View Full Version : New Century Tarot
Scorpion
18-09-2003, 15:12
Just found this in Waterstones today:-
http://www.tarotgarden.com/boutique/onlinecatalog.php?view_title=new+century
It looks like it's fairly new - has anybody else got it and, if so, what do you think of it?
Hi there!
I don't know yet, but I ordered one yesterday, it looks very interesting!
delizt
Scorpion
18-09-2003, 17:09
Hi, Delizt!
Well, it's certainly different! I love the artwork and the colours, although at the moment I'm not sure about reading with it. Some of the scenes on the Minors are detailed but miniscule. It's an intruiging deck, to say the least. Hope you get yours soon so we can compare notes.
I read that the creator of the deck used the Tarot Classic by Kaplan to ignite his imagination. The book was a gift from his wife, and the deck was born from her gift.
I have this deck and I love it. The small scenes are reminiscent of the Nigel-Jackson deck, but I love the jewel tones to this deck. It makes you not afraid to get down and gritty with it, and it really tells you like it is. I just got it about a week ago, but it is true and clear and concise, I think it replaced my Mermaids!
Try it out, what can you lose?
Astril
baba-prague
19-09-2003, 10:18
I saw this "in progress" ages ago, and really liked it. I agree though with questioning whether it is possible to read well with it. But without seeing the whole thing, I can't judge.
I'll also be honest and say that the image on The Hierophant" makes me uncomfortable - I don't think this card has to show a picture of that kind of domination. Anyone else find that a problem? Are any of the other cards at all like that?
However, I just LOVE the use of colour on this deck. Thanks for bringing it to our attention here. I think I'll look out for it "in person" next time I'm in the UK and at least consider bringing it home with me.
Do let us know how it reads and "settles" with you.
The choice of colours is really bold, makes the cards stand out - I'd love to see more from this deck - Might go and do a search in a minute.
Is it a Rider Waite clone deck or maybe Thoth based. The figures on the moon card look egyptian. I do like this deck ....... goes away muttering 'oh no not again' :) lol
Scorpion
19-09-2003, 15:38
Emily - it's really difficult to say whether it's Thoth or RWS based. I can't see a reference in the LWB anywhere and a card like, say, 8 Cups seems to me to have the Thoth feel, others - for example 9 Swords - are very RWS.
Baba-Prague - I can't say I'd really thought about the Hierophant except to notice that for me this is a really "different" interpretation. I guess you could put the Devil in the same category as he appears to be about to step onto the chest of the naked woman at the bottom of the card, but isn't that a fairly "normal" sort of depiction for this card? There's an obviously distraught naked woman cowering under the 5 Swords and a similarly positioned one in the 10 Wands is about to have a rock dropped on her from on high, but I think that's about it. I must admit I just love the style of the artwork and so I can't say I feel uncomfortable with them at all. If you want to see some of the other cards, PM me with your e-mail address and I'll scan a few in for you.
Astril - sounds like you've really "clicked" with your deck. It would be lovely to be able to read with it, but as I said earlier I'm not confident I'll be able to proceed that far. It's certainly impressed a couple of my very picky Tarot friends at work who've been known to turn their noses up at quite a few decks so far.
Hello,
I got my deck today and my first impressions are really positive. I LOVE the bright jewel-tones on the majors and the feel of the cards is nice, too. They are not overly-slick. I do not know how this will fair as a reading deck, it seems more meditative to me, but I love the artwork/colors and am glad I got it!
delizt
Scorpion
20-09-2003, 06:58
Congratulations on your acquisition, Delitz!
Yes, I like the feel of them too - it's almost as if they're matt but they're not. And the colours are so beautiful. I can think of a few other decks that I'd like to see this bright (Thoth for one, although I've got the De Luxe version on order at Borders and hopefully this will go a little way towards rectifying this).
Cerulean
23-09-2003, 00:00
I had this deck for about three weeks (since Labor Day) and have enjoyed exploring it. I had bought the Tarot Classic to compare and I see that Rolf Eichelmann choose to do background 'color schemes' for the minors and put all the minor pip symbols in a central 'veil' or shape in the middle of the card; then a small scene at the bottom or around the frame. He explains the coloring and symbolism briefly, but well. I posted below and in earlier threads where the New Century is mentioned a corresponding website with early design notes
His design pays a loose tribute to Marseilles reproductions and Rider Waite pictorial schemes - but his numbering and scenic creativity feels more modern to me.
