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 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

February 11 - 17, 2012 ~ Rosetta Tarot

Rosetta Tarot
M.M. Meleen
Atu House, 2011
ISBN-13: 978-0-9840010-4-0

I excitedly purchased this deck the second that the author made it available on her website. I am the proud owner of #17 / 777.  Pretty cool as #17 is one of my "lucky" numbers.   I also ordered the accompanying book, The Book of Seshet. 

It is very much a Thoth inspired deck.  And the author has kindly shared her experience in the creation of this deck at her blog.   What a fascinating journey, and I am appreciative of her willingness to share it.

The deck itself is nice to shuffle - very supple and easy, but it doesn't feel cheap or as if it will easily tear or bend.  I found that I spent much of the week just shuffling over and over.  As will happen with black borders, there are already little scratches and hints of white, but I don't think that a flaw.  Rather, it is just par for decks with black borders that are printed on white card stock.  The colors in the deck are vibrant and just seem to pulse off the page.  I find that the different mediums gives the deck texture.  It seems more dynamic rather than just static images on a card.  The Ace of Cups is a card that just POPS right off the page.  In fact, all the Cups just POP.  The backs are just as interesting as the front, too.

One of my favorite cards is the 5 of Disks.  And I think that why I like it is why this entire deck appeals to me so much.   Ms. Meleen has managed to bring the imagery of this card into a frame of reference that I understand.  Dials and gauges are all nearing critical measurement.  Disaster is imminent! Any second the entire thing is going to blow up!  But wait! See! There, just in the in the lower right corner, is a switch.  It is in the ON position.  Turn it OFF.  Take control of the situation and dissipate the worry into something less harmful.  This is why I like this deck.   This is the Thoth refigured to a symbolic language that I can understand.

As a reading deck, it was very Thoth-like.  Just like my beloved Thoth, it delivered readings with depth and meaning. Punches were not held, feelings were not spared.  It just stated it the way it was and just like the Thoth, within the images of the cards, I was able to find solutions to the problems it exposed.  


Rating: Favorite

January 28 - February 03, 2012 ~ Thoth (White Box Small Card)

Thoth (White Box, Small Card Size)
Aleister Crowley, Lady Freida Harris
US Games, 1997

Back in June 2011, I spent a lovely week with the US Games Purple Box Thoth.  There really isn't much I can add about the deck itself.  This is, afterall, just an older version of the Purple Box Thoth.  It is in small card size and has three magi.

One significant difference, however, is the card stock.  I have three different small card decks.  One Purple Box from 2006, a White Box Small Card from 1997, and another from 1987.  This particular week was spent with the 1997 deck.   The card stock is more satiny and less plasticky.  The colors are a bit more vivid, but the 1987 version is more vivid yet.  There are about 10 years separateing each of the decks.  It is amazing the change of quality from one to the next.

For this week, I included all three magii.  I thought it would be fun to see what came up and whether it made a difference.  This particular Magus came up in a reading this week and honestly, it made much more sense in that particular reading than the official Magus would.   This Magus is definitely multi-tasking and it related well to the reading, but what really added was the shadowing figure of the Ape of Thoth looming behind the Magus.  It really gave an impression of the Ape controlling the Magus.  He pulls the strings as evidenced by the Ape's hands on the Magus' wrists.  Just very interesting.

There are two more Thoth versions on the list for the year.  Both are the large size versions.  One is an old Greenie and the other is a new US Games Green Box.  I do hope to add more versions to my Thoth collection.

Rating:  Favorite

October 29 - November 4, 2011 ~ Bohemian Gothic, 1st Edition

Bohemian Gothic, 1st Edition
Karen Mahony, Alex Ukulov
Magic Realist Press, 2007

This deck came to me because I correctly guessed the birth date and time of an Aeclectic Tarot’s member’s great-grandson.  October 04, 2011; 4:00 AM.  He was born at about 4:45 AM.   It came in its own bag from Baba Studio, with the image from the Strength card.  It will always be special to me because it signifies the start of a new life and all the potential that lies within.

