View Full Version : Light and shadow Tarot
Jewel-ry
15-10-2003, 15:02
Does anyone have this deck??
Something is drawing me to buy it and I would love to know if anyone out there has it. Does its lack of colour hinder or help the readings? What about the symbolism? And its size? I read somewhere that its quite large!
Your thoughts will be appreciated.
Rusty Neon
15-10-2003, 19:46
Originally posted by jewel-ry
Does anyone have this deck??
Something is drawing me to buy it and I would love to know if anyone out there has it. Does its lack of colour hinder or help the readings? What about the symbolism? And its size? I read somewhere that its quite large!
Your thoughts will be appreciated.
I have this deck. It's fun to glance through this deck once in a while. And it's good to have a B+W deck as a change from coloured decks. In this case, because its images are from woodcuts, B+W does work quite well for this deck. While the pip cards' divinatory meanings are inspired by Thoth/RWS/GD meanings, he does modify them and/or introduces new pictorial concepts, making this a deck that needs to be studied rather than a RWS workalike that could be used directly out of the box. The cards are large and flimsy and uncoated; so this deck wouldn't stand up to frequent use. You can find out more about this deck by checking the reviews on wicce.com and tarotpassages.com
EmmaChat214
15-10-2003, 20:30
just wanted to add my two cents...
i bought this deck for a boyfriend in college. it was his first deck and in searching for one i thought he would respond to, i kept coming back to this one. to me, the lack of color gave the deck a more powerful, "shamanistic" feel as opposed to the softer feeling decks that i usually favor. long story short: i bought it for him and he really liked it...but so did i. i ended up helping him use the deck for more than just simple readings and it responded well to both of us. so, to answer your question, the black and white style was never an issue. (plus, if you read for guys a lot it might come in handy.)
also, i studied art and i really liked the woodcuts. something very primal about the energy that came out of this simply designed deck...i think i'd buy it myself if i didn't remind me so much of that old boyfriend! ;)
soooo...i think you should splurge on it! you can't ever have to many decks, right?
cheers,
emma
moonlitpath
15-10-2003, 21:32
I have this deck. I enjoy the black and white decks, it's a nice change and it gives the cards an exotic feel. The cards are very large and kind of awkward to handle. Like the other posters mentioned, they're uncoated and very thin, so using it regularly wouldn't be a good idea. This is a very interesting deck though, I dont' think you'd be sorry.....I'd go for it.
SongDeva
17-10-2003, 09:37
Discountnewagebooks.com has (or had) the set for $9.99.
I think their shipping is like $3, and it arrives next day in the New England area.
Also, Edwardhamilton.com (I think, do a search and find the thread) has the set for $7.99.
champignon
10-07-2004, 15:22
This is very late, and maybe not pertinent any more, but the Light and Shadow Tarot is my absolute favorite.
The cards are thin, but the are durable. I have been using this deck almost every day since late 2000 and it shows no sign of damage at all. The cards are just easier to shuffle now than they were at first.
About that, the cards are large, and I have small hands, but I have no trouble shuffling them if I hold them sideways to do it.
Some people don't like the lack of color, but I find that I don't miss it at all. I don't notice that there is no color. I seem to sense the color-feel of particular cards. I'm very big on pattern, and there is pattern galore here.
The art is woodblock, so kind of rough, and may appear simple at first, but upon looking more closely is very complex. I've been working with and studying this deck for years now and I'm still noticing new things.
The layers of symbolism are very very rich, and to me this is a very "inner" deck.
Some people call this a dark deck, but I think it is pretty well balanced. Visually, there is more black color than in most decks. The point of this deck seems to be to show both the light/shadow side of each card, so it ends up being quite wonderfully balanced. I don't like the Dark decks (Gothic ones, Lovecraft, etc) and I don't like the HappyHappyLight decks. This one seems "just right" to me.
I have woefully neglected all of my other decks since I got this one.
