Arcus Arcanum

[Little Baron]

Hi everyone

I have pretty much stopped buying new decks as I want to concentrate on the ones I have and don't often find many others that grab me in the way that they did when I first bought the stronger ones amongst them.

However, the AA is one that I always looked at, nearly bought and continue to think about.

Does anyone know of any sites where the whole deck can be viewed? I have done a lot of general seraches but have only come up with a few. Does anybody read with this deck or have any views? The reviews I have read have been pretty positive so far.

Best wishes

Yaboot

[Lee]

Hi Yaboot, you can see all the Arcus Arcanum cards here (if you don't mind seeing the titles in Russian):

http://www.gambler.ru/sukhty/decks02/d00303/d00303.htm

-- Lee

[Astraea]

Hi, Yaboot! I don't know of any sites that show the whole deck, but going by your own artwork and the creative style you've demonstrated on Aeclectic, I'll bet that you would love the Arcus Arcanum. It is done in a lively, beautifully-drawn comic book-style, and I find it highly readable. The card meanings are somewhat different from those of RWS decks, but not difficult to interpret based on the illustrations. I've had some wonderful reading experiences with the Arcus Arcanum, and it's just so much fun without being "lightweight" -- a really enjoyable, refreshing deck (in my opinion) with a lot of personality.

[Jewel-ry]

A great deck. Check out Justice, I think she looks like Jennifer Aniston!!

J :)

[galadrial]

Hi Yaboot,

I noticed we like some of the same decks; besides the Phantas., I also really like the Cosmic Tribe and the Light and Shadow. I like the Arcus Arcanum quite a bit. It has a lot of character and never speaks in a wishy washy manner to me. It has my favorite Aces and my favorite 7 of Cups. It also has characters that seem to repeat in different cards, so there is a sense of the deck being a community- without the roles being as clearly defined as, say, those in the Arthurian deck. I like the Arthurian deck a lot, mind you, I'm just trying to say that the Arcus Arcanum has a more open ended feel to it and I find myself thinking up stories to go with the people depicted.

[WolfSpirit]

Oh what a charming deck ! I had seen it on people's deck lists but I had never looked at it. It really does remind me of comic strips I read as a kid.
I am not often fond of decks with comic strip art, but there is always an exception :)
Looks very readable too.

[Maan]

I have this deck too.
I really like it but i can't read with it. The court and the majors are very redable for me but the minors are starnge and look all the very similair to me.

So i mostly use the deck in the way Galadrial already describes..to make up stories about the pictures...epsecially the court cards lend themselves very well for this!

[Little Baron]

Hi everyone

Firstly, thanks Lee for the link; great scans. It is not often that you can see the cards in so much detail. Cheers for that.

You're right Galadrial. We do have similar tastes and often go for the same kind of decks.

It was mainly the majors that i saw beforehand and were what spurred the interest in this deck. I am glad that I got a look at more of the minors though because as much as I can see that stories can be made around the illustrations, for me, there dosn't seem enough in them. I never use my Matt Myers 'Art Nouveu' for that reason. At the moment, I am studying the Cosmic Tribe as best as I can while I am on holidays from university and what I like about that deck is that there is so much depth and new things to explore every time that you look at the cards. Today, as a daily draw, I studied the Magician. I have filled my journal with notes and I am sure that should it come up again, there will be other levels of the card and character to read. There are some decks that I cannot do that with; I can see the main pointers but there is not much left to dig into. I like the art in the AA but I think that once I have discovered a certain plot to each card/story, there will be little else left to interpret and may find it hard to read different situations through it in a reading.
My other gripe is that even though it is nice having a tarot community in a deck, some of the characters do look a bit too alike - even in the same card - the blonde women and the guys in the swords suit. What I like in the Phantasmagoric and the Cosmic Tribe is that the difference in the models/characters helps me to remember the differences. The differences in the cards of the AA seem a little too subtle. Are these some of the reasons why some of you find it hard to read with?

However, thanks for your help and thanks again Lee for the link; as much as I enjoyed looking through the cards (some I do like very much - yes, the 7 of Cups is great, as is the Lovers and a lot of the majors), it was good to view them before purchasing the deck and being disappointed as I have been in the past.

