Unboxings and First Impressions

[Niobium]

Eh, it's fine. Not terribly expensive! 😄

[FindYourSovereignty]

Thank you to @TheFeeLion for sharing this deck and book last May. The art is vibrant with earthy shades of oranges and blues. The cards are lightly textured. The LBW has just enough detail to share why the artist chose the specific fairy tale, myth or folklore for the card by including the title of the story and a brief sentence connecting the card to the story. It is well done for an mm release, IMO.

 

The beautiful book is a separate purchase and does not reference or refer back to the deck. There are over 150 one-page stories with a corresponding art page on the left side. To find the story connected to the card you need to look it up in the index. The book is a plus for the deck as an on-hand reference to the story, but not necessary. 

[TheFeeLion]

😍 I can't wait to get mine! I've probably got another month's wait seeing as in in NZ though 😭

[LogicalHue]

I also got the Tarot of the Divine this week, hope its ok to also post about it! I used it for the first time yesterday. I did get the book Behind the Moon. My very first impression opening up the box was that the deck is THICK. I've included a photo side-by-side with The Happy Tarot which is a fairly standard Lo Scarbareo deck. The cards are not un-bendy, in fact I'm a little worried about damaging them, but the deck is a little difficult to shuffle because of how huge it is.

 

 

I wanted to talk about how the decks and the Tales and the books relate. Pick a card. The accompanying booklet tells you the title of the Tale and how the element pictured relates to the card, then a usual lwb-type definition of the card. Behind the Moon has the full tales, but - so far, IMO - not very well told, just kind of.. told. The cards are not related back to at all, or even mentioned in Behind the Moon. The Tales are not in card order. The one I'm showing even has the title listed differently in the booklet than in the Index so it was harder to find ("Sun Wukong, the Monkey King" vs "The Monkey King, Sun Wukong"). But you just have to search the index for each individual Tale - unless someone else finds/figures out something that I haven't. So I don't regret buying Behind the Moon.. I think, but I don't know how much it will add to my card-reading experience. In my first reading I gave up on reading the Tales after the first few cards.

 

 

The book itself is kind of hard to keep open, and the pages are a little too stuck together (the one pictured in particular). Its also pretty huge, I was amazed it fit on my shelf. I'm keeping the deck in front of it and I have to be careful because it falls off the shelf when I take the deck away.

 

Anyway my first reading went well and was very clear and seemed quite accurate. It is a happy addition to my collection 🙂

[TheFeeLion]

@LogicalHue I'm not sure Behind the Moon was ever intended as an expansion of the guide book, more as a reference for the stories used in the deck. I could be completely wrong though... 

[TheFeeLion]

My turn for Tarot of the Divine excitement! 😁 I've only just opened the package and flicked through the cards... How did I not know they were going to be linen finish??? This'll be my first linen deck and I can already tell it'll make all the difference shuffling these cards seeing as they're pretty thick. Thanks to the way they grain of the card stock runs they've got a bit of flex to them so they don't feel too rigid which is nice. 

 

I think I'll be reading Under the Moon before I delve into this deck. I want to familiarise my self with the stories and their themes first. I've already read one or two. They are all relatively short; just enough to get a feel for the story. I'm looking forward to diving into the rest 😁

[Mab]

Remy, that Lenormand deck is lovely, and I am also in love with the box!

 

Also, am now enabled re the Tarot of the Divine...🙄

 

I am delighted to announce that I now have The Wild Green Chagallian!!
It arrived complete with signed poem card and the lovely dark green paper, with a leaf sticker.

So chuffed, been on my wish list forever, didn't think I'd actually get one. 🤩

[Bodhiseed]

@Mab, has the Wild Green Chagallian been republished?

[Mab]

Not to my knowledge, this was a used find.

[bookshop]

Just got my copy of the Tarot of the Divine so adding photos to the pile!

 

I am not sure about the card-stock, which has a slight glare and feels very much like holding a scratch-off lotto ticket. But the design is predictably absolutely gorgeous.

[Grace]

The Momento Mori finally arrived!!!!! I wasn't expecting it for a little while longer, but sure glad it came.
I wont have the time to study these for a while - but I'm happy to be able to enjoy the images.
The Momento Mori can be used as either Oracle or Lenormond by simply taking away the extra cards in the deck.


As you can see.... very well wrapped and protected. Cards arrived in perfect condition. I bought it direct from creator on Etsy, my first purchase from that platform. 



Cards arrived with a linen card bag, LWB and an extra little token tarot card with meaning on the back - like a mini little oracle just for me. 



A peak at the artwork...





