This is the DE-ENABLE thread concerning buying and reading of tarot.

[Laura Borealis]

3 hours ago, Misterei said:

I don't care for the Hanged Man card at all. Generally it feels anachronistic. Are we Victorian? Edwardian? Renaissance? What?

The clothing is a dealbreaker for me.

OTOH I *do* quite like the floral Pips.

Get the mini version if you can't stop yourself? It's cheaper

Or just give it a pass before the Historical Fashion Police confiscate it.

 

I don't mind the Hanged Victorian (though I wonder how he keeps his hat top on!) The previews on her Etsy don't show him, but there's at least one other Victorian gentlemen, the Magician. Some of the people look 17th century France (Baroque? I'm not sure), there's at least one Regency lady, and I think one king may be Turkish. So we have several eras and geographical eras mixed together. Maybe that just multiplies the fashion crimes 🤣 but for me it evens out.

 

1 hour ago, Natural Mystic Guide said:

Sorry.  I cannot de-enable you as your post as further enabled me.  Ultimately I shall buy a  Marseille deck.  I have been casually shopping.  The Metanoia Marseille is the only deck that has made it on to my wish list thus far.  For me, it's all about aesthetics.  Your post prompted me to go ahead and view another walk through.  It's really pretty.  I don't mind the dorky costumes on the human figures.  They are, at least, consistently dorky.  Contemporary gets dated.  These are more artsy than old style.  So I'm good.  I'm still shopping though.  Let us know how you decide @Laura Borealis

 

That is the risk of the De-Enabling thread! the shadow side if you will! I hope you find your perfect Marseille, whether or not it's this one.

[gregory]

That Hanged Man. It's like ALL those bloody naked Hanged Men whose tackle still manages to point to the sky. Never mind the clothing - it's just gravitationally WRONG. That would REALLY get to me over time. And now that I look - there are better death cards anyway - in properly fully illustrated decks.

[Raggydoll]

So, in the spirit of de-enabling (aka, no niceties allowed!!) my first impressions are that, even though this deck is described as whimsical, it is still too naively drawn for my taste. There are too many mini-hands with weirdly positioned fingers (and joints!), and what is up with those hairstyles?😳

That hand… 😅

that hair…!! 😮
 

😁 funny hair AND mini hands!

 

also, i can’t figure out whether the king of coins is trying to prevent people from looking up under his very short skirt OR whether he is holding a mirror to check his private parts… 🙈

 

[gregory]

I regret that that last might appeal to @Laura Borealis But he seems to be short on fingers.

 

 

Edited June 13, 2024 by gregory

[Raggydoll]

32 minutes ago, gregory said:

I regret that that last might appeal to @Laura Borealis BUu he seems to be short on fingers.

Even if he’s checking for a rash? 😆

 

 

[Laura Borealis]

6 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

that hair…!!

 

 

 

See what I mean about it coming from different eras in fashion - that is clearly 1970s feathered hair! with an entire can of Aquanet.

 

5 hours ago, gregory said:

I regret that that last might appeal to @Laura Borealis

 

Unfortunately gregory is right. 🤣

 

 

[Guest]

On 6/13/2024 at 8:31 AM, Laura Borealis said:

I think I'll put the desire for this deck in a sort of time-out. Take it off my wishlist, un-favorite it on Etsy, and just stop looking at it in general. If I still want it by the time my birthday rolls around (a couple months) then maybe I'll get it.

 

This almost always worked like a charm for me. If I suspect that my deep ardor for a deck might eventually prove fleeting, I focus my attention on other stuff that I very much enjoy including my routines, going out, wading through my TBR pile and a plethora of other decks, etc. If it survives a week of all that, it goes straight to check out. 

[gregory]

21 hours ago, Raggydoll said:

Even if he’s checking for a rash? 😆

 

Even if he's checking for crabs.

 

16 hours ago, Laura Borealis said:

Unfortunately gregory is right. 🤣

 

gregory KNOWS.  (Weren't you in the RED circle on AT, @Laura Borealis ?)

