Barbara Walker tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Fiona Blackwolf	25 Aug 2002
I just got this deck as a spontaneous deck from a friend. (Along with an older Morgan Greer *YAY friend muah!* Does anyone else HAVE this deck? I love most of the artwork. It is very unique. The 9 of swords gave me a chill. But some of the cards are very different and I am trying to get a grasp on some of the mythology used in the court cards. Anyone have ideas?

rajarod	25 Aug 2002
Hi. I have this deck as well, and while I can't say it's one of my favorites, I do find that it adds some interesting insights to a number of cards. I just recently acquired the book that Barbara Walker wrote to accompany the deck, and I'm still working my way though it. The title of the book is The Secrets of the Tarot, and the ISBN is 0-06-250927-6. I can DEFINITELY say that this adds a huge amount of understanding to this deck, and it has a lot of additional info about tarot in general. She has certainly done an immense amount of research and studying, and while some of her theories may be questionable, this book is a great find for anyone interested in more advanced study of the tarot. Click here to visit Amazon’s listing for this book. I hope this info helps you. Take care! PS... I love the Nine of Swords in this deck...

Violet Gargoyle	25 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona Blackwolf I just got this deck as a spontaneous deck from a friend. (Along with an older Morgan Greer *YAY friend muah!* Does anyone else HAVE this deck? I love most of the artwork. It is very unique. The 9 of swords gave me a chill. But some of the cards are very different and I am trying to get a grasp on some of the mythology used in the court cards. Anyone have ideas? I have this deck too. I like Barbara Walker's written works, so I had figured that I would like her decks as well. Have you seen/do you own her "Women's Encycolpedia of Myths and Secrets"? Hefty Reading, but it gives much insight to her later choices in the court cards. Fair Warning, it has a very feminist bend to it. Lets see: Cups: Princess and Prince- Elaine and Galahad- Authurian referance to the Mother and Son pair (Galahad is Elaine's Son by Lancelot when he got drugged up, etc) Queen- Virginal- This is a sort of Ice Goddess based in the Himalyans. In Walker's mind, snow is associated with breast milk.... Dewi- She doesn't mention this one in the books I have by her. Might be in the tarot book mentioned above, which I do not have yet.... Wands: Princess Atargatis- Philistine Fish Goddess Prince- Dagon, Atargatis' consort, a merman of sorts Queen- Hel Norse Queen of the Underworld King- Valraven- Not sure about this one- Pentacles: Princess- Nimue (What a freaky picture of her!) Walker sees her as a Celtic Moon Goddess but more known in arthurian legend as the Lady of the Lake. Prince- Merlin, Mate of Nimue here and magic man. Queen- Erda, Mother Earth King -Baal, Ancient Semite God (Consort of Astarte, which you could substite in the Queen's name) Swords- Skuld, a Norse-like Death Crone (Bikini top not withstanding) Prince- Tyr, Death Bringer Queen Kali- Death Goddess form of the Hindu Triple Goddess King Yama- Hindu Lord of Death Hope that helps.....

Maan	26 Aug 2002
I have this decks too. And i thinks its really strange but you can read with it and it gives me accured but a little harsh readings. I like the cards size and some of the pictures. The six of cups is just brilliant!! And i actually really like the picture of Nimue...why do you think its freaky Violet Gargoyle? Its not a deck i use very often and deffinatly for others but i still like it and would not trade. Maybe it would work well as a shadow deck? Love and light Maan

Strange2	26 Aug 2002
I also have the Barbara Walker Tarot. There was a discussion about this deck on the forum a few months ago (click here). I enjoy the variety of gods/goddesses and other mythical figures on the cards. A very eclectic and occult deck. To understand the symbolism in the deck, I recommend the companion book to the deck, called "The Secrets of the Tarot: Origins, History, and Symbolism".

Shade	28 Aug 2002
I thought the art was very interesting but I have issues with the keywords. They all seemed to lean towards the negative (the ace of swords being "Doom"). I read a little of Ms. Walker's book on crystals and even in this book she came across as being a very negative person. A large part of many stone's descriptions is taken up by her blasting other authors for making what she considered incorrect assumptions about the stones. I have heard very good things about her books on women's symbols and mythology and the feminist elements of the Tarot deck were rather nicely done.

Violet Gargoyle	28 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Maan And i actually really like the picture of Nimue...why do you think its freaky Violet Gargoyle? I guess its a little too waif/vampiric for my personal tastes. Kind of one of those things when you have a personal vision of what an archtype should be and you see something that contradicts it. Quote: Originally posted by JohnnyVoodoo I thought the art was very interesting but I have issues with the keywords. They all seemed to lean towards the negative (the ace of swords being "Doom"). I read a little of Ms. Walker's book on crystals and even in this book she came across as being a very negative person. All of her books do have a bit of a negative bent to it, its seems that she felt personally offended with many of the things that have been, in her opinion, kept from modern thinking- particularly matriarchial ideals. I don't prescribe to her works as tomes, but they are food for thought in many cases.....

