King, 10 – The Wheel of the Year, 11 – The Standing Stone, 12 – The Oak King, 13 – The Lord of the Shadows, 14 – The Sidhe, 15 – Nature, 16 – The Wild Hunt, 20 – Harvest, and 21 – The World Tree. The trump card archetypes are similarly adjusted to reflect the deities and practices of green witches.
Card characters are accompanied by animals and plants that correlate with the card’s meanings. The suits are named for typical altar tools: pentacles, athames, wands, and chalices. The suits correspond to an element, cardinal direction, and a season. Knights can be male or female. Queens and Kings are older and more mature characters that represent an accumulation of power and authority in their suit element.
The accompanying book The Green Witch Tarot Companion begins with an overview. The cards are described in some depth with meanings, reversals, and a few keywords. The third chapter offers six tarot spreads to experiment with. The book is logically organized and will be easy for beginners to work with.
The cards have no borders, something that will please many readers! The imagery features detailed panoramic landscapes with great depth and some interior scenes to provide contrast. The color palette is warm and energetic with bright hues. Seasonal depictions help with timing. Most of the human figures are well rendered and successfully convey the card’s meaning.
Card images sometimes stray to a greater or lesser extent from the RWS canon. In the 5 of Wands, five people are standing around a fire conducting a ritual. Ants crawl along a branch in the foreground. The 7 of Chalices is an interior scene with a woman sitting at a table day-dreaming about the seven chalices before her. Faeries are fluttering around her head and there’s a butterfly near the chalices. A frond of Solomon Seal is visible in the corner. The Knight of Wands is a woman riding a horse along a dirt path that runs past fields ripe with wheat. Golden Seal grows at the edge of the field and a night hawk is soaring overhead. The Ace of Athames features a knife instead of a long sword. Beneath the knife are bright yellow dandelions. A mouse is climbing through the flowers.
The Major Arcana cards are more mythic and folkloric. Trump 4 – The Horned God features a handsome deity with deer horns surrounded by animals in a forest glade. It’s clear that nature is his primary venue as well as the source of his power. Trump 18 – The Moon is simply gorgeous. It features a night scene with a woman approaching a tree-encircled pond. A fish leaps as a gentle full moon glows overhead.
The only trump card I felt really didn’t work was Trump 20 – Harvest. It features a scene with a man standing behind a table covered with fresh produce. A woman standing near a cottage is in the background. There’s nothing wrong with the quality of the image, but it doesn’t capture the profoundly spiritual and karmic nature of the Judgment card. There are many possible mythic events and deity transformations that could have been chosen to give the card more oomph.
Nevertheless, this is a fine deck for any green witch or pagan. The deck and book do a great job of conveying the themes of the Craft. The cards can be integrated into rituals; the deities in the trump cards correlate with sabbats. The imagery of the more difficult cards is thoughtful and somewhat less threatening than decks in the RWS family. The Green Witch Tarot would be a lovely, thoughtful Yule gift to give this year.
~review by Elizabeth Hazel
Creator: Ann Moura, art by Kiri Østergaard Leonard
Llewellyn, 2015
boxed kit with 240-page book, deck, and non-custom unlabeled white box, $28.99
Creator: Ann Moura, art by Kiri Østergaard Leonard
Llewellyn, 2015
boxed kit with 240-page book, deck, and non-custom unlabeled white box, $28.99
During this ban, all individuals are prohibited from practicing magic, regardless of their skill level or intent. We understand that this may cause inconvenience and frustration for those who rely on magic for daily tasks or who find solace and self-expression through its use. We assure you that we are actively exploring alternative solutions and resources to assist those affected by this ban. In the meantime, we urge all citizens to adhere to this temporary ban and to report any instances of magic being practiced to the designated authorities. We have established a special task force to ensure compliance with this ban and to address any concerns or questions that may arise. We recognize that this ban may raise questions and concerns, and we are committed to maintaining open lines of communication throughout this process. We encourage you to attend our upcoming town hall meetings, where officials will be available to provide information and address any concerns you may have. We thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this challenging time. We believe that by working together, we can create a safer, more harmonious community for all. Sincerely, [Your Name] [Title/Position].
Reviews for "Magic Ban: How it Will Affect the Meta and Deck Building"
1. John - 2/5 stars - I was really disappointed with the "Magic ban announcement". I have been playing Magic for years and this ban just ruins the meta for me. The cards they banned were essential to many decks and now I have to completely change my strategy. It feels like they didn't even consider the impact this ban would have on the existing player base.
2. Sarah - 3/5 stars - The "Magic ban announcement" left me feeling uncertain about the future of the game. I understand that balancing and keeping the meta fresh is important, but I feel like they overdid it with this ban. It feels like they are trying too hard to push the latest sets and make players spend more money. I would have preferred if they took a more measured approach to the ban list and considered the impact on the players' existing collections.
3. Alex - 2/5 stars - The "Magic ban announcement" completely killed my excitement for the game. It feels like they are constantly banning cards and changing the rules, which makes it hard to invest time and money in building a competitive deck. I don't understand why they can't find a better way to balance the game without ruining strategies and decks that players have spent time and money on. It's frustrating and makes me question if I want to continue playing Magic.
4. Emma - 1/5 stars - I am extremely upset with the "Magic ban announcement". It seems like they don't care about the players at all. They banned cards that were essential to my favorite deck, rendering it useless. I've invested so much in building that deck and now it's all wasted. This ban just feels like a money-grab, forcing players to spend more on the latest sets to stay competitive. I am seriously considering quitting Magic after this disappointing move.
5. Michael - 2/5 stars - The "Magic ban announcement" feels like a slap in the face to the loyal player base. It's frustrating to see the game constantly changing and having to adapt to new ban lists. It's not just the financial impact but also the time and effort spent in building decks that becomes wasted. It's becoming harder to justify investing in this game with the constant changes and disregard for the existing players.