Fractal Firebird Tarot... opinions?

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

Khatruman	10 Dec 2002
Thanks to Strange2's post on Kiama's asking for 100th deck suggestions, I have been led to the Fractal Firebird Tarot. Does anyone have this one (and if Strange2 reads this and has it, please tell me what you think)? Here is a posting of sites for images of the cards: http://www.zianet.com/maria/tarot/fracsplash.htm and a wonderful, comprehensive review: http://www.tarotpassages.com/fractal.htm I just connected with this deck immediately when I saw it, but the $60 price tag brings out the cautious buyer in me. I would love to hear from anyone who may have this deck. Immediately, I was reminded of the Thoth deck without the darker undercurrent to it. It swirls like the Thoth, which is what I like most about that deck, but it has more of an abstractness, and seems perfect as a meditative deck, which is what I use tarot primarily to do! Please people, convince me that I NEED to have this deck ;) Peace!

Jewel	10 Dec 2002
I do not have this deck, but it was discussed in a thread where we were discussing the Portal Tarot. I was between the two and decided to get the Portal (which I like very much and plan to use for short story writting). Check the archives under Portal and maybe you can run accross the thread. Personally I love to indulge every now and then, so all I can say is that if you connected and love it save you pennies and get it! ;)

Khatruman	10 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel I was between the two and decided to get the Portal (which I like very much and plan to use for short story writing). Ohhhhh, PORTAL...wow! and short story writing? Is it good for that? (fellow short story writer)... Grrrr..sure, make decisions harder...:) Hmmm, looking at the Portal, it is a Major Arcana only deck.. decision weighing in fav of the Fractal... but the Portal images are more substantive. now there is another to look at! Thank you for your advice. Peace!

wavebreaker	10 Dec 2002
Here's the thread Jewel was referring to. I have the Portal and wanted to have the Fractal Firebird too, but the artist doesn't accept credit cards or Paypal, so I couldn't get it...

Trogon	11 Dec 2002
Well... I don't know. At this point in time (having only 5 decks in my collection), I would want tarot decks which not only appeal to me artisticaly, but also appear as though I would be able to read with them. While the Fractal Firebird Tarot is a beautiful deck, I'm not sure how it might work for readings. Perhaps I'm wrong (there's a first time for everything }) ) but it seems to lack the images which I would need to guide the intuition for a reading. As an addition to a collection, it would be beautiful though.

Khatruman	11 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Trogon While the Fractal Firebird Tarot is a beautiful deck, I'm not sure how it might work for readings. Perhaps I'm wrong (there's a first time for everything }) ) but it seems to lack the images which I would need to guide the intuition for a reading. As an addition to a collection, it would be beautiful though. I wouldn't use this for reading. At $60, I am not sure I would want anyone else touching these cards. I would use them for meditative purposes or for personal intuitive readings, or perhaps inspiration for writing. So that I am not worried about. Thanks for your input. Peace!

allibee	11 Dec 2002
Artistically speaking, there is a lucious, etheral quality about the deck, but without the titles on the cards you wouldn't know what they were, so reading would not come easy I feel. However, there is nothing wrong with having a beautiful deck to just look at, if you can afford it that is. allibee

darwinia	11 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman I wouldn't use this for reading. At $60, I am not sure I would want anyone else touching these cards. I would use them for meditative purposes or for personal intuitive readings, or perhaps inspiration for writing. So that I am not worried about. Thanks for your input. Just a thought: I have the Portal and love it, next to the Osho Zen it's my favourite deck. You mentioned that the Portal images were more substantive and I agree with you, plus it's a perfect meditative deck. They ARE working on the minors now and those of us who own the majors will eventually be able to purchase the minors separately. I saw a preview of the Ace of Swords and was immediately able to get the drift of it, I always see things in Traci and David's work, the images and colours are lovely. I too was hankering after the Fractal Firebird, but apart from a few cards, it doesn't have that "pull you into the depths" feel that the Portal has for me. You can buy both decks in larger sizes, so if you have the money that's worth it. I love the temperance card in the Portal--wonderful. AND, because you got The William Blake tarot soooo cheaply, this will balance everything out, right? Of course it will, everyone needs balance in life! Judy

wavebreaker	11 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by freesiaskye I saw a preview of the Ace of Swords and was immediately able to get the drift of it, I always see things in Traci and David's work, the images and colours are lovely. Where did you see this? I'd be very interested to see it!

darwinia	11 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotlady Where did you see this? I'd be very interested to see it! Traci let a few people see it some time ago. I don't think it's available for public viewing, and I don't think they're going to show cards as they design them, but it was great, I loved it, I got all kinds of ideas and asscoications when viewing it. We'll have to wait for the whole shebang one day, it's going to be marvelous. It must be very hard to come up with the concept for all 78 cards when you are creating a deck. One of the reasons this deck is so successful is because of the working relationship of David and Traci. She'll draw or write up a concept and he will turn it into a graphic and then they'll work back and forth. I know some people hate digital art, but in this deck they pull it off, I can't explain it, the depth that I see, something about those portals, pulling your eye in. Judy

Jewel	11 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman Ohhhhh, PORTAL...wow! and short story writing? Is it good for that? (fellow short story writer)... Grrrr..sure, make decisions harder...:) Hmmm, looking at the Portal, it is a Major Arcana only deck.. decision weighing in fav of the Fractal... but the Portal images are more substantive. Tarotlady thanks for posting the link to the thread :) Khatruman, as Freesiaskye noted those that own the majors will be able to get the minors separately once published (by Traci). The quality of the deck is very good. I find it extremely evocative for writting. I am waiting for the holidays to pass so I can focus on this and start writting. They are also excellent for meditation. I have not tried reading with them, as like you I prefer to read with 78 card decks, but it was worth every penny for my other interests. I highly recommend the Portal. In addition, Traci gives special attention in printing individual decks. They are printed at the time they are ordered. She really personalizes the deck for you from the moment your order is accepted. The deck comes with a bag that Traci makes by hand. Like I said I do not own the other deck so I cannot attest to the "more" substantive comment, but I can tell you that the Portal is definetly substantive. Perhaps when I get back to writing we can exchange short stories for fun! :)

