Favorite Dark/Gothic/Horror Decks

[EmpyreanKnight]

Halloween is coming, so this question is very apt.

 

What dark Tarot deck/s appeal to you the most? Which are your go-to's, which ones do you use in rituals, shadow work, path-working, etc.?

 

My dark & gothic sub-collection is quite sizable, but my absolute favorite is the Barbara Walker. I have had it for more than four months, but my passion for it has barely abated until now. Something about its menacing 70's aesthetic lends it a delicious creepiness that has to be experienced to be believed, and the legends, myths, and gods it depicts are endlessly fascinating. I highly recommend its companion book, although it has to be taken with a grain of salt because some of its scholarship does seem a bit shaky.

 

I have coveted, lusted after, and dreamt of the Gothic Tarot by Joseph Vargo for a long time so that when I finally had the deck and its companion book shipped just last year, it felt like welcoming something that has always belonged to me. Unapologetically . . . well Gothic, its subtly sensual style and deliciously sinister art nevertheless prevented it from descending into kitsch. It will definitely be a mainstay in my stable of working decks for a long time.

[Esk]

 

I have coveted, lusted after, and dreamt of the Gothic Tarot by Joseph Vargo for a long time so that when I finally had the deck and its companion book shipped just last year, it felt like welcoming something that has always belonged to me. Unapologetically . . . well Gothic, its subtly sensual style and deliciously sinister art nevertheless prevented it from descending into kitsch. It will definitely be a mainstay in my stable of working decks for a long time.

 

I'd love this deck so much! I agree the artwork is very appealing (if you like gothique and dark things of course  ;)) and i really like its mysterious atmosphere.

But the shipping cost are expensive :(. Maybe I'll buy it for halloween, it a could be the ideal occasion  ;D

 

[chongjasmine]

I love the halloween tarot.

Beautiful design.

 

Though in general, I don't really like horror decks.

Prefer more milder form of decks.

[EmpyreanKnight]

 

I have coveted, lusted after, and dreamt of the Gothic Tarot by Joseph Vargo for a long time so that when I finally had the deck and its companion book shipped just last year, it felt like welcoming something that has always belonged to me. Unapologetically . . . well Gothic, its subtly sensual style and deliciously sinister art nevertheless prevented it from descending into kitsch. It will definitely be a mainstay in my stable of working decks for a long time.

 

I'd love this deck so much! I agree the artwork is very appealing (if you like gothique and dark things of course  ;)) and i really like its mysterious atmosphere.

But the shipping cost are expensive :(. Maybe I'll buy it for halloween, it a could be the ideal occasion  ;D

 

I hope you'd somehow get it by Halloween, Esk. You definitely won't regret it, and it is so much nicer in the flesh than in the images you see online. You don't even have to pony up for the companion book. There is an excellent study group in Ye Olde Purple Site which you can use as a guide, aside from the LWB. Lol I hope I'm not being pushy. ;D

[EmpyreanKnight]

I love the halloween tarot.

Beautiful design.

 

Though in general, I don't really like horror decks.

Prefer more milder form of decks.

 

That's quite enabling, chongjasmine. Just the right amount of whimsy and cuteness without crossing into cheesy territory. And it's even available in a tin!

[Onaorkal]

The only ''dark'' tarot I have is the Wild Unknown. It's quite mild compared to some other examples but I still think it fits the bill.

 

Other than that, The Book of Azathoth Tarot, inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's work, is on my wishlist.

 

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/book-of-azathoth/

 

I really love the artwork, it's just the right kind of 'darkness' for me. Some cards and characters are weird, but not too eerily creepy or gory. Like Lovecraft's work!

[Page of Ghosts]

This sub-genre of tarot decks is one that it would make a lot of sense for me to have more of, but I actually.. don't  :o

 

It's the same with cat decks - I love cats but I don't have a true cat deck, only a few decks where cats appear along the humans or other creatures populating it.

 

What comes closest would be the already mentioned Halloween Tarot - not the spookiest deck but it features a lot of monsters and ghosts and bats  ;D  I'm also expecting the Everyday Witch Tarot and it falls into the same boat. Not all that spooky, but it brings that magical Halloween spirit I like even if Halloween isn't really as big as in the US in my country. The Deviant Moon is probably the spookiest I own but it's a deck I'd really like the book for and I haven't played around a lot with it. The Hermit is really creepy though! I imagine him screaming a horrible scream trying to get you to leave him alone in his cave  :'(

 

ETA: I also have the Wild Unknown and I agree it could fit the bill as a dark deck. The image is sparse and sometimes a bit harsh (that 10 of swords for example!). I haven't done a ton of readings with it yet but it feels like a very intuitive deck and to me the images are surprising in what I get out of them since I'm used to the good old RWS.