Rolf Eichelmann in English/German
In English, the tarot cards with explanations in 3 languages--you can see all the trump here with early descriptions of the majors--follow the links:
http://www.rolf-eichelmann.de/index_e.html
In German, but he seems to be a painter of modern posters, etc.
http://www.rolf-eichelmann.de/index_d.html
U.S. Games did a modern recoloring of the Claude Burdel Marseilles in it's Tarot Classic (you can see all of the Tarot Classic at www.tarot.com) Lo Scarabeo also published a version of the same Claude Burdel Marseilles with different coloring...and also did another recoloring when it was included in the Comparative Tarot
Requiella
23-09-2003, 21:15
Originally posted by LouiQ
Baba-Prague - I can't say I'd really thought about the Hierophant except to notice that for me this is a really "different" interpretation.
My reaction to the Hierophant card was very similar to Baba-Prague's--it seemed to unnecessarily portray a disconcerting level of domination.
I guess you could put the Devil in the same category as he appears to be about to step onto the chest of the naked woman at the bottom of the card, but isn't that a fairly "normal" sort of depiction for this card? There's an obviously distraught naked woman cowering under the 5 Swords and a similarly positioned one in the 10 Wands is about to have a rock dropped on her from on high, but I think that's about it.
Interesting... This type of imagery would bother me in that it seems to be that one category of people (women) are singled out, at least based on the examples given here. I haven't actually seen the deck though, so my impression here could be completely misguided.
Not that I wish to unnecessarily stir the pot, but just to relate this to the conversation going on in "The Wise Woman Tarot" thread: Some people were made uncomfortable by the Wise Woman deck's hostility toward men. Now, I haven't seen that particular deck either, but if that's true, it sounds inappropriate. The deck mentioned here (New Century) hints at some misogynist themes. I'm wondering if hostility toward women, because perhaps it's more pervasive (e.g., the mention above of the 'usual' way the devil card is done), therefore seems more normal and more acceptable.
If women are in fact singled out in this deck as the targets of violence, it's one I wouldn't want!
Cerulean
23-09-2003, 22:14
I'd like to post the website again with all the majors, 22 of them for you to view. If you also explore the site, you will see his art style in general and the development of some of the cards.
I've looked at the cards carefully. I would disagree that the male or female gender is singled out. His art style is dramatic, abstract and yes there are abstracted, unclad bodies. The William Blake tarot and art styles also show dramatic poses, human faces in very vivid expressions, but I would not say that it singles out men or women. In both decks, the poses are stagy, perhaps, but the art isn't a static one.
The Heirophant, Death and Tower are a few samples where humans of both genders are abstracted and depicted somewhat dramatically. However in the Hanged Man, it is a male that is suffering as per the traditional card depictions.
http://www.rolf-eichelmann.de/karten_e.html#
You may disagree and believe the artwork is disturbing or judge a gender bias---and so hopefully, the posted website will help guide you not to buy or to buy as the art affects you.
My best wishes as you browse,
Mari Hoshizaki
Requiella
23-09-2003, 23:57
Thank you for posting this link. I took some time looking at all 22 of the Majors, and I have to agree--I don't notice any gender bias. The examples posted earlier got me suspecting there might be (a gender bias), but in looking at the cards more closely, if anything, they've grown on me quite a bit. I may end up getting this deck at some point. The vivid colors are quite attractive.
inanna_tarot
30-01-2004, 09:22
hey,
i saw this deck on waterstones today and thought about getting it. I got a good vibe from the cards but i hesitated because i didnt know what they art work was like or anything! next time i'll just go with the feel good vibe and buy it! lol
I've seen it on amazon.co.uk now for a few quid cheaper as well so i may be purchasing it if all goes well :P
Sezo
x
rubricat
30-01-2004, 21:48
Got the deck a couple weeks ago and love it! :) :)
The majors on the site link in an above post are representative of the whole deck, (no surprises as in 007 deck I got at the same time!). The backgrounds for Majors and each suit have similar themes, but each card really is individual.
To me (and I'm definitely amateur still) more akin to RW than Thoth but the images are dramatic, as in Thoth.
I don't see any gender bias, as mentioned above. Mr Eichelmann's figurative painting style has the men and women looking very similar. Both men and women have long hair and a round-ish quality. If it weren't for the anatomy, I've found that at first glance I can't always tell women from men.
The deck has been very easy for me to "get to know". The images are easy to read and "feel". Am thrilled with New Century, more than I expected.
Wish the cards were a little larger to see more of the beautiful artwork, but that's all I would change.
