More White Cats....

So, continuing on with yesterday's reading, I am trying to figure out this whole career thing.  I like what I do, but I think I can do better or different.  Maybe I am ready to make the big plunge.  Maybe not.  Anyway, 3 more cards...

The Knight of Cups tells me that perhaps this Air of Water would be a good place to start.  Have Air, can think.  Have Water, can care.  Bring that to Earth and you gotta pretty well rounded package.  Except Fire, though.  Something to think about, maybe.  And then sitting in the middle is a rather fat King of Wands.  I was a bit surprised that he is so fat.  Nothing wrong with being fat.  But it just struck me as odd that the Fire of Fire would be fat and lethargic.  And hmmm.....well, maybe that is the message.   Maybe this is what too much Fire can do.  Make a person greedy and wanting to consume everything around them - all the money, all the power, all the everything.  So, here we have the missing Air and Water in the Knight, but a surplus of Fire shown in the King.  These are things the Lovely Queen of Disks was missing - but the warning is clear.

What warning?  Why that little 2 of Disks!  He looks right out and says to beware going too far in any one direction.  I do think he is supporting Air and Water - seriously, look at all the Air and Water in that card!

November 17 - 23, 2012 ~ Tarot of the The White Cats

I have had this deck for some time.  I think it was the 'mini' part that made me interested.  That and the cat theme.  However, it is so very RWS and I am not enamoured of it at all.  I have tried to read with it and the cards are so small that I can't see them at all.  I have put this deck off for all this time, but now that I am down to the last few decks in the collection, I have to deal with it. 

A quick 3-card reading this evening netted:

Queen of Pentacles ~ Ace of Chalices ~ 2 of Pentacles

I used no spread, no positional meanings, and had no focus.  But the first thing is Career - TADA - Career.

That is what it looks like to me, anyway.  I am striving to be the QofP at my job. I want to be calm and confident.  I want to nurture as well as educate.  And yet, that isn't happening.  Or more realistically, it is tending to go all QofP to the extreme.  TOO nurturing.  I get mired down and can't answer questions without sounding stupid.  I end up doubting myself and my future.  But then again, this is what I want to do.  And that means something.  And given that, the Ace of Cups is telling me that there is a starting point, even for things that bring joy.  One doesn't just start out all perfect and ready to go! No, there is a bit of a maturation time.  So what's the trick?? The trick is in the 2 of P.  Finding that balance, being comfortable, and making the little changes that can allow for maturation into something more meaningful. The Q of P can happen - but it needs to find some balance with some other "stuff."  Air and Water would be good to add.  Get the emotions under control and focused and also allow the mind to be sharp.



I still wish I could see the cards! LOL

October 28 - November 3, 2012 ~ Wormweird Tarot

Wormweird Tarot
George Higham
EOS, 2007

Well, this deck is so unique that I can't really do it justice.  I suggest you visit the website and click "START."  Take the tour and enjoy.

It is a fascinating deck and what is amazing about it is that each image is a real set up - it was set up, photographed and destroyed.  I think that is what gives it its charm.  Well, "charm" may not be the right term here?

One thing about the deck is that it is in the tradition where Swords are represented by fire and Wands by air.  It is a bit different at first, but like the other decks I have that are this way, it just takes a moment and then it makes perfect sense.  When I go back to a "normal" deck, it no longer makes sense.  That, in itself, makes no sense.  But there it is!

If you get an opportunity to get this deck, do.  It is deliciously dark and creepy, but reads quite well.  The only problem with it is that the cards are incredibly sturdy and large.  Of course, on the other hand, this is good because the deck is not easy to get, one doesn't have to worry about it disintegrating.  

October 20 - 27, 2012 Medival Cat Tarot

Medieval Cat Tarot
Laurence Teng, Gina Pace
US Games, 2004

I purchased this deck from a member at the Aeclectic Tarot Forum (link at the bottom of every page),  in 2005.  This was the first time I have used it.  Precisely the reason for having a "Deck of the Week" exercise!

For the most part, I enjoyed working with this deck this week.  However, as the week went on, I got the feeling that this deck would never be on my list of favorites.  It is nice for the occasional reading, but not for all the time.  The images are so tiny - the decorative border and backgrounds gets almost too distracting from the rest of the card.  The little image in the center of the card tended to be cute and the cats have great expression.  But they are just so tiny!

