Published by US Games, copyright 1989, printed in Belgium.
Artist Matt Meyers painted these cards in oil on illustration board. He started in June of 1984, and completed the deck in April of 1988 according to the booklet. The artwork resembles stained glass.
The cards measure 4 and 13/32" by 2 and 13/32". The card stock is thin and flexible with a shiny finish. The edges are rounded. The backs are bright blue, with a design of rods intertwined with swords in an "S" shape half-encircling two circles with what looks like a drawing of the magician in gold. The blue is edged with a thin gold pinstripe. The cards have a 7/32" white border on all sides and are reversible.
The majors depict people in various situations, all appear to be framed by a stylized blue "chuppah" or Jewish traditional wedding canopy. The majors do not have a lot of symbolism aside from the human figures.
The minor suites tell a story of four different couples. Each card is a vignette in the story. Each story is followed to conclusion. The court cards display the main characters in each drama.
The minors stay true to the standard RWS, western-style calibrations, with appropriate artwork, with the exception of switching swords to fire, and wands to air.
Many people dislike this deck for being too "80's", and all the figures depicted are very pretty - but that doesn't bother me. Some even refer to it as the Ken and Barbie deck, but hey, I like Ken and Barbie.
My favorite cards are the Magician, the Chariot (so smug!) and the cavorting figure of Death.
While this deck is a nice deck, it seems more suited to relationship readings. Due to the structure of the cards, general readings don't seem to fit it very well. I would not recommended it to beginners, either, as the symbolism in the minors isn't standard and may be confusing to someone trying to learn from traditional sources.
Not a must-have, but a lovely deck.
Not recommended for beginners.
In print. (as far as I know)
I might replace it if it strayed.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Tarot Review # 12 Tarrocco dei Giardini di Priapo
Design and art by Amerigo Folchi. Published by Italcards, Modena Italy. No publish date.
The cards measure 4 5/16" x 2 9/16". The card stock is thick, printed with shiny ink but doesn't feel coated. The edges are rounded.
The artwork is very well drawn and detailed. The drawings depict very sexually explicit scenes, and have striped marbled backgrounds over which the scene and suite symbol has been displayed. The art work has probably been done in pen and pencil predominately.
The lettering on the title cards is plain, bold type in a white stripe of background in both Italian and English.
The people in the majors are all blonds or red-heads. The coins are blond, except the King, wands are red-heads, cups blonds, swords black hair.
The cards are, again, extremely explicit sexually. In addition to nudity and very detailed depictions of sexual acts there is a great deal of fetish oreinted sex. The cups, for example are wine glasses filled with urine - and some are in the process of being filled. The Knights are possibly doing more than riding those horses, and some scenes involve cupids, which look very like young children, although they are not.
The booklet explains that the deck is a grotesque satire dedicated to the erotic universe. In spite of the tongue in cheek humor this deck still makes me uncomfortable when I use the cards. Although it could be used as a reading deck, if one didn't have kids and were not offended by the images, I wouldn't.
I can't recommend this deck for anyone except collectors who have a specialty in erotic art tarot decks. The subject matter is too kinky to use as a readying deck except possibly for someone in the sex-oriented lifestyle.
This deck is out of print. (I think.)
I would not replace it if it strayed.
Collector only, not good for reading unless you are in a certain lifestyle. And not a beginner.
The cards measure 4 5/16" x 2 9/16". The card stock is thick, printed with shiny ink but doesn't feel coated. The edges are rounded.
The artist, Amerigo Folchi, is very well-known in the Tarot world. He has done many beautiful decks, among them my most wanted collector deck, the Carnival of Venice.
The cards are edged in black, 3/16" both back and front. The edges have some evidence of paper tags. The cards do not appear to be reversible. the backs are marbled with diagonal black stripes alternating with grey-green and 2 pink in the center stripes. The stripes have a marbled finish. In the center of the card is a grayish-purple oval with a picture of an ass - which is the spirit of these cards. The artwork is very well drawn and detailed. The drawings depict very sexually explicit scenes, and have striped marbled backgrounds over which the scene and suite symbol has been displayed. The art work has probably been done in pen and pencil predominately.
