Review: The Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative Set

 My Tarot teacher always taught us about Pamela Coleman Smith.  She is the artist, and these days the artist is a big deal, but unfortunately that was not always true.

This set was such a pleasant surprise.  I expected it to be nice, but what I received topped the charts.  This lovely, commemorative set includes the original deck, the Pictorial Key to the Tarot book, a book of other art by Pamela Coleman Smith and postcards, images and lots of other beautiful treasures.  I cannot recommend this set enough.


The following is from the USGames Site.

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Rider-Waite Deck, the Pamela Colman Smith Commemorative set will be cherished by all tarot collectors and art lovers.

The deluxe set includes the Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot Deck and two books; The Artwork and Times of Pamela Colman Smith, by Stuart R. Kaplan, with over 100 examples of her non-tarot art, and The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite, in a new format. The Smith-Waite Centennial Edition Tarot Deck is reproduced from the original 1909 deck and comes with a 78-card deck with drawstring organza bag.

The set also includes: 2 prints of Pamela Colman Smith, one photo and one self-portrait, both 5” x 7” suitable for framing; six color postcards of artwork by Pamela Colman Smith; and Spread Sheet Guide. Everything is attractively packaged in a deluxe keepsake case.

About Pamela Colman Smith
She was born February 16, 1878, in Middlesex, England to American parents. Her childhood years were spent between London, New York, and Kingston, Jamaica. During her teens, she traveled throughout England with the theatre company of Ellen Terry and Henry Irving. Thereafter, she began formal art training at the Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, graduating in 1897.

Although American by birth, she returned to England, where she became a theatrical designer for miniature theatre, and an illustrator -- mainly of books, pamphlets and posters.

Around 1903, she joined the Order of the Golden Dawn. In 1909, under the guidance of Arthur Edward Waite, she undertook a series of seventy-eight allegorical paintings described by Waite as a rectified tarot pack. The designs, published in the same year by William Rider and Son, exemplify the mysticism, ritual, imagination, fantasy, and deep emotions of the artist.

Pamela Colman Smith would all but be forgotten except for the seventy-eight tarot paintings known as the Rider-Waite Tarot pack. She would no doubt be astonished and gladdened to know that today the deck touches the hearts and emotions of millions of people.

Review: Exploring Tarot Using Radiant Rider-Waite® Tarot

The Exploring Tarot Using Radiant Rider-Waite® Tarot is a beautiful set that includes a book, the cards and a large fold out poster containing a 10-card Tarot spread.

The Radiant deck is the same Rider-Waite deck that we all love, or most of us anyhow (as this is the most used deck worldwide) but it has been shaded with more rich and vibrant colors.  I find the faces are more revealing as well.

I love this.  It is great for beginners, seasoned professionals and makes a great gift.

For more info, visit USGAMES.

DVD Reviews: Dance The Chakras & Kundalini Short Sets For Inspiration & Ecstacy

Kundalini Yoga With Ana Brett and Ravi Singh is a fun way to get into shape quickly while connecting to your divine potential.

Our primary objective", say Ana & Ravi, "is to help people learn to live a healthy and happy, more peaceful life that continues to challenge them to grow. We teach a system of exercise and meditation that fully integrates the body, mind, and spirit."

Husband and wife team, Ana Brett and Ravi Singh have a lot of charm and positivity that they share in their Kundalini Yoga DVD's. They have a way of making yoga fun, while still keeping it spiritual, authentic and effective. Many western yoga DVD's strip all the spirituality out, leaving only bleached exercises designed to get your body into shape alone. Ravi and Ana are concerned with the health of the spirit, the mind, the emotions and the body. Moderations are given for the exercises so you can increase your practice with time, allowing the DVD's to be ideal for yogi's of all levels. Powerful and addictive, Ravi & Ana's kundalini yoga is an easy way to get into shape quickly, while helping to connect you to your divine potential.

Yoga was originally considered a preparation technique for the inner evolution and outer transformation known as Kundalini. Kundalini is a creative, motivating force within that empowers us to excel in all things.  Kundalini yoga is a specific style of yoga for developing character, strength and consciousness. Known as the yoga of awareness, kundalini yoga focuses on exercises that expand sensory awareness and intuition.

