Daughters of the Moon

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kellinator	10 Jun 2002
I saw the Daughters of the Moon for the first time over the weekend... and I have to say I didn't like it at all. I thought the changes and omissions were large enough that I personally would classify it as an oracle deck rather than a tarot (I guess I'm a purist), and the art didn't appeal to me at all. Also, while I'm all for feminist decks (love the Gendron!), this one seemed rather anti-male... there's an extra card, CoyoteWoman, for women who just can't stand to use Pan, but Pan looked female to me... For those of you who like this deck, what do you like about it? And does anyone have similar problems to mine with it? Kellinator

Lee	10 Jun 2002
Click here to read a previous thread about Daughters of the Moon. -- Lee

Kellinator	10 Jun 2002
Thanks, Lee! That thread really got to the heart of a lot of the things that bothered me about the deck, like the inclusion of two Lovers cards, supposedly for varying sexual orientations, yet both cards look like a pair of women.

Liliana	10 Jun 2002
I think i hae all the same issues as you with it. I a justice personality, and one thing that entails with me is balance. I like to have a just about equal number of males and females in a deck Id prefer a race balance too, but only 1 deck ever did that that i like the art of (World Spirit). I think the art is kind of childish and not really well proportioned, tho intuitive i suppose. Another one i dont want :THP

Kellinator	10 Jun 2002
Me either -- but the World Spirit!! That's one I'd *love* to have!!

Liliana	10 Jun 2002
yes its great :) fun to spot all the little details, and ponder the meanings of such things as the mouse in the glowing ball of light :THP

truthsayer	10 Jun 2002
i'd really like to have a feminist round deck like daughters of the moon or motherpeace. i don't like the MP artwork or book at all. i think the art of DOM is beautiful but i hesistate to get it b/c i don't like any kind of "-isms" like are in the book. just b/c women were repressed doesn't mean it's okay to fight fire w/ fire, hate w/ hate. it's human nature not to like everyone but it feels wrong to hate everyone of a gender and relegate their main functions to be that of reprduction. i happen to like men even tho i have had reason not to like every man i meet. i don't want to sound like i'm dissing DOM but i'm not comfortable w/ the extremeness of it. i'm known women who are that extremely feminist and it's a trial finding a neutral topic that won't offend them if you speak of men in a positive manner. on the thoth threads there's a big tirade about not holding a beautiful deck accountable for it's creator's behavior or beliefs. i can understand the sentiment but not to consider who created a deck and what was in his/her mind during its creation just seems like a very human thing to do. i know i've been accused in the past of being a satanist b/c i like the thoth (not that i cared at the time). could liking the DOM be misconstrued as being sexist? once you understand the card set up, can you transition this deck into becoming more than it was created to be? at some point in a deck's personal evolution does it develop an identity of it's own outside of the identity its creator intended? particularly, since the thoth's popularity didn't begin until years after the author and artist died? that's what happens b/t parents and their grown children. could this happen w/ daughters of the moon?

catlin	11 Jun 2002
Seems that I am the only one who loves the DOM deck although I do not like swinging to extreme anti-male attitudes but never mind, I like the strong vivid colours and besides, I wanted a feminist inspired deck in my collection so I got both, the DOM and the MPR (the latter only in mini) and I like both. The MPR mini is still a virgin (I have had no time to do a reading with it). I like the child-like drawings on it.

Jewel	11 Jun 2002
I have to agree with Truthsayer here. I agree that the deck can evolve. Personally I like gender balance in decks, but I do not get all hung-up if they do not have it (I simply do not buy the deck and let it go at that). Although I am not very familiar with the DOM I doubt that the deck itself screams "I hate men" ... if the artist does than that is a whole nother issue and if you like the art of the deck then forgive the deck for its author and enjoy it. I definetly believe that we can each take a deck and transition it to becoming more than it was created to be ... that is the beauty of Tarot, it is a personal experience for each and everyone of us and none of us probably have the same experience.

Kiama	13 Jun 2002
Despite my disagreement with the creator of this decks' views on men etc, I LOVE THIS DECK! The artwork is simple and bright, and the idea of a round deck is very novel... This deck speaks to me, and I must say, I lover her to bits... Despite the strongly feminist overtones.. Whilst I don't use her for reading, and can't chuffle her, this deck makes a gorgeous addition to any collection, and I have now become an d avid lover of round decks ! I got the Motherpeace round the other day, and am searching out for more... Are there any more circular decks? Kiama

Liliana	13 Jun 2002
Tarot of the Cloisters is the only round actual Tarot I know, since i dont want a feminist deck its the one I have :) I had a round ag for ages screaming to holda round deck now it has one :) Oh and Songs for the Journey Home is round I like it but its too expensive for me. Theres also some circular oracle decks :THP

catlin	13 Jun 2002
The Oracle of the Dreamtime is also a round one and I think a must-have for all collectors esp. when interested in Aboriginal art.

Kellinator	13 Jun 2002
I have the Tarot of the Cloisters, and then there's Songs for the Journey Home... I would love to have that deck!

truthsayer	13 Jun 2002
do you have tarot of the cloisters or songs for the journey home? those are the only 2 i can think of. btw, i plan to eventually get DoM b/c i do think it's beautiful. the MP just b/c it seems to be a significant deck. my karma in this life seems to be that i must have and make amends to all decks i have any conflict w/ or don't like. as a card carrying tarot-holic this is one of my most creative rationalizations to buy decks! ;)

jema	07 Feb 2003
i got this one today! it had been on my wishlist for ages but always been really expensive here in sweden. i finally ordered it via ABEbooks from a company called Mondazzi and got it cheap and very fast. the deck is simply wonderful. a bit big to shuffle my way but i will make do with the swoosh-method:) now i see that i should have ordered it in a set with the book. some of the cards are really different and it would be nice to read more about what she thought when she made the deck. oh and i do prefer the female lovers, seems a lot more like love to me than that weird and cold card in the water with a freak that looks like a woman anyway. card that caught my eye: 2 of pentacles - wit the bull-leapers! i am a greek history nut. i think this is such an excellent interpretation of this card. the bull-leapers from Crete really is all about balance, courage, fun and difficulties at the same time.

Minos	08 Feb 2003
I don't think much of feminist decks in general, but there's a soft spot in my heart for Daughters of the Moon. If nothing else, the naked women depicted therein are much easier on the eyes than those of, say, Motherpeace.

The Daughters of the Moon thread was originally posted on 10 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.