The lettering on the title cards is plain, bold type in a white stripe of background in both Italian and English.
The people in the majors are all blonds or red-heads. The coins are blond, except the King, wands are red-heads, cups blonds, swords black hair.
The cards are, again, extremely explicit sexually. In addition to nudity and very detailed depictions of sexual acts there is a great deal of fetish oreinted sex. The cups, for example are wine glasses filled with urine - and some are in the process of being filled. The Knights are possibly doing more than riding those horses, and some scenes involve cupids, which look very like young children, although they are not.
The booklet explains that the deck is a grotesque satire dedicated to the erotic universe. In spite of the tongue in cheek humor this deck still makes me uncomfortable when I use the cards. Although it could be used as a reading deck, if one didn't have kids and were not offended by the images, I wouldn't.
I can't recommend this deck for anyone except collectors who have a specialty in erotic art tarot decks. The subject matter is too kinky to use as a readying deck except possibly for someone in the sex-oriented lifestyle.
This deck is out of print. (I think.)
I would not replace it if it strayed.
Collector only, not good for reading unless you are in a certain lifestyle. And not a beginner.
Friday, June 22, 2007
Tarot Deck Review # 11 - The Thoth Tarot
Known as the Thoth, the Crowley or the Crowley-Harris tarot variously, this deck is one of the tarot standards. Although taken from the Golden Dawn tradition just like the RWS, the Thoth has a much different "feel".
Created over several years as a collaboration between Crowley - once the most hated (and feared) man in England, and "Lady" Frida Harris, these cards are both more complex and more simple than the RWS deck because of the nature of the symbolism used.
The Thoth is a much more elemental deck, and although the symbolism comes from a number of spiritual traditions, the Christian elements are minor. Instead, Crowley drew from India, Native America, and Asian traditions. Alchemy was another strong influence, as well as the Kabbala. Crowley was an interesting character, with some knowledge of modern physics and other physical sciences. In my opinion the Thoth is the Golden Dawn Era deck most influenced by science.
This deck comes in many sizes, the large green-tinted deck, several standard sized decks, mini decks, and giant decks. The pips are not fully illustrated, although they do give hits as to the meaning, both by coloration as well as small details.
Many readers and tarotist report "bad vibes" from this deck - my guess is from Crowley's reputation more than the cards themselves. After reading several biographies about him, I found him fascinating. Unpleasant, and not someone I would have wanted to associate with, but definitely extremely intelligent. Looking at him from a modern perspective, I would guess that he suffered from some kind of mental illness. That doesn't mean he wasn't brilliant.
While I don't agree with most of his theories, I gained quite a few interesting perspectives on the psychological and scientific aspects of tarot when I studied this deck in depth.
I would recommend this deck to a dedicated beginner, or more advanced reader. A beginner would be greatly helped if they had some previous knowledge of other kinds of magical, or mythical, studies.
Reading with the Thoth I find it easy to miss subtleties. Sometimes the cards seem nearly impenetrable, at other times very direct. I don't give my decks personalities generally. They are, after all, ink and paper, but I find myself thinking that this deck tends to be somewhat overly dramatic on daily readings. It also seems to have a somewhat sly sense of humor, if one were to give it human characteristics. Which I don't. Really.
This is a must-have deck.
This deck could be a good deck for a beginner.
This deck is in print.
Created over several years as a collaboration between Crowley - once the most hated (and feared) man in England, and "Lady" Frida Harris, these cards are both more complex and more simple than the RWS deck because of the nature of the symbolism used.
The Thoth is a much more elemental deck, and although the symbolism comes from a number of spiritual traditions, the Christian elements are minor. Instead, Crowley drew from India, Native America, and Asian traditions. Alchemy was another strong influence, as well as the Kabbala. Crowley was an interesting character, with some knowledge of modern physics and other physical sciences. In my opinion the Thoth is the Golden Dawn Era deck most influenced by science.
This deck comes in many sizes, the large green-tinted deck, several standard sized decks, mini decks, and giant decks. The pips are not fully illustrated, although they do give hits as to the meaning, both by coloration as well as small details.
