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Too-large decks are a problem for me ...although they can sometimes be altered by trimming ...which I don't hesitate to do! I've created quite a few usable decks out of ones I was unable to handle before. I have never mastered the hand to hand shuffle. I always use a gentle riffle shuffle and/or the face down smear method ...or a combination of the two, in order to get random reversals. So ...what I can't work with are card stocks that are thick and cardboard-y or—worse yet—cling together while shuffling. Unfortunately these include several decks that I really love otherwise. (The most irritating one is The Everyday Enchantment Tarot by Poppy Palin. I LOVE that deck, but find it very very hard to shuffle—size, cardboard-y stock AND clingy surface—so I don't use it as often as I want to. It's my dream that some day it will be re-issued in more usable card stock.) I am not keen on horizontal decks, although the only one I had I DID get rid of...but for other reasons. However, I found the horizonal layout a bit strange to use. I wouldn't have got rid of it for that reason alone, though.

I think that tarot, like all things witch-ish and spirit-ish and magic-ish and pagan-ish, has become commodified. And many people no longer really care about learning the "language", or doing the actual thing authentically… What matters is looking witchy for the camera, reviewing a huge their collection of decks (which they get for free from the publisher to generate content), and preaching to others that "ACKSHUALLY Death isn't AKCSHUAL death you know…". And it makes sense that people who have an aesthetic connection to the idea of tarot (or witchcraft, or paganism) will prefer decks that are just about the aesthetic. Generated, not created. Especially since they can be generated to match one's very particular taste, so if your online self is, I don't know, a Goth House Cthonic Witch who likes Cats you may actually find a Gothic Cat Hecate deck just for you. <shrugs> Aside from the absolute soullessness of these decks, what also saddens me a bit is that there's no more trying to engage with the artists' imagination, by trying to imagine why they chose to portray a certain card like this and not like that… It meant opening yourself to another's unique creative vision, while somehow also making it your own so that you could read the deck in your own special way. All in all, I think it boils down to what @Misterei said - it's all meant to look cool for your online avatar, or for you to join the hype and be part of the conversation. I don't have many issues with the size, if I happen to really like the deck! I have tiny hands, so many decks end up being a bit big for me… Thankfully, 25 years of deck shuffling have helped keep my hands flexible so most of the time it's not an issue. I think I only had two or three decks I found hard to use due to size, but size alone would not make me give up on a deck. Lamination, on the other hand… I'm VERY annoyed by sticky lamination! Thank goodness it's not as common anymore as it used to be. And I get hung up on decks that are too thin, papery and fragile, because I feel like they will bend or get dog-eared if I shuffle them properly. I like to riffle shuffle, so uncoated/non-laminated decks are a bit of no-no in my collection.

I think some of the AI deck popularity is driven by social media and cosmetic surgery. There is a youtube tarot reader I watch from time to time. Sometimes just to visually absorb her style and set. She used an oracle deck that looked awesome in her videos. Like a copycat, I bought the deck on etsy--only to realize it is AI art with all pretty people. Natural human faces are no longer good enough. Witness the explosion of cosmetic surgery amongst younger people who want to have an instagrammable face. Can we be surprised that real art showing real people might not appeal to this younger cosmetically enhanced demographic? [not trying to single out young people. Older women of a certain type always got facelifts. Likewise a certain type of younger women always got breast augmentation. But it is a new phenomenon that 18 year olds are getting facial procedures and breast implants aren't just for strippers and actresses] I used to think that yoga gals would avoid surgical enhancements as unnatural. Yet modern yoga influencers have breast augmentation and facial procedures. It's normalized amongst the modern yoga demographic. Likewise when tarot was the provence of hippies, weirdos, and historical art nerds. Now? That influencer with the fake breasts and fake face wants a fake tarot deck to align with her brand aesthetic. I was pretty horrifed with the AI deck but couldn't return it. And learnt something about getting influenced by influencers. This youtuber made it all look so good. *sigh* I definitely prefer smaller decks as large decks are difficult for my hands. But unlike the size of the male member--the size of a tarot deck is something I'm willing to overlook. I have big decks which I hate shuffling but love the art. I have a couple tiny decks which are so small I can barely read them--but they are great for travel or small spaces. The decks I use most often--my daily drivers--are definitely moderate size. Not too big not too small. I hate the crap cardstock on a couple of my favorite decks [I'm looking at YOU Legacy of the Devine and Devine Deco] but I overlook the crappy cardstock and still consider these 2 of my favorite decks.