The card stock is typical for the time and publisher.  Heavily laminated, reeking of chemicals, and slick.  Plus the cards stick together.   The near monotone of the colors gets a bit much after awhile.  A little white space would be nice.

But overall, the artwork is well done, the kitties are cute and full of expression, and I like the tarot de Marseille representation with the little graphic in the middle. 

Tower Moments and Good Advice

 
Today's continuation started with Tower in the Situation place.  What? "Destruction of old values?"  Really?!  You think? After the conflagration of the Ace of Wands and the Knight of Swords I suppose it would make sense.  But the advice of the day before holds true - bring a little compassion. 


In the Outcome place the 7 of Wands warns about becoming too "fiery" during this time of change.  The Outcome calls for opposition, but with courage rather than aggression.

Advice:  Death.  Seriously.  Best advice for a Tower Situation. Ever.

On a side note, just look at that Death card.  It is one of my favorites.  The butterflies signify inevitable change - no matter what the caterpillar wants, it will change.  Deal with it. 

21 October 2012

I am thinking of trying something a bit different.  I am not really a deck reviewer.  I do have opinions, but I found during my blogging and tarot hiatus that my good 'reviews' are the ones that I did not post here in public.  Rather, the information that I put in my deck database is more concise and more relatable by me.  I record from whom I received the deck, why, and what I like / dislike.  I felt less pressure doing it that way.  So, I thought that instead, I will post the occasional reading from my week with the deck.  I might post them all.  I might not.  Right now, it is important that I don't feel obligation.

So my first reading with the Medieval Cat Tarot is in continuation of a running reading that I have been doing for the last 2 weeks.  It consists of a situation, an outcome, and an advice card.  As I have done these each day, I have found that as I act upon the advice (or not), the situation card changes, yet remains within the theme.  I want to keep doing this until it starts to fall apart.  I am not going to post the previous readings, but so far, the scenario is all about Air - getting more air into my life.  Trusting my intellect and my own mind.  That kind of stuff.  It relates mostly to my career, but also has repercussions in my daily life.

Situation: Ace of Wands (Fire)
The egg as the top of the wand speaks of potential, inspiration, and birth of fiery energy.  Starting to feel the spark of inspiration - starting to wake up and be involved once more.  I am finding creativity and losing apathy.


Outcome: Knight of Swords (Air of Air)
Clarity of mind and purpose.  Energy of inspiration will find a vehicle of manifestation in the Knight.  

Advice: Queen of Cups (Water of Water)
Temper the conflagration of the Ace of Wands / Knight of Swords with a little water.  Keep it from becoming all consuming by bringing an element of compassion and take time to test the waters before plunging forward.

June 16 - 22, 2012 ~ Intuitive Tarot

The Intuitive Tarot
Cilla Conway
Connections, 2004

I received this deck as part of what I refer to as "The Gift of Golden Dawn."  Not all of the decks are GD strictly, but most are either GD or Thoth in nature.  Even those with a slight RW flavor.

The cards are a nice size and have lovely purple backs with a simple oval in silver ink.   The use of colors is very interesting and I really find the artwork to be of good quality.  There is enough detail on the cards to allow for the intuitive juices to flow (so to speak), but not so much that one feels influenced.


I had a very long week at work, full of meetings and deadlines, and was not as alert and awake as I normally like to be when working with a deck.  But this deck still was "easy" to read.  I didn't feel coerced to use RWS meanings (this deck is labeled as RWS tradition).  And frankly, that is one of my major peeves with most RWS decks.  But that is a rant for a different day!

All in all, this is a good deck and one I will be reaching for on those days when I am just tired and want to get lost in the stories of the cards.

Rating: Keeper +

June 2, 2012 - 8, 2012 ~ Gill Tarot

Gill Tarot
Elizabeth Gill
US Games, 1991

This was a birthday gift from a dear, dear lady who sadly has been excluded (for now) from the world of tarot and her tarot friends.  Hopefully, she will be able to find her way back.  For now, much love and support are sent along the Universal Strand....