Best wishes to you all

Yaboot

[kogatraveller]

Hello,
(Sorry, I'm just new on this forum.)
You can found all the pics of the Arcus Arcanum on my site: http://www.year69.com
It's my favorite deck too.
Greetings,
Josy Slechten
Belgium

[galadrial]

Fantastic job on the website, kogatraveller! I wish all websites dedicated to decks were that well done (then again, if they were I might never get off the computer:-)

[Cocobird55]

Welcome, Kogatraveller

Great website. I love the way the stars twinkle.

Sue

[punchinella]

Okay, did anyone here ever read books by John Bellairs when they were kids? --Lewis Barneveldt & Rose Rita Pottinger, & Lewis's Uncle the magician, & Mrs. Zimmerman the witch next door??? --With the purple wand-umbrella-thing??? I, like the rest of you, have trouble reading with this deck, but I hang onto it--I simply won't give it up!--because it's SO the deck Lewis would have ordered secretly by mail from a company in Albaquerque, or Scotland, or Ithaca New York & tucked carefully into the false front of the civil-war chest inside his musty old bedroom, inside that huge & mysterious old house once owned by the wizard Izaac Izard . . .

Know what I mean??

(Guess, uhh, you probably had to be there???)

[galadrial]

I can definately imagine Johnny sending away for this deck; I can also imagine him finding it in a previously locked drawer in Uncle Jonathan's house- one rainy, boring day he notices that the drawer is partially open...

[kogatraveller]

A new book of the AA is available on Amazon.de:

http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/3905021315/aeclecticta0a-21/

but only in German.

Tarotkarten, Arcus Arcanum Tarot
von Günter Hager, Hansrudi Wäscher

Josy Slechten

[contrascarpe]

Just purchased this on a whim from Tarot Garden on eBay. I hesitated several times - I was not sure of the "comic book" nature of the cards. But I do enjoy decks whose cards tell a little story, and these seemed very expressive for some reason.

I look forward to seeing them in person.

Dan

[Astraea]

Dan, I hope that you will really enjoy this deck! Even though the illustrations are done in comic-book style, the cards are not lightweight. Let us all know what you think!

[full deck]

Man, that is a funny card. Four people, standing around, holding what almost appears to be really long bread sticks! It's so surreal; I love it!

[punchinella]

You know, the minors in this deck, in a strange sort of way, feel almost like pips. The figures are so repetitive, it's almost like code.

Now that I'm learning to read with pips, I ought to pull this deck back out & give it a go :D

[Jewel-ry]

I really like this deck. When you look really closely at the images they speak so clearly! It doesn't bother me that the people are the same. I like the way that each card tells a story and its quite different from RWS.

J :)

I still think Justice looks like Jennifer Aniston!!

[Astraea]

Originally posted by punchinella
You know, the minors in this deck, in a strange sort of way, feel almost like pips. The figures are so repetitive, it's almost like code.
What a great observation! I'm going to join you in getting out my deck and approaching the minors in that way. Thanks, Punchinella!

[contrascarpe]

My Arcus came in yesterday. My first reaction is that this would be a great deck for public readings - non-threatening and non-offensive.

Yes, the minors do seem like pips in a way. Lots of people just standing around holding the object of the suit, lol. Did my first reading with it last night and it seemed fine for readings - will have to try more. Overall, I am not disappointed.

[Astraea]

Dan, I'm glad that you are getting along with the Arcus Arcanum -- if you're like me, the relationship will open up the more you use the cards. I have developed a great appreciation for them in readings, whereas at first I just loved the artwork.

[Elentir]

I fell in love with this deck the moment I saw samples of it on eBay. I lost my first bid for it, but then kept a search running until I found another and made sure I won it!

Like many others who have responded to this thread, I had a lot of difficulty at first reading with this deck. But I loved certain cards so much that I kept trying. I've been doing readings twice a week at a Boston-area metaphysical bookstore for the last two years or so, and the Arcus Arcanum has now become my standard deck (I started off with the Rider Waite I've had since high school) for almost all readings I do. I use my well-worn Rider Waite for close friends and also for clients who have more experience with getting readings, but for the average walk-in customer, the Arcus Arcanum seems perfect; it's nonthreatening (as someone mentioned earlier), and even entertaining.

