Wild Spirit or Wheel of Change

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Aug 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

midnightmerry	24 Aug 2002
I will be ordering one more deck here soon from Amazon and I'm trying to decide between the Wild Spirit and the Wheel of Change. I've been looking at both of these decks for a little while and I can't decide which to order first. (I hope to have both eventually!) They are both Pagan-oriented and both look like they have great artwork. Wild Spirit looks awesome, but I really like the artwork of Wheel of Change, too! I'd really like to hear from folks who may have one or both of these decks. Specifically, I'd like to know: Is the deck easy to work with? Is the artwork as pleasing in person as it was on the Internet? How much reading did you have to do before you could use the deck? How 'intuitive' is the deck? Are you glad you bought it? What don't you like about it? Anyone care to offer an opinion? ** Answering my own question! I have been re-reading some of the posts about the Wild Spirit and decided that this is the one I want to get next. Despite the problems with the book & the changes, the artwork is so beautiful! So I'm going with this one first.

WolfSpirit	24 Aug 2002
I don't know the Wheel of Change tarot... but there have just been two threads on the wild spirit, so you could see some different opinions there. Most people are wild about the deck (including me) but about the book there are some mixed opinions. I don't have the deck long enough to know if I will use it a lot...

midnightmerry	24 Aug 2002
Thanks Wolfspirit. I've been a little hesitant about the book too after reading some reviews of it. But forewarned is forearmed and this deck is just too nice to pass up. Thanks for the feedback. It's nice to know that you like the deck so much.

Violet Gargoyle	24 Aug 2002
I think I am in agreement about the Wild Spirit. My personal jusry is still out about the companion book (which I always devour to check the research that has gone it- history addict that I am). But even if I decide that I don't want to read through that a second time, the cards themselves are worth it. Who says you have to follow the book anyway......

Sulis	25 Aug 2002
I`ve got the Wheel of Change tarot . I`v had it a couple of months and don`t use it for readings as I prefer to use something which is loosly Rider Waite based as I don`t feel competent enough as a reader to try anything else yet. The Wheel of Change uses Genetti`s own system and a lot of the card meanings are changed completely. The book which comes with the deck is excellent and is worth reading even if you don`t own the deck. The artwork is excellent and is very intuitive, there are no people on the minors. Truthsayer has this deck I believe and absolutely loves it. Blessings Crystalmynx xx

jema	25 Aug 2002
i don't have any of them but oh how i would like to get my hands on the wheel of change deck. the art in that one speak more to me then the wild spirit one. but i guess it is just a matter of taste. perhaps i am also a bit put off by the bad reviews for the wild spirit. however - that card with the leaping cat - that one alone is almost worth to buy the deck for:)

Liliana	25 Aug 2002
Dont own either, but my preference would be for Wheel of Change as well. Dont know why I dont like Wild Spirit, just never have, but the Wheel of Change Devil slays me :) :THP

Tarot_Cupcake	25 Aug 2002
I had the Wheel of Change and also have the Wild Spirit deck. The quality of the card stock is much better with the wild Spirit. The art is more beautiful and vibrant with the Wild Spirit and I happen to like how each card "speaks for itself" in the book. If you want something different and want a good sturdy deck that will hold up after much handling, I would say get the Wild Spirit. It also would be an excellent deck for spells and spiritual readings for yourself, sort of like the Osho deck.

Tarot_Cupcake	25 Aug 2002
Oh yes, forgot...the backs of the cards on the Wild Spirit deck are to die for.....the most beautiful and enchanting backs I have ever seen in a deck. They are a work of art!

RedWood	25 Aug 2002
I don't have either of the decks..But..my next purchase will be Wild Spirit...I like how the books sounds..Sounds so much more interesting then other companion books..

Tarot_Cupcake	25 Aug 2002
It is more interesting :). The book makes each card come alive, sort of like taking on a life of its' own. They seem more than just cardboard printed images, they become symbols with a persona and a tale to tell of their being and worth. The book is different, but definitely a wonderful new direction in companion books! Its' like having a deck full of companions through your journey in this world. It is also great for people with a belief in reincarnation and the cycle of birth and death as that seems to be the theme of this deck.

Cerulean	25 Aug 2002
No disrespect intended, for the artists/authors, just perhaps a suggestion for the buyer's desire and mood... If you're singing "Born to be Wild" even if you're cycling uphill on a three-speed bike, hear polka music and see a faery ring, possibly the Wild Spirit's energy and rebel yells will give you a mischevious lift. I think that individualistic book might help you build character sketches and games from someone whose view might be from the British isles? Maybe that would be fun. If you're singing "Old Man River" while cleaning out the garage, Wheel of Change will give you a glimpse of other worlds as you come out the door. Rachel Pollack's Illustrated Guide to the Tarot uses Wheel of Change in her illustrations, so that's a nice lift and a cross-reference. I think I decided Genetti's book would give me a different twist and I wasn't born to be wild at the moment. Funny, because just from the color scans I've seen, Wild Spirit's art looks zesty and mischevious. Does Amazon have excerpts available? Maybe that and a few questions---which tarot set would be nice to take for a trip? Which would you regret not having if you could only have one for a few months? In my case, I liked how Rachel Pollack looked at the minors in Wheel of Change and I liked Genetti's suggestions in her book. One of her suggestions is to just use the minor archana for daily readings.

midnightmerry	25 Aug 2002
I am enjoying so much reading everyone's views on this! Mari, I love your analogies! I think I am definitely going with Wild Spirit for now (or rather, I'll be ordering within a week or two). Wheel of Change *does* look more like a challenge to me with the changes. I'd like to see all of the artwork. I know that I do like the symbolism used for the swords suit.

Cerulean	25 Aug 2002
More scans of Wild spirit after you read the Bella online review: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4389.asp Maybe you'd use Wild Spirit more as an interesting oracle. There's nothing wrong with oracle decks that draw on the structuring of the tarot--but I've noticed some of my favorite AGM Mueller decks actually work better as an oracle. I'm talking about decks such as Tarot of the Master with Amerigo Folchi's nice paintings and Tarot of Love with Marcia Perry's illustrations. Have fun finding links and checking reviews/scans while you wait on your order---that's an interesting way to 'prepare' for a deck. Best wishes and I'd like to know how people use this deck. The illustrations are very nice. Mari H.

The Wild Spirit or Wheel of Change thread was originally posted on 24 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.