The World

*Copied & Pasted from a CaFleureBon article "The Turn of a Friendly Card" I wrote that posted 2/7/12* The Tarot is an ancient form of divination (a system of trying to understand one’s place and relation to cosmic forces beyond one’s control). There are many types of tarot decks and this line is based on the Gaian Tarot. All decks consist of 78 cards composed of two “Arcana” (Latin for mysteries). The Lesser Arcana (the equivalent of the modern playing card deck) are minor events and types of people we meet in our daily lives. The Greater Arcana represents archetypal experiences and roles everyone plays (in some form or another) at some point in their lives. These also correspond to the 22 paths between the 10 spheres of Kabbalah. Often called “The Fool’s Journey”, it begins with the Fool (Number 0) as an innocent who goes through many “stages” until, after many events (both good and bad) he emerges as the World (number 21). He is complete and in tune with himself and his environment. It is the Major Arcana that Amanda Feeley of Escentual Alchemy has focused on, for her perfumes. If you tried the mass market line of Tarot perfumes (Anthology) and found them wanting and rather generic, I urge you to give these perfumes a try! The World (no21) is expressed by sharp herbal lavender, hay, spicy sweet tonka beans combined with peru and tolu balsams and styrax with subtle fruity undertones. This particular “trump” symbolizes completion, victory over adversity and self-knowledge resulting in happiness. The “Fool” has finished his “journey” and found himself. He is content and at peace with himself, learned from all he has been through and has been reborn. Lavender (more green than floral here) along with hay brings to mind summer days and carefree country settings. Aromas of sun ripened fruits hanging on trees, and littering the ground, add a whisper of autumnal harvests. Thick spicy exotic resins and hints of both cinnamon and vanilla tease playfully as a superb woody dry down blends sensually on one’s skin. This is NOT the “World” in terms of its material wealth. It IS the scent of utter happiness and feeling “on top of the world” while enjoying life’s simpler but perhaps most meaningful riches. Sillage: quite good (for a botanical natural) Longevity: very good (for a botanical natural) Overall: 4/5 Amanda has plumbed the depths of her psyche and graced us with distillations and combinations of fragrances that truly capture universal experiences. I am eagerly awaiting the turn of the next card in her Tarot series and look forward to completing my own complete perfumed Major Arcana one day.