Most Unusual Decks You Know

[EmpyreanKnight]

What are the most unusual/strange/downright weird decks that you have ever encountered? What feelings did they inspire in you? They say that love and hate are just opposite sides of the same coin, so do you think you'd ever consider buying them in the future?

 

This is not meant to denigrate them or their creators. It's just that you find it difficult to understand their raison d'etre. And anyway, for some, any kind of interest is preferable to indifference. ;)

[EmpyreanKnight]

For me, it would have to be the Strange Wonders Tarot. I can't wrap my head around it - I mean why? What were its creators thinking?

 

I find it quite compelling tho. I might buy it if it were available at an attractive discount.

 

 

[Carojulie]

Hi,

 

Not long ago, RavenOfSummer opened a thread in this subforum for the Tarot Restless http://www.winslowdumaine.com/tarot

It's interesting, I cannot say otherwise. And well done, good art. But it really creeps me out. Freaks me out completely. And I would NOT wish to have this one.

I usually dont cringe from dark decks, on the contrary, but this one is just too dark and too depressing, it goes too far for me.

Not for me.

[Carojulie]

And by the way Knight, your Strange Wonders tarot, I dont think I would get it either. I have never been a fan of severed doll's heads, even if I recognise their power of evocation and how they bust our industrial/capitalist system. But they also make me think of hurt children and I dont like that.

The Strange Wonders tarot does not depress me like the Restless Tarot does, but it is a little too much for me too, plus, it is so "over the top" that I would not be able to take it seriously (in this case, what with all the blood spattered doll heads, the horror reaches a point when it becomes tragi-comical) !

[EmpyreanKnight]

Lol maybe I'll use these decks on my scaredy cat bros to see how tough they are. ;D

[Page of Ghosts]

The Tarot Restless reminds me a lot of my friends artwork. She's very into the grotesque and deformed and also does sculptures. I took a nap in their bedroom when I visited this fall under a really creepy wall clock she had fused together with a creepy doll, but I slept really well! I think it might ward off nightmares  ;D

[Carojulie]

Hello,

 

I just thought of another unusual deck : Le Tarot des Filles

This one I have, I got it on ebay for next to nothing.

It's a french deck with nice illustrations in mostly black and white in what looks like pencil technique (I am no artist so dont take my word for that). The quality of fabrication is superior.

 

At first sight, when I put a bid for it on ebay, I thought it was a Marseille deck with modern illustrations. But it is not that. The Majors are very unusual and are in a strange order. I did not find links yet, between standard majors and these. I need to study it in more detail to understand if there is a structure to it, but I have not gotten around to doing that yet. I have not really read with it yet, but it is a very nice deck.

 

So far I keep it in the Marseille drawer of my deck chest, for want of a better place.

[Whisper]

Hi,

 

Not long ago, RavenOfSummer opened a thread in this subforum for the Tarot Restless http://www.winslowdumaine.com/tarot

It's interesting, I cannot say otherwise. And well done, good art. But it really creeps me out. Freaks me out completely. And I would NOT wish to have this one.

I usually dont cringe from dark decks, on the contrary, but this one is just too dark and too depressing, it goes too far for me.

Not for me.

 

I would have to agree. Just saw it and it really crept me out, too.

[Petalene]

The Welcome to Night Vale deck. It’s what got me interested in tarot. The art is creepy and lovely, but no little white book. As I’m learning about tarot, I’m appreciating what was selected for the art on each card. Although, it doesn’t always appear to follow the RWS traditions. A lot of the art doesn’t. It did come with a great bag to keep the cards in. It’s not the best starter deck. The couple of readings I tried to do didn’t provide any insight, but it started me on studying some books so it’s all good.

 

As a result, I’m working with the Steampunk Tarot till I develop a better understanding and then I’ll try again with WtNV.

 

I love dark stuff and I also have the Gothic Tarot and a vampire deck.

[EmpyreanKnight]

I don't know what to make of the Wraithe Sigillum Tarot, but I find it quite interesting.

[Lantana]

The Tarot Del Fuego is very unique, especially with all the fire imagry, violence, and cards that clearly deviate from any system despite the cookie cutter LWB. Yet, I still want it...

