Ramses Tarot of Eternity

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

Astraea	17 Apr 2003
Just got this deck today -- I'm a sucker for anything Celtic, Egyptian, and/or Lo Scarabeo. This one seems to be closer to the RWS card meanings than some other LS decks. There are plenty of nubile maidens and the artwork is quite dynamic. Does anyone have any comments on the Ramses Tarot?

Trogon	17 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Astraea Does anyone have any comments on the Ramses Tarot? Well... I just looked at it on Tarot Garden and I do have one comment... [/size] I hadn't gotten a look at this one before... looks like I'm going to have start saving more than loose change now... ;)

Astraea	17 Apr 2003
Trogon, I definitely think you should start saving that loose change! :) Clive Barrett's Egyptian Tarot is still my favorite of the Egyptian-themed decks, and I like the Ancestral Path's take, but this one has many striking images to recommend it. LS decks often have a slightly manic edge to them, and this one is no exception -- one just has to attune oneself to the deck in hand, eh? I haven't done any readings with Ramses yet, but I think it will work well, based on initial impressions of the cards.

Astraea	17 Apr 2003
I apologize, I should have posted a link earlier where some of the cards can be seen. Here it is: http://www.tarotgarden.com/boutique/onlinecatalog.php?view_title=tarot+of+eternity

Cerulean	17 Apr 2003
How fun. What makes this deck different or significant for you than other Egyptian decks? I'm curious, but not in that mode right now. Egyptian art is beautiful for a theme deck. There's also a color illustrated Discovery book about one of the most famous Ramses that I keep seeing...

Astraea	18 Apr 2003
Mari, what makes the deck significant and different to me, compared to other Egyptian-themed decks, is its humanity -- the characters are all busily engaged in activities and seem quite three-dimensional, inviting one into their world. Whether or not that world is the way it actually was, is another matter -- but there's a warmth in these images that I find appealing.

Cerulean	18 Apr 2003
Thanks---this sounds wonderful. I'll check out Tarotgarden.com for the colors and scenic pictures. I think I know what you mean about the inviting scenes and daily activities. While some people disliked the Journey to the Orient/Marco Polo Tarot, I had a wonderful time looking at the imaginary interactions and in the most quiet scenes. I was wistfully thinking that in the long past such interactions were natural, unforced and happily foretelling a time and place near our place and time. My own circles of mixed cultures seem to have such scenes, when all is well. Best wishes.

Diana	18 Apr 2003
Well, I suppose my opinion doesn't count much, seeing that about 95% of all Tarot decks don't meet my expectations. But I was able to look at this deck last week. The pictures are like Hollywood Egypt - all romanticised and sanitised. And some of the majors just seemed not to follow any traditional Tarot pattern. Some of these Lo Scarabeo Tarot decks are drawn by artists who don't seem to have a clue about Tarot. I wouldn't buy this deck even if it was free.

Maan	18 Apr 2003
I don't like it either. What i really dislike was a image picturing Moses getting thru the red sea. Thats scene from the bible in wich the egyptians are not the "good" guy's. So how could i like the deck after that. But that's just me ;)

Astraea	18 Apr 2003
Diana and Maan, I know what you mean. LS decks often seem to have a very superficial, skewed (or absent) relationship to their cultural themes, and the illustrations can thus be silly and/or overly dramatic and theatrical. I find LS decks appealing for this very reason, in that they are often naive, but I can see how they could be terribly off-putting to some -- especially this one. But then, I can usually find something to appreciate about every deck, primarily (I suppose) because I don't expect to read with all of them, just add them to my tarot family. :)

Silverlotus	18 Apr 2003
I really liked this deck until I saw the Judgement card. Honestly, I sort of enjoy the romanticized version of Ancient Egypt, even though I am aware of it's inaccuracies. (One of my hobbies is the study of Ancient Egypt.) The choice of Moses for the Judgement card changes it's entire feeling to me. I'm guessing that for Christians this card would have a benevolent feeling - the chosen people being saved and the other "bad" people being punished. However, if someone looking from the Egyptian point of view, the meaning of the card would be essentially reversed. In light of this, I think it was a very interesting choice for this card. I wonder, are they any other Biblical allusions in the deck?

