What do you think of this deck? Should I buy it?

[RunningWild]

6 hours ago, Therese said:

What do you think of the Surrealist Tarot (Lo Scarabeo)? Do you get fitting meanings from every single card? Some cards I saw are really unique and gave me a new view of this special card, while at the same time remaining closely connected to their actual meaning. I don't know, if it was intentionally, as some cards don't make that much sense to me (but I only saw videos, so...). I'm on the fence. 

 

It looks like an interesting deck.  My feeling is that there should be at least one card in a deck that leaves you scratching your head wondering what the artist was thinking, just not the entire deck.  Best of all, it's not terribly expensive! 

[Therese]

On 12/20/2022 at 6:15 PM, RunningWild said:

 

It looks like an interesting deck.  My feeling is that there should be at least one card in a deck that leaves you scratching your head wondering what the artist was thinking, just not the entire deck.  Best of all, it's not terribly expensive! 

I was thinking about that one should wondering about at least one card, hehe. Discover hidden secrets. I like that idea very much. I especially like if the cards are well thought out and almost nothing painted on the card is superfluous, all things painted (collaged and so on) are intentionally to elucidate the meaning of the card. 

 

Sometimes some illustrations from whatever deck don't make a sense to me and it is possible that one has to think harder about it and you'll discover a new perspective, but at first sight you can't decide is it worth the effort. 

 

But you're right, it's not a terrible expensive deck! Maybe one could try... 

Edited December 22, 2022 by Therese

[rylla]

Dreamy Moons Tarot 

It looks like a very well done, beautiful deck. It's RWS, still I am wondering how does it read?  Do the cards looks all alike in a spread or each one is easy recognizable? Somehow it seems to me they have a repetitive quality (of course because of the design).Do the cards stand out in a spread?

 

Would you enable or de-enable buying this deck? (it's somewhat expensive) Thanks!

[gregory]

It looks readable to me - but at that price I will probably never know....

[Nemia]

A bit late here to the Cat Tarot conundrum. I love the Kissa Tarot, even though I don't understand Finnish. The images are clear and follow RWS tradition, and there is magical, dreamy quality to it. Even the weirdly coloured borders don't bother me. 

 

I also have the Considerate Cats which is lovely in pastel and muted colours, but I didn't read with it yet. It's a very gentle decks. 

 

Pagan Cats is less pretty and too Wicca-ish for my taste but it reads very well. 

 

I have wanted the Cat's Eye for a long time. Is it worth it? 

 

(Thank you for the opinion on the Mystical Dreams - it's on my list, too...)

[gregory]

If you want a REALLY cat deck, try and find the Cat-a-Vasya. Or Megan Kott's Cat Tarot. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/145217363X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

 

Cat's Eye is nice too - and it's not expensive.

[rylla]

9 hours ago, gregory said:

If you want a REALLY cat deck, try and find the Cat-a-Vasya. Or Megan Kott's Cat Tarot. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/145217363X/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i3

 

Cat's Eye is nice too - and it's not expensive.

I second the Cat-a-Vasya (I don't have the Cat's eye so I am not familiar with it). To make the topic more confusing, I just ordered the Soul Cats as I really like the pictures of this deck. And the Grimalkin is good one too, very well made...so there are lots to choose from.

[RunningWild]

I've had the Pagan Cats and the Baroque Bohemian Cats in the past.  The Cat's Eye I like, in part, because the artist was a veterinarian, if I remember correctly.  That plus it's not expensive made it good for me.

[Niobium]

On 12/31/2022 at 1:43 AM, rylla said:

Dreamy Moons Tarot 

It looks like a very well done, beautiful deck. It's RWS, still I am wondering how does it read?  Do the cards looks all alike in a spread or each one is easy recognizable? Somehow it seems to me they have a repetitive quality (of course because of the design).Do the cards stand out in a spread?

 

Would you enable or de-enable buying this deck? (it's somewhat expensive) Thanks!

