The Card That Sold You On The Deck

[AlbaTross]

Hi, I was looking at my decks the other day, and I was reflecting on how at least a couple of them were purchased in part because I really liked one card.  For my Prisma Visions set for example, I was really intrigued by its unique take on The Tower.  Heck, that the Five of Pentacles really spoke to the Christian in me was a big part of the push I felt to finally invest in a traditional RWS set.  

 

So, my question to the community is, has there ever been a time when a card or two sold you on an entire deck (knowing full well that the deck contains 78 cards, assuming it has no extras)?  If so, feel free to share what it was about that card that inspired you to get the deck.  

[vulprix]

The Star card in Robert Place’s Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery 🙂 I couldn’t really do without it in my life.

[GreatDane]

Interesting, but difficult question as there are more decks where A card kind of UNSOLD me on a deck.  

 

But I can tell you some decks that had my fav card, not that it necessarily sold me on it.

 

Anna K. - Really all of them, but her WORLD and THREE of SWORDS  really like those   The THREE of SWORDS has a different twist than just a heart with three swords going through it

 

Morgan Greer - DEATH

 

Bohemian Gothic (FIRST ed) - SO many, but I'll say STRENGTH and the LOVERS

 

Touchstone - Three of Swords (because of detail, check out the book) and The Moon

  

[AlbaTross]

9 hours ago, vulprix said:

The Star card in Robert Place’s Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery 🙂 I couldn’t really do without it in my life.

Is this it?

https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/353391902007812364/

That is a pretty neat card.  I can see why you like it.

8 hours ago, GreatDane said:

Interesting, but difficult question as there are more decks where A card kind of UNSOLD me on a deck.  

 

But I can tell you some decks that had my fav card, not that it necessarily sold me on it.

 

Anna K. - Really all of them, but her WORLD and THREE of SWORDS  really like those   The THREE of SWORDS has a different twist than just a heart with three swords going through it

 

Morgan Greer - DEATH

 

Bohemian Gothic (FIRST ed) - SO many, but I'll say STRENGTH and the LOVERS

 

Touchstone - Three of Swords (because of detail, check out the book) and The Moon

  

Interesting.  I suppose you can share some examples of deal-breaker cards too if you're inclined.  Are you particular about certain cards like I am?  For me, it's not a deal-breaker, but I do have a pet peeve when the imagery of cards leaves no room for the "community can help" interpretation of the Five of Pentacles.  

Edited February 9, 2021 by AlbaTross

[GreatDane]

Hi AlbaTross (love your name 🙂 )    I didn't want to veer off topic, but it is easier to talk deal breaker cards and decks.  Most of the decks I have, I really like all the cards.

 

Like the Anna K. - I love ALL the cards.  DEATH is a great one for me as it's so different from others I have seen.

 

OH INTERESTING re the Five of Pents, I didn't think of that.  GLAD you mentioned it, I shall have to look through all my Five Pents.  I DO get what you mean. 

 

I am just trying to think of any of my decks that could have one NOT lending itself to that interpretation, but then I don't have a ton of decks.   

[vulprix]

Yes, @AlbaTross! On my copy of the deck, there is not so much writing on the card.

Edited February 9, 2021 by vulprix

[AlbaTross]

5 hours ago, GreatDane said:

Hi AlbaTross (love your name 🙂 )    I didn't want to veer off topic, but it is easier to talk deal breaker cards and decks.  Most of the decks I have, I really like all the cards.

 

Like the Anna K. - I love ALL the cards.  DEATH is a great one for me as it's so different from others I have seen.

 

OH INTERESTING re the Five of Pents, I didn't think of that.  GLAD you mentioned it, I shall have to look through all my Five Pents.  I DO get what you mean. 

 

I am just trying to think of any of my decks that could have one NOT lending itself to that interpretation, but then I don't have a ton of decks.   

The Five of Pentacles is curiously both one of my favourite cards, and one I dread ever actually coming up in a reading.  I fear it more than Death, if that makes any sense.  But, the symbolism really speaks to me.  As a Christian, the mission of a church is to help people in need, but it is very true that it's not uncommon for even the most well-intentioned church to be oblivious to the suffering that goes on even just outside its walls. Conversely, many churches haven't exactly built up a good reputation, so the community may be far less likely to think of them as safe places where they can go to get help.  It's a tragic and ongoing cycle that I think is adequately encompassed by the image in the RWS Five of Pentacles.

 

Of course, given the nature of Tarot, I'm all for cards that depict the community aspect in other ways, with the notion that there are people somewhere who can help someone out of a tough situation, or at the very least, give them the support they need to weather it.  If the church angle doesn't work for some people, there are probably friends, family or other communities that can be of help.

 

I've come across the occasional card that depicts the financial/personal hardship, but doesn't include a hint of there being a community nearby.  Maybe the point is, that person or creature is far from those who can help them...but I don't think that's the meaning of the RWS card, which is that there are literally people who can help nearby, and it's just a matter of knowing they're there and reaching out to them...or conversely, for those who can help to know that there are those in need nearby and reaching out to help them.  Maybe it's intended to depict a sense of being alone in one's struggles, but I always thought the idea was for said loneliness to be either willful, or because that individual hasn't actually considered reaching out for help.  