Little Baron
10-07-2004, 16:13
Always good to bump up threads on good decks such as the L&S, so always pertinant!
I love this deck to but don't use it so much; not quite sure why. I do find the size hard to shuffle and wish they were without borders.
Love the '3 of Wands', the guy looking out at the sea. Noticed that one the other day and was transfixed by how calming the card is.
Yaboot
WolfSpirit
10-07-2004, 17:08
Yes nice to see this thread again. The Light and Shadow has been on my wish list for some time, and another look at the cards today confirmed that I still like it and want to have it - but I just don't seem ready to get it right now. It does not look like a really unaccessible deck, but somehow I think it needs a different approach from my other decks. Maybe it is the lack of colour that is the reason for that.
Originally posted by Jewel-ry
Something is drawing me to buy it and I would love to know if anyone out there has it. Does its lack of colour hinder or help the readings? What about the symbolism? And its size? I read somewhere that its quite large! The cards themselves are oversized, and the stock thinish,
but in terms of holding something precious, it is all of that.
The process used was painstaking, cutting linoleum in reverse.
(You may see the artist himself at work, on the 3 of Pentacles.)
I have found it works best for me doing the 15 card spread
popularly known as the "Golden Dawn." Laid out in triplicities
it really sends out all its energy ~ and it is abundantly energetic.
The symbolism is culturally diverse, but pure Tarot to the end.
________________________________
I just noticed this thread was from last October.
Now I'm wondering how everything turned out...
WooMonkey
11-07-2004, 03:49
I got my copy for a relatively low price on eBay. The cards are harder to shuffle if you've got small hands (like me).
But how could I resist? The Fool card features a MONKEY instead of a dog!
I had to have it! :D
WolfSpirit
11-07-2004, 04:28
Originally posted by Fulgour
The process used was painstaking, cutting linoleum in reverse.
Keeping this in mind when looking at the cards, I am amazed how detailed they are. Must be a very talented and patient artist.
SongDeva
12-07-2004, 10:06
I was moved to pull this deck out last night, and looked through the majors before going to sleep. Very neat the different cultures expressed through woodblock. My soul card is the Empress, and I found that one interesting, along with a few others. Don't know if I'll feel moved to work with it more now, or what...might be very interesting for daily draws!
I've got Aeclectic (sic) tastes, though; my other fave black and white is the Hello, Tarot! :D
The 78th Fool
04-08-2004, 18:53
Colour is such an important part of tarot for me. I never thought therefore that I'd respond so favourably to a deck such as this. I've only just got hold of it but already it's become one of my regular reading decks. It's just damned good - I don't know what else to say!
Chris. xx
LIGHT & SHADOW is the extraordinary deck of Tarot cards designed by the brilliant German-born artist Michael Goepferd and published by Inner Traditions International. The accompanying book was written by Brian in close collaboration with the artist.
The young San Francisco artist Michael Goepferd was a virtuoso printmaker, an absolute master of many media. In seventy-eight linoleum block images bursting with life and energy, Michael Goepferd produced a Tarot deck for the ages — though he himself did not live to see its arrival in the world.
In the last months of his life, supported by the unfailing love and strength of his partner Mark Kretz, and with frequent visits from Germany of his doting mother, Helga Goepferd, Michael worked with Brian on the book that would accompany the deck, submitting to exhausting taped interviews, and occupying himself with every possible decision relating to the publication of the cards.
Everyone who came to know Michael was struck by his amazing talent, spiritual maturity, and love for the universe. This loving power shines out from every image of the Light & Shadow Tarot.
this review by, tarocon (http://www.tarocon.com/ls.html)
I ordered the Light and Shadow, its on the mail.
It will be my first non-colored deck. Just a while ago, I had restrictions with this type of deck, but I felt a need to try something different after purchasing so many colored decks.
