Ancestral Path

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

fairyhedgehog	21 Apr 2003
I have had the Ancestral Path for a while but I have just recently started using it regularly for my 'daily three card' draw. It is a beautiful deck and I have been finding it amazingly insightful to use. I love many of the cards, eg the Queen of Sacred Circles is the most beautiful 'old' person I have seen in any deck. The only thing I find slightly troubling is the cards like the Star and Temperance which are normally among the most beautiful cards in a deck but in this one show very derelict landscapes. Has anyone any thoughts on this?

Astraea	21 Apr 2003
The Ancestral Path deck is one of my all-time favorites and I use it almost every day for my daily draws. It is so beautiful and "user friendly" and has a very warm feeling about it. I agree with you that Temperance and the Star are among the least inspiring cards in the deck, involving -- as you note -- "very derelict landscapes." Tracey Hoover's book on the deck states that this is because those two cards illustrate the present-day corruption of our environment, and what is necessary to address this issue. The entire deck is very ecologically conscious, and that concern reaches something of a peak with Temperance and the Star. The shared theme is that the only hope for a parched, desolate world lies in reclaiming balance.

Maan	21 Apr 2003
I have recently traded this deck back. ( thank you Pollux :* ) I'm still not using it but some of the pictures are very insightfull. Especially the hanged man. Maybe one day i will get to know it enough to start using it

Mimers	21 Apr 2003
It is funny this thread started this weekend. I have had the Ancestral Path deck for about a month now and decided it was time to get to know them. I took them upstate with me while visiting my family this weekend. I explored the cards and read about the different cultures the PIPs are based on. I have to say that the Temperance and the Star cards really don't bother me at all. I like them very much. They are not what we are used to seeing I think. It is funny also that when I first started studying Tarot I had a yearning for this deck. I wanted something that represented the world as a whole and not just one culture or group of people. I ended up getting the World Spirit instead. I wish that I had listened to my heart, because the Ancestral Path is just "it". It is not only gorgeous and well rounded, but it speaks to me. The book is full of information about other cultures that I just soak right up. The one card that I don't quite get the way it is intended is the Fool. I don't see the Fool there and I am not getting what the book says the card is trying to portray. Have you the book? Have you read the stories of the PIPs? It is beautifully enlightening! I LOVE the Judgement card! It is based on a dream the author had and it says it all. I really love this deck and I did readings for my Mother and Sister for it that were right on the money. I just looked at the cards and the words spilled from my mouth. As you can see, I am very excited about this deck. Mimers

HudsonGray	21 Apr 2003
The lady on the fool card is the one who wrote the book for the deck (it was a 2 person collaboration I understand, her and Julie Cuccia-Watts who did the art). So one of them got their image on the card, representing someone just starting out on the tarot journey (reading with the deck, a mirror behind them, bringing a connection from present day to the deck with the very first card, and from there it goes to a connection with the past & the 'ancestors'). The Fool card IS hard to match with the deck for me too, I wouldn't have chosen that picture for it, but the artist wanted it in I guess, or she wouldn't have done it that way. It's the only 'modern person' in the deck. The ladies who made it are in Milwaukee & Watertown, Wisconsin, you can contact them directly if you want--do a google search on "Julie Cuccia-Watts Watertown" and you'll find the site for the deck (she's done at least one other deck too which will be on the site), the email is in there somewhere.

Astraea	21 Apr 2003
Isn't it interesting, the different ways we see things? The Fool is one of my favorite cards in the deck, because the woman is contemporary, facing us, with a mirror behind her -- The Fool is Us!

Phoenix	21 Apr 2003
For interest sake, Julia Cucia-Watts used herself as the model for the empress and High Priestess.

Pollux	22 Apr 2003
I have had it for a while... and tried to work with it. Iadmit I didn't try it to read for others, but it just didn't feel right to do so. The deck, in my case, suffered from that sort of "incoherence" the pictorial - BEAUTIFUL pictorial choices present. When I used more than three cards, and they were more from more than two different suits - the Wands was such a big distractor! - the reading was just... DOH! *LOL* Really, it confused me so much... I was not able to read the story, to see the plot, to join the cards together... BIG DOH! I am happy it is a good deck for others though, especially for Maan! :* *LOL* What can I do? I am partial to Aeclecticans and also to spiritual, cute, nederlanders ones... *LOL*

rostie	22 Apr 2003
on the learntarot site they have links to all cards, i don't know if this is the site wich one some of you referred to: http://www.learntarot.com/apdesc.htm http://www.bluecatsden.com/apmajarcana.html

HudsonGray	22 Apr 2003
Yes, that's the one!

fairyhedgehog	23 Apr 2003
Thank you for the link to see all the cards - I like to be able to look at them in suits without having to sort them :) But this is one of those decks that really looks better in real life than online, in my view. Something about the detail and the depth of colour doesn't come across on the screen.

