Sacred Circle Tarot
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| scheherazade |
21 Jan 2003 |
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I'm planning to buy a deck of Sacred Circle Tarot today. Can anyone tell me their impressions of this deck - does it read well?
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| tarotbear |
21 Jan 2003 |
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I love this deck, it reads well.
However, you will need a strong basis in Tarot to start using this deck. It is Celtic symbolism, much different from being a Rider-clone. There are only Pagan references in the deck, so all the Christian/Judeo stuff has been removed and replaced...so you have to make a mind shift. It is not a deck for beginners; if you were to use this as your first deck, then moving to a 'traditonal' Rider deck would be very confusing!
Hint: take the book author's suggestion of 'walking' into the cards to get to understand them better.
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| Khatruman |
21 Jan 2003 |
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I agree with tarotbear. It is very much Celtic based. Anne Franklin is a Celtic Priestess and delves deeply into Celtic legend and lore. If those things don't appeal to you, or connect with you, this is not a good deck to get.
Also consider whether you like photographic models as opposed to illustrative art. One problem many have with the Sacred Circle is that Paul Mason used live models and photo montage and enhancement. He also said he used acquaintances to model rather than professionals. Sometimes this translates into a card that doesn't have the mythical resonance of artwork. For instance, I am not too fond of the Lovers card, because I think the two models just look goofy rather than entranced in love. Also, you may find that two different cards are actually the same model, and this may distract you.
Peace!
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| WolfSpirit |
21 Jan 2003 |
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I think the sacred circle is only available in a set of deck+book - I think the book is very good. I have used the deck for readings and that was ok, but I mainly use this deck for meditation. I don't like the court cards for this for the reasons Kathruman already mentioned: they just looked too posed. But some other cards I really find magnificent and great for meditation, guess it just "clicks" with some cards, and not at all with others. I don't know if you can see all cards on-line somewhere so you can judge for yourself (maybe in one of the older threads ?)
I am not a fan of all photographic decks, but some cards of the sacred circle really connect with me.
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| Musie |
21 Jan 2003 |
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I love the Sacred Circle, but I can not read it with it. I don't find it intuitive at all. The Majors are the only great thing about this deck IMO. I keep it because I love some of the cards for meditation, focus and they look wonderful on my altar :)
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| cjtarot |
21 Jan 2003 |
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Hi,
I rave about this deck every chance I can. I love the photo style, the looks of the model's faces change everytime I read it.
My advise is to read the book..then read it again...and when you read the cards, glance at the wording on them then forget the words and go with what you see in the picture.
I agree that you should have the basics down first before picking up this deck.
Good readings and blessings...
CJ
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| scheherazade |
23 Jan 2003 |
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It's not my first deck; I have a Rider-clone called the Tarot Nova, but now that I have the Sacred Circle, I do see what you mean by it not being a beginners' deck. I love the Celtic tradition, however, and I love that this deck allows me to learn even more about it.
Most of the images intrigued me; as a matter of fact, I do love the photographic models and the landscapes. And I love the effect that the computer enhancements create. It's the beauty of the images itself that makes the deck speak to me. Being what I am, I know that I respond to beauty, in all its forms, more than anything in the world.
I will say that some of the pictures didn't satisfy me - including Death (which is the Celtic harvest goddess, who simply stands there with a little scythe - I'd wanted something more graphic, pardon me *grin*), The Lovers (for the same reasons Khatruman had said; there isn't enough passion in the image for my girlish ideals of love) and the Devil, (which became The Underworld, with the Celtic underworld God - I wanted somethign more graphic here, as well). I was shocked to find that the Chariot and the Warrior (Strength) both featured women - but not totally opposed to it. ;)
The scenery in the Minor Arcana was beautiful as well, but I was disappointed in that fact that, besides the Royal Court, the deck included no humans or animals in Ace through 10 of the suits. Only images of swords, shields, spears or chalices. Although these are good for reflection and meditation, these don't really involve me emotionally into the card - I'm life oriented. It helps me to read if there is flesh to identify with; my Tarot Nova has flesh in almost every card.
Either way, I know I would have antsed forever if I hadn't gotten this deck. Thanks for your opinions, I will probably ask yo for help in this later... ;)
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The Sacred Circle Tarot thread was originally posted on 21 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.
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