Fantastical Tarot by Nathalie Hertz

[Kiama]

Hi all,

I was wondering if anybody has the Fantastical Tarot, and if so, what they thought of it? I am toying with the idea of buying it, but I'm not sure... Is it just a pretty face, or is there depth aswell?

Kiama

[firestorm]

Hi Kiama,

This deck was on my "I think I want it but I'm not sure" list as well. I aquired it from Faunabay and I have to say, I like it more than I thought I would. It's worth it for the artwork alone, but I find it a very readable deck. It's a very "moody" type of deck and doesn't vary much from RW symbolism.

[joya250]

Hi Kiama,

It IS a cool deck.... though I've never been able to read with it. It's too "dark" for me, even though it really isn't -- if that makes sense.

The artwork is cool. But the people don't have eyes really... either that or their eyes are closed.... or just really weird looking. I dunno. That bothered me... BUT... like I said, it is cool, and better than quite a few other decks out there.

If you get them, let us know how you like them!

joya

[Little Baron]

Hi Kiama

I have the fantastical but havn't read with it that much. It is a very moody deck and I do like a lot of the illustrations - especially the Lovers. Their are some very light but haunting scenes in the Swords suit which is the best element of the deck for me. When I got it, I made stories for the suits; walking from one card to the next and meeting the characters (sometimes taking one through the cards with me) and I think this is why I always feel fondly towards the Fantastical - because of my intitial meeting with it.

Let me know how you get on with it, should you get it. Any other questions, just ask!

Yaboot

[lunalafey]

Originally posted by joya250
Hi Kiama,

It IS a cool deck.... though I've never been able to read with it. It's too "dark" for me, even though it really isn't -- if that makes sense.


YEP!
like the moon, I have my 'dark' side. But it's a gentle & reasonable darkness. I absolutly love this deck {goes with me every where}.
I do have trouble with just a few of the images reflecting the cards meaning- but it's still new to me....and my first 'dark' deck.

[Kiama]

I've noticed how all the figures in the cards look as though they have a cold! (Ned noses) The artwork does look very unrealistic, which I suppose is why the deck is named the Fantastical! But does anybody find the kind of artwork and depiction of people off-putting?

I think I read somewhere that the artist who did this deck also did another... The Vampire Tarot maybe?

Kiama

[joya250]

hey Kiama, Joy again...

I just whipped out my deck to refresh my memory. It has been a while since I've looked at it. While it is a beautiful deck, with its gold borders and intriguing images... and it even feels good, kinda smooth and slippery... I've had a hard time with the portrayal of the people. They look like zombies... zombies who have colds, nonetheless. Beautiful... but none of the cards feel cheerful to me (with few exceptions.)

I just pulled the cards that absolutely disagreed with me... and while you will find cards in every deck that just don't "do it", these cards are some pretty important ones (at least in my opinon.) I don't know if you can find all these posted online to decide for yourself, but this is a quick overview of the "bests and worsts"

The Hanged Man has got to be the most disturbing card in the deck. He is grossly misshapen and spikey! And he looks like he has been litterally hung, as his face is discolored (ew) and his hands are bound behind his back. Even his bum disturbs me.

Other cards that just aren't there: The Lovers, The High Priestess, and the Fool.

I've noticed that I really like all the cards with no people: The Tower, Four of Wands, Ace of Pentacles, and Ten of Cups.

Hope this helps! All and all... I don't suggest NOT getting the deck... as it is something to be appreciated. But if you are looking for a more functional deck, this may not be it... unless of course you relate to zombies with the flu! haha

good luck! joya

[WolfSpirit]

I had the Fantastical but only for a very short while ;) I see I am not the only one who had problems with the people in the deck. Did not notice the flu I thought the people looked so hungry with hollow cheeks and a bit nasty - and all done in the same way as some sort of gimmick.
What I did like about the deck: the absolutely gorgeous colours, and the fantasy elements in the cards.
I traded the deck to kaz and she liked it and found it easy to read.