I have the 2nd Edition of this deck - but instead of this being a comparison of the two, this is just about this deck.


The card stock is nice - that supple, deceptively thin card stock that has spring to it.  Easy to shuffle, though to be fair this deck is pre-loved.  It feels so nice in the hands though.  There are no borders save a small bottom title border.   The darks are dark and don’t seem to have chipped as so many dark cards are wont to do.   The backs are glossy and fascinating in their own right.
 

I have never read the accompanying book, but it is easy to discern the story from the cards.  It is quite a good Gothic tale, with love and betrayal, with deceit and redemption, and throughout all, a thread of hope.  I really do like this deck a great deal.  It, like the Thoth, is one where I want to have ALL the different versions!   I doubt I shall ever see a 1st Edition Silver, but a girl can hope....


As a reading deck it is quite good.  It gets to the heart of a matter in a direct fashion, picks at scabs, but then offers hope.  I have had some seriously disturbing experiences with this deck reading for other people.   Reading for myself is quite a chore as it takes great will to read what I see rather than what I want.  This has been a very long week, tarot-wise.  Each reading was direct and meaningful - but painful.


Rating:  Favorite

September 24 - 30, 2011 ~ Wildwood Tarot

The Wildwood Tarot
Mark Ryan, John Matthews
Artwork by Will Worthington
Sterling Ethos, 2011


I originally per-ordered this deck from Tarot Garden, but then decided not to purchase it.  For some reason, I just didn’t want it.   In August of 2011, while attending SF BATS, Mark Ryan came up to a vendor table and tripped over me.  He held a box with 8 copies of the Wildwood Tarot.  We talked a bit, he gave me a copy from the box and told me he’d sign it later. 

I purchased my new Wildwood deck and later attended his workshop where he discussed the deck and the Bow Spread.  It was a very good presentation and I greatly enjoyed it.  Afterwards, he signed everybody’s book, including mine.

The card stock is reminiscent of the Grail Tarot.  I like that thick card stock with the varnish feel.  The colors are muted, but natural looking.  The backs are quite plain, but then again, really, do they need to be decorated?

The deck follows the Wheel of the Year.  That isn’t an issue for me as I follow the Wheel of the Year.  The deck feels right.  And I like it a great deal.

As I have used it over the week, it made me think about why I like it so much.  And I believe it is because I can relate to the images.  They make sense to me - rather than the RW images that while wholly adequate, lack that something that speaks to me.  I have to study and read books to understand the symbolism so I can have a cohesive understanding of the cards.  But with decks like the Wildwood, it isn’t necessary.  I throw down a card and it makes sense.  I like to read the book as it adds to what I already know.  Provides a little bit of insight into the what the creators were trying to accomplish.   I feel these decks rather than read them. 

Readings over the week have been encouraging and illuminating.  I read the negative comments at Aeclectic Tarot and wonder if they are looking at the same deck? Though, truly, I think many members diss decks like these for the same reason I tend to diss the Rider Waite.  They don’t get the symbolism. It is not part of their sphere of understanding.  For me, it just makes sense.  And in the end, that is all that matters.

Rating: Favorite.

September 03 - 09, 2011 ~ The Whispering Tarot

Star

The Whispering Tarot
Elizabeth Hazel
Playing Cards R Us / 2008
EMH © www.kozmic-kitchen.com

I purchased this deck from the Daughters of Divination Millard Fillmore Memorial Spiritualist Temple Garage Sale at SF BATS.  I grabbed a stack of decks and asked the nice lady, “How Much,” She said 15$, I said, “okay.”  Little did I know what a treasure I would find in the Whispering Tarot!

The deck is self published through Playing Cards R Us and are slightly smaller than average playing cards.  Actually, the size is perfect as far as I am concerned at 2.5” x 3.5”.  They are easy in my small hands.  The card stock is supple without being flimsy.  The borders are heavy and glossy black - about 1/4”.  At first, I thought that would be a hinderance is such a small deck, but what it does is help to accentuate the amazingly vibrant colors.  One thing I noticed is a lack of white space in the cards.  Clouds are white, and things that should be white are white, but that is it.  The skies are blue, the grass is green - nothing is left uncolored.   The backs are also a treat - a very cool design.

