View Full Version : Morgan Greer Favourite Card and Why?
Jewel-ry
23-11-2003, 16:09
Ok guys,
Now I know there are a few of you who love this deck (calling Emily, Sulis, Waleswoman where are you??). I have only had this deck a week. It is brilliant! I wouldnt trade it for anything. the more I look at it, the more I appreciate it. I want to know which is your favourite card/s and why?
I've just been mesmerised by Justice, she sits bolt upright, all those rich colours in her outfit, her face, knowing, intelligent, and serene? Just beautiful. So simply drawn but just oozing with meaning.
I could actually list loadz of cards which I love but I'm going to give someone else a chance.......
Jewel-ry
Le_Corsair
23-11-2003, 16:30
The 2 of Swords is my favorite card in the Morgan-Greer, as it is in many other decks. I think that the symmetry of the image in this card is what does it for me; the moon is pretty much the only asymmetrical element. A very orderly card.
As someone who has held broadswords, though, I have to report that if the girl was holding two swords in the position she is shown in, it would not be with the effortless quality shown in the card. Oh, well! It's still a lovely image.
Bob :THERM
Jewel-ry
23-11-2003, 16:42
Le_Corsair,
I love this card too! What I liked about it is the shimmering water, if you look at the card under a dim light, it actually looks like real water, so clever!
Jewel-ry
I too have so many favourite cards in this deck its hard to single one out - The Sword Queen is a very big favourite of mine especially since she was discussed in the other thread, its made the card alot easier to read.
But another favourite is The Fool. I like this card because to me it really signifies what the Fool is about. He's young, his little dog is jumping up but not biting as you see in some decks - it looks like a companion and not something that is trying to hold the Fool back, the Fool looks forward not especially seeing where he is going, just eager to get going lol - The white rose he carries has thorns and is clutched in his hand but he doesn't notice them, too eager to find out the wonders of the world, to go on his adventure. He looks at peace, not worried, this adventure doesn't worry him but he isn't foolhardy lol, the sun is behind his back. It's a nice card to look at. :)
WalesWoman
24-11-2003, 15:27
I think it the 2 of Swords and the Lovers that made me choose this deck over others when deciding which to get to learn with. It's still my only deck and the more familiar I become with it, the more I like it.
I find it kind of "funny" that the Queen of Swords looks so much less formidable than Wands or even Pentacles. It's like she didn't choose this role at all and must bear with it, it gives her no pleasure to wield this sword and almost appears to be offering it to the querant. An appeal to use the sword and compassion because she understands how much it may hurt to do so.
I don't much care for the visual image of the Devil and don't particulary care for the image of the Hierophant. His hat, altho' symbolic of elevated thinking, the hierarchy of traditional institutions and education, etc is sort of silly looking. Like a lego layercake. He just doesn't do anything for me and seem to get an instant blank when I look at him and force myself to remember meanings rather than "intuitive" feeling of what he represents just looking. Others can inspire so much thought and feeling, he does not at all.
I love the simplicity of this deck. I love the rich, deep colours and I like the 70's style art.
Favorite card....... I reckon it's between The Moon, 3 Cups and The Lovers.
Love and light
Sulis xx
This is surprising to me because it is one of the cards that kept me from liking the deck before, but as much as I like the Moon, Nine of Pentacles, Ace of Cups (and all the blue cards!) my favorite in this deck is Death.
I like the simple drama of the card and especially the long eerie road behind the figure. To me it symbolizes the road into the unknown that comes after the kind of changes indicated by this card. There is renewal here, but it can't be seen yet, you have to walk that road first.
--Myrrha
Thea Lynx
25-11-2003, 07:22
LIke others, I have a very difficult time choosing just one card as my favorite. But, I have always been drawn to the Queen of Swords as my significator (even before I started studying Tarot and one looked through decks, this card stood out for me) and I find her presentation in Morgan Greer is one of the most evocative I've seen. Other than that, I have to admit I usually decide my feelings on a deck based on the High Priestess, which is my soul card.
One problem I've had with my Morgan Greer deck - which hasn't come up in any other deck yet - is that when I shuffled, some of the paper layers started to skin off - Kind of like when you are trying to peel a label off of something and itgets more & more flimsy as you peel it. I am planning on getting another deck just to use for replacement cards since I don't want to lose the energy already built up in the deck. Funny, it was the 4 of Swords that peeled the worst, (a couple of others are a little ragged around the edges too)- it's one of my favorite cards in any deck. I wonder if I've just gotten hold of a deck that wasn't made quite up to standard.