If anyone is interested in an informal study group, definitely PM me. Would be great to get to know the deck with others new to it. (hope I didn't break any rules by proposing this idea here!)
firemaiden
31-01-2004, 05:03
Thanks for getting me to look at these cards again, I'd almost forgotten I have this deck. I bought it a few months ago and loved it, but that enthusiasm was overshadowed by a bunch of other exciting decks I got all at the same time.
I bought this deck because Eichelman's artwork reminds me of stylized paintings of French countryside I used to love to buy as postcards when I lived in France.
I delight in the bright colours and whimsical scenes.
I love the levitating (naked) maiden in the four of swords; the blue-skinned (and naked) kinght of swords on his charging red horse; the summer swallows on the eight of wands (how those birds sear through the night sky in summer, with their "scree, scree, scree!" perfect for the card meaning "swift"); I love the gardening lady on the seven pentacles, in her tilted, green summer hat. :)
I hadn't noticed the "domination" theme of the Hierophant, until you mentioned it. I see the three (naked) souls shuffling past on their knees... but this hierophant is throwing up his saintly hands with a look of surprise, he doesn't look like he's asked for this worshipful devotion... (and how is this any more "dominating" than the traditional image of the Pope his two tonsured monks? These devotees at least get to be naked - men and women all together, maybe they are worshipping the earth, about to engage in a primitive fertility rite...)
If you really want to talk about domination and submission, have a look at the figures in the eight of swords (on their knees, hands bound behind their backs - ROFL) -- or how bout the half-mummified people in the ten of swords? or the fact that these women have a corset fetish going on....(FUN DECK!)
I love the maiden on the eight of cups, with her torn scarlet dress like layers of rose petals and her bared bosom...., the ancient Hermit, with his little red dragon curled cat-like around his leg...
I think I could go on and on, maybe I'll
stop
here
for
now...
I got it for new year present for myself and I really love it. I love almost every cards of it.the the artist designed them in very beautiful way.every cards gives u the feeling that's light and relaxing by use the bright colors.I cant explain more.cos it's just perfact for me.:)
lunakasha
31-01-2004, 17:38
I have had my eye on this one for quite awhile now...I just love the vibrant use of color, unmatched (I think) by any other deck I have seen. Thanks everyone for all of your comments on this deck and for reminding me of how beautiful it is!
:) Luna
This deck was on sale at Hastings recently and I'm so glad to have bought it. The colors are rich and vibrant, and the card size, stock and coating are very pleasing. In feeling-tone, the deck reminds me of the Kazenlar, but it's much brighter-hued and (thankfully) the images are not as busy; it is that rare combination, a deck that reads deep and true and yet is somehow imbued with an optimistic feeling.
Thea Lynx
01-02-2004, 11:27
Got it, love it. High Priestess is one of the most beautiful I have seen in any deck. And it was a pleasure to work with.
The cards are wider and shorter than the usual Rider deck, which did make it a bit more clumsy for me to shuffle. And the cards themselves were more fragile - rips start pretty easily if you shuffle a bit too vigorously, so I plan to get a second deck in case any of my current deck becomes too roughed up to work smoothly with the others.
Thea Lynx
rubricat
01-02-2004, 21:40
Originally posted by Thea Lynx And the cards themselves were more fragile - rips start pretty easily if you shuffle a bit too vigorously, so I plan to get a second deck in case any of my current deck becomes too roughed up to work smoothly with the others.
Yes, Thea, I've noticed this and thought maybe it was a fault of the printer (have looked mostly at the front of the cards). Maybe I'll have to try some other shuffling techniques.
Logiatrix
04-03-2004, 17:37
I just got this deck yesterday.
My choice was a result of a month's long search for a more vibrant and colorful tarot deck, to balance out my small deck selection.
I already had the Aquarian, Animal-Wise, Star That Never Walks Around, Visconti, Zerner-Farber; I am happy with each of them, but they are all relatively mellow to look at, IMO.
So, I looked at every deck in the "Browse" section here on AT, narrowing my favorites down to Cosmic Tribe, Inner Child, Karma, Navigators of the Mystic SEA, Buckland Romani...
The New Century was actually a late-comer on my list, after I had gone back to the "Ns" in search of another deck.
The deciding factor was--please don't laugh--the violet backs and borders!
Actually, my connection with my new deck involves greater depth than THAT, but I really don't like white borders or ugly card backs.
The colors are definitely vibrant, so I already feel like I got what I was seeking by that standard.
I'm interested in hearing from others with this deck, especially those who posted a month ago, to see how they are fairing with their New Century Tarot now.
PEACE,
Tauni :)
lunakasha
05-03-2004, 00:24
Hi Tauni!
