Deck of The Week: Sign-up Thread: Week 251 : April 30 - May 6

[VGimlet]

This thread is for those who would like to work through their collection of decks.  Each week we will be picking a deck (or decks) to work with for the week.

 

All are welcome. Please join us!      The only rules we have are the Tarot Tea & Me rules; be respectful to each other.    

 

You can drop in and out anytime,   time and real life permitting.   New to tarot?  Long time reader?   Come on in.  

 

1. Please post with your chosen deck for the week. 

 

2. Chat away about your deck, how you're finding it etc., or not - it's all up to you.  

 

Participants:

1. sweeneyish - Trionfi Della Luna (illustrated pips edition

2. vgimlet - Wild Unknown Tarot

3. AnomalyTempest - Tarot of Vampyres

4. Amberjune - 78 Ecological Tarot and the Bird Oracle Deck 2

5. Bodhiseed - Pagan Cats paired with the Brownie Wisdom Oracle

6. Page of Ghosts - Tarot of Vampyres

7. Rachelcat - Russell Grant’s Astro-Tarot

8. Wyrdkiss - Thoth Tarot

9. AJ-ish/Sharyn - Tao Oracle

10. toj - Sasuraibito Tarot

 

 

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Edited May 6, 2022 by VGimlet

[VGimlet]

This month I'll be using the Wild Unknown Tarot, since I have nothing on order that I remember, and no new decks to break in. 

[AnomalyTempest]

Someone last week was using the Tarot of Vampyres, I think. That happens to be one of the decks I brought with me so I'll be using it this week. Ohh, and it's New Moon time. I bet they'll read great for that.

Edited April 30, 2022 by AnomalyTempest

[Amberjune]

I'm in with the 78 Ecological Tarot and the Bird Oracle Deck 2.

 

Happy solar eclipse everyone!

[sweeneyish]

Thanks for getting us organized, @VGimlet! And for bringing over my choice from the the other thread.

 

There is so much to love about this deck. I pretty much like every one of the suit cards, so it’s hard to pick favourites, but here a few I love, along with the Devil variant I’m using right now (there are six included with the deck, seven if you count the original!). 

 

[Bodhiseed]

I'm in with the Pagan Cats paired with the Brownie Wisdom Oracle. Thanks VG! 💚

[sweeneyish]

And my influences for today: 

 

 

Took me awhile to wrap my head around this one, but it was pretty obvious once I figured it out. 

 

I was trying to do a lot for everyone this week, giving as much as I could (VI of Coins). Last night, I realized I had messed up something at work (XVI - Lightning - one of the variants of

the Tower). I was upset with myself, though I know my boss is quite forgiving and won’t mind. After this, perhaps I will have some more singularity of mind and be more focused in my pursuits (Ace of Swords). 

 

[Page of Ghosts]

9 hours ago, AnomalyTempest said:

Someone last week was using the Tarot of Vampyres, I think. That happens to be one of the decks I brought with me so I'll be using it this week. Ohh, and it's New Moon time. I bet they'll read great for that.

'Twas I, and I'll be using it again this week! Tarot of Vampyres for me too 😊 I'm very tempted to mod it and edge it in black, and it wouldn't necessarily take it out of use while it dries since I have the app. Decisions, decisions...

[AnomalyTempest]

2 hours ago, Page of Ghosts said:

'Twas I, and I'll be using it again this week! Tarot of Vampyres for me too 😊 I'm very tempted to mod it and edge it in black, and it wouldn't necessarily take it out of use while it dries since I have the app. Decisions, decisions...

I am way to scared to modify my decks even though I really prefer no borders. I just don't trust myself to do it correctly. There are few I would do if I had the guts.

[Rachelcat]

Hi, everyone!  The Deviant Moon just keeps on giving!  😸 You might win me over yet!  And I'm looking forward to seeing the Vampyres in action!

 

In the meantime, here's mine:  Russell Grant’s Astro-Tarot

 

An oldie but goodie!  “First published in Great Britain 1992, reprinted with revisions 1993 and 1996.”  I don’t know who Russell Grant is!  I guess I could find out with a google search . . .  And to be honest, I have no idea how this deck got into my collection.  A long-ago eBay purchase, I’m guessing.  I’m going back and forth on how to categorize the deck:  As a tarot with extra cards or an oracle?  It’s comprised of tarot majors, aces, astro signs and planets, and Chinese astrology animals. 

