Divination: The Pagan Tarot by Gina M Pace

 

The Pagan Tarot

By Gina M. Pace ( Wicce)

The Pagan Tarot by Gina M. Pace (known in the Pagan community by the name Wicce) is one of the most respected modern Wiccan-themed tarot decks. First published by Lo Scarabeo in the early 2000s, it was created to portray the life of a contemporary Pagan woman whose spiritual practice is woven naturally into her everyday life. The artwork was illustrated by Luca Raimondo and coloured by Cristiano Spadoni. 

Unlike many “fantasy” Pagan decks filled with medieval castles, elves, or mythical landscapes, the Pagan Tarot is grounded firmly in the modern world. The cards depict apartments, parks, city streets, cars, computers, coffee shops, and everyday relationships. Rituals are performed in living rooms or gardens rather than enchanted forests. This realism makes the deck feel accessible and authentic, particularly to modern practitioners of Wicca and Paganism. 

Theme and Story

One of the deck’s unique features is that it tells the story of a single young witch as she progresses through both ordinary life and her spiritual path.

Rather than each card standing entirely alone, many cards feel like chapters in an unfolding narrative. Across the Major Arcana, the protagonist experiences:

• discovering her spiritual calling
• learning magical practice
• forming relationships
• facing personal challenges
• celebrating Sabbats
• growing into wisdom

The Minor Arcana continue this narrative by showing daily experiences involving work, friendships, family life, coven activities, rituals, and personal development. This creates an immersive experience that many readers find emotionally engaging. 

Artwork

The artwork is realistic rather than highly symbolic.

Instead of relying heavily on esoteric imagery, the symbolism is conveyed through familiar Pagan objects such as:

• athames
• chalices
• pentacles
• ritual candles
• cauldrons
• altars
• seasonal decorations
• circles cast for ritual

The colours are warm and vibrant, with expressive human figures that make emotions easy to read.

Tarot System

The deck follows the classic Rider–Waite–Smith structure closely, making it straightforward for readers already familiar with traditional tarot.

It contains:

• 22 Major Arcana
• 56 Minor Arcana
• Wands
• Swords
• Chalices (instead of Cups)
• Pentacles

One interesting difference lies in the Court Cards

Traditional	Pagan Tarot
Page	Novice
Knight	Initiate
Queen	Elemental
King	Elder

These names reflect stages of magical development rather than social rank, reinforcing the deck’s initiatory theme. 

Wiccan Influence

The deck is strongly influenced by modern Wicca, although it isn’t tied to any single tradition.

Throughout the cards you’ll encounter themes including:

• the Wheel of the Year
• the four elements
• Goddess and God symbolism
• moon rituals
• magical circles
• seasonal festivals
• personal responsibility
• harmony with nature

However, the imagery remains subtle enough that non-Wiccans can still use the deck comfortably.

Reading Style

Many readers find this deck particularly effective for questions involving:

• personal growth
• spirituality
• relationships
• finding one’s life path
• magical practice
• everyday decision-making

Its contemporary imagery often makes intuitive readings easier because the situations resemble modern life rather than historical allegories.

Guidebook

The companion guidebook written by Gina M. Pace provides more than standard card meanings. It discusses the symbolism, explains the story behind each image, and offers interpretations rooted in modern Pagan spirituality. The expanded boxed editions include a much more detailed guide than the standard booklet. 

Reception

Within the tarot community, the Pagan Tarot is often regarded as something of an underrated classic. Reviewers and readers frequently praise its coherent storytelling and its realistic portrayal of contemporary Pagan life. Some note that the card backs are not fully reversible, making reversed cards easier to spot, and a few readers prefer more archetypal symbolism, but many appreciate the deck precisely because it feels grounded and relatable. 

If you are interested in Wicca, modern witchcraft, or contemporary Pagan spirituality, this is an excellent deck. It bridges traditional Rider–Waite symbolism with modern Pagan practice without becoming overly esoteric. Because it tells the story of a practising witch navigating ordinary life alongside her spiritual path, it can feel especially meaningful to readers who see tarot as a tool for self-development and spiritual reflection rather than solely for divination.

The deck is readily available new or used.

Tarot Pagano/Pagan TarotLo Scarabeo (Editor)

Language: English

ISBN 13: 9780738702438

https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/pagan-tarot/author/gina-pace/

https://mysticalandmagical.co.uk/products/pagan-tarot-card-deck-by-gina-m-pace-wicce

About the deck creator
Gina M. Pace

Before creating the deck, Pace had already spent more than 25 years reading and teaching tarot. She also ran the influential website wicce.com, which became a popular resource for tarot reviews, deck information, and discussions of Wiccan spirituality during the early years of the internet. 