SnorkMaiden	07 May 2003
This was the first deck I bought (last month) cos the pictures are utterly gorgeous and I thought I would be able to understand the story they were telling more easily than on some of the abstract decks. I think the Hanged Man is great and also the eight of staves with the herons flying. I think the Fool is a bit naff - I understand the point of it but I think the contemporary figure among the historical ones is incongruous. JMHO.

fairyhedgehog	07 May 2003
What a great deck to start with snorkmaiden :) The only cards in this deck that I'm not keen on are temperance (usually my favourite card) and the star, but I can live with them. I don't mind the anachronisms: after all, the whole deck is a mixture of different cultures. But each to his/own :) Look forward to hearing more from you :)

WolfSpirit	12 Aug 2003
Yay ! I got the ancestral path today. It has been a long wait - it took almost a month to get here and I was nearly given up on it, but it could not have come at a better time. I am so bored with the heat and lacking energy, so I could really use a new deck to drag me through this. I must say I do like the Fool card, it says to me: start your journey here, leave all else behind. About the Star and Temperance: I did not notice the barren landscape until I read the comments here. The Star is on a beach (sea in the background) and beaches here are always empty (except for silly people sunbathing and such) so I did not think it exceptional. If there is a card that disappoints me it has to be the World, I think she could have come up with something more original than just picturing "the earth". My favourite is the 10 of sacred circles (pentacles), all those little houses in the snow look just so homely and secure. I also got the book. I think it may not be really necessary for using the cards but it looks interesting enough and written in a pleasant style.

Astraea	12 Aug 2003
WolfSpirit, congratulations on getting this wonderful deck. I think that you'll be very glad that you got the book, too, as the cards are so captivating that you'll probably want to know more about what the artist had in mind when she designed them. This deck remains one of my all-time favorites, even after many years of collecting, and I always use it for my daily draws.

fairyhedgehog	12 Aug 2003
I'm pleased you got the deck Wolfspirit :) I have the book as well - it's interesting but I prefer to rely on the pictures. But sometimes I do look something up. Hope you really bond with this deck.

Minderwiz	12 Aug 2003
I bought the deck two weeks ago and I agree that it is really beautiful. Up till now I have only tried three card readings with it and they seem to work well. I haven't got the book but am trying from the pictures. However if I see a copy of the book, I think I'll get it.

sirona86	13 Aug 2003
i bought the deck less than a week a ago and the readings i have done with them so far have worked fine. the pictures seem to speak more to me than most other decks have. i especially like the staves suit, and the tower, judgement and the hierophant are some of my favourite major cards.

SongDeva	13 Aug 2003
I got this deck about a month ago I think. I went on a spree because my fave metaphys. shop was closing and everything was discounted. But I digress. I have to say I'm amazed again at all the different perceptions we all have! In particular, I think the landscape on the Start and Temperance are absolutely lovely. Isn't the Star a Plains Indian? I mean, that's what the plains look(ed) like, or so I feel, lol. The ocean at night in Temperance is fabulous. I think they're wonderful (jus to reiterate in case you missed it). The Fool does take some getting used to as it's different. I don't know if I feel it symbolizes the fool yet, at least certainly not the fool in the way I'm used to seeing it, innocent at the start of something new. However, since I've just recently listened to my soul and am starting to take the complete leap into reading the images rather than looking things up, I think it will do nicely and can't wait to get more from it. Someboy called it 'naff' I think, and my initial reaction was similar LOL...especially that fact that it's the author. :) (I'm guessing at what 'naff' means).

Hedera	27 Sep 2003
Ahem... Just happened to find myself in a bookstore today (picking up a Halloween deck for someone else) and they just happened to have the Ancestral Path.....;) It's been on and off my wish list for a while, so I'm glad I finally bought it. I do think I want the book too, though, so I'll probably order that somewhere soon. So far, I especially love the Wands suit (which has made me finally decide to go ahead and buy the Ancient Egyptian, probably next month :D ) as well as a lot of the Majors (the Fool, the Lovers - not usually a favourite - , the Hierophant, the Hermit, Judgment). I also love the Queen and King of Swords, the Two of Sacred Circles, the Ace and Eight of Cups, and many more. The only thing (apart from the occasional less-than-perfect card, such as the World) that bothers me a little is the theme of the Cups suit. Somehow, the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot story line seems a little too sad and full of conflict for the Cups.... But hopefully the book will resolve that.

