Tarot of the Cloisters

[Violet Gargoyle]

Okay, so being a little busy, I didn't get the time to update my wishlists till recently. But I like the Tarot of the Cloisters for the stained glass effect.

Does anyone use this deck? How does it read for you? How is the rest of the deck since I have only seen a few of the cards?

Also, because this may be my first circular deck, I have a bit of a naive question. I am guessing that you can read reversals, right? But what do the circular deck readers out there do when the card come up equally sideways?

[Sally Gardens]

I use the Motherpeace, which is also a round deck.

Generally, a left tilt is taken to indicate a pulling back or holding back of the card's energy/quality/basic meaning, and a right tilt is taken as pushing or strong movement toward the card's energy/quality/basic meaning.

For example, in recent readings I've gotten various cards dealing with being called to leadership (I was recently asked to run for local office, so this is no surprise, here) and, consistently, they keep ending up turned a quarter-turn left, which I'm understanding to reflect my hesitancy, insecurity, etc. re: stepping forward and taking my place as a leader. In the context of a reading that indicated this wasn't the path for me, I might see the "holding back" as more of a suggestion that I *should* hesitate, hold back, reconsider; however, the context is consistently one of having support, allies, a circle of people helping me to bring something to birth, so it seems more likely that what's going on is having my inner state mirrored back at me to acknowledge and deal with so I can move forward toward the goal at hand.

And be warned, "equally sideways" is only the beginning of round-card possibilities. :D The beauty (and complexity) of a round deck is that all kinds of nuance is possible between "upright" and "reversed." In fact, having gotten used to reading with a round deck, I find it weird to read with a rectangular one in which the options are either "up" or "down." Life just isn't like that. ;) Even when a card is basically upright or reversed, I'll note if it's, say, "slightly right," or "left, not quite reversed."

(Of course, some people might say that just makes me a certain kind of person that ends in "retentive." :D)

Anyway, don't get scared off if this sounds complicated. Work with the round deck a while, and eventually I think you'll find your intuitive sense takes over and begins of its own accord to start "seeing" the nuances of tilts and turns.

[Lee]

I like the art on this deck a lot. It's also the only round deck which is basically a R-W-S clone. However, I don't use it because I find all those lines on the cards distracting.

-- Lee

[faunabay]

If anyone is interested I just found a store that has a couple of cloisters decks for $10. :)
I'll only be here in Pittsburgh until Monday so if anyone wants me to pick one up for them, let me know before Monday, July 8th.

[Violet Gargoyle]

Originally posted by faunabay
If anyone is interested I just found a store that has a couple of cloisters decks for $10. :)
I'll only be here in Pittsburgh until Monday so if anyone wants me to pick one up for them, let me know before Monday, July 8th.

Ooo Ooo Ooo! Me Me Me!

I'll pm you on this one, faunabay.

[faunabay]

Originally posted by Violet Gargoyle


Ooo Ooo Ooo! Me Me Me!

I'll pm you on this one, faunabay.


I'll get you one this afternoon!!!!
:D

[divinerguy]

I use the Motherpeace and the Daughters of the Moon round decks.

I don't read "reversals" per se. I read them in terms of increasing and decreasing energy levels, sort of analagous to cycles we see in nature, e.g., women, tides, the moon, the seasons.

Reading the card as you would see a clock, 11 through 1 are high energy levels. 5 through 7 are low levels. 2 through 4 are decreasing, and 8 through 10 are increasing energy levels.

It takes only a small accommodation to use this system. I find that its less back and white than using only uprights and reversals. After all, life itself is a series of shades of gray.

Have fun,

Divinerguy

[Midnight Lioness]

Just found this thread. This is the only deck I have and need some guidance on whre I can find more in depth infromation on using it.

Thanks!
k.

[Nina*]

As far as I know the images in this deck are much like RWS, so you should be able to pick up any book on RWS (i.e. most of the tarot books written) to use with it.

:)

[Netzach]

I find I can read with the Cloisters but I don't often do so. It's an attractive deck and sometimes it comes up with some interesting insights but I don't find it a "natural" for intuitive reading.

[Logiatrix]

Here is a site I found regarding the history of stained glass cathedral windows...
http://www.elore.com/Gothic/Learning/rose_windows.htm

Aside from the usual reviews, it's all I discovered about this deck. I did my research several years ago and then just recently. It's true, the basic RWS meanings seem to apply best. I disregard much of the little booklet, especially the confusing astrological assignments.

PEACE,
T.

[Midnight Lioness]

Thanks for the additional info.

[Little Hare]

Ooooow another deck to be added to the wish list! when i first saw the pics i immediatly thought of the sacred rose tarot... dunno why