[Laura Borealis]

9 hours ago, gregory said:

gregory KNOWS.  (Weren't you in the RED circle on AT, @Laura Borealis ?)

 

Red circle? You'll have to refresh my memory... sounds familiar but I'm not placing it.

 

I do like that King, though. Now that we're looking at the clothes - what IS he wearing? where are his breeches? He has his fancy coat and waistcoat, all perfectly appropriate for his era, but what is that white, pleated bit underneath? a tennis skirt? or just a weird ruffle on the bottom of the waistcoat? He ought to be wearing breeches to the knee, those were standard for that kind of 17th century garb. Also I'm pretty sure stockings only went over the knee, not all the way up. But I cannot quibble too much -- I enjoy a nicely turned leg in tights as much as anyone.

 

On the other hand, it's pretty clear that the artist was looking at fashion plates as reference for the clothes, and I'm not a clothing history expert by any means. Maybe it was an accepted style at some point.

 

 

Edited June 14, 2024 by Laura Borealis

[Raggydoll]

I really do think he should grab a pair of breeches, because those legs underwhelm me. 
 

 

 

[gregory]

2 hours ago, Laura Borealis said:

 

Red circle? You'll have to refresh my memory... sounds familiar but I'm not placing it.

 

Reading with Erotic Decks. It was Rodney's idea and it was great fun. The decks you can't use with just anyone (like my Priapo....)

 

2 hours ago, Laura Borealis said:

I do like that King, though. Now that we're looking at the clothes - what IS he wearing? where are his breeches? He has his fancy coat and waistcoat, all perfectly appropriate for his era, but what is that white, pleated bit underneath? a tennis skirt? or just a weird ruffle on the bottom of the waistcoat? He ought to be wearing breeches to the knee, those were standard for that kind of 17th century garb. Also I'm pretty sure stockings only went over the knee, not all the way up. But I cannot quibble too much -- I enjoy a nicely turned leg in tights as much as anyone.

 

They actually look more like female legs, now that I think on....

 

2 hours ago, Laura Borealis said:

 

On the other hand, it's pretty clear that the artist was looking at fashion plates as reference for the clothes, and I'm not a clothing history expert by any means. Maybe it was an accepted style at some point.

 

 

 

 

https://www.bustle.com/style/were-dresses-made-for-men-skirts

 

Quote

For an extremely long time, the tunic or short skirt was a key part of the male outfit in medieval and Renaissance Europe; just going out with hose wasn't seen as acceptable. And even when the tunic overlay fell out of fashion, trousers themselves would swell to skirt-like proportions among the fashionable. 16th and 17th century nobles in England and elsewhere, for instance, were sometimes expected to wear hose, perhaps a codpiece, and giant breeches puffed to high heaven.

 

https://www.tumblr.com/dresshistorynerd/712715150066614272/when-did-skirts-stop-being-socially-acceptable-for

 

 

1 hour ago, Raggydoll said:

I really do think he should grab a pair of breeches, because those legs underwhelm me. 
 

 

 

 

Leave them to someone who fancies, them darling....  

Edited June 14, 2024 by gregory

[Misterei]

48 minutes ago, Laura Borealis said:

... On the other hand, it's pretty clear that the artist was looking at fashion plates as reference for the clothes, and I'm not a clothing history expert by any means. Maybe it was an accepted style at some point....

My DE-ENABLE argument with clothes in this deck is the random anachronistic mix of fashions from different eras. Anarchronism seems to be a trend these days. I recently streamed a show that was supposed to take place in Victorian era. They got the clothing right, but the plot line and the dialog were pure Gen Z. I stopped watching after 15 minutes b/c I couldn't bear it. There just weren't interracial couples where the woman worked a supervisory job, casually dropping f-bonbs in their conversations at home. Watching Gen Z-ers dressed in Victorian costumes acting as regular Gen Zers do in present day [minus smartphones] held no appeal. If I want a contemporary drama, I'll look for one. I don't need a contemporary drama with actors dressed in Vicorian costumes.

