What's The Postman Bringing?

[gregory]

Don't mind at all ! It looks FAB ! (It is the same link.)

 

OH MY - stick with etsy. The prices on ebay are terrifying !

 

ETA some more...

 

Well wow. If only I were rich:

 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/829120121/tarot-matryoshka-collectors-edition?ref=pla_sameshop_listing_top-4

 

 

Edited October 14, 2021 by gregory

[Onibaba]

10 minutes ago, TheThumbPuppy said:

ebay doesn't allow me to open an account (tried a couple of years ago)

I cannot think of any possible reasons, 

usually this happens if you’ve been blacklisted by them, either by having a previously suspended account with them, or you’re trying to creating a second account. Maybe you’ve registered in the past? Do you recall doing this? Did anyone in your household open an account and you’re sharing the same IP address, maybe?  

Edited October 14, 2021 by Onibaba

[Onibaba]

51 minutes ago, TheThumbPuppy said:

I remember opening an account on ebay when I was still living in London, probably around 1998 or so. 

Even though that’s a super old account, it may be this. Are you able to login into your old account since you never deleted it?  Hopefully you still know and have the email address associated with account. if you have that but forget the password, do a password request and take it from there. Maybe that will resolve things?
 

as for your partner, maybe your IP address is flagged because you tried to open a second account, so anything your partner tried to open after you was flagged, too?

 

just throwing out guesses here.  

Edited October 14, 2021 by Onibaba

[Onibaba]

1 minute ago, TheThumbPuppy said:

 

I actually just did on ebay.co.uk, because I still had the email and password that I had used. But it wasn't recognising my email address so it wouldn't let me go any further.

 

Personally I think that they just made a mistake with their data. I worked for more than 30 years in data management, some of which was very sensitive personal data, and I can tell quite some stories about how data gets garbled. 

 

Not a 9-of-Spades problem

ah well. If you really need to purchase something off of eBay I don’t think you need an account anymore. I think you can just pay as a guest, or so I’ve heard?

[ironwing]

8 hours ago, gregory said:

Don't mind at all ! It looks FAB ! (It is the same link.)

 

OH MY - stick with etsy. The prices on ebay are terrifying !

 

ETA some more...

 

Well wow. If only I were rich:

 

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/829120121/tarot-matryoshka-collectors-edition?ref=pla_sameshop_listing_top-4

 

 

 

Oh, goodness. That looks amazing! I'd pay to have an hour with it, since I can't take it home. 😆

[katrinka]

Back on topic - I ordered this almost on impulse the other day. And it arrived almost at the speed of light.
I'm not much of an oracle deck person, preferring more predictive systems. But THIS was irresistable:

 

 

Billie Holiday used to close her shows with Strange Fruit - even in the south. The woman was pure tensile steel. Forget that Diana Ross movie - Billie was STRONG.
https://progressive.org/latest/strange-fruit-caused-the-murder-of-billie-holiday-180220/

 

And these - I love the Night Witches. I never even knew about them until I saw a crazy post on facebook and verified it - this actually happened. These women flew cheesy plywood planes and killed Nazis. LOTS of Nazis. And Queen Nanny did similar good works in Jamaica:

 

 

It is not a perfect deck. In the guidebook, the author takes a somewhat rosy view of Louise Hay. I view her as an evil thing that got rich selling quack cures to people - some of whom might have survived otherwise, I'm well aware that the mind is powerful, but Hay House will not make you a meditation master. And we're in a pandemic now. So by all means do complementary stuff like herbs, TCM. etc. - but PLEASE, pay heed to science and peer reviewed studies!

For the purpose of reading the cards it's fine, though. Every deck needs bad cards, and this one is truly evil:

 

While I'm harping on what's wrong, I'd like to say that these images of Frida and Mother Shipton are quite unflattering. In a way that's OK. They weren't about Instagram or being pretty. But I wish she'd captured Frida looking gorgeous, as she did sometimes, and Mother Shipton as something other than a Halloween witch:

 

And yes, the backs are pretty meh. But who cares about backs?

 

I like that she chose Mary Coffin Ware Dennett instead of the more obvious Margaret Sanger. And I'd never heard of Ida Lewis until today. I have things to learn from this deck.