I love the "storybook" feel of these cards. I love that they are not designed to be read with reversed meanings. I love that trump 5 is "the High Priest" and not "the Hierophant." I love that Justice comes before Strength. I love the rich scenery on every card, and the way each suit seems to take place in its own little part of the world. I could go on and on about the particulars I love about this deck.

It's true that some of the minor arcana are rather vague, either because you can't really tell what's going on in the scene or because they look too much like other cards. For example, the 8 of Wands basically just shows a bunch of people hailing each other and holding a bunch of staves. Doesn't give you much to go on. Some gave me trouble because they departed from the RWS interpretations I was used to; for example, the 7 of swords does not have the sense of deception, cunning, or treachery that the RWS does. The 8 of pentacles confuses me too.

But other cards are incredibly vivid and speak out loud and clear. the 5 of cups is great. So is the 8 of cups. The 9 of swords is a very nice variation on the usual theme; and I like that the 10 of swords emphasizes having survived a painful struggle (rather than having been stabbed 10 times in the back by a homicidal maniac). I love how "courtly" the court cards are, especially the pages, as they come up to you and hand you your sword (or cup or wand or pentacle). Again, I could go on and on (hmm.. I guess I AM going on and on.....)

I actually found the LWB to be very helpful in trying to make out the departures the author has made from the standard RWS paradigm.

Soooo.... my point is, if anyone wants to talk about any of the particulars of this deck or they're experiences with doing readings with it, I would love to listen (and respond, of course).

ARE YOU FLUENT IN BOTH ENGLISH AND GERMAN? PLEASE SEE MY NEXT POST IN THIS THREAD!

[Elentir]

I recently received the German book that is sold along with the Arcus Arcanum deck in Germany. As far as I can tell, the only books written specifically for this deck are all in German and have never appeared in English.

I have studied German, but my vocabulary is so dismal, it would take me years to get through it! But from the little I have managed to stumble through, I think it will prove to be very illuminating regarding the design and symbolism of this deck that I love so much.

So, if there's anyone out there interested in this deck and fluent in German and English, perhaps we could collaborate on a translation? Perhaps it's something we could provide here on an Aeclectic forum thread. We could do one card a day or something?

Please help!

[The 78th Fool]

I bought this deck quite early on during my research for my own deck. What really enthralled me was the sheer vividness of the colour and the sense of fantasy in the Majors - I've just never been able to get to grips with it as a reading deck.

Like many here, I find the Minors are just too repetitive and don't explain themselves adequately in the absence of decent commentary. I can't see the publishers ever issuing an English translation commercially .I don't think there would be enough takers to justify the expense.

If anyone's interested, have a look at my thread in Tarot Trading - 'The Fool's Mega Deck Clearout'. I'm offering my Arcus Arcanum along with several other decks.

Chris. xx

[Elentir]

It's true, the similarity of some of the minors to each other has made it difficult at times for me to incorporate this deck into my reading practice. You may scoff, but I found the LWB to be helpful in this regard, at least for some of the cards, especially when the artist seems to have steered away from the RWS associations I was so used to.

Sometimes my problem was that the scenes were too vague. The 8 of Wands is a good example: four men each with a wand stand facing two women, each with two wands, in an avenue of trees. What are they up to? What's going on?

Other times, the picture seems clearer, but it's so different from what I expect that it confuses me. For example, the 7 of Swords, in which seven men (each with a sword) approach a shining castle on a hill; there isn't the suggestion of cunning, trickery, or theft that I typically associate with this card.

This is why I am so interested in translating the German book that was written to go along with the deck; the designer's own descriptions will (I expect) make these confusing aspects much clearer.

Finally, I agree with an earlier post that the vivid colors and fantasy-like imagery of the Major Arcana totally hooked me on this deck. The Priestess and the High Priest alone captivated me!

[Jewel-ry]

I have this deck Elentir and when I first got it, I went through and journalled my feelings about each card. I think some of the facial expressions are really very telling! I would never part with this deck. It comes from a completely different angle. I'm afraid I don't like decks that are out and out RWS but when a deck comes along with either different artwork or a different slant on the cards, I get drawn in again. Its a nice deck.

I still think Justice looks like Jennifer Aniston!

~

[Little Baron]

Originally posted by Elentir
and I like that the 10 of swords emphasizes having survived a painful struggle (rather than having been stabbed 10 times in the back by a homicidal maniac).