Eclipse (Moon)

The system is pretty standard, though I got a bit of a Thoth feel from some of the cards.  And others felt RWS.  But what is missing is all the religious and Golden Dawn symbols.  I was asked if it was the art or the lack of the symbols that made this deck so great for me.  Now, in retrospect, I think it was the combination of Thoth and RWS systems that I perceived.  I don’t really have an affinity for the Christian and Golden Dawn symbolism and usually just ignore it - so I didn’t really miss it.   I suppose this raises all kinds of other questions - I will have to consider this.

As a reading deck it has been fantastic.  The New Deck Interview told me I would love it and that it would make me consider how I read tarot.  For a beginner who is trying to learn a particular system, I am not sure if it would be very much fun.  There are some slight changes, such as the renaming of Moon to Eclipse (shown).  It makes sense within the context of this deck. 

Rating: Favorite

August 27 - September 02, 2011 ~ Kissatarot

Kissatarot
Terttu Seule
Uno Mystica ~ Finland, 2009

I received this deck as a gift from kissa at AT.  It is one of those decks that just instantly wins you over.  The backs are probably the best of any I’ve seen.  The artwork is simple, yet expressive.  The cats are incredibly expressive and carry the most weight in each card - even when they are *supposed* to be background characters. 

The card stock is nice - unlaminated - and good side.  They are a bit slippery, but they are wearing nicely.  The deck is Finnish and is completely in Finnish - no English and no LWB.  But you really don’t need a LWB as this deck can speak if you just listen.  The backs are particularly lovely as well (shown left).

One of the things I really like is the way the artist used the color of the sky to add meaning.  Normally, the sky is just an unnoticed background, but in this tarot, the sky can carry the mood.  Of all my decks, I think this is the only one where I have noticed the sky color.

As a reading deck, it is very “Thoth-like.”  It cuts to the chase and doesn’t mince words.  I can gush on and on about this deck.  It is one that you must see for yourself.  Unfortunately, it is not available unless you have a friend in Finland.  If you do, get the deck!

Rating: Favorite

July 9 - 15, 2011 ~ Tarot of Prague

Tarot of Prague, 2nd Edition
Karen Mahoney, Alex Ukolov
Magic Realist Press

This deck came to me from a kind-hearted friend who is also a member of the Aeclectic Tarot community.  It was a selfless act of generosity that means a great deal to me.  It is hope infused into 79 tarot cards depicting images from the most magical city on Earth.

The cardstock is typical for MRP.  It is sturdy and flexible.  The cards are a nice size - even if they seem large.  They found the perfect size for tarot cards and they have stuck with it.  This deck was slightly used, but still in excellent condition.  It shuffles like a dream and just has the "aaahhh" feeling that an MRP deck gets after use.

As a reading deck it is intensely personal.  I used it ONCE for a reading for another person and it was all wrong.  It focused on ME instead of the sitter.  I scrapped the reading and got a different deck.  It is amazing the way this deck is so incredibly focused on ME.  Almost scary.  I don't

have the book and have no clue about any of the images on the cards.  It is okay as it reads well.  It would be very nice to have the book as their books are always so informative about the subject matter.

When I feel like life couldn't get any worse, I turn to this deck for advice.  It seems to know what to say and it always leaves me feeling a little less frightened about the future and a little more able to deal with what may come.  I think that is because of the intent with which it was give and from the strong and loving woman who gave it to me.

Rating: Favorite / Collectible

June 11 - 17, 2011 ~ Thoth (Purple Box)

Thoth (Purple Box)
Aleister Crowley, Lady Freida Harris
US Games


Thoth.  What can I say, really?  I love this deck a great deal.  I have no clue what most of the symbolism is all about, no experience with Thelema or the Golden Dawn.  And yet, the deck sings to me. 



