Mathews Arthurian vs. Ferguson Legend Arthurian decks

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

faunabay	06 Apr 2002
I know we've talked about both of these deck at length, but I don't remember an actual comparison. ??? I have the Ferguson Legend deck and love the artwork, but have trouble with some of the specific cards. Nothing huge - for example the 2 of cups is based on the tragic, doomed love affair of Isolt and Tristam. This is supposed to be a happy love affair card so that just doesn't do it for me! And even though I love the animals as pages, they just don't seem to fit in with the other cards. And as much as I love the artwork (have I said that before? LOL) I never seem to beable to use this deck in a reading. It has just become an art deck to me. I don't know if I could ever give up my Legend deck (love the artwork ROFL) but I'm thinking seriously about getting the Mathews Arthurian deck also. But feel kind of silly as I already have the Celtic tarot by DeBurgh (which I love) also. How many celtic/arthurian decks do I need really? LOL So what do you all think about comparing the two??? Should I trade in my Legend deck for the Arthurian or just break down and buy them both? -------Jewel, you are a BAD, BAD influence on me!!!!! See what you have started!!--------

truthsayer	06 Apr 2002
faunabay, i've got the arthurian ordered and should get it in the next 2 weeks. you can (a)go ahead and buy it which i know you probably will do anyhow--call it a learned hunch, (b)you can wait a few weeks and let me report back to you and buy it whether i like it or not, (c)not buy it and never know for yourself. of course, it won't replace my beloved LAT no matter how much i like it! as to your silly question about how many celtic/arthurian decks you need anyway, you know you need them all! i don't remember how many i have in that category but i think it's at least 5. don't you want to keep up w/ the insanity? what are you trying to do? get yourself kicked out from being a charter member of tarot-holics anonymous? :p :D roflmao!!!!!

faunabay	06 Apr 2002
truthsayer, you are getting to know me alittle bit TOO well!!! ROFL I've been sitting here telling myself "no, don't buy it yet. Wait until people answer your questions!" ROFLMAO And just to poke at you - :) I absolutely knew you'd be one of the first ones to answer this post. And here you are the exact first one!!! hehehehehehehe

faunabay	06 Apr 2002
Hey I did good!! I lasted all of about 20 or 30 minutes before I actually ordered the Arthurian deck. ROFLMAO Really though I'd still love to hear your opinions. LOL What do you all think about each deck?

truthsayer	07 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by faunabay truthsayer, you are getting to know me alittle bit TOO well!!! ROFL I've been sitting here telling myself "no, don't buy it yet. Wait until people answer your questions!" ROFLMAO And just to poke at you - :) I absolutely knew you'd be one of the first ones to answer this post. And here you are the exact first one!!! hehehehehehehe and you my dear, are getting to know me a little bit too well! ROFL!!! what a trap you set for me--you were just like #15 the devil--you knew i couldn't resist answering questions like the ones you posed. }> but girlfriend, you done me proud and ordered that deck just like you knew you ought to. :p i got an email from amazon stating that they put my wild spirit, dance of life, and arthurian decks in the mail for me today. OH I CAN'T WAIT!! i don't even have to be in the same room w/ you or know where you live to hear you laughing! but you can't point any fingers at me b/c you'd only be pointing 3 back at yourself! :p now what i really think happened in the garden of eden is that eve offered adam the first ever tarot instead of an apple. how could he resist? apple as symbol for tarot--interesting thought...has possibilities. of course, as the story goes,the devil told eve about the the "apple". why not tarot? works for me!

