Least favorite Deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Nov 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

dolphingirl	17 Nov 2001
Hi We do our favorite decks alot but was wondering what your least fav deck was and why. You do not have to hate it but even just the one you click the least with. Mine is the The Masquerade Tarot I bought it at the used book store and and it doesn't have any clues to the meaning in the artwork that I can find and the artwork is not beautiful on it's own.:) Thanks Samantha

Kaz	17 Nov 2001
I have two decks, so it's easy to pick the one I least like. I have Osho Zen and the traditional Rider Waite, I bought the Osho deck because of its beauty and I don't like the RW deck. In the RW the "artwork" is absolutely not my taste. Still use it for study purposes though...... Kaz

glamourbug	17 Nov 2001
I have two least favourite decks but i never seem to be able to successfully trade them so im stuck with them. The first has to be the lor of the rings tarot. I loved th ebook and love looking at the cards but they just dont bond with me. I always struggle when reading with this deck and we just dont make a good team. The second is the royal tarot. I was so excited about getting this deck and couldnt wait to start using it. Again it is a deck that doesnt seem to suit me. I expected this one to feel good and get me in the right frame of mind because it seemed traditonal and somehow modern at the same time but it's just a no go.

deso	17 Nov 2001
I love all my decks (phew - I've got over 40 - good thing I love em all) :D The only deck that doesn't do much for me is the "Temple of Isis Tarot" deck I bought about 10 years ago. The major arcana has a stylized Egyptian God painted on - and that's it. The minor arcana are even more boring - just the number of the suit portrayed ........ for example, the six of crooks has exactly that - 6 sheperds crooks. ZZZZZZzzzzzzz

Lee	17 Nov 2001
Hi -- There are several decks I'm not fond of, but one that jumps to mind is the Dreampower Tarot. It's got some intriguing Majors, totally non-traditional, but the Minors of each suit show the *same picture*, i.e. the 2 through 10 of each suit looks exactly the same, with the number of the card and a title printed below. It's as if the artist couldn't even be bothered to have the cards show different numbers of pips. What a ripoff! -- Lee

Talisman	17 Nov 2001
'Lo all, Well, you know, this all sounds very negative, but . . . I grew to actively dislike my second deck. I won't name it, because it is a very popular deck, and some of you probably use it and treasure it. I used to complain and rant about it here, and called it "Deck X." It started with one card, and from there I grew to dislike the entire deck and then the deck's creator and then the books she wrote about the deck -- can you tell I'm foaming at the mouth? I shoud'a never purchased it, I should'a thrown it in the trash the day I brought it home, I should'a immolated it with a blowtorch, I should'a held it down and driven a wooden stake through its heart . . . Finally, I gave the deck away to a collector. There are so many wonderful, beautiful, well-thought-out decks out there, my advice is to not waste your time with any deck you don't like. My hope for you is that you find at least one deck you really treasure. Talisman

glamourbug	17 Nov 2001
Ooh ooh Talisman i am intrigued. email me privately if you wont tell on here what deck you are talking about. My addy is tarot-reader@talk21.com Lisa

faunabay	17 Nov 2001
I'll bet I know which deck Talisman doesn't liiiikkkkke!!!! :P Anyhoo -- the deck I dislike the most out of the ones I have right now is The Lord of the Rings (hi glamourbug :) ) doesn't do a thing for me. But I haven't ever had a whole deck I totally hate, just a card out of a deck. The World card in Tarot of the Old Path (since traded). The blank white eyes on such a positive card like the World just creeped me out and stars coming out of her breasts (weird). I almost couldn't stand to look at it. Ooooooooo Yuck! It was such a shame because I really liked the rest of the deck. (shrug) But that card (shudder)....had to get rid of it.

Freddie	17 Nov 2001
Sorry to say it has to be Thoth. Mr. Crowley gives me the creeps and everytime I look at the deck I feel like I'm supporting his belief system. I like alot of the cards (esp. The Lovers), but I just can't go "Mr. Crowley" at all. Different strokes for different folks..... freddie

Andryh	17 Nov 2001
I'm with Freddie...The Thoth deck is very unsettling to me. Others on my "list" are the Scapini, the Whimsical and any deck that is computer generated (ie. The Sacred Circle deck). For whatever reason, I never hit it off with these decks. Its interesting to hear about the decks people don't like for a change of pace!

