Fairy tales and tarots suggestions?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Cerulean	17 Apr 2003
I’ve been studying archetypes recently in tarot cards and one tarot like oracle deck that I consider strong for their general fairytale symbols that I remember. These include: -Symbolon -Fey Tarot -Enchanted (Zernar/Farber) -Fiabe majors -Spiral? Kashmir? I am most interested in courts and majors. I may soon add Whimsical and Inner Child cards or the Oracle of the Radiant Sun. Are there others that I am missing? I hope to write a comparative essay with a small sampling of decks. I’ve not including tightly-bound historical theme decks such as Celtic, Anime-Japanese, Medieval-Renaissance, Greco-Roman or Egyptian, as I have separate ideas for those areas. I guess I am a little too silly, but I really like the use of costumes in the above certain fairy tale tarots. Suggestions? Ideas? If you wonder what kind of illustrations that I am looking at, Warwick Goble and Edmund Dulac are two illustrators…by the way, the New Palladini really has some of the coloring of fairytale tarots that I like quite a bit. Maybe I’m just collecting along a pretty thread, as well…grins… Thanks for ideas or just looking. Mari

HOLMES	17 Apr 2003
I would definatly add in the whimisical tarot and the innerchild cards as the whole defination of their being is children and fairy tales. is the oracle of the radian sun a tarot ?

Rusty Neon	17 Apr 2003
If you check out the Somerville website, I believe you'll find listings for a reproduction of a historical playing card deck based on Aesop's Fables and another based on proverbs. But my memory is a bit rusty right now.

Sea Sprite	17 Apr 2003
Would Faeries Oracle by Brian Froud qualify?

Cerulean	17 Apr 2003
Thanks for the suggestions...off and on I've looked at the Froud oracle and I think I do need to take another look at it. Now that someone said something, you are right about Aesop's Fables...there may even be historical one of engravings by , Gisuppe Mitelli??? My thanks and now I have some things to also explore...a new, fun project for tarot and oracle searches. I posted about the astrology deck Oracle of the Radiant Sun, a reply to Lee's query in divination. Let me know if you need more info...

Astraea	17 Apr 2003
Mari, the Tarot of Oz is one that you might like to consider.

Cerulean	17 Apr 2003
Please let me know what you think of the art of the Tarot of Oz and his Seraph deck? He's got a personable style, refreshing for use of white space. I just remembered another thread talking about the Whimsical Tarot book and maybe the people reading it would also be attracted to the Tarot of Oz. At the moment, this suggestion sounds appealing if I also was thinking and budgeting along the lines of a comparative deck to the airy brightness of the Whimsical. Thanks for the ideas...

Astraea	17 Apr 2003
Mari, I am not familiar with the Seraph deck, but I think that the artwork in the Tarot of Oz is quite well-rendered and inviting. The colors are bright and cheerful (lots of yellow) and the artist does, as you say, make effective use of white space. I agree that people who enjoy the Whimsical Tarot might also like the Tarot of Oz.

Cerulean	29 May 2003
The first links- Rackham and Warwick Goble illustrations http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/rackham.htm http://www.bpib.com/illustrat/goble.htm The Tarot art that I'm looking at now: Next, the Engel Tarot--quite expensive, oop. http://themysticeye.biz/pics/engel.htm Less expensive, going to be 78 card deck soon: http://www.mary-el.com/majors.html Would you say it's a close match? I'm also considering the Zufkundst...an ever-growing wishlist that I can dream about.

Khatruman	29 May 2003
In what it seems you are attempting to study, I would rule out Froud's Faeries' Oracle in that, for the most part, they are a creation mainly of his own mind. In that vein, it is important to not that Oz is also a single author's creation and therefore technically not considered folk tale. I would, however, recommend Franklin and Mason's Fairy Ring Oracle, which is based on Celtic fairy traditions.

Hedera	29 May 2003
I totally agree with Khatruman on the Fairy Ring - although it's fotographic, I'm not sure that's what you're looking for. Have you considered the Merryday? www.merrydaytarot.com The artwork is lovely (it looks a little fuzzier on my screen than it does irl, there's a lot of detail), and it is filled with dragons, pixies, elves, unicorns, mermaids, all sorts of animals, etc etc.