 When I use Thoth for any length of time, I ask myself why I have other decks.  None of them, not even my Favorites, can compare to the utter depth of this deck.   I have a hard time not looking shocked when people describe the "pips" as non-illustrated.  To me, Lady Harris was able to convey a great deal of meaning in the "pips."  They are so detailed and expressive.

I have six Thoth decks currently, and always looking to add more.  I am “completionist” with this deck for some reason.  I want to have each possible edition of this deck.  I have 2 US Games “Greenies,” 1 modern US Games Large Thoth, 1 modern US Games Small “Purple Box” Thoth, and 2 US Games “Small Card Size” decks (in white boxes - cards (c) 1986 AGMuller).   As you can tell, I need quite a few decks to fill in my collection. 

Card stock does vary - I have to say that the Greenies have a nice feel to them.  The colors are the most impressive in the “Small Card Size” White Box.  The Greenies are a bit, well, sea sick, but it just adds character.

I recommend everybody have one.  Really.  And read the Book of Thoth.  But buy Lon Milo DuQuette’s book, too.  That way you won’t go stark raving mad when you read The Book of Thoth.

And don't be afraid to "bling your Thoth," or add sparklies to the box.  Its okay.   My reading deck has sparkly kitty stickers on the box.


Rating: Favorite, Collectible




Current Thoth Collection
US Games White Box "C",  1983 w/Samuel Weiser LWB

US Games White Box "C", 1983, This is my "Reading deck"
US Games Small Card, 1987
US Games Small Card, 1997
US Games Purple Box, 2006
US Games Green Box, 2006

June 4 - 10 ~ The Arthurian Tarot

The Arthurian Tarot
John and Caitlin Matthews
Connections Publishing, 2007 (white borders)

In May 2011, I purchased the 2007 version from a member at Aeclectic Tarot for $10.00.  I received a beautiful practically new deck of cards in a two part box with a teeny tiny print Little Purple Book.  I was enthralled.   In August 2011, another Aeclectic Tarot member located in the UK sent me the 1995 version along with the book that accompanied it.  I was overwhelmed!

Both decks have similar card stock, weight and feel.  The backs are completely different.  The new version has relatively plain green backs while the older has beautifully illustrated backs.  There is also the matter of the border - and with a deck like this, where the border is an integral part of the deck itself, it is a huge matter!  The older cards have sold black backgrounds.  When you look at the cards, it is as if you are looking through a window from your own reality to another.  You enter the cards, you don't read them.  Quite fascinating actually.  With the new ones, there are white borders with some gold scroll work.  Oddly, both are equally nice.  It is less dramatic with the new ones, but you still get the feeling of stepping into another reality.

The aces are referred to as "Hallows," and the structure  is similar to that of the Grail Tarot (Stones, Swords, Spears/Lances, Grails).  The majors are characters from the Arthurian stories (Guinevere, Taliesin, Merlin, and The Green Knight).

I haven't had a chance to read the book, but I doubt I'll be disappointed.  I have always enjoyed the writings of John & Caitlin Matthews.  They are good at what they do, well - versed in their topics, and very good writers.  I haven't read with the older version, but the new version was absolutely amazing.  The responses to my queries were more in the form of "words of wisdom," rather than in anything concrete.  As if, almost, the cards were helping me find the answers rather than give me the answers, taking me deeper within myself.  I hope that in the next year I will have the opportunity to work closer with this deck.

Rating: Favorite

May 14 - 20 ~ Grail Tarot – A Templar Vision

Grail Tarot - A Templar Vision
John Matthews, Giovanni Caselli
St. Martin's Press, 2007

After dissing this deck, I decided to purchase it from Amazon in 2011.  Little did I know, around the same time a friend decided to buy it for me.  So, I have two decks.  Which, as it turns out, is a very good thing.

Returning to the scene of the dissing, I have eaten my words.  I was wrong.  Oh, how I was wrong.  I was narrow minded in my thinking and I was wrong.  There, I have admitted that I was wrong.  Four times.  So let's move on, shall we?