Maan	27 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Hedera The only thing (apart from the occasional less-than-perfect card, such as the World) that bothers me a little is the theme of the Cups suit. Somehow, the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot story line seems a little too sad and full of conflict for the Cups.... But hopefully the book will resolve that. I know this keeps bothering me in this deck too. I love the story but it does not seem to fit. I did a reading once with this deck and got the two of cups ( arthur and guinevere) crossed with the knight of cups( lancelot). With any other deck i would not have thought this to be a bad thing. But wen your arthur its not a very good thing that wen your having a romantic evening with the wife with lancelot looking over your shoulder :(

tabbycat	28 Sep 2003
The book is readily available - bought mine from AmazonUK for a very reasonable price. Two points that might make you feel better about the Cups in the AP deck - in the minor suits the narrative runs down from the tens to the ace, so the Two of Cups is actually the happy ending with a reconciliation between Arthur and Guinevere; and Tracey Hoover uses an odd version of the Arthurian myth, where the relationship between Guinevere and Lancelot is seen as a 'karmic bond' and assumed to be platonic. Jilly

Hedera	28 Sep 2003
I'm getting my book from Joan Bunning; with any luck, it should be here in a few days (love those priority envelopes :D). I can't wait!

punchinella	21 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Hedera The only thing (apart from the occasional less-than-perfect card, such as the World) that bothers me a little is the theme of the Cups suit. Somehow, the Arthur/Guinevere/Lancelot story line seems a little too sad and full of conflict for the Cups.... --I don't know Hedera, the moodiness of this story makes it seem like just perfect Cups material to me . . . but then, I'm a depressed person . . . Having voiced my approval of the material, I should qualify it by noting that Guenivere does look rather more like a cheerleader than a tragic heroine . . . & that Lancelot is, in my opinion, far too blond (a petty grievance indeed, yeah yeah yeah) This really is such a lovely & gentle deck, isn't it. I love it . . . all of my daily cards now seem to come automatically from this deck & no other. The suit of sacred circles is my favorite suit too. It's--it's--home, isn't it. Whenever cards from this suit appear, they just feel so deeply comforting to me (well--I did have a 'metis'--?? grandfather, perhaps that's why--???) & the 'hanged one'/fetus is rapidly becoming one of my all-time favorite cards, out of any deck! The book describes it as an internal version of the Empress, which makes all kinds of sense . . . & the correspondence with the world, well, I think it's just brilliant. They both hang there in space, world & fetus, & both are fragile & endangered & protected & full of potential . . . Enough rapsodizing for now. In many ways Ancestral Path is currently feeling like 'the' deck (well--not to exclude Tarot of Prague, oh no, no, no, I can't exclude T. o P., not even for a moment . . . after all, I did just vote for it . . . )

Moonbow*	27 Nov 2003
I had quite a few decks before getting this one. Someone once said to me that you know when you have a deck whether it feels right and is THE one. I felt this from the first moment I got the deck. That hasn't stopped me getting others (one of the main reasons for that - I think - is that I have a great appreciation of art) but like someone has already said - this is a very UP deck. If you know what I mean. It is just very positive and lovely. It has one of the best Hanged One cards I have ever seen. I dont like Egyptian type tarot card generally but the suit of wands (staves) in this deck is Egyptian/african and is just a perfect match to the meanings. Enough rambling - have I convinced you yet? Moonbow* :smoker: (I'm not a smoker but I just love this little smilie) hanged one link: http://www.bluecatsden.com/aphangedone.html

Bean Feasa	28 Nov 2003
I wish I could relate better to this deck. Everything about it is quite beautiful and I really wanted it to be one of 'my' decks. But somehow it leaves me cold. I think maybe it's the rather opaque 'oil-painting' style of the art - I'm more of a watercolour woman. To be fair, I haven't read the book yet. I'll hang onto the deck in the hope that enlightenment will dawn when I do. But I don't know... maybe it's just a bit heavily thematic for a Tarot beginner - I've probably bought too many decks too fast anyway, and have gone into Tarot overload ! Lol! Kate

Phoenix Rising	20 Mar 2004
This deck was my second deck, after practising first on a cheapie, I just loved the artwork in this deck. My hands always became hot holding them. My favourite card is the High Priestess, I think she is just beautiful. Although I only used it for 2 weeks, I think because I was a beginner and I had just memorised the first deck, I couldn't relate the meanings to this one. But I have pulled it out again, after reading one of the readings Thirteen did on reincarnation, she was bang on. I've just realised not to go by the book or traditional meanings too much, but the image. I have my other pet now too "The Quest"

punchinella	20 Mar 2004
Yeah Phoenix, meaning-wise this deck really is different from others. But it's so visually rich that you should be able to read it without looking everything up (unless of course you're the sort of person who absolutely loves looking things up :D ) I don't have the Quest tarot so can't comment on it. But if it's very different as well, then, yes, your best bet for coping is probably just to go with the images & the way they make you feel :) P.