Thea
Hi Thea,
I noticed that the cards were made up in layers too. None of my other decks are made like this. My deck is looking a little ragged too. When I first received it, a couple of the Sword cards had been cut badly and were too big - but a steady hand and sharp craft knife soon put them right.
But it does look like the deck was cut with a blunt blade, especially on the corners but the deck is standing up well to constant use and hasn't got any worse. I don't notice these little flaws now but I am going to try and get the Morgan Greer in a different language, hopefully Italian. :) - How long have you had your deck, maybe you could get in touch with US Games, they might send you replacement cards. :)
Thea Lynx
25-11-2003, 18:17
Hi Emily,
Actually, this is a brand new deck - only had it a couple of weeks and it was the first time I had worked with it. So, I think it must be a fluke fragile deck and my best bet is to get a 2nd deck for replacement purposes - especially if the cards that get ragged are the ones that speak loudest to me.
Italian? I didn't know it came in any other language but English (OK, so I'm a culturally deprived American). I have several decks that have phrases on them in several different languages, but none devoted to any one other than English. Maybe I should try German - studied that a bit in high school and university - I do have an out of print Kabbalistsches Tarot that I was drawn to when I first started collecting decks. I have also discovered that some of my decks are "working" and others are just for the beauty of them & do not call to be worked with at all.
Interesting thing was that I first saw Morgan Greer in Taror class and was not really that interested in it. It was only after I passed up on buying it that I suddenly had the absolute need to own it.
Thea
Jewel-ry
26-11-2003, 03:16
Emily,
Do you think we can get Morgan Greer in UK in Italian? I too have thought of getting a duplicate deck here because mine is alreadly looking a little used and I've only had it a week. I know it will be my main reading deck. I've done more with this one than many of the others already. Italian would be really cool!
J
If you go to the US Games site you can see all of the languages it comes in HERE (http://www.usgamesinc.com/Tarot/index.cfm?mystartrow=61&realstartrow=61&C_ID=24117)
I like a deck to look used. I've had mine for about a month and it seems to be holding up quite well. I think maybe your deck could be faulty Thea. Luckily Morgan Greer is very easy to get hold of.
Love and light
Sulis xx
Moongold
26-11-2003, 05:40
This is the deck that I learned on as I didn't really like the Rider Waite initially.
There are many great images in this deck and the colours are superb. I have always really liked the High Priestess and the Queen of Wands. This was a hard choice though.
Thea Lynx
26-11-2003, 07:16
Hi Moongold,
Have you tried the Universal Waite? I too dislike the Rider deck, but because the colors are too harsh. I noticed someone in class using the Universal and the softness of the colors appealed to me - plus the difference in color actually makes some of the pictures take on a whole new aspect. I always use Universal in class and for study. You might just like it.
Thea
Moongold
26-11-2003, 09:55
Thanks Thea,
I don't mind the RWS now oddly enough. I might take your advice an have a look at the Universal however. Others have said the same as you.
Moongold
Hi Jewel-ry,
I've tried the Alida site and the Somerville site but they only sell the Morgan Greer in English. Although on Amazon UK I was a keystroke away from pre-ordering a used Italian one - they keep your request, like a pre-order, then let you know when they have one in. But it could take ages. I do remember going to another playing card site, Piatnik in Italy - they might sell them.
It not turning out as easy as I thought it was going to be lol :)
Edited to add:-
No just been to the Piatnik site, no Morgan Greer. I'm now wondering if US Games has a UK site, I think the postage would make the deck too expensive to ship from the States.
WalesWoman
27-11-2003, 15:18
I've been noticing Morgan-Greer being sold out at several sites, so I'm feeling glad I got them last June. Try a Google search perhaps?
My deck is holding up just fine, considering I use it just about everyday and my kids enjoy looking at it, matching cards with those in the book.
Another favorite 10 of Cups! Love the visual of the rainbow either flowing into the cup or radiating from it. And Two of Pentacles, Two of Cups, and, and, and...
Tallarico
27-11-2003, 15:21
I love the 8 of Cups, and The High Priestess. By now I think everyone know I LOVE KNIGHTS!!!
I love the Moon card in this deck too :- I think it's been coloured lovely, the bright large moon, the wolf and dog - drawn so that you can actually tell one from the other, the effect of the water ripples away from the purple lobster, the greenish/blue grass. The whole colouring of the card does make it appear night, its just right. :)
Jewel-ry
28-11-2003, 11:57
Hi everyone,
Emily, I love the moon card too, one of the things that draws me, apart from the colouring, is the way the lobster is drawn. You can actually see the depth of the water (depths of unconsciousness). In fact, the whole card has depth.
