Just in time for Valentine’s Day, check out this Love Messages reading for singles and couples. It is a general pick-a-card reading, so take what resonates with you and let the rest go.
Need more love and romance? Check out the links below to other love readings on my YouTube channel @sandytoetarot.
A modern take on tarot by YouTube tarot reader Gregory Scott, these cards could be a welcome addition to your collection. Check out my review below to see how they compare to the Universal Waite tarot and what they can add to your readings.
I have had the Gregory Scott Tarot deck for a few months now and am thoroughly enjoying what the cards add to my tarot readings.
Comparison to Universal Waite
I always start my tarot deck reviews by comparing them to the Universal Waite deck. It is the first tarot deck I received as a gift more than 25 years ago and is still my go-to deck.
Example 1, Rider-Waite Deck, U.S. Game Systems, 1971. U.S. Games is the only authorized publisher by author Arthur Edward Waite’s estate, though the cards are officially in the public domain as of Dec. 31, 2021.
Example 2, Smith-Waite Deck, Publisher: U.S. Game Systems, 2009
Example 3, Universal Waite Deck, Publisher: U.S. Games System, 1992
The Universal Waite deck is a modernized version of the classic Rider-Waite/Smith-Waite tarot decks.
As you can see from the image at the left, the colors in the classic Rider-Waite deck are more vibrant than the original Smith-Waite deck. The Universal Waite deck is even brighter.
What all of these decks have in common, though, is the author. Arthur Edward Waite commissioned the deck in 1909. He wrote the script for the deck and was heavily involved in shaping the illustrations using occult and Khabbalic symbols as well as regional symbols from Ancient Greece and Medieval Europe.
Published in 2009, the Smith-Waite deck was a Centennial commemoration of the original Rider-Waite deck, using the original colors artist Pamela Coleman Smith chose. Smith created the art for the deck but did not receive credit initially. Rider was the publisher. Pamela chose muted colors that I think are romantic. I use these often in readings about romance.
The Universal Waite deck was published in 1992 with even more vibrant colors, but the images, you can see, are pretty much the same in all three decks.
The Rider-Waite deck tarot is, by far, the most popular deck in the world. It is the deck that all decks before and since have been judged by and compared to, so I am not alone in using this deck as the litmus test for other tarot decks.
To me, a tarot deck can have some differences in meanings and illustrations and still be considered a tarot deck. If the card meanings stray too far from the original imagery, symbolism and messages, however, they are not tarot cards, but rather oracle cards in a tarot deck format.
There’s nothing wrong with that. I have many such decks and like them, but they are not tarot cards, in my opinion.
In this regard, the Gregory Scott tarot deck is borderline. He does follow the classic 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana tarot format. His interpretations, both visually and in the writing that comes with the deck, are fairly close to the original meanings, but he does have some significant differences.
Notable Examples:
The 9 of Wands in the traditional tarot deck is a card of being battle worn and exhausted. In the Gregory Scott tarot deck, it is a card of victory and overcoming challenges.
The Ace of Swords in traditional tarot represents a victorious new beginning that comes from adversity or clarity. In the Gregory Scott tarot, it represents intellectual abundance that comes from intense study.
The Empress in traditional tarot represents motherhood, creativity and abundance. In the Gregory Scott Tarot, it represents being larger than life or taking the stage because it suits you.
Because there are several of these differences, I use the Gregory Scott tarot as a tarot deck, however, I most often use them as a companion to the Universal Waite tarot cards or other tarot decks with traditional tarot meanings. They add to the messages in some pretty fun and interesting ways but do not take the place of the traditional tarot messages.
See the link below to a rare Sandy Toe Tarot YouTube tarot reading where I use the Gregory Scott Tarot Deck for the main tarot messages.
Card Stock
The card stock on the Gregory Scott tarot deck is slightly thinner than the Universal Waite card stock.
They shuffle brilliantly! These cards are easily my favorites for shuffling because the card stock is the slightest bit thinner and the cards are slightly smaller — more the size of regular Hoyle playing cards. They may not last as long, but overall, I really like the feel of the cards. They just seem to flow in my hands.
Images
The imagery is one of the things I love most about these cards. The pictures are more modern, and in many cases, they are different from the original Universal Waite images. Because of this, the cards add meanings that you cannot get with traditional tarot cards.
The Verdict
Overall, I enjoy the Gregory Scott tarot cards in my YouTube readings. They are fun and provide a modern take on the complexities of life.
I haven’t yet busted them out in my in-person, one-on-one readings, but who knows? Maybe, I will do that soon.
Check out this YouTube reading using the Gregory Scott Tarot Deck!
Great news for tarot fans! Da Brigh Publishing has put out a new tarot deck.
The Native Spirit Tarot Deck celebrates the indigenous tribes of North America.
Many who have followed my tarot journey over the last couple of years know I lived in Oklahoma for large portion of my adult life. It is, in fact, where I learned how to read tarot cards more than 25 years ago.
