Merlin Tarot?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Aerin	19 Apr 2002
I bought this deck because I am attracted to anything vaguely Arthurian. Yesterday I found it again hidden on the bookshelf behind a load of other stuff and thought I'd take another look. This reminded me why it was hidden away in the first place. All the cards are in a different order to a traditional deck, while the names remain the same. I can understand 'why' but the new system doesn't connect with me, at least not yet. Also I'm not blown away by the minors - I quite like some of the majors, apart from the different numbering. So, before I put it away again, does anyone love this deck? What are its strengths? Aerin

catlin	19 Apr 2002
I got this deck for a present. I love the Majors (although they are in a different order) but was highly disappointed by the Minors so I only use it for Majors-only-readings.

Aerin	20 Apr 2002
Thanks caitlin. I think I may well end up doing the same - I like the majors a little too much to trade the deck away altogether. I suppose having the companion book may help, but I'd rather spend time studying my Hallowquest/ Arthurian deck than on this one. Aerin

fairyhedgehog	18 Mar 2004
I've just got hold of a Merlin tarot deck on loan from the library. I like a lot of the pictures on the Majors but I can't make sense of the deck at all. It seems so esoteric (if that is the right word). It involves a complicated system for laying out the cards and maybe the renumbered majors make sense in that context. I really didn't get the 'Guardian' as the devil card. And the pips! I'm ready for non-picture pips, but with these I have to count the number of items on each card to be sure which number it is. And then work out whether 'beasts' is pentacles or wands ... The keyword is disappointingly Rider-Waite, too. So I have two questions: 1) Does anyone get on with this deck and use it? 2) Is it a tarot deck, or is it different enough to be an Oracle deck? And for the record, I think it is more of an oracle than tarot, because you have to understand a whole new system to be able to make sense of it.

cricket	18 Mar 2004
I have it and use it regularly. It's actually very accurate - at least for me. The trick is to not let the numbers on the majors mess with your head, and to remember which little doomiflothchie is which suit. Then again, maybe it helps that I'm one of those that doesn't pay attention to the numbers on the cards anyway. :) It helps to be a very intuitive reader to use them.

Phoenyx*	18 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog I've just got hold of a Merlin tarot deck on loan from the library. WOW! You can loan decks from the library?!

fairyhedgehog	19 Mar 2004
Maybe I'm so disappointed because the book that is with the deck is so unhelpful. It doesn't tell you about Merlin, or the design on the cards. It just tells you ways of laying them out in order to meditate, a lot of esoteric stuff I didn't understand, and divinatory meanings. Some of the pictures are lovely. I could imagine using it as an oracle with just the picture cards ie everything except the 2 - 10 pip cards. But I shan't be buying a copy just yet :) And I was surprised too that you can get it from the library. I just typed 'tarot' into the catalogue and it came up! Mind you, the ones in Surrey library system had gone missing, so they had to order it from the British library. I wish they had more decks to borrow but it's the only one I've seen. I've only got it for a couple of weeks, so I'd better make the most of it :)

The Merlin Tarot? thread was originally posted on 19 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.