[EmpyreanKnight]

The only ''dark'' tarot I have is the Wild Unknown. It's quite mild compared to some other examples but I still think it fits the bill.

 

I was looking for an animal-themed Tarot deck and now that you mentioned it, this one just fits the bill. A dark animal Tarot - I mean, what's not to like?

 

Which edition do you have, Onaorkal? Do you have the mass-produced Third Edition in a keepsake box? How do you find it, and is it easy for you to read with?

[Onaorkal]

The only ''dark'' tarot I have is the Wild Unknown. It's quite mild compared to some other examples but I still think it fits the bill.

 

I was looking for an animal-themed Tarot deck and now that you mentioned it, this one just fits the bill. A dark animal Tarot - I mean, what's not to like?

 

Which edition do you have, Onaorkal? Do you have the mass-produced Third Edition in a keepsake box? How do you find it, and is it easy for you to read with?

 

 

No, I believe I have the second edition. I haven't read with it for a while, but I think the simplicity of the images and the cohesion through the deck make wonders for more intuitive readings. Also there was a study group on AT that was quite complete and I found it really useful to get more insight. (And it's still available in archive form) Also, truthfully I don't find the companinon book  very useful. That would be my superquick 'review' of the deck haha!  :P

[EmpyreanKnight]

This sub-genre of tarot decks is one that it would make a lot of sense for me to have more of, but I actually.. don't  :o

 

It's the same with cat decks - I love cats but I don't have a true cat deck, only a few decks where cats appear along the humans or other creatures populating it.

 

What comes closest would be the already mentioned Halloween Tarot - not the spookiest deck but it features a lot of monsters and ghosts and bats  ;D  I'm also expecting the Everyday Witch Tarot and it falls into the same boat. Not all that spooky, but it brings that magical Halloween spirit I like even if Halloween isn't really as big as in the US in my country. The Deviant Moon is probably the spookiest I own but it's a deck I'd really like the book for and I haven't played around a lot with it. The Hermit is really creepy though! I imagine him screaming a horrible scream trying to get you to leave him alone in his cave  :'(

 

ETA: I also have the Wild Unknown and I agree it could fit the bill as a dark deck. The image is sparse and sometimes a bit harsh (that 10 of swords for example!). I haven't done a ton of readings with it yet but it feels like a very intuitive deck and to me the images are surprising in what I get out of them since I'm used to the good old RWS.

 

I just noticed that your username is from a court card in the Halloween Tarot, right? I also have the Borderless Deviant Moon, and once I get ahold of its gorgeous companion book, I will definitely immerse myself in it.

 

It seems like you have a positive opinion of The Wild Unknown. How do you really find it tho? How would you rate it? I did promise myself a new dark deck for this Halloween, and I think this is just the ticket. It looks so stark and lovely.

[Page of Ghosts]

This sub-genre of tarot decks is one that it would make a lot of sense for me to have more of, but I actually.. don't  :o

 

It's the same with cat decks - I love cats but I don't have a true cat deck, only a few decks where cats appear along the humans or other creatures populating it.

 

What comes closest would be the already mentioned Halloween Tarot - not the spookiest deck but it features a lot of monsters and ghosts and bats  ;D  I'm also expecting the Everyday Witch Tarot and it falls into the same boat. Not all that spooky, but it brings that magical Halloween spirit I like even if Halloween isn't really as big as in the US in my country. The Deviant Moon is probably the spookiest I own but it's a deck I'd really like the book for and I haven't played around a lot with it. The Hermit is really creepy though! I imagine him screaming a horrible scream trying to get you to leave him alone in his cave  :'(

 

ETA: I also have the Wild Unknown and I agree it could fit the bill as a dark deck. The image is sparse and sometimes a bit harsh (that 10 of swords for example!). I haven't done a ton of readings with it yet but it feels like a very intuitive deck and to me the images are surprising in what I get out of them since I'm used to the good old RWS.

 

I just noticed that your username is from a court card in the Halloween Tarot, right? I also have the Borderless Deviant Moon, and once I get ahold of its gorgeous companion book, I will definitely immerse myself in it.

 

It seems like you have a positive opinion of The Wild Unknown. How do you really find it tho? How would you rate it? I did promise myself a new dark deck for this Halloween, and I think this is just the ticket. It looks so stark and lovely.

