Love the art but can't read with it

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Lee	10 Nov 2002
I was curious as to what decks people have whose artwork you love, but for one reason or another you can't read with them. I have two entries: Elemental Tarot -- filled with astrological correlations and multiple keywords, none of which make sense to me Dante Tarot -- the artwork is just gorgeous, but doesn't seem to suggest much in readings. I'd love to hear anyone else's... -- Lee

kayne	10 Nov 2002
Sounds like at least half my decks Lee. And I always get them thinking I will be able to read with them too... The Tarot of the Origins : This is one of my fav decks that i can't read with. I am really drawn to the artwork but as a tarot deck, it is all over the place. All the minors are different from standard meanings. I would need to spend some serious time *learning* this deck to use it and I have not done this yet... maybe one day. The Sacred Circle Tarot : Lovely art, great technique and wonderful pagan theme... just doesn't tell me enough about the *meanings* of the cards. Osho Zen Tarot : I love this deck but there are just too many changes. I had planned on pursuing it but after reading the book I found that the philosophy behind Osho Zen did not really suit me either.

Mystica	10 Nov 2002
The Sacred Circle! By far my favorite deck for it's beauty and Pagan theme, but my readings with it have not been meaningful. I do enjoy using it for majors only readings, 3 to 5 card spreads.

darwinia	10 Nov 2002
I find the Giotto tarot to be completely useless as a reading deck. I love the colours and the weird people and the jam-packed minors though. It's very interesting, but not of much use. I have 11 other decks and they're all great except this one. I wouldn't trade it, but I doubt if I'd buy another Lo Scarabeo deck. Judy

allibee	11 Nov 2002
I was a bit disappointed with my Vertigo Tarot deck, not just because I had wanted it so badly for so long, and when I got it it was on really flimsy card stock, but according to the book that came with it, a lot of the meanings were different and didn't appeal to me. The same thing happened with my new Tarot of the Gnomes deck. I suppose I brought them for the aesthetic value, but I can't get on with them 100%. My most recent deck was the Zerner Farber deck which although the meanings are ok, the artwork is just too 'busy', and detracts from the meanings. All in all, the last three decks I've brought - all off ebay - have been a bit of a let down to read with, but hey, I love looking at them. allibee

wavebreaker	11 Nov 2002
The Australian Dreamtime Tarot for me...

allibee	11 Nov 2002
Lol, Ive seen that deck too...what do they all mean :D allibee

Kiama	11 Nov 2002
Sacred Circle Shapeshifter Osho Zen The arwork on all of these is stunning, but I find that they tend to go away too much from the Tarot I am used to... Esp. the Shapeshifter! Kiama

Pollux	11 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by freesiaskye I have 11 other decks and they're all great except this one. I wouldn't trade it, but I doubt if I'd buy another Lo Scarabeo deck. Mh, I see... ;) *LOL* Interestingly, so far more than one deck was published by LoScarabeo. }) I'll be honest this time: I don't think I can read well with the Bosch. Maybe it's understood one can't and I'm the only one on earth who's trying to... *LOL* But the question fits: I just love the artwork, the creepiness and eerieness of if, but it is not a successful divinating tool. Actually, I always got something out of it, but the readings were not *that* simple and accurate - and I can't blame Atanassov as his work is outstanding, unlike other LoScarabeo decks in which there's always the same style. So, I don't know if it counts, but I just can't read with BOSCH. *LOL* P.S. LouiQ I think used to read with it.

darwinia	11 Nov 2002
[quote]Originally posted by Pollux [b]Mh, I see... ;) *LOL* Interestingly, so far more than one deck was published by LoScarabeo. }) ==Yes, they are such lovely looking art decks though. I'll be honest this time: I don't think I can read well with the Bosch (snip) But the question fits: I just love the artwork, the creepiness and eerieness of if, but it is not a successful divinating tool. ==I take it back, the Bosch is the one Lo Scarabeo deck I would buy, simply for the art. It's very compelling, isn't it? I love the colours and the weird, sometimes disturbing imagery. Isabel Kliegman's book Tarot and the Tree of Life has a passage about Bosch in her description of the Seven of Wands. She describes how innovations in art are never received with enthusiasm and she contrasts the beautiful, sweet pictures of the Madonna and Child with the darkly hideous imagery of Bosch. Here is a direct quote which I like: "So you can imagine how delighted everyone was at the sight of a bizarre creature defecating coins, when everyone around Bosch was painting halos. Yet Bosch is now recognized as one of the great geniuses of the art world. Outnumbered does not necessarily mean wrong." Isn't that great? It gave me hope for individualism and autonomy, and the artistic vision that is not the norm. Celebrate your difference, that's what Bosch says. William Blake's art was very strange for the times too. I just ordered the William Blake tarot for Christmas just because it is different. I think it's pretty good for reading though, although not conventional. Judy

Demonesse	11 Nov 2002
The Sacred Circle. The majors are so lovely but I can't connect to the images at all; the Shapeshifter as well. Part of the reason for my inabilty to 'connect' is the re-ordered system of the cards.