[Little Baron]

The Hanged Mans bum!!! Yes, I had a problem with that ... but ... I do like this deck. I wouldnt part with it. The darkness is so absorbing and there are some absolutely lovely characters that you just want to get next to. The Sun doesn't completely fit and the discs do look like compact discs but ... well' its a matter of choise. I wouldn't disuade anyone from buying it. Regardless of what i have said about it, it is a good one, even though I don't read with it. I miss it when it is not there and love to spend time with it occasionally.

Y xxxx

[inanna_tarot]

I fell in love with the cards on the scans i've seen for a year or more, but i waited till the fantastical came to me. I really feel like i'm bonding with this deck.
The figures are dark and strange, but i love that too! The artist (who also did the vampire deck which i use and love) really pulls off the gothic/dark/strange world without it seeming shallow and all happy green things.
She really has thought long and hard about the symbolism and the techniques to the deck.

I'm also part of a study group (http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=12371) about the deck too!!

Blessings
Sezo
x

[faunabay]

Kiama,
I think you'd like the Fantasical. I had it for a couple of years before I could trade it. :) I absolutely loved the artwork. And I actually like the weirdness of the people. The Knight of Swords is hot!! LOL I think it's the Swords Knight - it's the black-haired one. :D
I finally decided to trade it because I found I wasn't using it much anymore - or even looking through it as much. My biggest problem was the Wands suit. All the people just were standing around not doing much of anything. And with the suit of wands (action) that didn't make much sense to me. But the beautiful artwork far outweighed the bad for many years for me. Oh the tower card in this deck is my all time favorite tower too!!!

[Ravenswing]

This deck just flew in today. My first impression... where are the eyes?

The eyes are the window of the soul... so either these people have no souls, or there's nothing between you and their souls. I'm hoping for the latter.

I'll be going back soon for seconds.

Yaboot-- I'm gonna have to try your method of introduction. I think I'll start with the court-- that's where most of us seem to have troubles.


fly well
Raven

[tao51]

The people are multiracial. I particularly like the Sun card. I feel like I am on the Serenghetti plain! I really find this useful when doing a reading which explores the emotions. This is among my ever growing favorites.--Tao

[WolfyJames]

I recently put this deck in my wishlist, I love the colors and the fantastic elements. And yes, I like the way the people look in it. It's weird because I don't like the Vampire Tarot the creator did recently. The characters look funny in the Vampire but in this one they look elegant, in a british way (long, slim, with long noses). I also noticed that she worked harder on the minors in the Fantastical than what she did with the Vampire.

[Cerulean]

I kept looking at different scans and it reminded me of reverse highlights in photographs, as if the points of light were the pupils--they are like that movie character, Reddic/Riddick with silvery eyes?

Small Van Diesel (Riddick) picture with eyes/points of light is the iris:

http://www.pitchblack.com/blackbox/index.html

The Fantastical:
http://www.themysticeye.com/pics/fantastical.htm

Does that ring true with anyone?

If so, the inner light of their souls are what you see.

Regards,

Cerulean

[tao51]

did make me think about Riddick! I think it reminds me of the blind seer from Seven Faces of Dr. Lo. They also remind me of Master Po in the old Kung Fu series. I do feel that the eyes are peering deeper than ordinary eyes. --Tao

[WolfyJames]

I got the deck today while I was shopping for books. What can I say? I had money and the deck was there, so I took it. I don't regret it at all. I've noticed some persons saying it's dark, but personaly I don't think so, and I find the colors vibrant. I checked the minors again and, beside a few cards (among the Wands and Cups), the minors are well illustrated. I've noticed the strange eyes too, and like tao51, I think they seem to be in some sort of transe, seeing deeper than the surface.

[tao51]

are vibrant! I think the art is more mystical than dark. I do like this deck! Congratulations on your find.--Tao

[Cerulean]

I remember reading about some of your choices for decks and it does sound like a great match...Hope to hear more about what you and other buyers think. Some of the posted cards look very lovely.

Especially if the light of their eyes attract you!