Fiona Blackwolf	28 Aug 2002
I have to agree about the keywords. they are what bothers me most about the deck actually. I guess I will have to check out her books and work with the deck more before i decide what I think.

inanna_tarot	17 Feb 2004
Ive got this deck now (Thanks Kiama!) Its abit dark but its honesty is scary! Any interested in a study group for this deck? Sezo x

lunakasha	17 Feb 2004
I have this one too...I was attracted to the darkness of it, and what many have referred to as its "brutal honesty". While I must admit that the majority of my decks would fall on the other side of the light-dark spectrum, I definitely do have an attraction to the darker imagery of the Barbara Walker, Vargo's Gothic, etc....but the BW is my first, official "dark" deck :P I have to be honest and say that I really haven't spent much time with it yet, only because of time constraints and getting too many new decks at once (occupational hazard here at AT...hehe :D). But the artwork in this deck, especially the bold, liquid colors against the borders...is really quite striking! The day I got this deck, I spent some time looking at each card, went through the entire deck three or four times, just mesmerized. I am really looking forward to working with this deck....I think it is probably not for everyone, but for people with a "dark side", like me, it is probably a nice change of pace from the happy-sunshine decks! :D Luna

Lee	17 Feb 2004
This thread has inspired me to order this deck! I had always been put off in the past by seeing scans of the card that shows Kali eating the entrails. But maybe now it will help me broaden my horizons. :) -- Lee

Astraea	17 Feb 2004
I got this deck in a boxed lot and didn't expect to like it, but I do -- very much. I don't read with it (only because I tend to stick with a few favored decks), but look at the images from time-to-time and it always elicits meaningful associations. I actually like the artwork, which on one level might be considered crude and unsophisticated, but on another perfectly portrays the feeling underlying each image.

lunakasha	17 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by inanna_tarot Any interested in a study group for this deck? Sezo x I would be very interested! How do we go about starting one? This would be a first for me...please keep me posted! :) Luna

inanna_tarot	19 Feb 2004
Well at the moment i'm using this deck (along with my beloved Tarot of the Old Path) with the 78 weeks study on Using Tarot. I've only done the Magician but its definately opened the wisdom of the cards to me. Last night i picked this deck for a reading about of its brutal honesty, about my love life with my ex. I asked : what would be the outcome if i went back out with my ex? Answer - Ace of Cups - Love!! I'm definately thinkin about it! Sezo x

Shade	19 Feb 2004
Wow this is the first thread I ever posted in bac in 2002. I'm still a little critical of the Walker Tarot as being a little bit over the top on the "women as vistims" bit but I after viewing her I Ching of the Goddess I actually now think she went a bit lighter on this one. I like looking at the cards, I think the art is both beautiful and unusual. And I love the sense of scale she gives to many of the gods when they appear here. I also like the divine feminine and the dark aspect of the goddess and think that more goddess themed decks and Oracles should open up to this aspect. I still have linegering distatse for some of what I've read in her books. It's one thing to call the patriachy out on its crimes and expose thousands of years of transgressions as many other eco-feminist authors have done (my favorite being Starhawk). She's absolutely right there. But then she tends to get eman spirited towards just about anyone. Also her scholarship is questionable at times. Reading her Woman's Book of Myths and Secrets on a section on Medusa for example she goes on and on about the symbol of the Gorgon meaning "womens' mysteries keep out" and I was thinking to myself "well in all my research on Medusa that one hasn't come up... I knew she was a darkened version of the goddess Metis but I hadn't seen this." Then I got to the part where she talks about Theseus slaying Medusa.... Theseus? Perseus killed Medusa. This might seem likea small error but I think it's HUGE. I feel like Walker's information is like that of Robert Graves.... beautiful and inspirational and often epic... but very very questionable and always slanted toward a darker interpretation.

Lee	19 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Shade I still have linegering distatse for some of what I've read in her books. I'm sure I would feel the same way, so I figured out a good way to handle it. The deck is on its way to me, but I have no intention of reading any of her books! :) -- Lee

Cerulean	19 Feb 2004
In Rachel Pollack's "New Tarot" she points out this is an artistic, imaginary tarot world and does also question the 'research' slant. It is an older book perhaps written in the early waves of people rediscovering matriachs and a retake on gendors and definition in historical symbolism. Perhaps the message and tone are strong for these times. I just picked up the book used and see the paperback was copyrighted in 1984. Perhaps nowadays a darker theme equivalent would be what we call "Gothic" in terms of movies and books in 2004. (As opposed to the European historical Gothic period of architecture after Romanesque medievalism). Mari H.

The Barbara Walker tarot thread was originally posted on 25 Aug 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.