Tarot of the Spirit

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 Apr 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

WolfSpirit	09 Apr 2003
I was wondering who has this deck and how you like it. This was the first deck I bought after the rider-waite, but it was too different from the r-w for me then, I should have stuck with a r-w clone. So I traded the spirit away. But now, with a bit more experience with different decks, my eyes fell on its beautiful artwork again and I want to try it again. I bought it once for the artwork, and it still appeals a lot to me. I haven't got it yet, I'm eagerly waiting. I also ordered the book this time (more than 400 pages!)because I got a cheap copy. (for those of you who want this book: there are copies for sale at amazon from £ 5) Hope I get the hang of it this time :)

Trogon	09 Apr 2003
Howdy WolfSpirit... I'm looking forward to hearing your second impressions with this deck. Very curious to hear if it works out better for you with your new perspectives and more experience. I've also kind of been considering something like what you're doing here. My very first deck was a Tarot of the Marseilles and it didn't work out for me at all... I'm wondering now, as you are with the Tarot of the Spirit, if it will work better for me with being more experienced. Looking forward to hearing the sequel...

Khatruman	09 Apr 2003
I just got the Tarot of the Spirit a couple weeks ago and I really love it. I did a reading which was deep and meaningful. I am one who looks at tarot for inner guidance and inspiration, and this deck does it for me. I do notice that sacred geometry plays a large part in the symbolism of the deck, and I am not versed well in that, but still there is an abstract beauty that reaches through the deck. Keep me posted on how your second experience with it goes. By the way, do others who have this deck see it deeply influenced by the Thoth?

Astraea	09 Apr 2003
I just love this deck. Before getting it, I had read that it was modeled on Thoth and that intrigued me (admiring Thoth as I do). The deck has not disappointed -- I would say that it is very Thothlike in its feeling and ability to focus deep readings. The artwork is expressionistic in style, and very colorful and dynamic. Tarot of the Spirit manages to be serious, without gloom. And the book is excellent. I can understand why you wouldn't have resonated with Tarot of the Spirit when you were at the beginning of your studies, but your experience with it now will probably be quite different. Do keep us posted on your impressions of this lovely deck.

Gerbear	09 Apr 2003
This is my preferred deck for reading also. I came over from the Thoth. The artwork resonates with me directly, and I find it to be extremely accurate.

Strange2	09 Apr 2003
Tarot of the Spirit (TOS) remains one of my favorite and beloved decks (and being a member of Tarotholics Anonymous, I now have 82 decks!). I find it to be a very uplifting and "deep" deck, revealing new insights each time I use it. The Big White Book that comes with TOS is outstanding. Although a companion book to the deck, it is an excellent Tarot book on its own. I have written a review of TOS, as well as some of the Major cards, on my website at: http://www.docstrange.com/Tarot/TOS.asp Some aspects of TOS are reminiscent of the Crowley/Harris Thoth deck. I find TOS to be a calming companion and/or balance to Thoth's bold zestiness. My favorite aspect of TOS is the Minor Arcana cards. These are expressive geometric arrangements of the suit "tokens", and they are a creative fusion of Marseilles-like pips and illustrative images. Hope you enjoy exploring the nuances and depths of TOS!

Rose	09 Apr 2003
My sentiments echo Strange2's. I want to emphasize that it's hard for me to separate this deck from the companion book. The book, "Tarot of the Spirit" by Pamela Eakins, is possibly the best deck companion book out there and a great book to expand your understanding of tarot in general. In the words of the author, "Nothing has been reduced, neither has it been convoluted. Every effort has been made to keep the interpretations clearly understandable. Both the book and the deck of cards are meant to be referred to again and again. As the knowledge of the students deepens, the texts will take on greater meaning." She presents complicated concepts in a clear and very readable form. Rose

Khatruman	10 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Rose I want to emphasize that it's hard for me to separate this deck from the companion book. The book, "Tarot of the Spirit" by Pamela Eakins, is possibly the best deck companion book out there and a great book to expand your understanding of tarot in general. After reading your recommendation, I found the companion book on Half.com for less than $5, so I got it. Looking forward to its coming in the mail.