So first thoughts..... enjoying the monotone artwork - with little pops of green and white from the flowers. I have learnt as much as I love colour in real life, I like my cards on the blander side - it will be interesting to see how I go reading with these once I start learning. The one thing I'm not sure fits 100% is the back of the cards.... I understand the sentiment - but stylistically it is perhaps a little mismatched, I'm less convinced. It is a very good selling deck, so what do I know?! LOL. Either way I'm enjoying them very much so far! The cards have really good slip to them, and the box isn't unnecessarily large (which is a little pet peeve of mine).

[LogicalHue]

 

Just got my copy of Nightmare Before Christmas Tarot yesterday and opened it up. Unfortunately the top card - the Fool is quite indented on the face of it, so I've already contacted the publisher about replacing it. There's also a dent on the side of the whole deck that I'm not as concerned about.

 

The cards are very matte, more than I've ever seen. The card stock seems just fine, not too stiff.

 

In flipping through it, I noticed a lot more pip-esque cards than I was expecting.

 

Funny side note: the ribbon that goes under the deck to help you pull it out arrived not under the deck but to the side of it. So if you happen to see this before opening yours up - don't just go yanking at it that first time 🙂

 

I haven't really delved into it too much, and I won't do any readings until I find out the fate of the replacement. I can report back on the publisher's response.

 

[Niobium]

Oh man it looks so nice!! Alas that my shipment is delayed because the whole west coast is on fire. I'll have to be patient. *continues F5ing*

[LogicalHue]

The publisher for the Nightmare Before Christmas deck did get back to me after a few days (which included a weekend) and they are going to send me a replacement deck but since they were being sold through pre-order they are back-ordered now, so it'll be probably over a month. 🥺 After my completely ridiculous experience obtaining the Ostara deck, I can't help but be worried that a similar issue will show up on the next one. But, you know, I'll live.

[LogicalHue]

On 9/6/2020 at 5:12 PM, LogicalHue said:

The Tales are not in card order. The one I'm showing even has the title listed differently in the booklet than in the Index so it was harder to find ("Sun Wukong, the Monkey King" vs "The Monkey King, Sun Wukong"). But you just have to search the index for each individual Tale - unless someone else finds/figures out something that I haven't.

 

Re Behind the Moon: I have now finished reading the book (on its own, outside of tarot readings) and discovered the alphabetized index in the back! (The beginning of the book list in order of appearance is titled "contents".)

[Decan]

Guys, guess what deck arrived today!?

 

YES, the Thomson Leng Tarot! Hooray! 🤩😃

It came quickly because I really thought that I would have to wait still a few weeks (and the printer is in China, I checked that point).

I'm happy, it is for my taste, of very good quality and cute (bridge size); otherwise the colors are vibrant, it is vintage, I love the fronts, I love the back and everything: adopted!!

ETA (my first impressions): very good!

 

A pic below

Edited October 9, 2020 by Decan

[Wyrdkiss]

Happy to receive the Thelema Lenormand today. I'm not much of a Lenormand Reader, tarot is my discipline. But her art is gorgeous; if I'm going to 

give it another try, it will be with this pack.  Lechner also did a Thelema tarot, which has some gorgeous cards but I found the Courts lacking too much imagery and

symbolism.

This Lenormand approach, however, seems spot on.

 

 

I apologize for the double post here and in "what's the postman bringing," but I just disocvered this unboxing thread. Love it.

[Wyrdkiss]

On 5/6/2020 at 6:25 AM, Flaxen said:

I’ve just received my copy of The Arboridium deck which I backed on Kickstarter. 
 

As expected, the whole package is beautiful - deck, book, journal, prints and coaster.

 

Some photos:

 

I absolutley love this artwork, thank you for the heads up. Rave reviews on Etsy too.

[katrinka]

On 10/9/2020 at 6:19 AM, Decan said:

Guys, guess what deck arrived today!?

 

YES, the Thomson Leng Tarot! Hooray! 🤩😃

It came quickly because I really thought that I would have to wait still a few weeks (and the printer is in China, I checked that point).

I'm happy, it is for my taste, of very good quality and cute (bridge size); otherwise the colors are vibrant, it is vintage, I love the fronts, I love the back and everything: adopted!!

ETA (my first impressions): very good!

 

A pic below

 

Congratulations! It's SUCH a great deck. I think you'll do well with it - enjoy!

Earlier this week the Eudes Picard arrived. I haven't had near enough time to spend with it.

