Running press tarot set

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Sep 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

sparrowspirit	29 Sep 2002
I just bought a tarot set at barnes and noble that was for sale on the gift rack on the way out of the store. I really like it and I haven't found a listing for it anywhere. The kit is titled Tarot - The Complete Kit. It is published by Running Press here in Philly and the illustrator is Julie Paschkis. It is a fun, advice oriented deck. I was wondering if anyone else has seen it?

Liliana	29 Sep 2002
Yes i own it, make sure all your cards are there tho they have the habiit of having one missing for some reason, if you find one missing emailing running press will get you a replacement deck. I find it cute and simple but still symbolic, i love the little piggy in the 4 of coins hehe. Some of the symbolism is odd, like the boot emperor, but overall a cute deck :THP

Kyrielle	30 Sep 2002
It's the Tarot Nova! I saw this at Barnes and Noble here, and it seems like a better deal this way than in the package I bought it in -- the Fortune Telling box that came with a dinky little book on palm reading as well. It's also available as an itty-bitty, Barbie-sized version on the gift rack, attached to one of those small hardcover gift books on tarot. This version is hard to see, let alone read with. It is nice to know that the full-sized Tarot Nova is now available without a great deal of extraneous stuff and packaging. I love this deck! It was my first one, because I liked the art. Sparrowspirit -- does it now come with an LWB? -- Kyrielle

Sulis	30 Sep 2002
Yes it is the Tarot Nova, I use this deck for spellwork mainly. Love the card backs, they`re gorgeous. Love and light Julie xx

sparrowspirit	30 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kyrielle It's the Tarot Nova! I love this deck! It was my first one, because I liked the art. Sparrowspirit -- does it now come with an LWB? -- Kyrielle I really love this deck too! The images on some of the cards are not traditional, yet the meanings are remarkably similar. Yes, it does come with a LWB. If fact I really like it because it is relatively simple and straightforward. Here is an example: "The Suit of Cups, (pg 28) Cups are concerned with love and emotions. This suit speaks of relationships with others and of the unconscious. Upright cards reveal that your feelings are extremely sensitive - easily aroused and easily hurt. Reversed cards warn against being to detached, cool, callous." It is perhaps a bit too simplistic, yet gives a good general background. And, as I said before, advice oriented. One major change that I like is in the knights. Each knight is riding an animal that goes along with the suit; the knight of cups is riding a dolphin, the knight of pents is riding a turtle, the knight of swords is riding an eagle and the knight of wands is riding a horse. The king of cups being swallowed by a fish is interesting too. Lilliana: I think the 4 of pents is really cute too. Do you think that the two of pents is blowing bubbles? Crystalmynx: It is hard for me to enjoy a deck without liking the backs. I think these are one of the nicest.

fairyhedgehog	17 Oct 2002
I am really not going to get any more tarot decks. Really, really, really. But I just couldn't resist this one. It was only £5.99 (it is $7.95 in USA and $11.99 in Canada) in a box with a small book. It is a real little tarot deck, just the right size - I love small decks. I haven't done a reading yet, but I'm sure it will be great, the little pictures are so clear. Oooh, I love getting a new deck :) The wands suit puzzles me a bit though. Does anyone get the two of wand? Or the three for that matter?

HudsonGray	17 Oct 2002
Small is right, the entire box is 3"x3"x3" large. $8 in cost, I looked at it & was tempted, but then I was tempted by the belly dancing set too (you get a pair of zills, which are CHEAP at the $8 price)! Looks like it's the start of the holiday season displays. At least they had a good selection. Tempted.................but bought a magazine instead. Maybe next time!

Riversea	17 Oct 2002
I just bought the Belly Dancing kit last night! ;) I thought the zills would be terribly tinny-sounding, but they aren't bad at all! (My cats don't like them though!) I took a class years ago, so the little book was a nice "refresher", not detailed, but reminded me of a some of the basics. I just started a another dance class two weeks ago, but it is all free-style, with little instruction. It's fun and pretty good work-out. Exercise seems less nasty when you are being glamorous (or as close as I can get!) while doing it! I have the micro Tarot Nova. It is way too small to read with, but I think the design of the deck is very lovely and charming. Love those vivid colors on black. :) Of course, now I want the larger size to actually read with! If they'd had it in Boarders last night, I'd probably be reading with it right now! Instead, I have some zills and a Best of Arabian Belly Dance cd. Oh well, exercise is an important thing too!