Strange2	11 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman I wouldn't use this for reading. At $60, I am not sure I would want anyone else touching these cards. I would use them for meditative purposes or for personal intuitive readings, or perhaps inspiration for writing. So that I am not worried about. Thanks for your input. I do have the Fractal Firebird Tarot (large size), and so far only use them for meditative and comparitive purposes, and not for readings. As the images are beautiful and the card stock is a little flimsy, I don't want to damage them with frequent handling. FYI, you can also get the deck in a regular size (2.75" x 4.25" for $50) and small (2" x 3" for $30), although the large size really does justice to the fantastic images. My only critique of this deck is that it is difficult for many of the cards to tell what it is without the the title that is printed on the bottom of the card (particularly the minors and courts). So they are not a "quick" read. However, each suit has a common color scheme, which visually identifies it. I primarily use the Fractal Firebird as a comparitive deck. After performing a reading with another deck, I then pull the corresponding cards from the Fractal Firebird for additional insights and oooo-aaaahs! Maria Kruse, the creator of Fractal Firebird, is also working on another cool deck called Tarot of the Black Flamingo. You can see the work in progress here: http://www.zianet.com/maria/tarot/figtarot/blkflasplash.htm

wavebreaker	11 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by freesiaskye Traci let a few people see it some time ago. I don't think it's available for public viewing, and I don't think they're going to show cards as they design them, but it was great, I loved it, I got all kinds of ideas and asscoications when viewing it. We'll have to wait for the whole shebang one day, it's going to be marvelous. Now that is mean, making me curious and then telling me I can't see it... :( :D ;) Ah well, I guess I'll just have to be patient then (not exactly my best quality...).

Khatruman	11 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Strange2 I do have the Fractal Firebird Tarot (large size), and so far only use them for meditative and comparitive purposes, and not for readings. As the images are beautiful and the card stock is a little flimsy, I don't want to damage them with frequent handling. FYI, you can also get the deck in a regular size (2.75" x 4.25" for $50) and small (2" x 3" for $30), although the large size really does justice to the fantastic images. Thanks for the info... flimsy card stock? how flimsy... seems I am still torn between the pluses and minuses of this one and the Portal. From what I have heard of the Portal, the cards themselves are solid and clear... another sway towards that one. The lack of quick reference is fine for me though, I want to be intuitive with a deck like this. Thanks for responding!

juice	12 Dec 2002
My first impression of the deck a few weeks ago when it came up was that I would be able to recognize the majors with just a little practice and might have trouble with the minors. I remember wondering if it would worth it to talk the artist into selling me a majors only version. I have made a few fractals and had actually considered doing a fractal deck when I heard of this one. Now I'm not sure if I would look like a copy cat. The only fractals I have currently on the net is a study in color where I took the same "pattern" and colored it differently. web2.airmail.net/ebt/fractalgallery/fgal1.html

Khatruman	12 Dec 2002
Thank you all for your input. I am taking everyone's suggestions into consideration, and, heck, perhaps I should ask another deck what it thinks I should do. The debate is between the Fractal Firebird and the Portal. I am seeing pluses and minuses on either side and I am going to let the decision simmer until after Christmas. Peace to all and thank you once again!

Jewel	12 Dec 2002
Kahtruman, I admire your will power. Waiting to order a deck for over 2 weeks is almost unheard of in my world *LOL*. All I have to say in favor of the Portal is that I have no regrets what-so-ever. I cast my vote for the Portal (if you are taking votes that is *LOL*)

Strange2	13 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman Thanks for the info... flimsy card stock? how flimsy... After comparing the Fractal Firebird cards to some other decks, I would classify the Fractal cards as "flexible" and not flimsy. They are just not as stiff as the cards from some other decks, probably due to a lack of that plastic coating that is on many other decks. I did a weight test, and weighed 10 cards each from various decks. Here's the unofficial results (in ounces, 10 cards from the deck): Gill = .10 Rider Waite = .10 Visconti Gold = .10 Tarot de Marseilles (Camoin) = .10 Tarot of the Spirit = .11 Wheel of Change = .11 Fractal Firebird = .13 World Spirit = .14 Light and Shadow = .14 Rohrig = .16 Thoth (large) = .16 (I always thought that Thoth was such a "heavy" deck, and this proves it }) )

zorya	14 Dec 2002
OMG, I WANT THIS DECK!!!!!! it's so intuitive, i want to cry.

purplelady	15 Dec 2002
Deck weighing? ! I'll bet the Sacred Circle weighs more than most. (Except maybe the large Thoth and Rohrig?) As for the fractal firebird tarot, I say go for it! You KNOW you want it!!! I don't have the deck. But I really love it. The colors are amazing. It is definitely on my list for .... someday...... As you said , $60 is kind-of pricey. And while I Really do like the Portal also, I just feel more drawn to the fractal firebird.

Sorceress_Jade	16 Dec 2002
Wow. That deck looks amazing. They did a fantastic job of matching up the fractal with imagery for each card. I'm incredibly impressed. Stunned even.

The Fractal Firebird Tarot... opinions? thread was originally posted on 10 Dec 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.