I laughed out loud when I read that!

Gld you are enjoying your deck. The homicidal maniacs rampage through many decks can be a little of a peev for me as well. I know where you are coming from.

Best wishes

Yaboot

[The 78th Fool]

Sorry Guys,

I like my homicidal maniacs!! I've even created one!!!!
(see post below)

Chris. xx

[The 78th Fool]

Here's my own take on the subject - There's a nice warm glow and no blood - very homely!!

[Lee]

Hi Chris, I can't see the image, I get some kind of error page.

-- Lee

[The 78th Fool]

try it now Lee - I've saved it with a new file name and it seems to work.
Chris. xx

[Lee]

Now I've got it. Very nice!

-- Lee

[The 78th Fool]

Glad you like it - I've even thought of keeping these alterations if my deck ever goes to a second edition !

Chris. xx

[Elentir]

I've begun a new thread under Study Groups>>General for on ongoing project of translating the Arcus Arcanum handbook written by the deck's designer, Günter Hager, from German into English. Here's the first 2 posts:

http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30913

Read German? Interested in hearing the designer's own explications of this deck? Come on over and check it out!

[Elentir]

Unfortunately, we will not be able to continue our AA Handbook translation thread because of copyright issues. However, once a good portion of the handbook has been translated privately, I will open a new Arcus Arcanum discussion thread to discuss whatever I find in the book that is interesting or illuminating.

Thanks anyway to all those who responded. If you would like to continue the German translation project, we can do so via PM or e-mail, so feel free to get in touch with me.

--Elentir

[mythos]

Hmmmm! read my way though most of the posts. I was, not surprisingly, taken by the British girls and boys annuals of 1960's (which I collect) vintage images, but I still feel ambivalent about the deck. There seems to be so much hostility and aggression in many male card face images counterbalanced by girls smiling like idiots. Harsh ... yep ... but just my opinion. I suspect that the artist has a limited range of ability in facial expressions ... Gosh .. I can talk ... every face I paint ends up looking the same! Hmmmm! Still can't make up my mind. I have had the AA on my want list of an age ... and I figure that it will eventually become part of my collection.... but?????????

[AlexTM]

A new book of the AA is available on Amazon.de:
http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/3905021315/302-6473133-6901625
but only in German.


Just in case somebody finds this thread: This is not a book, these are just the cards.

Alex

[Dream Healer]

I kind of miss my old Arcus Arcanum deck. What I liked was that each card told a story. I'm surprised that it is now hard to find, though.

[TheOld]

I got one in french to trade is someone interested !

Love, Light & Power
Omeada

[ArwenNightstar]

Just found someone locally who wants to barter her AA deck. So I am looking it up to see what it is like. I really like the images I am seeing! Is it hard to obtain new? Is there a book that goes with it?

[shadowdancer]

this deck sold on our e-bay in the last two weeks. End price was 99p !!!

unbelievable. I already had the deck otherwise would have been in there as quick as anything

[Elentir]

There is a book that was written to go with this deck, but unfortunately it is only in German. I ordered it from Amazon.de. My German is not the greatest, so working my way through the book with a dictionary has proven to be VERY slow, but it is definitely more illuminating than the LWB. Although much of the cards' meaning is comparable to the RWS, the artist definitely went a different way on some of the cards, and the German book contains a description of each illustration and helps to clarify some of the ambiguities.

Here is a URL for the book in question: http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/ref=sr_sp_go_qs/028-4087208-8997323

You can also order the deck by itself from this site.

There is also a book by a woman Juditka Peschlova, also in German, entitled "Berufung und Beruf" that is specifically designed to go with this deck.

It looks like an English version is available from the House of Tarot Web site:
http://www.houseoftarot.com/index.php?osCsid=689eda574456f43d36ba64e15a20066c&manufacturers_id=24&osCsid=689eda574456f43d36ba64e15a20066c

I think you could probably order the English version online from a number of Web sites if you do a little Google searching.

I have been reading professionally with this deck for well over a year now, and I love it. I would be happy to discuss it more (much more!) in this forum if anyone's interested. I may even be able to provide some translations from the German handbook, for questions relating to specific cards. There is also a lot in the book about laying the cards out that, from my initial perusal, looked very interesting.