[EmpyreanKnight]

The only ''dark'' tarot I have is the Wild Unknown. It's quite mild compared to some other examples but I still think it fits the bill.

 

I was looking for an animal-themed Tarot deck and now that you mentioned it, this one just fits the bill. A dark animal Tarot - I mean, what's not to like?

 

Which edition do you have, Onaorkal? Do you have the mass-produced Third Edition in a keepsake box? How do you find it, and is it easy for you to read with?

 

 

No, I believe I have the second edition. I haven't read with it for a while, but I think the simplicity of the images and the cohesion through the deck make wonders for more intuitive readings. Also there was a study group on AT that was quite complete and I found it really useful to get more insight. (And it's still available in archive form) Also, truthfully I don't find the companinon book  very useful. That would be my superquick 'review' of the deck haha!  :P

 

Thanks you so much for the heads up, Onaorkal. Just checked out the Wild Unknown Study Group in Ye Olde Purple Site and it's a goldmine! Reading this treasure trove, brb.

[Onaorkal]

I'm glad I was helpful EmpyreanKnight!  :D

[EmpyreanKnight]

I like it a lot more than I had expected. It's a deck that I've seen so much online for the last few years that although I thought it looked very interesting I didn't feel like I needed it myself for a long time. I especially appreciate it for the intuitive flashes I sometimes get when I work with it. I've had to read books because I was so overwhelmed when I started out and I've always wanted that intuitive spark, but it wasn't something that came to me naturally in the beginning so having some anchor points I can go off from is very useful for me... but this deck I think could be very useful for developing that intuitive side of reading tarot some more. The animals are nice and the use of colours is very good. It's a very attractive deck and I find it has its place in my small collection of decks. I don't have many sparse decks and not decks that used to be indie before it got a mass-market edition.

 

I agree with Onaorkal that the guide book isn't necessarily the best... not just because I've read books I like more, but there isn't that much to go on I think? It gets kind of confusing fast. The spreads are not bad though. This blogger did a good job with writing about the cards so I often go to check there if I'm a bit stumped or just want to read about the cards for fun. She mentions the lines in the background as giving some idea about the energy which is cool as I hadn't thought about that myself. I have the mass-market edition and I think it's pretty good, but then again I never had any of the indie versions of it so I can't compare them all  ;)

 

http://carriemallon.com/blog/the-wild-unknown-tarot-card-meanings/

 

I'm glad I was helpful EmpyreanKnight!  :D

 

Welp, I guess I had no choice. My only misgiving with it was that the companion guide was too succinct, and I prefer my companion books with a little meat in them. Turned out that aside from the AT Study Group that Onaorkal suggested and the site Page of Ghosts mentioned, there are a lot of other sites that provide detailed articles discussing each card. And almost all of the reviews I watched and read painted a very tempting picture so that by the end of it all, I had no more fight left in me lol.  ;D

 

I ordered the 3rd edition from a local bookshop. They said it should be delivered to me before the week ends. Thanks guys!

[MoonGypsy]

Halloween is coming, so this question is very apt.

 

What dark Tarot deck/s appeal to you the most? Which are your go-to's, which ones do you use in rituals, shadow work, path-working, etc.?

 

My dark & gothic sub-collection is quite sizable, but my absolute favorite is the Barbara Walker. I have had it for more than four months, but my passion for it has barely abated until now. Something about its menacing 70's aesthetic lends it a delicious creepiness that has to be experienced to be believed, and the legends, myths, and gods it depicts are endlessly fascinating. I highly recommend its companion book, although it has to be taken with a grain of salt because some of its scholarship does seem a bit shaky.

 

I have coveted, lusted after, and dreamt of the Gothic Tarot by Joseph Vargo for a long time so that when I finally had the deck and its companion book shipped just last year, it felt like welcoming something that has always belonged to me. Unapologetically . . . well Gothic, its subtly sensual style and deliciously sinister art nevertheless prevented it from descending into kitsch. It will definitely be a mainstay in my stable of working decks for a long time.

 

Hi Empyrean Knight!

i am curious if you have the self published Dracula Tarot Deck by Vicky Vladic in Oz?

http://static.lulu.com/browse/product_thumbnail.php?productId=15581035&resolution=320

 

It is a very cool deck. Here in the states you can purchase the big companion book, but the deck is only available through her website in Australia.

 

i am thinking about selling/trading mine...