I just got this one a few days ago myself! I had been considering it for awhile now...like you, I was drawn to the vibrant colors, including the purple borders!!!! I love brightly-colored decks as a rule....I also have the Inner Child, Buckland-Romani (not as bright, but very rich-looking and earthy colors) and Navigators decks, which you said were on your list. I would recommend all three of them, for different reasons...but that's another thread, I think ;)
I haven't spent much time with my New Century deck yet :( but it was definitely love at first sight for me....and looking forward to a lifelong relationship with these gorgeous cards! I will post here when I have more to say...and looking forward to your posts as well!
:D Luna
Just ordered this deck yesterday. It has been on my want list for a while, primarily because of the art work that just sings to me. I wondered about the minors, and it's usability as a reading deck. The comments have been helpful. No regrets on my decision to order it. Mind you, I rarely read with anything other than a Waite deck ... rarely read full stop ... so most of my deck choses have little to do with readability ... but I prefer a deck that I could read with, if I chose too. But, it is the style of painting, and the vibrancy of the colours that get me. I only hope that it lives up to expectations produced by seeing scans. But, reading people's reactions, that seems highly likely.
Me again .... My New century arrived today. Deck size makes shuffling a tad difficult, and I suspect that it will get sticky and difficult in rapid time ... but, I did my first reading, and found it really spoke to me. So ... I will get a second copy as a 'keeper' and use this one for reading. Time I had a change from the good old Waite decks. I adore the artwork and the colours ... it is filled with the sunshiny colours that I love.
mythos
I just got this deck today, and it's gorgeous! I love the colors, and the subtle patterns withing the clothes and banners. It is very cool. I find I am increasingly curious about the odd plants in the ground throughout the Minors. Does anyone know if there is any symbolism there?
Catmay
I bought this deck a week ago and haven't felt this excited about a new deck in a long time. It seems to be a dragon deck, although not in the obvious way of decks that depict a dragon on every card. This deck has prideful colors: red, purple, gold. It expresses a sense of drama, elegance, strength, and wisdom that seems dragonish. The images seem to reach down into the depths (well, except for some of the court cards).
On the downside, printing quality is abominable. What are those people at US Games thinking? The Tower card seemed especially blurry as if the original photo had been blurry. Anyone else's like that?
I love that the small cards have only a small scene and the suit symbols, that works really well for seeing relationships between cards. The meaning isn't as determined and specific as RWS clones but there is a scene to get your intuition started and to give a direction to the card if you do layouts without position meanings.
I'm in love!!!!
--Myrrha
I had a copy of 'The New Century Tarot' that we gave
to a friend of my wife's ~ very nice, printed in Belgium.
Now they are being printed in China, which worries me.
Golden Gomera Tarot is a genuine Urania-Verlag edition.
Here are some interesting links :) relating to the artist,
Rolf Eichelmann ~
http://www.hall-of-art.com/
http://www.kunstkopie-server.de/kuenstler/Rolf-Eichelmann-543.html
http://www.deutsche-liebeslyrik.de/die12/die12_jan.htm
......and biographical in German (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Eichelmann) and using Google translator,
in "English" (http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Eichelmann&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Eichelmann%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26newwindow%3D1%26safe%3Doff%26sa%3DG) ~I especially like the Rolf acorn man translation.
Thank you for the links Fulgour. Now I wish he would do another deck in that gold collage style!
--Myrrha
In a side by side comparison we can see both
The Golden Gomera and New Century backs
which also gives an idea of their relative sizes.
Click on: Rolf Eichlemann Tarots (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y43/Fulgour/CardBacksGoldenGomeraandNewCentury.jpg)
The Golden Gomera : 3 5/16" by 4 25/32"
85 mm by 122 mm
New Century : 2 7/32" by 4 3/8"
82 mm by 111 mm
:) Otherwise, the decks are the same.
Haven't looked at this very much yet and am whipping it out... True about the cardstock, although for me that's going to make them easier to riffle, considering the squareness of the cards. I have wondered about the plants too. I love the various small airborne elements (er, artistic elements) -- birds, flames, etc. -- in many of the cards; I even like the maleficent ones in the Nine of Swords. These help with the gentle prodding of intuition that others have mentioned about the small scenes.
I love this deck because of the bright colours.
However, I am not sure about using it as a reading deck because the cardstock feels a bit "short living".
I recently got this deck, but I'm finding it a tad difficult to read. However I really like the images and I'm determined to crack this beast!
Does anyone else use this deck? There aren't many threads about it, so I guess people don't seem to like it much...
