shapeshifter tarot.

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Mar 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

wigwag	06 Mar 2002
Hi, Like the new look forums. Anyway. I have just got the shapeshifter tarot. I read a lot of good reviews about it but now I have it I am a bit perplexed. I think the imagery is lovely, and I asked the deck what I would get from it and I got the card equivalent to 9 cups success. So I am determined to persevere. Has anyone else got this deck and how do you find it. I find it almost impossible to interpret without the book which I would rather not use. Has anyone got any suggestions about this deck to make it easier as I seem to have missed something. I do not fully understand celtic gods but like the imagery attatched to nature. I have an open mind with regards to the possibility of shapeshifting an taking on the characteristics or strengths of an animal but I think the deck requires simplied explainations. Anyone else any have any comments.

aeonx	07 Mar 2002
Greetings wigwag. I received my shapeshifter a couple of weeks ago, and still haven't used it. I was a bit put off when I looked through the cards. The imagery is just beautiful, but I also have problems understanding them. However, I haven't put in any big effort either. This is a complex deck which needs a great deal of attention. I will dedicate myself to it when I find the time and it feels right. I would suggest that if you really want to use the shapeshifter on a regular basis, that you meditate alot with them. Try laying out the cards equivalent to the Fool, the Magician, the High Priestess and the World out in a diamond pattern (the one described in 78 Degrees of Wisdom) and study them closely. I have used this method with nearly all my decks, and it works out amazingly! I have learned so very much through studying these important cards. I perceive them as being the foundation for the entire deck, and if you are able to understand them, you are on the right path for using your deck. This, however, is my personal opinion. Maybe it helps you too. :) Good luck on your shapeshifter journey!

wigwag	07 Mar 2002
Thanks aeonx. I havent yet read 78 degrees of wisdom but I will take on board your suggestion. Let me know how you go on when you start to use the deck. I am sure it will be worth the effort in the end.

Scorpion	08 Mar 2002
Hi, Wigwag and Aeonx! I've had Shapeshifter for a while but not really worked with it yet. I too love the artwork but find the interpretations really hard. I even sat down and taped them all one day but it doesn't seem to have helped! I've seen it mentioned elsewhere that this is probably more of a collector's deck than a working one. Should we try starting a study group and seeing how many people are interested?

aciddragon	08 Mar 2002
I'd be interested in a study group for shapeshifter deck. Thou I don't know how good I'd be since I'm very new at tarot. I like the deck but as everyone else stated it's hard to get the meanings of the cards. So, I've cheated for now and use the book at least til I can study the cards more and learn more about tarot in general.

nexyjo	08 Mar 2002
this deck was one of the first i had. frankly, i never liked it. i look at it as one of those "learning experiences" - never buy a deck without looking through it in its entirety. i bought it based on seeing a few of the cards, and of course, they'll always show the best cards in the deck. so i liked the 6 or so that i saw, and virtually no others. i became tired of the "morphing" artwork real quick, and the non-traditional layout with the extra few cards in the majors confused me, especially at first. all in all, a poor choice for a beginner. though several years later, i am no closer to connecting with this deck than i ever was. i much prefer the celtic dragon tarot by the same artist and author. the concept is executed much better than in the shapeshifter tarot. luv and light, nexy

wigwag	09 Mar 2002
Thanks for all your replies so far. It seems that this is not a well liked deck even though I have read some good reviews. I think a study group would be a great idea for anyone wanting to still get to grips with the deck. I think it is a difficult deck to interpret but I like the idea behind it so I am determined not to give up too soon. Just to start off for anyone who wants to have a go I picked a card at random, I don't intend to refer to the book and want to see if it comes naturally. Please give your interpretations of this or any other card. 3. The Mother - I read once that if nothing comes intuitively start by describing the object or card so here goes. A woman with long white or grey hair who is pregnant and draped in a green robe is standing in a stream holding and apple next to a white winged horse who is drinking from the stream. Around the woman are stars and above is what looks like a milky way in orange and yellow. The dominating colours though in the ard are blues and greens. It obviously relates to The empress because of the pregnancy. And the fruits she bears (apple). The stream she is stood in is whooshing upwards towards the milky way at one side. Could this mean lifting emotions to the stars or Cosmic consciousness? The grey or white hair of the woman would signify experience and knowledge, and as the hair goes down and mingles with the stream I would say that it meant emotional maturity. The winged horse their ready to carry her to better things. Blues and greens suggest peacefullnes and harmony to me and the pale yellow ground and milky way would suggest the warmth and welcoming of the earth or earthly things. I think this is probably one of the easier cards to start with. Anymore for anymore?

