Lucifer's Tarot

[EmpyreanKnight]

Does anybody have the Tarot of Lucifer by Bombushkar and Balaban? I seem to have a hankering for demonic Russian decks. HERE is their book and deck set.

 

Having 105 cards, I wonder if it is a traditional Tarot deck with additional cards, just like the Didactic.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Found out that the deck is available in this Etsy store! I thought I've read somewhere that I can only source a copy from a New York shop. Anyway, that Etsy store also has Vera Sklyarova's gorgeous Tarot of Shadows, which is another demonic Russian Tarot deck. Is it me or does it seem like Slavic decks veer a bit to the left-hand path? It's too bad that they only have the Special Edition, which is priced to the gills so I'd have to say no.

[gregory]

Do we know whether this is actually a tarot deck or some "new system" - I find those a little irritating these days; must be getting old...

 

The Sklyarova is indeed gorgeous. I'll ask a Russian seller I know if she still has it...

 

She appears to:

 

https://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://yarasvera.ru/skoro/&prev=search

 

And the Luciferian as well. Email her; it's the easiest way to order !

[EmpyreanKnight]

I just purchased Lucifer's Tarot through the Etsy shop I just posted, gregory. Once I get it (in a month, I think), I'd say here if it does follow any Tarot system that I know of. And thanks for your link in the Russian site, but the Tarot of Shadows set there looks like it costs 9500 rubles, which is even more expensive than the Special Edition in etsy. I'd try to find other shops that offer it.

[Ncharge]

I received my copy of the Lucifer's tarot the other day and I've just had a chance to shuffle through them. No readings. It truly is a dark path deck more intended for summoning and ritual than for divination. It has cards for the spirits of the goetia, the Qliphoth, various dark Gods - some 105 cards, I believe. It follows the teachings of a dark magician.

[gregory]

Does it have the usual tarot cards (major arcana, suits, courts ?)

[EmpyreanKnight]

I received my copy of the Lucifer's tarot the other day and I've just had a chance to shuffle through them. No readings. It truly is a dark path deck more intended for summoning and ritual than for divination. It has cards for the spirits of the goetia, the Qliphoth, various dark Gods - some 105 cards, I believe. It follows the teachings of a dark magician.

 

I remember from sample pages in the companion book that tho there are divinatory meaning/s per card, it focuses on the various characteristics of the demon itself, peppered with astrological attributions, among others. It would make me a bit wary if there is a huge emphasis on left-hand path rituals and practices, tho I may still find it useful later.

 

Like gregory, I'm also curious if it does follow a Tarot structure or if it's more of an oracle.

[Ncharge]

I will review it again when I get home and let you know. I don't recall that it followed a tarot structure at all, but let me check on that. The artist must have felt he did follow the structure to call it the Lucifer's tarot.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Thanks NCharge! If you've received it just recently, you must have had made some pretty interesting Samhain readings. :) My US source said mine is bound to arrive on November 28 at the latest, and I can't wait to read with it.

[Ncharge]

SO, first the box. It has a waxed feeling. Kind of weird. And the eyes on the box are 3D, so they jut out. The edges of the deck are matte black and look fabulous.

 

The book included with the deck starts with the claim that this is a magical and predictive system and includes Kabalh, astrology, the Qliphotic world, and tis infernal inhabitants, rules and laws of summoning demons, and information on the dark gods, kings of the night, archdemons, and lords of hell.  It goes on to say that it is intended for those who are interested in practicing black magic. Then the 7 chapters describe the Nine Keepers, the Structure of Hell, the 72 Lords of Darkness, the 12 Princes of the Qliphoth, a Special Group of Demons, Archdemons, and Layouts. The descriptions of the demons include predictive statements. In addition, 10 of the cards are to be removed for all but two of the predictive spreads, which makes it a little easier to deal with. The book ends with a little biography of the artist.

 

The cards have a matte finish. They feel rather thin. The 105 cards depict, in order, the 72 lords of darkness, the 12 princes of the Aliphoth, 9 special demons, and 12 archdemons that include Lucifer, Satan, Beelzebuth, and Lilith.

 

I did a reading and it was amazingly accurate.

Not what I expected. You can't rifle shuffle the cards - 105 is just too blocky.

[RavenOfSummer]

Is this the deck under discussion? (I think this video should be publicly available even for those without Facebook, not I'm not certain.) https://www.facebook.com/groups/TAROTANDORACLECOLLECTORS/permalink/498473677195690/

[EmpyreanKnight]

That's it, thanks for the vid, RavenOfSummer! Online resources regarding this deck are ridiculously scarce. And whew, this deck's a real beaut ain't it?