The Gill Tarot has been on my wishlist for some time.  I was very excited when I received this surprise gift.  First of all, it was brand new and sealed in cellophane.  Who cares if it recently sold for $65.00 on eBay!! I ripped off the cellophane and found that the squat deck was nearly the perfect size for me to shuffle comfortably!  It will need some serious shuffling to get it broken in...


It is GD/Thoth in nature and reads very well as such.  The use of colors and simple images make the pips remarkably expressive - given each has a rather large number on the card face!  Even in scans, I never felt the numbers were overbearing - they become part of the image, not interfere with it.  The majors are colorful and well executed, I think. 

As a reading deck, I found it easy to read.  It just has an easy style about it - relaxed and not full of itself! I recommend it to anybody lucky to find it. 

April 28 - May 4, 2012 ~ Bohemian Gothic, 2nd Edition

Bohemian Gothic, 2nd Edition
Karen Mahony, Alex Ukulov
Magic Realist Press, 2010

Another "repeat," as I visited the 1st Edition back in October of 2011.  

See, just like the Tarot of Prague, I kept passing on buying this deck.  It looked nice and all, but ...  Well, when Karen posted before/after pictures on the Baba Prague Facebook page, I was seriously hooked.  I prefer the 2nd Edition, though the 1st is lovely.  I liked the way the images were brought in closer and some of the extraneous backgrounds eliminated.  Another aspect that I liked was the brightening of some of the cards. The card stock was amazing and the clam shell box was perfect.  I pre-ordered from Amazon and got my deck quickly.  I also have the Pewter version - a beautiful copy with no blemishes.  It is just so shiny and pretty!

Working with this deck is pleasurable.  It feels nice in the hand and offers highly detailed scenes for exploration.  Each card encompasses both positive and challenging aspects of the "traditional" meanings.  One of the most intriguing cards is the Sun.  While creepy, it still brings that positive knowledge that the sun will rise and thing will become clear.  Or the challenging knowledge that the sun rise will bring an end to this fascinating tale of Gothic vampires and monsters.  Either way, good or bad, the sun is going to rise and everything will change. 

April 21 - 27, 2012 ~ Tarot of Prague, 1st Edition

Tarot of Prague, 1st Edition
Karen Mahoney, Alex Ukolov
Magic Realist Press

This is a revisit to the magical Tarot of Prague.  This time, to the 1st Edition.  Back on  July 9-15, 2011, I originally visited this tarot and was astounded.  Logically, I shouldn't like this deck at all.  I looked at it and sniffed disdainfully when it first appeared in shops.  Funny, how things change!

This deck came to me from the same person who gifted me the 2nd Edition.  Also, the book!  This time 'round, having the book to read about the images was a real treat.  I appreciate that they have included this information as well as historical information.  This brings depth to the cards that was missing without having the book at hand.

The card stock is much more firm in this deck than the 2nd Edition.  More like the Bohemian Gothic, 2nd Edition.  It is in a little portfolio which ties with golden ribbon.  Very fitting.  The colors seem richer than the new edition.

I could go on about how beautiful it is to work with - or you could just click the link above and visit the previous entry.  I enjoy the deck immensely, but this one has been put back into its portfolio, tied with care, and stored back in an antique cigar box with my other prized decks.  I will use the 2nd edition for every day use! 

Shown are my three favorite cards from the deck. 

Rating: Favorite (still)
 

April 14 - 20, 2012 ~ The Merlin Tarot

The Merlin Tarot
RJ Steward
Art by Miranda Gray
Element, 2002

In November 2011, I bought this deck from a member at AT.  It sat on my shelf, unused, until April 14, 2012.  What a loss.  So much time lost when I could have been enjoying the unique wonder of this deck.

Physically, it is a nicely constructed deck.  The cards are a nice size, easy to shuffle, and not terribly slippery.  The packaging is a bit excessive as it comes in a large box with a very small book.  The book is a watered down version of Mr Stewart's more complete book on this deck. 

After about 5 minutes with the book, I learned I was missing two cards.  Not a huge issue as the person from whom I purchased the deck happily emailed me scans with the pertinent information from another text by Mr Stewart.  This is a deceptive deck in appearance.  It looks so simple and plain.  But don't be fooled.  There is serious depth in these cards.