Liliana	11 Nov 2002
Tarot of the Cat People, it is good art but not very evocative. I cant really read with the Ananda either, I could the majors but Im not very good with pipish minors as of yet. Someday I will tho :) Ananda is still good for meditiation :THP

Sulis	11 Nov 2002
Wheel of Change, although I plan to be able to read with it one day when I`m a much better tarot reader because it`s gorgeous. Love and light Crystalmynx xx

Jewel	11 Nov 2002
Well I could probably writte a laundry list of decks here but the truth is that I have not dedicated a lot of time to 3/4 or more of my collection. But here are a few that are in that category for me now: - Margaret Peterson - Majors are fantastic, but the minors do not do that much for me ... sort of wish I would have gotten the large major's only version now. However the deck is very evocative for meditation. - Roots of Asia - very similar style to the Margaret Peterson (IMHO), but not as good. - Londa - have to be honest, I have not actually tried to read it, but even when I look through the deck nothing really jumps out at me. I do love the art though. - Le Tarot Ambre - the only reason I cannot read this one is because I am not as well versed in numerology as I plan to be. The minors are pips and this is where I am running into some challenges ... just a matter of time :) - Various LoScarabeo decks: Tarot of Avalon and the Crystal Tarot just to name a couple.

Cerulean	11 Nov 2002
I have many beautiful celtic-theme decks that are not intuitive to me. If I spend some time with the stories and some background literature, it begins to shape an outline for me---but dag-nab-it, they sometimes seem like beautiful little films that stand out in memory, doesn't quite fit in with my life at the moment. For instance, I might enjoy the entertainment of the old Highlander series on a Friday night, but I don't live in Europe and am not a swashbuckling maiden---so the Sacred Circle gives me blips on a radar screen that I have to scribble in a journal and then get back to later. If I have only twenty minutes to write something down, that can be frustrating. I've noticed after a class in Western civ., if we do a Roman/Greek/Egyptian theme for a class, I can plug into an art theme deck rather quickly---many of these are by Lo Scarabeo. But I don't live in Europe, so it's after a two-three hour lecture immersion that makes it easier to read with these decks. I have less problems with the Dante only because I have spent lots of time studying it in a class---but it's not my 'feeling groovy' deck. On the other hand, the Secrets Tarot and Renaissance Tarot, even the Tarot of the Hidden Folk by Lo Scarabeo has scenic and peopled minors that make it easier to do look-see readings for myself.

Rhiannon	11 Nov 2002
I love the World Spirit tarot, and it was a great study deck for me, but I have no desire to pick it up and read with it. And the Feng Shui is beautiful, but don't care to read with that one either. I've had other decks with this same problem and I've traded them away. R :)

Pollux	11 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by freesiaskye I take it back, the Bosch is the one Lo Scarabeo deck I would buy, simply for the art. It's very compelling, isn't it? I love the colours and the weird, sometimes disturbing imagery Yeah, DISTURBING and UNCONVENTIONAL. That's why I just love it. :) And, I must add something I left behind while writing: I just can't read with it cos I force myself to use all of the 78 cards. The Majors of the deck, despite the bright colours and bizarre monsters and creeplings, are very traditional in structure and imagery after all - I could restrict to them. The deck on the whole is not readable, that's the truth. The images are too similar and different from standard RW or Thoth or whatever, there's no book explaining them, and the images themselves are not very inspiring for their simplicity and few details. :( Quote: Isabel Kliegman's book Tarot and the Tree of Life has (...) Celebrate your difference, that's what Bosch says. William Blake's art was very strange for the times too. I just ordered the William Blake tarot for Christmas just because it is different. I think it's pretty good for reading though, although not conventional. I wish I could order a William blake deck too... :) I was so lucky to see both Bosch and Blake's work in my travels, and my esteem and awe for their works are the actual reason why I got one and hope te get the other (even though the phantom of OOP and my possibilities get in the way *LOL*). The value of their works, their inventive and innovations and different, modern look at the world ahead of their times are unarguable - yet I can't say I can read with Bosch anyway... :( All in all, I don't even know if a querent would willingly choose the incriminated Bosch for a reading - I just imagine the reaction to the Ten of Coins... *LOL*

Violet Gargoyle	11 Nov 2002
I also cant read with the World Spirit though I like the artwork alot. Same with the Feng Shui as well.....

