cosmic tribe tarot?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 26 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

magipixie	26 Feb 2003
Hi all, i've been away from the forum for awhile (i'm going to be a birth partner in July, lots of classes and such!) I have been steadily working with my cards though. I've only been reading since Christmas, and only with one deck (Universal Tarot). However, everytime i go into this shop near my house I see the Cosmic Tribe Tarot deck and just have to pick it up and shuffle through it. My question is should I buy it. I've gotten mixed answers from people, my best friends mom, my tarot "teacher" says if it speaks to me buy it, but the woman who owns the shop says it's best to only use one deck in the beginning and really get to know it before using any others. Just wondering what all you wise souls thought about it, please let me know.:) Blessed Be, Pixie

Woof	26 Feb 2003
If it speaks to you, if you have the money, go for it. Lots of people love that deck so I don't think you have much to lose. Have you seen he Cosmic Tribe study group section of the forum? You can scan some of those threads to get more info on the deck. I don't think a new deck will disrupt your studies. Woof

Kyrielle	26 Feb 2003
I would say buy it, if your intuition and your bank account are in agreement. It may be that the contrasts between the two decks will enhance your understanding of both of them as you study them. Of course, then some of us want more decks, and more.... :) If you do buy the Cosmic Tribe, check out the study group for it here. -- Kyrielle

Hedera	26 Feb 2003
Well, I'm expremely biased, because the CT is my favourite deck. :D I *love* it. It would be an interesting addition to RWS, because it is a little more thoth-based. Gives a different slant to some cards. Too soon to get another? Dunno. It might actually add to your understanding of the RWS if you can compare it's imagery to that of another deck. It can be really interesting to lay out a throw with an additional deck. There. That sounded really mature, not tarot-holic at all, didn;t it? So now I can say: Get it! You know you need it! :D :D Hedera.

Melvis	26 Feb 2003
I think the real test is if you're doing a reading with your Universal deck and you find yourself wondering what the Cosmic Tribe would look like with the same spread! Basically, if it is distracting you from concentrating on your first deck, run, don't walk, to that shop and get the CT! :D But if you are just fascinated with the CT when you visit the shop, you might want to wait until you have a little more experience with your Universal deck. Now I know it's shocking to hear a Tarotholic like me actually suggest waiting to buy a deck, (gasp!) but since you've only been reading since December you might not want to split your focus between two decks yet. Also, it sounds like the shop owner really must have your best interest at heart, since s/he is missing a potential sale by telling you not to buy it. (And I get the feeling that this is a shop you might frequent, ;) so you know it will be there when you eventually want to get it.) But as I said, if you find yourself thinking about the CT when you should be concentrating on the Universal, well then, good heavens! Go get that Cosmic Tribe! :D Peace, Melvis :TSTRE ____________________________ ~ Enabling Tarotholics since 2001 ~

Sulis	26 Feb 2003
Go, go now, go as fast as you can! That Cosmic Tribe tarot deck is sitting all alone on the shelf in that shop and it NEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDS you to love it. Go on, you know what to do really don`t you? }) }) }) }) }) }) }) }) }) }) }) }) }) Crystalmynx xx

sunflowr	27 Feb 2003
I am wondering... are you using the Universal as in "Universal Waite"?? Or are you indeed using a tarot called "Universal Tarot"? I know that deck and it is a bit different than standard. So I would, in that case, try Cosmic Tribe. Otherwise, it really depends on if the deck is calling to you. I think it's ok to learn from 2 decks and then you can decide which you prefer. :) But dont go too crazy beyond that, ok? haha! ;)

Jewel	27 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Hedera Well, I'm expremely biased, because the CT is my favourite deck. :D I *love* it. You and me both Hedera!!! In the 8+ years I have been working with Tarot I have not found a deck that speaks so clearly to me as the CT does. There are several threads in this forum that I think you should read before making your choice, I think it is only fair that you hear the other side of the story. The CT is a deck that people usually love or hate, there does not seem to be much middle ground where it is concered. But I am with Hedera, it is my favorite, I love it and I cannot help but recommend it. Although our study group moves slowly we do always come back and get quite energized when new poeple come to the group so if you get it please do come join us!

magipixie	27 Feb 2003
Hi, The deck that i use now is called the "Universal Tarot" by Maxwell Miller....I knew it was a little different from standard what with card names changed and such but I'm not sure how different it is since it's the only deck i've ever read with. I was also wondering, Hedera, or anyone who wants to tell me, what thoth-based means. I know that it's another type of deck, but i've never really looked at a thoth deck....what are the general differences? Anyway, thanks for all your advice, I think I've decided to go ahead and just buy it.....I figure if I don't feel ready to start working with it, then I can just admire them for awhile and when I do feel ready to use them I'll already have a good relationship going on with them. Okay, that's all justification for the fact that I just neeeeeeeeeeeed them!:) Blessed Be, Pixie

Jewel	27 Feb 2003
Hi again ... I'll jump in to answer the Thoth type deck thing for you. There are three traditional types of decks, decks upon which most other decks are based. These three decks are: (1) the Raider Waite Smith which have fully illustrated minors; (2) Thoth by Alister Crowley, which has partially illustrated minors - sort of sets the mood of the meaning of the card while using pips; and (3) Marseilles - which has non-illustrated pips. In addition, in the Thoth deck we see Strength placed as card XI and Justice at VIII which in the RWS is the opposite. In the CT there is another variable, the court cards are bit different they are Queen, Knight, Princess, and Prince. In the Thoth they are Knight, Queen, Prince and Princess (if I recall correctly). There are also a couple of Majors with a variance in name from the RWS, but following the naming of the Thoth Majors. My description here is very simplistic but will hopefully give you a better idea. In sum, the CT has partially illustrated minors, and the majors follow the Thoth Majors in numbering and names. The court cards retain the names of the Thoth courts, but have been represented in a more matriarchal style in their order. This has not affected my reading with the deck at all. I find the CT to speak extremely clearly. The Thoth is much more esoteric and more complex than the CT. Hope this helps ... and please do continue asking questions if you have them.

sunflowr	27 Feb 2003
Quote: Originally posted by magipixie Hi, The deck that i use now is called the "Universal Tarot" by Maxwell Miller....I knew it was a little different from standard what with card names changed and such but I'm not sure how different it is since it's the only deck i've ever read with. Oh yea.. I remember that deck. I think they only have 3 court cards per suit, am I right? That really is the main difference, I think.

magipixie	28 Feb 2003
Hey, Thanks for the info on the different types of decks! In my universal tarot deck there are only three court cards per suit, King, Queen, and Knave. Also, some of the majors have different names such as Justice=Karma, Strength=Desire, Temperance=Time, The Last Judgement= The Revelation. The book that came with the deck spends quite a bit of time explaining these changes, so I got the feeling that some people might consider them drastic, but like I said it's the only deck I've ever used so I wouldn't really know :) As for the Cosmic Tribe deck, a sudden shortage of funds has put off the purchase until next week....the universe's way of helping me decide :) But once I get it I'm sure I'll have lots of questions, so expect to see me in the discussion forum quite a bit. Thanks all, Blessed Be, Pixie

The cosmic tribe tarot? thread was originally posted on 26 Feb 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.