[EmpyreanKnight]

SO, first the box. It has a waxed feeling. Kind of weird. And the eyes on the box are 3D, so they jut out. The edges of the deck are matte black and look fabulous.

 

The book included with the deck starts with the claim that this is a magical and predictive system and includes Kabalh, astrology, the Qliphotic world, and tis infernal inhabitants, rules and laws of summoning demons, and information on the dark gods, kings of the night, archdemons, and lords of hell.  It goes on to say that it is intended for those who are interested in practicing black magic. Then the 7 chapters describe the Nine Keepers, the Structure of Hell, the 72 Lords of Darkness, the 12 Princes of the Qliphoth, a Special Group of Demons, Archdemons, and Layouts. The descriptions of the demons include predictive statements. In addition, 10 of the cards are to be removed for all but two of the predictive spreads, which makes it a little easier to deal with. The book ends with a little biography of the artist.

 

The cards have a matte finish. They feel rather thin. The 105 cards depict, in order, the 72 lords of darkness, the 12 princes of the Aliphoth, 9 special demons, and 12 archdemons that include Lucifer, Satan, Beelzebuth, and Lilith.

 

I did a reading and it was amazingly accurate.

Not what I expected. You can't rifle shuffle the cards - 105 is just too blocky.

 

Thanks for the very detailed review, Ncharge! Now I'm more excited to get my deck. And it has all the 72 demons of the Goetia? I have a feeling that it would be work well with the Enochian Tarot, so maybe I should get the latter too. :)

 

Just a question: does anybody know of any Tarot or oracle deck that completely covers on the 72 angels of the Shemhamphorash? I know that there are attributions between these angels and 36 of the pips of the minor arcana, but I'm asking for a deck that focuses on the angels themselves. If there's anything like that, I think it will perfectly complement the Lucifer. Just thinking of the various spreads you can do with them makes my head spin (metaphorically and not literally a la Exorcist).

[Ncharge]

Yes, check out Guerilla Theurgy cards for the 72 angels of the Shemhamphorash.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Thanks, NCharge. They aren't as visually stunning as I would have liked and they're a bit small but I'm going to take note of it.

[EmpyreanKnight]

I looked for a few decks that features the 72 angels, and 2 caught my attention.

 

One was the Angel Voices Oracle, and tho it's mighty extensive with 80 cards and a good-sized companion book, the images were a bit too sweet and girly for my taste, with almost no bite. Also, it's quite pricey but that's not really a dealbreaker.

 

I'm not even sure if the second one is a published deck, because I have absolutely no idea where it's from. So I posted a whatsit thread HERE, and I hope someone can identify it because I just love the art.

[EmpyreanKnight]

I already got my copy and I've only had the chance to inspect it today. It was everything Ncharge said and more. It's so gorgeous!

 

It was made by the Deluxe publishing company, which I think is Ukrainian. In any case, its production value is among the best I've ever encountered. It opens by bending the top back. It has a thin magnet on the lips of the top's front edges tho, so that when it closes it does so with a snap. Ncharge already mentioned the jutting eye. The box sort of feels like felt, very soft and pleasing to the touch. I'm sure I've encountered some book covers that felt like it.

 

The little book has the same feel, and has a little red bookmark in it. It's around the same size as the cards. Tho small, it packs quite a lot of info. I can't wait to try some of the spreads!

 

The cards are all edged in black, which fits the deck to a T. I haven't opened the seal yet because I plan to dedicate it on Christmas. It is very colorful, but the very first card has a sort of unfocused, slightly off look to it that I somehow find apt. When I open it, I'd check if the other cards are like that too. They are a bit smaller than most regular-sized decks, but they're not pocket-sized at all.

 

I got the Classic Edition. AFAIK the Special Edition has much larger cards and a much better box and book with a free red cotton bag, but the seller pegged it at around $100+ more than the Classic, so getting the latter was a no-brainer. I still know that I'll get the Special Edition one day. :)

 

It is an oracle deck. The book does have some divinatory meanings for most of the cards tho these are quite short. I shall definitely use it for predictive readings.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Here are a few pics:

 

 

 

 

[Emilija]

I mean no disrespect, but please be careful.

 

It's very possible to connect with some dark energy with something like this.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Thanks for the concern, Emilija! You really are very nice. :D

 

I do believe that my faith and my guardian angel are strong enough to protect me from any spiritual harm that may befall me because of this. But maybe I have to read up on some protective rituals before I use it, just in case.