One thing that was a bit off-putting at first was the numbering on the majors.  The Priestess as XXI was causing the numerology processing part of my brain to over heat.  But after reading his disclaimer that numbering had no place in the majors and that the numbers on the cards were for convenience only, I calmed down.  Whew! I can accept that.  I just ignore them.  Really, if there were no titles on these cards, it wouldn't be a bad thing. 

The minors are unillustrated pips (a misnomer because they are very well illustrated!) and the suits are Beasts, Fish, Birds, Serpents.  They fit well as the suits.  Really, there was no problem using my personal system with these cards.  Mr Stewart has outlined a system in the book, but it requires more study than one week.  And truthfully, I am not sure that if I will ever really use it.  However, his insights do add depth to my own understanding.  For example, he divides the majors into groups of 3 cards each, with the Universe card existing outside any group as "One Manifest Destiny."   Makes alot of sense.

As a reading deck it was very nice.  I like the simplicity of the artwork and the way that so much can be learned from facial expression and body language.  I look forward to using this deck in the future.

Rating: Keeper +

April 07 - 13, 2012 ~ Baseball Tarot

Baseball Tarot
Mark Lerner, Laura Phillips, Dan Gardiner
Workman Publishing, 1999

If the world were perfect, it wouldn't be - Yogi Berra

I got this gem from a member at Aeclectic Tarot.  Got it cheap! In fact, it was my first purchase from an AT member!

It is a nice set that fits together with the book and the cards.  Unfortunately, the cards aren't secured well and they will fall out of the folder / box contraption!  The cards are large, thick, and heavily laminated.  Shuffles fairly well, though, but with a tendency to stick together.  The artwork is excellently done and the card is not ruined by borders and obnoxious titles.  The back is great - baseballs on a starry background.  A cosmic game of sorts.

The deck is set up a bit different.  It isn't just the suits, either, which are Mitts (Cups), Balls (Swords), Bats (Wands), and Bases (Coins).  The cards are numbered Ace through 12 and then Coach and MVP.  There really is no reason to have a traditional court.  The majors are well named and the baseball themes associated fit extremely well.  It is, really, one of the better decks out there. 

As a reading deck, it is remarkable.  Normal "tarot" methods work well as do intuition (or picture reading).  Because the card images very accurately reflect card meaning, it is a breeze to read.  If you know baseball.  If you don't, it will be challenging and possibly frustrating.  However, due to the high quality of the artwork, facial and body expression help to bring meaning.  The jargon, however, might be problematic. 

The accompanying book is well written and presents information in a clever manner.  Non-baseball enthusiasts will definitely find help within its pages.  Best, however, are the quotations that are included for every card.  Yogi Berra is often quoted and the chosen quotes are relevant to the card. 

Rating: Favorite

March 31 - April 06, 2012 ~ Tarocchi della Corte di Merlino

Tarocchi della Corte di Merlino 
Gloria Ricci
Museo dei Tarocchi,
#256/500

This is one of those decks that I secretly wanted, but couldn't really justify paying the money for.  Until one of those Reverse Auctions that The Tarot Garden is so good at!   I have a big soft spot for tarots put out by the Museo dei Tarocchi.  I have several on my lust wish, and most of them are on my want list. 

This is a majors only deck and is based on the story of Merlin.  The main characters are represented, though I can really attest to them being represented as well as they could be.  The colors used by the artist are rich and deep, giving the cards a very lovely look.  The cardstock is heavy and uncoated.  The backs are hideous, but it seems to be the emblem of the Museo dei Tarocchi and is found on several of their decks. 

I wasn't sure it would be useful as a reading deck, but it has such good artwork and the associations to the Merlin legends are adequate enough to make it readable.  The biggest problem is that the cards are not coated, varnished, laminated or otherwise protected.  One must ensure a clean work surface, clean and dry hands, and NO beverages.  Being wet would ruin this deck.

Rating: Collectible

March 24 - 30, 2012 ~ Etteilla Book of Thoth

Etteilla Book of Thoth
Lo Scarabeo, 2003

I received this deck in trade in February 2012.  I thought that since I like beating myself over the head with Etteilla type decks, that this would be a good addition! 