[6 Haunted Days]

I just ordered this deck from TarotGarden. I've wanted it for some time now. When I first saw the scans I was quite taken aback at my immediate warm and deep reaction to it. I am sure it's the memories of childhood and comics I read then. But I just adore the whole feel of this deck and must have it! Frankly I am shocked it is still in print, it doesn't seem too popular (wish an English book would be written, or the german translated!) or used too widely on here. Seems to have die hard fans.

I can't wait to actually see them in person and see how the energry translates from the screen, and the biggie how they read! :)

Miss 6 :love:

[LillyCat]

this deck sold on our e-bay in the last two weeks. End price was 99p !!!

unbelievable. I already had the deck otherwise would have been in there as quick as anything


I can't believe it!!! I am trying to get hold of this deck - have ordered it on Amazon but am still waiting for it as they are having difficulty sourcing it. I have tried various other companies that I know of but they are either out of stock and unsure when they will get new stock in IF they do, or they no longer stock it. I am really disappointed and I don't know why I didn't think about it sooner...

[elvenstar]

How about
http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/displayProductDetails.do?sku=3443742
or
http://www.angelpaths.com/angelpathsshop/pc-127-12-arcus-arcanum.aspx
or (in german probably)
http://www.amazon.de/gp/product/3905021315/ref=olp_product_details/028-6875236-1268539?ie=UTF8&seller=

[elvenstar]

I have a german version with the book, that may or may not be the one on the first link I posted. Another way to look for it is 'Tarot Wege zum Leben', that's what my set is called.
http://www.amazon.de/gp/offer-listing/3908646014/ref=dp_olp_2/028-6875236-1268539


I love this deck :) I've been using it almost exclusively for face to face readings ever since I got it, it doesn't cease to amaze me. For me it's clear and deep and good for any subject. The only thing is it needs trimming, but I haven't gotten round to it yet. Come back and tell us what you both think when you've got it! :D

[6 Haunted Days]

What about TarotGarden? Mine was only $20. And isn't overseas shipping to the UK $11 at TG? Check it out!

[firefrost]

Abebooks UK have one for £20. Probably better off with TG. They do ship quickly.


http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?sortby=3&sts=t&tn=Arcus+Arcanum&x=65&y=12

[babyJo]

What about TarotGarden? Mine was only $20. And isn't overseas shipping to the UK $11 at TG? Check it out!

Hello 6HD,
The one on TG, is it a German version?
Thanks
~Jo

[a_shikhs]

I recently got the russian edition of this deck in a trade and love it. The artwork is gorgeous and the readings are awesome. But I find the card stock very thin and bends very easily. Does anyone else have the russian edition and feel that way about the card quality?

[6 Haunted Days]

I recently got the russian edition of this deck in a trade and love it. The artwork is gorgeous and the readings are awesome. But I find the card stock very thin and bends very easily. Does anyone else have the russian edition and feel that way about the card quality?

Actually I was all set to buy the version you ended up getting, but I asked first if it was produced by US games, but she said Tapo. So I passed. Mainly because Russian knockoff's of tarot decks are all over the web. I got a made by "tapo" deck before from Ebay, obvious fake. The cardstock is very flimsy, almost just paper! So I passed on that and am getting the real deal version.

I should be getting it tomorrow, I will report back on my cardstock, though I am sure it will be the usual high qaulity USG produces.

Miss 6 :love:

[6 Haunted Days]

Hello 6HD,
The one on TG, is it a German version?
Thanks
~Jo

No I believe they just have English, though I bet they could get the German for you!

[elvenstar]

AGMuller/Urania has (or had) German, French and English versions, mine is the German one and I love the card stock! It's matt, shuffles really well and is very durable. Only the Majors and Courts are named on the cards anyway, but I guess being able to read the lwb may come in handy.

I'm glad to see more people interested in this deck, I thought I was alone here in thinking it's great :D

[LillyCat]

Thanks very much for all the suggestions - will check them out as definitely want this one! Am excited that it's got rave reviews from you guys, makes it worth pursuing :)

[6 Haunted Days]

I finally got this deck about a week ago and am loving it immensely. The artwork is so alive and so much movement! At first glance, the image before you looks kind of jumbled then you focus in and there is so much detail, very gorgeous! I just respond so well to this kind of art and style. The pips aren't hard to read at all, though I do wish the German book was available in English.

