The Stained Glass Tarot: An Illuminated Journey through the Cards, by James Edward
Destiny Books, 9798888500828, 336 pages, 78 cards, 2024

In this beautiful deck, The Stained Glass Tarot: An Illuminated Journey through the Cards, creator James Edward presents 78 stunning cards filled with rich imagery and breathtaking stained glass images. Calling on the artwork from stained glass found around the world in churches, cathedrals, and other places dedicated to the sacred, Edward accents the cards in black and gold.

Each card features at least one stained glass window, which is usually the backdrop. The 9 of Cups has 13 stained glass windows! It is truly amazing how he creates each card as a masterpiece, with rich jewel tones and rays of light that shine through his creations. 

The Stained Glass Tarot presents a guidebook that shares Edward’s inspiration for the deck, how to use the deck, and numerous ideas for spreads. Next, he includes a brief history of tarot and how tarot blends with astrology, numerology, and alchemy. He also touches on Carl Jung and how the Swiss psychologist used tarot for “self-discovery and personal growth.”1

In the back of the book, Edward provides a list of books on tarot for further information. My favorite on this list is The Devil’s Playbook: The Complete Guide to Tarot Cards by Paul Huson!

Edward explains that when he was taken to church as a child, he would sit and watch “the bright morning light that shone through the glass, dyeing my skin and endlessly enchanting my vision.”2 He further notes:

“I have tested my response to stained glass numerous times and have confirmed that anytime I am in the presence of stained glass, I experience the same feelings — wonder, awe and peace.”3

In addition to the daunting task of creating the stained glass inspired artwork for each card, Edward also gave himself the challenge to write a poem about the major arcana, the minor arcana, and every other card in the 78-card deck! He also includes key words for each card.  For the major arcana, Edward presents the following for each card within the guidebook:

• Poem to capture the elements of the card’s energy
• Card Upright meaning
• Card Reversed meaning
• Astrological meaning
• Obscure meaning
• Jungian interpretation
• Card meanings for each of these situations:

  • Love and relationships
  • Health and well-being
  • Money and careers
  • Spirituality and spiritual development
  • Seeking clarity
  • Answer to:  How is my past affecting my present?
  • Ancestral influence
  • Unknown or hidden influence

For the 56 cards of the minor arcana, Edward devotes eight pages to a study of the suits and extensive information about each one. Next, he shares two to three pages on each card, starting with a poem about the main themes. Then he presents basic meanings for both upright and reversed positions and key words.

To test drive the deck, I pulled a card for my daily card draw. I asked for guidance regarding some goals I recently set. I drew the Star card. What a magical card! In Edward’s deck, this card shows a woman holding a star and accented by stars. She appears to wear a halo and has on medieval dress, complete with what appears to be armor on her shoulders. She is pensive, but hopeful. In the guidebook, Edward shares:

“It indicates that, after a period of darkness or uncertainty, one can have faith in the future and look forward to brighter possibilities. . . In an upright position, the querent will see a clearer picture of the path they must take to resolve their situation or overcome their problem.  . .  moving forward with a renewed sense of hope and inspiration.4

I also did a reading for one of my friends and pulled the Knight of Pentacles card. I shared that this card revealed a message about stepping back and reviewing her progress. There might be a need to be more flexible, also. My friend almost started crying. She told me about a difficult situation at work and that this short message was the guidance she needed to keep going.

The cards are a nice size, at 3” X 5” and feature rounded corners and a white border. The cards are printed on a light card stock, so time will tell how it holds up with shuffling. The back of the cards highlights a beautiful stained glass window, with a round central design and an eight-pointed star. The front of the box honors the artwork from the Magician card. The box includes a magnetic flap, two indented areas for the cards and ample room for the guidebook. 

This deck would be great for any level of tarot reader, including a beginner.  Due to the tarot history and “how to” section, as well as the guidance for each card, a novice would really benefit from practicing with this deck. The poems are a very nice addition to the guidebook, as each poem gives hints to the energy of the card and the rhyming stanzas give the brain something interesting to read, enjoy and retain.

I plan to keep The Stained Glass Tarot on hand for client readings. The extensive guidance will make a nice addition to my readings and the beautiful cards are an extra bonus. I really love this deck!

About the Author

James Edward has more than 20 years of experience in witchcraft, animism and other areas of the occult. He follows the symbology of the Rider-Waite tradition in creating this deck. As a chemist by day who works with a chemical company, Edward also enjoys house remodeling, cooking, and adding to his Tamagotchi collection. He currently enjoys his many cats and his home in southeastern Texas.