Inner Child Cards by Isha and Mark Lerner- Deck Review

Name of Deck: Inner Child Cards- A Fairy-Tale Tarot
Creator: Isha Lerner and Mark Lerner
Illustrator: Christopher Guilfoil
Cost: $34.95 US
Where you can get the Deck: Online, through any retail bookstore, Isha Lerner’s Website (http://www.ishalerner.com/)

Once upon a time, Mark and Isha Lerner came together and created a deck full of archetypal childhood stories as means to communicate the Tarot with children and those who are young at heart- our inner child. Four years in the making, The Inner Child Cards feature fairies, gnomes, deceptive animals, knights, and princesses melded with the culture of the Tarot where demons and other deeper and sometimes dark characters are perceived to be alive within us all.

Fables and fairy tales are often moral lessons to be learned and carried throughout life’s journey. As we grow older, we forget about these stories and the Inner Child Cards remind us of these lessons in magnificent, Technicolor usage of fairy-tale images. The combination of fairy tale personalities and the teachings of human psychology found in the Tarot make for famed narratives useful to any Tarot user.

In this deck the four suites are Wands (depicted as butterflies), Swords, Hearts (depicted as winged hearts), and Crystals. In traditional Tarot, Cups always represent emotions and this is where the Lerners have integrated the icon of Hearts. I especially enjoy the switch from Pentacles to Crystals in this deck as it conveys the full meaning of prosperity: material, earthly, physical, and emotional. Other changes include the royal court where Child=Page, Seeker=Knight, Guide=Queen, Guardian=King and the naming of the individual major arcana cards reflecting the themes behind many fables (i.e. Hansel and Gretel as the Lovers, The Yellow Brick Road as Strength, Cinderella as the Moon , etc.).

The large book included with this deck serves as the illuminating waters for the cards. The book, about 291 pages, gives one a complete explanation of the cards the way the creators have envisioned them. Also, there are six highly innovative card layouts presented by the Lerners: the CHILD, Hopscotch (a Kabbalah Tree of Life spread), Wishing Well, Rainbow, Spiral Staircase, and a simple new take on the three-card spread layout called What’s Around the Corner.

The deck fully takes advantage of vibrant primary color combinations and a wonderful use of symbolism. I have chosen to share a few of my favorite cards and also other cards randomly picked from the deck in order to perform the five-card CHILD spread:

C=1st card: Represents your receptivity to the world around you.
The Star- In the time of twilight you see a huge star, similarly depicted in nativity scenes over Bethlehem, a youth steps up to drop a coin into a water well. Underneath is the caption “Wishing Upon A Star.” Traditionally the Star card in Tarot tells us about inspiration, beauty, inner guidance, and hope but it also asks us to take all of these things and step up to the plate, applying a little elbow grease in achieving what we want while holding onto our dreams.




H=2nd card: Dictates how you climb higher within yourself to reach a new level of spirit and understanding.
The Eight of Crystals- Shows us a little female gnome in a pair of skates etching into the ice the figure (number) eight. In the world of ice skating, perfecting the figure eight requires work and patience and signifies a transformation of talent from being a novice skater to one with more skill. The figure 8 also represents the infinite, reaching our infinite potential in an endeavor.

I=3rd card: Symbolizes individuality, independence and developing within.Four of Swords- Four youthful boys are steering a log raft down the river with their swords, while one of them is fishing. Four of Swords traditionally indicates rest. In this card the fishing youth is the odd one out, for the Lerners fishing is the equivalent to rest and relaxation of the mind. This card tells one not to rush the mental process, let your mind rest and free itself in order to bring forth the messages you need to know in order to take charge in life’s upcoming journeys.




L=4th card: The new life you are constantly creating.
Two of Hearts- A card of two mermaids sitting on two separate rocks on the shore. Each is holding a winged heart connected by a rainbow with dolphins flying high above.
The rainbow represents a connection and the dolphins represent spirit/mind. Two of Cups traditionally represent a connection of love or attraction between two individuals. The card capitalizes on the mind aspect of the Two of Cups, lending a friendship partnership feel.



D=5th cared: Your doorway into the world and the challenges one might face.
Guardian of Wands- This card is different in its connotation than many Rider-Waite interpretations. This card is the card of spiritual healing and travels. Archangel Raphael is the ruler of this card and can be further explored by Raphael’s association with King Solomon.