Many readers and tarotist report "bad vibes" from this deck - my guess is from Crowley's reputation more than the cards themselves. After reading several biographies about him, I found him fascinating. Unpleasant, and not someone I would have wanted to associate with, but definitely extremely intelligent. Looking at him from a modern perspective, I would guess that he suffered from some kind of mental illness. That doesn't mean he wasn't brilliant.
While I don't agree with most of his theories, I gained quite a few interesting perspectives on the psychological and scientific aspects of tarot when I studied this deck in depth.
I would recommend this deck to a dedicated beginner, or more advanced reader. A beginner would be greatly helped if they had some previous knowledge of other kinds of magical, or mythical, studies.
Reading with the Thoth I find it easy to miss subtleties. Sometimes the cards seem nearly impenetrable, at other times very direct. I don't give my decks personalities generally. They are, after all, ink and paper, but I find myself thinking that this deck tends to be somewhat overly dramatic on daily readings. It also seems to have a somewhat sly sense of humor, if one were to give it human characteristics. Which I don't. Really.
This is a must-have deck.
This deck could be a good deck for a beginner.
This deck is in print.
Tarot Deck Review #10 The Cosmic Tarot
The cards measure 4 3/4" tall and 2 3/4 " wide. The card stock is thin, and finished with a satin coating. The cards have a 3/16" white border on the front and back.
The cards are reversible; the backs have a very attractive design of celestial bodies, circles, a pentagram centered by a rose with a tiny unformed being in a spiral at the very center.
The artist, Norbert Losch, is self-taught, which is amazing. He started as a surveyor, and after several terms studying art history began painting according to the literature included with the cards.
The artwork is quite lovely, and appears to be pen and ink, colored with both watercolors and pencil in pastel shades.
The lettering used for the card titles is ornate, but not overly so in my opinion. The artwork is realistic. the court cards are close-up views, the pips farther away, full body poses.
Each suite has shades of a certain color as an underlying theme - Cups=blues and greens, Pentacles= greens and golds, Wands=red and gold, Swords = dark blues and yellows.
The majors are colored slightly more brightly than the suite cards.
This deck has been called the "movie-star" deck because many of the people resemble film stars from the silent to the modern era. The deck has a very 80's look, especially in the hair styles and accessories of the people, which is actually not unattractive (to me).
My personal favorites are the High Priestess, a card which has haunted me. Also the lovers, and of course, the Moon. The Aces are very well done also.
After using this deck for a week I found it a nice deck to work with. The cards were a little hard to shuffle because they are so slick. That was the only drawback I found - a very easy to read deck.
I would replace this deck if it strayed.
Recommended for beginners.
In Print.
The cards are reversible; the backs have a very attractive design of celestial bodies, circles, a pentagram centered by a rose with a tiny unformed being in a spiral at the very center.
The artist, Norbert Losch, is self-taught, which is amazing. He started as a surveyor, and after several terms studying art history began painting according to the literature included with the cards.
The artwork is quite lovely, and appears to be pen and ink, colored with both watercolors and pencil in pastel shades.
The lettering used for the card titles is ornate, but not overly so in my opinion. The artwork is realistic. the court cards are close-up views, the pips farther away, full body poses.
Each suite has shades of a certain color as an underlying theme - Cups=blues and greens, Pentacles= greens and golds, Wands=red and gold, Swords = dark blues and yellows.
The majors are colored slightly more brightly than the suite cards.
This deck has been called the "movie-star" deck because many of the people resemble film stars from the silent to the modern era. The deck has a very 80's look, especially in the hair styles and accessories of the people, which is actually not unattractive (to me).
My personal favorites are the High Priestess, a card which has haunted me. Also the lovers, and of course, the Moon. The Aces are very well done also.
After using this deck for a week I found it a nice deck to work with. The cards were a little hard to shuffle because they are so slick. That was the only drawback I found - a very easy to read deck.
I would replace this deck if it strayed.
Recommended for beginners.
In Print.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Tarot Deck Review # 9 Itarocki
The Itarocki Tarot is part of Lo Scarabeo's :Tarrocchi D'Arte" series. The deck is copyright 1995. the idea belonged to Paoloa De Filippo, and the art is by Massimo Galloni. The artwork is a series of 22 lithographs.