The cards are the usual nice Lo Scarabeo card stock.  A bit taller than most decks, but not huge.  There are no extra titles as is usual for LoS decks, just the original Etteilla titles.  It came with a nice multilingual LWB that was surprisingly informative. 

Like most Etteilla decks, it is melodramatic. For example, the 10 of Cups Reversed is "Wrath."  That is a bit strong, don't you think?  It makes the deck a beginner's nightmare because everything is proscribed.  One would think that having proscribed meanings such as one finds with Etteilla decks that it would be easier.   However, as mentioned, these proscribed meanings are overly dramatic in nature.  There are sinister men waiting around every corner to bilk a poor widow of her savings.  Perhaps, life tended more to the dramatic in the 18th century?

Source material is not widely translated, but there are resources available on the Internet.   Villa Revak is a fun and informative site.  There are many interesting things to read there and I do recommend it.  Additionally, doing a search for "Etteilla" at SuperTarot will yield some interesting results.   Source material in French can be found at Google Books - do a search for "Alliette."  Another place to visit is the National Library of France. 

As a reading deck, it is a bit difficult.  For one thing, the elements are quite different.  Wands are Earth; Cups are Water; Swords are Air; Coins are Fire.  Another is the numbering of the Majors.  Villa Revak has a nice summary of correspondences for majors.  He also provides supporting works for his correspondences.   At first, reading the card by looking at the image and taking element into account was difficult.  Toward the end of the week, I was getting able to read the pictures and find the support for the proscribed card meanings.  Though, I will admit I never brought astrology into the mix as my knowledge of astrology is very limited.

As a final reading, I ask the cards if there are any final words.  This deck gave me the Knight of Coins, reversed 10 of Cups and 3 of Cups.  Essentially - invest the work and frustration will turn to success.  While this is true, I am not sure if I want to invest that much time into a system that doesn't seem to fit for me.  I am quite fond of the Thoth / Golden Dawn Tradition.  I appreciate the historical significance of the Etteilla, but I can't see it becoming my primary system.

Rating: Keeper

March 16 - 23, 2012 ~ Parrott Tarot

Parrott Tarot
Margaret Parrot
ss adams, 1998

I won this deck on eBay - it had been on my 'watch list' for quite awhile.  I got it for quite cheap and it was nicely broken in.

The cards are short and squat and laminated lightly.  They have a nice feel to them and the colors are bright.  The artwork is nice and simple.  The expressions on the faces of the various characters are quite cute, even the grouchy decks have a bit of cute about them.  Of course, it could be that little parrot in the lower corner that is just overwhelming the rest of each card with its cuteness.  The deck box says it is inspired by the Rider-Waite Tarot, though it looks and feels very Thothy.  I would say it is a Thoth inspired deck, but let's split the difference and call it a "Mixed Tradition" deck.

The deck has an extra court card called Mentor.  These mentor cards are essentially Chiron (the Centaur, remember him?) giving voice to the elements.  On each card, Chiron is there handing a symbol of the element to the representative of that element.  For air, it is a harpy.  For water, a mermaid.  For earth, a bear with a human torso (like a bear centaur).  And for fire, there is a salamander (with a human head).  At first, those seemed a bit odd, but after reading more information on them and experiencing one or two in readings, they just seemed to fit.

As for the deck in general, it adheres to Thoth naming conventions and the cards are very Thoth in nature.  I love the deck and I look forward to using it more.  One of the best features is the parrot in the lower corner of each card.  For the majors, the parrot is perching on a bar of music.  For the other cards, he is acting out the essential meaning of the card.  It is a clever deck and I find a great deal of humour in its images.  It is almost like a serious deck that doesn't take itself too seriously.

Rating: Keeper

March 10 - 15, 2012 ~ Pythagorean Tarot

Pythagorean Tarot
John Opsopaus, Rho
Llewellyn, 2001

I bought this particular deck on a whim.  Yes, a math induced whim.  See, I was a student for 4 of the last 6  years and most of my classes were variations on a common theme: calculus.  A deck relating to to Pythagorean philosophy and numerology was too hard to resist!  It was a good decision, even though I rarely use the deck for readings.