A very definite unique Tarot with it's very own style, unlike any I've seen before. Going on my favourites list!

As far as the cardstock, it's just the right amount of thickness and it's made in Switzerland (AGM) so it's high quality. This is the 1st deck I've bought from AGM Mueller where it doesn't say US Games anywhere on the box, just straight AGM. I'm glad I waited and got the real deal and not the Russian one with the thin cardstock. I especially love the size, it's just perfect.

:love: Miss 6

[babyJo]

No I believe they just have English, though I bet they could get the German for you!

That's great, Miss 6
I am looking for an English one :) But someone told me that there are only german ones available ...off to Tarot Garden now!
~Jo

[Vladaria]

I got my Arcus Arcanum Today - I love the size of the cards very shuffleable :)
The majors artwork is superb ~ I adore the fool card and like the way the High Priestess and seem linked somehow (the doorway and curtains)...
The Aces are also wonderful - the way that each element is portrayed so well.
I guess I'll have to work on the deck to understand the minors (some of them seem to be a complete departure from typical RWS style interpretations) also difficult is how "angry" some of the characters look...Maybe when I've studied the deck more I'll understand it :)
Has anyone else noticed that a lot of the faces look either grumpy or angry?
e.g Attached is a pic of 5 of swords....very different cards as is the meaning you'd get from them....

What does everyone else think?
Vlad xx

[6 Haunted Days]

All-time favourite deck of mine :)

The 5 of Swords here....more tense looking.

There are a few where they look upset or angry...but it's usually fitting with the cards meaning imo.

The minors do take some time, learning and paitence to get a hold on, but with this charming fairytale deck.....it's very worth it!!

[elvenstar]

I love the Majors too! In fact I often use them on their own, they are great, very 'readable' and they have rich symbolism without being cluttered.

About the five, the book talks about the middle guard being caught in the act of doing something dodgy and generally a situation being obscure/unclear, information being withheld. It also talks about weaknesses being potentially exploited and the need to see them and sort them out, also about staying focussed on what is important. All the fives show challenges in their areas.

The minors are quite different from RWS. Take the three of swords for example, one of my favourite versions. It may be useful to lay them out by number, all the twos together etc., as they are visually related. I find the faces very expressive, it makes sense that some of them aren't that happy, but I don't find it unbalanced. It's quite subtle in some ways and I find working with it very rewarding.

Sorry for the long rant, I could go on and on, I'm happy to find people to talk about it :)

[Vladaria]

Me too :)
I've sent off for another copy (German with the book)
not that I'll be able to understand the book, but with
perserverance & babelfish, who knows ;)

Vladxx

[Morwenna]

At last I found a thread about this deck! I've had my copy for years and I truly love it. I've never actually read with it but I've studied it a lot, laid it out in patterns, looked at the images in terms of stories, etc. And I actually love the pip-like arrangement of the minors! I diagrammed the parallel arrangements of the pips in each suit in my notebook. And I enjoy comparing the directions the court cards are facing in each suit. There are so many visual patterns in this deck that I'm downright dazzled.

It's true that many of the cards differ from the RWS meanings, but that's OK, and if you try you can see relationships between the systems that otherwise might elude you. I like being "stretched" like that sometimes, rather than being wrenched by a totally different system. Actually, finding relationships between the systems enriches the experience of either one.

It's too late for me to stay up right now but another day I'll be happy to haul out my deck and let's have a good chat! Maybe a deck study thread? Huh? Please?? :)

[Le Fanu]

I bought this deck recently in a clearance sale of decks. Id always thought it was quite a curious deck. I haven´t - to be honest - read with it, though Ive pored over the artwork quite a few times. I love the dated 1950s feel to it and the fact that it is deceptively full of stuff! At first glace there seems to be nothing much there, but I can see what you mean about the visual patterns.

Like so many others; I should use it more. Excellent cardstock too.

I love the name; just the sound of it sounds mystical and magical!

[annik]

I among the ones that don't use it in a reading. But I like the drawing style. It is really inspiring. I like to browse through it once in a while.