 

But I digress. Ahem. Back to the DE ENABLE:

 

Tarot of the Cat People did fashion really well. Not only is the clothing AMAZING, but the creator has a whole backstory to the clothing and ethnicities. The deck is set "off planet" in another world with its own culture and fashions. There's a cohesiveness to the fashions in Cat People Tarot that's lacking in this deck.

[Laura Borealis]

That's true about the Cat People. Very good clothing design that fit the world she created. Different for each suit, if I remember right. I really like that deck (though I think I traded mine).

 

The mix of modern sensibilities into period shows is such a trend nowadays! I don't mind if it's done with a light hand, but it so rarely is. I saw the recent Persuasion adaptation where they made Anne a day drinker who tosses incongruent quips to break the fourth wall. The result was... not great. But I digress.

 

Gregory, I'd forgotten about medieval men's leggings! And the tunics that barely covered the bum, if at all. I was going off his double-breasted coat with two rows of buttons when I said 17th century.

 

Thanks for the memory jog re: the erotic decks. If I participated it would have been with the Cosmic Tribe (not the most erotic of decks but very nude).

[RunningWild]

Tarot of Magical Correspondences.  Does anyone have it AND use it?  Is it worth it? 

 

I have a birthday coming up and I'll need to buy myself a little something. 

 

Plus it always seems to be the deck showing on the "Deck to Check" when I sign on.

Edited June 26, 2024 by RunningWild
I meant to put this on the" Should I Get It?" but this works too.

[Rose Lalonde]

3 hours ago, RunningWild said:

Tarot of Magical Correspondences.  Does anyone have it AND use it?  Is it worth it? 

I have it. I don't use it as a reading deck. I thought I'd use it as a study deck but usually find it easier to just use the small Kabbalistic Aphorisms book by James Sturzaker for the same thing.  (Whoops - I see that one's expensive now.) Since this is a de-enable thread, I'll mention that the cards are slick with a plastic feel. Because several plants are listed for each card, I'm not sure of the name of the one illustrated on the card unless I happen to recognize it. If it matters, the color down the side of each major is Queen scale, while the color down the side of each minor is King scale, which is the opposite of what I'm used to in the colors for the Thoth, Tabula Mundi, etc.  

Edited June 26, 2024 by Rose Lalonde

[RunningWild]

11 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said:

I have it. I don't use it as a reading deck. I thought I'd use it as a study deck but usually find it easier to just use the small Kabbalistic Aphorisms book by James Sturzaker for the same thing.  (Whoops - I see that one's expensive now.) Since this is a de-enable thread, I'll mention that the cards are slick with a plastic feel. Because several plants are listed for each card, I'm not sure of the name of the one illustrated on the card unless I happen to recognize it. If it matters, the color down the side of each major is Queen scale, while the color down the side of each minor is King scale, which is the opposite of what I'm used to in the colors for the Thoth, Tabula Mundi, etc.  

 

The color coding wouldn't have much meaning to me initially.  I don't have the Tabula Mundi either so there's nothing for me to compare it to.  I was also planning to use it more for study than for readings since I can't really do readings given my current living situation.  But thank you for your input.  I don't think the card stock would have an impact on me either. 

[Morwenna]

Regarding Metanoia: Late Medieval men did wear tights with short tunics, but the tunics didn't have ruffles! And what's with the 19th-century coat?? 

 

I don't mind fantasy garb, in fact I like it if it's either all fantasy or an imaginary take on historical, but a mix like that makes this deck a must-miss! 

[Laura Borealis]

Ruffles at the cuffs and the neck - yes! at the bottom hem - NO.

 

I'm happy to report that this was effective. I've barely thought about the Metanoia for the last month, and now I'm wondering why I found it so appealing. Not that it's a bad deck. Just not for me. So thanks y'all! Good de-enabling! 😸

[Shaira]

On 6/26/2024 at 4:02 AM, Rose Lalonde said:

I have it. I don't use it as a reading deck. I thought I'd use it as a study deck but usually find it easier to just use the small Kabbalistic Aphorisms book by James Sturzaker for the same thing.  (Whoops - I see that one's expensive now.) Since this is a de-enable thread, I'll mention that the cards are slick with a plastic feel. Because several plants are listed for each card, I'm not sure of the name of the one illustrated on the card unless I happen to recognize it. If it matters, the color down the side of each major is Queen scale, while the color down the side of each minor is King scale, which is the opposite of what I'm used to in the colors for the Thoth, Tabula Mundi, etc.  