bec	09 Mar 2002
woaw, a study group for shapeshifter eh :D I am defiantly in on this one, never use anything but shapeshifter - just love that deck - a kindred spirit if I ever met one. maybe we should move the group to studies and start from the beginning ?

wigwag	09 Mar 2002
Good idea consider it done.

wigwag	09 Mar 2002
Please go on to the study group to continue and thanks for all the comments so far. Keep it up Im really interested in your opinions.

catlin	11 Mar 2002
Hi, I also got the Shapeshifter deck and I absolutely LOVE the artwork but I would not recommend it as a beginner's deck (see reasons above). You really have to be deep into Celtic Druid tradition to get along with it. I started to "learn" this deck as I want to work with it, maybe to explore past lifes and/or karmic relationships (the Gendron deck I wanted to use for that did not click with me). Count me in for the study group!

Jewel	11 Mar 2002
I have done a lot of thinking over my months here at Aeclectic, and some of you tought me something that now I really take to heart. If someone is attracted to a particular deck then perhaps it is the right deck for them regardless of what we think. If you love the imagery, and it speaks to you, then you are more apt to have it come to you and learn it, then working with a deck when you are thinking of the deck you really wish you were working with. Personally I think the deck is breath-taking, but with the added cards I have shied away from it. I do one day plan to study the deck well, to have a more educated opinion of it, but the one thing I can say is that I have seen, through Bec, how well this deck works, and I would never trade mine for the world. As for the Celtic Dragon, I have and love that one as well :) Bec will be a terrific resource for the group, she is very experienced and like she said, it is the only deck she uses. I think you guys will have a great group and are in for a treat. Good luck and enjoy your experiences with the Shapeshifter. You guys might want to follow some of Thirteen's Basic Assignements for exploring this deck. Just an idea, Bec knows where the assignments are and I am sure Thirteen would not mind sharing them again!

wigwag	14 Mar 2002
I tried a new tact last night. I took the pack and divided into Major arcana and the different suits. I firstly laid out the majors and looked at them in detail one at a time to see what the card suggested amongs the others. This did actually help quite a lot to clarify the card. I then put all the minors into order in their individual suits and looked at all of the Aces together, then all of the two's etc. I felt much more attuned to the deck after going through this process and it prompted the dream that I had (see Talking tarot) As above I had no connection with the meanings of the cards. Only in the fact that I liked the idea behind the deck, and the cards are pretty. Bye the way. Have any of you tried to shapeshift and what happened?

bengalwood	16 Mar 2002
there are some great suggestions here. Something that has helped me to connect with this deck is to concentrate on the animals/reptiles/ect represented in the pictures. After all that seems the main point - shapeshift into an animal to learn from them the special magic each holds. Remember in Camelot when Merlin teaches Arthur to make himself one with the Hawk? Medicine cards and Animal Wise cards have some nice viewpoints on animal magic but it is not necessary to have read them. Animals are universal symbols. If the card show a wolf think about what that symbol means to you - the pack, lone wolf, nocturnal or whatever connections come up for you. Imagine being a wolf (or other animal) - how do you feel, what is your story? Some cards show more than one animal which may seem confusing, but in that case focus on the shapeshifter first. The power of shapeshifting is connecting to these energies so that you can use them whenever desired. Feeling shy? Shapeshift into a tiger. Feeling disconnected? Shapeshift into a dolphin (they are telepathically connected). Use your imagination. Hope this helps. Bengalwood

Jewel	18 Mar 2002
With all the animals in this deck, you might also want to check out the book Animal Speak by Ted Andrews ... could add some insight into the animals and their special magic.

The shapeshifter tarot. thread was originally posted on 06 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.