Got the Shapeshifter !

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

WolfSpirit	06 Jun 2002
I just received the shapeshifter tarot today. I really love the art work and I think I'll connect well with this deck as I often feel close to animals. It looks a lot different from other decks though... For those of you who read with this deck... do you do it using your experience from other decks, or do you forget all about other decks and start afresh with this one ? Hope this makes sense to you, I don't know how to explain it otherwise.

aeonx	07 Jun 2002
Greetings WolfSpirit. :) Well, I saw the Shapeshifter on the net, and ordered it straight away. When I received it, I was no less disappointed, I loved the cards. However, I have not used it yet, and this is some months ago. I think I have to have some time studying it before using it, and I've just not had the time. Please keep me posted on how your readings go, and how you connect with the cards. Good luck! :) ~aeonx~

Jewel	07 Jun 2002
Hi WolfSpirit, I received this deck as a b-day gifts several years ago, and although I have not taken time to study it or work with it I absolutly love the artwork. Bec, another Aeclectic member, uses this deck all of the time and she loves it. I really need to make some time for this deck! I think the reason I have kept putting it off is because of the extra Majors.

WolfSpirit	07 Jun 2002
Jewel, aeonx: I think we're all the same on this: we love this deck but it seems to take a bit of extra studying because it's so different. I'll try to find the time to study it, because I really think it'll work well once I'm familiar with it. I'm studying the cards one by one now, first sensing what the card means to me and then reading what the book has to say about it. I'm trying to take my time doing this, no matter how many cards there are left... there's always tomorrow, there's no hurry. And I really have good feelings over this deck :)

bec	07 Jun 2002
I love shapie !! And no you dont need all that prior study before using them - all about confidence in telling what you see. Imagination. I still have one exam to go here, then I should be all done :D We tried start a shapie work group before, but it kind of ran out in the sand :( When I am done with shcool and the spread up-date, we can start a shapie group, ok ? I have made tons of readings with shapie, sure you can have other decks in your back head, but not really needed, cards are ecxellent for stories, so why not just make up your own ? Anywhoo see ya´ll around some more in a week or so :D I miss you guys !!!

WolfSpirit	07 Jun 2002
A shapie "work" group sounds like a good idea (well, work in a very broad sense of course })) When I took a little time with the deck, I discovered that the cards just spoke to me sort of, I think the thing is to give the deck the chance to tell its story, without thinking of what a card means in another deck. This deck and me, looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship ;) I also use the Celtic Dragon, which has a bit of the same feel, but it's easier to start with because it has the names of traditional tarot decks.

Scorpion	08 Jun 2002
Hi, Wolfspirit! Like Aeonx and Jewel, I've got this deck but haven't done much work with it. It's so beautiful it's definitely a must have, but the accompanying book made me think it was quite hard to get to grips with - all the references to the different qualities attributed to the animals had my head spinning! However, a study group definitely sounds like a good idea - particularly with Bec's input as she will hopefully convey some of her enthusiasm and confidence in handling this deck. Now I just have to get up to speed with all the other study decks I want to be in!!!

WolfSpirit	09 Jun 2002
I seem to have special feelings about decks that take a little extra time time to get used to. I also still like the Faery Wicca but haven't used it for reading yet. Barnes & Noble are sending me the book that will hopefully explain the deck better; and the shapeshifter also appeals to me so much ! I also bought the Robin Wood at some point, I thought I would like it but I hardly ever look at it, and this seems to be a deck that's a lot like the Rider-Waite (the deck I started with - not very original ;)) so should be easy, but I just don't really want to use it. I will probably get the animal druid this week, and that seems to be totally different once again... I buy decks if I have a special liking to them, and not to read with, but if I really love the deck I want to use it for reading as well. I'll let you know how I get along with the shapeshifter (did not have much time this weekend)

jade	09 Jun 2002
i had this deck but i just couldn't connect with it :( i traded it with marion and she seemed to love it! in light, jade

Jewel	10 Jun 2002
The Celtic Gragon is also one of my favorites (I have lots of favorites *LOL* ... comes with the territory of being a Taro-Holic *LOL*). There was a long time I thought I would some day like to decoupage a table with the shapeshifter ~gasp~. Glad I didn't, because as soon as I met Bec, and learned to value the deck as a tarot deck I would have regreted having done it. I let myself be influenced by the various reviews that I read that said the shapie was not a "real" tarot deck, and that the creator should have made it a separate divination system all together. Glad I found Aeclectic and got straightened out!