 

I had a copy of this which I sold to someone because I liked it in theory more than practice. The art is very lovely and the deck's quality is top notch, but I couldn't really work with the suit changes. It was definitely a case of 'well I was only going to find out by trying to use it' and it really didn't gel. So IMO if you're an adventurous sort of reader and the price isn't too restrictive maybe?

 

I think if you're used to laying out all your cards and then moving through them they might look a bit samey. I don't read in that style so it's harder for me to judge on that, but there's definitely an imagery sameness which might make this harder. It's also a VERY contrast-y deck, but in the sense of 'all black with pops of color', which can be hard to really focus on. (Maybe this is why I wasn't into it; my eyesight's not what it once was.)

[rylla]

15 hours ago, Niobium said:

 

I had a copy of this which I sold to someone because I liked it in theory more than practice. The art is very lovely and the deck's quality is top notch, but I couldn't really work with the suit changes. It was definitely a case of 'well I was only going to find out by trying to use it' and it really didn't gel. So IMO if you're an adventurous sort of reader and the price isn't too restrictive maybe?

 

I think if you're used to laying out all your cards and then moving through them they might look a bit samey. I don't read in that style so it's harder for me to judge on that, but there's definitely an imagery sameness which might make this harder. It's also a VERY contrast-y deck, but in the sense of 'all black with pops of color', which can be hard to really focus on. (Maybe this is why I wasn't into it; my eyesight's not what it once was.)

Thanks so much for your feedback Niobium. You just answered all my concerns. This deck is definitely not for me either. Thanks again.

[Hedera]

Speaking of cat tarots, there is also 'Tarot Cats', by Ana Juan.

It's a Fournier deck, so very affordable, lovely size and excellent cardstock.

 

I don't have it (yet), haven't found the right niche for it... I loved Ana Juan's illustrations in the Fairyland books by Cathrynne M Valente, but this tarot deck is a bit too uncanny valley for me I think.

Looks very readable though!

 

Does anyone know if the Kissa tarot is still available (in the EU)?

I used to own it, then passed it along to someone who needed it more than me - but I do miss it.

(And yes, I have decided to fully lean into the CCL - Cool Cat Lady - thing! 😸)

[gregory]

Kissa is only available very occasionally on ebay and the like. Sorry. Even the Finnish stores that used to stock it no longer have it.

[DanielJUK]

I have been enabled by a dear tarot friend on instagram by a pretty deck and wondered what anyone thinks about it.

 

It's the Le Tarot de Marseille-Waite by Emmanuelle Iger

 

It crosses RWS and TdM - https://les-mots-clefs.com/tarot-de-marseille-waite-english/

 

My question is which style do you read it in and is it as great to read with as how cute the images are?

[Flaxen]

6 hours ago, DanielJUK said:

I have been enabled by a dear tarot friend on instagram by a pretty deck and wondered what anyone thinks about it.

 

It's the Le Tarot de Marseille-Waite by Emmanuelle Iger

 

It crosses RWS and TdM - https://les-mots-clefs.com/tarot-de-marseille-waite-english/

 

My question is which style do you read it in and is it as great to read with as how cute the images are?

Get it, get it, get it! 😀 It’s one of my favourite reading decks. I read it RWS style as it follows it very closely with the minors. 

Edited January 5, 2023 by Flaxen
Corrected typos

[gregory]

What she said. You need it. I read it however I feel like at the time.

[Therese]

On 1/5/2023 at 12:53 PM, DanielJUK said:

I have been enabled by a dear tarot friend on instagram by a pretty deck and wondered what anyone thinks about it.

 

It's the Le Tarot de Marseille-Waite by Emmanuelle Iger

 

It crosses RWS and TdM - https://les-mots-clefs.com/tarot-de-marseille-waite-english/

 

My question is which style do you read it in and is it as great to read with as how cute the images are?

I love it, I really love it! It's less a combination of RWS and Marseille, it is RWS to be honest. But it is magical, very lovingly made. 

