Is there such a thing as a Holy Grail [perfect] Tarot Deck? Do you have one? Or is it a unicorn [impossible dream]?

[Ferrea]

On the main topic of this thread and the question of whether I have a personal holy grail deck: No, and I wouldn't want one. I love variety—variety of styles, perspectives, and references. I enjoy getting different decks out after a while and being smitten all over again.

When it comes to creating Tarot decks (runes may be different, I guess, as they are more abstract), I believe it’s often the perspective of another person that facilitates insights. If you create your own deck, you inevitably recreate your own blind spots—ones that only become apparent after decades, much like "immature" diary reflections.

I would actually consider the time the creator took to make the deck as a clear indication of its quality, like with the Tabula Mundi or Mary-El Tarot. 

[Natural Mystic Guide]

1 hour ago, Ferrea said:

When it comes to creating Tarot decks (runes may be different, I guess, as they are more abstract), I believe it’s often the perspective of another person that facilitates insights. If you create your own deck, you inevitably recreate your own blind spots—ones that only become apparent after decades, much like "immature" diary reflections.

Such an astute observation.  Thanks for sharing.

[flora]

I think a perfect holy grail deck is somewhat of a superstition. It might be with the tought in mind that out of sudden inspiration,kissed by the muse or divine above, it will enable you to read cards in flying colours in no time. This is most unlikely to happen.

 

Back when I was a little one 30years ago I only went for images. So Crowley it was, also for the sake of me being a snotty little rebel that knows it all. Everybody seemed to work with RW, course little me had to do it differently being a cool kid. Not to mention also reaching for Baphomet Tarot by H.R.Giger and dabbling with selfdrawn Ouija boards.

Back then there was no Internet, little Information and one airy-fairy esoteric Book on Thoth that I was able to buy with my pocketmoney. Did it lead me anywhere?

Nope. It just turned me into a superstitious and slightly paranoid teen. On day I tossed Thoth into the bin. Figuring this not doing me any good.

Years later I got curious again and got a RW deck. Still barely any information but Little White Book and that old Thoth book, loosing pages by then. Worked better,but magical thinking started to creep in again. Off to the bin with it.

 

Next round in my early 30s. Actually I just wanted to have a laugh and debunk mysteries. Without much expecting from it I started to learn and decipher them with a keener eye. Quickly noticed patterns, got connected with other readers and got hooked.

 

Now I can somewhat say to have a perfect deck. Its the travelsize Smith-Waite Centennial Deck for me. Smaller cards, easy to shuffle, fit in my pocket and I like the muted colours. I even retired 2 decks by now for being too worn out. Used till blank card stock.

A perfect deck to me would be something I keep reaching for again and again. Feeling comfortable with it like a pair of comfy boots.

 

[FindYourSovereignty]

37 minutes ago, flora said:

A perfect deck to me would be something I keep reaching for again and again. Feeling comfortable with it like a pair of comfy boots.

😊 yes! For me it isn’t about the deck being perfect, but the pairing/connection being perfect. 

[Misterei]

22 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said:

... Maybe the longer you read, the more you realize how difficult it is to express everything that a card represents to you in 1 image?  That's the main thing for me at least. But of course the power of that image is the genius of tarot. 

Yes and ... one thing that halts my progress on the idea of creating a perfect deck for myself [other than limited artistic skills] is that I can't even decide if scenic or non-scenic pips are my sweet spot at this stage. Sometimes I love a scenic pip ... other times it feels like prison and I want non-scenic.

 

LOL this must be why Valenza released both scenic and non-scenic versions of Triuni Della Luna. Hmmm.

[Chariot]

If I were to combine a few cards from all the decks I own ...yeah, I'd have the perfect deck!

My holy grail would be a deck that is easy to handle, shuffle, and see—and each card would depict exactly what that tarot card means to me.

It's just that every deck I own—and I mean EVERY deck I own—contains at least one or two cards I don't identify with.  By the same token, most of my decks contain several cards I absolutely love.  Magic wand, please ...so I can transform all my favourite cards into one perfect deck! 

[gregory]

10 hours ago, FindYourSovereignty said:

😊 yes! For me it isn’t about the deck being perfect, but the pairing/connection being perfect. 

 

Oh YES - exactly this !

4 hours ago, Misterei said:

Yes and ... one thing that halts my progress on the idea of creating a perfect deck for myself [other than limited artistic skills] is that I can't even decide if scenic or non-scenic pips are my sweet spot at this stage. Sometimes I love a scenic pip ... other times it feels like prison and I want non-scenic.

 

If and when you actually start work - you will find out. My deck isn't perfect in any sense - but creating it taught me SO much - and that gives it a different kind of perfection. I know exactly what is in every card - because I put it there ! BUT = other who have used it find things I hadn't even noticed myself, which add to it all the time.

