Witches Tarot by Ellen Cannon Reed

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 07 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Dee	07 Nov 2002
Hello; When I first saw this deck 2 years ago - I hated it! Then one day I began to see it in a different light - I really like what I have seen in this site and in other sites from card samples. I HAVE NOT purchased it yet because I would like to hear from people who work with this deck. How long have you worked with it? Do you recommend it - why/why not? What stands out the most for you about this deck? its energy? working with it? And please any other comments - feel free to help me out - Thanks! Dee

truthsayer	08 Nov 2002
there should be a few threads in the archives that you can find with the search function here about this deck. i think the major arcana is okay. the majors were what attracted me to the deck but the minors are why i traded it. i just couldn't relate to it. i think many of us don't like the fact the court cards are all the same but dressed in different clothes. i know i like a little variety in the courts. the there are 2 cards of a guy in spandex lifting weights that looks ridiculous. i think one of them is a pentacle.

Sulis	08 Nov 2002
I had this deck and traded it away. I just couldn`t get on with it. I found a lot of the cards to be very beautiful eg.3 wands, but I didn`t like a lot of them - the magician looks like a really ugly woman and those green speedos (ugh). Truthsayer has already mentioned the samey court cards. Wands are attributed to air and swords to fire in this deck which wouldn`t necessarily have been a problem but the meanings of some of the cards vary a lot from RWS and since I was a beginner I decided that it wasn`t the deck for me. If you like it though get it, there are a lot of people out there who really like this deck. Love and light Crystalmynx xx

Keslynn	08 Nov 2002
I go back and forth on this deck though I have kept it. The art is sort of a turnoff but I do enjoy the concept behind it. This deck is completely qabalistically based. Because of this, you must either read intuitively or get the book. I actually highly recommend the book as well as the "prequel" The Witches Qabalah. She has a really great and open writing style and she makes it fairly easily understood. :) Kes

Silverlotus	08 Nov 2002
I've actually used this deck for several years. I was trying to figure out how long yesterday, and I think it has been about 10 years, but I'm not sure. The backs of the cards are nice. They feature a pentacle slightly off centre on a black background. So, unfortunately you know when a card is reversed or upright. That always bothered me, to tell you the truth. The cards are also a little large, so they are hard to shuffle with my little hands. ;-) The artwork on the cards is generally not bad, but not excellent. Some of the faces look a little odd. All the Major Arcana cards have spheres on one or two sides. These represent the sphere of the Tree of Life the card lays between. Useful if you plan to study the Kabala, but they can be distracting, IMHO. The deck uses the Sword-Fire, Wands-Air. I honestly prefer the other way, but I got used to it. Strength is 8 and Justice is 10, Wheel of Fortune is 11. The Hierophant is the High Priest. The Devil had been replaced with the Horned One, and a different meaning. The Hermit is called the Seeker, but they are they same IMHO. It’s a nice deck with a lot of Wiccan symbolism, and some nudity. I enjoyed using it for many years, but recently it has stopped talking to me. I’ve just bought the Robin Wood tarot to replace it. If you are going to pick up this deck, I would probably suggest getting the two books that go along with it, since Ms. Reed uses slightly different meanings and methods for her cards. She sort of describes the symbolism she used. Anyway, I guess if you don’t mind a slight non-traditional deck, this one is not bad. But the so-so artwork and the backs always caused a bit of a problem for me. Silverlotus

Minderwiz	08 Nov 2002
I bought the book 'Witches Tarot' around four or five years ago but not the deck. I must admit I started reading it, found it was qabala based and gave up (I have never got on that well with the qabala :) ) Then as part of my Tarot course I had to look at the ***!!! Qabala and after much puzzlement and internet searching I decided to read Ellen Cannon Reed's first book the Witches Qabala. I found it very useful and actually ended up understanding the Tree of Life (well at least its very basics) and began to change my mind (a little). I therefore bought the Tarot deck and I'm really only at the stage of looking at the images and trying to see what impressions I get. I agree with virtually all the comments about the artwork - both good and bad. The Swords/Wands Air/Fire swap actually is a bonus for me, simply because it gives me the opportunity to try out a different approach and see if I like it. The deck does require that you read the other books if you are really going to get anything out of it. However, even if you end up not using it or trading it, you at least will still have broadened your tarot understanding because you will know why the traditional ideas work for you. best wishes

Dee	08 Nov 2002
wow. i had not considered all those things - well hopefully I'll get to see a Demo deck before I buy it -(if I buy it at all)- thanks so much for sharing both sides of the coin with me. :) Dee

