Tell me about the Winged Spirit...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

napaea	26 Oct 2002
Who has the Winged Spirit deck? please tell me your opinion, views, problems, or joys over this deck! i really love the look of the deck and am interested in getting it, but was curious how it was to read with. any input is appreciated...

Indigo	28 Oct 2002
The Winged Spirit is one of my main reading decks. I didn't like the pip cards, though, so I only use the Major Arcana, the Court cards, and the Aces. I usually use the depictions of situations when I'm interpreting the pip cards, rather than numerological associations, so this deck's pips didn't really speak to me much. The LWB that comes with the deck is absolutely invaluable! It tells the story/myth associated with the angel(s) in the cards. I wish I hadn't lost mine. My favorite cards are the Star (it's always been "my" card in general), since the angel shows the purity and awe in her worship; the Hermit, because he is bound by the ribbons of tradition, and bears it mildly; the Queen of Cups and Temperance, just for the beauty of the artwork; and Justice, because it shows directness and swiftness. A couple of my friends were looking through it and teasing me that it really should be named the Homoerotic Tarot (look at Strength, hehehehe) because most of the male figures have muscular bodies and slightly pouty faces. I guess that's what happens when you critique Tarot decks when there's beer involved. ;) Overall (and being of sound and sober mind and body), I give this deck two thumbs up.

kayne	30 Oct 2002
I really love the look of this deck but have not bought it yet... I think I need it though... Love those powerfully strong angels (not to mention pouty faces... ;))

Little Baron	22 Jul 2003
I was bought this deck by an ex. The Moon is stunning ... really stunning. So many of the cards are. It is a difficult one to read with though. I find the blank backgrounds a little sparce and the same characters in similar movements in the pips a little too similar. It is a stunning work of art though. The artist has a website which is very interesting with other tarot works. I can't remember the address now, but can be found on a general serach on Google. Best wishes Yaboot

jema	23 Jul 2003
I think it is a really boring deck. the backgrounds are flat and dull. all the angels and people in it look too buff and artificial. the pips are not all that expressive. I used to have it but traded it away. I thought I should post this because most of the time only those who like the deck will post a reply and I think it is a good thing with some balance:)

genna	03 Aug 2003
I got the deck from Jema! Yesterday I looked it up and found I had written a note in the quite good Little White Booklet that I drew The High Priestess Gabriel as my first card for "What can you(the deck) teach me" on the 2nd of August 2001.I remember I found it hard to read with,and a little harsh,but now I was curious to see if I liked it better two years later,and I do. It has a very serious, yet kind feeling to it that I think I need right now.It is very to the point,and beautiful,as mentioned above.I think the fact that the pictures are so simple,makes it less distracting,and sometimes you need a deck like that too. However,I still find it a bit too harsh(for my taste),and couldn´t use it for my only,or main,deck.

mondk	09 Aug 2003
I've had this deck for a long time. I personally love the deck, but don't do my own readings; however, I try to "practice" with this deck, as with my Hudes deck. Unfortunately, none of my usual querents have liked this deck, nor wanted readings with it. It is hard for me to understand why. One of my querents told me the deck gave her the creeps. I nearly laughed! With all of the angel imagery, I could not for the life of me understand how it could give her the creeps. The few readings I have done with it (for querents who didn't realize I had more than one deck; they just assumed this was my only deck when I brought only it to the reading) were very accurate. I believe this deck has a lot to reveal to the right querents. The only drawback to this deck in my opinion, is that sometimes it is difficult to grasp the wands' meanings; several wands cards are very similar in image and I have confused them before. But that may just be me; wands have always been difficult for me, no matter what deck I'm using. Anyway, enjoy! Let me know what you think of it. Blessings, Michelle

oceanpoetry	10 Aug 2003
I don't care for this one at all! Mondk, I see the creepiness too. Those angels depicted don't strike me as the beings of light I imagine angels to be. I think the color scheme of this deck also contributes to its overal dark moodiness.

punchinella	25 Sep 2003
Yeah oceanpoetry this deck really is edgy isn't it. Maybe it's my bretheryn upbringing speaking (aaugh), but something is definitely 'off' here . . . really too bad, because the deck DOES look powerful/compelling . . . I'm certainly attracted to it, but not at all sure that I want it in my house. (Oh come on, get over it already--so speaks rational function, as intuitive sense continues to kick up her heels squeak squirm & otherwise quite generally rebel . . . ) --P.