Emily	11 Nov 2002
I love the artwork on the Victoria Regina but I can't read with it at all. I also have problems with the Enchanted tarot, again I love the artwork but it doesn't speak to me - couldn't trade either of them on though lol :)

WolfSpirit	12 Nov 2002
Most of my decks seem to be that way...I collect decks now if I like the artwork, not for reading (if I really love the artwork I will also buy oracle decks). What comes to mind: Sacred Circle Tarot of the cat people Waking the wild spirit - I was really disappointed in this one, from the images I thought this was going to be a very special deck to me...but I can't connect with most of the images and I don't like the book either... Some have mentioned the Shapeshifter...I do use this deck for reading, I find it gives my readings a spiritual edge.

Keslynn	12 Nov 2002
I'll also have to go with Tarot of the Cat People. I was very excited when I got this deck because I love cats and sci fi. But... I just don't get it. The Sacred Circle gets half a vote. Some days it's clear as crystal to me, and other days I can't get anything out of it. So I'll keep working with it. Plus, the majors are breathtaking. I might have to add some as I go along... but that's all I can think of now. :) Kes

Talisman	12 Nov 2002
'Lo all, Fascinating thread! For me, my collector's deck, the "Wheel of Change." I love the Wheel of Change Tarot, and I love Alexandra Genetti's book that goes with it. But, I would have no idea how to begin to get ready to commence to start to reading with this deck. Just like it. Talisman

Lee	12 Nov 2002
Here's another one... the Celtic Wisdom Tarot. Absolutely gorgeous, breathtakingly colorful artwork, but incomprehensible as a divination system (at least to me). -- Lee

MattDouglas	13 Nov 2002
To all those having difficulty with the Bosch Tarot, I only came by this deck about 2 months ago, and the few readings I've done with it (for others) have gone quite well. This summer I took an art history class. The teacher was someone I previously knew (who reads tarot as well, though he didn't mention that as a teacher). One painting he talked about at some length was Bosch's the Garden of Earthly Delights. In trying to explian the symbolism, he mentioned one theory that stated that Bosch may have been an alchemist. Well after reading a little about alchemy I think the theory is dead on. A good intro to alchemy can be found in Liz Greene's (co-written w/ Howard Sasportas) Dynamics of the Unconsciuos: Seminars in Psychological Astrology Volume 2. I highly recommend it, and I can guarantee it will answer your question of why on the 10 of Pentacles is shown someone sh-tting gold. Hope that helps, Matt

Kirali	13 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by MattDouglas To all those having difficulty with the Bosch Tarot, I only came by this deck about 2 months ago, and the few readings I've done with it (for others) have gone quite well. This summer I took an art history class. The teacher was someone I previously knew (who reads tarot as well, though he didn't mention that as a teacher). One painting he talked about at some length was Bosch's the Garden of Earthly Delights. In trying to explian the symbolism, he mentioned one theory that stated that Bosch may have been an alchemist. Well after reading a little about alchemy I think the theory is dead on. A good intro to alchemy can be found in Liz Greene's (co-written w/ Howard Sasportas) Dynamics of the Unconsciuos: Seminars in Psychological Astrology Volume 2. I highly recommend it, and I can guarantee it will answer your question of why on the 10 of Pentacles is shown someone sh-tting gold. hahaha That makes it so much more clear Matt! Thanks. My teacher also talked about his Garden of Earthly Delights in my Humanities class. Very interesting. Too bad the picture of the painting was so small. I couldn't see all the details. Thanks for making me laugh! Maybe I'll buy the deck one day.... Maybe.. ;)

Kitty	13 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotlady The Australian Dreamtime Tarot for me... \ I'm an australian and I hadn't seen this deck until you mentioned it here in this thread - had a look - all the artwork is aboriginal - the indigenious people of australia (before english arrived) - they have a particular style and what they call the dreamtime is the myths/stories about how the earth was created- (stuggling to remember one properly now) I know there is a wonderful one about how the mountains and great rivers were created by a huge magic serpent.......