Martin	08 Apr 2002
Hello, I personally prefer the Matthews deck for several reasons. I feel the artwork on the Matthews deck is far superior to the Legend deck, surpassing it by virtue of detail and realism. I also like the way they have put doorway like borders around them, which makes entering the cards a lot easier. My main problem is the treatment of the myths with the Legend deck, it's far too romanticised. The Matthews deck is true to the legends, and happily displays the rugged raw and less desirable qualities of the myths along with the more appealing sides. Consequently they are easier to read with, and give a much more balanced view of things. John & Caitlin Matthews have also been a lot more imaginative with their choice of themes for cards, which I think is partly due to their more superior knowledge of the myths and the meanings behind them. The thought that has gone into this deck comes out particularly in the two follow up books, in which they put foward methods of going deeper into their meanings & ways of working through the cards in order to heal the self. The Matthews deck also acknowledges the Celtic myths from which many of the Arthurian legends were drawn, and examine the patterns behind them. This has meant that the deck has a real feel of consistancy to it, whereas I've always found the Legend deck a bit scattered, for want of a better word. I really do feel that those of you who have ordered it will be suprised at just how much difference their is between the decks. Martin

Jewel	08 Apr 2002
Me? A bad influence on you? *ROFLMAO* ... you must be joking *LOL*. And HOW DARE you even consider trading your Legends deck? are you crazy? ... I agree full heartedly with Truthsayer that one cannot simply have enough Celtic decks ~winks at Truthsayer~. I gave you my spiel on the comparison of the 2 decks via e-mail (before you ordered it, and that must be what you are referring to in terms of me tempting you to get the deck). Lee has a fabulous review that compares the 2 decks on the Tarot Passages web site. Go check it out, it will only provide you with relief that you (a) ordered the deck and (b) did not trade Legends! ... I still cannot believe you even considered that! shame on you! *LOL*. Personally I love that romanticised artwork, if for nothing else I could never trade it. ~Shakes head~ darn! all this talk of celtic decks is reminding me that I still do not own the LoScarabeo one and should just stop by the bookstore today on my way home and get it over with! ... perhaps I'll just go ahead and get the Victoria Regina too while I am at it ... I'm hopless! ... Truthsayer, I think I am going to win the Tarot-holic deck purchasing award for the month of April! is the award a discount on my next deck? ;)

grailmaiden	08 Apr 2002
I don't think you'll be disappointed with the Matthews' deck. They are really well researched on the Arthurian legends :).

faunabay	08 Apr 2002
Yeah, I've already read Lee's review!! I read it when I was trying to decide which one to buy in the first place. He always gives such great reviews!!! Did you read that Lee? LOL I think his review was what helped to decide the buy the Legends Arth. in the first place. I liked the romantic feel of it. But I think I agree with Martin, I try to read with the Legends deck and it just feels kind of scattered to me too. I absolutely love the artwork, but can't get a handle on the cards for reading purposes. So it'll be interesting to compare the two decks side by side.

truthsayer	09 Apr 2002
caitlin and john matthews are well known for their extensive knowledge of celtic traditions. i have the celtic wisdom deck and if the hallowquest is anything like it, i'm sure i will be blown away. however, i am a pisces and an incurable romantic even tho i can be incredibly cynical of romance. but that romantic streak just doesn't care about those little imperfections of the LAT. when you're in love you just don't notice flaws. :D jewel, if you win first place then i probably will be second the way i've been wheeling and dealing lately. i go to the post office so often to send packages and pick up packages i'm starting to feel paranoid that the postal clerks will think i'm up to something and demand to open my package before mailing. then i'll have to expose my evil little hobby to everyone in line in our little fundyville community. the news will spread like wildfire and by sunset i'll be burning at the stake! LOL :p look, i'm so bad that i have all my packages delivered to my post office box so hubby can't question my obsession. it's just so much fun i can't stop! he has his own obsessions he throws money away on anyhow. so why should i feel guilty? yes, i am always on the look out for more celtic decks(gotta have 'em!!) but now i'm also interested in finding more self-discovery decks. i really hope the decks i recently ordered will be like that. if i don't watch myself, my purchases from amazon alone will be enough to raise stock prices in amazon!! :p

