I'm Swooning...The Victoria Regina Tarot!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Mar 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Andryh	30 Mar 2002
I am not a fan of collage decks, and black and white decks have always left me cold...That is until I came across the fabulous Victoria Regina Tarot on the web. This deck left me weak in the knees. It is so beautiful, and utterly unique. Those who have not seen it should hop over to the artist's web site, at www.thefool.com/index.html . Prepare to be amazed. If there is anyone out there who is fortunate enough to already own this deck, please share your impressions. I haven't been this excited about a deck for a long time!! I shall not rest until it in my hot little hands.

Geenius at Wrok	31 Mar 2002
If only the Happy Squirrel were part of the published deck . . .

truthsayer	31 Mar 2002
it's too late and i'm too sleepy to really elaborate on what i'm finding out about this deck except for this: the authors live only about 2 hours from me!!! perhaps there is a chance i will get to meet them and get them to sign the book for me!! in fact, places that sara mentions in her diary are places i have been to in the durham area. too bad she is right that this area is unkind to new age bookstores. there is also going to be a tarot festival in nyc june 21-23 that they are going to. i saw copies of the deck at a bookstore last weekend but really wasn't that impressed. now that i know they live in the same state as i do, that's a different matter. i spent the past hour or so reading from their webste about the deck and the work behind the deck. understanding the background makes all the difference in the world. :) next week i'm calling the new age bookstores in the raleigh/durham area to see if there is any chance georg and sara are planning to do a book signing. it'd be pretty cool if there was some way i could figure out how to get to the tarot fest in june, too. mary k. greer, rachel pollack, robin wood amongst others will be there. there's going to be a tarot handfasting at the fest, too. i see i was going to make this short and sweet but i got excited! gotta get some sleep now! btw, ofcourse, i downloaded the happy squirrel card! i understand you can add it to your deck if you should so desire. LOL

gypsyrose	31 Mar 2002
I ordered this deck a few days ago from Amazon.com and can hardly wait till it arrives! I fell in love with it when I saw the pictures in a review on another website. There's something so romantic about Victorian artwork. I wonder if this deck will be especially good for relationship questions. C'mon, Mr. USPman, bring me my deck!

Kaz	31 Mar 2002
beautiful deck !!! kaz

Razz	31 Mar 2002
WOW! I had never heard of it, but seeing it, made me want it. They looked like lithographs! Very cool. Razz

Lee	31 Mar 2002
I have the deck! I bought it yesterday. When I first saw it online, it looked nice but nothing exciting. But in person, it's just the greatest thing. Now it's my favorite deck by far. I usually don't get this enthusiastic about this stuff. The cards are large, larger than the Nigel Jackson. I usually don't like decks that are too large, but for some reason this one seems right. The pictures are far, far more sharp, detailed and intricate than they appear on the author's website. You can just get lost in them for hours. There are lots of little mysterious touches that you can use in intuitive readings. Like Andryh, I was never that thrilled with black and white decks, but this one is so perfect that it doesn't bother me. Sarah Ovenall is an absolute magician. The composition is superb. If you go to her website, check out Temperance. It's the most exciting and dynamic Temperance I've ever seen. Also, be sure to look at Judgement, and Death, and... well, they're all great. This is the only deck I've seen where I actually love every single Major Arcana card. The numbered Minors are very much Rider-Waite-Smith-based. Sometimes the picture is laid out differently but the same thing is going on. This makes it easy to learn/use. The Victorian context does give them some different nuances, though. The court cards are mostly members of the royal family who have been chosen to match the traditional meanings of the cards. This makes it fun to recognize the person in the card, and, I find, makes reading them easier, like the Mythic Tarot, where the court cards are specific demigods, each with their own story. The book is very well-written, and does a good job of placing the cards in their Victorian context. Although the art style is old-fashioned, it's a thoroughly modern deck. It has a good gender balance, and several of the cards are multicultural. Although this is not a goody-goody, all positive deck at all, the art style would make it impossible for anyone to be offended or scared by the cards. If you look at the scans, you'll see what I mean. Besides the standard large white box for the cards, the set also includes a velvet, silk-lined purple bag to hold the cards. (Not real silk, of course.) The bag has a drawstring so you can draw it tight, and it stays that way. It's a great bag. What else can I say? It's expensive, but it's worth it. I love it. -- Lee

Kiama	31 Mar 2002
I don't really like this deck very much.... Ah well. I've never been one for Victorian engraving-like pictures anyway! Kiama

Lion-O	31 Mar 2002
It sure looks nice but its not for me... The pictures give me not the right feeling or story from them, it does come close but for me its close but not quite yet, not for readings that is. I am wondering about the 23 cards in the Higher Arcana instead of the 22 ;) But I guess the site should be able to provide more information about that. Still, when solely looking at the cards and the artwork itself I have to agree; they are beautifully crafted indeed. Thanks for sharing the url.

