Product Description

The Fool and trumps in The Alchemical Tarot each relate to an alchemical process, which is part of the Great Work of alchemy that leads to the creation of the Philosopher s Stone, a mystical catalyst that transforms what it touches to its highest form. It can cure any illness, turn lead into gold, and turn an ordinary person into an enlightened sage. The Stone is represented symbolically by the World card. The four minor suits are related to the four elements of the alchemists: earth, air, fire, and water and in The Alchemical Tarot each of these elements is related to one of the four functions of consciousness as listed by Jung: sensation, thinking, feeling, and intuition, respectively.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177127 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-31
• Binding: Cards
• 79 pages

About the Author
Robert M. Place Artist/Author

Robert M. Place is an internationally known visionary artist, author, and illustrator, whose award winning works, in painting, sculpture, and jewelry, have been displayed in galleries and museums in America, Europe, and Japan and graced the covers and pages of numerous books and publications. He is the designer, illustrator, and co-author, of: The Alchemical Tarot and The Angels Tarot. He is the designer, illustrator, and author of The Tarot of the Saints, The Buddha Tarot, and The Vampire Tarot. He is the author of The Tarot: History, Symbolism, and Divination, Which Booklist has said;may be the best book ever written on that deck of cards decorated with mysterious images called the tarot. And, he the author of Astrology and Divination and Shamanism which are part of the Mysteries, Legends, and Unexplained Phenomena series published by Facts On File.

Robert is recognized throughout the world as an expert on and gifted teacher of the Western mystical tradition and the history and philosophy of the Tarot. He has conducted lectures and workshops in education centers in the United States and Europe, including the Open Center, Omega Institute, The New York Tarot Festival, and The Reader's Studio in New York, The World Tarot Congress in Chicago, The Southeastern Regional Tarot Festival in Florida, and The Museo Dei Torocchi, in Riola, Italy. He has appeared on the Discovery Channel series Strictly Supernatural and his work has appeared on The Learning Channel and A&E.

Customer Reviews

A Handsome Deck Steeped in Alchemy
Originally published by Thorsons in 1995, when the Alchemical Tarot went out of print, many clamored to buy both the deck and companion book--often at a steep price. In fact, the original edition still fetches hundreds of dollars with the companion book by Rosemary Ellen Guiley going for $75 or more online.

Fortunately for Tarot enthusiasts, Hermes Publications/Robert M. Place have issued an updated version of this deck called The Alchemical Tarot Renewed.

The two main differences between the original and the renewed version is that the cards no longer have the pillars flanking the imagery, making more room for the art to shine. Also, the Alchemical Tarot Renewed contains TWO versions of the Lovers card: the original, which was deemed too sexy for publication, and the cleaned up version which was included in the original deck.

When I first bought this deck, the cards were quite flexible, causing me some concern as to their durability. I'm happy to report that I've been using the Alchemical Tarot Renewed exclusively for my client readings and the card are holding up admirably--even better than decks from large publishers, in fact.

Although I found the austere images intriguing, I admit to being flummoxed with some of the alchemical symbolism in this deck. So I thought I'd put it on the shelf until a companion book became available to unlock its secrets.

In the short interim, tt just so happened that I stumbled upon a series of teleclasses given by Robert Place; although I was disappointed at the time to discover I had missed the live classes on the Alchemical Tarot itself, I was thrilled that he was offering a teleclass called the Hieroglyphs of the Soul.

That class was about Robert's innovative 3-card divination style and interpreting readings following his method (which is similar to dream interpretation). Although Robert didn't talk much about the actual symbolism of his deck, something inexplicable happened in that teleclass that virtually unlocked the Alchemical Renewed for me.

And I've used no other deck for my clients since.

This deck, and Robert's method, are "scary accurate". Of course, I test drove it on myself before using it on my clients! I'm happy to report that they have found my readings with it quite accurate (so it's not just my impression), as well.

Although Robert discusses the 3-card divination method (and the Relationship Reading) in his book The Tarot: History, Symbolism and Divination, the teleclass brought it to life for me--and my readings have never been the same.

The Little White Book is only 14 pages and Robert's card meanings (and imagery) deviate from common RWS depiction, which is refreshing. So if you're open to seeing the Tarot in a brand new light, the Alchemical Tarot Renewed will certainly give you a new prism through which to see the cards. However, because there is no background information on the symbolism, I feel this may be a difficult deck for some to use--especially absolute beginners.

The four suits in the Alchemical Tarot Renewed are Vessels (Water), Staffs (Fire), Swords (Air) and Coins (Earth). The Court cards are designated Lady, Knight Queen and King.

Measuring approximately 4 ¾ x 2 ¾ inches, the card backing featuring a simple rose design in muted reds and greens. Because Robert doesn't read cards upside down, the backs are understandably non-reversible.