I just came across the Hermetic deck, and it totally blew me away - another non-colored deck on my wish list, but unfortunately it is currently out of print.
hannahma
11-05-2005, 03:07
This deck called to me too... I passed it up at one store, then ordered it and loved it. I have many colourful and pretty decks, but this one is the best of the black and whites. I find the symbolism accessible, and it's not "dark". It's also beautiful and artistic.
I love the Light and Shadow Tarot and do use it quite frequently. He uses imagery that is a little different from RWS but not so different that I can't follow it. The cards are large but not unmanageable if you shuffle from the side as another reviewer suggested. The primitive prints just draw me in every time! The deck comes with a small book, which is very helpful also.
Many blessings,
Bodhran
I was kind of disappointed in this deck simply because it was just way too big. I didn't expect the cards to be as big as they were and it was hard to handle them (I have small hands). :(
If someone told me that I had to get rid of all my decks except one, my L&S would be the one I kept. And, as any tarot collector knows, that is saying a lot. I belong to some spectacular decks! ;)
Chronata
31-05-2005, 13:33
Yeah...I think I have just become a Light & Shadow convert myself!
I got it in trade (thanks again, April!), and did not really get a chance to use it until yesterday.
I really love some of the images. And the stark contrast between black and white is captivating.
I have a couple of black and white decks...but nothing so graphically intense as this one.
(And for some reason I can look at it, and color starts appearing before my eyes, almost like those t-shirts, where the image turns colored in sunlight. Doesn't happen with every card...but the ones it does, really make me think!)
I can really see myself spending more time with this one, in the future!
Jewel-ry
31-05-2005, 13:35
I traded mine :(
I wish I had it back, I have thought of it often.
cyclamen
09-08-2005, 13:29
This was my first deck and it is still my favorite. Probably will always be my favorite. It's beautiful without being precious, powerful without being aggressive. Created and cultivated, but still wild. It's very balanced and positive - and - I feel like I am a part of it. What I mean to say, hopefully without being offensive, is most decks have a bunch of pictures of white people (and some of the ones that don't are...overly exoticized for my tastes), and that is to be expected since Tarot has a largely European origin, although even Europe has not been homogeneous. I like that the L&S is totally ambiguous. Sometimes you can't even tell if they are male or female, and male or female, they don't have that cartoonish, stylized, idealized beauty - they are beautiful in the cragginess of their faces and bodies. I *love* the art as well as the idea of the deck being of "light and shadow" - a thing and its compliment.
The Minor Arcana moves between desert and cityscape. Fields and farms - the natural world and the built environment. It has a timeless quality because of the linoleum block printing - while still feeling modern.
It is very big - and it was difficult for me to handle and carry around, so today I trimmed all the borders off. Some of the major arcana are smaller than the others, so I just left a white space. Now it looks... somehow... less like a "tarot" because it doesn't have the numbers and suits and names. But I find that not having any words causes me to look directly at the pictures, since I am extremely word oriented. If there are words, that is what I am looking at. And these are too beautiful for me to be looking at the words all the time.
Little Baron
09-08-2005, 13:39
I have this deck but have hardly ever used it. I do find them a little too large and the borders, being different on some cards (The Sun, I think is one) means that I can't crop them, which I find frustrating.
It is a beautiful piece of art but the above kind of stops me from connecting with it.
LB
cyclamen
09-08-2005, 13:46
I have this deck but have hardly ever used it. I do find them a little too large and the borders, being different on some cards (The Sun, I think is one) means that I can't crop them, which I find frustrating.
It is a beautiful piece of art but the above kind of stops me from connecting with it.
LB
If the size is the hinderance, trimming can fix it... ;) I'm a total trimming convert now. I have small hands so now they are just the right size. I left a slight white border around the smaller cards and it doesn't look funny at all since they are lino cuts and the heterogeneity is part of their charm and energy, although I suppose you could color it in with a black marker if it bothered. I did an outline on the backs since only one border-line survived the cutting and made them look lopsided.
jackdaw*
29-01-2006, 15:05
Browsing today I came across a couple of cards from this deck ... the nature of Googling, I can't even remember where now! I had seen and glossed over this deck MANY times, even passing it by in a local Chapters store late last year, but something stopped me at it this time. Now my fingers itch to have this deck. Any new users since the last post? What are your impressions?