Lee	31 Mar 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Lion-O I am wondering about the 23 cards in the Higher Arcana instead of the 22 The 23rd card isn't included in the published deck; it's on the author's website pretty much as a joke. -- Lee

Kiama	31 Mar 2002
*Kiama sees the Happy Sqirrel, remembers the Simpsons episode, and laughs laughs laughs....* I guess that episode just reminds us how misleading the names on some of the Majors can be! Kiama

Lion-O	01 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Lee The 23rd card isn't included in the published deck; it's on the author's website pretty much as a joke. Damn those april 1 jokes :) Thanks for the answer though, I did not find this on their site (although I have to admit that I could have looked a little bit harder).

truthsayer	01 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Lion-O Damn those april 1 jokes :) Thanks for the answer though, I did not find this on their site (although I have to admit that I could have looked a little bit harder). the happy squirrel download is on the 2/26/02 diary date on the home page. it's really there! i haven't seen that episode of the simpsons and now i must see it--i'm not really a simpson's fan tho.

Zhritza	02 Apr 2002
I'm really torn about whether or not to buy this deck. We have it at my job, and it looks at me from the case everyday; and there's 3 more decks that we carry that I was intending to buy first... not like I don't own too many already! The art is breathtaking and attracts me heavily, but there's a coldness to it, not just because it's black and white but also because it's so subtle. I'm accustomed to decks with bolder lines - then again, maybe working with a more complex bunch of images will help build my reading skills. What to do, what to do...

VGimlet	02 Apr 2002
I too, am very drawn to this deck, although I don't like black & white decks generally. I will hopefully be buying it (through Aeclectic links, of course, LOL) in the very near future.

truthsayer	02 Apr 2002
qolus, tell us what the other 3 you were planning to buy before the VR and we'll give you our opinions. we're a real helpful bunch. particularly if there's any chance you can tell us whenever, lleywelyn is printing out new decks or any other insider info that ppl here will be your friend forever for? LOL

Umbrae	03 Apr 2002
Amazon will be delivering the VR deck to me this week. I will post my opinion. Personally I love using both subtle and in-your-face decks both. (then there is the option of “The Happy Squirrel” card…)

Zhritza	03 Apr 2002
hmm. I'll look into the possibility of Llewellyn augury, as it were. Well, I bought the first of the three yesterday - the Crystal Tarot, which is a Lo Scarabeo. I haven't tried to read with it yet; usually when I get a new deck I spend a couple of days looking through the cards individually in order and gazing at them dreamily. The other two are the Napo and the World Spirit. I tried to talk myself out of the Napo because it is rather big, like the Scapini, but I don't think I succeeded - it is just too yummy! I know I need to get the World Spirit. There's the joyous art, plus I'm getting fed up with everyone in decks being white, so I'm a prime candidate for the WS. Does anyone have the Napo? Start a new thread if you do...

Umbrae	03 Apr 2002
They delivered the VR today. Nothing Subtle. Very nice, they bond well (damn near stand up and say "Cheers!"). I do believe they are worth the purchase price and then some.

zorya	03 Apr 2002
i hate to be a party pooper....i thought the victoria regina deck has beautiful art, but was very uncomfortable with it on many levels. i was strongly turned off by the magician card. the gate blocking the empress annoyed me, and some of the stories behind the chosen pictures seemed as if they might taint the meanings of the cards. for example in the lovers card, the woman is dancing with a partner that was arranged for her, while the man who loves her is standing back, having lost. i must be too picky or something.....

Umbrae	03 Apr 2002
I must admit. I did not read the book, so...no bias... Great deck...5 stars

Zhritza	03 Apr 2002
Not subtle, you say? Great, now I gotta come up with money for it!... :eek: ;)

Lee	04 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by zorya in the lovers card, the woman is dancing with a partner that was arranged for her, while the man who loves her is standing back, having lost. i must be too picky or something..... I actually like that Lovers card, because to me it illustrates the fact that no matter what road we choose in life, there's always the road we didn't take, which is always there, part of the human condition, I would say. There are several decks which have similar Lovers cards, in which one person has chosen another, but the third person is somewhere on the card, almost haunting it like a ghost. Examples I can think of are the Enchanted/Zerner-Farber, the Elemental, and the Napo. -- Lee

arizonagirl	04 Apr 2002
I checked out the website provided, and must say that the pictures are wonderful, but I kept thinking how much more beautiful they would be in color. I know that lithographs were originally B/W, but the actual events were seen in color by the observers.

zorya	04 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Lee There are several decks which have similar Lovers cards, in which one person has chosen another, but the third person is somewhere on the card, almost haunting it like a ghost. -- Lee your're right of course, but i feel those cards are left more open to interpretation, now that i know the "story" behind this one i find it hard to see it any other way. imo, those old prints carry alot of energy.

Andryh	04 Apr 2002
While only a few weeks ago, if you would have told me I would be madly in love with a black and white deck I would have had a good laugh. I have always loved lots of color. It is strange to say, but I think this deck looks better in black and white that it would with color. The clip art would seem in an unatural state if it were colored...Just like those old black and white movies that they tried to improve on by adding color. Those movies lost something when they added color. I think color with this deck whould have the same effect. The black and white seems to lend a real mistique to the cards.

