Tarot of the Crone

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Jan 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Lee	16 Jan 2003
Hi, everyone -- I've just ordered this deck. This is a self-published deck, the author is making 100 copies in a limited edition. The deck is expensive, it cost US $130, plus shipping, packaging and insurance -- to the states east of Texas this is $10, $8 to states west. Quoted from the author, Ellen Lorenzi-Prince: "Included in the set is a deck of 78 cards plus one signed and numbered title card, a custom made bag by Crystal Sage (of Tapestry Tarot website), a miniature magic crone wand made by Arnell Ando (creator of Transformational Tarot), and a spiral bound booklet containing black and white illustrations and verses for each card, as well as tables of the numerology, element and color meanings." There are no male images in the deck. This bothered me at first, and I went back and forth a great deal about this (as Jewel can testify!). Finally I decided that it simply is what it is, and the deck has such a strong internal structure that I wouldn't want to change it. The images have a sort of primordial power to them that I haven't seen anywhere else. I think this would be a great deck to do self-exploring with, meditation, and spiritual work. You can see all the cards here. There was a prior thread about this deck here. -- Lee :)

Jewel	16 Jan 2003
So you did it! *LOL* ... and here I thought you had talked yourself completly out of it ... have you ordered the Healing Tarot yet? ~giggles~ ... just kidding (or not?). I cannot wait to hear what you think once you have it in your hands. I really want your thoughts on how the lake of male figures impacts the overall feel of the deck when actually working with it. As I noted in our e-mail discussion I do see some male symbolism but the overall lack of gender balance is an issue for me. Personally I am having trouble liking new decks these days, very devastating and dissapointing as you might imagine, but I am hoping the LS Fey deck will change that when I get it.

Lee	16 Jan 2003
I have not ordered the Healing Tarot... yet... :D By the way, the Crone cards have no borders and no titles, which I actually like, it really focuses your attention on the images. -- Lee

Jewel	16 Jan 2003
Lee stop it! I cannot afford the deck right now, and it is not gender balanced! I do not want or need this deck ... so stop trying to influence me *ROFLMAO* So are you getting the Healing Tarot for yourself as house warming gift? ~wicked smile~ (two can play this game Lee!) ;)

Woof	16 Jan 2003
I agree with Jewel in that I too dislike most new decks; however, I love this deck. While it may be gender unbalanced, lots of the figures are almost neuter. After years of living in a male gender unbalanced world and learning to generalize from male depictions in art and literature to humanity in general I have no problem in generalizing from female depiction to humanity in general. The lack of titles is a challenge to take the deck very seriously and study it thoroughly before using. Lately, at 41 yrs. of age, I've been almost rejoicing in acceptance of the term crone. I like my maturity more than my youth. I think this deck is wonderful in expanding on this feel. I would love to have this deck as well but it is beyond my means. Favorite card: the Preistess Least favorite: the Chariot. I like the idea/symbol just not the depiction. Lee, tell us more about it once you get it and have worked with it. Hope it is everything you wish. Woof

Centaur	16 Jan 2003
I like this deck, although it does seem a tad expensive!!!! The images are pretty spooky - which is kind of why I like it I suppose. Have you done any readings with it yet?? Centaur

Sulis	17 Jan 2003
Ooh I`m so envious, this really is a lovely deck. You`ll have to keep us posted . Love and light Crystalmynx xx

Lee	17 Jan 2003
Diane Wilkes just posted a review on Tarot Passages. -- Lee

truthsayer	17 Jan 2003
i really want to write the creator for more info but i can't find the email address. does anyone have it? thanks~

Lee	17 Jan 2003
Here it is -- elp@croneways.com -- Lee

purplelady	17 Jan 2003
I simply adore this deck , as you may all know. The first time I found the web site, I looked at every single card! Usually , I don't have the patience to view every card on a website. I Love the artwork and I think , especially the use of reds and purples. I REALLY want this deck! However, I am unwilling to spend $130 SO I really hope it can be mass published someday. I'm sure it is worth the wait. I am happy for you Lee! (And a little surprised!) purplelady :) .

Trogon	18 Jan 2003
That is wonderful Lee... I had looked over these images after the first thread. I do like this deck as well and am very much looking forward to hearing your comments and new deck reading with this when it arrives. Way to go!

Luned	22 Jan 2003
I have this deck! It only arrived last night and I was working today (don't think they appreciate the need to stay home and bond with a tarot deck), so will post more detailed comments later, but it is amazing - the Crone reaches out, grabs your attention 110%, instant calm and quiet, a retreat into yourself. This is a great ritual deck.