I love this deck for it's art, as a meditation tool but not as a reading deck. The cards are to big, feel to flimsy to shuffle and have a really strange industrial smell to them if you're hanging over them observing them really closely as i do when i do a reading.
Not a new user, just a new poster about Light and Shadow. One of my favorites--I think Goepferd produced an inspired rethinking of the Waite symbols, and I haven't tired of the art at all.
For me, it reads about as well as a RWS; sometimes the pictures are different enough to add some perspective, so I'd have to say a little better.
I can (barely) shuffle the deck normally, but then I suspect I'm bigger than most of you. Maybe with small hands you could just mess the cards around like a poker dealer in Atlantic City.
I have a weak sense of smell, so don't perceive any odors no matter how close I get to the deck.
"Numbers"
Le_Corsair
02-02-2006, 04:34
Good for drink coasters.
Pauline Kilar
04-02-2006, 22:52
I just saw this deck in Borders today. I've added it to my wishlist; the reviews make it look like something I'd really like and relate to. The card for The Lovers really speaks to me; I like how it shows light and dark embracing each other.
I don't use this a lot, but I have read with it multiple timmes, which is more than I can say for... oh, most of the decks I've acquired over the past few years. Any doubts I ever had about the "legibility" of black and white decks were shot in the foot by the Victoria Regina, and although that deck is still second only to a few in its profound clarity, I do find that the Light and Shadow is just fine for reading. Also I am rather fond of the art, and recommend it visually because it, like the World Spirit, is multicultural and broad-feeling in a way that goes beyond the numerous decks that assign a culture to each suit of the minors. (I am not dissing those decks, I just mean that it still feels sort of culturally sorted, and sometimes I do not want that.) This "beyond" type of multiculturalism is not specific but very all-inclusive, because there is a nice blend of recognizable cultural symbols from various places, and cards and images that just feel very universal.
I will say that the images can be almost impressionistic despite being very bold-looking. Some cards leap out at you like representations in shining armor; others have the same bold look artistically, yet really need to be examined to get their flavor.
If the size is the hinderance, trimming can fix it... ;) I'm a total trimming convert now. I have small hands so now they are just the right size. I left a slight white border around the smaller cards and it doesn't look funny at all since they are lino cuts and the heterogeneity is part of their charm and energy, although I suppose you could color it in with a black marker if it bothered. I did an outline on the backs since only one border-line survived the cutting and made them look lopsided.
cyclamen, could you make some scans of your trimmed deck?
i have exactly the same dilemma as LittleBuddha...
it is a great deck, much potential, looks funny but is veeeeery deep. darn those cards are just too big for me!!!! what a shame!
thanks in advance, cyclamen!
I believe this is a deck that would be missed. So I feel for you.
I traded mine :(
I wish I had it back, I have thought of it often.
Just got my first black and white deck too. Read reviews on Amazon and other spots and they were mixed. Decided to get a slightly used one through eBay for half the price and I have to say I'm impressed!
Yes, the card stock is thin (though I hope it's durable like someone else said), there is no reverse image so you will know which cards are reversed if you are looking, they are quite large *the largest width wise that I have seen*, but aside from that -- this deck "talks".
I wouldn't use it for a longer more complex spread or reading but for a special 2-3 minute -- 1, 2, or 3 card pull, it's perfect.
It really is worth it and if you are collector, it's definately one to have. :-)
One of my favourite cards are: the World, 10 of Wands, 6 of cups, Prince of Pentacles, 3 of Cups.... oh wait, too many... lol...
