 Review
of The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot of Caitlin Matthews
by Ann Trump
A few years ago, at a trade show that I attended, an insightful man stated to
me that when you buy a divination or tarot deck, you are really buying the art.
Naturally, since he bought my deck, I was flattered. But the comment stuck
with me and I have mulled over the idea more than once over the last couple of
years. If you purchase Caitlin Matthews' tarot deck entitled The Da Vinci Enigma
you are definitely buying art…famous art. And it doesn’t get much better than
Leonardo Da Vinci.
A long time fan of Renaissance art, I was drawn to the deck. Beautifully
packaged and featuring Mona Lisa, the box alone would not be uncomfortable
adorning the finest museum gift shops. Anyone with even a remote interest in Da
Vinci is drawn to uncover what other treasures lie inside. At first glance, I
felt like an insider to genius, thrilled to see a few sketches that I had not
been familiar with. However, I am always a tad bit suspicious of authors that
somehow clear the rights to pull world famous artwork off long forgotten
shelves, dust them off, and create a divination deck. (How easy is that?) I
wondered if the deck would live up to the meat and potatoes of a time-honored
tarot deck. Fortunately for me, upon my discovery of The Da Vinci Enigma, I had
an innocent bystander beside me that allowed me to flip a card right then and
there. Yes, I could aptly divine the card, but was the ease of the read a
reflection of my skill or was the deck a real find?
True to traditional tarot, the deck has seventy-eight cards, however, Matthews
puts a new spin on the major and minor arcana. The major arcana she calls the
Macrocosm cards which represents “the greater archetypal world…containing the
primal patterns of all existence” and the minor arcana is titled the Microcosm
cards “comprising the manifest forms of existence and pathways that each of our
unique gifts can take.” She renames quite a few of the cards too, for example,
The Lovers are called The Twins and The Devil in this deck is named Pain and
Pleasure. The four suits of the minor arcana get a facelift, as well. The
standard suits of Swords, Wands, Cups and Pentacles become the elements of Air,
Fire, Water and Earth, respectively. Matthew’s intention for the adaptations is
to take you into the mind and work of Da Vinci. Painstaking analysis of the
Renaissance period, Da Vinci’s notes, his personality and his study of geometry,
which gets a might technical, are blended throughout every aspect of the deck
and accompanying book.
The twenty-two Macrocosm cards (major arcana) features Leonardo’s sketches and
studies for his paintings. These are his more popular works and include Mona
Lisa in the exalted position of The High Priestess, but here she is called
Enigma. His famous red chalk self portrait is The Magician and Da Vinci’s study
of Christ crowned with thorns is The Death Card. The fifty-six Microcosm cards
(minor arcana) are based on his lesser-known sketches from his notebooks and
many include drafts of his inventions.
The most intriguing feature of this deck is the geometric patterns on the
backside of the cards that can be fit together like a puzzle. These forms can
then be read and are used in what is called The Destiny spread.
Although the author gives an extensive history of Da Vinci, the one hundred and
forty-four page book is dominantly dedicated to the interpretations of the
cards. Every single card includes a background of the sketch. All Macrocosm
cards have at least a page of information about the sketch of each card. And
although I enjoyed the history lesson, I suspect most people will skip over this
part guiltlessly.
Gone are the days of buying a tarot deck that comes with a tiny printed pamphlet
and one sentence interpretation for each card forcing the student of occult
sciences to actually learn a deck and rely on (and trust) their own intuitive
voices. Here each card can be interpreted in a myriad of thoroughly explained
ways. First, she poses a few questions for you to ponder called Dimmi,
translated as “tell me.” Next there is the Soul Code interpretation, which
“helps or challenges your souls destiny.” Also, the traditional Upright and
Reversed positions are interpreted and finally she explains the Disconnected
cards, to be used for the difficult to read cards.
The book is loaded with spreads to use, all of which are adapted with Da
Vinci-speak. There is a spread for all levels of experience, all shapes and
sizes, all creatures great and small. A spread user myself, I admit I was
impressed. Starting with the simple three card spread, Matthews also offers
elaborate geometrical layouts and finally moves into the prized Destiny spread,
which she herself cautions against trying out too soon. Good advice!
Matthews is no slouch. She has publishing credits behind her that would make the
novice (and even not so novice) author drool. Her experience with tarot is
apparent and she certainly did her homework on Da Vinci. The entire project
appears to be lovingly and passionately put together, laced with quotes, plenty
of history and facts, she offers insights into the very core of Da Vinci’s
personality. The timing too, on the part of St. Martin’s Press, is nothing short
of impeccable. The market is ripe with all the press about the release of The Da
Vinci Code movie. If you are a collector…run out and buy it today.
However, if you are looking for a deck to actually read and get to know and turn
to in troubled times, this isn’t the one. Beginners should look elsewhere, for
sure. The deck is beautiful, there is no doubt about that, but it is also
downright complicated and a bit confusing, with all of the technical jargon and
the five different ways to interpret each card. She keeps you a tad dependant on
the book and even with all the information presented, the interpretations rarely
fit. Maybe you are one who tends to disregard the book included and just use the
deck… you will still be challenged, although this may be the better approach.
If you are looking for bright and happy answers, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Don’t get me wrong; I am a strong advocate for the yin with the yang. All
authentic tarot decks will show burdens as well as blessings. That’s just the
way it is, folks. Telling us just what we want to hear will work if it is a
“flip a card for a daily message” kind of deck. Tarot is the good mixed with the
bad. I give Matthews credit for keeping the kitchen hot in this new age of the
“Pollyanna” card deck, but still; she is a little heavy with the doom and gloom.
If you are buying art, you won’t be disappointed with The Da Vinci Enigma Tarot.
Collectors will love it. Beginners, beware. Everyone else, polish up those
reading glasses and prepare to sit for a while. There are definitely meat and
potatoes here, I won’t deny that, but it will help if you come to it with a
healthy serving of preheated skill.
Learn about the Saint Deck and the Saint
Deck book available from
The Nanta Bagg.
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