Kiama	18 Nov 2001
Well, I dislike the Rider Waite alot, and the Haindl alot, but haven't yet looked deeply enough inrto teh Haindl, o it's a provisional dislike. Kiama

bec	18 Nov 2001
Well can´t brag about being an collector with oh so many decks ;D have been stuck with the waite for 10 years now, and now finally learning of different decks, other ppl actually talking tarot and so on, I have fallen in love - to stick with topic here: Waite gets my vote. It´s good to learn from, and then all has been said, it´s borring and none personal. My new love ? Shapeshifter - can´t wait to get it - it´s in the mail ;D

truthsayer	18 Nov 2001
i'm willing to bet the deck talisman doesn't like it the connally. notice the key word "she". connally has written several books. i've got 2 of her books--i have no idea how many books she's written on tarot and numerology. after trying to read those 2 i knew i wasn't buying the deck!! the author of the thoth is male. even tho lady freida harris did the artwork to my knowledge she never published a tarot book like crowley did. talisman, you never have to reveal the truth to us. some secrets are more fun to keep!!! :D :D :D

grasshopper	18 Nov 2001
I'm ashamed to admit this, but I really dislike the traditional Marseilles design. The designs remind me of mediaeval woodcuts of the Dance of Death. The Major Arcana give me the creeps and the minor arcana are totally boring, like ordinary playing cards. There are a few other tarots I dislike too, mainly the ones that I look at and think "I could draw better cards than that myself". However, it's all a matter of taste ,isn't it, and the wonderful thing is that there are such a variety of Tarots available, there's something for everyone. One of my favourites at the moment is the Artist's Inner Vision tarot, which I've just received from the USA, and which is totally stunning. I shared the disquiet other people have expressed about buying the Book of Thoth tarot, but it is still one of my favourite decks, and after using it, I don't feel any negative associations with Crowley sticking to the deck. All the best Margaret in the UK

Greenman	18 Nov 2001
haha, Crowley-bashing is an age old sport. and he probably has nobody but himself to blame. it's just too bad people can't get past him and see the incredible legacy he left to those who truly study the tarot. as far as the Marseilles deck looking like regular playing cards, well, that's what they were! playing the parlor game of tarot (or tarocchi) was all the rage in the 15th and 16th centuries. all the great noble houses had decks custom designed, sometimes using images of the family members on the cards. the Marseilles is such a deck. Visconti Sforza is another. i think this makes them even more interesting (historically anyway). i don't know if there's any decks i really hate, but there's quite a few that just leave me flat. both of the Arthurian decks fit this category. although they're both very pretty, i just get no sense of anything 'magickal' from either of them. that's probably my feeling about most 'theme' decks actually. fun to collect, but...

cj	18 Nov 2001
Hi all, Least favorite is a good title - no Major bashing. My "Least favorite" is the Rusian St. Petersburg Deck I purchased. It was my um 3rd purchase. The colors are beautiful if you can get past all that BLACK..I can't. The other one I can't connect to is my Mythic Deck. Just doesn't click. That is why you will see me try to trade them from time to time. cj

jmd	19 Nov 2001
Greenman I agree that cards were used for playing, including the Tarot... and as the Visconti-Sforza clearly illustrates, nobles had themselves represented on the cards (or the artists decided to illustrate their patrons). This, after all, still goes on: there are a number of decks which have either used photographs or direct representations of persons known to the artist (I have been shown a non-published photographic deck produced over ten years ago which included a number of people I happen to know!) This, however, doesn't mean that the Marseilles was designed for a game, but rather used as such. The Major Arcana of the Marseilles DO, I agree, have a apparent flatness which the medium of woodcuts gives, especially if the woodcut artist isn't an absolute master at his or her craft (pity A. Durer never made a deck!)... This 'flatness', as well as some of the representations, results in the Marseilles being such a 'least favourite' for soooo many people... oh well! If I have least favourites, for me it must be the circular cut Tarots... I prefer Tarot to be drawn within a rectangular frame, preferably within a rectangle of Golden proportions, irrespective of the artists' interpretation of the cards.