The deck is 5 5/16" by 2 27/32". The card stock is heavy, slightly textured, and unfinished. The corners are square.
The backs have a black and white portrait of Elvis with a background of stars and stripes, and two guitars in an ornate Art Deco style frame.
The card fronts have a color portrait of each artist, featuring both hard rock artists such as Pantera and Metallica, to pop icons like Madonna and Prince.
I don't use this as a reading deck, and most likely will not in the future. This is a majors-only deck.
This is a collectible deck.
I don't know if it is in print (I don't think so.)
I would replace it if it strayed.
I may look for another copy - my deck has had something sticky dripped onto it which has damaged two of the cards.
The deck is 5 5/16" by 2 27/32". The card stock is heavy, slightly textured, and unfinished. The corners are square.
The backs have a black and white portrait of Elvis with a background of stars and stripes, and two guitars in an ornate Art Deco style frame.
The card fronts have a color portrait of each artist, featuring both hard rock artists such as Pantera and Metallica, to pop icons like Madonna and Prince.
I don't use this as a reading deck, and most likely will not in the future. This is a majors-only deck.
This is a collectible deck.
I don't know if it is in print (I don't think so.)
I would replace it if it strayed.
I may look for another copy - my deck has had something sticky dripped onto it which has damaged two of the cards.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Tarot Deck Review # 8 - Whimsical Tarot
Illustrated and designed by popular tarot artist Mary Hanson-Roberts this is a deck for all ages.
Using both well-known and obscure fairy tales and nursery rhymes to illustrate the deck the overall feel of the deck is peaceful gentleness.
The illustrations are black-outlined and colored with pencil - one of my most favored type of tarot art. The colors are soft and dreamy. The faces of the people are clear. The art style is realistic, edging toward cartoon in a pleasing way. There are some who feel this deck is a bit on the sweet side. Other decks by Mary Hanson-Roberts share this characteristic, however that's fine with me.
The cards are larger in scale. The white border is thin, and the cards are all framed with a thin, rainbow hued border decorated with vines, flowers and roses.
The card finish is satin with a dull sheen, the cards are not too slick.
The card backs are reversible, a blue flower design within a loose Celtic knot work frame in yellow, bordered by orange and purple bands. It sounds a bit ugly, but the overall effect is muted, but not unattractive.
This deck is a RWS clone, and the use of fairy tales make it a surprisingly rich deck; the principles of archetype are everywhere.
I love many of these cards, since I enjoy fairy tales - The Moon (Hey Diddle Diddle) The Lovers (Beauty and the Beast) and the Fool (The Scarecrow and Toto) are all favorites, but even the minors are delightful to me.
This would be a good deck for a beginner, or even a child. However don't be fooled by this decks gentle demeanor; it's readings can be as blunt as any darker themed deck.
For more information about Mary Hanson-Roberts, check out her website.
This was an easy deck to read with, very clear and concise. A comfortable deck, and the artwork is sweet, but not cloying to me. I found the fairy-tale theme helpful in spurring my readings toward intuition rather than only what the cards routinely mean. It would also be a good story-telling deck.
This deck is in print.
Not a must-have, but a nice addition to any collection.
I would replace it if it strayed.
Using both well-known and obscure fairy tales and nursery rhymes to illustrate the deck the overall feel of the deck is peaceful gentleness.
The illustrations are black-outlined and colored with pencil - one of my most favored type of tarot art. The colors are soft and dreamy. The faces of the people are clear. The art style is realistic, edging toward cartoon in a pleasing way. There are some who feel this deck is a bit on the sweet side. Other decks by Mary Hanson-Roberts share this characteristic, however that's fine with me.
The cards are larger in scale. The white border is thin, and the cards are all framed with a thin, rainbow hued border decorated with vines, flowers and roses.
The card finish is satin with a dull sheen, the cards are not too slick.
The card backs are reversible, a blue flower design within a loose Celtic knot work frame in yellow, bordered by orange and purple bands. It sounds a bit ugly, but the overall effect is muted, but not unattractive.
This deck is a RWS clone, and the use of fairy tales make it a surprisingly rich deck; the principles of archetype are everywhere.