Lee	09 Apr 2002
I agree with Martin's observation about LAT being scattered. The decision to assign each Minor card a different story results in a reading being kind of all over the place. The Arthurian has a more cohesive feel, because although the Minors do refer to different stories, visually the cards in a suit are much more consistent with each other, since they show the suit symbols interacting with landscapes, and only suggest the stories indirectly without actually illustrating them. I wish I had thought to mention this in my review. I wouldn't mind reading a review by Martin, actually (hint, hint :) ). The LAT and the Arthurian are fun in different ways. I think the best thing would be to get both, and decide which one to use on a specific occasion based on whether one is in a romantic storytelling mood or a serious spiritual mood. And thank you, faunabay! :) -- Lee

Jewel	09 Apr 2002
~giggles with Truthsayer~ Well Truth keep me posted on the the celtic decks you get or if you ever decide to trade them just in case I don't have them *LOL*. I hope Aeclectic profits from our recent visits to Amazon *ROFLMAO*. Sounds like both of us have been quite busy. I like that idea of yours of getting a post office box as I am getting married soon and my soon to be spousal unit already knows I am obsessed so he will be on the lookout *LOL*. I think half of my madness of purchasing all sorts of decks these days is related to the fear of not being able to purchase decks when ever I want to after I am married *ROFLMAO* (well that is the excuse I am using anyway! *LOL*). You crack me up! *LOL* :p

truthsayer	09 Apr 2002
i just got the arthurian and know it will never replace my love affair w/ LAT. Arthurian is drier and definitely more intellectual/ serious. the art isn't enchantingly romantic. it's reality based and appears truer to the grail legends. the art isn't fanciful. it's earthbound. it's completely different than my celtic wisdom. i love the book and art of the CW. it's far more stirring emotionally! CW has a streak of fire! in the arthurian, i'll learn more about the celtic background of the arthurian legends and i'll benefit spiritually from from the "hallowquest" when i begin serious study of it. it appears to be about learning about how to be a knight. the different hallows are about different aspects of the knighthood. but i remain a pisces and will continue swimming in my little world of fantastic flights of fantasy w/ my LAT!! trying to compare LAT against the arthurian is like comparing an apple against a orange. yeah, they both have the properties of fruits and they are roundish but the similarities end there.

truthsayer	09 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel I like that idea of yours of getting a post office box as I am getting married soon and my soon to be spousal unit already knows I am obsessed so he will be on the lookout *LOL*. I think half of my madness of purchasing all sorts of decks these days is related to the fear of not being able to purchase decks when ever I want to after I am married *ROFLMAO* (well that is the excuse I am using anyway! *LOL*). You crack me up! *LOL* :p jewel, take it from one who has had a spousal unit for 6 years--it may save your marriage to have that post office box one day! a post office box is also a lot cheaper than buying decks like there's no tomorrow before the wedding. i mean you've got to leave a few to buy AFTER the big day!! btw, i hope you are planning a cheap wedding. buying tarot decks are more important! you've got to support aeclectic you know. we can't have amazon stocks to drop either. LOL hey! as far as i'm concerned any excuse to buy a deck works for me! if i decide to pry my paws off any decks, you and faunabay will have first dibs!

faunabay	10 Apr 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer if i decide to pry my paws off any decks, you and faunabay will have first dibs! YEAH!!!!!! hehehehehe

catlin	11 Apr 2002
As I am a great fan of Celtic myth and lore, I HAD to add both decks to my collection. The LAT is still my fav collector's deck but I recommend the AT for reading because you do not run the risk to loose yourself in the intriguing artwork and forget all you wanted to find out with the tarot cards LOL.

truthsayer	11 Apr 2002
you know catlin, i had not thought of it that way about the LAT but i think you are right. i do tend to lose myself in the art of LAT but i don't w/ the AT. i haven't tried a reading w/ the AT yet but i'm trying to get a copy of the hallowquest book. the course sounds interesting and since i love archtypes i think i'd enjoy it.

faunabay	11 Apr 2002
That's exactly one of my main problems with the LAT. I just want to look at the pretty pictures and forget about the reading. LOL

The Mathews Arthurian vs. Ferguson Legend Arthurian decks thread was originally posted on 06 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.