[Carojulie]

The Tarot Del Fuego is very unique, especially with all the fire imagry, violence, and cards that clearly deviate from any system despite the cookie cutter LWB. Yet, I still want it...

 

You are absolutely right about this deck, it is beautiful and very unique. Not an easy reader for me (yet), but that's because I never spent enough time with it I suppose. I am glad you mentionned it, because I had almost forgot that I had it !

[Saturn Celeste]

I don't know what to make of the Wraithe Sigillum Tarot, but I find it quite interesting.

I don't have it but I am familiar with that deck.  I thought it would go nicely with the Lesser Keys of Solomon. 

 

Two decks I missed out on, they were going out of print when I got into tarot a few years ago but damn I still wish I could have gotten them!

1. Elemental Hexagons

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/elemental-hexagons/

2. Infinity Tarot

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/infinity-tarot/

 

And a deck I'd love to have but it's just too expensive is the Shakespeare Tarot

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/shakespeare-tarot/

[EmpyreanKnight]

I don't know what to make of the Wraithe Sigillum Tarot, but I find it quite interesting.

I don't have it but I am familiar with that deck.  I thought it would go nicely with the Lesser Keys of Solomon. 

 

Oh wow. Do you delve into left-hand path stuff, Saturn?

[Whisper]

 

And a deck I'd love to have but it's just too expensive is the Shakespeare Tarot

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/shakespeare-tarot/

 

I'm floored by the Shakespeare Tarot.

[Canid]

For me, it would have to be the Strange Wonders Tarot. I can't wrap my head around it - I mean why? What were its creators thinking?

 

I find it quite compelling tho. I might buy it if it were available at an attractive discount.

Oh hayl no. I have a thing about dolls & clowns; when I was a kid, my parents had to regift my Chatty Kathy cause I couldn’t go to sleep if she was even in the house. The artwork is pretty cool tho...if I could do creepy dolls.

[Saturn Celeste]

For me, it would have to be the Strange Wonders Tarot. I can't wrap my head around it - I mean why? What were its creators thinking?

 

I find it quite compelling tho. I might buy it if it were available at an attractive discount.

Oh hayl no. I have a thing about dolls & clowns; when I was a kid, my parents had to regift my Chatty Kathy cause I couldn’t go to sleep if she was even in the house. The artwork is pretty cool tho...if I could do creepy dolls.

lolololol  I LOVED my chatty Kathy doll!!  I hate clowns.  One of the reasons I was so disappointed in the last season of American Horror Story, just didn't like the clowns OR the Twisty doll!

[Falkor]

Neuzeit tarot. And I absolutely adore it.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

there are four or five Shakespeare decks, is this the one you are talking about?

http://www.shakespearetarot.com/copy-of-introduction-i-text

 

Believe it or not I read the entire works of Shakespeare, annotated :) when I got my first Shakespeare decks.

None of that helped with this deck, but it doesn't have to because Chris has written a good companion book. Some of it is him and some is from open source books.

 

I finally took the time to look at Chris's scans and wrote the titles on the upper back of the cards that aren't identified on the faces.

[AJ-ish/Sharyn]

it's in my sale pile but this deck sort of defies any category...

I have the Rainring deck w/big book

author says " a new look at both psychology and cosmology."

he is very approachable about questions and quick to reply once he checks that dedicated email :)

 

http://www.rainringcards.com/

He has put his life into this deck I think

[Whisper]

there are four or five Shakespeare decks, is this the one you are talking about?

http://www.shakespearetarot.com/copy-of-introduction-i-text

 

Believe it or not I read the entire works of Shakespeare, annotated :) when I got my first Shakespeare decks.

None of that helped with this deck, but it doesn't have to because Chris has written a good companion book. Some of it is him and some is from open source books.

 

I finally took the time to look at Chris's scans and wrote the titles on the upper back of the cards that aren't identified on the faces.

 

That's going to be one of my next purchases. Love the deck. Great idea to write the titles in gold pen!

[EmpyreanKnight]

I'd have to add the Tarot of Mr. Shortbread and the Lost Code of Tarot here.

[Siavahda]

Probably Tarot of the Silicon Dawn, and I adore it. I really wish they'd print another edition with better cardstock though! But everything about the deck itself is amazing.