Emily	10 Apr 2003
Oh Dear - I knew I shouldn't have come in here :D This deck is stunning, just checked it out on Tarot.com, I can clearly see the resemblance to the Thoth deck, think it must be the patterns on the Minors. I thought the name changes would be a little confusing, Father, Mother, Son, Daughter and also the suit changes but after looking through the cards a few times, online, its actually not that different. This deck is going straight to the top of my wishlist. :)

Lee	10 Apr 2003
Hi Emily, as far as the suit changes go, the names are different but if you look closely on the cards, there are still the requisite number of disks on the Earth cards, swords on the Air cards, etc., which lends some comforting familiarty. -- Lee :)

Emily	10 Apr 2003
Hi Lee, Yes I noticed that too, these cards already seem very familiar but I've not seen them before, it could be that I was so focused on Rider Waite and clones that I just passed over this one, but now with my interest in the Thoth deck I'm more open. I'm already half way to ordering them but I go away in a couple of days so I'm going to have to wait - They are going to be an Easter present to myself instead of chocolates :D I'm sure that they will be good to study and use as well as my Thoth deck :)

Sulis	10 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Emily , it could be that I was so focused on Rider Waite and clones that I just passed over this one, but now with my interest in the Thoth deck I'm more open. Emily I couldn`t agree with you more. I`ve looked at this deck myself inthe past and decided that it way just too far from the RWS deck for me to contemplate buying it. All changed now, it`s top of my wish list too. Oh and Strange 2 your website is very impressive. Love and light Crystalmynx xx

WolfSpirit	11 Apr 2003
Thanks everyone for all your replies. Well I still haven't got the deck but I am now even more eager and I hope i get it soon. Strange2: interesting website ! I am glad I ordered the book as well, I saw bits of it on strange2's website, for example for the fool it says "detachment of outcome" , I never thought of it from that point of view. If the whole book comes with things like that, it will give a lot of food for thought :)

Astraea	11 Apr 2003
Pamela Eakins, the author of the marvelous text that accompanies "Tarot of the Spirit," has a website at http://hometown.aol.com/peacetour/myhomepage/business.html It's not a scintillating site, but it does list her class schedule and contact information in Half Moon Bay, California -- I note that at least one person who has posted here lives in that state.

truthsayer	12 Apr 2003
TOS and the book has been part of my collection 2 or 3 years now. it's one of those decks i haven't felt connected to enough to read but i just can't trade. when i read this thread and check out the website, i had an epiphany that now is the time for TOS. something about the gentlness and strength in pamela eakins' eyes. then i saw the key words "sacred geometry". that's recently become an interest and i'm eager to learn more. until now i didn't realize i was sitting on a deck that uses it. can't wait to start!!

WolfSpirit	19 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Trogon Howdy WolfSpirit... I'm looking forward to hearing your second impressions with this deck. Very curious to hear if it works out better for you with your new perspectives and more experience. Well this morning the postman brought me the deck (and book), so I don't need anything more from the easter bunny. The deck is still fairly new for me (again) so there will probably be another sequel later on, but I can say I am already very glad to have this deck back. I chose this deck once out of a great number of decks, and I can see again what attracted me so in this deck: the artwork make many of my other decks look almost like cartoons. I will need a little time to get familiar to the minors though, it is very different from what I am used to. I will first explore the deck on my own before I read the card meanings in the book, but I had a quick peek and I saw that Pamela gives with every card description something for meditation. I like that, because it seems like a very good deck for that. I have started with the introduction part of the book and that is also very good. This deck feels a bit like coming home and at the same time gives a lot of exciting new challenges. :)

Khatruman	19 Apr 2003
I just got the Tarot of the Spirit companion book quite cheaply at half.com. It was incredibly comprehensive, and from what I have looked at, it is wonderful. She goes in depth on what has been drawn on the cards, which will be of immense help, as will the sacred geometry stuff, since it's been since sophomore year of high school (ummm, close to three decades ago??/ ouch!) that I took geometry. heh heh... In any case, I have already done quite a powerful initial reading with the deck, and just the other night, I decided to do a Body/Mind/Spirit reading and I was floored: It came out Mother of Earth/Sister of Water/Brother of Wind!! I looked at the bottom card for the teacher card in each position (this is a thing I learned from Pollack's Forest of Souls) and the teachers were XIX The Sun/XVII The Star/V The Hierophant... I am going to need to do some journaling on this reading but I am sure you all can see it seems quite powerful!!!

Khatruman	19 Apr 2003
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer TOS and the book has been part of my collection 2 or 3 years now. it's one of those decks i haven't felt connected to enough to read but i just can't trade. ...then i saw the key words "sacred geometry". that's recently become an interest and i'm eager to learn more. until now i didn't realize i was sitting on a deck that uses it. can't wait to start!! Ahhh, one of the joys of being a tarotholic...finding hidden treasures!!! :D.. the naysayers pick on us and all our decks with, "How can you possibly use them?", but we know, sooner or later, they will flash out at us!!!

WolfSpirit	21 Apr 2003
I have wanted to use this geometry (before I knew that was what it was called) I have the book Tarot Plain and Simple and although it is by no means an ideal book, one of its good things is: it groups cards by number not by suit and gives a general explanation of each number. But it gives meanings based on rws (uses pictures of the robin wood) so it does not follow this geometry consequently. Khatruman I agree the book is excellent and you can get it very cheap - I almost felt guilty getting it. Well almost ;)

Emily	24 Apr 2003
Well I went on my holiday, came back and ordered this deck and book :D - couldn't find the book any cheaper in the online places I usually use though so I've had to order it full price. I keep going back and looking at the scans of it, it looks such a beautiful deck, I can't wait to see it in the flesh but its going to be at least a week.