Zhritza	05 Apr 2002
I hope you people are pleased with yourselves. I bought the Victoria Regina today, and I want you to know that I hold all of you responsible. :rolleyes: Actually, one of my bosses (I have two, count 'em, two superiors at my job who are practicing Wiccans) bought it and let me look at hers. I was sucked in, as was my money, and now I am even :T5P poorer than before. The deck is breathtaking. I am, as it turns out, astounded at how well a "collage" deck (it isn't really) can convey the traditional imagery while still being so original. I've never been so smitten with a deck's Wands before, or in this case Pens. I am especially enraptured by the Seven of Wands. The Queen of Swords being the widowed Victoria is a bit of a downer, but other than that -- and the hugeness of the cards -- my delight is unmarred. Gonna have to learn to fan cards, now...

VGimlet	06 Apr 2002
Okay, I'm also holding all of you accountable! I just couldn't wait any longer so I ordered this deck. I was planning to hold off until mid-month, since I have been going a bit wild buying decks, but NO, you all had to keep raving.....LOL.

Andryh	06 Apr 2002
I know just how you feel...It felt like it took forever for this deck to arrive. Oh my, was it worth the wait. I've already written a rather lengthy review detailing all of the many things I love about this deck. It hasn't been posted yet, but perhaps will be soon. Since getting this deck, I've been like the guy on that car commercial who says "I'm telling everybody". This deck is one I feel like sharing with the whole world!

Zhritza	07 Apr 2002
...I called Llewellyn, and being part of a retailer does not make me privy to exclusive information. We will now be getting free catalogs, so those may mention upcoming releases; but other than that, all I can do is subscribe to their monthly e-newsletter, which any of us can do. Go to http://www.llewellyn.com if you want to sign up for it.

wigwag	07 Apr 2002
I don't like black and white cards, I like bright colours. I don't like victoriana at all. Why then do I LOVE this deck. Can't wait to get hold of it. (Can't afford it yet) but definitely can't wait till payday.

Sarah Ovenall	07 Apr 2002
Hi, I just learned of this thread from Andryh and wanted to write and thank you all for your kind and generous comments about my deck. It has really made my day! I'm really glad you all liked the Happy Squirrel card. Yes it is a joke :) I made it into a downloadable card because it had been on my web site for so long, a few people complained about it not being available in the published deck. I'm sorry it isn't easier to find. I have been planning to add a "Downloads" page to my web site, but the Happy Squirrel is currently the only downloadable file I have, so I haven't gotten around to making that page yet. Truthsayer, do you mind my asking where in NC you are located? We haven't scheduled any talks yet in local bookstores but we are working on it. I'd love to meet you & of course I'd be happy to sign your copy :) I think that earlier in the thread someone mentioned that Victoria Regina is sort of collage, but not really -- I wonder if you'd mind telling me a little about that? I'd be really interested in hearing what you meant. If anyone has questions about the deck that they'd like to ask me please feel free & I'll do my best to answer. Thanks again for such wonderful feedback. yours, Sarah

truthsayer	07 Apr 2002
sarah, check your private messages. you've got mail. i'd love to follow up on your kind suggestions in some way. i haven't bought the deck yet b/c i know at book or autograph signings you're often expected to purchase the book or whatever at the site. please let me know. i'm really excited! i noticed at another site that you contributed cards to an effort by several artists. it's called the artist's something. do you have any of those decks or can i get it only via the website? thanks!

Zhritza	07 Apr 2002
Congratulations, Ms. Ovenall, on the highly deserved success and attention your incredible deck is receiving. :) I think it was me that posted the initial "collage" comment. It impresses me greatly that images could be taken from a wide variety of sources and collated into something so unified, and with thorough attention paid to archetypes we can recognize. Thank you, a zillion times thanks for the beautiful work! I do have a small question: I haven't seen such large-sized cards at all, except for one of the versions of the Thoth. Why did you decide to make them large? Was it only for the sake of our being able to see the detail in the images, or was there more to it? Cards this size are a pretty new experience for me, and I think it gives them a formality (or something akin) that I do like. I'm really curious to know your reasons...