Major Tom	19 Nov 2001
Well, my current least favorite has to be Sacred Circle, but certainly not because it's computer generated. :D

blumoon	19 Nov 2001
like bec i only have 1 deck so far, well 2 but they are by the same person, the original rider waite deck and the pocket rider waite, the original has a greeny background and the pocket has a bluey background and is easier for me to use as i have small hands! but now that i have been using them for a while i am starting to crave other decks, i bought original rider waite 3 years ago cause i read that it was good to learn from but the images dont do much for me these days, has anyone got the tarot nova deck? cj mentioned that the black was too much in the russian deck but the tarot nova has alot of black too and it doesnt seem to bother me, though i dont own it yet and i have only seen a few of the cards...

Freddie	19 Nov 2001
Hi Greenman, Even though I'm not a fan of Crowley's, I do agree with you that he was/is a tarot master and we all should be indebted to him for making the tarot what it is today. Freddie

catlin	19 Nov 2001
My least favourite deck is still the Cosmic tarot by N. Lösche. I bought it because I saw just one card in a catalouge and it happened that I fell in love with that card and did not look at some more cards - that' s what I usually do before buying or trading. When I got the deck I was utterly disappointed. It looks like a 2nd rate hollywood movie turned into tarot. The only card of the whole deck which is interesting is....the devil!

glamourbug	19 Nov 2001
Just goes to show how different people like different decks. The cosmic deck has to be one of my favourites. I fell in love with it as soon as i saw it lol. Lisa

Talisman	19 Nov 2001
'Lo all, glamourbug, I really did attempt to send you an email, although I knew better. Computer snarls and grumbles and says the file needed is not found, then stumbles and crashes. But not to worry, we're in the company of psychics here, and faunabay and truthsayer saw the answer true. The point, I guess, is not to do what I did. It was only my second deck, but the intelligent thing to do would have been to put the deck on the shelf and put it out of mind. Instead, I keep attempting to work with it, and those ridiculous books. A tarot session became a raging one-sided argument (fortunately, the author wasn't around to hear me rant), and I just got more and more irritated. There are too many good decks out there to let that happen to you. Although Kiama's "provisional dislike" tickled me. So, no ranting. Well, maybe one tiny one: When someone begins, "It is said . . ." you're probably going to encounter someting pompous, preposterous, or both. Secret room under the great pyramid my foot! Talisman "No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the misfortune is to do it solemnly." --Montaigne

moon	19 Nov 2001
Hmmm, just thought I'd jump in here. I'm really not a fan of the RW deck...I don't know what it is about it...the colors...the illustrations...they just don't work for me. I don't actually own a deck, but my mom's friend does. She tried doing a reading for me with and I was like...ack! I'm also not a fan of most computer-generated/collage decks. And hey, c'mon guys, don't let Crowley scare you :) I love my Thoth deck. Blessings, Jess

raeanne	19 Nov 2001
The Tapestry Tarot is one of my least favorites. I know that it takes a tremendous amount of time and creativity to do all the tarot cards in fabric pictures but to me it just doesn’t carry the impact I would like for a tarot deck to have. Another one of my least favorites is the Terrestrial Tarot. This deck reminds me of the ink blots that psychiatrists use. There is no symbolism to this deck at all.

Jewel	19 Nov 2001
Well I have to say I have owned the Raider-Waite twice and given it away so that is a definite sign for me (I collect decks) *LOL*. After 6 years or so I finally brought myself to purchase the Universal Raider-Waite, and although I still find the pictures pretty blah I must admit that the change in coloring was a good improvement and I think I will keep it this time *LOL*. Another of my not so favorites (but will not part with it) is the Tree of Life Tarot ... I keep it for a particular Qabalah project I am hoping to start engaging in next year :) All in all though, it seems that even if I do not "connect" with some decks, it is even harder for me to part with them *LOL* ... go figure (well except for the RW that is ;) Love & Light,

Greenman	20 Nov 2001
agreed freddie. and BlueMoon, isn't that the little tiny deck on a ribbon?