 

 

As you see, they’re illustrated in a charming storybook style, most showing people in colorful costumes.  The animal costumes are particularly cute!  (BTW, the cards have a very stick, icky feeling.  I think at one time I tried wiping them with a damp cloth.  And I think that would probably go away with use.  But I’ll try to get over the feeling to give them good shuffling and handling this week!)

 

The book has upright and reversed meanings and interps for each astrological house for each card.  And something I’ve never ever seen before:  the front and back covers of the book consist of small thumbnails of all cards with upright and reversed keywords!  An efficient use of color printing, I guess.  And you don’t even have to open the book if you want a keyword nudge! 

 

I know absolutely nothing about Chinese animal astrology (I have a few books about it though, no surprise), so this week will definitely be an experiment, depending on how many of them show up in readings!

 

Interview time!

 

 

Most important characteristic:  Justice

Even though it’s a mishmash of different systems, it is balanced.  With good and challenging, and with the different systems.  Maybe this also has to do with reversals.  It’s saying it wants to be read with reversals, but I didn’t use them this time!

 

Strength:  Rat

Keywords on the back cover are charming, candid, self-assured, popular.  Well, since I already described the deck as charming, that makes sense!  The book also mentioned that the rat’s costume is fancy and showy, another rat characteristic.  So the deck’s strength is its artwork.  And perhaps that it’s different and confident in being so!

 

Weakness:  Earth

Keywords are practical and sensible.  Does that mean the deck’s weakness is that it’s too practical or not practical enough?  Maybe I’ll have to keep using it to find that out.

 

What I can learn from the deck:  Empress

I can learn to enjoy beauty/prettiness on its own terms, without comparisons.  It’s ok to enjoy things just because I enjoy them.

 

How can I learn it:  Mars

Well, that’s kind of opposite, huh?  I can learn it by keeping it in the front of my mind.  I have to be active in learning, not just letting it sink in.

 

Outcome of our work together:  Death

This is a beautiful Death card!  The outcome is I’ll use it this week and then our time together will be over.  I’ll feel like I can pass it on once I’ve given it a good try.

 

If you want more of this deck, I'll be over in the new moon and eclipse reading thread later!  I might even bite the bullet and use reversals!

 

 

[Page of Ghosts]

2 hours ago, AnomalyTempest said:

I am way to scared to modify my decks even though I really prefer no borders. I just don't trust myself to do it correctly. There are few I would do if I had the guts.

That is very understandable since it's a big task to take on even if you're just edging. I've been a little too courageous in my modding if I'm being honest - the first deck I trimmed was the OOP Roots of Asia Tarot with some not so good scissors 😅 The minty borders were pretty bad and now it has some uneven indents on a few cards instead! Not sure if everyone would appreciate that tradeoff. I know I won't get rid of it for sentimental reasons since it was my first ever tarot deck, but I wish I had gone at it with something else for my first try. When using a proper pair of scissors I have a very steady hand so I have chopped off a lot of borders, but it's mainly been commercially available decks since then, not any precious OOP decks. Decks luckily work just as well without any modding so I don't think you're missing out on anything crucial unless you're really, really curious. If so edging with something water based should be a safer first foray into modding than getting out the scissors.

 

I ended up edging my Vampyres deck after all as I've been considering it for a long time already. It's turning out pretty good! I'm doing it with a Tombow brush pen and I'm kind of surprised at how well it dried after some hours. The Majors which I did first have some little spots I didn't get fully covered so I'll see if I have to go over the whole deck or just the Majors later since I'm more carefully looking at the edges as I go through the suits.

[Wyrdkiss]

7 hours ago, Page of Ghosts said:

'Twas I, and I'll be using it again this week! Tarot of Vampyres for me too 😊 I'm very tempted to mod it and edge it in black, and it wouldn't necessarily take it out of use while it dries since I have the app. Decisions, decisions...

oooh are we talking the Tarot of Vampyres by Ian Daniels. I'd love to see more of this one from both of you!

[AnomalyTempest]

@Page of Ghosts I can't wait to see them!

 

@Wyrdkiss We certainly are! I started with a new moon reading over in the circle rachelcat posted about.

 

@Rachelcat Once again, I love seeing that deck. It looks really cool.

[sweeneyish]

My reading for today: 

 

 

May 1st Influences: 

 

My first impulse was to read this as the three members of my family, but it wasn’t working, so I’m going with three aspects of myself. The King of Cups and the Queen of Coins are looking at each other. The King raises his cup generously and with joy. The Queen is less generous. - she looks like she is holding her coin away from the King, but she still looks interested in him. The Knight of Wands stands on the outside, looking a little petulant and stuck, while his steed looks impatiently to the future. 