Andryh	08 Apr 2002
Sara- We are truly honored to have you drop in on us! Regarding questions on your deck, I've been very curious about the velvet bag...Such a delightful addition. Was this your idea? Can we look forward to other Lewellyn decks coming with a bag? We have a running joke around here, "If you keep your deck in a Crown Royal bag, you may be a red-neck tarot reader." Thanks to the wonderful little bag accompanying your deck we don't have to resort to such things! Again, we are thrilled that you would take time for our questions. Don't be a stranger. Andryh

Sarah Ovenall	08 Apr 2002
Hi hi, I'm not sure if I can attach a response to a specific post so I hope you all don't mind if I try to respond to several messages in one :) First, the other deck that you are probably talking about is the Artists Inner Vision Tarot? I have contributed to a couple of collaborative decks but that's the only one available for sale (it was self-published). It can be purchased from http://www.nomonet.net/ Second the size of the cards. That was Llewellyn's decision and as far as I know, it was purely to retain the detail in the artwork. I think it's one of their standard sizes, I think they told me the Sacred Circle deck is the same size. I certainly can't disagree with their reasoning; anything that kept the art looking crisp was a good thing in my book! Though I confess that I find the cards a bit difficult to use myself. I'm hoping that they will soften with use and get a bit easier to shuffle. Third, the bag. Again that was Llewellyn's decision. I would never have dreamed of asking them to add an expense like that! But I'm very glad they did. I think the bag is a new product for them. I've seen bags for sale at Borders on the tarot shelf, identical to the one with VRT. Except the ones being sold separately were purple inside, and the one with VRT is blue inside. I'm not sure if they are going to include the bag with other decks from now on, or not.

Umbrae	09 Apr 2002
Love the deck. Love the artwork. Love the size. Truly great work. Want a professionally printed Happy Squirrel. Heck...I'd pay a couple of hundred dollars for a prof. printed Happy Squirrel... (no joke) $200 clams...

Jewel	09 Apr 2002
Hi Sarah, Congratulations on your deck :) I purchased it yesterday, and I did not automatically connect to the deck. I was so pleased to see that you had visited this site and were interested in our feedback and in helping us understand the deck better, perhaps it will unlock what ever it is that is preventing my connection with it. How did you come to select rifles as the suit of swords? Perhaps it is my natural dislike of guns in general that caused such an adverse reaction for me, but I really want to like this deck. As a collector I trully appreciate its originality and fresh approach. Thanks for any insight you might be able to share with me.

lairkeeper	09 Apr 2002
I have been aching for this deck since Mid March when I found in in a local Books-a-Million. I was trying to ignore the deck since it was in black and white, but I finally gave up and picked up the box and knew immediatly that it was the deck for me. I VIBRATED while I was holding it. I live in upstate SC and I'm kinda hoping that Sarah will come do a signing or something in my area as well. We do have one metaphysical store here, The Dragons Treasure and I know the owner...maybe we can work something out. Thanks Sarah for creating this for those of us who cant quite do it on our own. Blessings, Paula

Andryh	13 Apr 2002
It thought it was worth mentioning on this thread that I have just finished the companion book which accompanies this deck. It really excellent. Most deck specific books tend (in my opinion) to be somewhat dull. This is really an interesting read, featuring extra information regarding the original sources of the art. It is constructed in a way that makes it a pleasure to read. With all the well deserved attention this deck has received, this wonderful book has gotten comparitively little attention. Just thought it was worth mentioning that Georg Patterson did a bang up job.

cricket	13 Apr 2002
Oh my sweetness... Just happened to be surfing and found a whoooole bunch of decks for sale. Was drifting through, reading the titles, bla bla bla, and as soon as I read the title of THIS one, severe chills! Like it slapped me across the face or something. Needless to say, it will be in hand within the next week or two. :D

faunabay	26 Apr 2002
Here's the other one.... :)

Lee	27 Apr 2002
My review of Victoria Regina was just posted, if anyone wants to read it: http://www.tarotpassages.com/vrt-lb.htm -- Lee :)

Andryh	27 Apr 2002
Wonderful review Lee...For a wonderful deck. Thanks for sharing!

Solandia	01 May 2002
There are also reviews of the Victoria Regina Tarot up on Aeclectic Tarot, one by our very own Andryh :) http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/victoriaregina/review.html ~ Solandia

Sarah Ovenall	02 May 2002
Hi, I just wanted to apologize for leaving questions hanging in this forum. I just got back from a cross-country road trip, the preparations for which took up pretty much all of my time for much of April :) To answer the question about using guns instead of swords for the suit symbol, well first of all, it was a tribute to Brian Williams, whose Pomo deck was the first (to my knowledge) to use guns as a suit symbol. I think it's an appropriate substitution when you think about it. After all, when the first Tarot decks were created, the primary weapon was the sword. Swords are almost entirely symbolic objects now. I've only ever seen them in museums and collections which I'm guessing is true for a lot of people. But at the time, that was a lethal weapon on the cards. If I recall correctly, the figures in all the swords court cards wear armor in the Pierpoint Morgan Visconti Sforza deck. Which reinforces the idea that the swords represented weapons and/or combat, at least on the literal level. (Whether there was a deeper, esoteric level of interpretation intended in those earliest cards is a matter I'll leave to the historical experts!) In any case, I wanted to return to that original sense of a weapon, and today the most common lethal weapon is the gun. So this substitution made a lot of sense to me. I'm guessing this explanation probably isn't going to alleviate your feelings of unease. I wish I could offer a rationale that lessened one's awareness that guns are deadly, but in a sense, that was what I was trying to get closer to :)

Zhritza	02 May 2002
The guns were sort of a surprise initially, but I think they make sense. I especially like the inherent meanings about "aiming" and "sighting" that they bring to readings; for me the suit of swords is all about discernment, and that requires vision, sharpness, and premeditiation. Plus it doesn't seem to make the deck or its readings feel more negative or yucky.