I love many of these cards, since I enjoy fairy tales - The Moon (Hey Diddle Diddle) The Lovers (Beauty and the Beast) and the Fool (The Scarecrow and Toto) are all favorites, but even the minors are delightful to me.
This would be a good deck for a beginner, or even a child. However don't be fooled by this decks gentle demeanor; it's readings can be as blunt as any darker themed deck.
For more information about Mary Hanson-Roberts, check out her website.
This was an easy deck to read with, very clear and concise. A comfortable deck, and the artwork is sweet, but not cloying to me. I found the fairy-tale theme helpful in spurring my readings toward intuition rather than only what the cards routinely mean. It would also be a good story-telling deck.
This deck is in print.
Not a must-have, but a nice addition to any collection.
I would replace it if it strayed.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Tarot Deck Review # 7 - Hanson-Roberts Tarot
One of the many RWS clones, this deck is slightly smaller in size than most Tarot decks - playing card size. The card stock is excellent - medium thick and the finish is slightly slippery.
Mary Anson-Roberts is a commercial artist. She has also re-worked the original Rider Deck into the Universal RWS, reviewed earlier. She is also the illustrator of the Whimsical Tarot, as well as many book covers and commercial illustrations.
The card backs have a green and yellow Celtic design, intertwined with stylized purple flowers.
This deck is often recommended as an alternative to the RWS deck for beginners. While the artwork and coloring are much prettier, the deck stays very true to the standard RWS system. I would also recommend it for beginners, or to readers looking for a "user friendly" deck that would be suitable for reading for the public.
My favorite cards in this deck are Justice, with her clear-eyed gaze, Death, the Moon and her enigmatic face.
Some feel this deck is syrup-sweet; but my feeling is - there is room for sweetness as well as all the other flavors of Tarot in the world. I find the artwork gorgeous; I am a sucker for well-done colored pencil work. The people have faces reminiscent of the Aquarian deck - a suggestion of expression rather than fully formed.
My only complaints are there seem to be a lot of blonds in the deck, and it seems like the non-court negative cards all feature brunettes. All the children are beaming. Even so, this is a very appealing deck with beautiful artwork.
After using this deck, I can add - a very readable and user-friendly deck. I had absolutely no difficulty with it, it was a joy to use.
I would definitely replace it if it strayed.
In Print.
A nice addition to any collection.
Recommended for beginners.
Mary Anson-Roberts is a commercial artist. She has also re-worked the original Rider Deck into the Universal RWS, reviewed earlier. She is also the illustrator of the Whimsical Tarot, as well as many book covers and commercial illustrations.
The card backs have a green and yellow Celtic design, intertwined with stylized purple flowers.
This deck is often recommended as an alternative to the RWS deck for beginners. While the artwork and coloring are much prettier, the deck stays very true to the standard RWS system. I would also recommend it for beginners, or to readers looking for a "user friendly" deck that would be suitable for reading for the public.
My favorite cards in this deck are Justice, with her clear-eyed gaze, Death, the Moon and her enigmatic face.
Some feel this deck is syrup-sweet; but my feeling is - there is room for sweetness as well as all the other flavors of Tarot in the world. I find the artwork gorgeous; I am a sucker for well-done colored pencil work. The people have faces reminiscent of the Aquarian deck - a suggestion of expression rather than fully formed.
My only complaints are there seem to be a lot of blonds in the deck, and it seems like the non-court negative cards all feature brunettes. All the children are beaming. Even so, this is a very appealing deck with beautiful artwork.
After using this deck, I can add - a very readable and user-friendly deck. I had absolutely no difficulty with it, it was a joy to use.
I would definitely replace it if it strayed.
In Print.
A nice addition to any collection.
Recommended for beginners.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Tarot Deck Review #6 - Shakesperean Tarot
I originally purchased this deck for 11.00. Now it is out of print it's going for around 100.00 or so.
The illustrations depict scenes or persons from Shakespearean plays which the designer felt corresponded with tarot meanings. The illustrations are a little stilted to me, and I won't b able to tell if this is an easy to read or use deck. On first glance it doesn't appear to be a good deck for beginners.
The cards have changed the suit of Rods to Sceptres, pentacles or coins to orbs, and cups to crowns.