It came in a padded envelope and was further protected by a repurposed amazon box, cut and folded to size and taped around it. Very hands-on, and likely a small print run so if anyone is thinking of getting it, I'd advise striking while the iron is hot:
https://noreahbrownfield.com/product/eudes-picard-tarot/

The Majors are just sketches of the Conver Majors - rough sketches of rough woodcuts, lol, and already thoroughly familiar:

 

The color palette is very nice. It was done by the same guy who colored the Holy Light, Michael Dowers.

The Minors are MUCH more interesting. I have questions about some things in the images and I suppose I'm going to need Payne-Towler's Eudes Picard Tarot Manual, even though I don't buy her theory about an unbroken line of occult Tarot. It doesn't seem to be available yet, though. Does anyone know what's up with that?

The website where I bought the deck says "(Picard) also pulled back the curtain on the Islamic substrate within Tarot..." and that's intriguing AF!

This thing is full of alchemy and astrology, very typical of the old French occultists.  And there are the butterflies on the Cups, for air, the alchemical sun and moon, and the good old cosmic egg - this one seems to be hatching an eagle:

 

And the 7 of Sceptres features Aries, Taurus, Scorpio and...a crawfish??? Or a lobster. Maybe it's Cancer - but why would Picard substitute Cancer for Aquarius? So many questions...

 

 

The lobster appears in the Swords suit, too, since Picard corresponds Swords to water. Other Swords cards seem to feature Pisces. Look at the hand emerging from the old moon on the Ace!
 

 

As for the stock, it's adequate, not the sumptuous linen of the Holy Light but still not problematic. It comes in a tuckbox, but for $32.50 and free shipping, I certainly can't complain!

Edited October 11, 2020 by katrinka

[Decan]

3 hours ago, katrinka said:

The website where I bought the deck says "(Picard) also pulled back the curtain on the Islamic substrate within Tarot..." and that's intriguing AF!

It would be interesting that they explain a bit what they mean here, "Islamic substrate" is really vague, we don't understand to what they are refering exactly; intriguing indeed.

Edited October 11, 2020 by Decan

[katrinka]

28 minutes ago, Decan said:

It would be interesting that they explain a bit what they mean here, "Islamic substrate" is really vague, we don't understand to what they are refering exactly; intriguing indeed.

"Pregnant ideas derived from Islamic Cosmology", apparently.

 

That tells us nothing. I don't even know if there's anything solid behind it, or it's just more theorizing. But I'm very curious.
Curious enough to buy this book if it's ever available, even though I already have Poinsot.
They say curiosity killed the cat. Hopefully satisfaction brings it back!
 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, katrinka said:

"Pregnant ideas derived from Islamic Cosmology", apparently.

 

That tells us nothing. I don't even know if there's anything solid behind it, or it's just more theorizing. But I'm very curious.
Curious enough to buy this book if it's ever available, even though I already have Poinsot.
They say curiosity killed the cat. Hopefully satisfaction brings it back!
 

I suspect it is a reference to the Arabic astrologers and their texts. 

[Guest]

On 10/9/2020 at 12:19 PM, Decan said:

Guys, guess what deck arrived today!?

 

YES, the Thomson Leng Tarot! Hooray! 🤩😃

It came quickly because I really thought that I would have to wait still a few weeks (and the printer is in China, I checked that point).

I'm happy, it is for my taste, of very good quality and cute (bridge size); otherwise the colors are vibrant, it is vintage, I love the fronts, I love the back and everything: adopted!!

ETA (my first impressions): very good!

 

A pic below

Fantastic news! Have you cut it/done an introduction?

[Decan]

2 minutes ago, timtoldrum said:

Fantastic news! Have you cut it/done an introduction?

Do you mean if I already read with it?

[Decan]

2 hours ago, katrinka said:

"Pregnant ideas derived from Islamic Cosmology", apparently.

 

That tells us nothing. I don't even know if there's anything solid behind it, or it's just more theorizing. But I'm very curious.
Curious enough to buy this book if it's ever available, even though I already have Poinsot.
They say curiosity killed the cat. Hopefully satisfaction brings it back!
 

That's a good thing that @timtoldrum keeps an expert eye on this!

 

On my part I would say that it really depends on what the author says and if they are clear enough (with the source used).

I'm sure authors during Eudes Picard's time should have theories about many things, but if it is a modern theory based on old theories in rare books, the topic could become confusing lol.

I browsed a book by Papus in the past (superficialy and not recently, I recognize that), but I remember that I thought something like Oh My! what is that stuff!

But some verifications could be possible since this time it is my native language. French occultists theorized a lot in my opinion in the past, and not everything were clear, even in French 🙂

Edited October 11, 2020 by Decan