Riversea	03 May 2002
I just ordered the Victoria Regina from Amazon. I knew I wanted it someday, but hadn't quite intended on buying it right now. However, when I saw that it was on sale for $24.47, I decided now was good! I can't wait to get it!

Diana	03 May 2002
edited

truthsayer	03 May 2002
i think diana makes some very good points about guns. ppl in the usa are very hung up about guns. i don't have a problem w/ them in the deck. they do fit in w/ the times better than swords. in fact, sarah, i'm very glad you did them as a tribute to brian williams. that gives them even more meaning to me. unless you are into the highlander series or into fencing, swords just aren't common anymore. in fact, let's not even get started on guns. last time lots of ppl got their feelings hurt--this was some months ago. let's not go there again!

Angel Star	03 May 2002
I am contemplating getting this deck I have viewed on the wesite and it looks very beautiful and very different even though it follows some of the traditional Waite pictures I think the black and white looks truly beautiful. I will probably order mine today:)

truthsayer	03 May 2002
angelstar, imho the pictures are so good that you will barely notice it's a black and white deck. i love colorful decks but the complexity of the pen and ink drawings and collage are just that good! so do get it! don't give it being in black and white a second thought. :)

Angel Star	04 May 2002
To tell you the truth Truthsayer lol good one huh? The black and white is exactly what is attracting me to this deck. By the way Amazon is selling this deck and Tarot reversals for a good price I may get the deck thru them not sure yet. I fist saw this deck from another one of my witch buddies on-line she had already bought it and I was quite impressed with the black and white pictures. Soon it will be in my hands :)

Violet Gargoyle	07 May 2002
This is one of my favorite decks right now. I liked it so much that I put a review in at Amazon.com for it (I think its still there toward the top, I am listed as "the-gargoyle" there.) I got the deck originally because I had just finished taking Victorian History last semster (can't study Folklore without the Victorian influence on Faery Tales), and I thought all the research that went into the choices of cards was incredible. I agree that the companion book was a good read, better than most, even before you get to the cards. Ordered a couple of books out of the bibliography too.

Sarah Ovenall	08 May 2002
Dear Violet, I can't tell you how much it means to me that you sought out books from the VRT bibliography. That is so amazing. I really cannot imagine higher praise for the book. Thank you so much, I am officially on cloud nine! Do you mind my asking which books you ordered & if you've read them yet, what did you think? I have my own opinions of which books made the best read of course, but I'd love to hear your impressions. One of the things I liked best about Mary Greer's book "Women of the Golden Dawn" was that it inspired me to further reading. I read biographies of W.B. Yeats (who seemed to be the common thread connecting the four subjects of her book, as much as the Order of the Golden Dawn) and Maude Gonne. It was so interesting to compare the perspectives of differing biographers. PS: Angelstar, I'll tell you a secret about Amazon.com: those "Great Buy" things where they encourage you to buy two titles together actually aren't a special deal. Right now they are promoting VRT along with the Complete Book of Tarot Reversals and Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot for $59.41. Which is the exact same price you would pay if you ordered all three titles individually on Amazon. Amazon does offer deep discounts but those "Buy A and B together!" things aren't any additional savings.

truthsayer	08 May 2002
sarah, did you like mary k. greer's book on the women of the golden dawn? i've been thinking about buying it but i hate getting books unseen and then not read them. i am looking for something about w.b. keats and the golden dawn. i've never been that interested in the golden dawn but the more i get into tarot the more i want to know about it.

Angel Star	08 May 2002
I got this deck yesterday 5-7-02 and it is breathtaking. It took just one day to get used to the black and white and I love it. Just looking at one card isn't going to do it. I had to lay out a whole spread and it was great. Very straightforward deck and I like the way the book was but together and the storied that go with each card. :)

Violet Gargoyle	08 May 2002
Hello Sarah! I got "Victoria's Daughters", which I just finished reading a couple of days ago. I picked this up because I knew so little about the children, except of course "Bertie". I always wanted to know more about Alice and Vicky. I rather liked it, but it was a somber read at times, particularly when detailing the end of their lives. I also picked up "Daily Life in Victorian England", which I plan to get into as soon as I finish with "Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management" (Or, as I call it, the Victorian Martha Stewart). Have you ever read it? I got the full original edition so that I could do a paper about Victorian home winemaking. I am just a sucker for books with everyday life details and local customs, particularly Victorian and Appalachian lifestyles. "Victorian Underworld" is on my list to get as well when I'm caught up...