 

King of Cups: A compassionate figure, calm and caring, emotional wisdom and maturity. 

 

Queen of Coins: Frugal, perhaps even cheap, not easy for her to share. Love through discipline. 

 

Knight of Wands: He’s a risk taker, adventurous and brave. He’s also impatient, and hates standing still. He’s good at overcoming obstacles.

 

So many feelings! Honestly, my mind is all over the place lately, so this spread makes sense. I want to be generous and open with those around me, but I also feel a little closed off and like I don’t have all that much to share. I also have a real Knight of Wands energy right now -  super frenetic and hard to stand still. Maybe I can balance these three powerful influences and find the best aspects of each - The open, easy going nature of the King of Cups, the discipline of the Queen of Coins, and the energy and obstacle clearing of the Knight of Wands. 

[AnomalyTempest]

@sweeneyish I am really liking those cards. The Queen to me looks like she is holding the pentacle up as treat for her little pet demons. 

 

My weekly reading:

 

1. What to prioritize this week:

     Ten of Skulls

My morning time. Other than the fact I drink coffee out of a mug rather than blood out of a skull, this could be my ideal morning/evening. Sitting in nature enjoying my solitude. Socializing really takes a lot out of me, even if it is just one person. Make sure I am getting enough "me-time".

 

2. How can I better organize my time?

    Four of Sceptres (Wands)

Again she is alone with her solitary ritual. My morning time is when I meditate, plan my day and set my intentions. I need to keep this up.

 

3. A Way to be productive without feeling overwhelmed:

    Prince (knight) of Scepters

Just keep going. Baby steps are okay. Distractions happen (he is looking towards me, not at his goal, unless he is approaching it sideways?), just keep on going. The mind gives out before the body does,.

 

4. How can I incorporate what I love?

    The Sun

This is the only card with a couple. I really need to embrace the part of me I have been keeping hidden. This speaks to taking certain steps in my spiritual path I have been thinking about lately.

 

5. Something I can do to increase self care:

    Three of Knives

My first thought was, "How can this be self care?" Then I realized I was thinking of sword-pierced heart and not looking at the card. It is another solitary ritual. Message received. It's time to start that journey.

 

I'm thinking I should follow @Rachelcat method and start putting these things in a journal. Should I dig up my old abandoned one or start a new one?  I have a lot of experiments with Tarot coming up, or at least planned in my head. I really am looking for a way to do more readings every day. Or at least one a day. That could be a lot for the deck of the week.

 

Also not sure about the etiquette surrounding pinging people. I feel it's polite to let them know they are being spoken to or about. I also don't want to ping anyone too much. I suppose every person has their own views but what is the general practice here?

[Wyrdkiss]

15 minutes ago, AnomalyTempest said:

@sweeneyish I am really liking those cards. The Queen to me looks like she is holding the pentacle up as treat for her little pet demons. 

 

My weekly reading:

 

1. What to prioritize this week:

     Ten of Skulls

My morning time. Other than the fact I drink coffee out of a mug rather than blood out of a skull, this could be my ideal morning/evening. Sitting in nature enjoying my solitude. Socializing really takes a lot out of me, even if it is just one person. Make sure I am getting enough "me-time".

 

2. How can I better organize my time?

    Four of Sceptres (Wands)

Again she is alone with her solitary ritual. My morning time is when I meditate, plan my day and set my intentions. I need to keep this up.

 

3. A Way to be productive without feeling overwhelmed:

    Prince (knight) of Scepters

Just keep going. Baby steps are okay. Distractions happen (he is looking towards me, not at his goal, unless he is approaching it sideways?), just keep on going. The mind gives out before the body does,.

 

4. How can I incorporate what I love?

    The Sun

This is the only card with a couple. I really need to embrace the part of me I have been keeping hidden. This speaks to taking certain steps in my spiritual path I have been thinking about lately.

 

5. Something I can do to increase self care:

    Three of Knives

My first thought was, "How can this be self care?" Then I realized I was thinking of sword-pierced heart and not looking at the card. It is another solitary ritual. Message received. It's time to start that journey.

 

I'm thinking I should follow @Rachelcat method and start putting these things in a journal. Should I dig up my old abandoned one or start a new one?  I have a lot of experiments with Tarot coming up, or at least planned in my head. I really am looking for a way to do more readings every day. Or at least one a day. That could be a lot for the deck of the week.