[Bodhiseed]

I've got an Amazon refund and they 'recommended' the Witches' Wisdom Tarot. I love Barlow's artwork, but struggle with the meanings assigned to the cards that I've seen. Has anyone worked with this deck or know much about it?

[fire cat pickles]

What do the backs look like? Would it be a good candidate for a decent pair of scissors? 😈 🤣

[gregory]

Mr Witches Wisdom doesn't look like that at all.... Are the meanings actually ON the cards now ? It looks more like those are images from the book (can I be bothered to go and find it....?)

 

But no the meanings are NOT on the cards. And the backs (not that you need to know now) are like this:

 

Edited January 6, 2023 by gregory

[Hedera]

I've owned the Witches Wisdom briefly, when it had just come out, but I sent it back.

 

The artwork was lovely, but the re-ordering of the cards was just too much of a struggle.

Also, the deck & book have a *huge* message; it happens to be a message I agree with, but it was just too heavy-handed for me.

It felt not like a tarot deck, but like a pamphlet and it was impossible to use the deck in the way that I like to use my cards.

 

I've considered using a sharpie to re-order the majors, or to ignore (or cut off) the titles and use the deck 'as an oracle'.... but I don't use oracles either! 😉

 

It also has one of the most disappointing Death cards I have ever seen.

 

Some people love it though, and as I said the artwork is beautiful, so it is very much a case of ymmv.

Edited January 6, 2023 by Hedera

[Hedera]

Some other decks on Amazon, that are not as heavily promoted, but that are quite wonderful in my opinion:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Void-Tarot-Édition-française/dp/2380630038/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3M87PU6K6B4CS&keywords=Moon+void+tarot&qid=1673035132&sprefix=moon+void+tarot%2Caps%2C537&sr=8-1

 

https://www.amazon.com/Ask-Witch-Tarot-Timeless-Guidebook/dp/1590035275/ref=sr_1_1?crid=17N510MX3UVK5&keywords=ask+the+witch+tarot+deck&qid=1673035497&sprefix=Ask+the+wi%2Caps%2C302&sr=8-1

 

https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-aux-ramures-étranges/dp/2381351175/ref=sr_1_1?crid=35ID20SHAIG3A&keywords=tarot+aux+ramures+etranges&qid=1673035576&sprefix=Tarot+ramure%2Caps%2C443&sr=8-1

 

https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Spirit-Tarot-78-Card-Guidebook/dp/1401971180/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1XPQDBMKW1423&keywords=fifth+spirit+tarot+deck&qid=1673035636&sprefix=Fifth+%2Caps%2C364&sr=8-1

 

https://www.amazon.com/Tarot-Sorceress-Witchs-Wheel-Year/dp/1922785059/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2JCDTFFU6ZOKY&keywords=tarot+sorceress&qid=1673035696&sprefix=Tarot+sor%2Caps%2C525&sr=8-1

 

Two of these are in French, but they are utterly gorgeous, and have *very* readable images.

Edited January 6, 2023 by Hedera

[fire cat pickles]

2 hours ago, Bodhiseed said:

Has anyone worked with this deck or know much about it?

I don't know much about it, but I found a walkthrough on youtube that may tell you all you need to know!

 

 

Edited January 6, 2023 by fire cat pickles

[Bodhiseed]

Thank you, @gregory, @fire cat pickles, and @Hedera! Between the card titles, reordering and heavy message, I have been successfully de-enabled. Pretty art, but not a deck I would use. And as you pointed out Hedera, there are some lovely alternatives out there!

[Guest]

On 1/5/2023 at 7:53 PM, DanielJUK said:

I have been enabled by a dear tarot friend on instagram by a pretty deck and wondered what anyone thinks about it.

 

It's the Le Tarot de Marseille-Waite by Emmanuelle Iger

 

That is one beaut of a deck. Wow. 

[Grandma]

What a pretty deck is right. It's going on my fluctuating wish list right now!