The card backs are faux wood carving, and not reversible. The backs are not very attractive, in my opinion.
The cards are tall and narrow with rounded corners. The card stock feels thin and supple, with a slippery finish. The pictures almost seem too small for the cards, the details nearly too small to see with a casual glance.
There is a lot of white around the border, with the card title above and a quote from the depicted scene or person below, and beneath that what play the card scene was taken from.
The ambiguity of crowns and orb meanings confuses this deck for me somewhat. These cards seem easier to read on their own merits, and not fallow any system. The deck seems to have a dark or negative tone.
The artwork is also somber - even light hearted scenes have an edge of darkness to them.
After using this deck for 4 days - that was all I could take. The meanings of the suits are too commingled to make this an easy deck to use. Although I love Shakespeare, my acquaintance with his plays is too distant for me to properly appreciate this deck.
I would not recommend this deck for a beginner unless the beginner was a Shakespearean scholar.
This is definitely a deck for the advanced user with specific interests. As a collector deck it is excellent.
So, it is a deck that may appeal to some, a good collectors deck, and I might replace it if it strayed.
Out of print.
Not recommended for beginners. Unless they are Shakespeare buffs.
The illustrations depict scenes or persons from Shakespearean plays which the designer felt corresponded with tarot meanings. The illustrations are a little stilted to me, and I won't b able to tell if this is an easy to read or use deck. On first glance it doesn't appear to be a good deck for beginners.
The cards have changed the suit of Rods to Sceptres, pentacles or coins to orbs, and cups to crowns.
The card backs are faux wood carving, and not reversible. The backs are not very attractive, in my opinion.
The cards are tall and narrow with rounded corners. The card stock feels thin and supple, with a slippery finish. The pictures almost seem too small for the cards, the details nearly too small to see with a casual glance.
There is a lot of white around the border, with the card title above and a quote from the depicted scene or person below, and beneath that what play the card scene was taken from.
The ambiguity of crowns and orb meanings confuses this deck for me somewhat. These cards seem easier to read on their own merits, and not fallow any system. The deck seems to have a dark or negative tone.
The artwork is also somber - even light hearted scenes have an edge of darkness to them.
After using this deck for 4 days - that was all I could take. The meanings of the suits are too commingled to make this an easy deck to use. Although I love Shakespeare, my acquaintance with his plays is too distant for me to properly appreciate this deck.
I would not recommend this deck for a beginner unless the beginner was a Shakespearean scholar.
This is definitely a deck for the advanced user with specific interests. As a collector deck it is excellent.
So, it is a deck that may appeal to some, a good collectors deck, and I might replace it if it strayed.
Out of print.
Not recommended for beginners. Unless they are Shakespeare buffs.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Tarot Deck Review #5 Starter Tarot
I bought the starter deck when I was just getting back into Tarot in 2002. I thought it would be a helpful tool to use when reading, since I wasn't familiar with non-Aquarian decks.
This deck is in the Marseilles tradition as far as the majors are concerned, however the pips are illustrated and more in the RWS vein.
It looks like these were line drawings and then colored with color crayon.
Keywords above and below for upright and reversed meanings give this deck a somewhat chaotic appearance.
I actually might recommend this deck to someone interested in Tarot, but who doesn't want to take the time to learn to actually read the cards. I don't know anything about the author, George Bennett. The drawings are very simplistic and fairly unattractive, in my opinion.
I do think having the keywords available might be helpful for a beginner, but I find the art so unattractive I doubt anyone who was truly interested in learning to read would like it.
The card stock is of good quality, and it is still in print, so it must be an adequate seller, although I think no-one admits they own it.
The reviews on Amazon.com range from people who enjoy it for the ease of use, people who are advertising for their own services, and those who find this deck insulting, and compare using it to using a Magic 8 Ball.
It also looks as if a lot of people recommend this deck for phone readers.
My edition of this deck has an orange back with crudely drawn ankh's in blue ink.
I would not replace this deck if it strayed from my collection.
I might recommend it to a phone reader, but having keywords is, I think, in the long run very limiting.
Really, Don't Bother.
In Print.
Not recommended for most.
This deck is in the Marseilles tradition as far as the majors are concerned, however the pips are illustrated and more in the RWS vein.
