Illuminated Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Lee	05 Aug 2002
Does anyone have the Illuminated Tarot by Carol Herzer? I just got it, and I love it. Carol has taken each card of the RWS deck and painted it from scratch, with completely new, deep, vivid colors and lots of light effects. The cards are filled with color and light. In a very strange way, this deck is faithful to Pamela Colman-Smith's pictures yet is something completely new. Years ago I grew to hate the RWS deck. I was just tired of looking at it. I tried to find a differently-colored one, and bought them all -- Albano-Waite, Universal Waite, Diamond, Hoi Polloi, Golden Rider, Original Rider -- but none of them did the trick. Well, now I'm amazed to hear myself say that the RWS deck, in the form of Carol's beautiful Illuminated Tarot, is my favorite deck. The Illuminated has given me a pathway to find my way back to the RWS. When I look at each card, the colors and light effects combine to give me a feeling of the appropriate energy of that card, in a way I don't understand. Carol hand-makes each deck. They are printed on a color printer, backed with a colored vinyl backing, then laminated on the picture side. They are very well-made and durable. The cards are expensive compared to store-bought decks but are worth every penny. For an extra cost, Carol will hand-embellish the cards with iridescent colors. I elected to go with the non-embellished deck; I didn't want any distraction from the beautiful artwork on the cards. She sells the cards in three different sizes. She also includes a great bag for the deck with your choice of fabric. You also get a choice for the card backs. You can see the cards at Carol's website. You can read a great review of this deck by Paula Gibby here. -- Lee

Jewel	05 Aug 2002
Lee you are evil!!! *LOL* you should not tempt me this way ... you know I am weak! *ROFLMAO* What size deck did you get? I did not see the card back options ... does she send those to you to select from once you order? This deck has been on wishlist for a good while now, and getting such a strong recommendation from you on the deck just moved it to the top of the list. How could you do this to me? ~giggles~

jema	05 Aug 2002
oh you lucky thing i have been swooning over the images of that deck for years i tell you! but first it was just impossible since i had no creditcard. now i do but it is stil out of my priceranger - right now. but i am making a comittment to myself to from now on only buy those deck i really really want even if they cost a lot and it would mean sacrificing decks i am just merely interested in.

Lee	05 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel What size deck did you get? I did not see the card back options ... does she send those to you to select from once you order I got the medium size. I think what I ended up getting was a little smaller than the regular RW size, but it's the perfect size for me. Yes, when you e-mail her she tells you your choices of card backs and bag fabric. Quote: Originally posted by jema now i do but it is stil out of my priceranger - right now I agree, some decks are out of my price range -- for example, I want the Ananda but wouldn't pay $50 for it, especially if it comes with a book I can't read. But I just had to have the Illuminated -- the way I think of it is, it's better for me to pay $50 for a deck I really want, than $70 for two deck-book sets that I could live without. -- Lee :)

truthsayer	05 Aug 2002
i'm really struggling w/ whether to get one. i've been so bad lately!! if i do it will be either the pocket size or the medium w/ the extra irridescence. i don't think it will distract me. it's a particularly difficult decision if it gets THE LEE SEAL OF APPROVAL! ;) i have to think about this some more. i've got to curb this impulse deck buying!!

Jewel	05 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer i'm really struggling w/ whether to get one. i've been so bad lately!! if i do it will be either the pocket size or the medium w/ the extra irridescence. i don't think it will distract me. it's a particularly difficult decision if it gets THE LEE SEAL OF APPROVAL! ;) i have to think about this some more. i've got to curb this impulse deck buying!! ~chuckles~ yeah right!!! *LOL* ... you and I are hopless, pigs will probably fly sooner then we will curb our impulse deck buying (we are compulsives, remember?) *ROFLMAO*

Lee	05 Aug 2002
Believe it or not, I haven't even looked at another deck since I got this one four days ago. -- Lee

Jewel	06 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Lee Believe it or not, I haven't even looked at another deck since I got this one four days ago. -- Lee Lee please stop! you are torturing me *LOL*

Starfish	06 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel Lee please stop! you are torturing me *LOL* Ditto! :TDEAT Starfish

Keslynn	06 Aug 2002
I want! I want! No fair! lol Ohhh, tarotholism... bringing out my inner child once more. ;) :TKNS Kes

Starfish	06 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Keslynn I want! I want! No fair! lol Ohhh, tarotholism... bringing out my inner child once more. ;) :TKNS Kes Kes - I know what you mean! }) Is your bottom lip sticking out, and your arms are crossed? Did you just stamp your foot too?? I'm also letting my inner child out , apparently! What a beautiful deck... Well, my birthday is in two months... maybe I can convince my DH. ;) :TDEAT Starfish

Jewel	06 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Starfish Now that is what I call massochist (however you spell it!) *LOL*

Cerulean	11 Aug 2002
Hello, how old is your Illuminated? I love the Herzer's work, she did a lovely job on a collective deck. I hesitate to ask a question below, because I'm still learning...but here goes. My only heisitation is my bad experience with color copies out of inkjets that fade...I didn't use archival inks in my digital photo printouts and scanned work. I'm trying to research archival inks for my cheapy inkjet. I'm now using a service to color-copy (same technology as laser printers) on archival paper for lesser costs in my very small experiments. Mari Hoshizaki

Lee	11 Aug 2002
Hi Mari, I just got my Illuminated so it's brand new. The colors are excellent, much more vivid than published decks. Since the cards are laminated, I wouldn't think the inks would fade. All I can really say is that Carol is very serious about putting out a high-quality product. I'd suggest you e-mail her and ask her about your concerns, she's good about responding to questions. -- Lee :)

Cerulean	11 Aug 2002
Good idea. Thanks. Did your tarot also have it's own bag? I also remember that she made gorgeous, high quality bags that had one card on the front. And you are right -- good lamination assists in retaining colors. I'll pop over to the site when I have the funds to order something pretty. Mari H.

Lee	11 Aug 2002
Yes, the bag is included with the deck purchase. She has lots of fabrics so you need to tell her what colors you want. I love her bag fabrics (I also have the Blue Rose which came with a bag too), they're very thick with a nice texture. I actually asked her not to put the card on the bag like she usually does. I found I didn't like it on the Blue Rose bag. -- Lee

jade	11 Aug 2002
i think you should submit the first posting in this thread to solandia for AT as a review. in light, jade ps i'm trying not to WANT this deck!!!!

the hermit	12 Aug 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mari_Hoshizaki My only heisitation is my bad experience with color copies out of inkjets that fade...I didn't use archival inks in my digital photo printouts and scanned work. I'm trying to research archival inks for my cheapy inkjet. I'm now using a service to color-copy (same technology as laser printers) on archival paper for lesser costs in my very small experiments. Mari Hoshizaki She specifically states on her website that she uses laser not inkjet technology for the cards.

Liliana	12 Aug 2002
Id love to get it, but unfortunately greedy me would want the large with the handpainting lol, too high for me right now, but someday Ill have the money to get these expensive ones hehe :THP

The Illuminated Tarot thread was originally posted on 05 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.