The Star, High Priestess, Queens of Swords and Pentacles and many of the cups cards are just brilliant. In fact, when I do a three card spread I often leave it out for a few hours and will look at it several times a day. This means that every day I seem to get new favourites!
J.
Ooohhh I'd forgotten about this thread :D - I eventually got a Spanish version of the Morgan Greer but am still on the look-out for the Italian version. The only thing that didn't occur to me was that the only time you see the language used is on the Majors and the Court cards - still now I've learn't some new spanish words. :D and the colours of this Spanish version are slightly different to my Morgan Greer.
tarotbear
23-02-2005, 12:59
Ooohhh I'd forgotten about this thread :D - I eventually got a Spanish version of the Morgan Greer but am still on the look-out for the Italian version.
Try ebay, alidastore, or try the US Games site - where I think you can buy one in other languages. I know they exist somewhere because I've seen them...somewhere.
Strength is another favourite of mine - I like the way she holds the lions mouth closed and seems to be using no effort at all yet she has control over him. She looks quite relaxed, the lion looks a little cheesed off though lol
Emily-
the colours are different? how so ?
as for a favorite:
i have always liked the 9 of pentacles as a picture, the royal purple , the grapes
the queen of pentacles too has very nice colors of autumn and that stare into the future is inspiring
favorite major arcana would be a toss up , the chariot is very energetic and come out at you the sun is nice with the same energy but more introverted.
but what i like most about the deck is what some people dislike
\the simplicity of the design:no words no borders no deluge of esoteric riddles and ancient alphabets etc...
just pictures to make a story.
Hi Tarotbear,
Just seen your post - I remember trying Alida and emailing the Somerville site but neither sells the Italian versions - I did have the German version on order but realised that the language really wasn't what I was looking for so cancelled it. This Spanish version is OK but the colours are different to my english Morgan Greer - the Spanish one is OK for a backup deck. :D
Hi Catti,
Yes the colours are different - They are not as crisp as the English version Morgan Greer - colours seem more muted, outlines not as sharp. I put the decks side by side and you can really tell the difference then. I do prefer the colours of the English version.
Little Baron
23-02-2005, 14:32
What I like the most about this deck is the colours - the deepness of colours -
My favourite 'moody' and 'deep' cards, visually, are -
5 of Cups - really travels within me and reminds me of places I have been, even if I cannot remember them.
The Moon - the greeny bluey colouring of the grass is how I see things when I am out in the moonlight; the deepness of the pool; the beautiful purple of the lobster that looks as though it is made of velvet.
The Knight of Swords - raw, vibrant and 'hot to the touch'.
The 3 of Swords - probably the only 'bleeding heart' representation that I like.
The 2 of Pentacles - Once again, I feel like I have been submerged within the sea in this picture - it's a real deja vu feeling.
The Devil - I know a lot of people don't like this card but I like it a lot; a great symbol and much prefer it to the RWS version. Love the green.
As far as pictures go generally,
10 of Rods
4 of Cups
Queen of Pentacles - love the 'Autumn' feel of this card.
Page of Swords - the fresh orange and focused look of the young man.
Looking forward to discussing this deck more. I have been working with playing cards recently and wanted to keep just one tarot deck out; decided an illustrated one would be a good contrast. This deck has been sitting in my cupboard for years and it seemed the right time to call on it. Glad I did.
LB
Pipistrelle
24-02-2005, 16:22
Well, I've only had this deck 2 days so it's too early for favourites :) but I did want to put in a mention for the 4 of Swords. When I was considering getting this deck and looking at it on the web, it was the 4 of Swords that made me think "wow" - before that I'd seen only the "brighter" cards and the colours in the 4 of Swords were perfectly restful and really made me think this deck had more depth than I was giving it credit for. So I bought it...and I was right :)
So far, other cards that have stuck out:
Strength (notice she's in the jungle...?)
3 of Cups - lovely
9 of Cups - this is the first "smug genie" card that I've liked...the woman looks so friendly and welcoming and not at all smug. Also (excuse me for saying this :) ) I get the impression she's naked under that big coat...and that stands for the sensual bit. Is that weird?
However, so hard to choose favourites - this deck is already proving to be worth its weight in gold.
Kind thoughts,
Pip
Pipistrelle
24-02-2005, 16:24
Oooh! And the 4 of Cups...He's been there so long he's overgrown :)
Little Baron
24-02-2005, 16:32
I love that 'Four of Cups' card as well Pip! It has such a magical/fairytale kind of edge to it - a little creepy as well.
Don't know if you noticed already, but we are trying to start a study group for the deck, if you are interested. There is a thread about it posted today - any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Would be great to have you on board with the rest of us.