 

If any paid subscribers who have access to the trading forum are interested, please let me know, and i will open a sale thread in the trade forum. ONLY paid subscribers, though...

Keep watch, i may start a thread there later today...

 

[EmpyreanKnight]

Sent you a PM, MoonGypsy. :)

[MoonGypsy]

Sent you a PM, MoonGypsy. :)

 

i have answered it, EK!

[Ncharge]

My favorite dark decks are the Wormwierd, Bohemian Gothic, Solleone, and Diary of a Broken Soul. My son considers Diedra of the Sorrows to be a dark deck because he spotted a card with a man standing in front of a cornfield. It reminded him

of the movie "Children of the Corn". Freaked him out!

The Wormwierd is an excellent deck for Halloween! Very atmospheric. So is the Bohemian Gothic.

[Esk]

 

I have coveted, lusted after, and dreamt of the Gothic Tarot by Joseph Vargo for a long time so that when I finally had the deck and its companion book shipped just last year, it felt like welcoming something that has always belonged to me. Unapologetically . . . well Gothic, its subtly sensual style and deliciously sinister art nevertheless prevented it from descending into kitsch. It will definitely be a mainstay in my stable of working decks for a long time.

 

I'd love this deck so much! I agree the artwork is very appealing (if you like gothique and dark things of course  ;)) and i really like its mysterious atmosphere.

But the shipping cost are expensive :(. Maybe I'll buy it for halloween, it a could be the ideal occasion  ;D

 

I hope you'd somehow get it by Halloween, Esk. You definitely won't regret it, and it is so much nicer in the flesh than in the images you see online. You don't even have to pony up for the companion book. There is an excellent study group in Ye Olde Purple Site which you can use as a guide, aside from the LWB. Lol I hope I'm not being pushy. ;D

Indeed there's a lot of interesting thoughts on At. I've never noticed before, thank you :)

I'll definitely think of buying it soon!

[jema]

My favorite is the Dark Grimoire Tarot with art by Michele Penco.

It's a Lovecraft tarot with just the right amound of mood and enigma to it.

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/dark-grimoire/

[EmpyreanKnight]

My favorite is the Dark Grimoire Tarot with art by Michele Penco.

It's a Lovecraft tarot with just the right amound of mood and enigma to it.

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/dark-grimoire/

 

That looks like such a fascinating deck, jema! I have The Necronomicon Tarot by the noted occult scholar Donald Tyson, and I think that together they would make for a great two-deck tandem reading. They seem to complement each other very well.

[Lantana]

Like Page of Ghosts, I also feel like this is a subgenre I should have, but just don't. Might be because my idea of Gothic is more 20th than 19th century, I'm not a big fan of horror, and that I just haven't found a dark deck I really like yet.

 

I'd say the darkest deck I currently own is the Wooden Tarot, and I think that's more "delightfully unsettling" than dark. I am thinking about maybe one day getting the Halloween Tarot, if just for this perfect Temperance.

[sandrang123]

I've tried the Ghosts and Spirits tarot, but I found it too dark and too one-dimensional, in terms of depictions. Also, I found the images sharply at odds with the general interpretations of the cards, and not in pleasing or surprising ways. It was the only bad review of tarot I ever wrote on Amazon...I was that displeased!  :-\

 

How about Cat People? It's the oldest deck I have--my very first deck, in fact, gifted to me around age 14. (Wow, time flies.) It would be in the realm of "dark" decks, though not really in a traditional, occult way but more, I'd say, an interplanetary way, if that makes sense. So if you feel you are "out there" or have alien energy or even an abundance of outer planets in your natal chart with prominent placement, it might be the deck for you. (I have Pluto sitting on my ascendant, conjunct it, Uranus in my first, Neptune and Jupiter in my third house...so I do often  feel like I've never really belonged to this earth.) It's also a good deck if you like animals (i.e. cats). Definitely not for everyone, though. In general, I gravitate to decks with lots of interesting imagery, but not necessarily dark decks, feeling-wise.

 

Good luck!

Sandy

[Page of Ghosts]

I agree about the Cat People deck. I actually held out on it for a while because I was convinced that the Fool had a really creepy smile that I found very unsettling, but when I looked again he/she doesn't? The Devil is really intense in that deck too.

[sandrang123]

Neat to get your feelings on the Cat People. Agree with you about the Devil, which is pretty intense. Death is, too, in that deck. I will also say when I offer people the option of several decks that I can read from, it's the one people pick LEAST often. So it definitely does not resonate with many. ;)