by Debra Madigan
"Gummy Bears are a tradition enjoyed by generations. Who better to turn to for inspiration or a new outlook on life?".....This quote from the 59 page companion booklet from the Gummy Bear Tarot from U.S. Games by Dietmar Bittrich (Artists Anneke Larsmeyer & Sascha Tessman) says it all, do not dismiss this deck as juvenile, as I did for a long time before examining it closer!
The art style most certainly is simplistic, although it does closely follow Rider-Waite in a very pared-down way. However, this serves to make it very easy for the intuitive Tarot reader from beginner to advanced to just blossom with psychic inspiration. I feel the clarity of the cards, the 'crayola'-like colors, and the happy images help the alpha waves flow. The fronts of the cards have a minimal white border, and the Major Arcana are labeled with the Title and also with the number (Fool=0). Some of my favorite Major cards are the Devil and Death, and the Hierophant (who appears female to me). The Minors are labeled also, and two of my favorites are the 5 of Pentacles, with two forsaken Gummys outside the church (one lame), and the ominous black caped Gummy of the 5 of Cups. The backs of the cards have 16 bears, 4 rows of 4, red, blue, green, and white. It is impossible to tell from the back if you have drawn a reversed card.
When reading with this deck, I found it very easy and a pleasure to use. It is definitely
querent friendly. The booklet reccomends using the Celtic Spread, or one to three card readings. As far as meanings of the cards, the meanings in the booklet assigned to the cards are slightly different and much more positive than Rider Waite, and there are no "reversal" meanings per se, only "strengths" and "weaknesses. One thing I loved about the booklet is that for every card, despite strength or weakness, it has an assigned "Task" per card, such as for 5 of Cups the Task is "Renewal". This is a very easy concept for anyone, your querent, or yourself if meditating with the deck to grasp.
The only drawback I see to this deck is that it is printed on somewhat thin card stock. A definite plus is that it comes in a cute little tin for card safekeeping. I would highly recommend this deck to both new and advanced readers. New readers can easily learn from the numbering of the cards, and the simplicity of the meanings in the booklets, especially the "tasks"; and advanced readers, especially Gummy lovers or Rider-Waite or Hansen-Roberts readers will be refreshed by the art and get many laughs. That alone is worth the price of the deck!