It looks like these were line drawings and then colored with color crayon.
Keywords above and below for upright and reversed meanings give this deck a somewhat chaotic appearance.
I actually might recommend this deck to someone interested in Tarot, but who doesn't want to take the time to learn to actually read the cards. I don't know anything about the author, George Bennett. The drawings are very simplistic and fairly unattractive, in my opinion.
I do think having the keywords available might be helpful for a beginner, but I find the art so unattractive I doubt anyone who was truly interested in learning to read would like it.
The card stock is of good quality, and it is still in print, so it must be an adequate seller, although I think no-one admits they own it.
The reviews on Amazon.com range from people who enjoy it for the ease of use, people who are advertising for their own services, and those who find this deck insulting, and compare using it to using a Magic 8 Ball.
It also looks as if a lot of people recommend this deck for phone readers.
My edition of this deck has an orange back with crudely drawn ankh's in blue ink.
I would not replace this deck if it strayed from my collection.
I might recommend it to a phone reader, but having keywords is, I think, in the long run very limiting.
Really, Don't Bother.
In Print.
Not recommended for most.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Tarot Review # 4 Universal Rider-Waite-Smith
I had never liked the RWS (so called by a lot of tarotists to give credit to the artist, Pixie Smith) before I saw the Universal Deck.
Recolored by artist Mary Hansen-Roberts, the originally "flat" deck was given life. Depth, warmth, expression, with the pencil coloration. I've always liked colored pencil, and this version makes the details pop.
Illustrator Mary Hanson Roberts also has her own deck, a very nice RWS clone with a more pagan feel to it. She has also done cover art for books, and other illustrations. Her art is soft and warm.
If I were going to recommend a deck to an adult beginner, this would be number one on the list. There are many reasons - much of which is detailed in my previous review of the RWS deck. I would recommend this deck over the original RWS because I feel the original might put a beginner off due to the simplicity (some might even say ugliness) of the coloration.
I first saw this deck when we were in New Orleans, and I thought it was a rare deck. I was glad to find I was wrong. The card backs are stars on a dark blue background. The card stock is sturdy and slightly coated but not so much that shuffling is a problem. The size seems a bit taller and narrower than a standard playing card deck.
My favorite cards: the Ace of Cups, all the Queens (each one is interesting in her own way) the Knight of Wands, the eight of Swords, and the Moon. I have many favorites in this deck - they are familiar to me as the faces of people I know. I love the imagery and detail - shadings in the clouds and the coloring of faces.
This is a great deck for daily readings, and for readings for other people. The images are recognizable to most people, but a little more fresh.
This deck is recommended for any tarotist. I would definitely replace it if it strayed from my collection.
In print.
Recommended for beginners.
Recolored by artist Mary Hansen-Roberts, the originally "flat" deck was given life. Depth, warmth, expression, with the pencil coloration. I've always liked colored pencil, and this version makes the details pop.
Illustrator Mary Hanson Roberts also has her own deck, a very nice RWS clone with a more pagan feel to it. She has also done cover art for books, and other illustrations. Her art is soft and warm.
If I were going to recommend a deck to an adult beginner, this would be number one on the list. There are many reasons - much of which is detailed in my previous review of the RWS deck. I would recommend this deck over the original RWS because I feel the original might put a beginner off due to the simplicity (some might even say ugliness) of the coloration.
I first saw this deck when we were in New Orleans, and I thought it was a rare deck. I was glad to find I was wrong. The card backs are stars on a dark blue background. The card stock is sturdy and slightly coated but not so much that shuffling is a problem. The size seems a bit taller and narrower than a standard playing card deck.
My favorite cards: the Ace of Cups, all the Queens (each one is interesting in her own way) the Knight of Wands, the eight of Swords, and the Moon. I have many favorites in this deck - they are familiar to me as the faces of people I know. I love the imagery and detail - shadings in the clouds and the coloring of faces.
This is a great deck for daily readings, and for readings for other people. The images are recognizable to most people, but a little more fresh.
This deck is recommended for any tarotist. I would definitely replace it if it strayed from my collection.
In print.