A spiritual, physical, and mental discipline, kundalini yoga blends the science of sequence, movement, chanting, breathing, stretching and meditation. Kundalini yoga is more about the the power of breathing than concentrating on difficult exercises.

A unique element to this yoga is the breath of fire, a steady, in and out forceful breath through the nose, combined with specific positions and stretches, which provides an aerobic effect. The breath of fire oxygenates and purifies the bloodstream, stimulates the nadis and other energy flows in the body, stimulates the pituitary gland and helps bring all of the glands into balance and strengthens the magnetic field of the body.

Kundalini Yoga with Ravi & Ana is without question, the best yoga workouts I have ever done in my life.All of the kundalini yoga DVD's by Ana Brett and Ravi Singh utilize creative, intelligent sequencing. The yoga workouts are easy to follow and pleasant to listen to. Ana and Ravi take turns with the narration, lacing the dialogue with inspiring positive affirmations. The signature kundalini breath of fire interweaves in and out throughout the DVD's, taking turns with long and deep breathing.  These DVD's are quick to get you in shape - mind, body and spirit. The music is beautiful, the directions are easy to follow and the entire feel is relaxing, yet intense.  All three of these DVD's can be done (with the help of the matrix) by the beginner or the seasoned yogi.

Ana & Ravi’s in-depth knowledge of physical anatomy and its metaphysical counterparts spill into the DVD's, keeping things interesting no matter how many times you do the workouts. The unique blend of breathing, inner focus, stretching, meditation, and chanting keep the the DVD's moving in a relaxed, yet exciting way. They are thorough workouts that keep true to traditional kundalini yoga with a modern, hip and colorful makeover.

These two soul mates have authored over 22 DVD’s and books. Together they have trained over 300 practicing kundalini yoga teachers. The beautiful Ana Brett appears to get younger with age, perhaps an effect of the kundalini yoga that she practices on a daily basis. With 40 years combined teaching experience they continue to travel and teach workshops, conferences and retreats worldwide. They come across as knowledgeable and sincere both in person and in the DVDs.

Yoga has been like a magic potion in my life, something the saints and medicine healers have always known.  Overall I find all of Ravi and Ana's yoga workouts to be some of the most valuable yoga DVD's that I own ... and I have a lot of them, nearly a hundred.  I enjoy the positivity of the narrative, the soundtrack and the demonstration of the exercises by Ana. The Ravi & Ana collection is fun to watch and listen to even if you do not actually participate.

Both the Warrior Workout and the Yoga Bliss Hips are amazing.  They are both a lot of fun, just as all the other Ana & Ravi DVDS are.  Ana is as beautiful and lovely inside and out as always and the DVDS are well made and the quality and production is top-notch.  Containing exercises for strength building, aerobic efficiency, detoxing and flexibility ... the routines are simple enough to jump right in, but challenging enough to keep you pushing harder.  My left hip has been giving me a little pain lately, and I noticed that the more that I exercise it the better, so I was especially looking forward to the Yoga Hips Bliss workout.  I find that doing this routine keeps my hips feeling good, without any pain whatsoever ... hurray.

I especially love the older DVDs, the first ones that Ana and Ravi did together ... the days of the cute brunette and stomach grinding as a warm-up.  Years ago, my husband bought me a yoga DVD and it was one of Ravi and Ana's Kundali routines.  I fell in love with yoga because of them and the older DVDs that they have remind me of those days and that important fact ... they inspired me ... and they will inspire you too.

Thanks you guys.  I love you both!!!

Pros

• Ideal for yogi's of all levels
• Modern, hip and fun
• Ana Brett is a fashion savvy doll, demonstrating the exercises with precision and poise
• Exercises help to expand your consciousness
• Works amazingly quick, getting you into shape
• Easy to follow
• Nice soundtrack
• Full body workout
• Educational: Learn the purpose of the exercise as you are doing them
• Sonic healing to the transcendent sounds of live gong music
• Uplifting chants
• Powerful affirmations
• Learn from internationally celebrated yoga teachers

For more information please visit http://www.raviana.com