[karenquilter]

I got mine at a used book store a couple of years ago. The 50's style illustrations are pretty cool.
K

[Freddie]

I find deeper meanings in the pip cards of this deck along with Medieval scapini than in any other pictorial decks I have bought. The wands, 4-7 as usual, are confusing to me, but the in general the pip cards are wonderful in this pack. For example, the 7 of cups cards shows a woman (maybe from the Sword family) looking into a magic mirror watching the happy cup family...if you look closely you'll see reptiles on the table...OH I get it .... the grass isn't always greener..envy green eyed monster..unhealthy fantasy...brillant symbolism I think. The heirophant..oh I get this one too..The emperor in AA is more like the Daddy Santa Claus figure in the Marseille pope (has a reindeer on his baton)...AA Heirophant he is more like a celeb, political figure or rock star dictating culture and fashion... to me it fits just right.

I post more later,

freddie

[karen0205]

I'm trying to find the book in German and translate it.
Anyone know where I can find a copy, cheap? :)

[Freddie]

For curiosity sake, I wish the book would be printed in English. The LWB does not tell what is happening in the minor arcana (FWIW..for the most part it is the same as Rider - Marseille meanings). I have found some Stonehenge looking images in some of the cards and I wonder if this is mentioned in the book.

I believe Tarot symbolism is subjective, but for me as a general reading deck this one nails it. This is the New Age / Jung type of deck that I was looking for as a mate for my Fournier Marseille. I also recieve good vibes from the Knapp-Hall type of art / colouring of it. it is considered comic book style, but I realy think that description isn't all that correct. I wish I would have bought this 20 years ago.

Maybe we should renew the study group for this one?

Thanks,

freddie

[karen0205]

Maybe we should renew the study group for this one? freddie

yes, yes, yes~ Especially since there is no book
I would love to hear what other people have to say about the cards
when can we start??????

[Morwenna]

You can start any minute now as far as I'm concerned! (Don't look at me; I'm no good at starting these things!) I've been wanting a study group for this deck for ages.

[karen0205]

I did one for the Magical Forest. I did a couple cards a day, which seems like
no big deal but it became a huge time consuming thing. Posting the cards,
looking up each meaning according to the artist, putting all that info on the thread, etc.
Plus trying to get my mind into gear to focus on the card! That was the tough part!

I wouldn't mind doing it but I couldn't do that many cards a day. I have so
much going on with selling the house and showing it, I don't have as much
free time for fun stuff as I would like. One a day would be good.
If that works for everyone else, I would be happy to start one.

karen

[Freddie]

Hi Karen,

I started a thread there on The Fool. I think we are all pretty busy and we'll just have to take it like it comes. That is too much to expect any one person to do. I posted a link to card.

Whomever wants to be in our study group is free to go over there and post.
Feel free to do the next card if you like that one better. Our opinions on each card will enlighten each other and others who access it.

Is it ok if we do the pack in order? If someone else wants to start the next card from the one the group is on, that's cool. I think doing out of sync is too hard to keep track of, just my humble opinion.

Freddie

[rwcarter]

From the Study Groups Guidelines (http://tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=32949):

6. Most groups work through the deck card by card - Majors, minors or court cards first - it's up to you.
Every now and then there is an exception to this rule and a group may want to study Majors together or Minors together.
If you have any questions, just contact the Study Groups moderators and I'm sure we can work something out.

7. Start a new thread for every card you study; anyone can start a new thread, it doesn't have to be left to just one person.
So anyone can start a thread on any card in the deck. You don't all have to be working on the same cards at the same time. Nor do you have to work on them in any particular order.

I have lots of experience with being the only person in a study group. Even if no one else posts on the card you post on, you're leaving behind information that someone else may find useful years down the road.

And I might pop into the Study Group on occasion. I like the AA but haven't really used it.

HTH,
Rodney

[karen0205]

Hi Karen,

I started a thread there on The Fool.
Is it ok if we do the pack in order? If someone else wants to start the next card from the one the group is on, that's cool. I think doing out of sync is too hard to keep track of, just my humble opinion.

Freddie
I agree, it is easier to do it in order.
First, you can see what cards are not done
and second, it's easier to keep track of which
cards you have personally done. You can leave
your deck by the computer with the card you are
supposed to do next on the top.
I know some people don't care about the order
but it's easier to follow if you join in later down
the line if the cards are done in order.

k

[rwcarter]

FYI,

Once the study group gets going, the Study Groups Moderator will create and maintain a running index of the cards that have been covered for your study group as long as whoever has created a new thread PMs the moderator per the Study Group Guidelines I linked to earlier. So anyone can see at any point what cards have been covered and/or which ones remain to be covered.