First, the physical aspects of the deck - typical Llewellyn (printed by Lo Scarabeo) deck.  HUGE packaging, no box or bag for the deck, lightly laminated, and a decent size.  But warped.  Severely warped.  Doesn't bother me a whole lot as I don't use it often.  The accompanying text is a massive volume that is also available on the web.  In fact, the author's website is spectacular.  The written material is very good and well cited.  I review the website frequently as I am just too lazy to take notes or memorize.   The drawings by Rho appeal to me and the use of color is good.  

On to what I like about the deck.  First, I don't read with it.  I could, but I choose not to.  To me, this is like a deck of flash cards of Pythagorean numerology and Ancient Greek.   The pips are among the most expressive non-illustrated pips I have seen.  The consistent use of color and specific symbolism makes it easy to see the progression of the suit through the numbers.  At one point, I did a comparison of the suit of cups using both the Mythic Tarot and the Pythagorean Tarot.  Very interesting, and an "A-ha!" moment for me. The Majors are interesting and involve more Ancient Greek "stuff" than I am willing to study.  This is the deck that taught me the numerology that I use when I read tarot.

I doubt I will ever regularly read with this deck, but I also doubt it will ever leave my collection.


Rating: Keeper+

March 03 - 09, 2012 ~ Tarot of the Pagan Cats

Tarot of the Pagan Cats
Magdelina Messina
Lo Scarabeo, 2010

(images coming)

I got this deck through the latest "reverse auction" at The Tarot Garden.  I think I got it for $12.  I set it on my shelf and waited for it to come round for the "Deck of the Week."  And waited.  Finally, the random number generator spit out the magic number and I sat down for what I thought would be a fine week with another cat deck.

First, let me say that I like cat decks.  I have several and find them to be fun and fascinating to read with (good grief, don't call the grammar police...).  Unfortunately, my initial response to the deck was quite cold.  It just didn't have that same magic that I get from my other cat decks.  I couldn't put my finger on it right away, but after a week, I had it figured out.  See, in the Kissa Tarot and The Tarot of the Cat People, the cats are there as companions, and they are quietly commenting on the situation in the card in a very cat like manner.  In the Baroque Bohemian Cats, the cats are wearing human clothes and act as humans.  Same with Medieval Cats.  In the Pagan Cats, there are cats who are being cats, but are doing things that are outside cat abilities, such as holding wands and the like.  I guess I like my cats to either be cats and act as cats, or to be cats and act as humans consistently.  But not to be cats, act like cats, but to not act like cats when the RWS meaning of the card calls for it. That likely won't make sense to most people, but there it is.

The cards themselves were typical Lo Scarabeo - nice size, not too much lamination, supple (but not flimsy) and packaged nicely.  And in 5 or 6 languages.  I don't mind the polyglot cards, I enjoy it actually, especially when it is subtle.  As a reading deck, it was a bit too RWS for me.  I like my RWS-inspired decks to be inspired by RWS, not absolute clones.  I like the different take on the same cards that RWS-inspired decks provide.  This is why I don't care for the Robin Wood - it is almost exactly the same deck - but with less clothes as if that is what makes it "pagan."  Because we all know that pagans run around nekkid with their nekkid bits hanging and flopping in the wind.  And wouldn't cats be pagan anyway?  Isn't the church clear that dogs (and presumably, cats) do not go to heaven?

Okay, enough of that.  As a reading deck for OTHERS, however, the deck seemed to work fine.  Perhaps it was because the sitters were more in tune with RWS than I - I tried REALLY hard to keep the Thoth out of my interpretations, though I think it snuck in here and there.  The deck is familiar (and therefore not threatening), has kitties! and would be a good choice for readings for others.  I can imagine that it would be selected by those who want a reading with something different, but not too different...

Rating:  Keeper -

 

Tarot of Prague ~ Knight of Wands

As a way to ensure I can spend some quality time with each card of my favorite decks, I have finally started drawing a daily card from the Tarot of Prague.  Each card will be removed from the deck as it is drawn and by May 18, 2012, I should be done.  I added an extra day as there are 79 cards in this deck.