 

I've also occasionally seen cards that depict someone being taken away from those who can help them, such as Alice being removed from the castle, or in that one indie deck I've been eying for a good year, there's a (probably formerly) rich woman being thrown out of her expensive condo complex, likely due to being unable to afford to live there anymore.  I'm not particularly fond of that interpretation either.  Tarot of the 78 Doors depicts an old man waiting outside the door of a doctor's office, and I get the sense that means waiting for those who can help.  I'm...mixed on that one.  Ghost Tarot depicts a bunch of ghosts in robes walking together towards a castle, seeming to indicate going for help while in community.  I think that's closer to the RWS meaning.  The latter two decks clearly take some creative license with some of the meanings, especially 78 Doors, and they only come with a very basic white book that's in multiple languages, so I have to rely largely on the imagery to get the full meaning of the cards.  

 

Anyways, TL:DR, though I don't want to see the Five of Pentacles in a reading, it's one that means quite a bit to me.  It has yet to make or break a deck for me, but there have been times when I've had to pause and think about whether I still want a deck when it veers too far from the original meaning of the card...or at least the alternate meaning that I'm quite fond of.  

Edited February 9, 2021 by AlbaTross

[AlbaTross]

5 hours ago, vulprix said:

Yes, @AlbaTross! On my copy of the deck, there is not so much writing on the card.

I guess that's probably a case where there are multiple editions of the deck.  It is a nice card either way though.  There's some great insight that can be gained from just the image alone.  

[TheFeeLion]

Hmm for me I guess it was the Devil in True Black. I already loved the deck but that card cinched the deal for me, there was no way I wouldn't be getting that deck after seeing that card! 

[SheBeast]

For me it was The Hermit in True Black.  Although there is so much to love about Arthur Wang's artwork.  I also fell in love with Justice and the Moon.  Oh yeah....and the HP.  Ok, I just love pretty much the whole deck.  There are a few images that don't resonate at all with me but for the most part.....insert deep sigh here.

[AlbaTross]

I'm not sure if True Black is the right deck for me, but a lot of its cards are really interesting, and those two are certainly intriguing.

 

I suppose I should elaborate on my initial post, since others have provided images.  I'll start with the RWS Five of Pentacles:

The colours in my set are a lot more saturated, with the blues, reds and black background being deeper, but this is the closest I could find to the one I have in my set.  Of course, a card from the RWS set is probably common knowledge for most people here, so I'll move on.  Here's the Prisma Visions Tower card: 

I think I was intrigued that the house in the image isn't tumbling down...though it does give of a bit of a calm before the storm vibe.  Actually, while this was the card that sold me on the set, it ended up being the Death card that I'm the most glad to have in my life...but this one holds the distinction of being the one to prompt me to splurge on this great set.  

[ilweran]

Sold me on the deck and a deal breaker - Queen of Swords in the Bohemian Gothic. loved the 1st Ed, hated the 2nd ed version.

 

Strength in the Greenwood, and this was after it went OOP. Though I'd already wanted it after seeing it in my local bookshop, but chose a different deck that day (how I cursed that choice later!) It was the Strength card that convinced me it was THE deck for me. Still love that card, have it on my altar with The Ancestor.

 

Probably The High Priestess in the Alchemical Tarot, it was on the cover of the original edition and I bought it for about £11 I think before it went OOP. Got one of the later editions as well, much nicer without the pillars. Probably the High Priestess in the Sevenfold Mystery Tarot as well.

[ironwing]

What an awesome topic. I don't think I've ever noticed being sold on a deck due to a single card because I like looking at many cards in a deck before I actually purchase it. That was before I saw the interpretation of Death in Uusi's Pagan Otherworlds, however. Seeing that card made me support the deck instantly on Kickstarter.

 

 

Credit: https://uusi.us/

 

I look forward to seeing Death and The Devil in any deck. The Devil in Pagan Otherworlds is laden with meaning for me, too, but this Death card was to die for. (See what I did there.)

[Grandma]

I missed this thread back in February - so glad that @ironwing posted!

 

The card that most made me buy a deck is the Empress in Ciro Marchetti's Grand Luxe Tarot.  I saw it on its own somewhere without identification.  I recognized that it was Ciro's but somehow, and I really don't understand how, was unable to figure out which deck it belonged to, nor could I find the picture again.  I posted a request for help, describing the card as I best remembered it, and of course @gregory identified it for me pronto!  And pronto, without looking at a single other card, I bought the deck!  

 

To me, the Empress is above all the place on the Fool's Journey where she learns that Spirit is love, that she is loved, that she is loving.  It is where she understands the vast richness, glory, fecundity and promise that this love represents.  

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2021 by Grandma

[brutaI]

death card in trungles star spinner tarot

i loved it because the death card was usually depicted differently from the other decks ive seen had no skeletons but i like how the picture focused more on birth if you should say

 

 

[Duvessa]

The Lovers and Queen of Pentacles in Klimt's Deck, because I'm f*cking shallow. 😄

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/9b/b9/eb9bb99befa2618aea35916910226e86.png

 

 

[Mokona]

Two of the cards from the Jolanda Tarot compelled me to purchase it: The Empress and The World.

I love how the world is a fruit and the empress is holding it. The world is produced.

 

The World card is great because of the Milky Way XD