Rohrig tarot deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Emily	05 Jan 2003
I've just broken my New Years Resolution - I've just ordered the Rohrig tarot deck and book :) - I keep trying to tell myself I'm not a collector but my little hoard of 16 decks says otherwise lol. So anyone have any views on the Rohrig, I've been looking at scans of it all afternoon, I know there is some nudity, they are large cards to shuffle, I don't mind changing my way of shuffling for these cards, and from the scans they look intense. Any views on these cards would be appreciated :D

Khatruman	05 Jan 2003
Hi, I have had the Rohrig for quite a while, and really haven't read much from it, but used it for meditative purposes. The artwork caught me immediately. I am not one certainly against nudity, but the nudity does seem to be reflective of a sort of Playboy magazine type of nudity, beautiful females but generally unreal, and it also can tend to limit the shades of meaning in a card. There is a lot of meaning symbolically in the symbols used from different systems and the writing on many of the cards. I cannot say I really reccomend the auxiliary book for the Rohrig, though. There is a lot said about the majors, if you want some insight into the symbolism, but the minors are treated with only a list of ten or so keywords. Instead, the book recreates the cards in full color and actual size, which I find to be unnecessary if you have the deck in front of you. In any case, it is a nice, vibrant deck, and it does stir emotion. Peace!

Ophiel	05 Jan 2003
Which one did you get? Here in the U.S., we were 'blessed' (yeah, right) with the censored version. www.tarotgarden.com has both, and you can see the altered cards if you access the original German version. Why they put diapers on a few of men is beyond me. Perhaps it's a further reflection of our rather unhealthy view of nudity, with the 'moral majority' so influential in our society. The U.S. market is very different, or at least someone in charge perceives it that way. Like with the film, "Brazil," there was a rather dark version released in the UK, the original, and those who had control of teh U.S. release insisted that the ending be reshot with a more positive ending. I have the Rohrig deck and only recently learned there are two versions. Now that I know, and have seen the images, when I see the cards, I can't help but think about the other.

truthsayer	05 Jan 2003
i have the rohrig and highly recommend it. it's a great meditation deck. i haven't been too successful reading it but that's mostly b/c i get lost in those images. i actually really like the book, too. those exact card reproductions come in handy when you want to study the deck but only take the book w/ you. for example, ppl at a doctor's office will take to the book better than taking out the deck. on the thread on erotica, i find this deck very sensual. i like more being left to the imagination. i don't find the nudity gratuitous. the art is visionary but not done like fantasy cartoon. it's well drawn and painted. it reminds me of jonathon bowser or michael whelan's art. i really wish i could read with it-probably will be able to eventually. it reminds me of another german deck--the ananda--that i tend to get lost in. if you like rohrig then you should check out the ananda and the margarete peterson. all are german decks and the art is similar imho. i guess i like the rohrig the best of the 3 but it's almost a 3 way tie for first. btw, i've known there are different north american and german editions but i've never seen the difference until tonight. have to say the german is even more sensual than the american. sure would like to get my hands on the german edition one day! })

Trogon	06 Jan 2003
Emily... congrats on getting what is probably my favorite Tarot deck! I love the artwork and find this to be a very good deck to read with. I picked up my copy of Röhrig Tarot several months ago and I've been getting consistently accurate readings with it. I usually allow the person I read for to choose from one of the decks I have with me (if I have more than one) and I haven't had a problem with the nudity distracting either of us very much from the reading. Then again, maybe I just haven't run up against the person for whom this will be a problem... when I do, I'll just pull out the Victoria Regina... ;) Anyway... shuffling hasn't really been a problem for me with this deck. If you use the method of cutting the cards, butting the ends of the 2 halves together, then kind of slide them across one another while flexing them upwards, the cards will interlace very nicely. If you decide to try this method of shuffling, I highly recommend practicing with a regular deck of playing cards for a while till you get the hang of it.

Khatruman	06 Jan 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Ophiel Here in the U.S., we were 'blessed' (yeah, right) with the censored version. ...Why they put diapers on a few of men is beyond me. Perhaps it's a further reflection of our rather unhealthy view of nudity, with the 'moral majority' so influential in our society. Ahhh, isn't the U.S. such a lovely mix of paradoxes??? On the one hand, we are positively Puritan, denouncing things like the nudity on tarot cards, or tarot in general, while on the other hand we have Jerry Springer!!! Didn't know there was an original version of these cards without diapers..:P and panties on the women. I guess the nether region is no no naughty, but breasts are just fine. Actually, I have no problem with some of the male nudity covered. I am fine that the Hanged Man is not also the Hung Man. But I would not mind having the German original. Peace!

Emily	25 Jan 2003
My Rohrig eventually came :) I've spent the last couple of days getting to know it better, I have to agree with others on here that it is a sensual deck without being erotic, the close up faces on some of the cards seem to bore right into you, that was a little bit unnerving the first couple of times I looked through the cards - it does actually look like they are waiting to tell you things lol, I think it may be because the artwork is so clearly draw/pictured. The cards are fine to shuffle, I'm usually clumsy at shuffling the larger size decks, this is now the largest I have and the easiest to shuffle, the card stock is really good quality. I'm really excited at getting to know these cards better, I think they may take hard work to get to know but it'll be worth it :)

Osher	25 Jan 2003
I love my Rohrig deck, it is great. I used it the other day, and really clicked with it. It is a big deck, so some people have difficulties shuffling it. Sometimes the imagery (say 8 Coins) do not make sense at first, but study them, often they do later. Obviously some like the 5 Swords are very obvious. I do like the 5 Wands though. I know it is the wierdest interpretation of this card, but think about it! Yes, I do love my Rohrig. I would recommend it to everyone who likes a more modern deck.

The Rohrig tarot deck thread was originally posted on 05 Jan 2003 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.