Move Over Robin Wood! *GASP*

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	14 Jun 2002
Its finally happened... I have found a deck which I can read with just as well as I can my trusted and loved Robin Wood.... MERRYDAY! Wow. I don't know why this one reads as well as the Robin Wood, cuz they are more diferent than alike, but it does, so poor Robin Wood is sitting in her box, doing nothing for a while... Now, what I want to find out is what makes a Tarot deck read properly for you? Considering the decks I can read welkl with are very diferent to each other (Rohrig, Robin Wood, and Merryday), I am trying to work out the key to what makes them all read well for me! Their artwork is different, their approach to Tarot is different, and their themes are very different... What's the similarity here??? Kiama

catlin	14 Jun 2002
Great you found another one!

Jenny-Li	14 Jun 2002
Hey! Congratulations to have found another one for reading with! It's an amazing feeling, gets me everytime, when the cards sort of "click" with that inner voice. So what's the key for that? Well, in my personal and very humble opinion I think there is no key. What makes you click with a deck must depend on so many little things, it would be impossible to find ONE key... Also, I think it changes with time, I've had a deck that spoke so clearly to me, gave me an amazing insight, a lesson I've kept with me eversince - and after that: nothing. So what's up with THAT?! :) Again - congrats on your new reading partner! May you be very happy together, and form a long, illuminating relation! :D Jenny :)

aeonx	14 Jun 2002
Hi Kiama. I know the feeling, it never really clicked for me until I got the Hanson-Roberts (I wasn't actually aware that it hadn't clicked for me earlier ;) :P ). Now I do all my readings with the HR. However, the Vision Quest seems to be going along very nicely. I'm looking forward to trying out the Celtic Dragon, but that won't be until my return. ~aeonx~ Btw, how do you like the Rohrig? Ah, forget it here, I'll post a thread in the Deck-section. :)

Pollux	14 Jun 2002
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! *LOL* You finally made it! NOW, should I get this Robin Wood too? MH... Good luck on your search :P

jema	14 Jun 2002
same thing for me - the decks i love to read with are all very different. i got several decks i thought would work out great but they are just stone-cold. and others i bought just for the collection that are just amazing! i don't think one can ever tell before one tries them out. and some decks takes a lot of work before they respond to you. (this week i am trying out the barbara walker - so far - so good)

Major Tom	14 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama Now, what I want to find out is what makes a Tarot deck read properly for you? Kiama For me it's about how well the archtypes are interpreted in the majors or rather how well the majors symbolism speaks to my understanding. })

Starfish	14 Jun 2002
Kiama - You peaked my interest for the MerryDay deck. So I searched for it, checked out the site, fell in love with the pictures on the deck (I love the themes of the seasons for the minors) and promptly ordered it! Question for you (or anyone else with this deck) - the cards appear almost square, are they easy to handle? Skipping merrily down the path of Tarotholics... :TQS Starfish

Jewel	14 Jun 2002
Hi Kiama! Hey congrats on your new "connection". Like you, the Robin Wood has been my trusted friend and companion for years (7 to be exact). That was always my deck of choice for reading, and the Tarot of the Old Path. Then one day for larks I ordered the Cosmic Tribe for my collection and since it arrived in January I use it almost exclusively because it gives me the clearest and most indepth readings I have ever gotten ... it all clicks easily and naturally as if I were having a conversation with the cards. What makes it work? that is tough question to answer. I think Major Tom really hit on something when saying that it is the archetypal representation. I have been using the CT in conjuction with studying 78 DW, and although not Raider Waite based I am amazed at the comparison based on archetypes. I also believe that based on our own training, experiences, etc, there are certain decks that will click with us. There is a certain symbolism that speaks to us depending on where we are at a particular time in our life. The combination of the archetypal representations and where we are at the moment are what I believe to be the keys. That is also why I think that particular decks speak to particular aspects of ourselves i.e.: using one deck for reading, another for pathworking, another for study, etc. I love the artwork of the Rhorig, but have not had the pleasure of working with it yet.

aeonx	14 Jun 2002
I checked out the cards, and I especially loved the Sun! *grrrr* Another one I want! :( I can't afford doing this anymore! :P Here's a link to the deck: Merry Day Tarot ~aeonx~