Namaste	22 Mar 2004
I came very recently to the Ancestral Path deck, since I've only had it for a month, because I wanted a restful contrast to my Rohrig deck which I also love. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful craftsmanship of the cards themselves, not only the images, but just the actual paper and the way they fit comfortably in one's hands. I found the images interesting because of their celebration of multiculture and ecology. Now, I find them positively rich with story. They have grown on me. When I look at them, I really feel as though I were there in whatever world they invite me to step into. The only card I can say I like less in this deck is the one for the Devil, (quite a contrast to the Rohrig Devil), but what an ingenious way to portray the Hanged Man! On a personal note, if I may, I confess that the first time I used AP, the cards seemed to refuse to speak coherently to me, but just yesterday night, when I needed an answer to a really important question, they came through for me. Perhaps it was the spread I used, but I like to think it was the cards themselves. I am glad that in spite of their former stubborness, I refused to give up on them, treating them with respect, making a wooden box for them, and a silk and velvet travelling pouch. I believe I will be turning to them more and more and hope they will bond with me. Quote: Originally posted by SongDeva Isn't the Star a Plains Indian? I mean, that's what the plains look(ed) like, or so I feel, lol. The ocean at night in Temperance is fabulous. As to the Star and Temperance, I agree with you SongDeva. I think the cultural context for these two cards is appropriate. I am a little disappointed, however, with the little booklet that came with the cards because of some of the meanings the author gives to them (although I love her spread), and wonder if her book will help me or not. I'm afraid it will be a reiteration of the booklet. Quote: Originally posted by Phoenix Rising I have my other pet now too "The Quest" What I find wonderful about the Tarot is our myriad perceptions of all the different decks and how they speak to us so personally. I bought Quest, and am looking to trade it for similar reasons to those you, Phoenix, mention re. Ancestral Path... That is the beauty of the tarot! :)

contrascarpe	26 Mar 2004
Bought this one on a sort of a whim today. Was looking for this or the Quest and saw it with the book at a good price so decided to pick it up. What a beautiful deck! As reported, I enjoy the diversity of the deck. Did a reading with it tonight and it was beautiful in every respect.

starsongs	26 Mar 2004
The Ancestral Path continues to be one of my favorite decks both for daily draws and in reading for others. I agree with Namaste, that they are rich with story... Like Wolf Spirit, the card I am most disappointed in is the World.. The Wheel of Fortune is a favorite card, as is the Death card in this deck. Death gives the sense of a transition/journey...leading one to a realization of continuity... Some of the interpretations/depictions of the cards are really unique and they never seem to disappoint. The colors are rich, vibrant and wonderful too! The natal card and Wheel of The Year correspondences in the book that accompanies the deck are also interesting to explore. Has anyone worked with them? Any thoughts? Dan....enjoy your new deck... :) Starsongs

Phoenix Rising	26 Mar 2004
Hi Starsongs I've got the deck but not the book, can you tell me about the natal card and the wheel

starsongs	26 Mar 2004
Hi Phoenix Rising :) Yes, the natal card is the card that corresponds to your birthday in the Wheel of The Year...March 22 -28 is the 2 of Swords Does that card seem to hold any significance for you? Mine did for me (5 of Sacred circles) the first time period is Spring - Swords - (Aries, Taurus, Gemini) Spring Equinox is represented by the Ace of Swords March 22-28 = 2 of swords March 29- April 4 = 3 of swords etc. Summer -Staves (Cancer, Leo, Virgo) is delineated in the same fashion as swords... as are Autumn - Cups (Cancer, Leo, Virgo) and Winter - Sacred Circles ( Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces) From the book The Ancestral Path Tarot by Tracy Hoover: The interpretation of the circle in the description of the Wheel of Fortune Major Arcana trump provides the philosophical backdrop for the creation of an Ancestral Path Wheel of the Year. The concept of the wheel of the year is consonant with the circle's attributes. The wheel is a propelling mechanism; time carries us along. Like time's seasons, the spokes of the wheel are the same, yet appear again and again as the wheel moves over old and new paths. The association between the suits of Ancestral Path Tarot and the four seasons creates a time frame of Minor Arcana cards. The chart below (above in this case, the seasons) connects a time period with each card. By relating the time period to astrological principles, further layers of meaning are uncovered. It has been interesting to create a story using the cards by connecting planets and angles in a natal chart to their corresponding card in this wheel of the year. :D Starsongs

Khatruman	27 Mar 2004
I have this deck also, but I am not impressed enough to hold onto it. There is some beauty in the images, and the XX Trump is wonderful. However, I am bothered by the Fool card. I also don't like the look of the XVIII Star. The woman on the card looks constipated or angry, which ruins the peaceful aspect that I think the card should possess. In any case, I am selling the deck and the book, both of which are hardly used, in the trading section.

The Ancestral Path thread was originally posted on 21 Apr 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.