The card stock is heavy, but supple.  It is varnished, I think, and this gives the cards a satiny feel that just flows in your hands when you shuffle.  It is a nice size, but like all decks with this awesome cardstock, it is a bit stout.  But a cool feature is that if you line up all the cards in order, it is a frieze.  Mr Caselli is a remarkable artist and he really captured the tapestry feel.  The backs are plain, with a wax seal of the Templars.

It came in a nice box with a book.  The book, as is typical of John Matthews, is very well written, informative, and useful.  Most books get a cursory look and are tossed back into the box.  His books get a place on the tarot book shelf.  This is an easily accessed group of books that are useful or entertaining.   The Grail Questions for each of the majors added a new level of meaning.  Each of the suits takes us on a journey of discovery with our hero, The Seeker (also card 0 - the Fool).  He starts off as a lowly novice, then moves up within the order until he is the Grand Master.

The suits are quite different.  I have presented them in order - this deck is on a linear time line.  Stones represent the Green Stone and Disks.  The Green Stone is an aspect of the Grail described in the 13th Century.  The Swords represent the Sword of John the Baptist.  John the Baptist is a very important figure in the Grail legends, it seems.  The Lances represent the Lance of Longinus and Wands.  Mr. Matthews describes the lance as "a weapon that pierces inward corruption and lets in the healing rays of the sun to cleanse it."  This is the lance that was used to pierce the Jesus as he hang on the Cross.  The Vessels represent the Holy Grail and cups.   Another difference is the court cards which are as follows (King-Page):  Lady, Master, Preceptor, and Brother.

As a reading deck it is remarkable.  I was able to find correlation between the Christian aspects of this deck and my own neo-Pagan leanings.  The events of the Grail Legend can be seen as archetypal and transcendent of religion, at least in my experience.


I will admit that I had to turn to The Interwebs for assistance on some of the terms.  I am not Christian and I was not raised in a Christian household.  I didn't understand the concept of Assumption and a few others.  But my favorite website of all things Catholic (New Advent's Catholic Encyclopedia), had all the answers I needed.

Rating: Favorite

February 26 – March 4, 2011 ~ Victorian Romantic Russian.

Victorian Romantic
Magic Realist Press
Russian Edition printed by Pryha 2010

Okay.  Yes, I know.  I stalked the store waiting for the deck to come up for sale in those little batches.  Finally! On the third try, I was in the right place at the right time.    The deck is absolutely beautiful.  One of the things I have noticed over the years is that my tastes in tarot decks is starting to get stabilized.  I do love all things Victorian and as such, this deck makes my heart go all a-flutter.

I really like the way the artwork fits to the card.  Like most of their decks, the imagery is enough RW to make sense on that level, but still have a freedom about them for intuitive interpretation and story telling.  It is easy to fall into making a "backstory" for the cards that fit into a broad RW (or even Thoth) definition.


The card stock is unbelievable.  I will say that this deck has the best card stock I have ever felt.  It is more like a high quality playing card - supple and strong - than a typical tarot card.  The publishers in Finland did a good job.  Bonus Emperor with this deck.  I like them both - but they each wear their power differently.  The Russian Czar is a very masculine power - strong, martial, unyielding.  A conqueror who will maintain his power with an iron fist.  The regular Emperor is more effeminate.  His power is in being confident that his authority will be backed up by gods.  He is more about pleasure than martial concerns.  He is languidly relaxing on his throne, being admired.  I like the contrast and I leave them both in.

As a reading deck, it is quite vocal.  It wrings out details that were overlooked.  For some reason, it just goes into detail - this is probably due to the depth of the images.   This Tower is one of the most intriguing cards in the deck.  The details that catch your eye during a reading can change the outcome of this card in subtle ways.  


