art nouveau tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 04 Aug 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

nexyjo	04 Aug 2001
for the first time in a long time, i used a deck other than the robin wood to do a reading. i used the art nouveau tarot by matt myers. actually, i found it to be an interesting experience. the first thing i noticed was the card size and thickness. the cards are long and thin, and they seem a bit fragile, as the card stock on which they are printed does not appear to be nearly as thick as the robin wood. this interfered with my usual smooth shuffling, but since the deck was unshuffled when i started, i become used to the difference by the time i layed out my cards. it can't be that different though, as the two decks are almost the same "thickness", when stacked side by side. also, unlike previous spreads i typically do, this one had a specific purpose. i was looking for current trends in my relationship with my boyfriend. we've been dating for about two months, and i wanted to gain a little insight into where we are headed. frankly, i'm totally in love with him, and thought to intuit how the relationship in general was going. i picked this deck specifically because of the imagery, which for the most part focuses on a man and woman. ok, so i stretched it just a bit... anyway, i found the spread to be quite positive, so of course, i really like the deck now for love and relationship work. also, i'd forgotten how beautiful the artwork is in this deck. it's a shame about the card stock and size, though i don't see that stopping me from using the deck in the future. while i remember this deck being mentioned in previous posts, i can't very well remember what was said, or go looking for them for that matter. i'm wondering how others feel about it. luv and light, nexy

Maan	05 Aug 2001
hello Nexy I have this deck fore years and i did try it a couple of times. But there was no connection. But you have made me thinking. I have neven used it fore a romance related question. So i will take the deck out of the cupboard and start asking questions about a boy i really like. Hope it turns out as positive as yours! Maan

Elphaba	06 Aug 2001
Hi! I've had my eye on this deck since I first saw it at aeclectic! I've finally ordered it and I can hardly wait to get it out of the package. The rich colours of the cards just draw me in. It's too bad they're long and thin though. I have really small hands which makes the shuffling of the longer decks a real nightmare, especially if they're not strong enough to stand up to my clumsy shuffling. I've found this problem with L:Arthurian Tarot as well. I've started to just mix them around on the floor, 52-pickup style. What is your favorite card of the Art Nouveau deck?

nexyjo	07 Aug 2001
i'm not sure i have a favorite yet - i think i need to work with them a bit more before i pick a favorite. i will say i like the minors better than the majors and court cards - each suit kinda tells a story as the cards move higher in number, and in the context of this deck, i really like that. that's not to say i don't like the majors - some of them are quite breathtaking. but no favorite yet... luv and light, nexy

wulfshado	13 Aug 2001
I just ordered this deck myself. I stumbled across it quite by 'accident' and fell in love. I also have received guidance that it is an excellent deck to use for relationships not just in the here and now, but for working with your guides/teachers, and for past life work. Anyone do any of that with the cards?

Logiatrix	13 Aug 2001
nexy, i wanted so much to connect with this deck, but while it is extremely pretty, there is a "same-ness" about it that puts me off. alas, it remains on my shelf, occasionally freed from it's box to be adored. i am suprised that you have found another deck besides your robin wood! :) wulfshado, actually, i do use one deck strictly for meditation, visualization and pathworking; a different deck for readings...that's a good topic! [tauni waddles off to find an empty space for a new topic]

truthsayer	13 Aug 2001
i'm hopelessly in love with the art nouveau, too. i've done some relationship questions w/ it and found it to be better than other decks i've used. i really didn't expect this deck to draw me in like this. in my tarot journal, i described it as being like barbie and ken meet the tarot. :D i really like the minors better than most of my other decks. the cards seem to lack the symbolic depth i've demanded from other decks. for some reason, this doesn't matter w/ this deck. it's not just another pretty deck. 8-) as for the strength of the paper used--if i use it enough to wear it out, i'll buy another! :p there is another art nouveau deck done in pastel colors by another person. it's called the tarot of art nouveau--DUH!! it's on my wish list. ;D

nexyjo	14 Aug 2001
yes, i have the other art nouveau tarot deck as well. actually, i like the artwork better on the other deck, but i find it less useful for readings. i'm not sure why - perhaps because i am so entranced by the artwork, i get lost in looking at the pictures. i suppose one could argue that doing that is a good thing, but at least for now, i don't use it for readings. i did scan a bunch of the cards, and i use the scans for the cover of my tarot journal though :) also, in light of the turn of events in my relationship with my boyfriend - specificaly that we broke up - i'm not too confident using the matt myers art nouveau deck for readings. i got the distinct impression that my relationship was going well, with nothing but togetherness indicated for the future. and then he goes and breaks up with me. so much for accurate divination... luv and light, nexy

