Universal-Waite vs. Sharman-Caselli

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

generation	26 Oct 2002
Hi. I'm about to buy my very first tarot deck, and the two that seem to appeal to me the most are the Universal-Waite and the Sharman-Caselli decks. However, I've only been able to view six cards from each deck online. Are any of you familiar with both of these decks? Can you give me any advice. Thanks!

faunabay	26 Oct 2002
I have the Universal Waite and love it. I use it for my studies. It would be a great first deck. The colors are better than the original rider waite, but will obviously still fit in with any of the book who use the rider waite for learning. Now I don't have the Sharman-Caselli, but have heard it's a very good beginning deck as well. So it sounds like you did good :) with choosing these two. Either would work wonderfully as a beginning deck. I'd say go with the one that draws you the most. Or better yet - go for it and buy them both!!!!!! :D

Phoenix	26 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by faunabay Or better yet - go for it and buy them both!!!!!! :D Now Fauna...wait until they have at least 3 decks before you turn them into a tarotholic :D Back to the original question. I got the Universal Waite when I first started, and I still love it. In my opinion, it is the deck to go with...but I don't know. The Sharman-Caselli looks pretty good too. I would say to go with the one that is te most eye appealing. The only other advantage to the Universal Waite is that many books out on the market are geared towards this deck, or any of the Rider-Waite-Smith decks. Bottom line, go with the one you like the most! Good luck!

fairyhedgehog	27 Oct 2002
You can see every card in the Universal Waite deck here: http://www.tarot.com/about-tarot/decks/browsedecks.php?newdeck=34 For the Sharman Caselli deck, it seems to be quite a new deck so there aren't as many pictures around. There are 8 pictures here: http://www.astroamerica.com/t-begin.html A few more here: http://www.tarotpassages.com/sharmancaselli.htm and that's all I could find. I would go with whichever one you like the look of best, as they both seem to be good decks. Let us know how you get on :)

jmd	27 Oct 2002
In case you decide on the Universal, remember the Aeclectic Universal Waite Tarot link.

Pollux	27 Oct 2002
I have neither - but i would get both as well! :D *LOL* You REALLY chose two very good decks. From what I see in the scans, the Sharman-Caselli seems very very close to the Rider-Waite-Smith as well, and in truth has softer hues and tones, plus some differences in the images. (ADDED TO MY WISHLIST! :D *LOL*). EDITED TO ADD - after reading Talisman post, the word "psychiatrist" ringed and ringed in my ears... *LOL* I could justify the expense in a hundred ways... :D It seems like I'll have to get that deck at some point. :) My advice is the following: if you already have your eyes and heart on a tarot book (or already own one) get the Universal waite (the name says it, "universal" ;)) and you shouldn't have problems of sorts. If you are about to buy also a book, then get the Sharman-Caselli Set - I hear the book is very good, and the deck looks so pretty and probably more attractive than the Universal Waite. Bottom Line for me as well - as they said above *LOL* Or, as Jmd forgot to say, why don't you consider a Marseile deck? *LOL*

Talisman	27 Oct 2002
'Lo generation, Most of the time when reading a deck thread seems I end up looking up the deck(s) involved. Time consuming, but fun -- and cheap. Solandia (and other sites) keeps my collection for me. I'd almost always advise starting with ONE deck you really like, learning it and the tradition it springs from, really bonding with that deck, before giving into collection mania and getting a second, and a elevendy-seventh. (truthsayer threw the rock that zipped past my ear. I'm not sure, but I suspect this indicates deep respect in some Tarot tradition I'm not familiar with.) However, even though she may have had a twinkle in her eye, I think faunabay was serious and offering good advice when she said get both decks. You'll start with Smith-Waite, a deck that has stood the test of time and is the foundation of so much Tarot literature, and have the so-close but different Sharman deck to compare and contrast. From quick reading, it seems the Sharman deck is not just another "what's the point?" Smith-Waite clone. Sharman-Burke, a psychiatrist, has written a book about it, and it's a book aimed at beginners. (I think a deck specific book is always a big plus.) But, if due to circumstances or inclination, you only get one deck, (one GOOD deck is all you'll ever really need, for a long while, anyway) I absolutely agree with Phoenix. Get the Universal. For all the very good reasons he mentions. Generation, in narrowing your selection down to these two, I think you've shown uncommon good beginner sense. Oh, and be sure and throw a bone to us hungry readers and let us know what you decide. Talisman

