It's The Help-a-Tarot-Holic-Pick-Decks Game!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Zhritza	17 Apr 2002
I thought about posting this in the Tarot-holics Anonymous thread in Talking Tarot, but I guess it belongs here... I work at a Borders bookstore, and there are four other Borders in the area from which we can transfer items to our store. Between the five stores, there are currently seven decks that I feel I have to purchase immediately. But, being a bookseller, I am poor and must buy them one at a time, with at least a week or so between each purchase. Of course, once I buy all of these I will start ordering stuff, and that's, well, a whole other Pandora's box... The one I will probably get first is the Tarot of Light and Shadow, because there are a couple in stock and from what I've seen on Amazon it looks like it might be going out of print (correct me if you know I'm wrong). The other six are harder to prioritize. Any input is appreciated as to which I should grab first. They are: the Lo Scarabeo Sola-Busca ("Illuminating Ancient Tarots") Tarot of the Cat People Napo Tarot Nigel Jackson Tarot Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg World Spirit Tarot Also, I have the opportunity to buy brand-new, shrinkwrapped Santa Fe Tarot and/or Brian Williams Minchiate deck & book sets at about half their regular price. I am not personally interested in either of these, but do you guys think one or both of them are worth buying for trading purposes?

faunabay	18 Apr 2002
Next on your list should be the World spirit or Nigel Jackson!! Definitely!! :) They are both wonderful decks!! And I don't know anything about the Santa Fe deck, but you could probably trade the Minchiate pretty easily.

jade	18 Apr 2002
i agree. i would get world spirit first and then nigel jackson. have fun! in light, jade :)

Umbrae	18 Apr 2002
Look into my eyes...Relax... You desire the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg; you feel it pulling you, calling your name. “Qolus… Qolus!” Seriously, the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg is my favorite deck. Out of your entire list, it is the only one I can recommend. But then I am a sick puppy.

Liliana	18 Apr 2002
World Spirit definately is next, Tarot of the cat people is hard to read with, especially if you dont have the book. Youd probably get an offter fromsomeoneon both the Minchiante and Santa Fe,but Minchiante is more desirale, especially with Brian Williams passing away the other day :( Id put Russian Tarot 2nd and Nigel Jackson third :)

Jewel	18 Apr 2002
I would put the Nigel Jackson and World Spirit at the top of the list if I were you. Both are great decks! Then I would add the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg (it has black backgrounds which give it a little different feel somehow), and the Tarot of the Cat People. What I like about the Tarot of the Cat People is the book *LOL*. The author has created a cool little world. The deck is neat looking too (in my opinion). I have never tried to read with it though I just got it cause it had kitties and was then really pleasently surprised by the book. I have heard mixed opinions about the Sola-Busca and do not own it so I cannot really comment on it or the Napo for that matter as I do not own them either. I think you would have an easier time trading the Minchiate. It is a really nice deck but I do not really consider it Tarot per se ... that is why I traded mine.

Jenny-Li	18 Apr 2002
I'll say World Spirit any day of the week and twice on Sunday! (That is such a cool expression, but I don't get to use it much - couldn't resist now...! :D ) That deck moved my Tarot-experience from the strictly thoretical sphere into the practical, and another thing: I have even been able to stay away from buying other decks since I got it. (The itch is gaining on me now, though...! ;) ) Tarot of the Cat People are on my list too, but only on the "non-reading-decks-list", so for me it's not that high a priority... That one is more a collection thing, a "Because I'm worth it"-kind of deck, in L'Oreal terms...! :D The Nigel Jackson has been mentioned here quite a lot the last 24 hours or so, I had never really noticed it before yesterday, but I think it's up on my list too. Love and light! Jenny :)

Lee	18 Apr 2002
You know, unless I'm mistaken (if I'm wrong, someone please correct me), the Majors on the Sola-Busca deck are all ancient military leaders and don't have anything to do with the traditional Tarot Majors, which it seems to me would lessen their usefulness for reading. It would be a neat deck to have, though, 'cause it's the very first deck to have illustrated Minors, and Pamela Colman Smith used some of them as models for the Rider-Waite deck. -- Lee

Malachite	18 Apr 2002
Well...you're gonna get them all anyway, but... If you have an order of preference, do it backwards...that way you're always looking forward to the next one, rather than getting you're favourite, and not getting the kinky-purchase-twinkles from the next four after that... just my tuppence...