Recommended for beginners.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Tarot Review # 3 The Rider Tarot Deck
As of 2006 US Games is the only company authorized to produce this deck. The most well known (arguably) of all tarot decks.
Painted by artist Pixie Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite, some refer to it as the Rider-Waite-Smith or RWS deck in honor of Pixie.
This deck is the most suggested for beginning tarot readers for many reasons: first it has illustrated pips which allow a beginner to more easily grasp the meanings of the Minor Arcana. There is also a wealth of material available based on the RSW. It is a deck readily available nearly everywhere, and the price is reasonable.
In addition to the standard deck, there are sizes ranging from the giant to doll-house sized.
Another advantage; even if you don't enjoy it, once you learn the deck there are innumerable "clone" decks who use the basic meanings, with artwork that ranges to re-coloration of the original to dramatically different artwork with the same card meaning.
In turn, this deck was based on the Golden Dawn tradition, however elements were taken by Pixie from the Etillia Tarot (sp?) which was a deck from the 18th century with illustrated pips. Arthur Waite was Christian, and chose to incorporate many symbols from that religion in this deck - a usage that repels some tarotists.
The colors are simple, to allow for mass printing of the day.
Initially when I purchased this deck it was a replacement for my beloved Aquarian Deck. At the time I found it difficult to read with - the art and basic colors particularly bothered me. When I used it recently I found it easy to use - so practice does help.
This deck has a plaid back - the "Ur" decks have a flower and vine pattern on the back - over the years a number of designs have been used.
The feel of the deck is pleasant, flexible with a thin plastic coating that isn't "too much". This is a good deck to travel with - easily replaceable if something should occur.
Waite left the Golden Dawn in 1914 and formed his own group. He also wrote the Pictorial Key to the Tarot. While today there are an infinite number of sources available, for a time PKT was the only book available.
Pixie, actually Pamela Coleman Smith, died in 1951. Although she wrote and illustrated many books she remained and obscure and little-known artist.
The "Rider" deck was originally published by William Rider and Son of London in 1909. Former owner of US games, Stuart Kaplan, owns one of the "Ur: decks.
This is a must-have deck. I would definitely replace it if it strayed.
In print.
Recommended for beginners.
Painted by artist Pixie Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite, some refer to it as the Rider-Waite-Smith or RWS deck in honor of Pixie.
This deck is the most suggested for beginning tarot readers for many reasons: first it has illustrated pips which allow a beginner to more easily grasp the meanings of the Minor Arcana. There is also a wealth of material available based on the RSW. It is a deck readily available nearly everywhere, and the price is reasonable.
In addition to the standard deck, there are sizes ranging from the giant to doll-house sized.
Another advantage; even if you don't enjoy it, once you learn the deck there are innumerable "clone" decks who use the basic meanings, with artwork that ranges to re-coloration of the original to dramatically different artwork with the same card meaning.
In turn, this deck was based on the Golden Dawn tradition, however elements were taken by Pixie from the Etillia Tarot (sp?) which was a deck from the 18th century with illustrated pips. Arthur Waite was Christian, and chose to incorporate many symbols from that religion in this deck - a usage that repels some tarotists.
The colors are simple, to allow for mass printing of the day.
Initially when I purchased this deck it was a replacement for my beloved Aquarian Deck. At the time I found it difficult to read with - the art and basic colors particularly bothered me. When I used it recently I found it easy to use - so practice does help.
This deck has a plaid back - the "Ur" decks have a flower and vine pattern on the back - over the years a number of designs have been used.
The feel of the deck is pleasant, flexible with a thin plastic coating that isn't "too much". This is a good deck to travel with - easily replaceable if something should occur.
Waite left the Golden Dawn in 1914 and formed his own group. He also wrote the Pictorial Key to the Tarot. While today there are an infinite number of sources available, for a time PKT was the only book available.
Pixie, actually Pamela Coleman Smith, died in 1951. Although she wrote and illustrated many books she remained and obscure and little-known artist.
The "Rider" deck was originally published by William Rider and Son of London in 1909. Former owner of US games, Stuart Kaplan, owns one of the "Ur: decks.
This is a must-have deck. I would definitely replace it if it strayed.
In print.
Recommended for beginners.
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