Here are a few of the card depictions and meanings that I've found especially intriguing and useful:

* Ten of Coins - A man with curly gray hair and beard has coins all over his face, two covering his eyes. Each is embossed with a different symbol. Robert calls this card The Materialist, indicating "selfishness" and "only seeing the physical".

* Five of Vessels - Called The Quake, five vessels were placed upon two shelves. The topmost two remain upright, but the middle has spilled golden liquid, the fourth is on its way down to the ground and the fifth has broken open--and two flying birds emerge from the cracked vessel. Robert says this card indicates "breaking of position, "a sudden breakthrough" and "new possibilities".

* Five of Wands - An open hand shows five fingers ablaze, as if they've turned into tree trunks towards the tips. Called The Burning Hand, this card means "creative energy".

* King of Swords - A majestic eagle wearing a crown and bearing a large sword in his left talon faces left on this card. The interpretation offered for this card is "clear thinking" and "confidence".

I've recently acquired the audio and class notes of the Symbolism of Alchemy teleclass (the one that I missed live but is now available here), but haven't yet read the 50-page mini-book or listened to the audio because I felt it was only fair to review the Alchemical Tarot Renewed by itself. After all, it's only the deck and LWB that's available on its own at Amazon.com and other retailers.

However, you may purchase additional teleclasses and Alchemical Tarot Renewed related products at TarotConnection.net if you'd like elucidation into this handsome deck. I, for one, am excited to begin delving deeper into its mysteries!

(To see 13 images from this deck, visit the Reviews--Decks section at JanetBoyer.com)

Janet Boyer, author of The Back in Time Tarot Book: Picture the Past, Experience the Cards, Understand the Present

Better Than Ever
The Alchemical Tarot: Renewed Reviewed by Bonnie Cehovet,


The first edition of the "Alchemical Tarot" appeared in 1995. It has been out of print for some time now, except for the "oh so elegant" art print edition - which is (and rightfully so!) oh so costly! The buzz on the "Alchemical Tarot: Renewed" began as soon as the idea for the project got out, and has been building since then. The reason for this is evidenced in the theme itself: it is a Tarot based on alchemical symbolism and imagery. From the "Alchemical Tarot" site:

"The power of the "Alchemical Tarot" lies in its ability to act as a tool for communication with our inner wisdom."

Place is an internationally known mystical artist ("The Buddha Tarot", "The Tarot of the Saints", the soon to be released "Vampire Tarot", and "The Tarot: History, Symbolism and Divination"). For him, the deck began with this flash of insight: (a) symbolic images from alchemical texts were interchangeable with the standard Tarot trumps, and (b) the Tarot outlined the same process of mystical transformation as alchemy. The result of eight years of study and work was the "Alchemical Tarot" - the ultimate melding of traditional Tarot imagery and symbolism with that of traditional alchemy. The alchemical symbols magnify the symbolic purpose of the Tarot. From the "Alchemical Tarot" site"

"Each card in The Alchemical Tarot was carefully drawn to capture real alchemical symbols in a way that is clear and concise and in harmony with the aesthetic balance of the composition. They are the natural vehicle of the unconscious and they can be used by any Tarot reader at any level, from beginner to master, in the same way as other decks."

The renewed edition is a 79 card deck with accompanying LWB (Little White Book). The box the deck comes in shows the High Priestess on the front, and the Emperor on the back. The box opens from the top.

The LWB begins with an introduction by Place, where he talks about his initial flash of insight into this project during the Harmonic Convergence in August of 1987, while he was studying an alchemical image that symbolized the Philosophers Stone. He also states that in this new edition the illustrations have been improved, and the columns that flanked the cads on the original publication removed, so that the imagery is larger, and fills more of the card.. This edition also contains two versions of the Lovers card (hence a 79 card deck) - the original version (that was more sexually explicit than traditional versions), and the toned down version that actually made the first publication.

The Major Arcana relates to alchemical materials and processes, with the Philosopher's Stone itself (also known as he Red Stone) represented by the World. The four suits relate to the four elements (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water) and the four Jungian functions of consciousness ( sensation, thinking, feeling, and intuition).

The Major Arcana is presented with a short discussion of the energy of each card, with a black and white scan of the Fool at the beginning, and a black and white scan of the World at the end. The Pips (numbered cards) and Court Cards are presented with short descriptions of their energy, and keywords. A black and white scan of the Ace begins the section for each suit.

The traditional titles are retained for the Major Arcana. The suits are Coins, Vessels, Swords, and Staffs. The Court Cards are Lady, Knight, Queen and King.

The non-reversible card backs show a red rose against a green and white pattern, surrounded by a red border, which itself is surrounded by a black border, The card faces show a white border. The title for the Major Arcana appears at the bottom of the card, in black lettering against a beige background. The Major Arcana cards (with the exception of the Fool) are numbered in small Roman numerals at the top of the card. The Pips show small black Roman numerals at the top of the card, but do not show the suit. The Court Cards show the title and suit at the bottom of the card, in black lettering against a background color representative of the suit.

