Quester

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 27 May 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

raeanne	27 May 2002
There has been some discussion about different native American Tarot decks and I was wondering if any of you have the Questor deck? I doesn't follow the traditional tarot meanings but it does seem to focus more on the native American culture. It comes with a hard bound book. The only problem I have with it is that it tries too hard to fit native American culture in with Qabbalah and Jungian archetypes. Personally, I think the cards themselves are good and the book should go bye-bye. Anyone else have this deck? Hey, I just noticed that I finally made it past 200 posts. Since I have been around since before the big crash on the old system, I guess that doesn't say much.

truthsayer	27 May 2002
i have considered buying the quester deck b/c i enjoy N/A spirituality so much. but i have to admit jungian archetypes and the kabalah added would be a definite turn off to me. i've had more luck w/ oracle decks. i really like decks by jamie sams(medicine cards are one) but i know everyone doesn't agree w/ me. at least she really is NA and she doesn't try to anglicize the system. another N/A deck i heard good reports on is the lakota sioux sweat lodge oracle. this deck is also by NAs. as far as tarot decks go, i really like the vision quest but i know there are definite rider waite ties. it's delicately painted in soft colors and is a nice gentle deck.

catlin	28 May 2002
Never heard of the quester deck. I have the Native American deck (ughh), the Vision quest (which I really love) and think about getting the cards by Archie Fire Lame Deer but I am not so sure about that since the big disappointment with the NA deck.

truthsayer	28 May 2002
catlin, if the cards you are considering getting by archie fire lame deer are the sweat lodge then i don't think you'll be disappointed. wicce's has it listed as one of the 10 best oracle decks. she may have a review on it. i don't know if passages or aeclective does but you should do a little research b4 deciding against this one. i've seen it and i like it but i don't want to spend that much for it when there are so many decks out that i want!

catlin	28 May 2002
Hi truth, Yep, I already checked them out at wicce's com. I think I will meditate a bit about getting them as there is also a German version available and there are still soo many more interesting decks out in tarotworld :D

Zhritza	29 May 2002
The Quester looks beautiful from the images I've seen, and the Vision Quest looks even lovelier. I'm starting to itch to get one or the other of them, and it's problematic, because I've never felt OK about getting an American Indian-themed deck. There are numerous reasons. One of the big ones is that, as with just about every other medium that attempts to blend Indian traditions with other traditions, there's this premise that there was somehow one idyllic native American culture, and it was perfect and noble, and it is now dead. I can think of few worse examples of disrespecting a person or a group of people than to behave as though they are a fantasy, a romantic bygone thing. There are at least 100 living Indian cultures. The one most frequently tapped seems to be that of the Lakota (Sioux) -- or more broadly, the Plains nations -- usually with some tokens of the Ojibwe/Anishinaabe/Chippewa culture (which is a woodland culture) thrown in, such as dreamcatchers and beadwork. But it is rarely specified that these are the cultures being borrowed. I know a tiny bit about Ojibwe culture, and even less about Lakota culture. It's bad enough that I have such a limited understanding of the people who were here, where I live, before anyone else was. I think it would be a bad idea for me to muddle what little understanding I have gleaned by my using a European system of imagery that claims to be "authentically" Indian. I don't know whether to stop being so humorless about this and just get the deck(s) because they are attractive and vivid, or to not do that for the aforementioned reasons. ...Yes, actually I am having another Libra Attack, how did you guess? :rolleyes:

truthsayer	29 May 2002
i agree w/ everything you said, qolus. i know the tribe that lives close to me is very resentful of others trying to learn more about them or trying to become a part of their culture. the fallacy of the "noble savage" is a hard one to die away. i think books like,"last of the mohicans" didn't help much either. then there's the problems w/ archeologists wanting to study the bones of their ancestors and treasure hunters stealing ancient art. sports teams naming themselves after them like the braves. i know i would feel violated if a dominant culture did that to my heritage. on the other hand, there are ppl who really respect other cultures. studying a culture to keep it's stories and other heritage recorded to protect against a culture dying out is an attempt at least to show respect and repair some damage done. i've studied native american culture a lot and i've been to powwows. i know vision quest is not a good example of their culture. it's a beautiful deck but it's highly romantisized. however, i suspect my decks on celtic culture is also romanticized. as long as i know the difference b/t fantasy and reality, i don't have a problem w/ collecting NA style decks. in my mind, it's a sign of respect to be interested in them and want to learn more about them in some way. that's the pisces sun and venus w/ 4 planets in aquarius view point at least. ;)

Zhritza	29 May 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer studying a culture to keep it's stories and other heritage recorded to protect against a culture dying out is an attempt at least to show respect and repair some damage done. [...] i suspect my decks on celtic culture is also romanticized. as long as i know the difference b/t fantasy and reality, i don't have a problem w/ collecting NA style decks. in my mind, it's a sign of respect to be interested in them and want to learn more about them in some way. This is an excellent point, and there's no way to be completely and utterly respectful in this situation -- and pretending to be is another form of disrespect, in a way, because if I put a concept or a bunch of people on a pedestal I'm just doing that "noble" thing again. And, white liberal guilt has its own self-indulgence attached to it. Thanks for your input, it is extremely sound ((((hug))))

truthsayer	29 May 2002
your welcome, qolus. (((((((qolus))))))) back at you! living in an area w/ a lot of caucasion/african american/NA conflict really helps me have a lot of insight into the issues at hand. there have been times i've offered help but am received w/ suspicion b/c i am caucasion. i don't blame them in the least but if i don't offer and don't sincerely offer my hand in friendship then i'm doomed to repeat the history of my ancestors and all of us deserve far better. there is an amazing amount of distrust on all sides concerned. someone has to be open to a change of attitudes so i am. i hope time helps heal the wounds. tarot is a good way to at least begin opening eyes and hearts to a greater truth than what we can see, feel, hear, and touch.

Dakini	14 Jun 2003
I ordered the Quester deck back in March from amazon. I am now still waiting, its still on back order. After reading this thread I'm wondering if I should cancel my order and get something else. I'd hate to be disappointed after waiting so long. I have the vision quest (which I really like) and the medicine woman cards. Blessings Dakini

WolfSpirit	14 Jun 2003
Hi Dakini, here is another thread I once started on quester and vision quest: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5450&highlight=quester+tarot I got the vision quest, love it, sometimes read with it, but I never got the quester: I was bidding on ebay and it was snatched away from under my nose, then I found it in the oop section at barnes&noble but they had not updated their list and did not have it after all...I took this a sign that it was not the right time to get the deck. I remember the artwork is really gorgeous. I think not many people use it for reading though, the vision quest is more suitable for that. I saw it mentioned a few days ago and that brought it back to my attention...like you, I am still hesitating. Most people seem to think the deck is a collection of pretty pictures and the book is not very good, trying to bring native american culture and kabalah together...

Dakini	14 Jun 2003
Thanks Wolf for your input. I think I'll browse thru Amazon again and rethink this. Since I have a credit with them, I can get something else. Blessings Dakini

The Quester thread was originally posted on 27 May 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.