Emily	10 May 2003
Well the Tarot of the Spirit and the book finally came - Actually the jury was out on the deck lol - The book is really good, goes into alot of detail that could be used for other decks not just this one. I opened the deck late at night and, ok, I was tired but I wasn't ready for the shock on the senses that came as I looked through the majors. Most of them seemed to be the product of someones nightmares lol - a one eyed hermit was one that stuck with me. I did carry on looking through them, the Minors were exactly what i was expecting, very colourful, expressive but I wasn't too sure of the court cards either. Not a very good start for a deck that I had appreciated so much online. Anyway I put the deck away and thought of sending it back but keeping the book. The next day I looked again, after a night of very weird dreams , and the deck didn't have that impact on me again, I don't think I will ever completely love it but I can appreciate the artwork and the feelings behind the cards. I was too hard in my judgement of the deck the night before, there are some cards I don't like but many, after studying them for a day or so that I do. I am keeping it, whether I'll use it for readings or mediation I don't know but it is an unusual deck :) I do know that decks I have fell in love with haven't stayed the course with me and decks that have a dubious beginning like the Thoth are the ones that I seem to keep using and studying so maybe that'll happen with this one lol

Astraea	10 May 2003
Quote: originally posted by Emily decks I have fell in love with haven't stayed the course with me and decks that have a dubious beginning like the Thoth are the ones that I seem to keep using and studying so maybe that'll happen with this one lol Yes, this one might well be one of those that grows on you. Sometimes you can have a deck for years, lingering on the closet shelf, and then all of a sudden you might develop a yen to look at it again, and -- lo and behold -- it starts speaking to you. That said, it is very disappointing to anticipate a deck so eagerly, and not fall in love with (or at least like) it right off the bat. But the book is excellent and you are enjoying it, and chances are that if you hang onto the deck, eventually you'll be glad you did.

truthsayer	10 May 2003
TOS is one i've had a couple years waiting for the day i have time to sit down with the book and deck to study. i believe it was impacted primarily by the thoth so accordingly i feel that it will make a stronger impression than a rws clone. the art is very abstract so i think being in a meditative state beforehand would help. some deck seem to require a slightly altered state of consciousness before you can really appreciate them. this is definitely one of them. the ananda is one of these. i appreciate the art but i can't read the deck without some mental preparation. then those images practically seem to vibrate with energy!

Emily	10 May 2003
This hasn't happened to me before, usually I've already fell in love with the decks before I get them, the Spiral for instance (and yet now I find it very hard to read with), but to be honest my stomach fell as I sat looking at the Tarot of the Spirit, I didn't like them, well some I liked lol. But saying that the next day, and I had already made my mind up to send them back, I looked through them again and something must have changed. They're not the prettiest of cards, the Minors are, but not the majors or the court cards but they have something that calls to me. I am going to read the book through before I even attempt to use them, but I can't wait to do a new deck spread with them just to see what I get lol Edited to add:- I do think its going to be an interesting deck to study, looking through it again sitting here,( the decks in front of me, just hope its not listening lol :) ) there are cards that seem to stand out, and I like the keywords used and the name changes of the deck.

widar	10 May 2003
Hi, fans of the Tarot of the Spirit, I got this deck about 2 years ago - and liked it from the first moment. I have to admit, that I use the deck not very often for a reading - generally I prefer Thoth. But I learned a lot about tarot from Pamela Eakins' book. I highly recommend it for all who want to find a deeper understanding of tarot's help to personal development. The 'Maga Diamond' spread is my preferred spread for (at least) 2 years - I'd like to recommend it to you. Another very helpful spread from this book is called 'The Ten Gates' - especially suited when starting a new project and looking for some guidance! Greetings Widar

Cerulean	10 May 2003
Has anyone done side by side or card comparisons with the Thoth and reported their reactions? I'm curious how the colors, shapes, ideas seem to form when you look at both decks together.

WolfSpirit	10 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Emily They're not the prettiest of cards, the Minors are, but not the majors or the court cards but they have something that calls to me. I am going to read the book through before I even attempt to use them, but I can't wait to do a new deck spread with them just to see what I get lol I think the minors are awesome, not only beautiful but also expressing so much - I have so far almost always used minors with scenes on them, and I started with rws - and I did not think minors without scenes would speak to me, but these cards - the swords for example: you have the 5 with the dark clouds above them, then the 6, such a bright card, then 7, totally different again, confusing with all the colours and the snakes. Such a great artist, to express so much through colours and dark/light effect etc. I find some of the majors very pretty: the Moon, the Fool, Death... A card I still don't like is the HP, many decks have the HP as a distinguished woman, then TOS has this veiled person that does not look particularly feminine...then the chariot, also has a veiled person. I still don't like these cards, although she probably had a good reason for painting them like that. The whole deck is so full of symbols and she describes it all in the book. I think the book is awesome, even if you don't want to use this deck it is still interesting. Emily I would advise you to think twice before you trade this deck *LOL* I traded it away once and I wanted it back, so I know. I do think it is a deck that grows on you and takes some studying to really reveal itself.