[Misterei]

 

6 hours ago, Chariot said:

If I were to combine a few cards from all the decks I own ...yeah, I'd have the perfect deck!
My holy grail would be a deck that is easy to handle, shuffle, and see—and each card would depict exactly what that tarot card means to me.
It's just that every deck I own—and I mean EVERY deck I own—contains at least one or two cards I don't identify with.  By the same token, most of my decks contain several cards I absolutely love.  Magic wand, please ...so I can transform all my favourite cards into one perfect deck! 

Yep. I would take Chariot from Legacy of the Divine and Art from Thoth. But then the art wouldn't match *sigh*.

5 hours ago, gregory said:

... If and when you actually start work - you will find out. My deck isn't perfect in any sense - but creating it taught me SO much - and that gives it a different kind of perfection. I know exactly what is in every card - because I put it there ! BUT = other who have used it find things I hadn't even noticed myself, which add to it all the time.

I started. But then stalled b/c I didn't have the perfect vision. Did I want to change Batons to Lamps? I drew 3 aces but then had a meltdown over changing Ace of Lamps from Batons. Would doing such a thing break Tarot?

 

You also bring up another point. I learn SO MUCH from decks I connect with. The deck itself teaches me something every time. Would my own deck be an echo chamber?

 

Edited October 10, 2024 by Misterei

[gregory]

7 hours ago, Misterei said:

Would my own deck be an echo chamber?

 

Mine isn't. I have been agreeably surprised, as I didn't really think I'd use it to read; the idea was to get tarot as a whole under my skin better.

[Troll]

This discussion gave me a very interesting idea about me -It is not Tarot it is me ,that`s why I haven`t found "Perfect "deck in a year. That`s why I have 30 sets of darts(maybe more) at home and there isn`t a set that made me a better player .Although  in darts it should be much easier because you can draw darts you want and guy will make them for you (I have 15  customs)Custom darts cost 60 usd maybe more now (it is not thousands like it would be with Tarot)But even considering all of this  they haven`t made me a good player. Like my coach say you can look for perfect set or just start grinding.  It is so human like behavior  to  looking for something that would make you good overnight at thing you love ,but why in every aspect in my life I try to look  into things that surrounds me and not into the elephant in the room ME?Ok I have cerebral palsy + bunch of other illnesses that  make  me living dead ,but this is such a lousy excuse .I just need to start drawing cards and learn them everything else will come

Thank you all for this insight

 

[Misterei]

17 hours ago, Troll said:

This discussion gave me a very interesting idea about me -It is not Tarot it is me ,that`s why I haven`t found "Perfect "deck in a year. ....I just need to start drawing cards and learn them everything else will come ...

Yes. I have sympathy for new readers coming up in The Age of Plentiful Tarots. In my day, you bought that plaid-back RWS and you learned it.

 

As per disability and correct tools. Due to severe RA in my wrists, it became almost impossible to cook. I got sicker and sicker, losing weight and not being able to cook healthy meals. I just bought a $110 professional 6" chef knife which looks like a miniature scimitar. GAME CHANGER. Last night I chopped carrots, celery, onion, garlic, etc.

 

The point being there ARE some things with Tarots that help vis a vis disability. I've come to appreciate smaller decks which are easier to handle. They're not my fanciest or favorite decks per se -- but on days when my hands don't function properly -- a small deck is my perfect deck.

Edited October 11, 2024 by Misterei

[fire cat pickles]

Ben Dov's TdM is free for personal use: https://cbdtarot.com/download/ and you can use it on your computer. If you are useful on the computer you may be able to turn the images into black and white yourself.

 

There is also an app you can use on your phone that you can change to black and white for you. There are many coloring options available on it, actually. Perhaps these are options for you? It's not the tarot you are looking for, but...

[Raggydoll]

12 hours ago, Misterei said:

The point being there ARE some things with Tarots that help vis a vis disability. I've come to appreciate smaller decks which are easier to handle. They're not my fanciest or favorite decks per se -- but on days when my hands don't function properly -- a small deck is my perfect deck

I agree. Smaller decks are my go to’s for the sake of my hands. I’m currently receiving hand training and treatments by an occupational therapist, and it will be interesting to see if this will help my abilities to shuffle larger decks.

[Troll]

13 hours ago, Misterei said:

 

 

As per disability and correct tools. Due to severe RA in my wrists, it became almost impossible to cook. I got sicker and sicker, losing weight and not being able to cook healthy meals. I just bought a $110 professional 6" chef knife which looks like a miniature scimitar. GAME CHANGER. Last night I chopped carrots, celery, onion, garlic, etc.

 

 

I was 170 in February 22 now around 95 maybe 90 ,probably less .I am morbidly obese (or was).Never thought I could be on the thinner side ,because in my 35 year long life  I was always morbidly obese ,but if you want to live seizure free life you can eat only once a day with 20 carb limit

[Troll]

16 hours ago, Misterei said:

 

The point being there ARE some things with Tarots that help vis a vis disability. I've come to appreciate smaller decks which are easier to handle. They're not my fanciest or favorite decks per se -- but on days when my hands don't function properly -- a small deck is my perfect deck.