Cerulean Mari

[tao51]

The suits all have their own particular charecter. They transmit a darkly sensual emotion. The gold borders give them an exotic air. The courts have a magical feel. Whether the eyes are open or closed they appear to communicate on another plane.--Tao

[TheLovers2]

The dictionary definition for fantastic: implies a lack of restraint in imagination, suggesting that which is extravagantly fanciful or unreal in design, conceptIon or construction.

Also: having a strange or wierd appearance, unusual, grotesque, odd, quaint, capricious, eccentric, seemingly impossible, incredible.

fantastical [Archaic] A person who is fantastic in behavior and dress, etc.

*******************
Well, what can I say, but, that this deck lives up to it's name.

I saw some scans of the deck online way back when and thought to myself, "No Way! It's too dark and I'm not into dark decks." It's been quite some time since I first encountered them, but, perusing Tarot.com the other day and checking for Winged Spirit scans, I took a look again. I have been in the mood for lots of color and this deck delivers. Also, I admire the artist's talent - I think she's very good and echoing another member here, I, too, would like to see her do more. (I personally, would not be interested in the Vampire Tarot by same artist, but would like to see more of her work (lightened up a bit, if that's possible for her to do).

Anyway, I decided to take a "closer' look and I went to a store and actually held the cards and looked at them, individually, as well as, taking a look at the LWB. I found myself relating more to the cards on a personal level with the help of the artist's interps for the cards. Granted, some of her interpretations seem to contradict the images of certain cards, but, for the most part they helped me in discovering some special nuances pertaining to these cards. I would read (especially for the Majors) and then look deeply at the particular card to see if I could relate to what she said. I saw plenty! So, I like the LWB and find it more than a little helpful.

As for me not caring for dark decks - well, to an extent there is a dark element to them; but, when not focused on, "Gee, these are really dark cards," (initial response) then I went other places with the deck and I began to relate to the cards on a much more personal level. I am not a "dark" person, so the light that is in me touched the cards and they met me there. We had a kind of "meeting of the mind" so to speak. They pulled and tugged, might as well have been saying, "You know that we are drawn to each other." It was unmistakable, and I really tried to fight that, saying, "but this isn't my type of deck." But, in some personal ways it is. Of the three decks and book, I saw that day, it was my choice. I was rather surprised, and when I got in my car, thinking, "Ok. That was interesting," I knew I'd made the right choice.

This is what I keep finding out about the beauty and mystery of Tarot - it is incredibly personal. We do not have to see the various decks in the same way as another person. We may choose a deck for some of the same reasons or for reasons that we, alone, understand. Freedom!

I look forward to joining, adding my input and receiving from the Study Group for this deck. :)

I would like to mention that I agree with some others, re: the Hanged Man in this deck. I DO NOT LIKE IT AT ALL! It is the only card that I am having trouble with. This deck (like some others) required that I open my mind, discount prejudices, etc., in order to find a special connection, but, that card, . . . I just don't know. I've even thought about not using it at all while using the deck. I will TRY to transcend certain aspects of this card and see if there is anything that I can glean from it, perhaps, just symbolically. I just don't know about that one, though. Occasionally, this happens with a deck and when it does, it's soooo bothersome. I just want to hunker down and enjoy my deck, but, there's this one card . . . you know? :)

I read that someone bought this as their first deck. Wow! I can't imagine that, but, hey, a connect is a connect. ;)

Enjoy!

TL2 :TLOVE

[lunakasha]

I would like to mention that I agree with some others, re: the Hanged Man in this deck. I DO NOT LIKE IT AT ALL! It is the only card that I am having trouble with.

I just received this deck in a trade (thank you HearthCricket!) after seeing scans of it online, and it was one of those decks I could never quite decide on. (And, for the record, I am a fan of "dark" decks, for the most part). But now that I have seen it, I am so pleased to have it! Well....except for that ONE card....it is really disturbing for me too, and does not seem to convey the meaning of the Hanged Man as I understand it.

But it really is an amazing deck, beautiful in its own way....and I guess I will just have to get used to that one icky card and hope it doesn't show up too often, LOL....

:) Luna