Pollux	09 Nov 2002
I have gotten this deck from crystalminx - she posted before. I just now realised I have never posted about it, I kept postponing... *LOL* I must say that this was the first deck ever I saw and wanted when I found Aeclectic a couple of years ago. And therefore I would have tried to get it anyway, to try it out myself. I must admit though that I now I am a bit disappointed. I have spent some time with it now, trying to bond or anyway connect and get something from it, but I have not been really successful... Yet I hafe not started reading the book (I am not even sure it is a very easy reading, the passages I have read are a bit... contorted maybe?) I don't know). For example, as other have said, the quality of the artwork sways. Whilst the death card is maybe the least harmful (it looks also a bit calming, sort of) some cards are just ugly-ish - like the parted-legs high priestess or the dismayed fool. The artwork is not very constant and consistent, and this in majors as well as in minors. Another example: those coloured balls standing for the sephira... *LOL* What is more, I still can't get used to the different numbering, placing Justice before Wheel as 10. And whilst I really like the borderlessness, some cards just don't speak, they are cold. The Minors are so different from RW or Thoth. A system unto themselves. They really puzzle me... The Element swap might not represent a threat to me, yet the scenes are not really successful either... There is a sort of monotony, especially in Cups. And there are some choices I find just arguable - like the cultured body-builders... *LOL* The courts are a major turn off as well. All alike - with dress and hairdo changing... mh... I honestly suggest taking a look at the cards before buying the deck - and not just once but more. Also, some people get carried away by the artwork, but later find it like dead weight in their hands... So just be aware of what your purpose for this deck is, and whether it might fulfil it or not. All in all, I will keep my deck anyway :P Firstly, cos some cards are ok, I like them, even though not for their symbols but simply for the scene and the artwork. Secondly, cos I am a collector and must have a Witches by Reed *LOL* Lastly, because it still feels very Pagan and Wiccan, and I have used it for spells, focusing and other personal practices and it seems to work nice. :)

Laurel	09 Nov 2002
Like some other folks, I enjoy her qabala-tarot books moreso than I like the deck itself. Its not very aesthetically pleasing to me and distracts me from reading well. Laurel

Jewel	11 Nov 2002
Personally I like the deck, but then again it sits in my collection pretty much unused ... but if one of the reasons you were attracted to this deck was its pagan theme then I highly recommend the Tarot of the Old Path. I used that deck extensively and to date remains high on my list of favorites.

Dee	11 Nov 2002
Jewel; What do you like about the deck? Yes, I was also considering Tarot of the Old Path. LOL! Dee

Jewel	11 Nov 2002
I think what I liked best was the whole pagan theme thing to be honest. Plus I really did enjoy the Witches Qabalah book. I think a lot of the art is pretty though I agree that there are some inconsistencies and some characters look plain evil *LOL*. I do not like the body builders in the green spandex "Mr. Potato Head" speedo trunks either. But I find that many of the cards are lovely ... I love the 3 of cups for example. I love that the cards do not have borders, and personally the Sephiroth on the majors don't bother me because I like associating Tarot & the Qabalah. It is neat to lay out the cards and form your own Tree if Life. The Court cards are dissapointing because they are the same simply in different colored clothes, but they are still pretty. Now the Tarot of the Old Path ... I LOVE this deck. The Majors are really really good! There are some changes (i.e. the Moon is Illusion and I want to say that Justice is Karma ... sorry been a while since I used the deck) but the changes made so much sense to me. The minors are simple and RWS based ... not the pretiest minors in the world, but I really connected with this deck and I have no qualms what so ever in recommending it to people who are seeking a pagan (wiccan based really) deck. Let me know if I can answer any more questions, I would be more than happy to carefully look through both of these decks again to answer them. Of the 2 decks I recommend Tarot of the Old Path over the Witches Tarot.