The cards themselves are 4.75 by 2.75, of sturdy, glossy cardstock. The colors are intense and clear, with great attention to detail. There are animals throughout the deck: the rabbit that accompanies the Fool, the bird-like figure on the Emperor's left shoulder, the dragon on the Devil, the rabbit on the Ace of Coins, the Lion as the King of Coins, the fish on the Ace of Vessels, the elephant in the Four of Vessels, the Deer-like creature in the Nine of Vessels, the fish on the Knight of Vessels, the Mermaid as the Queen of Vessels, the fish as the King of Vessels, the bird and snake on the Ace of Swords, the owl on the Two of Swords, the coyote-like animal on the Seven of Swords, the mythical animal on the Eight of Swords, the dragon-like animal on the Knight of Swords, the bird as the King of Swords, the salamander on the Ace of Staffs, the two fighting creatures on the Seven of Staffs, the mythical creature on the Nine of Staffs, the Phoenix on the Ten of Staffs, and the mythical creature as the King of Staffs.

There is a myriad of unique imagery in this deck: the Fool is blindfolded, with a rabbit at his feet; the High Priestess is literally standing on water; the Empress has a child at her feet; to the left of he Hierophant we see a male statue, to the right of the Hierophant we see a female statue, behind the Hierophant, to his left, we see a red candle against a full Sun, behind he Hierophant, to his right, we see a white candle against a night sky and the Moon; the Chariot appears to be floating in the air, and is shown from the back; a red and yellow Ouroboros is shown in the sky to the left of he Hermit; the Hanged Man is tied with a snake would around his ankle (while coins very realistically fall from his pockets!); Death stands with a Raven on his shoulder;

While the presentation of the "Alchemical Tarot Renewed" has a very different feel from the original deck (due to the pillars on the sides of the cards in the original publication), it is stunning, and quite easy to work with. There is a fair amount of nudity, but it is placed in context of alchemical imagery. The reissuing of this deck is a great gift, as this is a deck that can be used by all levels of Tarot students.

Nice Deck - But Overated with Flaws
Just a little bit about my background, I'm not a tarot reader. I just started collecting tarot decks for personal meditation and for stimulating my creative writing. What I look for a deck are symbolic images that resonate with me, radiant images that are multi-layered in meaning, decks that have history and depth. As my first learning deck, I have purchased the Radiant Rider-Waite Deck and I'm quite pleased with it, considering that many books out there reference the Rider-Waite Deck, so I had no other choice but to buy one.

Upon my search I came across the Alchemical Tarot and was intrigued. Although at $30, it is very costly and doesn't even come with a companion book like it's predecessor. So I decided to take the plunge after seeing a few pictures of the cards online.

This was my first impression: The cards are slightly bigger than the standard deck, which is ok, but the cardstock in comparison is quite flimsy and the laminate is very thin. My deck had several cards with scratches, spots without lamination, and actual creases within the card; all probably due to the lower grade cardstock. Also, the LWB was of no help. Not that they ever are, but some do contain more info than others. This LWB did not delve into anything about the symbols on the cards. Just basic keywords. Why Mr. Place did not include the revised companion book with the deck is beyond me, especially for $30. My suspicion is that he probably figured he can promote his teleclasses and cd on the Alchemical tarot for a few years before he markets the book which will probably retail for so much less. Of course, that is just my speculation. It's important to have the companion book for this deck, unless you have the time to research the symbols in all the cards or are familiar with the alchemical symbols. The older companion book is so relevant, I don't know why it wasnt included or at least a very condensed version within the scope of the LWB, with references and the such.

However, if you are able to get a copy of the older companion book from his previous deck, then your golden, because it's a pretty enlightening read, and especially detailed, but only if you're able to dish out another forty or fifty dollars for that hard to find book. I emailed Mr. Place about the timeframe for the revised companion book but to my dismay, he had no specific time-frame and directed me to his other products.

In addition to that, as much as I give high regard to Mr. Place's designs, which is what allured me in the first place, they are certainly breathtaking; I'm just not particularly a fan of the heavy pencil-line shading technique on most of his cards. I would have preferred shading done by the use of coloring - but that's just my preference, which was enough to distract me in my meditation on the cards. So thus, finally, I had to sadly part with my Alchemical tarot for a refund.

I probably would have kept them if the cardstock quality was better. If your just a collector, this would make an excellent addition. However, for daily use, wait until the price gets lowered, because you are definately going to being getting more copies to replace all the soon-to-be defected cards...

My advice to Mr Place, reissue the deck with the revised companion book, using a better card stock, and perhaps throw in a tarot bag too for the current price - then that would make it a great deal!!!