The cards are intentionally big (3 8/16” by 6 ¼”) which is a lot of room to incorporate many symbols and images without them being cluttered. However, the sizing can make the cards difficult to shuffle (which was also an intentional aspect of the cards when created so that one can grasp the concept of youth and having everything surrounding us as being large and inaccessible) and through trial and error I’ve found my own way to shuffle the cards at the corners while holding them vertical. The backs of the cards are of a deep purple with a blazing emblem of a yellow sun and are reversible. The card stock is durable but does not appear to have a protective glossy coating over them. The packaging holds both the book and cards in a box. It is hard to find a bag to fit the cards, but at the same time the packaging it comes in looks fashionable tucked upon a bookcase.

My personal experiences with this deck have been ennobling. I call the Inner Child Cards my “Pluto” deck. Even though it appears as a deck with a light-hearted theme, this is a very serious deck that reaches to the heart of the matter and has the ability to ferret out excess energies in order to find solutions to a problem. I reach for this deck in conjunction with other decks during a read if a problem is indicated. Inner Child Cards also serve as an oracle of sorts because the Lerners’ interpretations of the cards are always positive with a different outlook than the traditional Raider-Waite meaning. However, one can also throw out the meanings the Lerners have for the cards and easily use it in regular Rider-Waite or Golden Dawn form and have as revealing messages. The Lerners suggest using only upright meanings. I am an advocate of utilizing reversed cards during a read, but this is personal preference. The way the selected images on these cards are laid out on the cardstock makes interpretation of reversed cards a breeze.

Inner Child Cards appeal and work best for those who are familiar with fables and fairy-tales. The stories/symbols associated with each card allow for deeper meditation and meaning. Those who love bright colors will be drawn to this deck. Those who are really interested in the way color, numbers, and astrology work in the Tarot will find this deck amazing as the accompanying book taps into the culmination of these ancient traditions. This is an excellent purchase for the experienced Tarot muse looking for something deeper yet unique and also for the non-experienced Tarot user fascinated by fairy-tales and fables.

Listing of the Major Arcana Cards:
0- Little Red Cap; I-Aladdin and the Magic Lamp; II-The Fairy Godmother; III-Mother Goose; IV-The Emperor’s New Clothes; V-The Wand; VI-Hansel and Gretel; VII-Peter Pan; VIII-Beauty and the Beast; IX-Snow White; X-Alice in Wonderland; XI-The Midas Touch; XII-Jack and the Beanstalk; XIII-Sleeping Beauty; XIV-The Guardian Angel; XV-The Big Bad Wolf; XVI-Rapunzel; XVII-Wishing Upon A Star; XVIII-Cinderella; XIX-The Yellow Brick Road; XX-The Three Little Pigs; XXI-The Earth Child.

Ratings: (Out of a total of 6 Stars, 6 being the highest of rank)
Cardstock Quality: 3 Stars
Insight: 6 Stars
LWB: 6 Stars
Readability: 5 Stars
Creativity: 6 Stars
Symbolism: 6 Stars


A Final Word About the Deck from the Deck Itself:
Here is when I have the deck speak for itself by pulling one card...

Six of Hearts (quoted from the LWB of the Inner Child Cards):

"It is an ancient belief that storks are heralds of new life. They are seen frequenting ponds and marshes, which has given rise to the belief that the spirits of unborn children wait in these places, seeking a new mother or a new life. Thus, storks are known as soul carriers.

In this card, something holy is occurring. Five mermaids are joining with each other and rising from the sea. The sixth mermaid, flying upon a stork, is offering a spiritual lifeline from above. In ecstasy, the five emerge from the ocean, representing the unconscious, into the air and sunlight, representing higher revelations. They rejoice as they touch one another and reach skyward. A transition is taking place. It is as if emotions have surfaced and are now being released.

Imagine that the sea has claimed your tears and the Sun is drying your eyes. This is an inner healing, and on that you deserve. The number 6 represents support, dedication, responsibility, and unity. It can also signify the need to balance your emotional life. This may be the time for a family healing or resolution of conflict with a loved one. A deep, heartfelt connection with your friends or community may be happening."

Well said deck…

Love and Light,
Remi

Isha Lerner Interview- Inner Child Cards

Isha Lerner is the creator of several Tarot decks including the Inner Child Cards, Tarot of the Four Elements, Triple Goddess Tarot, and Power of Flower Cards. Recently I, and other fans of Isha Lerner, had the wonderful opportunity to ask questions from this celebrated Tarot deck creator. In tribute to her work, the following is the long awaited interview with Isha Lerner:






What originally brought you to the world of Tarot?

