Celtic Wisdom Tarot by C. Matthews

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

catlin	12 Jun 2002
Believe it or not but this deck is still missing in the Celtic range of my collection. Does anybody have it and if so, how do you like it?

Lee	12 Jun 2002
Hi, Catlin -- My opinion of this deck is it has absolutely gorgeous artwork and is absolutely impossible to work with, because the pictures, the stories, and the divinatory meanings often don't match with each other. I'm glad I have it, though, for the art. -- Lee

catlin	12 Jun 2002
Hi Lee, I already feared something like that (this is why I am still reluctant to order it).

Jewel	12 Jun 2002
I had the same general idea, but am hoping to be able to get in trade someday :)

Martin	12 Jun 2002
Hello, I have the deck, and I personally don't like the artwork of the minor cards, they are too much like childrens book people. The majors are excellent though, especially the Sheela as Death. An awful lot of thought has gone into the cards & their layout, as with Caitlins other deck (the Arthurian), and so it is great from that respect also. The book is also good, with a detailed description of the break down she has used in creating the deck. The main problem with the minors is that they depict scenes from stories that supposedly illustrate the cards divinitory meaning, and so unless one can recall the exact story each card relates to, then you are stuck. And as I personally prefer symbolic illustrations this is quite a let down. The last problem with this deck is the size of the cards, they are ridiculously unwieldy, you would have to have the hands of the Dagda to even shuffle them. Why people make decks this size is quite beyond me when they are meant for handling. Anyone who has the deck may also notice the fact that the pictures have been cut off quite a bit from the originals. Compare some of the Majors with their pictures in the book and one will notice that in a couple of cases half the picture is missing from the actual card, why? Fortunately I got mine for £10 in a second hand book shop so I'm not too sad about it, but it was a wasted opportunity to create a good deck. But don't let me put you off....!!! Martin

Jewel	12 Jun 2002
Well Martin, if you ever decide you want to trade it, and do not mind trading with someone in the US let me know!

Cocobird55	12 Jun 2002
This is a deck that I love to look at because of the art. The book is very pretty, too. However, I agree that reading with it would be next to impossible. I guess it depends on what your goals are in deck collecting. I have two different ones -- decks that I buy because of the art, and decks that I buy because I want to read with them. Once in a while, a deck comes along that works for both. Sue

truthsayer	13 Jun 2002
i love the art and book of the CW. lee has valid complaints about this deck but i love it enough to work w/ it. i read w/ my celtic wisdom deck but i find it works better if i treat it more like an oracle. hence, i always use it reading the book. i have like the readings i've gotten. it works well in conjuction w/ my druid animal oracle. the cards do tend lead me into daydreams of things like the movie braveheart. in its own way, the daydreams i'm led into while do a reading is message of its own-just not a way you'd traditional think was a reading. i think if you used it as a celtic decks reading night using your other celtic decks also, you'd find the complete picture very interesting. the CW book combined w/ the druid animal oracle book gives the 2 give a pretty complete picture of celtic mythology and lore.

catlin	13 Jun 2002
Hi truth, Geeez, truth, you make me feel that I need this deck to complete my Celtic section. Can't..........resist..............ordering.........it.......aaaah!

truthsayer	13 Jun 2002
LOL you're starting to sound like me! if you do decide to get it, remember that it does have flaws but if you have an intense celtic interest i do think you'll like it. it has a rustic feel to it. it's hard to believe the arthurian deck came from the same author. the arthurian has a "smoother" feel about it. but then she used different artists fofr both. the card stock and art style is reminiscent of the glastonbury. the CW book is of excellent stock and should last a long time.

Jewel	13 Jun 2002
Truthsayer ... why do you do this to me? *LOL*

truthsayer	13 Jun 2002
moi? do something to you? :D b/c i love you dear. i also know you give homeless decks a good home. so you can see my interest is purely altruistic! ;) LOL

Jewel	13 Jun 2002
*ROFLMAO* ... altruistic interests of course ... so you happen to know if there is one of these decks homeless somewhere (that is not amazon, barnes & noble or some other store)? you know I would most certainly give it a nice home. And now that I am getting the Druid Animal Oracle in trade seems like it would have a good companion.

truthsayer	13 Jun 2002
i don't know of one available yet but if i find a homeless one, i'll let you know. i do think your druid animal oracle does need a new brother or sister. can't have it lonely! :D are you also a member of SPCTD? (society for the prevention of cruelty to tarot decks) good cause. ;)

Melvis	13 Jun 2002
I really like the CW deck because it gave me a chance to learn all about the Celtic mythology, of which I knew very little. The book is also very good...full color on practically every page, lots of stories, and even some exercises to work on at the end. Truth, I like your idea about using it with the Druid Animal Oracle alot! I'll have to try that! Shuffling is a problem with this size of card, but then again, I don't shuffle! I randomly deal the cards into 4 or 5 piles, pulling cards from both the top and bottom of the deck. Card size doesn't matter when you mix the deck this way. Martin: I've only seen one card that is cut off compared to the pictures in the book (Temperance - "The Mingler" in the CW deck). Which other ones are cut off? Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Jewel	14 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer are you also a member of SPCTD? (society for the prevention of cruelty to tarot decks) good cause. ;) Of course I am! how do you think over 80 of them have made it into my home? ;)

truthsayer	14 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel Of course I am! how do you think over 80 of them have made it into my home? ;) ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!! it's good to know you collect strays, too! 80? good job!

napaea	14 Jun 2002
Just wanted to throw in my "amen" to all this discussion. This is a beautiful deck, but I can see how it might work better as an oracle. I recently lined up all my decks and compared all the cards with each others, and at some point just threw the CW deck to the side. Like one person said, if you can remember the story about the card you have a good chance of tying it into the reading, but I can't remember most of them. But the art is great! I really felt like I astral traveled one day after using them, and felt like I was walking in the Lovers card. It was incredible. I can also see this deck being beneficial in magickal workings or rituals. You will most likely find a card or two that really feels like your own energy, or feels like a being you want to emulate. I think using the cards as visualization tools, etc, would work great! Now that I've said that, I'm going to do some work with mine! napaea

catlin	17 Jun 2002
Oh, stop that! You make me feel I NEED this one right away!

Jewel	17 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by catlin Oh, stop that! You make me feel I NEED this one right away! *ROFLMAO* I see they are getting to you too! And Truthsayer ... over 80 *LOL*. Now I have some at my fiances home and some at home so I cannot get you an exact count *LOL*. But yes I am doing my part *LOL*

The Celtic Wisdom Tarot by C. Matthews thread was originally posted on 12 Jun 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.