 

These two are stunners, Maria Tallchief...such an eloquent depiction, props to MJ. Marie was from the Osage Nation. The Osage bought their land outright, there was no treaty for the US government to break when oil was found there. So they became quite wealthy - and were killed for that. It was called the Reign of Terror. That's what Maria was born into.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/books/chap1/mariatallchief.htm

 

And Audrey. While the guidebook touches on her humanitarian work, there is so much more.
At one time, I didn't get what the big deal was. She was very pretty, she was an exceptionally good person, and Breakfast at Tiffany's probably started the whole Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope. Accomplished, yes, but a lot of people are - why was Audrey such a big deal? Well, as a tiny, malnourished slip of a girl. she went against her Nazi-sympathizing parents and did the Right Thing. I admire her so much now:
https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/audrey-hepburn-secret-ww2-history-dutch-resistance-spy/

 

 

Here are the Fox sisters, who were just cracking their toes all along. But I don't put them in the same category as Louise Hay. Yes, it was BS, but I think it made life more bearable for a lot of people. No quack cures, and remember, this was not long after the Civil War. And who's to say that they weren't starting to create a field for real spirit communication to happen?

And Mary. What happens when you try to "cure" death - the WRONG way? Mary was NOT scared to explore that. Every great horror writer since, up to and including Stephen King (Pet Sematary, anyone?), owes her a debt.

 

Just for good measure, here is Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress, representing New York's 12th congressional district, for seven terms from 1969 to 1983. And Maya Angelou, who knew exactly why the caged bird sings and was able to put it into clear, penetrating, beautiful words:

 

There are many more here. And while I don't agree with MJ's views on some things, I find the deck usable and well - beautiful.

It doesn't seem like a predictive deck, it's no Lenormand, But it speaks. If you ever need a what-do-I-do-now? type deck, this one is the way to go. It's like talking to your mom or grandma, except mom and grandma really, REALLY know their stuff.

Available here: https://crowtarotshop.com/products/copy-of-pre-order-roar-oracle-estimated-release-mid-spring-2021

 

 

 

 

Edited October 15, 2021 by katrinka

[Niobium]

Wow, thank you @katrinka for that amazing write up. I was looking at this one when I pre-ordered Forhaxa, and was inclined to it because it included the Nachthexen, but wound up not purchasing. I now wish I had, as you say less for predictive use and more for guidance or direction. 

 

(Forhaxa is lovely but I am almost sure to re-home it. Although the guidebook refers to the fae in it as non-binary, the majority of them visually skew feminine--facially, body shape, etc. If there are genders, I prefer to see a spectrum; the deck winds up feeling entirely feminine, which doesn't work for me that well. I'm sure someone else will love it, though, it's fantastically made.)

[Amberjune]

@katrinka and I am SOLD on this one. 😁 Will order asap,

 

Meanwhile my Tarot del Tango has arrived,

[katrinka]

3 hours ago, Niobium said:

Wow, thank you @katrinka for that amazing write up. I was looking at this one when I pre-ordered Forhaxa, and was inclined to it because it included the Nachthexen,

 

They really ARE almost reason enough to buy the deck.
I mean, I'd have given it a hard pass if it was just them and a bunch of Instagram influencers or something. Hopefully nobody will do that, lol. But this is a great deck. 🙂
 

3 hours ago, Niobium said:

but wound up not purchasing. I now wish I had, as you say less for predictive use and more for guidance or direction. 

 

(Forhaxa is lovely but I am almost sure to re-home it. Although the guidebook refers to the fae in it as non-binary, the majority of them visually skew feminine--facially, body shape, etc. If there are genders, I prefer to see a spectrum; the deck winds up feeling entirely feminine, which doesn't work for me that well. I'm sure someone else will love it, though, it's fantastically made.)

I agree, the images I've seen don't strike me as non-binary at all. If she's going to call it non-binary, it needs to be that. It isn't non-binary, it isn't Norse, it's yet another fairy deck. Not the edgy ones from the old lore, either, more Tinkerbell-ish. That's OK, a lot of people like those. But she should call it what it is.
 

MJ's work is kind of hit-or-miss. I really like Roar, though. The subjects speak for themselves.