SongDeva	25 Sep 2003
Brand new for $7. But I digress. Like the original poster, I'd been intrigued for some time whenever I saw it, and yet when I went to buy decks I didn't seek it out. Then I nabbed this one - knew it was mine. Anway, I think it's lovely. I can see the homeerotic angle. I haven't really done any readings yet, but have explored it a bit, and felt VERY strongly urged to work with it. Someone mentioned the valuable LWB and I laughed because it was one of my first impressions that the LWB was fabulous, and that I 'd mention this on Aeclectic. Vee

delizt	25 Sep 2003
Hello, I recently ordered this deck after debating for quite some time, I am waiting for it to arrive and enjoyed reading all your thoughts on it. When I first saw it I dimissed it as the angels looked too heavy and muscular, but then I kept coming across it and everytime I saw it something drew me in until one day I decided this deck was one I had to check out for myself. I am interested in seeing if I wil be able to read with it and am checking my mailbox daily:-)) delizt

Shade	25 Sep 2003
I debated about whether or not to get this deck for a LONG time but I'm very happy that I bought it. I am not a big fan of angels but I was able to get into the figures in this deck as they are presented as being their own pantheon. Another thread on here talked about people who had mixed feelings about Christianity but were able to work with the Saints Tarot because the deck treats it like its very own pantheon. This is the experience I had with the winged spirit, the pantheon seems to have a sense of impartiality I hadn't expected from Christian Mythology. For example the Emperor is the Demiurge who, according to Gnostic Christian teachings, was the Demi-God YHVH put in charge of the running things in the old testament. Many of the patriarchal, violent acts of the old testament are therefore attributed to this figure rather than the Creator. One issue people have mentioned is that the Majors are just an Icon of the figure without a whole lot going on to help you out. When I looked at the moon I liked the image but didn't get much from it until I checked the LWB and found out it was Lilith. Then the card made sense but only beacues I know who Lilith is. The Minors split the suits into 4 different stories (as the Renaissance or Art Noveaus decks have done) and you should be familiar with all of the pip card images from each suit before trying to do a reading with them. I really liked the art in this deck quite a bit. It has a whole comic book, stylized, homoerotic, playful thing going on that just sat very well with me. Check out the artist's other work on his website to see. http://www.davidsexton.com/ I'm not sure if I want to get his Tarot of Oz but if the Anne Rice deck ever gets finished I'm buying it.

punchinella	25 Sep 2003
Well in spite of my previous post re:uncomfortable reaction to Winged Spirit, I seem to like the Anne Rice scans on his website--perhaps because they're OPENLY dark (as opposed to something dark masquerading as something celestial--this is what creeps me out about Winged Spirit) --One thing though: does anybody else find the vertical boxes naming characters/novels in the Anne Rice minor arcana (suit of flames, as of now) seriously distracting/detracting? I would so much rather see characters etc. named in LWB (after all, we do have enough intelligence/interest to read it) & artwork only on the card proper. The boxes w/ names in them could actually put me right off using the deck . . . almost as though the deck was created for the express purpose of plugging Anne Rice's novels, rather than as a response to them . . . When I saw this I was so annoyed that I fired off an email to David Sexton, suggesting that he might consider removing the lettering in question in order to strengthen the deck--he seems to solicit comments (there's an invitation right there on the website) so I went for it. I personally would be far more likely to purchase a deck sans intrusive lettering, than the deck as it is now. --Just wondering how other people feel about this? (I know the question is off Winged Spirit--maybe I should have started another thread . . . ) --P.

SongDeva	26 Sep 2003
FYI: I just bought another winged spirit on eBay: a. because I intuitively knew someone here would want it in trade. b. because I'm a dork. It's one of the two, and I won't commit yet. Anyway, I'll have it up for trade soon, just so you know.

The Tell me about the Winged Spirit... thread was originally posted on 26 Oct 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.