One of Pace’s guiding beliefs is that spirituality should be integrated into ordinary daily life rather than kept separate from it. This philosophy shaped the Pagan Tarot, where the cards depict modern witches balancing work, relationships, family, and magical practice. Instead of castles and medieval imagery, the cards feature apartments, cars, parks, computers, and urban settings alongside altars, rituals, and seasonal celebrations. 

In interviews, Pace has explained that the idea for the deck grew from years of reading with the Rider–Waite–Smith tarot. She often found herself thinking, “If this were my deck, here’s how I would illustrate this card.” As an openly practising Wiccan who was reviewing tarot decks for the Pagan community, she wanted to create a deck that reflected how contemporary witches actually live and practise. 

Although the deck is firmly rooted in modern Wicca, Pace deliberately kept the underlying tarot structure close to the Rider–Waite–Smith system. This makes it familiar to experienced readers while allowing Wiccan symbolism to enrich, rather than replace, the traditional meanings. She also renamed the Court Cards to reflect stages of spiritual development:

• Elemental (Page)
• Novice (Knight)
• Initiate (Queen)
• Elder (King)

These titles emphasise learning, experience, and wisdom instead of rank or gender.  Beyond the Pagan Tarot, Gina M. Pace has also created the Pagan Lenormand Oracle, applying the same philosophy of presenting Pagan spirituality in a contemporary, accessible way. 

Her influence

While Gina M. Pace is not as widely known as creators such as Rachel Pollack or Mary K. Greer, she has had a significant influence within the modern Pagan and Wiccan tarot community. Her work helped demonstrate that tarot could authentically reflect twenty-first-century Pagan practice without losing its traditional symbolic foundations.

https://www.llewellyn.com/author.php?author_id=5722&srsltid=AfmBOoqSoD-xhjCouI8CHQonUSPozuyEtg7nHL2fT0S80ZqKqCeKkRli

Book time: The Vikings by Else Roesdahl

 

The Vikings 

By Else Roesdahl 

Paperback 324 pages 

First published 1987 as “Vikingernes” by Gyldendal , Copenhagen ( in Danish)

Edition discussed Second Edition in English by Penguin Books, 1998 ( from my own library)

The Vikings by Else Roesdahl is widely regarded as one of the finest single-volume introductions to the Viking Age. First published in English in 1987 in Denmark and later thoroughly revised and expanded, the current Penguin edition (324 pages) incorporates decades of new archaeological discoveries and scholarship. 

Roesdahl is one of Denmark’s foremost Viking scholars, having spent much of her career excavating Viking sites, studying medieval Scandinavia, and curating major museum exhibitions. Her academic expertise gives the book a strong archaeological foundation while remaining accessible to general readers. 

Rather than presenting the Vikings simply as fearsome raiders, Roesdahl paints a comprehensive portrait of an entire civilisation. She argues that although Viking raids captured the imagination of medieval chroniclers, warfare was only one aspect of a sophisticated society that was equally shaped by farming, craftsmanship, trade, exploration, poetry, law, and religion. 

The artwork and black and white plates help to illustrate the book perfectly including maps of the Vikings’ settlements and conquests.

The book follows the Viking Age from approximately AD 750 to 1100, examining how Scandinavian peoples expanded across Europe and beyond while simultaneously transforming their own societies.

Among the subjects explored are:

• The origins of the Viking Age.
• Daily life on Scandinavian farms.
• Family structure and social hierarchy.
• Jarls, kings, and political organisation.
• Viking longships and navigation.
• Trade routes stretching from North America to Byzantium and the Islamic world.
• Weapons and warfare.
• Pagan beliefs, mythology, and ritual practices.
• Burial customs and funerary archaeology.
• Rune stones and writing.
• Viking art, jewellery, and craftsmanship.
• The conversion to Christianity.
• The end of the Viking Age and its lasting legacy. 

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its reliance on archaeology rather than later medieval legends alone. Roesdahl explains what excavations at sites such as Birka, Hedeby, Jelling, and Oseberg reveal about Viking society, often correcting long-standing myths.

The book also highlights the remarkable reach of Viking travel. Readers learn how Scandinavians established settlements in:

• England
• Ireland
• Normandy
• Iceland
• Greenland
• Vinland (North America)
• Russia
• Byzantium
• The Abbasid Caliphate through extensive trade networks

This broader perspective demonstrates that the Vikings were explorers, merchants, settlers, diplomats, and craftspeople as much as they were warriors. 

Relevance to Paganism

Although primarily a historical work rather than a book on mythology, The Vikingscontains valuable chapters on pre-Christian Norse religion, including:

• The worship of Odin, Thor, Freyr, Freyja, and other deities.
• Sacred places and ritual sites.
• Sacrifice and religious ceremonies.
• Burial rites and beliefs about the afterlife.
• The gradual Christianisation of Scandinavia.