Edited October 15, 2021 by katrinka

[Raggydoll]

5 hours ago, Niobium said:

 

(Forhaxa is lovely but I am almost sure to re-home it. Although the guidebook refers to the fae in it as non-binary, the majority of them visually skew feminine--facially, body shape, etc. If there are genders, I prefer to see a spectrum; the deck winds up feeling entirely feminine, which doesn't work for me that well. I'm sure someone else will love it, though, it's fantastically made.)

I saw the images and I see what you mean. I also have some other issues with that deck. I don’t like the name she picked. I’m Swedish, and the word ‘förhäxa’ is a word that is borrowed from German. It was first introduced here in the 1600s, as a part of the Swedish witch trials. So those who believed in the fae or who practiced folk magic was charged with being a “häxa” or with having “förhäxat” someone. No one called themselves “häxa”, it was an accusation that Christians made. So I think it’s really unfortunate that she used that word. Contemporary Swedes might call themselves häxa/häxor, but that’s their thing. MJ mentions Norse mythology on her webpage, and how several of the cards in this deck was inspired by old Norse lore. And in that case, this title is especially poorly chosen. Horned and winged, sexy looking fairy-witches don’t really work with that concept, not for me anyway. I hope I didn’t ruin the deck for you though, in case you decide to keep it. There are other decks of hers that I like, so it’s not personal. She has many cool ideas. It’s this particular one that I’m not too keen on. 

[Niobium]

@katrinka That's so good to hear. I think I may nab it, then. 

 

@Raggydoll Yyyyes that's kind of another thing--there are some very nice Norse-inspired cards, but overall the theme muddles there, by adding in the fae and having them be very feminine. So, overall, not for me. 

 

Now, Of Light and Dust, as well as my La Mucci Fairy Tale Tarot, are both *excellent*, and just arrived. If you like black and white/grayscale decks, Of Light and Dust is so very lovely and well made. Fariy Tale Tarot is a little whimsical but has such lovely colors and art I went with it.

[katrinka]

3 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

I saw the images and I see what you mean. I also have some other issues with that deck. I don’t like the name she picked. I’m Swedish, and the word ‘förhäxa’ is a word that is borrowed from German. It was first introduced here in the 1600s, as a part of the Swedish witch trials. So those who believed in the fae or who practiced folk magic was charged with being a “häxa” or with having “förhäxat” someone. No one called themselves “häxa”, it was an accusation that Christians made. So I think it’s really unfortunate that she used that word. Contemporary Swedes might call themselves häxa/häxor, but that’s their thing. MJ mentions Norse mythology on her webpage, and how several of the cards in this deck was inspired by old Norse lore. And in that case, this title is especially poorly chosen. Horned and winged, sexy looking fairy-witches don’t really work with that concept, not for me anyway. I hope I didn’t ruin the deck for you though, in case you decide to keep it. There are other decks of hers that I like, so it’s not personal. She has many cool ideas. It’s this particular one that I’m not too keen on. 

 

23 minutes ago, TheThumbPuppy said:

Thank you for your philological analysis of these words. It had totally escaped me.

I wonder whether the current use of "häxa/häxor" may be intended in the same spirit as when the word "queer", that was first  intended derogatorily, was re-appropriated by the gay community as far back as the early 80's – I'm talking about my personal experience in London. Although a couple of decades after that it assumed yet a different meaning or meanings, which is a separate story.

 

Reclaiming häxa is tricky.
There's a cultural inflection, and I don't think just anybody who calls themselves a witch should refer to themselves as häxa.
I can't find any kind of detailed bio on MJ. Her surname sounds Irish, and she says on her website that she grew up south of Boston in the US. I used to live in that area and most of the white people were Irish, Italian, or a mix of those two. I never met any Swedes there. She doesn't know a great deal about Norse culture, she wasn't raised in it, she doesn't even appear to have studied it a great deal. And she can't even pronounce häxa correctly. So it's probably not a good idea to call herself that. 😉

It's just kind of...silly.

[Decan]

I received a copy of the Oracle of the Triad that I had ordered.

Very nice deck, the card stock is a bit thin though (but it’s something I was aware).

[katrinka]

On 10/15/2021 at 12:04 PM, TheThumbPuppy said:

Perhaps it's a similar phenomenon to when I hear some Dutch people say, "That girl is so brutal!"