Sulis	10 May 2003
I got this deck last week after reading this thread and I love it. I haven`t got the book yet; had to order that from the Sates and I`m still waiting for the postman to bring it. I wanted a deck which was very similar to Thoth but with artwork which I could relate to a bit more: I don`t particularly like the suit of Wands in Crowley`s deck and some of his keywords just leave me a little cold. I agree about the Majors, they aren`t a patch on the Thoth majors but the minors and the courts I think are just gorgeous. I`ve dived straight in and started reading with it without the book and I find it a very easy and intuitive deck to use. I do plan to use it as a comparative deck with Thoth but haven`t tried it out yet. Love and light Crystalmynx xx

Jewel-ry	28 Nov 2003
Hi everyone, Just want to say that I have just received my book to the TOS (got the deck about 6 months ago!) I ordered it from the States which saved me a lot of money. Obviously I havn't read it yet but it certainly looks impressive. The book is quite a meaty read and looks to be a study all of its own. I've read most of the posts here about this book and it certainly seems to be popular. I'm hoping that it will throw more light on the minors which I have had difficulty in understanding up til now. To those of you who received this book earlier in the year, have you read it yet and what do you think? Jewel-ry

Cocobird55	29 Nov 2003
I bought this deck early on in my Tarot studies because I loved the artwork. As a newbie, I decided the deck was too difficult for me, and I put it away to look at later. After reading all your posts, I think later may have come. I plan to start working with this deck and book soon. Sue

Jewel-ry	29 Nov 2003
Oh thats great Cocobird55! I have started the book and its very easy to read. Let me know how you get on... J.

Requiella	01 Dec 2003
I have this deck and I love it! One thing that appeals to me in a tarot deck is artwork that is imaginative and replete with symbolism. This deck is definitely that! The style leaves a lot of room for interpretation in meaning, although there's a fair amount of concrete symbology. A couple of my favorite cards in the deck: --The Wheel of Fortune. The design here brings to my mind the existential concept of "thrownness." --Five of Fire. The colors are phenomenal, and very much capture the feeling of chaos.

Jewel-ry	02 Dec 2003
My absolute favourite card in this deck is the four of water, it is called the flood and whenever I look at it I think it looks like the view from a port hole window and what you are looking at is a ship at the bottom of the ocean, dark, eerie, still lit. This is not how it is described in the book but thats what I see and it kind of fits with the meaning. You can see this card here http://www.angelpaths.com/decks/spirit/water/Image5.html J :)

Cocobird55	04 Dec 2003
I have started reading the book, and am enjoying it. The Tower is one of my favorites. It makes me feel turmoil and destruction, without being too graphic. Since 9/11, every time I see a Tower card with people jumping out of a tall building, I think about all of the people who died... Sue

Jewel-ry	04 Dec 2003
Hi Sue, I know! Those feelings are felt by many of us I think. J. :)

Shadow Wolf	07 Dec 2003
I have this deck and I really like it. It gave me accurate readings from the first time I used it !!!! The meanings of the cards are a little different, but they really helped me to zero in on some important issues.

Thea Lynx	10 Dec 2003
Hi Wolf, Tarot of the Spirit became one of my favorite decks as soon as I looked through it - but i felt that way about my Thoth as well. Usually when I hear of a new deck I need to see it a few times before I decide to get it and sometimes it works. But this deck I bought sight unseen and have not been in the slightest disappointed. I needed some exposure to Morgan Greer and Radiant before I came to feel that they should be a part of my family and have no regrets there. But Connolly was one I wanted from the first time I saw it, and now I can't wait to get rid of it. I agree with others about the differences in working for yourself and for others. When I read for others I feel most comfortable using a Rider type deck. But for myself, the Thoth style speak more clearly and deeply. I hope your deck speaks to you as clearly. Thea

Moonbow*	23 Feb 2004
Hi, I'm bumping this thread Bump Bump Bump I have been working through the book and deck doing the meditations - I know Thea Lynx was too. (are you still doing it?) I'm now on the 9 of Water. As yet I haven't done any readings and I don't intend to until I have meditated on the whole deck. I haven't even looked at the cards yet because I want to see them for the first time when I meditate. Just wondered who else is doing this or has done it. I'm finding it the most powerful meditation tool I have used yet, and I'm not new to meditating.

The Tarot of the Spirit thread was originally posted on 09 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.