Phantasmagoric Theater?

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Sobeknofret	25 May 2003
Anybody else have this deck? Opinions, please? I can't seem to find any reviews of this deck anywhere. I've never seen or heard of this deck before today, but it looked so insane and wild and wonderful that I bought it on a an impulse. The art is pretty wild-- reminds me strongly of Nightmare Before Christmas, which is a favorite movie of mine. But it's BIG! -- only a fraction smaller than the large Thoth deck. Reading through the LBW, it seems as though the characters on the cards tell a story, and although the actual "meanings" section is slim, the stories themselved give a great deal of insight into the cards. Oooooh, these cards actually make me really happy, lol! --Sobe

Hedera	25 May 2003
Yes, I know it and like it, although I never use it. It's Maan's favourite deck, maybe you could ask her about it? I think I have seen a couple of reviews, I'll go see if I can find them.

Hedera	25 May 2003
Here's one review: http://www.tarotpassages.com/phantas.htm and another: http://www.tarotpassages.com/phantasmagoricgav.htm both from Tarotpassages. I love looking at this deck, it reminds me of the Nightmare Before Christmas, as well. I have tried reading with it (I keep trying, because Maan keeps encouraging me ;) ), but I just don't understand what it's telling me. How wonderful that they make you so happy - they always make me smile, too! Just the right mixture of cute and (slightly) creepy. Would you let me know how it works for you in readings? Edited to say: found another review http://www.wicce.com/phantasmagoric.html Most people seem to like it. A pretty unusual deck to just run into, though! You must have been to a shop with an interesting tarot collection. ;)

Khatruman	25 May 2003
I guess this is one of those "I just don't get it" decks. I love the name of the deck, and the idea of phantasmagoria, but this deck leaves me flat. I love Nightmare before Christmas, but I don't see it here.. I just see Charlie Brownish, big headed cutesy art that doesn't offer any chills at all. Same goes for the Halloween tarot. To me, good nightmarish images come from the Bosch tarot. Ahh, well, some tastes just don't translate..*L*

Melvis	25 May 2003
Now isn't this interesting? I don't get any feeling of cool creepiness from this deck, although 'cute' is definitely a word I would use. I do love it, though! I like it because there's a theater theme on a lot of cards, as though the characters pictured are performers themselves who are putting on a show for you. Reminds me of high school drama club, so for me it seems kind of nostalgic. I guess I'm really anthropomorphizing the characters, because to me they just seem so...earnest. And sweet. Or maybe I'm just weird! :rolleyes: Maybe Maan understands what I'm talking about! :D Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Faerie Lin	25 May 2003
This is one of my fav decks! I adore the characters and suit themes. The characters surely are cute, but some of them also have that "I'm cute but I'm also psycho, so watch out." feel to them. Latex and bondage and gas masks on cartoon characters, rag doll puppets, stitched up mouths and button eyes, I love it! The 2 of Cups card is so dang.... cute. I know Maan, Rostie and Molly have this deck... haven't seen Molly in a while though.

Astraea	25 May 2003
I love this deck, but I also understand why some people might not -- the characters are drawn in an extreme style that doesn't appeal to everyone. I love the artwork and colors and mood of the deck, which can seem light and zany, but together speak to the depths of human nature -- a great combination, IMO.

Maan	26 May 2003
OO a thread about my favo deck!!! Its is such a great deck..to some a little creapish but its really a nice and straight deck. It tells you how it is! The LWB is very good. In contains stories about al the cards. Almost each individual has its own name. This makes it easier to communicate with this deck. The cards are a little big but you will get use to that. The first look at this deck it could seem as a joke but you can really get serious readings with it. And the artist who created it obviously knew the tarot before he started this project and he has put in a lot of new insights in the cards. O and be sure to check out the four of cups in the LWB. Its a real AHA card...for me anyway.I just love Polly...she thought me alot about myself. I hope you will get to love it asmuch as i do But if the cards are already making you happy you will surely get on with them! Love Maan PS Hedera you SHOULD read with it..but you keep forgetting to read the LWB...tsssk , i promiss if you read that it will work for you too ;)

Kiama	26 May 2003
I love this deck too... It is very cute, but not in a sweetness-and-light way which some people have a problem with. *I hear Divinerguy coughing 'Robin Wood'* ;) I do think it has that Nightmare Before Christmas thing going on too, but in places some of the pictures remind me of some rather dodgy sex acts... At first, I thought the deck was shallow, but when I looked at it a bit more, noticed more meaning in it. An interesting deck for a collection no matter what! :D Kiama

Sobeknofret	26 May 2003
Wow, almost every one seems to be enthusiastic about this deck! I really love it better the more that I work with it. It is cute in a psycho sort of way, but not at all as light and fluffy as I feared it to be (gods preserve me from the Robin Wood school of sugary art), and I agree with Kiama that some of the cards look like set ups for kinky sex. Looooove that Empress card! I usually judge my decks by the Empress card, as it's my soul and personality card, and I must say THAT'S the kind of Empress I wanna be! Now if I can just find the spiky boots and the whip... And Maan, I am Polly in the Four of Cups! Down to the blond hair and the aimless sketching (except I usually write)! Wow, what a powerful and pointed card that one is for me also. Love that card too. I have yet to try and read with it, but I'll go for it sometime this week, after I've read the LWB more thoroughly. This deck really deserves it's own full sized book. Thanks so much to all of you for the input! --Sobe