For readers interested in modern Heathenry or Norse paganism, these chapters provide an evidence-based account of what can reasonably be inferred from archaeology and historical sources, while also explaining where certainty ends and speculation begins.

Despite its academic credentials, the book is highly readable. Roesdahl writes clearly and avoids excessive technical jargon, making it suitable for enthusiastic beginners while remaining detailed enough for university students and serious history enthusiasts.

Illustrations, photographs of artefacts, maps, reconstructions, and site plans greatly enhance the text, helping readers visualise Viking life.

The book has long been considered a standard introduction to Viking studies and is frequently recommended by historians, archaeologists, and online academic communities as one of the best starting points for understanding the Viking Age. More recent works—such as Neil Price’s Children of Ash and Elm or Anders Winroth’s The Age of the Vikings—offer newer interpretations in some areas, but Roesdahl’s work remains respected for its balanced, evidence-based overview. 

For anyone interested in Viking history, Norse culture, or the archaeological realities behind the popular image of the Vikings, The Vikings is an outstanding choice. It succeeds in replacing stereotypes of “helmeted raiders” with a nuanced picture of a complex civilisation that profoundly influenced medieval Europe. It is especially valuable because it balances accessibility with scholarly rigour, making it one of the most enduring introductions to the Viking world.

The book is readily available new and used.

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

ISBN: 9780141984766

https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-vikings/else-roesdahl/kirsten-williams/9780141984766

Also available free from the Internet Archive 

https://archive.org/details/vikingsreviseded00else

About the author 

Else Roesdahl (born 26 February 1942) is a distinguished Danish archaeologist, medieval historian, and author who is internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading authorities on the Viking Age. Over a career spanning more than five decades, she has combined meticulous archaeological research with an ability to communicate Viking history to a broad audience. 

Roesdahl was born in Sønderborg, in southern Denmark. She studied history and Nordic archaeology at the University of Copenhagen, graduating in 1969. Shortly afterwards, she joined the newly established Department of Medieval Archaeology at Aarhus University, where she would spend the majority of her academic career. 

Roesdahl became a professor of Medieval Archaeology at Aarhus University in 1996 and is now Professor Emerita. Her research has focused on:

• Viking settlements and fortresses.
• Medieval Scandinavian society.
• The Christianisation of Denmark.
• Viking trade networks.
• Burial customs and material culture.
• The use of walrus ivory and other luxury goods in the Viking world. 

She has published more than two dozen books, numerous book chapters, and dozens of scholarly articles, making her one of the most prolific researchers in Viking studies. 

Contributions to Viking Archaeology

One of Roesdahl’s most significant achievements has been her work on Denmark’s great Viking ring fortresses, particularly Fyrkat, one of the circular military fortifications associated with King Harald Bluetooth. Her excavations and publications have greatly advanced understanding of Viking military organisation, settlement patterns, and royal authority. 

She has consistently demonstrated that the Vikings were far more than raiders. Through archaeological evidence, she has shown them to have been:

• Skilled farmers.
• Master shipbuilders.
• Long-distance traders.
• Craftspeople.
• Explorers.
• Lawmakers.
• Artists. 

Museum and Exhibition Work

Beyond academia, Roesdahl has played a major role in bringing Viking history to the public. She coordinated several major international exhibitions, including:

• The Vikings in England and Their Danish Homeland (1981–82), shown in Denmark and York.
• From Viking to Crusader: Scandinavia and Europe 800–1200, a landmark exhibition that travelled to Paris, Berlin, and Copenhagen. 

These exhibitions helped reshape public understanding of the Viking Age by presenting it as a rich and sophisticated civilisation rather than simply an era of conquest.

Notable Books

Among her best-known publications are:

• The Vikings (1991; revised editions).
• Viking Age Denmark.
• The Viking World (Vikingernes Verden in Danish).
• Daily Life in Medieval Denmark.
• Works on Greenland’s Norse settlements and Viking archaeology. 

Awards and Honours

Roesdahl has received numerous honours for her scholarship, including:

• The Søren Gyldendal Prize (1988), one of Denmark’s most prestigious literary and cultural awards.
• Appointment as a Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog, later promoted to First Class.
• Honorary doctorates from Trinity College Dublin (1995) and the University of York (2009).
• Election to the Academia Europaea in 2022 in recognition of her outstanding contributions to historical and archaeological research. 

Legacy

Else Roesdahl’s greatest contribution has been to bridge the gap between academic research and popular history. Her books are admired for their clarity, balance, and reliance on archaeological evidence, making them standard references for students, historians, reenactors, and anyone interested in Norse history.

She has also helped dispel many enduring myths—such as the popular image of Vikings wearing horned helmets—by grounding her work firmly in the archaeological record. Her scholarship presents the Viking Age as a period of cultural exchange, innovation, and exploration, offering a far richer and more nuanced understanding of Scandinavia’s medieval past than traditional stereotypes allow.