New Orleans Voodoo Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Mar 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Melissa`	24 Mar 2003
I was wondering if there was anyone else out there that owns or is drawn to this deck. I bought it just two weeks ago, but I have not yet done any readings with it. I didn't buy the deck for the 'name' of it.. as my honey thinks so. I bought it more for the artwork. It just sort of spoke to me. The book itself will take a while to read through.. or several times. It does not harp more on the meanings of the cards but more less the backgrounds of the practices and religions behind them. Never the less I still find them very interesting and they hold my attention better than some cards I have seen or own. Any of you that might own this deck.. my one concern is how does it read for you? Thanks for any replies or comments on this deck.. I haven't really heard much about it other than the reviews on the website. Amaya

Dee	24 Mar 2003
I DONT HAVE THIS DECK BUT I AM INTERESTED IN IT AS WELL.. MAYBE I WILL LOOK INTO IT AND GET BACK TO YOU... I AM INTERESTED ALSO IN WHAT OTHERS THINK...

Dee	24 Mar 2003
oh almost forgot... www.wicce.com also has a review onthis deck plus two other opinions check it out

Melissa`	24 Mar 2003
Thanks Dee :)

Cerulean	24 Mar 2003
I was very interested in the energy of this tarot and looked at it carefully...my interest is actually in Santeria and the beautiful nature-oriented island feelings or cultures that wove many threads together. I know of someone who had ties to New Orleans and everything that was said was interesting, lively and entertaining. They were doing a photographic trip of the most interesting places, with great walks and food aplenty. So it's on my wishlist to visit. I think of New Orleans as what someone said when traveling there... "At two-o-clock in the morning we followed music and was able to find a great place to eat right there." Is it a refreshing change for you? You did share a few details in a pm to me, but I'm curious if you also have impressions of New Orleans when you read with it...

Melissa`	26 Mar 2003
Well.. now that I have done the first reading with this deck for you Mari, I can comment on it a bit better. With some of the cards, yes you get a sence of being in New Orleans. The Market card.. Carnival.. just to name two of them. I have been there once before and planning another trip for this summer. As you were told by your friend.. you can listen for music in the middle of the night and find the most interesting places. Its the small hole in the wall places that were most attractive to me. For the deck itself.. I didn't find it too terribly hard to work with this first time, other times might be different. They seem to portray more feelings than actual pictures in my mind.. Amaya

Melissa`	02 Apr 2003
When doing a small reading for myself this evening with this deck I noticed a small tear in one of my cards *waaaahh* ... I knew the cards weren't very well laminated if at all.. now I'm thinking they really aren't. *sigh*.. never the less I enjoy the deck.. but for those looking for quality in deck production. Don't expect too much out of this one. A

Astraea	26 Apr 2003
Amaya, I have to agree about the quality of the production -- the corner of one of my cards was dog-eared and separating, even though it was fresh from its cellophane wrapping. But isn't the artwork stunning? Folks, if you like the style of the World Spirit, you'll really enjoy the look of this deck. I read the book, and it seems to be quite clear that one needs to be involved in ritual practices, wishing to contact the loa (spirits), willing to make sacrifices of grain/plants/water/head hair, etc. in order to use the deck -- and gives instructions on how to "birth" the deck by putting it in a box with one's own fingernail clippings, etc. Do you find all this to be true, Amaya (and others who have/use the deck)? Or were you able to read with it out of the box? That's what I wanted to do, as the cards seem very vocal and the artwork speaks to me, even though I know very little about New Orleans-style voodoo -- but the book made me think twice.

Melissa`	27 Apr 2003
I'm glad that you got this deck Astraea,now I don't feel so lonely! lol Yes the cards do speak volumes, actually some of the cards have helped me understanding cards I hadn't grasped before. Again, I just wish the cardstock was better. As for the beginning ritual with the cards themselves, I did do one. Except it wasn't the one with the fingernail clippings. I dont have my book right here with me, so I can't remember the name right off hand. It worked although I am not sure if it worked because of the ritual itself or if I just believed it would work. But then again, don't most all things work because we put belief in them? :) So I guess what I'm trying to get to is whether or not you do one of those rituals in the book I think if you just take your cards out right now and do a reading with them, they would speak the same volumes. The cards seem to just reach out and speak without a book or known source. The way they are protrayed, actions in them, emotions and feelings.. speak more than a page of written words could explain. Thats just my opinion! I hope you enjoy this deck and would like to talk about it more with you if you are interested :) Blessings, Amaya

Astraea	27 Apr 2003
Amaya, I appreciate your reply and it eases my mind -- I didn't want to get into the whole ritual aspect of the deck (that is, learn a new set of rituals -- I already have my own and prefer to stay with those), but the deck just calls to me in a warm and powerful way. I agree with you completely that the images are clear and potent, right out of the box -- I don't know much at all about New Orleans-style voodoo, and I am sure that learning who is represented on each card will help greatly in understanding the deck, yet the cards seem to explain themselves and speak, without that knowledge. I want to sit down with the deck when I really have some time to devote to it, which will be awhile, and I would be interested in sharing experiences with you! Thanks again, Amaya!

Cerulean	27 Apr 2003
Hi, I'm glad to read the replies here. The fact that you familarize with your own good style and take time with the deck sounds comforting to me. I posted before that I had two decks along other lines of differing, distinct belief systems that have some cultural roots that are easily mistaken to be the same (Santeria with the Lukumi tarot and Orisha with Orisha Tarot). I'm really taking my time and find it a very very bits-and-pieces slow mode. Sorry to hear about the New Orleans card stock. It is very striking artwork.

Astraea	27 Apr 2003
Hi, Mari! Yes, this deck is very worthwhile. It incorporates belief systems that are quite different from those reflected by many other decks, and I think it's prudent to "feel one's way" with it -- which honors both the deck, and one's own understandings. It really is a beautiful tarot and I'm looking forward to finding the most appropriate ways to work with it. The card stock is a disappointment, but it's not so bad that it should put anyone off getting the deck, IMO.

Voodoo_Shaman	07 Aug 2003
The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot is a deep deck, imbedded deep with roots of magic, ceremonies and rites and passages. The reason the book that comes with the deck does not have general meanings, is that the Voodoo Deck is intended as a medium between the Spirit realm, and the realm of the living. It is intended as a voice for the Spirits. I have owned this deck for about 7 years, and “she” has given me the deepest, and most meaningful of readings. It is Laminated in a way that the deck is suppose to age nicely, to fit the energy of the person who reads it. Although my Voodoo Deck has gotten very worn with usage and age, she is still in good use, and I have never really had any complaints on the lamination.

firemaiden	07 Aug 2003
Shucks folks, now you've gotten me interested. Where can I see scans?

Bacchus	07 Aug 2003
Firemaiden, You can see a few scans here: http://www.tarotgarden.com/boutique/onlinecatalog.php?view_title=The+New+Orleans+Voodoo+Tarot&pageenter=0 Looks like an interesting deck. Bacchus

The New Orleans Voodoo Tarot thread was originally posted on 24 Mar 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.