Rating: Favorite / Collectable

February 19 - 25, 2011 ~ The Mythic Tarot

The Mythic Tarot
Juliet Sharman-Burke, Liz Greene, Tricia Newell
1986 & 2001

In the early 90s, I decided to take another stab at tarot cards.  The last time had been in the late 70s, but it never went anywhere.  I met a woman in my small town who had a Voyager Deck.  We spent lots of time reading for one another.  I finally went to The Open Door in Spokane and looked at all the decks.  The Mythic jumped out at me because it depicted Greek mythology.  I knew most of the stories very well and I thought it would be conducive to learning.  I found that another friend had an interest in Tarot cards AND was "into" the Thoth deck.  He'd bring it over and let me use it a bit.  Well, my ex came home from being at sea and it went downhill.  He was vehemently against tarot cards.   And he was psycho when it came to Aleister Crowley.  I hid my Mythic Tarot and nursed my wounds (literally).

Finally left him in 1994 (seriously, it was the old cliche..."hey, bitch, go buy me some cigarettes."  "okay."  drive and never look back.)  The Mythic Tarot really helped me to find the strength to remain gone and to come to terms with many things.

In 2000, my kitten decided to try and jump into my mocha.  He had already gnawed on the Mythic Tarot - using it to ease the discomfort of getting those wicked little kitty teeth in.  It was drenched! Ruined!! Covered with chocolate and coffee and milk.  I tried to dry the cards, but they were stuck together.  And after a bit they started to smell like spoilt milk.  So, in 2001, I bought another deck to replace that one.  But I didn't toss it.

Years passed and after moving house (once again), I found the old Mythic.  I pulled the cards apart and gave them a shuffle.  No smell! And they were pretty okay.  More or less.  A little rough looking, but so nice to have again.

So, seriously, what kind of review can I give? Well, first, let me say that the artwork is good enough for me.  I have read some nasty reviews and I feel that Tricia's artwork comes from her heart and that is what matters, I think. The suits each follow a specific "hero."  And the majors deal with major events - such as Prometheus being chained to the rock after giving mankind fire, or Pandora opening the box.  The courts are specific people - Midas, Bellepheron, and the like.  The card shown is my late husband.  He was a Sagittarius and the Knight of Wands  if ever there was one.
  
The cards are a nice size.  And after being dunked in mocha and chewed by a kitty, shuffle like butter.

I have seen scans of the new deck, and I don't care for them.  

Readings are always personal and I never have had success doing readings for others with this deck.

Rating: Favorite- both copies :)

February 5 - 11, 2011 ~ Fantastic Menagerie

Fantastic Menagerie
Karen Mahoney, Alex Ukolov, Sophie Nussle
Magic Realist Press
2006

Seriously, I saw this deck in 2006 at the local New Age shop and I kept looking at it, but putting it back.  Every time I went in, I looked at it, but put it back.  Why?  The artwork really appealed to me, but just 5 years ago, I was still unsure of my reading abilities.  I thought this would just be too difficult as it didn't *look* like a RW deck.  And that is funny because I had even SEEN an actual RW deck at that time.  But my education had been based on books that used those images.   I think if it had been the kit version, I would have purchased it.  But, in 2010, I took the plunge and bought it on Amazon.


 And....I can’t believe I waited so long to get this deck!!  Perhaps, though, in 2006, I just wasn't ready to really appreciate how it stretched my intuition and really opened up the world of "picture reading" to me.  The images made sense to me.  I could see the stories in each picture.  The book by Sophie Nussle is possibly the best companion book I have ever read.  It is clever and well written. I appreciated the background on Grandville, and the stories that accompanied each card.

The 3 of Swords is one of my favorite cards from this deck.  It illustrates what I meant about seeing the stories behind the card's traditional meaning.  So often, this card comes up in a situation denoting communication issues.  And while PCS's image of the heart with 3 swords is quite dramatic, this conveys the meaning much better.


The size of the deck is nice, the card stock is very good and has just gotten better.  There was some very minor damage on a couple of cards - just little creases that I don't notice at all. As a reading deck it is one of my favorites and really forces me to slow down and really look at what the cards are saying.   I can use it well for myself and others and for any sort of reading.

Rating: Favorite, Collectible

(okay, I have two - I bought a back up copy just in case....)