Zhritza	18 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Malachite If you have an order of preference, do it backwards...that way you're always looking forward to the next one, rather than getting you're favourite, and not getting the kinky-purchase-twinkles from the next four after that... Oooh... tricky! I will consider this... ;) Thanks, all, for such great input! Regarding the Cat People, I would be buying the deck & book set (it looks like the deck alone may be out of print, anyway). I've heard about the cool world of that deck, and it sounds... cool. Plus there's my weakness for F**kin' Trippy Decks. (If I ever come across a copy of the Linweave, I may be in serious trouble...) I think I will probably get the Nigel Jackson first. Now don't all talk at once! :) I've wanted the World Spirit for longer, actually, but for some reason I have lately been drawn to the more "old-world-fantasy" type thing, and the NJ puts a twist on that that is very yummy. But World Spirit will be next, I promise. Never fear, Umbrae, I will get to the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg. As for the Sola Busca, I've decided to get it (eventually) because I feel like I *have to* have one old fusty deck that is not super-directly influenced by the Marseilles, and the Sola Busca is the only one I've found that has illustrated minors. I almost bought the Classic Tarots, which I think are an 1830s or so deck; but Lo Scarabeo has printed them with "helpful" keywords on the left side of the cards, and the keywords are frequently what I consider to be wrong. Plus, you buy a deck like that primar'ly 'cause it's purty, y'all, and bold words printed right alongside the designs wrecks that. I may end up putting off the Napo indefinitely, although I'm worried about doing that because I have a feeling it won't be in print for very long, just because it's so specific. You guys rule. Thank you. :D :D As for the second issue, again, I kiss you all sloppily. I will get the Minchiate if I can afford it along with everything else I mean to blow my cash on.

kayne	19 Apr 2002
World Spirit World Spirit World Spirit World Spirit World Spirit World Spirit World Spirit World Spirit World Spirit World Spirit !!! I just love blue people! :D (I guess this is not a very convincing arguement...:P)

Hummingbird	19 Apr 2002
LOL!! I have worked in bookstores before, so I know, I know....we're all poor because we buy all of the new releases that interest us, be they books or decks. LOL at "I feel I have to purchase immediately"

Zhritza	19 Apr 2002
To add to my poverty, they give full-time employees house accounts, into which they put $30 of credit a month; and you can be up to $200 in the hole. Guess how far in the hole I am. :rolleyes: I bought the Light and Shadow today, but geez, maybe I *will* get the World Spirit ASAP... I didn't realize before starting this thread that it was *that* fantastic... but I trust you people. Fine, I'll get it first then. You win. :)

truthsayer	19 Apr 2002
qolus, what do you think of the light and shadow deck? i just ordered but i was wondering.

Lee	20 Apr 2002
Regarding the Light and Shadow, I really like this deck and am glad I have it, but I find that I can't use it to read with. I think the problem is the publisher made the cards way too big. The black and white areas seem to vibrate on the cards, and they make me dizzy to look at them. -- Lee

Zhritza	21 Apr 2002
I don't find them dizzying, but yes, they're rather tall and very wide. You will probably have to riffle them or "scramble" them for shuffling, unless you fan. I haven't had a chance to read with them yet. I can start a new thread after I do, if you'd like. I absolutely love the artwork, and more than that, it gives me a good feeling - it's like I can feel some of Michael Goepferd's positive intent. The deck is multicultural in a very general, nonspecific but embracing way. Many of the minors have RWS-based imagery. An unusual thing is that the cards come in the box in this order: majors first of course, then all the Queens - wands, cups, swords, pentacles - then all the Kings, Princesses and Princes with the suits in that same order; then all the Aces, all the Twos, etc. I have not studied the book yet, but at the beginning of each card's description there is a short non-rhyming poem. These look like they can be very helpful in remembering the gist of the cards. For example, the Seven of Cups has this: The sacred profaned becomes a beast of indulgence and the illusion therein wallows. Here, lax souls drown. It seems like a wonderful deck. I just hope I can shuffle it without the cards spewing everywhere. :D

Aerin	24 Apr 2002
Just got the World Spirit on the basis of this thread. Bargain. Great deck. And looks easy to work with given its connections to the Rider-Waite. I'm still figuring out the significance if any of having Temperence and The Magician included twice. Aerin

Jenny-Li	24 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Aerin Just got the World Spirit on the basis of this thread. /.../ Great deck. /.../ I'm still figuring out the significance if any of having Temperence and The Magician included twice. Aerin Hi! I have the World Spirit too, and love reading with it! Yep, it's a great deck if you ask me! The reason for including two Temperances and two Magicians is that you're supposed to be able to use these as significators in your readings. Personally I think that is to limited a selection for significators, but I think that is why. But now that I think of it - I have no idea where I got this information, so maybe I've misunderstood it. Mine are just lying in my Tarot-box doing nothing, so I've never really thought about it. Does anybody else have a better idea? Love and light! Jenny :)

Liliana	24 Apr 2002
I believe someone mentioned them being significators in the forum, also mentioned was the fact that, in this deck, they are both male (tho temperace is usally female) and we didnt like the fact there wasnt a female significator. You could put them in little picture frames and put them on your bedside table to meditate on before sleeping :) or send them by mail to a friend to confuse them hehe :THP

Zhritza	27 Apr 2002
So, I finally bought the World Spirit today -- you were right, everyone. I looked through the cards with a big dumb grin on my face. This deck is alive. It's just fantastic. Thanks for demanding that I get it. :) Blue people forever, maaan!

The It's The Help-a-Tarot-Holic-Pick-Decks Game! thread was originally posted on 17 Apr 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.