That is using a term from another language when you don't know that it actually means something else, or it comes with a particular context.

 

I hope this finds you home and on the mend.

Here, we often say things are "bad" or "sick" when we admire them: "That's a bad car", "He plays a sick guitar" etc.
And we know what those words mean, of course. We just like to mangle english. 😁

 

On 10/15/2021 at 12:04 PM, TheThumbPuppy said:

Although the Norse did colonise Massachusetts, you're probably right on the rarity of Massachusetts Swedes in more recent times.

 

Yes. They were quite a few waves ago.
Not even 100 years ago, there were a lot of French people there. Now you don't see very many. I imagine the Norse there are long gone.

 

On 10/15/2021 at 12:04 PM, TheThumbPuppy said:

She probably used one of the dictionary translations for the word "witch" (one which looked particularly "Scandanavian" with a "ä" – a "å" or "æ" would have also probably worked for her) without actually knowing the context of that word.

 

In my example, the dictionary-lookup phase was probably bypassed and they just chance that that word means the same as a similar word in their own language, like I do when I speak Dutch 🤓

 

From what I gather, the deck started as a Norse themed deck but MJ changed her mind early on and made it a fairy deck. TBH, I don't think she likes doing research in depth. The Roar guidebook is quick-google stuff.
 

[Nanook]

On 10/14/2021 at 7:39 AM, ironwing said:

@Nanook I hope Gregory doesn’t mind me posting this, and I hope it’s the same link, but this is what I saw on Etsy. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/826149285/tarot-matryoshka

Spasiba, Gregory & Ironwing! 

[Niobium]

Just got my SKT: Revelation shipping notice. *excited dance*

[Decan]

I ordered the Alma Bose Oracle by Grimaud. It is a 40 years old oracle deck and at least for now still available (which surprised me a bit because it isn't that popular, and could perhaps be part of the decks that nobody like, or not everyone). Maybe in a few years it won't be available anymore (very possible, Grimaud seems to don't reprint all their old decks).

It could read well (I hope), likely from concise meanings.

[gregory]

On 10/12/2021 at 9:30 AM, gregory said:

The Matryoshka Tarot. (etsy). I have a thing for matryoshkas; I don't care if it doesn't read well; I just have to have it ! Amazingly, I ordered it on Sunday and it has already arrived in the UK.

 

 

On 10/14/2021 at 8:33 AM, Nanook said:

Oh my! As a collector of both tarot and matryoshka, I think I need this! Can you post a link please? 

 

On 10/14/2021 at 3:39 PM, ironwing said:

@Nanook I hope Gregory doesn’t mind me posting this, and I hope it’s the same link, but this is what I saw on Etsy. 

https://www.etsy.com/listing/826149285/tarot-matryoshka

 

OH MY ! It is even BETTER in real life, but I'm on the way off for a while. BUY IT !

 

I wish there were 78 cards.

 

 

[Bodhiseed]

 

Dark Mansion Tarot and Miss Mai's Victorian Oracle have arrived. I've really enjoyed pairing these decks together!

 

[Jewel]

With shipping being an issue during the holiday season the hubby told me to go ahead and order the decks I want for the holidays so I ordered the Dark Mansion Tarot (3rd edition) and the Phantasma Tarot and they have shipped and should arrive tomorrow 🥰.  Unfortunately I will not get to open them until X-mas .... but I am so looking forward to seeing them!

Edited October 26, 2021 by Jewel

[Bodhiseed]

Awaiting the Slow Tarot and (thanks to Katrinka 😄) the ROAR Oracle.

[legendaryelement]

Happy New Moon to me!

 

Ghost Tarot by Davide Corsi arrived just before 8pm EDT

 

spread possibilities:

 

 

Edited November 5, 2021 by legendaryelement

[Libra 58]

My latest is Gregory Scotts Tarot deck and Llewellyn´s wall calendar for 2022.

[bastetly]

2 hours ago, Libra 58 said:

My latest is Gregory Scotts Tarot deck and Llewellyn´s wall calendar for 2022.

Is it their Tarot calendar? 

In the early 2000s I used to get those ones.

[Decan]

The postman brought nothing for a little while! Am I  ill or something? 🥴😁