So, when Da Brigh asked me to review this cards, I did not hesitate. First, I love tarot and am always excited to explore different decks. And secondly, I developed a deep respect for Native Americans during my time in Oklahoma. I appreciate much of what they stand for, especially their love of Mother Earth.
You can check out my full review of The Native Spirit Tarot here.
As I told the representative from Da Brigh, I have given these cards an honest review based on what I like to see in tarot cards. I am not in partnership with Da Brigh and am not endorsing the cards, I am simply giving you my opinion of them as a tarot reader.
If you do, however, like what you see, you can find how to purchase these cards at minute 28:36 in the video.
I can’t imagine anybody loving romance more than I do.
Romantic comedies are my favorite movies.
I, like Paul McCartney, just want to fill the world with silly love songs.
I cannot pass a wedding without stopping to stare, even though it may be rude.
When it comes to love and romance tarot readings, however, they’re not my favorite.
How can this be?
In part, the mama in me wants young people to focus on finding love within themselves before they look for it in others.
I also don’t like to deliver bad news, and sometimes love readings are not easy. As humans, we learn many of life’s lessons through relationships, so the karma can be thick in these types of readings.
If you are in it for the fun, however, check out this month’s love and romance readings. If it resonates with you, please leave a comment below the YouTube video. I love to hear what’s going on with you guys.
Check it out, y’all. It’s time for another Yes or No Pick-a-Card reading.
Have your questions ready. There are three piles, so you can get answer to 1, 2 or 3 questions.
A sincere “Thank You” to my tarot fans and YouTube subscribers for hanging in there with me. The next two months will be incredibly busy, so I can’t post as many readings as I would like. I will do them when I can though. I always miss reading for you guys!
That said, I hope you’re enjoying the early stages for autumn. It’s one of my favorite times of the year.
If you have an idea for a pick-a-card reading, let me know. You can also just put it in the comments below the YouTube video.
The Fall Equinox, Sept. 22, marks the beginning of a special time of year.
In the heavens, it represents the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator from north to south. During the equinoxes, (There is also one in March.), daylight hours and nighttime hours are equal. The word equinox is derived from Latin and means “equal night.”
For me, fall means cinnamon and spice-flavored apple and pumpkin dishes, stunning leaf-peeping trips through the mountains, and giving thanks for the many blessings we have in our lives.
I have a funny feeling this fall will bring some exciting changes, and I hope you feel the same. Personally, I have many new challenges and adventures planned, but I feel like it’s more than that. I think the doorway is opening to my new life. I will keep you posted. 🙂
Keep in mind, the readings are general and will not resonate with everyone. Take what resonates with you, and let the rest go. As with most of my readings these days, the “Fall 2021 Predictions” is a pick-a-card reading, so you can choose which pile you think will answer the question, “What’s coming up for me this fall?” Their are timestamps in the description box below the video. You can just click on the timestamp, and it will take you directly to that point in the video.
If you would like a personal reading, you can find out how to reach me at here.
Thanks for watching! Be sure to leave a comment if the reading resonates with you. I love hearing your stories.
I’m loving the one-minute readings on YouTube #shorts, but I am not crazy about the thumbnails they pick.
Oh, well. Vanity is probably not our best human trait anyway, right?
You’ll want to have your question ready for this super quick yes or no tarot reading. Also, if this one doesn’t answer your question, there are several more out on my YouTube channel: Sandy Toe Tarot.
If you’re loving the 1-minute readings too, please give the video a thumbs up. Thanks for watching.
When life gets a little funky and nothing goes according to plan, you can feel like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.
That’s what’s been going on around me lately. Things are weird. Money I thought was coming in did not. I am trying to get home but am stuck at a family member’s house for unforeseen reasons. It seems like everything I pursue falls through. Just weirdness all the way around.
I keep asking myself, what is this about? I do know that everything happens for a reason, and that what’s happening right now is temporary. I will eventually find the way through, but when everything seems to be going wrong, sometimes, you wonder what in the world is going to happen next?
Because I could use a “What You Don’t See Coming” reading right now, I thought maybe ya’ll could use one too. This reading is all about what’s heading toward you in the next seven days that you do not see coming.
I mixed it up a bit this time and pulled one card for each pile to start off the reading and give you another way to choose the pile that is for you. I think the readings came out great, and I was pleasantly surprised in all cases. Maybe the other shoe is not going to drop after all.
Visitor card from the Sedona Oracle deck by Kathleen Gabriel.
The coolest card in the deck, the Visitor card suggests that tourist or visitor you see in the distance may actually be an alien – figuratively, of course.
The message of the card? Things may not be quite what they appear to be.
It’s been a while, my patient followers, but I finally did a new weekly reading on YouTube. The topic this week is “What Blessings Are Coming Your Way?”
Though it is a weekly reading, it is also a timeless reading. That means whenever you click on the video, the message it about the blessings coming your way within the next seven days from the date you clicked on the video.
Sandy Toe Tarot 