And of course, I love the astrological symbols being used (thank you, oh thank you -- Thoth is one of the "few" that does this and it's so very helpful), unfortunately they are missing from the major arcana. With that said, those are already memorized so it's not as much of a concern.
These are very special special cards and for myself, will not be used everyday and I like that!
Talisman
14-03-2006, 08:59
If you love the Light and Shadow Tarot, and the style of the art, then you might enjoy looking at the World Spirit deck.
Lauren O'Leary and Jessica Godino mention Brian Williams and Michael Goepferd in the little World Spirit book, and artist O'Leary created her deck in the wood block manner.
Each card was carved on linoleum blocks with chisels. Each cut creates white space and what is left uncarved will pick up ink when the print is made and will be black. It is a slow and laborious process.
The World Spirit book explains, "The cards evolve like living organisms, for each cut is irreversible and influences the next."
If, when you were a child for entertainment on a rainy day you ever cut a potato in half, carved a design on it, and then pressed the potato against an ink pad to stamp out your design, you have some idea of how frustrating and difficult this "backwards" process can be. It makes you marvel at the amount of cunning detail, down to the expressions on people's faces.
And, like the Light and Shadow (alas, I've only seen scans of this deck), the World Spirit is stunning in the amount of exacting detail individual cards contain. The colors in the World Spirit are vibrant and alive, but it is easy to imagine how beautiful the deck would still be without the color.
I would like to hold the Light and Shadow, just for the joy of looking through the cards. But I feel fortunate that the World Spirit is now and probably for always my "working deck." I never tire of looking through the images, and of finding new things to see. And I love the color.
Thank you Talisman!
I wanted to get the Ancestral but see it's out of print so the World Spirit is definately on my list. I wanted it for cultural value but now that you mention these other things, I really want it. And if you can afford it I strongly suggest getting a copy of the Shadow Tarot -- even if you don't use it as a working deck (because I won't be really using it as a working deck either. *grin*).
Cheers!
If you love the Light and Shadow Tarot, and the style of the art, then you might enjoy looking at the World Spirit deck.
Lauren O'Leary and Jessica Godino mention Brian Williams and Michael Goepferd in the little World Spirit book, and artist O'Leary created her deck in the wood block manner.
Each card was carved on linoleum blocks with chisels. Each cut creates white space and what is left uncarved will pick up ink when the print is made and will be black. It is a slow and laborious process.
The World Spirit book explains, "The cards evolve like living organisms, for each cut is irreversible and influences the next."
If, when you were a child for entertainment on a rainy day you ever cut a potato in half, carved a design on it, and then pressed the potato against an ink pad to stamp out your design, you have some idea of how frustrating and difficult this "backwards" process can be. It makes you marvel at the amount of cunning detail, down to the expressions on people's faces.
6 Haunted Days
02-01-2008, 23:45
I found this deck on Amazon brand new for $8.00, so had to snatch it up! I've admired it off and on for years, the art and images really speak to me.
Very much reminds me of the World Spirit, which I've always loved and have a special fondness for.
Anyone else use it? Thoughts?
It's based on the Thoth images.
I like it very much.
I trimmed the sides and it's quite manageable now. There were several printings. The first deck I got was quite nice but I got it used and someone had written on a bunch of the cards. The second used deck I got was printed in China; the black was blacker and the ink was shinier (not as nice, in my opinion, but still very good quality). The little book with it is a gem, too.
I just received this beauty, and I can't say enough good things about it. Nice, but not too heavy or overly laminated, card stock. Oversized cards. Those who don't like the 1/2-inch border may not care for that part, but the artwork is stunning. I am not a deck trimmer, and I like oversized decks, so for me it is perfect. :D
As I look at each card, and think I see all of its symbolism, I refer to the 208-page book that was included and realize how much symbolism I missed! It really is amazing and makes me appreciate the cards even more.