WolfSpirit	14 Jun 2002
Now I'm getting used to the differences to other decks, I begin to love this deck even more. The deck relies on forces in nature or within yourself instead of the christian-based values. For ex. the card # 15, the traditional devil, is called choice: it's up to you to make the choice not to be kept chained (this is also discussed on the faery wicca thread, because the fw has a similar #15). Also the traditional Death card #13 is called Rebirth, this makes it much easier to see this card means transformation. I still use the book, also because of the descriptions-you don't have to understand all symbols on a card to understand it, but there's so much detail in them it makes the deck even more precious to me if I know what the drawings mean. But if I don't want to read the book it works just as well for me, the pictures start to talk to me if you know what I mean.

aeonx	15 Jun 2002
WolfSpirit: I'm glad to hear you're making progress with the deck. I think the terms this deck and the FW use, like 'Rebirth', are much more appropriate, and they don't scare querents in the way 'Death' does. The Vision Quest calls 'Death' Transformation. I like that. :) ~aeonx~

Starfish	15 Jun 2002
For those of you that own this beautiful deck - How does it read? Is it difficult? Easy? I love how the Death card is renamed, also. Rebirth is much less scary to see. :TQS Starfish

Scorpion	15 Jun 2002
WolfSpirit - I'm delighted to see that you feel this deck works well for you. I too like the various depictions of the Majors - I see the Devil as choice in my decks and this is a good reinforcement. Starfish - I don't find this a particularly easy deck and feel others work better for me. But I do love the artwork and wouldn't part with it. There may come a day when it moves up into my "working deck" category but at the moment I'm hooked on the Bosch and the Ancient Egyptian.

WolfSpirit	15 Jun 2002
It looks more difficult at first, because it's different from traditional decks, many majors have different names and there are three extra majors. I did not start reading straight away with this deck, but once I did I found it much easier than expected. Also, the traditional names are in the book and the minors also have their names on the card plus a keyword. For ex. 3 of cups has the caption Water Element ( cups) 3 Abundance and a picture of a waterfall, lush green willowtrees etc. So now I still look at these words, I guess one day the pictures will just be enough. All symbolism in the pictures is also explained in the book, but you don't need to read al that before using the deck, the picture itself already speaks its meaning. So it's not too tough to start with but I think I will keep on learning about this deck for a long time.

Starfish	15 Jun 2002
Thanks for your insights, LouiQ and Wolfspirit. This deck is on the soon-to-purchase section of my wishlist - I just love the imagery. :TQS Starfish

Marion	16 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by jade i had this deck but i just couldn't connect with it :( i traded it with marion and she seemed to love it! in light, jade jade is right, I do love it. In fact I used it recently for a reading I posted in reading exchange and it proved accurate. Because I was writing a review on the deck, I spent a lot of time studying it and reading the book, but although that was fun... the book is interesting... you can read with the deck anyway. The images are very evocative.

WolfSpirit	16 Jun 2002
Sometimes I just look at the cards and I start wondering: why would this animal be there in the corner ? What are the little birds doing ? And then I like to read this in the book. So I just keep learning with this deck, but I don't feel it's really necessary to know all that before you start using the deck. But I feel the deck reveals more and more as I spend more time with it.

Starfish	16 Jun 2002
Just reading these posts makes me want this deck more and more. It is on my soon-to-be purchased wishlist (hopefully this weekend). My question is, does it come with a book (not the standard LWB, a larger book) as a set, or can it be purhcased as just a deck? :TQC Starfish

Marion	16 Jun 2002
I am pretty sure that it only comes as a book and deck set. The book is good. Large paperback size and 237 pages long.