Looking at all your answers, I can only wonder why AI decks seem to be so successful. Either they are really not, and they are offered to non-buyers.... or we are a highly sophisticated bunch of idealists disconnected from sordid reality ;-) Or the truth is somewhere in the middle. Especially on Etsy, I find the abundance of obviously AI-generated decks nauseating. AI literally takes ideas and inspiration from existing artworks, as mentioned above. Concerning cartoony decks... I'm not a big fan but I have had some surprisingly insightful readings with the LoScarabeo Fey Tarot (trimmed, it somehow looks much better). Maybe it worked for me because I really liked the guidebook which tells about the collaboration and interaction between a tarotist and a commercial artist with a quirky style. Oh, quirky doesn't sound good, but the Fey Tarot has a certain weirdness which counteracts the cutness and cuts through it. Somehow, this works much better for me than the smooth, competent watercolour style of the Lo Scarabeo Tarot (the one that "unites" Marseilles, RWS and Thoth). Cartoony decks like the Fey are not usually my style but somehow, it found its way to me, trimmed and edged already, so I would say, cartoony decks can work for me. Sometimes. What about formats? Are there people who would never by a deck because it's too small or too large? Cardstock preferences? How do people get along with horizontal (landscape) format decks? I get along well with cards of all sizes but I know that's not true for everybody. And now I really have to get the Gummy Bear Tarot!!!

Hello @MoonHermit welcome to the TT&M Family.

What about the water/liquid flowing from one cup to the other at an awkward angle? I've always regarded that as attempting the impossible.

@fire cat pickles I'm so glad you spoke up! Often people who enjoy the talents of others don't realize the heavy cost of time and effort expended! ❤️

AI decks - definitely not in my house. Aside from the ethical issues around them, there is just something about the “artwork” that makes my skin crawl with uneasiness. I’m also not a fan of cartoony decks, or sickly saccharine sweet decks that are overly positive. I like my decks to have a darkness to them as well as that is a truer reflection of reality in my opinion.

Hi everyone. My name is Michael and I’ve been interested in tarot since the early 1990’s. The original Mythic tarot was my first deck. I have a keen interest in all branches of tarot (rider Waite Smith, Thoth, tarot de Marseille etc). I live in Cairns Australia.

I so agree with you about artwork that is difficult to SEE, or distinguish between cards while reading. (Especially important because I usually read with reversals ...if a card is hard to distinguish upright, it's more or less impossible to read when it's reversed.) I know what you mean about Lisa Hunt in this direction. In fact, I gave away one of her decks simply because when I laid out the cards, they didn't give me an overall picture. Just soft colours, and all of them pretty same-y. Nothing wrong with her interpretations in my view, but 'in my view' was a problem! I may initially like these kinds of decks ...but I don't use them for readings after the first initial tries. I also agree with @Misterei regarding the unsuitability of cartoony decks for serious readings. A good point. It probably wouldn't matter if the querent never sees the cards during the reading, but still....

Ohhh but this a VERY cool deck! I like it! I mean, I can understand it when a deck is meant to be a whimsical homage to a cultural thing. The Gummy Bear, which I love, is kinda like that. This Elvira tarot has a similar feeling. I have more of a problem when the deck follows the 'trendy, cartoony, cute' aesthetic but takes itself more seriously than it should. Or when it's just more or the same, to grab money from Tiktok baby witches and whatnot.

But, but... Elvira!? No seriously, I mentioned I'm not into these decks either. But if I knew someone who was a massive fan of Elvira, Goddess of the Night, I'd probably get it for them. Not for a professional reader, but just someone who might get a kick out of it. These decks are not for me when the theme is plugged into existing PCS art. Or maybe no one has hit on a theme so perfect for me that it would make me crumble. Even then it would be more for the novelty than a reading deck. (omg I just had a crazy thought; can you imagine if people did this with the Thoth! 🤯😵) Also agree with you about AI, but I forgot to say it because it's such a given for me.

They agreed to the service with the extra fee for the guest organist. They also agreed to have readers for the Lessons and Carols service so I won't be doing the reading in between the carols. One of the board members even agreed to pay out-of-pocket if there is a shortfall in funds to pay the suggested amount for the organist.