Umbrae	08 May 2002
…had a book growing up. It was my mothers when she was a child, and it most likely was in the family before that. It is a “Mother Goose” childrens book. It has no copyright date, which puts it right around the century turn. It’s filled with pen and ink/engraving type pictures. It gave me my love of that style of art which the VR is part of. You may want to pick one up at a rare book store/sale. Early mother goose is very different than what you get today!

Jimilyn	10 May 2002
Andryh in swooning over this deck. It arrived yesterday, and I found it to be much more vibrant and beautiful than I had expected. I love the Victorian time period, so I was prepared to love this deck...but I'm just ecstatic with it! :) I only had about an hour to sit with the cards and skim through the book yesterday afternoon, but I began feeling a strong bond forming between me and the cards. I can hardly wait for school to be out!! It's only 19 more school days for my students and 20 more days of work for me! I'd love to put this deck on the pillow next to me while I slept, but I'm not chancing it. My little puppy, Ruby, just might decide it looked tasty!!! Yipes! Catcha later, Jimilyn

DollChica	10 May 2002
I picked up this deck at the BX today during my lunch hour. This is a great deck! My troops took one look at the box and were begging for readings. All I've had a chance to do so far is look at the cards and read a little of the book. Will try to get more in-depth this weekend.

Kiama	10 May 2002
You guys are being really horrible now! Stop talking about this deck! Its not on my wishlist... But I'm becoming comvinced that I want it! And this just can't be allowed! Oh dear.... Kiama

lairkeeper	10 May 2002
My husband got me this deck for mother's day and he knew i wanted the so bad that he gave them to me early. I'm in love. Lair

Angel Star	10 May 2002
Yeah Kiama just as others are convincing me to pick up the Cosmic Tribe deck lol! I love the Victoria Regina I just got it this week. It was my gift to me. Great deck very different to work with and I love the readings. And the velvet bag is to die for cause most decks will not even give you this little gem lol! :)

Riversea	10 May 2002
I just got mine too. It's great! The only trouble is, I want to look at it, rather than studying my UW cards. :) Actually, they've both got the "new" factor going for them, so it's not quite as difficult as I make it sound. The bag is a really nice touch. And the images are beautiful. It even seems to have a sense of humor. And the book is really fun. I think the Devil as a clown sold me on the deck. I was (like many kids) terrified of clowns as a child. I was wondering what other people's take on the Lovers and Nine of Coins cards were. They are the only two cards in the deck (at least from a quick look-through) that escape out of the card boarder. For the Lovers, it's the angel's hand. On the 9 of Coins, it's the wing of the dove. At first, I thought it was a "flight" thing, but there are other flying symbols that are kept within the boarders. I was curious to know if people had opinions on this. :)

Violet Gargoyle	10 May 2002
I really like the Lovers Card. It correctly shows Victorian "love" as it meant back then, that courtly or family arrangements almost always won out over romance, particularly for the woman. A strong Victorian woman back then was one who could accept her prearranged partner and be a socially exceptable mate, and not "lose her head" over passionate affairs. Times have changed! The Angel is a nice touch.

raeanne	11 May 2002
Hi all, The VRT is one of my two new decks! (The other is Waking the Wild Spirit Tarot!) I like the black and white art on the VRT. This deck look very well done! I haven't had time to read the book yet but I am looking forward to learning more from this deck!

Violet Gargoyle	11 May 2002
I just got the Waking the Wild Spirit Deck in today! I do think that the VRT is a great example of how a black and white deck can actually work without looking cheap. Have fun with the companion book, it has as much history in it as meanings IMHO, to me this lends additional depth to the cards.

Jimilyn	11 May 2002
Violet Gargoyle, I agree with you that the history and background information in the book adds depth to the cards. I can already feel that it will make using this deck easier for me. I just *love* this deck already. I thought I would, but I had no idea just how much. :) Jimilyn

Sarah Ovenall	12 May 2002
Hi y'all, I'm catching up a bit on this thread :) I loved the book Women of the Golden Dawn by Mary Greer. I enjoy reading historical biographies anyway, but this book, while impeccably researched, is much more entertaining and engaging than many biographies. It's a profile of four particular women: Moina Mathers, Annie Horniman, Florence Farr and Maude Gonne. In the context of their stories I learned so much about the political conflicts of the Golden Dawn, the situation in Ireland, and W. B. Yeats. Yeats is essentially the fifth subject of the book, as he was a major figure in each of the women's lives. Another wonderful thing about the book is that Greer describes in detail an actual Tarot reading by Annie Horniman. Considering the Golden Dawn's immense influence on our understanding of the Tarot, it was really valuable to see how one of its members actually used the cards. Besides all that, fundamentally this is an inspiring story of four women who refused to obey the social restrictions of their time. I highly recommend Women of the Golden Dawn.