Best,
LB
The 4 of Swords is lovely too - the colours and those oakleaves - so restful.
I really like the 5 of Pentacles in the Morgan Greer - it often comes up when I'm doing readings for myself to do with my job (I'm a reflexoloist). I see healing in this card.
Love
Sulis xx
Little Baron
25-02-2005, 08:48
Yes, I can see healing in it now that you have said; I never saw that in the RWS version. It is almost as if they are rejecting or running away from it in that depiction.
Thanks for the extra layer.
LB
psychic sue
25-02-2005, 09:46
Ive only had my morgan greer a few days - my son gave it to me for my birthday with a lovely gold tarot bag! ahh!
My favourite has to be the High Priestess. Look at her gaze! All knowledge is in that face. I just feel so drawn to this card.
I think the whole deck is beautiful and its fast becoming my favourite. And of course it was given to me with love....
Chubby Mummy
25-02-2005, 10:37
The 2 of cups...I just love the way they look into each others eyes, like theyre speaking to each other through the heart...they know what they feel without saying much...
sharpchick
29-07-2005, 17:28
The Lovers is my favorite card. . .but the deck is my favorite deck. It wasn't my first, I was gifted with it by a very dear friend. It was the deck that made tarot come to life for me. I love the borderless cards - the imagery on each just jumps out at me, and the use of primary colors adds a layer of symbolism to each card.
autumn star
29-07-2005, 18:01
Morgan Greer is my favourite deck :)
My favourite cards from the deck are ~ The Queen of Swords, The High Priestess, and the 3 of Cups ...
One of my favourites that no one else has mentioned ... is Judgement ... I love that card! The people look so free and happy ... I also quite like the Pentacle court cards ... with pretty autumn colors :)
edited to add - I also love the 8 of Cups ... one of my favourites ... and the 4 of Rods
6 Haunted Days
18-05-2007, 17:19
I have to say right off the top of my head that The Tower in this deck is stunning. My favourite thus far. The mix of colours and the shading done on the clouds and waves.
Strenght is usually not among my favourites but in this deck something about the colouring makes it gorgeous and very intuitive.
3 of Pentacles is striking, very calming and meditative.
The change in 4 of cups with the face peeking out of the Ivy is wonderful! It's among my favourites as well.
I'd forgotten all about this thread. I also didn't realise that I've had my Morgan Greer for so long :)
Reading through this reminds me of why I love my Morgan Greer even if it isn't my primary reading deck anymore.
One of the little quirks I really liked with this deck and its not anything to do with reading it, is when you fan the cards out a little, face up and you get a volley of colours coming at you from the card edges.
You can really get deep into this deck with the colours, I'd never used colour symbolism before getting the Morgan Greer and yet now, I don't know how I'd read with a deck that didn't have colour in it. I could never read intuitively with MG but I think using the colours with basic RWS made a good compromise and made the deck come alive. :)
Emily-
the colours are different? how so ?
as for a favorite:
i have always liked the 9 of pentacles as a picture, the royal purple , the grapes
the queen of pentacles too has very nice colors of autumn and that stare into the future is inspiring
favorite major arcana would be a toss up , the chariot is very energetic and come out at you the sun is nice with the same energy but more introverted.
but what i like most about the deck is what some people dislike
\the simplicity of the design:no words no borders no deluge of esoteric riddles and ancient alphabets etc...
just pictures to make a story.
I agree with you. What I love about the deck is just pictures to make a story. I think this helps with tapping into your intuitive abilities.
Grizabella
01-01-2008, 20:07
9 of Pentacles. It's an artistically beautiful card. I just love it. I'd love to have a huge poster of it to put on my wall. :)
The 78th Fool
01-01-2008, 20:56
The Sun:
Usually my favourite card anyway but in the Morgan Greer it's really special. I feel as if I could just step into the image and all those yellows and oranges are so rich.
Taking the deck as a whole, It's very reminiscent of the style of illustration that was around when I was a young child in the early seventies. I still have several picturebooks from that era, illustrated in a similar manner and using the same rich but slightly dim colour palette. There's a lot of nostalgia in these illustrations for me and that's probably why I love this deck so much.
Chris. xx
Skydancer
07-01-2008, 23:19
I like this deck also! Actually, only just got it this year!! :)
Is there a difference in printings between the 1979 and the 1993 versions? I think I read somewhere that the earlier printing was "better"?? but I don't know why.
My LWB says has both dates, so it's the '93. But it says copyright '79 on the box.
Thanks!