Starfish	14 Jun 2002
Here's another site http://www.merrydaytarot.com/ - it shows ALL of the cards in the deck. :TQS Starfish

Pollux	14 Jun 2002
Well, now that I have seen more cards (I.E. ALL) I can say I don't like this deck with plenty of arguents... But I think that I have something for you, Princess of Wands. Robin Wood, Marryday and Rohrig are very "visual". The style is different, yet is quite similar. I can't think of a correct word in English... I would say it is not at all minimalist, and there is a sort of "roundedness" of the human characters, that might be more realistic in Rohrig and more idealistic/Ken-&-Barbish like in Robin Wood. Could it be this? I think it is basically the way the cards are drawn. This occurred to me when I saw the 4 of pentacles if the Merryday I think... In brief, I don't think that the representations found in these decks differ much. The style might be more or less realistic, but the structure and the organization of the pictures has a common pattern... *he actually wonders if anyone followed is rambling*

Kaz	14 Jun 2002
i know what you mean pollux, at least i can compare robin wood and the merryday. i have robin wood and merryday i looked at the webby. these both decks are very detailed in images without cluttering it. the colors are deep and vibrant, not soft and pastel. the characters depicted in the cards act out what they stand for. on first look, that's what i see both decks have in common. now the rohrig, i don't have that one, just to compare, i will add what i think about it to the other thread. rohrig also has the rich, bright, vibrant colors. this deck is not drawn like the other two, but it's an airbrushed over collage looking deck it seems. very detailed in the images, just like the other two. the thing all three have in common are the use of colorscheme, detailed in imagery, and very evocative images. so yes i can undrstand although the decks are very different, they are also very much the same. the only thing the rohrig has and the other two haven't, or way less, is the energetic feel the cards give. the robin wood hasn't got it, and the merryday has it in some cards. just my 2 cents of opinion.... kaz

truthsayer	14 Jun 2002
i have the merryday and i love it-never would i trade it! it's unique and beautiful. however, i haven't been able to read w/ it yet. i've had it a year now. it seems so many of my decks end up being study decks but then this could be b/c i prefer reading about archetypes, symbols, pathworking, and looking at the pictures better than doing readings. did your deck come w/ the book, kiama? b/c i've been debating over ordering the book. i think it might help me break open any blocks i have to reading it. i can read practically every rws clone. the only unique deck i can read is the neferteri. i really fell in love w/ my wheel of change deck but it gave me a clear message that it needed a rest before it would or could read for me again. so i've respected her feelings. i'll probably try again soon.

Starfish	14 Jun 2002
When I ordered the MerryDay from the Merry Day site, the book could be purchased separately (as well as grouped with the cards). I can't wait to see these cards in person and hold them! :TQS Starfish

Pollux	14 Jun 2002
Kaz, honestly I was basing that analisys more on the Robin Wood and the MerryDay too! :P Unluckily I have not found many pics of the Rohrig around, and MORE UNLUCKILY I don't have the deck - got neither of the three... HEY! I am still a growing tarot-holic! Don't tease me! :( *lol*

aeonx	15 Jun 2002
starfish: thank you for providing that link! :( Now I have to buy them too! :D :P I really liked this deck, which may be a bit odd, since I don't like the Robin Wood... Hm. Gonna order it anyway! :D ~aeonx~

Starfish	15 Jun 2002
Aeonx - I received an email from Rick at the MerryDay site saying my package had been mailed (same day that I ordered it) and to expect it within a week (although he felt I would probably get it mid-week next). I can't wait! :TQS Starfish <--- proud new member of "Tarotholics Anonymus"

Emily	15 Jun 2002
I noticed this deck on the same site that I found my Spiral but it was the Spiral that spoke to me. I always mean't to go back and have another look at the Merryday but then I forgot about it, but it is a visually stunning deck - pity I didn't remember it before I ordered the Robin Wood (the only deck I have that I can't read with lol) Still the Merryday would make a nice companion for my other decks lol :D Methinks I might pop over to Amazon see if they sell it :)

Pollux	15 Jun 2002
YOU ARE RUINING ME!!! I had another look at the deck... And I had to write it down in my wish-list... UFF! :( Is this Tarot-holic Force supposed to come back times three? Because I think that, for all the people who rushed on a Gill or another deck because of me, I will have to get kinda 100 new decks...