My experience with the tarot happened in an organic and natural way.
I didn't go out looking for the tarot nor did I make a conscious decision that
I wanted to study and learn tarot. It appeared naturally in my life in my
late teens and continued to grow as an interest and a passion in my life
ever since. I had a profound dream in my early twenties that invoked a deep
curiosity within. In a way this dream confirmed to me the reality that I had
worked with the tarot in other lifetimes. I do not profess to know the exact
way in which past lives effect our present life, but I have come to believe
that there is a chord or thread that connects a soul journey from life time
to life time.

I dreamed I was a little gnome or tree like being, gnarly old with very
crooked fingers, short, a bit fantasy like. I was with a male partner of the
same origin and we were sitting behind a large wooden slat, perhaps a fallen
tree, working with the tarot cards. There was a line miles long of little
people waiting to have us look at their cards. It was quiet, mystical, and
full of nature and bird song. I awoke with a deep truth within that this
dream was a vision. It resonated deeply and showed me one of my lifetimes
with the cards. I hold the dream dear to my heart.

For over thirty years I have studied, created, and played with the
archetypes within the 78 card deck and I continue to learn and expand my
understanding of the cards. They are an endless source of wisdom and
teachings for me.


In general, when using your decks I always feel that I've taken a
tour not only around the world but also through history. What of
your personal background do you believe contributes to this sense of
journey as one use your decks?

My hope is that the decks I have created may expand one's understanding of
archetype and the mystery of humanity as explored within the cards. They are
endless teachers and the wisdom held within the context of the 78 cards is
endless and I believe is infinite. My truest belief is this: The tarot is
encoded in our DNA as a source or a guideline to follow as we progress as a
living being on earth. I believe the tarot has been passed down perhaps from
other planets and is a perfect representation of the individuation process,
the same process found in folklore and fairy tales. This is the passion
behind the Inner Child Cards: A Fairy Tale Tarot.

What separates the first edition of the Inner Child Cards from the latest edition?

Very little. We decided to create an update with the information in the
first two chapters and to change the cover on the box as a way to perfect
the deck. We did find that it might have confused people but it is
fulfilling to have attempted to bring the very best of the cards and imagery
to the public. I prefer the new box with Little Red Cap on the cover,
however, the pink cover with the Child of Wands is still adored by many.

My favorite of the Inner Child Cards is Wishing Upon A Star,
before that it was Little Red Riding Hood. What card would you
consider as your favorite from this deck and why?

My favorite card has always been the Earth Child known as the World Trump 21
in the traditional tarot. I love the image and the idea within the image as
a soul returning for rebirth, full of love, and devoted to a new cycle of
service on planet earth.

Kat Black, creator of the Golden and Touchstone Tarot, mentioned
that in finding the images to be used for her cards she felt like a
casting agent, mulling over art images in her mind for the perfect
faces for each card. Did you find picking the right fairy tales for
your cards an easy process or one as equally occupying as Kat's
experience?

Once the concept of the Inner Child Cards fell into our hearts the
co-author, Mark Lerner, and myself, felt as if each Major Arcana card was
blessed with a falling star, a fairy tale, that came from the sky, right
into our heart and mind. They all fell into place very quickly and easily
and it all felt so pure and perfect. It was a joy.

Do you plan to create another deck, if so will you be in the
process of experimenting with different color hues and pallets than that of the Inner Child Cards?

I have created several decks since the Inner Child Cards which includes The
Power of Flower Cards, The Triple Goddess Tarot, and the Tarot of the Four
Elements. I am in the process of completing another deck, The Castle of the
Soul, which is a sequel to the Inner Child Cards. This deck puts the
individual in the castle where true love is found. We explore what it is
like for us to live within the context of this divine love. Do we accept it
or reject it? The cards will help us see.

I found that the book that comes with the Inner Child Cards to be
quite illuminating and would like to know how the Inner Child Cards
workbook is different, or can add more insight than the LWB included
with the cards?

I wanted to add more information about the mystical meaning of fairy tales
and so the workbook extends my study and includes within the first three
chapters a repertoire of research regarding fairy tales. Each card is given
key notes from which to study.

Just recently I've used the Rainbow Layout in a reading and I was
astounded by how well this spread works, especially when using Thoth
interpretations in conjunction with your interpretations. Do you
consider The Inner Child Cards more of a RW deck or does it have its
own feel?

I would say both. If a person is familiar with the tarot, any deck can be
used and understood. This is why I feel it is important for a person to
learn the basics of tarot and ground a deep understanding of the cards from
a historical perspective. From there the individual can learn and extend the
experience with tarot and individualize it.