Maan	26 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Sobeknofret And Maan, I am Polly in the Four of Cups! Down to the blond hair and the aimless sketching (except I usually write)! Wow, what a powerful and pointed card that one is for me also. Love that card too. OOO nice to meet you Polly....i feel like Polly too most of the times..and i DO sketch al the time. Quote: Originally posted by Sobeknofret This deck really deserves it's own full sized book. --Sobe I think so too. I wish the artist or us games would realize that! Good luck with getting to know this deck! Love Maan

rostie	27 May 2003
here some earlier threads about the deck from aeclectic, maybe this can boost your enthousiasme still higher ;) http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=13366&highlight=phantasmagoric+theater http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=9539&highlight=phantasmagoric+theater http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=8499&highlight=phantasmagoric+theater http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=4904&highlight=phantasmagoric+theater http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?threadid=2879&highlight=phantasmagoric+theater btw: this is one of my most favorite decks!!! i don't use it very much lately (*shame on me*) but i still LOVE it!!! it's so special, i just love the art, very well done and an wonderfull lwb...it brought me closer to tarot... with love, sara.

Little Baron	22 Jul 2003
The enthusiasm here has got me all excited and I have pulled the deck out to re-establish a connection. And I have. It's weird how we all love it but not all of us read with it. I think that a more in depth book would be good as well. I am going to try and read with this one again. Does any body use this deck and rely completely on intuition? I love that they all have their own names, like Tom Tom, for example - what a lovely little mischievous face. Look forward to hearing more and unravelling more about this deck. Yaboot

Maan	22 Jul 2003
I'm glad you did Yaboot, this deck is far to nice to lay around gathering dust. And as an answer to your question....i now use it almost soley on intuitian...but i think thats cause i almost know the LWB by heart ;) I think you really need the LWB with this deck. Unlike most this deck's LWB is a little jewel. Love Maan

Little Baron	22 Jul 2003
Hi Maan Thanks for the reply. *Thought I would delve into this a bit deeper. From what I read on these threads, you are the authority on the Phantasmagoric!* Take Tom Tom for example (he is my favourite, I think). I have read all about him in the LWB. Maybe this a bit of a silly question from a 'reader' but what plays on your intuition with this card generally, disregarding spread positions etc? I am obviously drawn to the spikes and their prickly danger. There are the pins in the table top, the toys, the spade, the crown and the sword. Are the toys stolen. A pin is casually sticking from the bear - did Tom Tom really need or want this or did he take it because he knew he was stronger and could? Could the train signify movement as boats do in other decks. The pink clothing is what pulls me into this image, as well as the contrasting eyes. What kind of significance do those colours have? Also, his arms are very thin. With the sword on his top, do you think that maybe this card is more to do with a 'mental' manipulation, rather than a physical? I hope you don't mind me asking so many questions. Because there is so little written about this deck, I am just interested to know how someone who spends a lot of time with it, reads it. Any pointers??? Thanks Maan Best wishes Yaboot *This deck is SOOO not like any other*

Little Baron	22 Jul 2003
Apologies for starting a new thread. I had replied to another, I thought, but must have clicked the wrong button. Yaboot

Maan	22 Jul 2003
O i don't mind at all, but i hardly feel an authority..i'm just dabbeling around like everyone else What speaks to me the most in Tom tom are the sweet expression on his face in comperison to the spikes on his elbow's. To me that speaks not only of brute force...because he's phisically stronger but also of his manipulating skill's The fact that he has his hands covering his head like he know's he is doing things wrong and expecting punnishment. he can seperate right form wrong, good from evil. The facts that he still steals toys might suggest..to mean that is...in certain readings that although he is behaving pretty badly he is a child and his actions are not mean in the core. well that's just some rambelings form me about Tom tom. I haven't gotten him in quite a while....a few month's ago i got him almost weakly....i must have learned something cause he went away ;) Love Maan

Little Baron	22 Jul 2003
Hi Maan I had thought that I had replied to you in this thread but clicked the wrong button. The new thread is called 'Yaboot consults Mann', which is where I have asked you some wuestions about the Phantasmagoric Knight of Swords. **Moderators - apologies - pop the other thread under this one if it is in the wrong place - cheers!* Yaboot

Little Baron	22 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Maan The facts that he still steals toys might suggest..to mean that is...in certain readings that although he is behaving pretty badly he is a child and his actions are not mean in the core. I very much like that idea. I hadn't considered it that way before but will give it some more thought. Thanks Yaboot *If you are not getting Tom Tom a lot these days, who is passing through the most regularly?*

Forum Library > Tarot Decks Threads By Month > Phantasmagoric Theater?

Originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 May 2003, and now part of the Forum Library. Take part in active threads about Tarot Decks.