Starfish	15 Jun 2002
Pollux - ***Is this Tarot-holic Force supposed to come back times three? Because I think that, for all the people who rushed on a Gill or another deck because of me, I will have to get kinda 100 new decks...*** I do believe that is how it works. }) :TQS Starfish

VGimlet	15 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama Now, what I want to find out is what makes a Tarot deck read properly for you? I agree with Major Tom, for me it's how well the archetypes portrayed in the deck mesh with my personal experiences, beliefs and ideas. And, how well I like the artwork. I've found I'm doing well with my Universal Waite, but I also get excellent readings using the Rock & Roll and the Robin Wood. The Merryday is on my wishlist too, :D.

truthsayer	15 Jun 2002
ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! i don't know if the darkside of the force multiplies what you wish on others by 3 because if it does i am in a he** of a lot of trouble!!!!!!! even worse than you pollux...yikes!

aeonx	17 Jun 2002
Pollux: MWHAHAHAHAHA! It's catching up with you! }) *evil grin* ~aeonx~

catlin	17 Jun 2002
Hm, after having seen all cards I think this one would be a nice reading deck for "tender soul clients". Ok, it's moved on top of my wishlist next to Celtic Wisdom and Wheel of Change deck.

Jewel	17 Jun 2002
~giggles at Pollux~ ... well at least you can enjoy what "comes back at you" Pollux *LOL*. I also want to know more about the Merry-Day book. I almost ordered it today, but I would really like to hear from someone who has it first.

Sam	17 Jun 2002
hmmmmm...................i'll have to check it out!

cyan	19 Jun 2002
now this is perhaps odd and maybe shallow of me but i find color has a lot to do with how i relate to decks. The more cool colors, blues, greens, black, the more i am able to relax with the deck.

Liliana	19 Jun 2002
Yeah it comes back times three just ask pollux how many FREE decks he got Ive gotten 1 free and 1 trade so far myself, and another free and trade in waiting making people buy decks they love is a GOOD thing now im waiting for my Rohrig Karma to come around, think i made 5 people buy it Maybe someone will give me a free Arcus Arcanum for it ;) :THP

truthsayer	28 Jun 2002
i've decided since i love my merryday tarot that it's a must that i have the book. this way there is hope i can do a reading w/ it one day. i really hope it helps b/c i love the colors and set up of this deck. i guess i could try to read it intuitively but having a new tarot book is so much fun! just a thought but i'm sure all of you have experienced chain mail or chain email. you know "if you send XXX $$ to the last 10 ppl on the chain or something like that then eventually you'll get 10x that amount of $$?? send this message to ten of your friends then you will reap the rewards. whatever you do, don't break the chain or you will have bad luck..." sometimes when i come to aeclectic i feel like i'm reading a chain for tarot decks...if you send 10 decks to the ppl at the end of the list and this letter to 10 of your tarot friends then eventually you will receive 100 decks! except it's more like the more posts i read, the more decks and books i find that i need and i don't dare break the chain!!!!! LOL i've been on the wagon and only traded decks for over a month now. however, my resolve has broken and i'm off the wagon and a full fledged tarot-holic again since monday. YIPPEE!!!!!!!!! i do think it's better for me to be off the wagon and only buy a little at a time. easier to keep the spousal unit happy...

truthsayer	02 Jul 2002
i got my merryday tarot book today. it looks like a self-published spiral back like you see in self-published cookbooks. the binding seems to be of good quality. inside there is a considerable amount of info and even exercises w/ the merryday. i'll post more once i get into it. i know how much self-publishing can cost for even a book like this so i think $25 was fair for it. it's rather large-around 8 1/2 x 11 and comes well packed. i hope the book will help me w/ my unanswered questions about the merryday b/c i do want to read this deck. it's so beautiful!

The Move Over Robin Wood! *GASP* thread was originally posted on 14 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.