 

Also not sure about the etiquette surrounding pinging people. I feel it's polite to let them know they are being spoken to or about. I also don't want to ping anyone too much. I suppose every person has their own views but what is the general practice here?

Lovely reading @AnomalyTempest.  As for tagging people, I think this group is fairly intimate at this point, I can say I certainly like the notification. Perhaps we can all agree to speak up if it is too much and our preference is to simply ready fully independently. I'm uncertain how others feel.

 

My take on the journals -- I've switched from having several journals for dreams, tarot, personal musings, manifestation, etc. to putting it all into one journal. I buy a new one each year, starting the first of January, and put it all in one place. It is so much easier. I "retire" the journal at the end of the year. Come the Winter Solstice, I review the prior year, contemplate, then burn it if possible. Very intense experiences I place in a permanent one, but that is rare and they are written in a manner that others wouldn't understand out of context.  Good luck whatever method you choose. I'm glad you are doing it.

[VGimlet]

On 4/30/2022 at 10:04 AM, AnomalyTempest said:

I am way to scared to modify my decks even though I really prefer no borders. I just don't trust myself to do it correctly. There are few I would do if I had the guts.

 

I have modified a few, most notably my favorite Mary-El tarot, which was taken to a copy center and cut professionally - it turned out great.  (But I confess, I have 3 back up copies.)  

[Wyrdkiss]

I'm in with my well read and hard traveled Thoth deck of many years. 

[Wyrdkiss]

4 hours ago, VGimlet said:

 

I have modified a few, most notably my favorite Mary-El tarot, which was taken to a copy center and cut professionally - it turned out great.  (But I confess, I have 3 back up copies.)  

Yes but let's up the ante -- do you keep the three backup copies in different homes, safes, or locations?  🌛🙂

[sweeneyish]

20 hours ago, AnomalyTempest said:

@sweeneyish I am really liking those cards. The Queen to me looks like she is holding the pentacle up as treat for her little pet demons. 

 

My weekly reading:

 

1. What to prioritize this week:

     Ten of Skulls

My morning time. Other than the fact I drink coffee out of a mug rather than blood out of a skull, this could be my ideal morning/evening. Sitting in nature enjoying my solitude. Socializing really takes a lot out of me, even if it is just one person. Make sure I am getting enough "me-time".

 

2. How can I better organize my time?

    Four of Sceptres (Wands)

Again she is alone with her solitary ritual. My morning time is when I meditate, plan my day and set my intentions. I need to keep this up.

 

3. A Way to be productive without feeling overwhelmed:

    Prince (knight) of Scepters

Just keep going. Baby steps are okay. Distractions happen (he is looking towards me, not at his goal, unless he is approaching it sideways?), just keep on going. The mind gives out before the body does,.

 

4. How can I incorporate what I love?

    The Sun

This is the only card with a couple. I really need to embrace the part of me I have been keeping hidden. This speaks to taking certain steps in my spiritual path I have been thinking about lately.

 

5. Something I can do to increase self care:

    Three of Knives

My first thought was, "How can this be self care?" Then I realized I was thinking of sword-pierced heart and not looking at the card. It is another solitary ritual. Message received. It's time to start that journey.

 

I'm thinking I should follow @Rachelcat method and start putting these things in a journal. Should I dig up my old abandoned one or start a new one?  I have a lot of experiments with Tarot coming up, or at least planned in my head. I really am looking for a way to do more readings every day. Or at least one a day. That could be a lot for the deck of the week.

 

Also not sure about the etiquette surrounding pinging people. I feel it's polite to let them know they are being spoken to or about. I also don't want to ping anyone too much. I suppose every person has their own views but what is the general practice here?

 

Pings are good for me too! And nice reading. I like how character driven this deck is - It definitely seems like it gives some insightful readings! 

10 hours ago, Wyrdkiss said:

Yes but let's up the ante -- do you keep the three backup copies in different homes, safes, or locations?  🌛🙂

 😆. I do have three copies of the Deviant Moon deck. I think that's the only one that I have in multiples of the same deck exactly (well, one is the bordered edition), but I do now have...three copies of the Trionfi Della Luna, although all different (Classic English text, Paradoxical Blue, and Illustrated Pips). Soon to be more...

[sweeneyish]

@Rachelcat I think the inhabitants of the Deviant Moon would welcome you with open arms, even if they look a little spiky.