Sarah Ovenall	12 May 2002
Another catch-up post.. Violet, that is so cool that you got "Victoria's Daughters" by Jerrold Packard. That's one of the most fun books that I read for VRT. He is perhaps not the most rigorous biographer in the world, but he sure knows how to tell a story. I've also read his "Farewell in Splendor," a description of the pomp and circumstance surrounding Victoria's death, and both books are page-turners. One interesting thing is that some of the figures are presented completely differently in the two books. If I recall correctly, the younger daughters don't come off too well in "Farewell in Splendor," while Kaiser Wilhelm is portrayed much more positively although he's quite the villain in "Victoria's Daughters." Georg read both "Daily Life in Victorian England" and "Victorian Underworld." I remember that the latter was one of the books he most enjoyed from the project. In fact I've been thinking about reading it myself, in my copious free time :) I hadn't heard of "Mrs. Beeton's Book of Household Management" but I'll have to check it out. You must have enjoyed the "1900 House" series they showed on PBS last year.

Violet Gargoyle	12 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Sarah Ovenall You must have enjoyed the "1900 House" series they showed on PBS last year. I know Im spitting nails that I missed it. I keep hoping for a rerun in my area or I will probably hunt down a copy of it somewhere. Re Kaiser Wilhelm II, I had read "Daughters" right on top of reading "Royal Babylon" by Karl Shaw, which focuses on Royal Scandals all over Europe but also put a good section of the book about the Hanover royal decendants, including the Kaiser and George V's weird habits about themselves and toward each other (also Czar Nicholas II). This also shed an interesting light on things while reading "Daughters". (But on the downside, "Babylon" made it seem like everyone royal is nuts somehow due to genetics!) "Mrs. Beeton's" is literally an Etiquette and Recipe book. The unabridged or "facsimile" version (be careful of the updated ones)details things like how to make house calls, when it is proper to remove your bonnet and shawl during visits, hosting dinner parties, hiring servants, child rearing (seen and not heard principles there) and seasonal dishes and beverages. I was using this alot to check background accuracy when I watched "Victoria and Albert" this past winter. :)

Cocobird55	12 May 2002
I've been ambivalent about buying this deck for a while. I kind of wanted it, kind of didn't, wasn't sure... However, I went to Borders today and there it was! Obviously a sign that I should get it, and I did. I haven't spent a lot of time with it yet, but so far I'm enjoying it a lot. Sue

Sarah Ovenall	12 May 2002
I don't think I mentioned this before, but I have a page on my web site for decorated VRT boxes and bags -- if any of you all end up decorating the white box or bag for your deck, please please send me a photo! Thanks, Sarah

midnightmerry	04 Aug 2002
This was an older thread but I didn't want to start a new one on the same subject. I finally broke down and bought the VR deck last night and all I can say is: WOW! This deck is so gorgeous! Even my husband who does not read/collect Tarot was impressed with this deck. Now I'm trying to decide if I'm actually going to use this deck or keep it in pristine condition as an 'art deck' because I like the cards so much. lol

Angel Star	04 Aug 2002
Yes it is quite beautiful deck and I like to pull it out once in awhile for the beautiful type of deck it is. Its very accurate. Once I was doing a reading while watching a program on t.v. that was very interesting. Life channel it was and this guy was getting prosecuted for conspiracy to kill his wife and using her sister and his daughter to do the dirty work for him as I threw the cards down they actually told the story of the show I was watching! I guess I was more into while shuffling the cards than I believed to be lol! You will definitely enjoy this deck.

oriel	04 Aug 2002
i love the art on this deck as well. i let it "call" to me from the borders display shelf for a month or so before i gave in :). i have yet to spend more time with it. i do love the empress card and the ace of wands. the majors are amazing. i have yet to go through all of the minors. my i wish there was a study group or something for this deck. i'd be interested!

LeoLady	04 Aug 2002
I've just had a look at this deck and it IS very beautiful, I also enjoyed reading the script along side describing how she got the artwork for the cards. The strength card is stunning, as is my favourite the Moon..not many like this card, but I love it. (weird I know :D) The only one I really didn't take to at all was the HP card, really don't think that one does her justice.

LeoLady	04 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by lairkeeper My husband got me this deck for mother's day and he knew i wanted the so bad that he gave them to me early. I'm in love. Lair In Love with hubby for giving it to you early or the deck!!! *Grins* I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GONNA SAY GIRL!!!!! :D :D :D :D :D

Emily	11 Aug 2002
I'm posting to this thread late, been away on holiday, but I purchased this deck just before I went away, it contains all the things I usually hate in a deck e.g black and white, collage deck, seems very masculine with all the machinery, clocks for pentacles, pens for wands, guns for swords and jars for cups and the cards are very large and hard to shuffle but I love this deck - its a complete contrast to my other favourite deck the Spiral. The book that comes with the deck is a joy to read, if you love Victoriana you'll love the book, I spent at least 3 hours reading through it and looking at the deck at the same time lol It gives good clear readings too :)

Strega	12 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Andryh This deck left me weak in the knees. It is so beautiful, and utterly unique. I have seen the deck and I agree with you. It's sooo beautiful! :)

RedWood	12 Aug 2002
I have this deck on its way..Can't wait to get it!!!!