I can definitely see this being a reading deck. However, I can see that it would first be useful to go through each card and discuss the symbolism. Is anyone up for a study group on this deck? :)
If not, just feel free to post your thoughts here about the deck! It is absolutely beautiful. :) And I like the lift-off top on the box, which makes the cards and the book so much easier to access. Plus I am a huge fan of oversized cards. Did I mention that? :party:
Note: I notice in the beginning of this thread that Rusty Neon says these cards are "flimsy." Maybe they are printing them differently now, but my cards don't feel flimsy. It is true they don't have a super-heavy lamination on them; they do in fact feel uncoated. This just strikes me as more of a traditional deck of cards, rather than one that has been overly laminated. But I really like it. I believe they could be shuffled and read with; I would just do it carefully since they are oversized and not too laminated. :)
If anyone wants to discuss this deck; either informally as in how much you like it, or possibly a study group, let me know! I am interested in hearing from anyone who has this deck. :) I bought it based on this review: http://www.illuminationtarot.com/light_shad.php and I fully expected to love it, but I didn't expect to love it as much as I do! :party:
I would not call this a "dark" deck. I would say it is a perfectly balanced deck.
Regarding the size of the cards, they are a hair under 4 1/4" wide x 5 1/2" high. The box they are in is the exact size of the cards, with room for the book snuggled on top. The whole box with life-off lid in place is 4 1/2" wide by 5 7/8" high x 1 5/8" deep.
Anyone interested in signing up for a Study Group can do so here: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=46777
One of my favorite cards is The Moon! :party:
Gooneybird
21-05-2008, 00:14
This deck is, bar none, my favorite. There are other more conventionally beautiful decks, but the L&S' energy is what makes it beautiful. I've always loved lino and wood cut art for its special evocative qualities of contrast, line, and texture when no color is added, and this deck absolutely pulses with those!
I've thought about trimming it because when I bought it (used), the King of swords card had a "bend mark" along the bottom of the white border. Doesn't seem to have affected the readings, but I still ponder... so I'm thinking about buying a second copy to keep in case I screw up the trim.
My favorite card was, and still is, Justice. I find the Empress and Death (or "the Endless Dance of Death," as it is called) really interesting to study as well. The Princes are hard to get to know though! I'd love to participate in a study group- so I'll go on over to the sign up thread now... :D
We have recently activated the Light and Shadow study group, and have started with the Major Arcana, The Fool, if anyone would like to participate. :)
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=99183
GryffinSong
25-05-2008, 01:30
I wish I could. :( I've tried to find good online images, but can't find ones that give enough detail to really participate. Oh well. Maybe someday I'll find my copy of this deck. Have fun!
I wish I could. :( I've tried to find good online images, but can't find ones that give enough detail to really participate. Oh well. Maybe someday I'll find my copy of this deck. Have fun!
They have it here for a good price...
http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movies-Music-Games/The-Light-and-Shadow-Tarot/957666/product.html?searchtype=HP_Header&keywords=light%20and%20shadow%20tarot
GryffinSong
25-05-2008, 15:24
Thanks for the pointer, that is a good price. :)
I've decided to buy no more decks for awhile. I am VERY happy with the few I've gotten, and need time to get to know them. Getting yet another deck at this point would just be too distracting. I have a habit of jumping like the fool into new things, and sometimes going overboard with the new gear. It's a good way to distract myself, when right now what I need is grounding and clarity. I'll keep overstock.com in mind if I decide to buy it in the future though. ;)
aadamfox
27-05-2008, 16:19
I took the cards to Kinkos and had them laminated. They did it in sheets of 6. I then cut them. They are a bit bigger with the clear laminate edge but they will never be corrupted. I am not at all bothered about the size. There are so many ways to mix the cards up other than shuffling. Also I use a big table when reading so that isn't an issue either. I now keep them in a velvet bag made just for them and the book. Easy to stuff in my bag and off I go. Glad to see so many like this deck. I'd be interested to hear what people think about Williams interpretative writing in the book and the Incantations for each card. Blessed be.