sparrowspirit	17 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog The wands suit puzzles me a bit though. Does anyone get the two of wand? Or the three for that matter? I haven't gotten that far in the deck yet, I'm still working on the majors. So I just took the deck out and laid out the wands. I don't do much reading of the cards, but this is my take so far: LWB says "The realm of the wands is that of physical energy, growth and personal enterprise. When the cards fall upright in a layout, you're in the driver's seat. When reversed, someone else is at the steering wheel." As I look throught the explanations of the pip cards of this suit, it seems that this suit deals mainly with interactions with other people and in the field of getting your goals going or completed, (as opposed to internal work, as in the swords suit of this deck). Ace shows the beginning of a new project, putting those ideas that have been running around in your head in swords into words and therefore beginning into action. The two looks like the guy has had the wind knocked out of him by those wands and has lost his head, (sometimes when you share your ideas with others they can knock down your plans, this card appears to warn against allowing this to happen). This card reminds me of Chagall, as does the man on the rooster in the Sun card. The three then instructs to observe with keen eyesight before committing the final plans to paper. Four looks like a well-built nest which has a flower in it, the flower being the precursor to the seeds or fruit. Five looks like the negotiation, can you tell if they are dancing or ready to strike eachother? Maybe they can't tell either. Six looks like crowning victory, followed by seven, standing your ground. Eight looks like time is of the essence, (a clock in the middle of the wheel of fortune?). I'm not sure about nine, could it be that the work of the enterprise is keeping you inside instead of allowing you free time to go out and play, or to take if a step further, is the enterprise keeping you in prison? Ten looks like it could be a bumper crop, having as much as you can carry, because he does seem able to carry it, but he does look a bit burdened I think. Although not as much so as in RWS. Does anyone have a different take? I also like the courts of this suit. They have a decidedly Asian feel. I bought the belly dancing kit for a friend the same day I bought the Tarot! :D Sparrow

Zhritza	18 Oct 2002
oooh, I have been wanting this deck for a long time but did not want to buy the $25 kit with the palmistry book. many a time did I bemoan the lack of a Tarot Nova available by itself. thank you so much for telling us, sparrowspirit :* :*

marmalade	18 Oct 2002
i was just going to start a post alerting everyone to the 'new' deck i found, but it seems you've all beat me to it! i went birthday shopping for my hubby the other day and saw them setting up their display at waterstone's, and i just couldn't resist! at only £6 how can you say no? this is my first small deck, and i love it! i just picked it up at lunch so haven't had a chance to look through it properly, but from what i have seen it's gorgeous. i love how when i pulled the cards out the first one i saw was the fool riding a cat!! oh, and i did pick something up for hubby too!

fairyhedgehog	18 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by sparrowspirit The two looks like the guy has had the wind knocked out of him by those wands and has lost his head Wow, what a good description. You make a lot more sense of it than I did. For most of the other cards, I find that the 'standard' interpretations works OK, but this one more than any other had me stumped. I wasn't thinking metaphorically enough :)

sparrowspirit	18 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by fairyhedgehog For most of the other cards, I find that the 'standard' interpretations works OK, I haven't had a chance to take the same kind of look at the other suits. Do you think that they are pretty standard as well? Sparrow

fairyhedgehog	18 Oct 2002
Hi Sparrow, I'm still getting to know this deck, but I think there are a lot of cards where the 'standard' interpretation will do. EG, ten of cups: man and woman raising a cup to each other while holding hands over a wheel. You can use the emotional fulfilment type meaning with this, although the wheel offers other suggestions too. Three of cups is three cups with ringing bells on their bottoms - looks like a celebration to me. Nine of swords shows a sleepless night - very Rider Waite image. I'll be interested to hear how you get on with this deck.

Jackal	21 Oct 2002
Someone bought me the micro version as a 'joke' birthday gift. Being new to Tarot, I liked the simple art on black, and the short two-sentence explanations. And I actually attempted to shuffle the little fingernail-sized cards. Needless to say, those that aren't behind the sofa cushions now belong to the cats.

Zhritza	22 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jackal Needless to say, those that aren't behind the sofa cushions now belong to the cats. ah, but in the long run, doesn't everything belong to the cats? :D

Demonesse	22 Oct 2002
How cute - it's so folksy looking, and I love the colourful corners. The depcitions are both relatively contemporary and clear, whi;e the back design is one of the most detailed and charming I've seen. Liliana, I love the PentaclePig! It is hard for me to enjoy a deck without liking the backs. I think these are one of the nicest. -----Sparrowspirit I am in total agreement. Now I have to choose - Nigel Jackson or Nova? Argh! But what the heck is a zill?

Riversea	22 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Demonesse But what the heck is a zill? The finger cymbals that belly dancers play. :)

The Running press tarot set thread was originally posted on 29 Sep 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.