*S*
Taking the deck as a whole, It's very reminiscent of the style of illustration that was around when I was a young child in the early seventies. I still have several picturebooks from that era, illustrated in a similar manner and using the same rich but slightly dim colour palette. There's a lot of nostalgia in these illustrations for me and that's probably why I love this deck so much.
I don't have the picturebooks anymore. But you described exactly how I feel about the Morgan Greer too! Thanks for that :)
My favorite Morgan Greer Card is the Emporer for his sheer masculine power. In fact I like the majority of the men in the deck particularly the Swords Suit Court Cards. Their personalities as comes out in the deck well--they'd gotten more away from the psuedo-romantic medieval characters of the RWS.
Morwenna
06-05-2008, 21:51
This wasn't my first deck, but it was the first one I read with and was my workhorse for a long time, and is still one of my main three.
My favorite card in this deck is the 3 of Cups; the women are all individuals, and instead of celebrating solely among themselves, they involve the reader quite on purpose. My other favorites are the Empress, Strength, the Chariot, and the King and Queen of Swords.
I also love the closeups of the people, and the lack of border helps with that. Oddly enough, when I first saw the deck (as opposed to seeing just the images in a book), I was rather put off by the lack of border. But I got over that rapidly enough when I finally decided to buy it.
wytchwood
07-05-2008, 02:18
Temperance, the colours are beautiful, I also love the Lovers (sooooo 70s), the 3 of Swords (colours again), 3 of Pentacles and the Aces which are about as pretty as Aces can be. I love this deck.
Zoe xx
SO glad this thread hs been resucitated! Now that Ive learnt to love the Morgan-Greer...
Yes, the Aces are wonderful, so bold and dramatic and streamlined. The Lovers is probably the card I like least. Looks like the illustrations The Joy of Sex (and the position of her body looks anatomically twisted and not quite right somehow) :)
I have a soft spot for the Devil - which I know not many like - by dint of being unlike any other tarot devil.
I think I love The Moon most and The Knight of Swords.
wytchwood
07-05-2008, 05:21
Yes I like the Devil, but he is a bit odd, I want to ruffle the fluff on his head like a dog.
Zoe xx
Musica2420
09-05-2008, 18:53
I dont have this deck yet, but I am eager to purchase it..Its amazing because I had read a Tarot book a little while ago and one of the decks she used to illustrate the meanings was the Morgan-Greer..I never realized how much the artwork matters when you decide to use a deck..Not only should your intuitive sense be utilized, but I think there is nothing wrong using a deck based on it being aesthetically pleasing..Thats what I got as soon as I saw this deck in the book..someone (I think Sulis) described it when she said that it has a 70's style quality to it..Thats what I like about it so much..It looks antique, the colors are rich, its not drawn with very hard lines (if that makes sense) and it gives off a warm quality!!
I dont have a fave card yet, but I will report back when I find it!!
Grizabella
09-05-2008, 19:17
You know, the Morgan Greer deck gives me more court cards than any other deck. I thought it was just my imagination, but I tried laying out cards from other decks and from MG, too, and it's not my imagination. It's like the MG has three times as many court cards as other decks. :P
I read somewhere that the MG colors are very significant and that there's a book that will tell about the colors. I don't have the book or know what it's called, but I can tell you that I have very vivid, odd and colorful dreams after using the deck and have ever since the day I got it.
I'm a "they're just paper and ink" group of people, so I really don't know what to think about this. I'd love to know what the book is and read it, though.
wytchwood
10-05-2008, 15:59
Funnily enough, I have been thinking this about the BBC I've been working with this week. It's courts central! Soz, a bit off topic I know...
Zoe xx
strangebrew
11-05-2008, 16:56
I love this deck...
The high priestess...she is so blue :) and beautifully aloof looking
Star
Lovers
2 Cups.....adorable!!
x
Haegtessa
11-05-2008, 22:21
You know, the Morgan Greer deck gives me more court cards than any other deck. I thought it was just my imagination, but I tried laying out cards from other decks and from MG, too, and it's not my imagination. It's like the MG has three times as many court cards as other decks. :P
I read somewhere that the MG colors are very significant and that there's a book that will tell about the colors. I don't have the book or know what it's called, but I can tell you that I have very vivid, odd and colorful dreams after using the deck and have ever since the day I got it.
I'm a "they're just paper and ink" group of people, so I really don't know what to think about this. I'd love to know what the book is and read it, though.
I'm pretty sure I have all the books that use the Morgan-Greer as the main deck, and I do know none of those talk extensively about the colors. I'd love to read more about the colors too, they play such a big part in the beauty and the way the deck reads so efficently and easily!
I think the Devil and Death are such striking and outstanding cards, very unique!