The story of The Witches Tarot by Ellen Cannon Reed is one of a High Priestess seeking to bridge the gap between ancient Qabalistic traditions and modern Paganism. First published in 1989 by Llewellyn Publications, the deck and its 320-page companion book were designed to present the Tarot in a way that resonated deeply with "paganfolk" while maintaining traditional symbolism. The Vision and Purpose
Reed, a High Priestess of the Isian tradition, created the deck as a practical follow-up to her first book, The Witches Qabala. While her first book focused on the spheres of the Tree of Life, The Witches Tarot was designed to explore the Paths that connect them. Her goal was to show that the Tarot was not just for divination, but a vital tool for: Pathworking and meditation Magical rituals and astral travel Understanding the intersection of Wicca and Hermetic Qabala A Pagan Reimagining
The deck is famous for renaming traditional cards to better fit a Pagan worldview, removing Christian-centric imagery in favor of ancient archetypes:
The Witches Tarot: Reed, Connon Ellen, Cannon, Martin - Amazon.ca
Witches Tarot Ellen Cannon is widely regarded as a seminal work that bridges the gap between traditional Wiccan/Pagan beliefs and Qabalistic philosophy
. While often sought after in digital PDF formats for convenience, the physical kit originally included a 320-page companion book, 78 cards illustrated by Martin Cannon, and a unique "Four Seasons" layout sheet. Core Themes & Content Synthesis of Systems
: This is the first major work to explicitly explain Tarot through both a Wiccan and Qabalistic lens, connecting the cards to the paths of the Tree of Life Renamed Major Arcana
: Reed adjusted several traditional names to better suit Pagan sensibilities. For example, "The Devil" becomes The Horned One , "The Hierophant" becomes The High Priest , and "The Hermit" becomes The Seeker Pictorial Pips
: Unlike older decks, the Minor Arcana are fully illustrated with rural, Pagan-themed scenes that make the cards more intuitive for beginners. Elemental Shifts
: A notable departure from the standard Rider-Waite-Smith system is that Reed associates Wands with Air Swords with Fire Review Summary Witches' Tarot : Reed, Ellen Cannon: Amazon.se: Books the witches tarot ellen cannon reed pdf
The Witches Tarot by Ellen Cannon Reed is widely regarded as a seminal work for practitioners who want to bridge Wiccan/Pagan spirituality with Qabalistic symbolism. While the deck was first published in 1989, it remains a "collector's tome" because it is the first to clearly explain Tarot from both these points of view. Core Review Highlights
The Content (Book): Reviewers from Aeclectic Tarot and Manteia agree that the accompanying 320-page book is superior to the deck itself. It provides deep dives into the Qabalistic Tree of Life, pathworking, and specific card correspondences like Hebrew letters, scents, gems, and astrological attributions.
Artistic Style: The art by Martin Cannon consists of borderless, luminous oil paintings. While some find the imagery "arresting" and powerful, others on Amazon have criticized it as "tacky" or "cartoonish," noting that the characters sometimes resemble "Barbie and G.I. Joe" figures. Unique Features:
Renamed Majors: Several cards are renamed to fit Pagan themes—The Devil becomes The Horned One, The Hierophant becomes The High Priest, and The Hermit becomes The Seeker.
Court Card System: Unlike most decks, the Court cards in this system do not have individual meanings; they act as "modifiers" for the next card dealt.
Four Seasons Spread: The kit includes a unique layout sheet for this specific spread, which is not commonly available elsewhere. Pros & Cons
Comprehensive Guide: The book is one of the few that makes complex Qabala topics "understandable".
Static Court Cards: Some users dislike that all Court cards of the same type (e.g., all Kings) have identical imagery.
Pagan Focus: Deeply rooted in Wiccan philosophy rather than just being a "Rider-Waite clone". The story of The Witches Tarot by Ellen
Subjective Art: The "pre-computer" oil painting style can feel dated or overly "pretty" to modern readers.
Great for Learning: Recommended for beginners who want to learn both Tarot and the Tree of Life simultaneously.
Hard to Find: As a legacy title, it can be rare and expensive to find in its original boxed format.
You can find the full text available for preview or research at the Internet Archive.
The Witches Tarot (Llewellyn's Modern Witchcraft) - Amazon.de
Title: Bridging Qabalah and the Craft: A Comprehensive Review of The Witches Tarot by Ellen Cannon Reed
Introduction
In the vast and ever-expanding landscape of Tarot decks, few have maintained the distinct durability and magical respect commanded by The Witches Tarot by Ellen Cannon Reed. First published in the early 1990s—a golden era for modern Pagan publishing—this deck and its accompanying book offer far more than a tool for divination. They serve as a rigorous curriculum in Qabalah, ceremonial magic, and Wiccan spirituality.
For seekers searching for a digital version (PDF) of this work, the motivation is often clear: this is a text that requires deep study. However, understanding the structure, symbolism, and intent of the deck is vital before diving into the material, whether in physical or digital format. Read excerpts: Google Books or Amazon’s “Look Inside”
Unlike generic Tarot guides that attempt to be all things to all people, Reed's work is unapologetically specific. It is not merely a book about Tarot; it is a grimoire for the Wiccan practitioner. Here is what sets it apart:
If you want, I can write out a PDF-style study outline (original, not copied from the book) covering the correspondences and interpretations that Reed uniquely emphasizes — just let me know.
Wicca has a central ethical pillar: the Law of Return (the Threefold Law). Many modern Wiccans interpret this to include respecting the intellectual and artistic labor of one’s elders. Ellen Cannon Reed poured years of initiatory experience into this text. To seek a pirated PDF is, in a very real spiritual sense, taking energy without exchange.
You have better, more powerful options:
Do not underestimate your local library system. Many libraries carry Llewellyn titles. If they don’t have it, request an Interlibrary Loan (ILL). A librarian can often scan a chapter for research purposes under fair use, though not the entire book.
Let's address the core keyword: "the witches tarot ellen cannon reed pdf."
Why do people search for this specifically? Several reasons:
However, the search for a free PDF is fraught with problems.
The Witches Tarot is under active copyright. Llewellyn Worldwide is still in business, and the rights are held by Reed’s estate (she passed away in 2003). Uploading or downloading a full PDF without payment is copyright infringement. Reputable websites (like Archive.org) only host public domain works; this book does not become public domain for many decades.