Cerulean	29 May 2003
Thanks for both suggestions. At one point I really enjoyed the Fairy Ring book to look at and thought the card concepts were well-done. Thank you for reminding me how well that structure and design concept worked. I do see some threads on the Merryday and will check it out. Best, Mari H>

Khatruman	29 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Hedera Have you considered the Merryday? Ohhh, wow, now how did that one escape me??? ~Blasted tarotholicsesss.... always making Smeagol dig into his pocketsessssssss.... ahhhh, must starts sneakin' round the web sitesesss for a deal..yesssssssss, my precioussssss~ }) UPDATE (after gollum has gone sneakin 'round his favorite deck haunts) Ahhhh, nassssty tarotsistsssssss, tricks poooooor smeagol!!! We only findses this cardses at amazon, for one hundred and eleventsies dollars.... arrrrggggghhhh, we will bitesss this deck out of nasty tarotses hands, we will, my precioussssssssssssssss Stinker speaks to slinker: Ahhhh, but she sellssssss it at her website, she doesss... ~gollummmmmm~ yessss, my precious... still expensive for poooooorrrr smeagol.... (goes away...hissing and sputtering, to catch some fishes)

Hedera	29 May 2003
The people who made the Merryday are still selling it at their website, for $25.... I always wonder what makes people ask such prices for things that are not rare / out of print?

Cerulean	29 May 2003
Because some ebay or other listings say it is out of print and definitely $25 is within my budget. I remember seeing the deck once without the book, but it was so new, I had no idea what to think of it.

Jeannette	30 May 2003
If I understand correctly what it is you're seeking, then I would suggest that the following additional titles might present some possibilities: Russell Grant's Astrotarot (majors + astrological cards + more - 33% tarot, 67% "other") Children Tarot Arcani Fiabechi (not the same as the Fiabi) Kinder Tarot Tarot d'Or (new edition out soon -- check with Diana) i Tarocchi di Pinocchio (Valcuda) i Tarocchi di Pinocchio (Ghiusselev) Schutzengel Tarot Wonderland Tarot Waking the Wild Spirit An interesting undertaking -- I look forward to seeing what other titles you unearth in your research. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

Cerulean	30 May 2003
Thanks for the suggestions and links! Mari H.

rostie	05 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman In what it seems you are attempting to study, I would rule out Froud's Faeries' Oracle in that, for the most part, they are a creation mainly of his own mind. Only how they look, but not who and what they are...they are just a different but for me very welcome approach...it still are angels, faeries, pixies, gnomes etc...brian froud has a very good knowledge about this creatures...(historical and nowadays) just look at one of his very well known books 'faeries'...:)

Khatruman	05 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by rostie Only how they look, but not who and what they are...they are just a different but for me very welcome approach...it still are angels, faeries, pixies, gnomes etc...brian froud has a very good knowledge about this creatures...(historical and nowadays) just look at one of his very well known books 'faeries'...:) Yes, I agree that there are some historical bases for many of his creations, but I was thinking of what Mari was after in terms of folk study, in which case one of the primary guidelines for determining folk lore is that it cannot be attributed to any one individual. Thus, anything Wizard of Oz is not folk lore, in that Frank Baum created the denizens of that world. I love Froud's stuff, and some of it does come out of fairy and folk lore tradition, but he makes many of them his own also.

rostie	05 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman Yes, I agree that there are some historical bases for many of his creations, but I was thinking of what Mari was after in terms of folk study, in which case one of the primary guidelines for determining folk lore is that it cannot be attributed to any one individual. Thus, anything Wizard of Oz is not folk lore, in that Frank Baum created the denizens of that world. I love Froud's stuff, and some of it does come out of fairy and folk lore tradition, but he makes many of them his own also. maybe :D...no, i guess you're right...it were just the faeries who were a *little* indignant (for not to say outraged ;))...and pushing me to reply...giggle... with much of love, sara.

sagitarian	05 Jun 2003
How about the Faery Oracle Deck by Brian Froud? not sure if someone else has suggested this one yet or not. In any case, that's my two cents. Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Cerulean	06 Jun 2003
...somehow the painted ones are nearer to the older style of illustration and engravings that I've found so far. What a variety of things to find. I'm glad to see so many Faery Oracle fans by Brian Froud. Illustration/collage is still a lively art! I enjoy the exploration and will post as things progress. Mari H.

Cerulean	08 Jun 2003
I had not seen the Pagan2000 around for awhile and was not aware of Pandora's Tarot. They are not in the style that I originally posted...but I do see rich colors and illustrations in the Pagan2000 and just received a great reading from a Merryday reader!

Cerulean	11 Jul 2003
...while its more in regards to shorelines and related to naiads of waterways, I'm pulling inspiration from Ovid and actually some less church art-related decks. I've been chattering a bit on the Mermaids Tarot. Wowee.

The Fairy tales and tarots suggestions? thread was originally posted on 17 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.