In using the Rainbow Layout to uncover past issues, do you find
using flower essences after an Inner Child Card reading helps the
querent ease into the needed transitions/transformations as indicated
by the spread? If so, how? What/which of your flower essences you
feel work well with the nature of the Inner Child Cards?

I am a huge fan of using flower essences as a follow through with an
astrology or tarot session. They assist with so many blocks whether
emotional, spiritual, mental or physical. I recommend several different
flower essences depending on the specifics a person's needs and challenges.

Why is it that you prefer to read the cards only in their upright
meanings?

I respect each individual's choice and preference regarding this subject.
For myself, I prefer to avoid reversals. Perhaps it is my own personal need.
Reversals create duality for me and I am seeking in this lifetime to avoid
duality or fear. Each painting was created upright, and within this
fullness, the whole story of its nature is revealed. If we know the cards
well and look deeply enough, we will find whether the cards chosen is a
challenge of a gift, and whether or not there are parts of our own psyche in
need of help, healing and deeper understanding. This process works for me
and when teaching my classes we discuss this thoroughly and I am not biased
as to what an individual chooses to do.

This is the final part of the interview when I ask for you to
pick a deck or a card from a deck other than the one's you've created
to reflect on (preference would be something from my collection but
can also be a deck from your personal collection). You may comment
about the things you like about the deck or things about the deck or
card that is also emulated in the Inner Child Cards.

I have a trusty relationship with the Mother Peace Deck which is hands down
my favorite tarot deck besides the Inner Child Cards and the Aquarian Tarot.
I have a very old Mother Peace deck that I have used since the early 80's. I
feel it captures the essence of the feminine in a profound yet simple way
and I love the interpretations of the cards. I respect the work of Vickie
Noble and Karen Vogel.

I use this deck when a woman is in crisis and in need of a very serious look
at her situation. The cards never fail me and this deck in particular is
extremely close to me and special.

Thank you for the opportunity to share some of my experiences and thoughts
regarding tarot. Much love, Isha Lerner

The Wishing Well Spread- Inner Child Cards

The LWB for the Inner Child Cards features a spread called the Wishing Well. It is a simple one card spread. You shuffle the cards and then spread them in a circle. From that circle of cards, you pull one card while thinking about your question (this works well if you use a large surface, like the floor). The card pulled holds your answer.

I performed this one card spread for someone who asked:

Yesterday an appraiser came to see an old religious painting that i am trying to sell, and he told me, that he has to counsult with another expert before he give us his opinion! he told us that he wold gives us his final opinion next monday, so i would like to know, what type of nes he could give me!

The card I pulled was The of Crystals (Pents).

This card was pulled in its upright position. My response to this person was:Hi,I asked the question about the NES (is this some type of document describing the condition of the artwork, because that's how I asked about it in that term).I did the Inner Child Spread of the Wishing Well, which is a one card spread. I pulled from the outter circle of cards the Ten of Crystals:"Christmas Day carries the potential for great joy and expectations. Dreams may come true, and the rekindling of family ties and friendly sharings brings warmth and love into the home."

This is commonly a card of wealth, riches, abundance, prosperity. In Golden Dawn/Thoth meaning the number 10 of the card can be significant. Maybe in ten weeks or ten months you will sell this piece or the NES figure may have a multiple of 10 in it.Intuitively, I get that you may value this piece so much that you may not sell it but pass it down through series of generations. Or its a piece that has been in your family forever. Either way, it brings you much riches.It seems as though in appraising this piece you had to/or will be communicate some significant information about it in order to get the value you want.

The person replied to my inquiry:

thanks for the reading!! well its not my painting, its a client's painting, and you are right has been in the family for sometime, and i know that its from a well known mexican painter, and we need the NES to find out its value on the market, so we can try to sell it!! thanks for the great rrading, it was very acurate and hopefull

Later on they shared this with me....

i want to tell you that i just recieved some promising news today, the appraiser liked the painting and consider it as an original art piece! and it, but he wants to get a 2nd opinion

-----

In doing this read, I used the Lerners' interpretation found in their LWB. But I also used the Golden Dawn interpretation of the card. Not to mention, since I do intuitive readings, the picture of the gnomes enjoying a nice evening at home was my intuitive hunch that the artwork was in the family for a long time, probably even passed down from generations because the 10 of coins card represents the passing on of tradition. In the Golden Dawn 10 of coins also represents communication. Can't wait to hear about any other news.