baba-prague	19 Apr 2003
Diana wrote: "The pictures are like Hollywood Egypt - all romanticised and sanitised. And some of the majors just seemed not to follow any traditional Tarot pattern." I'm with you Diana on this one. These pictures remind me of some really "prettified" biblical stories we used to be made to read at school when I was about six. Then, I liked them, now, they just make me wince. However, I'm sorry to say this, as I like many Lo Scarabeo decks. I know what Diana means about the meanings of some of the cards in their decks (bizarre to say the least) but I like decks like Tarot of the Imagination and the Millenium Tarot because they have good artwork and even if they aren't readable, they are thought-provoking. But, sorry LS - the Rameses is one deck that's very disappointing to me personally - I'd just expect much, much better artwork from LS (and just think how much gorgeous material an Egyptian theme offers).

RiccardoLS	19 Apr 2003
There is a long and interesting history regarding this deck, in LS. I'm not with Diana, because I'm really really proud of many LS deck :), but I agree the Ramses is not a deck I particularly like. The reason however cames not from any problem with meanings or similar things. The deck has been conceived by Giordano Berti on the life of Ramses, and rendered into a realistic style (as opposed to other LS Egypthian themed decks). The problem, to me, is the holliwood style art of Severino Baraldi (same as Journey to the Orient/Marco Polo Tarot). I find it easy, but not deep. Literal, but not methaphoric. But then... there are some decks that have "state of the art" artworks, and they don't sell at all (and please don't try to even think it's because they are not "readable" :) I think the most important thing is to know what one will have with any deck. Each deck has it's own limits, virtues and flaws. Riccardo

baba-prague	19 Apr 2003
Hi Riccardo, Well, if I were you I'd be proud of many LS decks too - though I stick to my opinion that some are almost impossible to read with, but then, I don't attempt to read with them, and still get a lot out of using them to stimulate some thinking (plus I do agree with you that some do have great artwork.) So, with this deck (and sorry, I know realise it's Rames, not Rameses) I agree when you say "easy, but not deep. Literal, but not methaphoric" - and it's sad to hear that decks that you feel are artistically better don't sell well (I remember reading on another thread that you are proud of the Dante, but it doesn't sell, since when I've looked for it but haven't yet got my hands on it - our Prague shop is a little bit limited.) Please, please though, don't stop doing the decks with beautiful and ambitious artwork - they are much appreciated by some of us. Karen

Astraea	19 Apr 2003
Yes, Riccardo, please don't stop producing decks with excellent and thought-provoking artwork. I just purchased Tarot of the III Millenium and it is lovely and thought-provoking. I give LS a lot of leeway in my opinions, because I find the company adventurous and innovative. Many LS tarots are gimmicky and, overall, novelty decks (as I believe the Ramses deck is, although I like it); but some are exquisite and inspirational.

purplelady	24 Jun 2003
I just purchased Ramses Tarot of Eternity, my first Ever LS deck! Can you believe I have 50 decks but none are LS until now?! When I saw the online pics of this deck I decided that was IT. Perhaps it is because I have lately purchased a lot of books on things like ancient Atlantis, lost civilizations, the pyramids and the sphinx. I do have the ancient Egyptian Tarot by Clive Barrett. And though I find those cards interesting to look at, I also feel they have a coldness to them. I am not a Lover of ancient Egypt, I suppose I feel a bit ambivalent about it but feel more drawn to Egypt lately. Anyhow, "Ramses" is definitely not a fluffy bunny deck. If anyone has this deck and looks at the 9 of swords they will see what I mean. Not for the faint of heart. I did a double take at this card and could hardly believe it! In fact, almost the whole suit of swords is quite warlike, violent, and gruesome! Perhaps the Egyptians were like this? Truthfully I don't know enough about Egyptian History to say. I enjoy looking at the deck though and decided to actually do a reading with it, a celtic cross. My final card was the hanged man. One problum- I cannot see one bit of the typical hanged man in this card! The card depicts Egyptian slaves, bound with chains around their wrists , doing some type of building or work, and a slave master. Should I take the card as what I see in the pic? OR use the usual "hanged man " interpretation? (You don't really have to answer this question!) I still enjoyed the reading and may try it again sometime. p.s. the LWB is in 6 languages!

The Ramses Tarot of Eternity 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.