How will the meeting go today. I am stepping down as music director at my church after Christmas. It will not be well-received. Also, I am requesting that we have a guest organist so that I can be song leader (cantor/singer whatever you want to call it) for the pre-service and Christmas Eve services. Year after year it is becoming too stressful for me to sing and play two back-to-back services, particularly this year since Christmas Eve falls the days after I work a 24 hour shift. On top of all this, I am still getting paid the same rate I was about 7 years ago and they haven't offered any more money. I am not one to beg. I feel taken advantage of. Not too many organist (if any!) are expected to sing and play to lead their congregations... Anyway I prefer not to walk away mad, just to walk away. Again, how will the meeting go. Tarot de la rea 7 of Cups. I am not one to us RWS meanings with TdM. The 7 is the perfect, holy and mysterious number often associated with perfection, finality and endings. The six cups build a path to the seventh cup at the apex, with this top one representing what I think is the meeting coming out "desirable" with flames coming out perhaps after a bit of heated discussion. (Last year they offered a nice stipend for a guest musician.) The question or problem that I will have is paying Keith extra for the service following. I have to make the argument that he needs an additional payment for the church service following the Lessons and Carols--a tremendous amount of music that should not be included in a standard fee. If I look at the card this way, then the seventh card could be seen as a fiery disruption in the flow-path of the six. For my mental health I am prepared to pay him out-of-pocket! Anyway, the meeting is this afternoon at 4, so if you want to add anything or make a prediction you have a few hours...

Welcome back @Rachelcat!

I agree with what you all said about AI decks…. hard and big NO. The art has no personality whatsoever, and I find nothing more MEH than seeking intuitive hints from a robot generated "artwork". For me, I don't have hard and fast rules… it all depends on how the art itself and the whole deck feels to me. But I do have my own irks and quirks in regard to decks: Very soft and watercoloury art - nothing against the art style itself, but in decks it tends to not move me much. I actually have one deck that fits this description (looking at ya, Legend Arthurian), which I love, but I confess I can seldon go by the art alone. I usually need the book (which is very good by the way). Lisa Hunt's decks had this problem for me, even though I wanted to love them! Convoluted and confusing art - my eyesight is a bit crappy so decks in which there is a ton going on in the same card or that have a very detailed art that got shrunk to fit in the palm of my hand aren't really for me. It's what made me give up of the Magickal Botanical Oracle. Manga or Comics-styled art - if the deck's art is too manga-like or reminds me of a Marvel comics, I find that I cannot take it really seriously. The LS Pagan Tarot had this problem for me… actually, most modern witchy decks seem to have this problem. Creepy or horror decks - not big into the theme in general. Decks in which the "people" look like, I dunno, the Nun, the Crooked Man or Slenderman (think Deviant Moon) are… nope. Not into really dark decks either. Note: The Halloween Tarot (love it!) and Vampire decks with decadently gorgeous gothic art NOT included in this category! Erotic decks - it would have to be extremely good taste for me to want one and we all know it's usually a boobfest (as in, ladies a lot more exposed and objectified than gents). This is what I can think of now… THAT SAID, I DO love some decks whose art many people find unappealing, such as the original Mythic Tarot (NOT the Caselli travesty!), the Fergus Hall Tarot, the Wicca Pack, the Grail Tarot, even the Playing Card Oracles… so it's really not about "pretty art" for me. And @Nemia , you should DEFINITELY get the Gummy Bear. It's cute but in an authentic, no BS way, and the booklet is soooo good and detailed! AND it comes in a tin, what else do you need?

AI generated decks. Hard NO. Collage decks that depend more on photoshop skill than artistic skill--NO. I want decks illustrated by an actual HUMAN. One who made efforts and practiced to learn how to draw. I don't mind Ciro Marchetti digital art but that's my limit. As others mentioned I exclude decks that lean too far toward dark and demonic or light and fluffy. Tarot should be balanced. My favorite dark deck [Trionfi della Luna] has such a sense of humor and pathos--it's dark but balanced in its own way. Trendy, cartoony, cutesy, theme decks? NO Allcento Tarot rides that line for me. I find it a bit too cartoonish. And at its heart its a serious deck. People come to me with real problems. I can't imagine reading some cartoonish trendy deck for a person struggling between the marriage their parents arranged vs. the other person they fell in love with. Or someone dealing with an important career decision that involves moving to a different state. Someone wondering about dating again after the death of their spouse. Which begs the question--who are these insipid shallow unbalanced decks even made for? Who would read on a serious question using a cartoon vampire demon cats christmas cheer deck?