aeonx	13 Nov 2002
Hi guys. To me it's the Fairy Wicca Tarot. Just loooove the colouring and the art, but have absolutely not the right 'feeling' for it. Unfortunately. I've had difficulties with Thoth as well, but I think it's just that I expect too much from it and feel that it needs a bunch of studying... ~aeonx~

juice	15 Nov 2002
Cat people was a serious no connect. Lots of pretty majors only decks they stuck 56 playing cards or water smears to. I don't have the Shapeshifter because I couldn't see meanings I'm used to in the cards even though the artwork is gorgeous. Legend Arthurian is just like the shapeshifter for this discussion. Rohrig I wanted for so long and then it told me to shut and go away. Ditto for thoth. Well like not love. Thoth and Rohrig both have nice pictures that I later realized were half water smear with fewer details that I had first suspected. I hate to add Zerner-Farber, But on a few cards I say "at least there numbered".

Lee	15 Nov 2002
Hi, juice, I was just curious, could you explain what you mean by "water smears"? I've been trying to figure it out, but I'm stumped! :) -- Lee

faunabay	15 Nov 2002
I have to add the Ancient Egyptian Tarot by Clive Barrett. I love the artwork and can understand one card at a time. But when I try to do a spread the cards all jumble together and I can't get a thing. ??? :(

Teal	16 Nov 2002
I have a question-------why are only some of the words in these posts showing in red? They're not a link to anything but they make the posts kind of a nuisance to read because the red letters contrast so glaringly with the background. Just curious if there's some reason for this or if it's just a preference of the poster.

little	16 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Teal I have a question-------why are only some of the words in these posts showing in red? I'm guessing that you found this thread using a keyword search? The red words are the words you searched for, so you can scan through a thread quickly and see whether it's useful to your search, and if you select the thread through one of the forums instead, then you won't get the red words.

ihcoyc	16 Nov 2002
I love the Vacchetta Tarot of the Master, and got it a couple of months ago, but I have never even bothered to shuffle mine. The art is gorgeous, but the backs are non-symmetrical and I'd be able to tell which cards were reversed or upright as I dealt them.

Teal	16 Nov 2002
Thank you, Little. :) I've been wondering for a long time why some people did that to their posts. ROFL So now I know it's not them, it's my searching that did it! Teal

juice	18 Nov 2002
To Lee's question on my invented term of water smear. Here is a quickly dug up list of deck sample pictures to look at for feel of it. Some show it to a great extent and other have just a trace of it. templar thoth haindl tapetry zerner-farber 777 hudes They have many different art styles. When Disney came out with the movie "the little murmaid" they bragged about all the new rich detail they had added to this film that was not in earlier Disney cartoons. Most of the detail that was added was a psuedo texture affect. I believe it was water color painting that first became known for such non-specific detail that hints at what is not there. I admit that I am lumping several techniques with simular results into the same catagory. Some non-specific detail can let the imagination wander. A lot of it is just too distractin for me. Some gives you the warmth of fabric or the richness of parchment. More overwhelms. Not all of the above sample are to excess. In connection with this thread, I could probably read with such cards dome to excess, but it would be like using a stack of index cards with a few key words written on each one.

divinerguy	18 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by kayne Sounds like at least half my decks Lee. And I always get them thinking I will be able to read with them too... [*] The Tarot of the Origins : This is one of my fav decks that i can't read with. I am really drawn to the artwork but as a tarot deck, it is all over the place. All the minors are different from standard meanings. I would need to spend some serious time *learning* this deck to use it and I have not done this yet... maybe one day. Gotta echo Kayne on the Origins. Very primal and very earthy. It evokes lots of basic urges, but its not easy to use.

truthsayer	18 Nov 2002
decks that i love the art but can't read: margarete peterson tarot of the cat ppl faery wicca vertigo dreampower i am one william blake i consider it a challenge when i have problems reading a deck so if i'm attracted to it, i'll hold on to it. these are keepers.

DeLani	23 Nov 2002
I would say for me: The Gendron - the Majors (mostly) were very pretty, but the minors were just hideous. The fake indians were the worst. Fantastical - loved the artwork, couldn't get anything out of them as far as meanings. Zerner-Farber. I had this deck for quite a while, and did several readings (just on myself), but they were so vague and "la-la-la" that I had to get rid of it. Needless to say, I've traded them all away. I believe that decks should go to whomever will get the best use out of them.

The Love the art but can't read with it thread was originally posted on 10 Nov 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.