I doubt I will post all of those draws, but I may post one if it is exceptionally interesting.  So far, I have drawn 3 cards and I am just reaffirming how much I love this deck.  It is not logical because the first time I saw this deck I was repulsed.  I kept passing it by because it just seemed so, well, un-tarot-y!  But I was wrong.

I mentioned before that this deck was a gift meant to instill hope.  And it has.  In fact, it is the deck I turn to for readings when I need hope and encouragement.  I decided that since this deck is the most soothing that I would start this new project with it. Thus far, the cards I have drawn have been Wheel of Fortune, Death and Knight of Wands.
 
The Knight of Wands was quite a card!  It was like getting slapped upside the head with the obvious stick.  *sigh*  I saw alot of my negative qualities in this card.  My mindless lack of control in the face of conflict.  What really got me was the blank look on the Knight's face.  He seems asleep!  Totally on autopilot and being controlled by those more martial instincts.  After the Wheel, which reflected some changes going on in my life, and Death, which reflected changing of states, this card seemed like a task that needs to be addressed.  I am glad I decided to do this project with random draws rather than going in order.  I do wish I had the book so I could know what the art work is from and what the building in the background is.  Someday!!

February 25 - March 02, 2012 ~ Fairytale

Fairytale Tarot
Karen Mahony
(c)Magic Realist Press, 2005

This was one of the "Happy Graduation" decks that I purchased.  One (or two) for each year I was at University and too busy to spend enough time with tarot. 

The cards are nice and large.  The card stock is nice, the colors brilliant, but the only problem is that it is just a bit too stiff.  It doesn't shuffle as nicely as the Tarot of Prague, which has just a tiny bit more give.  I don't mind the borders, either.  They are quite large and ornate, but they seem to fit nicely with the deck. 

The cards are each based on a different tale. One of the reasons I like this deck is the cultural variety of the tales.  This isn't just a tarot deck, it is a story book!  I am one of those people who do not have to have a cup on a cups card.  What is important is whether or not the image depicts something that is related to the theme of a particular card.  Justice, for example, is a favorite card.  No Lady Justice here with her scales and swords! No!  Just a firebird with a millstone.  Virtue rewarded; Evil punished.  Pretty simple and straightforward.  I think that these types of decks are my favorite.  Each card from these unique decks adds to my overall understanding of each card because each one provides a different point of view.

As a reading deck it was very good.  I used it for several readings for other people and it seemed to be right on, though as usual there were some need for clarification because of how I saw something that deviated a bit from the traditional.  I can't read traditional RWS, so I don't even bother any more.  Thoth basis with liberal intuition.  I am not going to worry about it.

So, where does this deck rate? It isn't quite a favorite, but it is definitely right up there!

Rating: Keeper + 

February 18 - 24, 2012 ~ Petit Etteilla

Petit Etteilla
B.P. Grimaud


I bought this little diamond in the rough down at BATS 2011. I seem to have some affinity for French cartomancy decks, but the feeling doesn't seem to be mutual.

It is still in the rough, by the way, but I am chipping and cutting a little bit more all the time.  With the help of Etteilla, ou la seule manière de tirer les cartes, I have been making been making head way.  During the week, I tried a variety of reading methods when I discovered that my usual method of using three cards was not working.  The proscribed meanings are very general and in some cases rather blunt, and as such, the cards read better with other cards around to give clarity.  The system is a deceptively simple, really, and every time I sat down to work with the cards, I got up hours later feeling frustrated and remarkably dense.  That, however, is a personal problem.  I don't know when to just step back and breathe.

During the week, I tried predictive type readings, such as "What lies ahead for today," and "Will I..."  The first question yielded interesting results.  It accurately predicted a very minor disagreement between myself and my husband.  With just three cards, however, there wasn't much clarification.  The cards predicted a serious disagreement, but it was quite minor.  The "Will I..." question can't really be tested for accuracy at this time, but I am taking notes.  Interesting that related questions had the same cards in similar positions.  There was a message, but like with my French, I am still a bit rusty and unable to clearly discern meaning.

I am curiously drawn to this deck and others like it.  They frustrate me, but this seems to be seated in a lack of understanding on my part.  They are speaking a language of which I have knowledge, but not fluency.