Hi crew! This week will be The Brotherhood of Light Authentic Egyptian Tarot Cards. Box says Copyright 1936, Renewed 1964, Distributed U.S. Games Systems, Inc. “Instructions for use in divination may be had in the book The Sacred Tarot by C.C. Zain.” Card backs say The Brotherhood of Light, © Church of Light 1936. Somewhere online I found that the deck was designed by Gloria Beresford. I’m not at all enamored of faux Egyptian anything. I had the lovely trying-to-be-more Egyptian LS version illustrated by Silvana Alasia but let it go. I compromised by keeping her Egyptian Gods Oracle Cards (and making up my own keywords for it). And I’m currently trying to resist the matching Egyptian Sacred Animals Oracle because I have SO MANY animal oracles. But it’s pretty! The original b&w deck is part of (more recent) tarot history, so I’ll give it a try. Quick analysis of astro attributions on the cards: All the majors have unique attributions, definitely not Golden Dawn. Moon and Sun are not moon and sun but are the signs they rule, Cancer and Leo. Swords are earth; coins are air. Courts have sign attributions consistent with elements but not modes. Each 1-9 has two signs and a planet, all according to their elements. 1-3 are cardinal; 4-6 are fixed; 7-9 are mutable. Hs (horsemen) and 10s are the odd men out (instead of more common aces and pages) and are labeled as the four cherubim (lion, bull, man, and eagle). Majors also have transliterated Hebrew letters, starting with 1. Magician, ending with 22. Fool. Interview time! What is your most important characteristic? 4 Scepters, Leo Leo Sun It’s internally consistent. It celebrates a certain time and place in tarot history. It’s itself and is happy for the world to see it as it is. What is your strength? Judgment, Moon It is a higher level of tarot, even if that higher level isn’t all that clear. Your weakness? 5 Swords, Taurus Virgo Mercury It’s confusing but, again, follows its own way. It’s a physical manifestation of very esoteric ideas. What can you teach me? 5 Scepters, Leo Sagittarius Jupiter The deck can teach me to fight for what I know and believe. How can I learn it? Tower, Mars Burn down anything I disagree with. What will be the outcome of our work together? Horseman of Cups, Eagle I will romanticize this example of early esoteric tarot. Ok, we’ll see about all this!

I struggle with 2 aspects of Lenormand in particular Each card has so many meanings. Sometimes I feel at a loss to know which to apply Not catastrophising--and this relates to #1 above. Some of the negative cards--take broom/whip for example--can also have neutral meanings. In some cases broom/whip might be any repetitive motion. Or cleaning your house. In other cases it can be ugly arguments.

Welcome back @Bodhiseed 😀

Thank you, Fire cat! I'm in with the Urban Tarot paired with the Principles to LIve By Tiles this week. In many or most moments these minds are exquisitely coordinated; feelings are essential to thought, thought to feeling. But when passions surge the balance tips: it is the emotional mind that captures the upper hand, swamping the rational mind. ―Daniel Goleman The Six of Swords follows the crisis of the Five; we leave the Island of Unreason and our peace and ease returns. Science is the subtitle of this card because balance is restored (our sanity returns) after the neocortex's hijacking by the amygdala. Emotional swings have been curbed, and problems can now be approached logically and objectively. Contentment is a state of quiet satisfaction and peace that is independent of circumstances. It begins when we accept that challenges and difficulties happen to everyone, including us. Instead of fighting reality, we focus on relaxing our intense emotional response, which can help reinstate clarity. With our mental and emotional balance restored, we can adapt or make changes that are beneficial.

A unique version of Reading Circle for those who would like to work through their collection of decks, participants choose decks from their collections to work with for the week. Some use one deck, others use two or more. Some combine methods: Tarot, non-tarot (e.g. oracle), playing cards, or any other divinatory method is welcome. All we ask is that you use at least one tarot or oracle deck. No collection is too large or too small. The only rules we have are the Tarot, Tea & Me Rules; Be respectful of one other. Please join us! Please post with your choice of deck(s) for the week Chat away about your deck, how you're finding it (or not), etc., it's all up to you Participants may either choose to share their readings here in this discussion thread or opt to have their own journal in the Journals Forum and link it here Yet others may even have an offline journal in paper & pencil/pen form Share as often, as much, or as little as you like. You can drop in and out at any time—reality and life permitting. New to tarot? Long time reader? Come on in! Participants fire cat pickles: Tarot de la Rea Bodhiseed: Urban Tarot paired with the Principles to LIve By Tiles Rachelcat: The Brotherhood of Light Authentic Egyptian Tarot Cards Click here for DOTW 484 (10/12 - 10/18)

This is great! Wings and water: I'm adding "flow" to my list! Thank you!