retrokat	10 Sep 2002
I own the Victoria Regina Deck and agree it's one of the most original and beautiful decks there is. Llewellyn did a great job with the publishing too - the presentation is excellent, the deck/book kit comes with a lovely velvet bag to keep them in. Well worth the money. Sarah Ovenall kept fans informed of progress toward getting them published on her site, which I found really interesting & useful so I'm now doing the same with my own deck http://goldentarot.com (will be out through US Games next year sometime). Plug, plug! ;)

darwinia	10 Sep 2002
I love this deck and had a great experience when I pulled one card for a British friend who was worrying about attending an event. It was spot-on for his situation and I was so pleased. I am a history buff and have several books with pictures of the royal courts of Europe before WW I, so the history aspect of this deck really appealed to me. I also like old illustrations and woodcuts. I spent 20 hours doing a really fancy, involved crazy patchwork insert on the bag and sent Sarah pictures but she never put it up, nor did she acknowledge my queries on if she had received it, so I don't know what's going on with that, since she states in this thread and on her web site that she likes to get pictures. Anyway, it's a beautiful deck if somewhat awkward to hold, but I like to do one-card readings with it for that reason. The book is fabulous too, the whole thing is very professionally done. Judy

blackthorn	10 Sep 2002
I reviewed many of the cards and found them to be as beautiful as everyone (most) have said they are. Althought i am one of those who prefer colored decks the art work is great with a twist. I how ever did notice the 3 of cups which is the card that i relate to the most and has been since i started 12 yrs ago. and that turned me off. I'm not sure y but just something about it. How ever it is a beautiful deck. Just thought i would put my three cents in....lol

Riversea	10 Sep 2002
Beautiful deck, Retrokat. Thanks for posting the link, and I'll be on the look out for that one when it comes out! :) I, too, love the VR. The images are lovely, and the courts in this deck make more sense to me than do most other decks' courts.

truthsayer	10 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by freesiaskye I spent 20 hours doing a really fancy, involved crazy patchwork insert on the bag and sent Sarah pictures but she never put it up, nor did she acknowledge my queries on if she had received it, so I don't know what's going on with that, since she states in this thread and on her web site that she likes to get pictures. Judy judy, i think sarah has her hand in a lot of projects right now. i don't know if you've read her on-line diary at her site but she's been remodeling her home this summer and living in hotels and friends homes while this was going on plus working and trying to promote her book. i mailed her my VR book but it took around 3 monthes for me to get it back. i was afraid my deck had gotten lost in the mail. my emails and pm's went unanswered. i wanted another VR book so i traded a deck to diana in switzerland for her VR. a few days later, i got my book back. in the meantime, i was in the midst of working out a deal w/ redwood for her daughters of the moon. a few days after i got diana's VR, my VR came back to me signed by both sarah and george. so since i now had 2 VRs, i ended up trading diana's VR to redwood. just a random act of tarot kindness! that deck has seen more of this world than i have. i hope redwood is enjoying the VR. :) i think she'll probably get back to you when things calm down some for her. give it a few monthes.

Spookaloosis	11 Sep 2002
I'll just bet that your efforts will be noticed and rewarded by Miss Ovenall very soon. I'm sure that she is simply trying to catch up on her life. She's a collage artist and DJ who was rocketed overnight into, well...tarot "royalty", if you will excuse the expression! From all I can gather, all the attention has not gone to her head. I think she has tried to be really kind and approachable to the countless fans she has acquired. No doubt she will continue with this. I can't wait to see your bag. I have been contemplating doing something with mine, but textiles are far from being an area of expertise for me. Gosh, I would hate to botch it. But one gets tempted...

Kath	16 Sep 2002
I finaly got my VR deck yesterday, and I LOVE IT!!! I have been drooling over the scans on the net, but the deck is just so much more gorgeous IRL. I spent ages just looking at each card. I will try and start reading the book in the next couple of days. I have been lusting after this deck since it's release months ago, and it was worth the wait. And I love the tarot bag that came with the deck, it saves me having to make one :) Cheers Kath (doing a happy dance)

RedWood	16 Sep 2002
Congrats Kath..I know you have been waiting for sooooooooo long!!

darwinia	16 Sep 2002
Originally posted by Spookaloosis <> ==Oh that's okay, I know she's busy. I did a write up on it for an online crazy quilting magazine, and the pictures are there. You have to sign in and register to see it, but they have all kinds of ideas you might get inspiration from for your bag. My article is in the current issue. http://www.cqmag.com/ <> ==Yes, but deservedly so IMO. The work is so beautiful as is the book. I was just showing someone the deck on Sunday, I am so pleased that I have one. <> ==I completely understand the botching it comment. Why do you think I spent 20 hours and one month sewing mine? I was so afraid of wrecking it! I'll tell you what an artist once said to me--take the pencil in your hand and just draw, just do it. The same goes for every creative enterprise I think. Judy

The I'm Swooning...The Victoria Regina Tarot! thread was originally posted on 30 Mar 2002 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.