truthsayer	27 Oct 2002
generation, i have both decks and really like both decks. i agree that you are right on the money w/ your choice of decks. i also agree w/ what everyone said about both decks. imho, i like the sharman burke caselli a little better. being a hard core hanson roberts fan, it was a tough call. below are the reasons i'd go w/ SBCT over the UW: 1. the images aren't cutesy like the UW (even tho i like cutesy) 2. the book is one of the best beginner books i've ever seen. each chapter shows a picture of the card, tells the element, theme and divinatory meaning. but best of all on each picture has arrows drawn to specific symbols on it with a brief explanation of what the symbols mean. that way you can just glance at the book and come up with something. the UW's little white book can't even begin to compete. 3. the art--drawing and colors are good. i like the UW cards slightly better here. it's that anemic high priestess that makes SBC lose this contest. 4. SBC is not just another rws clone. you can tell there's an intelligence moving thru the cards putting together words and images. i like the way i can tell the author and artist collaborated together so the book feels like it comes from like minds. since mary hanson roberts is primarily an artist i don't see this collaboration w/ a like minded author in the UW. so now that i have dissed the UW and broken my sacred allegiance to mary hanson roberts, i must put a plug in for her deck. the HansonRoberts deck is much better than the UW. it comes in a deck book set like the SBC. the book follows along with the card design quite well even though even it's not as good as the SBC book. art wise i like the HR better but that's me. if i was going to give you a nudge on a deck, i'd go with the sharman burke casselli b/c the book is fabulous. you do need both decks, imho but i won't corrupt you w/ tarot holic propaganda...yet!!!!!!!!

truthsayer	27 Oct 2002
[quote]Originally posted by Talisman [b] (truthsayer threw the rock that zipped past my ear. I'm not sure, but I suspect this indicates deep respect in some Tarot tradition I'm not familiar with.) ************************************************* now, talisman, would i start a fight w/ you? i wasn't the one who started the thread "take iron, truthsayer!" ROFLMAO }) *you never did respond to my reply to that thread. i even went so far as obtaining seconds for both of us. ;) * "tarot tradition you aren't familiar with"--i'm sure my liberal tarot converts would be only too glad to familiarize you with these tarot traditions. :D }) :D

generation	27 Oct 2002
Thank you all so much for your help. I can already tell that you guys are going to be a bad influence on me! So, here's what I did... I went with the Sharman-Caselli, and I'm so excited! I saw it in the bookstore the other day, and I've been thinking about it ever since. So, I decided that was the one to go with. (They also didn't have the Universal-Waite in stock, so I think this was "meant to be".) The book is great, with the lessons, and the cards really appeal to me. I can see myself using this deck for a long time. At the same time, I also picked up a gift set called "The Art of Tarot" with a book by Liz Dean, and cards by Emma Garner. They're actually quite pretty. I like the major arcana a lot, but the #1-10 minors don't have the same kind of illustrative drawings on them (other than indicating the suit and the number), so this might be harder to learn with. Anyway, I can't wait to get started, and I want to tell you again that I really appreciate all of your insights. You guys are great! By the way, I still like the Universal deck, but Christmas is coming, and I'll be putting it on my wish list... Thanks again!

Kitty	27 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by generation Hi. I'm about to buy my very first tarot deck, and the two that seem to appeal to me the most are the Universal-Waite and the Sharman-Caselli decks. However, I've only been able to view six cards from each deck online. Are any of you familiar with both of these decks? Can you give me any advice. Thanks! Hello Generation, Well, I have both these decks, and I love them both. In fact the Sharman-Caselli was my first deck when I started tarot 10 months ago :) I then started to use Universal Waite when I started tarot classes. I think that it would be a good idea to use the Universal Waite for the reasons some of the others have mentioned - there are many very good beginners books that use the Rider/Universal Waite cards. Good Luck -let us know what you decide

The Universal-Waite vs. Sharman-Caselli 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.