Although the images are wonderful, the print quality is pretty awful - loads of scratches on the cards, cheap cardstock and the Tower has been poorly photographed (it's one of those 'Made in China' types that USG seem to favour these days :().
I'm seriously considering trimming the borders off the deck, as I think it'll look fantastic. But I've resisted so far (but if anyone has trimmed it, I'd love to see some pictures!).
Anyone else like this deck? Can you read with it?
I have it and think it's beautiful but I can't do a thing with it. I think the images are simply too similar to one another. I get lost in the prettiness of each and forget what I'm supposed to be doing.
I love trimmed decks, but this is one deck I think I wouldn't trim--I feel the purple border is a good frame for it. But if you do trim it, show it to us, please!
Well, if anyone in North America hates it that much, I'm still trying to trade for it:
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=81634
Subtle hints and nudges. . .
I just received this in trade this week. YEAH!!!!
I didn't think any deck could sway me from my favourite Magician in the Hudes deck, but this one does. Love that card in this deck.
The banners and designs remind me of textile patterns--I have an enormous collection of both fabric and books and CDs on textile history with historical samples. Love the continuity of the rugs and textiles in this deck. Really marvelous for someone with my interest in such things.
I find the Minors very readable and liked the small graphics on them.
The High Priestess reminds me of the "Friendly Angel" episode of the original Star Trek series. Third season episode called "And the Children Shall Lead." Her dress looks like the Friendly Angel. What are ya gonna do?
I too was a bit startled by the naked figures on the Hierophant--they seemed to echo the Devil, but there are two men and one woman, and it seemed to me after thinking about it that they were naked to symbolize--being without preconceptions and previous clothes of bias--open to being taught and to receive knowledge in obeisance to greater wisdom. Their heads are bowed, they are naked for their osmosis of thought and idea. No barriers to teaching.
I don't know why all this jazz about domination of women got dragged up. Why do people who don't even own the deck dredge this crap up? It's completely nonsensical and is evidence of biased hearsay, not relevant to the actuality of this deck.
You are at your most vulnerable and fearful when naked--without covering--open to destruction and discomfort--it's a purely psychological symbol of fear and worry and lack of protection to me when depicted in pictures on the Minors like the Eight and Nine of Swords. I thought they were perfectly evocative of the feeling of these cards.
I find it absolutely fatuous that this deck and artist would get tagged with such a silly label. Grrrr.
What else--Cerulean mentioned in another thread that the art is remminiscent of the Dante Tarot. Absolutely, although I think Rolf's outrageous length of arms and exaggerated scale is startling. See the Empress for instance.
Gorgeous art and slightly different take on things--LOVE the angel on the Temperance card. Death is different and the water flows by the Wheel of Fortune--like that too. The 4 of Swords really shows the suspension idea--like that too. 4 and 5 of Cups are excellent and so far I've liked the Courts and their faces and postures.
Well done and many blessings to Debra for trading with me. LOVE IT!!!
[Edited--Oh, and there is nothing wrong with the cardstock. The Tower card was reproduced fuzzily--somewhat unfortunate, but the card stock is fine. It has a matte laminate so isn't as slippery as some US Games decks--cardstock is good for me.]
I got to thinking about the Hierophant again.
In older versions of the Pope or Hierophant and many newer ones, there are two male figures of monks or priests at the bottom, at the feet of the Hierophant.
In this version, there is a woman between the two male figures--Wow, finally a woman was included and accepted as a worthy person to teach.
No more to be segregated or banned from this honour. No more to be uneducated and left out of the mysteries because of her gender and thoughts that she is "unclean" and merely a chattal.
Hardly domination, but respect and inclusion.
[Edited--Oh, and there is nothing wrong with the cardstock. The Tower card was reproduced fuzzily--somewhat unfortunate, but the card stock is fine. It has a matte laminate so isn't as slippery as some US Games decks--cardstock is good for me.]
It's a very nice deck isn't it? Somewhat under-rated I think (no-one seems to talk about).
Perhaps I got a duff version, but the edges on my deck are already chipping away after a week of moderate use.
Perhaps I got a duff version, but the edges on my deck are already chipping away after a week of moderate use.
I've noticed a similar thing with the World Spirit deck which has black borders. I think with darker borders this will be more noticeable.
I usually lay my cards out in piles to first mix them up when I get a new deck and then shuffle them after that--saves on wear and tear.
Well that's a shame, I'll be careful shuffling mine.
Cerulean
09-11-2007, 23:34
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=88089&highlight=Century+Rolf
New reprint link