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.

Welcome Back!

I started feeling quite poorly over the summer.  Breathing issues were getting serious and a host of other issues were cropping up. I went to the doctor who put me on a course of Prednisone, did fasting blood work (it had been a LONG time since the last time), and referred me to a very good immunologist. Finally, I was able to get to the asthma and allergy specialist.  What a visit!  I found out I am very allergic to cats and have allergies to dogs, dust mites, walnut trees, and ash trees.  I was lectured thoroughly by the doctor about what steps I had to take, etc. etc.

That long and painful visit to the immunologist was also on the day after I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.  You see, there were some issues in all that blood work.  At first the doctor blamed it on the Prednisone, but retesting 2 weeks after ceasing, the issues were still there. 

On top of everything, work was getting very heavy.  So much to do! And so little time.  Work is still like that.

But I am happy to report that after just 2 1/2 months, I have lost 25 lbs, gained control of my blood sugars (fasting levels have been in "normal person" range for several weeks).  I feel better. 

During all this time, my desire to work with tarot just went out the door.  There was just too much going on.  Oh, I tried.  And I will admit that the decks in early August really did not get the attention they deserved.  But starting in October, I felt the urge to work with my decks.  I started with my favorites - my Magic Realist Press collection.  I used a different deck each day.  Then I moved on to the Mystical Lenormand.  Determined to get it figured out ONCE AND FOR ALL.  Well, I finally had my Lenormand Epiphany (thanks to Donnaleigh).  I love the deck and am so happy to be using it.

I am not going to try and add in the reviews that are not posted.  I have them in my data base, but I don't think I will put them out there.

So, life goes on after a brief hiccup.

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. 

May 05 - 11, 2012 ~ Tarot of the III Millennium

Tarot of the III Millennium
Iassen Ghiuselev
Lo Scarabeo, 2000

This deck came to me in an Aeclectic Tarot Trade Train Side Trade.  I think I made a good trade with this one!  The deck is quite unique and intriguing.  Definitely one I'd recommend to others.

The format of the deck is quite unique.  There is a Marseilles style card inset on all the minors.  The courts have colored drawings and website titles on them, the Majors are monochromatic and, well, different looking.  The pips are line drawings with various electronic schematics or bar codes on them.  For fun, I did a search and found that the schematic on the back of the cards is from a 1960's vintage Italian made phonograph. 

One fun thing about this deck is the relationship between the inset card and the overall card image. Take the Page of Coins, for example.  In the larger image, we can see a card cheat!   The inset is like the ideal of the Page of Coins - but the larger image shows us what can happen when the page goes bad!  The pips are quite interesting and the relationship between the inset and the greater image seems to be more of an illustration in a story.  The cards already "fit together" into a larger image, but each little piece's "back story" is provided by the larger image.  Hard to explain, really.

Overall, this deck will be staying in the collection.  It is fun, yet really allows for a great deal of exploration. 

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