truthsayer	14 Aug 2001
Quote: nexyjo (14 Aug, 2001 22:16): also, in light of the turn of events in my relationship with my boyfriend - specificaly that we broke up - i'm not too confident using the matt myers art nouveau deck for readings. i got the distinct impression that my relationship was going well, with nothing but togetherness indicated for the future. and then he goes and breaks up with me. so much for accurate divination... luv and light, nexy nexy, i'm really sorry that your boy friend broke up with you. i know that you had great expectations for the future w/ the guy. just a thought but i know if i'm really bent on a certain outcome that's what the cards tend to give me. i don't know if they're just showing me what i want to see or the strength of my emotion colors what comes out. perhaps since you felt so strongly about this man, this relationship would have been a good one to have someone else read the cards for you. i've had good readings w/ the art nouveau cards but these have been on more objective questions or for other ppl. sometimes when something means a lot to me and i get a glowing report from one deck, i'll do a recheck reading w/ a darker deck to make sure the cards weren't just reflecting what i wanted and expected from the relationship. in my case the deck i'd use would be the rohrig. it's definitely not sentimental like the art nouveau. (((((((((((((((((nexyjo)))))))))))))))))))) hope you feel better about what happened soon. i'll be sending you light.

arizonagirl	14 Aug 2001
NexyJo - I'm so sorry about your boyfriend. "The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain." from The Prophet, by Kahlil Gibran

MeeWah	15 Aug 2001
I recently had the pleasant opportunity to get together with a friend who brought the Art Nouveau Tarot with her. I was immediately entranced by the deck! The artwork is stunning; I like the deeper colors of the deck & the faces look so real! Although there doesn't seem to be much use of symbolism, the images & the colors are superb. The minors of each suit tell a continuing story appropriate to the element of the suit. It may be a good deck for those who already have a basis in Tarot as well as a good deck for readings on relationships. This deck is now on my Wish List!

MeeWah	15 Aug 2001
Nexy: I am so sorry about your guy, but I still think as I previously stated: this chapter is not over yet. Please refer to the comments made on your other thread about Temperance, The Lovers & the 2-Cups; also on the King-Swords & The Sun. If your boyfriend does not reappear, there is some other guy or opportunity in Universe. Believe in that; hold that thought!

nexyjo	15 Aug 2001
thanks again everyone - you guys are really great. well, we spoke last night - geez, he sounded terrible. he's got some other stuff going on, so maybe that was an influence. anyway, considering everything, i'm not devistated like i thought i'd be - i mean i'm upset, but holding myself together. perhaps i've finally learned to see the down cycles of life as just that - part of a cycle that will soon enough swing the other way. kind of like the wheel of fortune... luv and light, nexy

Elphaba	24 Aug 2001
Yaay! I've finally got my Art Nouveau deck in the mail today! The colours are just as rich up close and personal. I love the majors but the minors seem pretty boring...ie.the people of one suit all have the same hair colour! I looove the Aces though...man the Ace of Cups is just awesome. This will be a good deck for parties!

WaterQueene	24 Aug 2001
Nexy: The ex sounds like a weasel! :) Good riddance! Who is the blond with the glasses? Extremely bad eyesight, maybe due to his voracious reading. Books, not cards. :) He will probably be skeptical of the psychic thing at first. Look for him by October. There. Free reading, worth every penny. :) Hope you don't mind my posting it here. I LOVE the Art Nouveau Tarot for relationship readings and I have found it extremely accurate. I usually start my readings with a general spread, then switch to the ANT if I see that's where the interesting questions lie ... don't be deterred from using it because your relationship ended. Those were the forces at work at the time you did the reading. If he flaked out on you that is not your fault! or the cards' fault. Also, it could be foretelling your next great relationship. If it is any comfort, I find in my readings that those who are ready for love, marriage, and commitment find it. That is what you are drawing to yourself. If this dude didn't want it .... NEXT! Everybody just takes one step over and you end up with the Real Mr. Right. God bless you. K.

The art nouveau tarot thread was originally posted on 04 Aug 2001 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.