Dee	11 Nov 2002
Jewel; Thanks so much!! I think I'll get both. I have only seen a few cards on the Witches Tarot deck and those I have liked - but most people seem to agree that they do not like working with this deck because of the art. i think that I have not seen a Tarot deck where i like ALL the cards. But I also feel that people here on the forums know their stuff and this advice has been really valuable and helpful. I am sooooooooooo curious to see the rest of the deck - maybe I'll go into a store and see if they have more samples. Thanks so much Jewel - can I email you privately with more questions on both decks? Dee

Jewel	11 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Dee Thanks so much Jewel - can I email you privately with more questions on both decks? What a good Tarot-holic you are! going for both decks! ~giggles~ I am so proud of you!!! *LOL*. Please feel free to pm me any time with your questions. I love helping others as I always learn something new from the experience. It will give me a great opportunity to pull these decks out and enjoy them again.

juice	15 Nov 2002
This was my primary deck for longer thn any other. It is the first one saw that I thought was beautiful and the one a friend and I referred to as the prettiest deck for years. Some of the people are exceptionally pretty and some are not but that tends to follow the meaning of the card. If the top of the pentacle on the back had been pointed to the side of the card in stead of the top of the card the back would have been reverseable. I never thought of the cards as too far from rider waite. On some she adds a few extra interpretations to the card. With the courts most decks have them nearly the same meaning except for suit the simularity doesn't bother me in the pictures. The fact ECR uses them in an unusual way without more traditional meanings was something I had to throw away after a while. Sometimes I still use a court in her way no matter what deck now that I've been given the tool. My first deck was the sword and fire of thought and strife on one suit and the wand and air of life and blowing action on another. It wasn't till later I learned that other people did it the other way. I could see a sword on fire but not living branch of wood that you wanted to stay alive. Now I can see it both ways. The spheres on the majors are alot like the water smear you see in many decks that I can ignore if I don't feel like using the cabalistic stuff. The books are truly helpful with or without the deck. Actually I find I need the book with almost all decks so that needing the book for each new deck is par for the course. I have simular thoughts about deck ordering. So many decks seem to reorder the majors that I didn't even realize that that was why I was having trouble remembering the order for so long. Meanings might be added but they rarely change too much from deck to deck for me.

Jewel	15 Nov 2002
Juice, very informative post! One question, what do you mean by "water mark"? I saw you make reference to this is a different thread as well. Thanks for the clarification.

pentunen	15 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel One question, what do you mean by "water mark"? afaik, it's a small, near-transparent mark on an image bearing the artist's signature, initials or some other defining symbol. I believe it's meant to be a way to discourage piracy of images in as non-intrusive manner as possible. hth, - LittleCub

juice	18 Nov 2002
Pentunen- Sorry my mistake, I should not have used the term water mark as I did since it has the established meaning you gave. I had used water smear earlier and that is not quite right to many people's minds. It is a long standing technique very common among artists using water color. One intentionally allows the colors to unevenly lay on the canvas or unevenly blend. If not over used, it simulates a texture that the artist didn't actually have to paint in. Artists using other media have come to replicate the affect even though it may not be as easy in their medium. I've heard art teachers (on PBS) say that it is to be used for small detail and background coloring. Some artists rely on it far too heavily for my taste. In the paintings at the museum downtown, Monet and Manet used dots of unexpected color that gave a hint at details that could not be painted well on such a small canvas and looked good if one didn't get their nose too close to the work. Since it's been around for so long, there is probably a name for the false detail style. I didn't use the term water color affect since that implies a few other characteristics too.

Shadow Wolf	26 Nov 2002
I LOVE this deck. It was not my first deck, it was my third. I love everything about it. I bought it at a time when I was really into "Witchy" spirituality. I drawn to it immediately, the seeker is the card featured on the box. And now that I think of it I was a seeker at that time. I was trying out different spiritualities to see which on fit. Now the question is: Do I work well with the deck because I've used it so often or does the deck work well with me because it's made a connection with me ? I like to think the deck chose me. We all have our favorite decks for a reason. When you find the right deck or the right deck finds you it's such a wonderful feeling, it's like meeting an old friend. That's the connection I feel to the Witch's Tarot. Hope I didn't get too sappy...................

Jewel	27 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Shadow Wolf I like to think the deck chose me. We all have our favorite decks for a reason. When you find the right deck or the right deck finds you it's such a wonderful feeling, it's like meeting an old friend. That's the connection I feel to the Witch's Tarot. Hope I didn't get too sappy................... Not sappy at all! I totally understand what you are are saying ... I have that same exact relationship with the Cosmic Tribe deck. And you are right, once you have that feeling it is like meeting an old trusted friend. I hope every tarot enthusiast has this experience at some point. There is nothing like it, and it is really hard to put into words. All I can say is that the cards just speak/sing to you, you do not have to battle your brain to decipher what the cards are telling you, they speak and you hear loud and clear.

The Witches Tarot by Ellen Cannon Reed thread was originally posted on 07 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.