 

Hello Rose,

 

Apologies for threadjacking - I've been looking at the Tarot of Magical Correspondences, too, and as it's quite pricey I'm trying to work out if it's right for me before jumping in. Everything I've read suggests it's based off Crowley's Liber 777, but the deck is clearly more Rider-Waite-Smith based, in particular in the court cards. I've been trying to work out if the Knights are Yod / Fire and the Kings Vau / Air, for example. Do you know from the card symbolism if that is the case?

 

Thank you in advance for your help!

 

Blessed be,

 

Sarah

[Rose Lalonde]

6 hours ago, Shaira said:

I've been trying to work out if the Knights are Yod / Fire and the Kings Vau / Air, for example. Do you know from the card symbolism if that is the case?

Hi @Shaira 🙂 The Knights are Vau/Air (Tiphareth) and the Kings are Yod/Fire (Chokmah). That's from the lwb and the cards (tiny element triangles for suit/court). If you consider the Knights the equivalent of the Thoth and GD Princes, and the Kings the equivalent of Thoth Knights and GD Kings, as I do, it matches. The thing that throws me is the colors - Queenscale majors and Kingscale minors.  (On the other hand, if you're already looking at the Thoth with the opposite, maybe it's nice to see one of the other color scales as a reference... But now I sound like an enabler in a de-enable thread. 😅)

[Shaira]

Thank you Rose for those clarifications! I'll need to have a careful think in that case - the deck looks gorgeous, but if there's part of its symbolism that doesn't match where I'm coming from then it's probably not the best study deck! 

[DanielJUK]

Let's get back to de-enabling deck buying!

[Shaira]

38 minutes ago, DanielJUK said:

Let's get back to de-enabling deck buying!

 

Sorry for the interruption - but in fact it did in fact de-enable me from buying that deck, so it's win-win! 😄

[Ferrea]

I successfully de-enabled myself last night. There's an unexpected little surplus in my bank account, and I immediately went into my wish lists to figure out which deck should be next.

 

Mike Willox Tarot and Oracle. Thanks to the YouTubers making the flip-throughs (even if I occasionally have to turn off the sound or speed it up a notch)!

The colourway is unpleasant to me. I think enhanced muddy pastels. Actually, the colour choice of many contemporary decks makes it super easy for me to resist. Also, the "linen" texture on laminated cards – I just don't get it.

The images are beautiful, though! Here and there are to find inspired new takes on the well-known.

 

Äkta Spåman – Outgrow Yourself Tarot and Oracle. I love the concept and the liveliness of the images. But I don't enjoy looking at faces without noses, like the crossed eyes in the Sacred Rose Tarot. WHY?

It's interesting. It seems like I have a strong need for physical integrity of the characters depicted.

[Chariot]

Aaargh! Here was I, happily browsing eBay's section of used tarot decks ...all 15 pages of it ...thinking nope nope nope nope ...I already have the decks I want, and don't actually want any of these anyway, and—WHAP!  What do I see?  Just at the upper edge of my affordability?  A deck I have craved ever since I first saw it in The New Tarot, by Rachel Pollock, a book I bought in 1991.  I have NEVER seen Tarot Tzigane for sale anywhere until now.  

It's  not a conventional deck. I will probably never use it for reading.  It's not my culture.  It's at the upper edge of affordability for me just now.  But it's the original version, in French.  Looks to be in perfect condition.  It's located here in the UK, so the postage is affordable.  I will probably never get another chance to get this one.  And I think it's gorgeous.  That deck grabbed my attention from Day One, when I first saw pictures of it.  Help.  Talk me out of it?  I think....

Edited September 7, 2024 by Chariot