WolfSpirit	16 Jun 2002
I agree with Marion: I have only seen it as a boxed set of deck and book. I can really recommend the book: you don't need it but it gives you a background on animal symbolism and the old art of shapeshifting. If you use this deck you will sometime certainly want to know about this.

Starfish	16 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by WolfSpirit I agree with Marion: I have only seen it as a boxed set of deck and book. I can really recommend the book: you don't need it but it gives you a background on animal symbolism and the old art of shapeshifting. If you use this deck you will sometime certainly want to know about this. Thanks Marion and Wolfspirit for your replies. I have seen the Shapeshifter book set at several of my local bookshops... I may have to pop into one of them very soon... :TQC Starfish

Red Emma	16 Jun 2002
I bought the SS several months ago, and immediately fell in love with it. However, its readings seemed particularly harsh. Somehow, I had the feeling it was trying to control me. A little weird, I know, but they did have me spooked. Then one morning as I shuffled and laid it out, being in a very good mood, I kept saying, "C'mon Guys, give me some good news." Partly in a humorous way, but good news is always -- well, good news, and very welcome. I don't remember the cards, but had I believed them I would have thought I'd won the national lottery and the Oregon lottery all on the same day. I was bewildered. After that they gave me only garbage. I've cleansed them (in sunlight) and they are now wrapped in a silk scarf, resting in a cedar box. A small black stone ( to drain negative energy) and a quartz crystal (to energize them) keep them company. I tried them again after a few weeks, and still garbage. It's been a couple of months now, and I've been thinking of trying again. Haven't done it, though. If anyone has any suggestions, I'd sure like to hear it.

Lee	16 Jun 2002
Hi, Red Emma -- When you say the deck gives you harsh readings, are you using the divinatory meanings given in the book? The reason I ask is, I don't have this deck or book, but I do have the same author's Celtic Dragon, and in that book the meanings are very negative and prediction-oriented. If the same is true of the Shapeshifter, then my suggestion would be to put away the book and forget about Conway's meanings, and just go with your own Tarot knowledge and what the pictures suggest. If the harshness wasn't from the book's meanings, then... never mind! :) -- Lee

bec	17 Jun 2002
The way I interpret "harsh" in this matter, is that you get the bare truth smack right to your face - In my experience it dont matter how you ask or what you ask - shapie will give you the truth no matter what. If the cards keeps giving you garbage (not sure how to interpret this phrase), does that mean they give you none-related cards or does it mean they keep giving you negative readings ? If non-related: I think you should froget about the book and only focus on the cards, there is definitely a message for you in them. I have had several 2-3 months prior in time readings with shapie, meaning that what the cards had to say didnt make sense for 2 or 3 months after. My suggestion would be, take note of the cards, and keep reading the same cards for a few months and see what happens, dont use new cards everytime, cause maybe what you are experiencing is the same I had going, cards being way ahead of you. If negative readings: I think it could relate to your feeling of them controlling you, almost as if you are under somekind of spell (?) then my suggestion would be to make a "new deck spread" reading on them, see what energies you are working with. The New Deck Spread: Card 1: What will you teach me ? Card 2: What do I need to do ? Card 3: What will our relationship be like ? I think you have a very strong connection with the cards, so what seems to be important here is that you get to be the one in control, dont get scared of the cards - they are trying to tell you something. I think this 3 card spread will give you some insight in what they are trying to teach you. Just my thought on this :) anja

aeonx	17 Jun 2002
Hm. This thread has once again awoken my curiosity for the SS-deck. I will have to take a look at it again soon. Hopefully I'll get to it before I leave on holiday. When I got the SS, it was so unlike all the other decks I had, so I felt I had to put them away till I got the time to study them properly. Ah well, I've done the same with the Celtic Dragon and Thoth! :rolleyes: ~aeonx~

Jewel	17 Jun 2002
Just reading along in this thread makes me want to go home and pull out my Shapeshifter :) ... the beauty of these forums, they always make me want to work with all my decks at one time *LOL*

The Got the Shapeshifter ! thread was originally posted on 06 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.