Rodney

[karen0205]

I replied to the Fool card that was already up in the study group and I also posted a picture of the next card.

Sulis was going to add the deck to the list of decks in the study forum
so anyone should be able to find it.

I am adding the High Priestess sometime today.

[karen0205]

There is a study group started for the deck but so far, not too many people have posted. I hope I dont' wind up doing it by myself. That's boring.
I like to hear other opinions and thoughts on the cards.

[AJ]

I expect that is why there are so many incomplete deck study groups. I've worked on two and decided I was way better off working on my own :)

I bought some decks this week, I hid the list so I'd forget what I have coming...I'm hoping the AA is amongst them. I do love to anticipate!
No box of beautiful glass yet either...

[Dogmother]

I'm surprised. I was under the impression that this deck had gone OOP. Is it still available?

[Morwenna]

Not too many people have posted but we've started 4 cards already. Come on in, folks! :D

[rwcarter]

There is a study group started for the deck but so far, not too many people have posted. I hope I dont' wind up doing it by myself. That's boring.
I like to hear other opinions and thoughts on the cards.
As I said earlier,

I have lots of experience with being the only person in a study group. Even if no one else posts on the card you post on, you're leaving behind information that someone else may find useful years down the road.

I resuscitated the Ancient Egyptian Study Group, which had 14 cards posted on (and at least one of those was just a placeholder). I posted on those and on the other 64 cards and did two additional studies (Astrological and Tarot Constellations) all by my lonesome. Yes, it would've been nice to have some company and at times the silence was deafening. But you have to think long-term when it comes to study groups. Your thoughts might be just what some reader 5 years down the road needs to read at that particular time to make a card or an entire deck click for them. So which is more important to you? Short-term company or leaving a legacy of information behind? (That was a rhetorical question.)

Rodney

[karen0205]

As I said earlier,


I resuscitated the Ancient Egyptian Study Group, which had 14 cards posted on (and at least one of those was just a placeholder). I posted on those and on the other 64 cards and did two additional studies (Astrological and Tarot Constellations) all by my lonesome. Yes, it would've been nice to have some company and at times the silence was deafening. But you have to think long-term when it comes to study groups. Your thoughts might be just what some reader 5 years down the road needs to read at that particular time to make a card or an entire deck click for them. So which is more important to you? Short-term company or leaving a legacy of information behind? (That was a rhetorical question.)

Rodney

Thanks for the reply. I'm not worried about company so much as I would like input from other people besides myself. I think that's what makes the study groups so interesting is when other members see things in the cards that I missed. Then I get to learn from them too. My goal is to learn something, to converse about the cards, not leave behind a legacy.

[Morwenna]

Thanks for the reply. I'm not worried about company so much as I would like input from other people besides myself. I think that's what makes the study groups so interesting is when other members see things in the cards that I missed. Then I get to learn from them too. My goal is to learn something, to converse about the cards, not leave behind a legacy.

Well, there are three of us in there now; that's a pretty good start.

[Freddie]

If any others here want to post anything about this deck feel free to do so in the 'study' section.

I find this deck to be quite a strong cartomancy tool. I sometimes lose interest in a deck after about a week and a half (they go dead quiet on me or I decide there are too many flaws in the symbolism lol... maybe both), but this one just keeps speaking and revealing information. The illustrated pips describe the traditional meanings, but offer so many other 'off the top of your head' information.

This is not the best eye candy Tarot (well yeah I do like that Cup suit Stevie Nicks..one of my teenage crushes indeed), but it does what it is supposed to do. It is not overdone like others I've bought and put in storage.

I am adding more cards in the next few days.

Enjoy,

freddie

[Morwenna]

I just added a thread for the High Priest. Come on in, everybody! We're still alive! (I just PMed Sulis too.)

[karenquilter]

It's around if you hunt for it. I got mine in a used book store.
K

[Freddie]

You can find it on eBay.

I plan to add The Lovers today to the study group.

Freddie

[Morwenna]

Freddie? The Karens? The Chariot is up; shall we go on to the next?