Xarokys	22 Jan 2003
I received this deck about a month ago and still haven't had the time to give it the study and attention it deserves. It really is an amazing deck, and I hope it gets mass published. For the other people who have the deck, how do you choose cards for a spread? Shuffling is out of the question. I'm thinking about using another deck to shuffle and lay the spread, and then put the corresponding cards from the Tarot of the Crone over them. Or write the card names on 78 pieces of paper and pick them out of a bag. Any other ideas?

Lee	22 Jan 2003
I haven't received mine yet, but I imagine you could shuffle the deck by laying it out in seven piles, then putting it back together. Then when you want to choose cards, you could simply cut the deck and take the top card. After a while, you could randomize the deck again by laying it out in the seven piles again. It seems like cutting the deck is the best way to randomly choose a card without having the cards rub against each other. -- Lee

truthsayer	22 Jan 2003
i got put on the waiting list for the deck. i'm so excited! she said that she had a waiting list into the eighties now and she's only doing a hundred. if you want an original speak now or forever hold your peace! from my understanding, a special bag is being made by another person. arnell arnot is making wands to add to it. i think the cards are being done by hand, deck by deck. with all this attention, i think it'll be worth the money. i love what i've seen of the art. guess i need to drop the bomb on hubby that my birthday present will cost $130! hope it gets done by then. :) for those who have received their copy: what is the card stock like? the question about being careful shuffling it worries me. jewel? faunabay? you don't have much time left to get this one! })

Luned	22 Jan 2003
The cards themselves are quite large (small hands like mine would have trouble shuffling them anyway) and the cardstock is quite unusual - very matte, unlaminated, so the cards don't slip past each other quite so easily as other decks. It could well be a case of you FEEL that the cards might get damaged by shuffling, rather than this actually being the case. Also you are pretty wary due to this being a limited edition, most-expensive-deck-you've-ever-purchased scenario........ Yes, you're right Truthsayer the bag and wand are being made by others (CrystalSage of TapestryTarot and Arnell Ando respectively). I just received mine (I was on her original list when she was still toying with the idea of doing it if she could get enough definite sales) and it was #31, so you could be in for quite a wait (all the better to save up the money for it though!)

Lee	22 Jan 2003
I have a single card. The card stock is actually pretty stiff. I understand Ellen sprays some kind of fixative on the surface, so I don't think the ink will ever rub off, but I can certainly see that one might want to be careful with it. I would almost consider laminating them, but I've never done that before. It seems like it could be kind of expensive to do that. And Ellen feels plastic-y lamination just isn't right for this deck. On the other hand, it seems like we should do the utmost to protect our investment. I don't know... :confused: -- Lee

truthsayer	22 Jan 2003
i really don't mind a wait. i will need to save my pennies but i would rather have this one than several published decks. something about the vibes of a self-published deck. it's probably all that labor of love. i believe my email said she was on #33 so i can see it'll be a while. when did she start selling them?

Luned	23 Jan 2003
ooh the vibes are very good on this deck! I must confess that I wasn't too sure about the card stock when I first saw it, but now I really like it, it does suit the deck. Ellen took the initial orders for the deck in May last year, but I think it took a few more months for the first batch to be ready - it's great to hear that she's up to 80-odd orders now! Hopefully the sucess of her limited edition will convince a publisher to pick it up so it will be available to everyone. Also, she is working on a full book for the deck (the book that comes with it features her keywords, poems and some general background on structure, colours etc), and she is running an e-mail list for the deck (invitation-only once you get the deck), so you can share thoughts and ideas with others working with it.

truthsayer	23 Jan 2003
my husband asked me what i want for my birthday last night and i told him a $130 tarot deck. he wanted to know why this one was so expensive so i told him. then he wanted me to explain to him what do i do with all my tarot decks. i told him i read some of them and collected others for their art and other value. he just shook his head like he couldn't believe spending $130 on a tarot deck. but i can't believe some of the things he spends money on so i think we're tit for tat. i'm starting to worry i won't be able to get my deck. :( but if i start saving now, i'll have it in the 6 monthes it looks like it's going to take to get my deck. :D

Lee	25 Jan 2003
I just heard from Ellen that she only has five slots left. So if you're thinking about ordering one of these decks, now might be the time. -- Lee :)

The Tarot of the Crone thread was originally posted on 16 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.