truthsayer	20 Nov 2001
my least favorite deck is w/o doubt the extra-terrestrial deck. when i bought it i thought it had to be some kind of joke deck. being an x-file fan and feeling burned out from alien conspiracies, i thought it might be fun. when i got it home, i realized that the authors and artists were serious. it's been a while since i've looked at it but the suits are broken down into something like space ships and aliens. there is one major arcana card called the "crop circle"--which i think was the wheel of fortune. the art is simple and unimaginative. the meanings come off as being from UFO spiritual groupies. i find myself wondering if any of them belonged to the "heaven's gate" group. fortunately, i bought them for $5 new at a used book store--that should have been a clue. since then i've seen the deck at a new age store for around $30. wish i could have put a post-it note on it saying,"don't waste your time and money".

raeanne	21 Nov 2001
Truthsayer, Are you talking about Contact Cards?

jema	21 Nov 2001
i am a collector and does not trade away decks unless i really disagree with them. so far i only given up on three decks. two because they simply suited someone else a lot better and they never were to my taste - too dark and too cute. the third that i traded i simply could not stand. it was the cosmic tarot. it just felt like a really insincere deck. now i know i am being hard on it and there are days i regret trading it away. there is one deck so bad i won't even trade it - not even give it away! and that is the royal. it is not worthy of the name tarot so i hardly ever count it among my decks.

Greenman	21 Nov 2001
oh, come on now, don't tease. spill it! what is this deck that is SO heinous it doesn't deserve to be called 'Tarot'? inquiring minds want to know...

Kiama	21 Nov 2001
Talisman: Could you email me the name of the deck you don't like? Thanks. I tried mailing you, but it wouldn't let me. Just bounced right back! Kiama (Whos' got her guesses....)

Jewel	21 Nov 2001
Quote: Greenman (22 Nov, 2001 06:54): oh, come on now, don't tease. spill it! what is this deck that is SO heinous it doesn't deserve to be called 'Tarot'? inquiring minds want to know... If I read correctly it is the Royal Tarot ???? never heard of it! *LOL*

truthsayer	21 Nov 2001
Quote: raeanne (22 Nov, 2001 02:54): Truthsayer, Are you talking about Contact Cards? yes! that's it! thanks for naming the deck. i haven't looked at it for a while so i really can't remember if it's true tarot or an oracle. i do remember how much i disliked it.

Knight of Swords	22 Nov 2001
I have two decks I don't like; I can't decide which one I dislike more. One is the Feng Shui deck -- the art is ok enough, but it's very hard to read with. The suits are very non-traditional and don't really hold any meaning for me. Perhaps if I knew something about Feng Shui... The other one I don't like is the Ancient Enlightened Tarot published by Lo Scarabeo. Again, very hard to read with -- plus, there are several inconsistencies between the cards and the LWB, which doesn't help. Allen

glamourbug	22 Nov 2001
I have the royal tarot, it was designed for playing the game tarot rather than divination so the pip cards are just pips with no additional illustrations although the court cards have the traditional people on them. The majors in this deck are what we could class 'normal' and i think they are rather attractive. I listed it as one of my least favourites because it doesnt seem to click with me but i wouldnt go as far as to say it shouldnt be classed as a tarot deck, i have seen far worse. Lisa

purplelady	24 Nov 2001
The only deck I've ever owned that I can really say I dislike is the dreampower tarot. I didn't like some of the images,though others are beautiful.I didn't connect with it as a tarot deck.The pip cards are boring and uninspiring.And the directions in the book for use of the deck are silly.Something like only study the minors first and begin in the middle of the book. I think the author thought it was clever , but I didn't!I was attracted to the name because I am interested in dreams and their interpretation, but this deck really annoyed me!I couldn't stand it and gave it away! I also don't care for the marseilles deck. I find the people's faces ugly! I realize that these are some of the first tarot decks created, and so I respect the marseilles deck for that reason. But Tarot has come a long way since then , and I think that's a good thing! I really like the cosmic tarot. Well , to each his or her own I guess!

raistlynne	25 Nov 2001
I have found a strong distaste for many of the decks already mentioned in everyone's posts (like the Marseilles... Bleh!), but for me, hands down it has got to be the RW that rubs me the wrong way. I get absolutely no inspiration from it, and I can't even shuffle it before I am stuffing it away in some dark crevice. Remind me WHY this deck is in existence? :)

The Least favorite Deck thread was originally posted on 17 Nov 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.