Why use cards at all ?Erin Taylor Tarot tokens and Minimalist Tarot for the win

[DanielJUK]

We are going off-topic, let's stick to the topic about if there is such a thing as a holy grail deck for us.

Other discussions can happen in new threads 🙂 

[Misterei]

On 10/12/2024 at 2:10 AM, Raggydoll said:

I agree. Smaller decks are my go to’s for the sake of my hands. I’m currently receiving hand training and treatments by an occupational therapist, and it will be interesting to see if this will help my abilities to shuffle larger decks.

I'm on a campaign to restore correct alignment of my wrists and hands. The problem begins in the shoulders and I have to work my way downward bone by bone and joint by joint to get to the wrists, hands, fingers. Wishing you good progress on the mission to shuffle again😇

 

Returning to topic: I had an old Legacy of the Divine which I trimmed to make borderless. This is close to my holy grail deck b/c it combines a favorite deck with small size. I also like my Edoard Dotti by Valenza. The old skool Tarocchi shape is longer and thinner than the modern trend to big wide tarots. The thin width makes it easy to handle. This is my bad hands day perfect Tarochhi. Except it's a little stabby which keeps it from being holy grail perfect 🤣

[Saturn Celeste]

On 10/8/2024 at 2:46 PM, fire cat pickles said:

Sola Busca? 

I was going to suggest that as well!  We were lucky enough to purchase our Sola Busca through Giordano Berti.  We treasure his handwritten note!  To me, the deck is a perfect collector's deck, not necessarily my perfect deck.

 

The deck I use the most to read with is the Radiant RW.  I keep it handy and am comfortable reading with it.  Perhaps it's not the perfect deck, but it is my most comfortable deck.

[Scandinavianhermit]

For the time being, I use Dame Fortune's Wheel, CBD Tarot de Marseille and Oswald Wirth's original 1889 trumps for different purposes, which means none of them is the holy Grail deck, but close enough.

 

For my own use, a "holy Grail deck" would be a hybrid between the Rosenwald sheet, some marseilles-decks (both Marseille I and Marseille II), Belgian tarot, tarocchi Piemontese, the Aleutte deck, Oswald Wirth's trumps, Etteilla's keywords, Hebrew letters, Eliphas Levi's contemplative titles, Paul Christian's cosmological designations, and certain sigils on pip cards, but no-one has drawn and published such a deck.

 

Such a deck wouldn't be useful for RWCS fans and Thelemites, and Marseilles purists would be upset, too, because the latter tend to hold the so-called 'Conver' to be the fons et origo, thereby neglecting Jean Noblet.

[alethian]

To me,  the Kabbala deck is my holy grail deck.   The cards don't have any pictorial images.  Instead, the astrological symbols are placed on 12 house diagrams with the planet markings for the minor cards, and the major cards have Tree of Life diagram with the path and Hebrew letter with numeric values on them.

 

This deck is very good for learning about the correspondences. It also reads pretty accurate for the practical divinations compared to my  the other decks.

Edited January 25 by alethian

[Scandinavianhermit]

2 hours ago, alethian said:

This deck is very good for learning about the correspondences. 

Learning about the Golden Dawn's correspondences, I presume? Not the four text versions of Sefer Yetzirah, nor the French Kabbalistic correspondence system? 

[alethian]

4 hours ago, Scandinavianhermit said:

Learning about the Golden Dawn's correspondences, I presume? Not the four text versions of Sefer Yetzirah, nor the French Kabbalistic correspondence system? 

 

Yes, the Golden Dawn system seems most popular in my occult bookshelf and also the tarot collections.  Not sure if they are the most accurate for the divinatory readings.  Which correspondence are known to be the best for the practical readings in accuracy?

Edited January 25 by alethian

[Scandinavianhermit]

4 hours ago, alethian said:

Which correspondence are known to be the best for the practical readings in accuracy?

I believe every individual would give a unique answer to that question.

[Toreador]

Never thought this is possible, but I may have finally found my holy grails after a decade in my practice. I've been working almost exclusively with the Bohemian Gothic and the Victorian Romantic for the past few months, and instead of waning, my fascination for them has only intensified. I have never experienced this level of sustained fervor before. Could this be true love?

[Nemia]

The Thoth is perfect for me, and I can rely on it to get really good readings. The Tabula Mundi is just as perfect for me, I love those two decks. 

 

My trimmed RWS Centennial is also a perfect reading deck, and I'm happy to have discovered it after years of RWS-resistance. 

 

Very close to perfection: the Silhouettes Tarot and Tarot of the Abyss. Both give me very clear readings, and their interpretations of the cards resonate with me. I understand them. 

 

Working with the tarot for so many years now, I have come to accept that there are many very, very good decks and that some of them are perfect for certain phases, but not before or after. The Thoth, Tabula Mundi and Centennial have weathered all the ups and downs in my life and have proved to be consistent wise counselors.