 

I am just loving this Trionfi della Luna Illustrated Pips Edition - I certainly would place it as a tie with Deviant Moon for my favourite deck of all time. It is just so darn fun to read with. It's quite a bit more light hearted than the Deviant Moon as well. Lots of humour in the cards, and not quite as dark. I'd go as far to say as it being a pretty accessible deck, except that my perspective may be skewed from spending so much time in the dark corners of Valenza's imagination. 

 

My reading for today (strangely, once again without pips to show off!): 

 

 

This one paints a fun picture. I see the Fool as the central figure in the reading, both because of the fact he is the only Major, and that the characters on either side are looking at him. So the Fool walks along the road a little nervously, a demon whispering temptations into one ear, the Moon teaching virtue into the other. Behind him, the Knight of Swords raises his blade as his steed chokes out a demon on the ground. Before him, the Knight of Cups swims peacefully forward, a cup freely offered. 

 

Looks like I'll have some choices ahead of me today, some based more in thoughts and action, and some more based in emotion and intuition. As the Fool walks towards the offering of emotion, I too should follow that path, and overcome the whispering of the little thought demon in my ear. I should try not to act impulsively, and instead gather my emotions peacefully around me, and offer love and empathy to anyone who needs it. 

 

An alternate reading - I may be distracted by my emotions and not notice the knight coming up behind me with a sword. Yikes!

Edited May 2, 2022 by sweeneyish

[AnomalyTempest]

 @sweeneyishI am really diggin' those cards as well. I like reading your takes on the cards as I often see things just a little different. To me the Fool seems oblivious to the protection and love around him. He's just traipsin along doin' his thing. That's just me me makin' up stories in the pictures though, not a comment on your reading.

 

@Wyrdkiss I have a physical journal but I was thinking of reviving my one here in the journals section from way back years ago or just make a new one. I use a disc bound journal so I can rearrange my pages and yet it is still a small size to carry in a bag easily. For years I used an old high school binder with a zipper but it was just too huge. I wanted something smaller.

[Page of Ghosts]

I am fine with being both tagged and quoted 😊 I'm not one for rationing my words so I often type a lot and tagging is probably more economic in the end.

 

Here are some pictures of my modded Tarot of the Vampyres - I did miss some spots all over the deck or perhaps I didn't coat it as much as I needed to, it was hard to see using a black brush pen even under my strong desk light. I will have to do a second coating later this week but I am pleased with it overall. Black edges really suit this deck! I made sure to take some pictures midway through so you can see the difference as it transformed. Apologies for my messy deck in the background of all these pictures.

 

 

I also did a reading which came out rather mysterious yesterday - how to best work on finishing my personal writing project. I hit a big milestone this week, but there is still so much left to do before it's even close to done. I actually did the spread in the app, which I really recommend if anyone is curious at all about this deck and want to give it a try before committing to a physical version, which is what I did. It's not very expensive, has some fun spreads and most important of all: it comes with the full guidebook! The guidebook is big and meaty, and the cards all have their astrological correspondences written in it as well as in the cards - just look for the symbols. I wonder if this deck might lean a little Thoth-y as I don't get a purely RWS impression from neither the cards nor the guidebook itself.

 

The Eight of Grails is my positive influences and The Hermit is my obstacle. I found these to be very interesting cards for a creative writing project, especially The Hermit as writing typically is a thing you do alone. For the Eight of Grails I'm happy to be done with a big part of my first draft which I don't have to revisit until the entire first draft is done and I go back in to edit, but overall my hands are still tied in my personal obligation to see this project through. This card was also one of three I pulled the day before as I finished that big part of the project so seeing it again so soon seems significant. The Hermit is a tricky one, but one thing that comes to mind is my resistance about sharing my creative projects with others. A little secrecy is fine, but it often tips over to too much for me. Maybe it's fine to go looking for test readers a little earlier than I had planned for? Any insights to these mysterious cards is appreciated!

[Page of Ghosts]

I'm so glad to have figured out how to work the pictures on this forum so here are some more. I picked out some of my favourite cards from all the suits, the Majors and then two court cards so you could get a decent overview of what the deck has to offer. The dancing Fool is one of my favourite Fools and I love the aggressive energy of the Eight of Scepters. The Empress looks very young, but judging by her 16th century inspired outfit she is probably much older than she appears and I believe in her as a vampire mentor or leader. Many other vampires in this deck has a very 90's vampire style wih sheer fabrics and leather.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

I'm enjoying watching you guys enjoy your decks. That is what tarot should be all about, however we use them. 

I'm using the Tao Oracle this week VG, thank you.