Tarot of Transformation: Advice

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Khatruman	15 May 2003
Need some quick advice from you tarotists out there. I am seeing a good price on the Tarot of Transformation and wanted to ask you opinions on the deck. Possible reservations: *Too "touchy feely"? *Creators not tarot informed ? *Too feminist? I want something introspective. Good for intuitive reads, helping stimulate creativity, etc. Help... :D

Keslynn	15 May 2003
Good price...? Where? :) Kes

Astraea	15 May 2003
Khatruman, my reservations about this deck are precisely the three you mention, though many people like it a great deal. I looked at a demonstration deck at my local metaphysical store, and did not feel compelled to buy it -- remarkable, for a raging tarotholic! Have you seen Soul Cards I and/or II? I find that they are wonderful for introspective, intuitive, creativity-stimulating reading.

RiccardoLS	15 May 2003
Tarot of Transformation by Arnell Ando?

Khatruman	15 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by RiccardoLS Tarot of Transformation by Arnell Ando? Sorry, no, it is not that one. It is a newer one by Jasmine Lee Cori and Willow Arlenea. One is a psychologist, the other an artist. From reviews I have seen, it seems to state that neither of the two have extensive tarot knowledge and used it more as a form than as a study.

Khatruman	15 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Astraea Have you seen Soul Cards I and/or II? I find that they are wonderful for introspective, intuitive, creativity-stimulating reading. I've heard the Soul Cards mentioned, but haven't looked into them. Thanks for your observations.

Khatruman	15 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Keslynn Good price...? Where? :) Kes I hesitate to say while I am making a decision, but, ohh, heck..I will... They are on overstock.com for about $23.

raeanne	15 May 2003
Hi all, Personally, I found the artwork very compelling! (Yes, I also have Soul Cards.) If the price is good and you don't mind some of the tarot meanings being a bit off, you might like it. I haven't used the cards much yet since I just got mine a couple of weeks ago. I think they will work very well for meditation and pathwork. Keep in mind that if you get this deck at a good price and then don't like it, you can always offer it for trade!

Astraea	15 May 2003
Hi, Khatruman. I'm sorry I had to leave the forum earlier, before posting a link to Wicce's review of the Soul Cards -- we are having thunderstorms and l had to get off the computer in a hurry. At any rate, here's the link: http://www.wicce.com/soulcards.html Enjoy the Tarot of Transformation -- that really is a good price. :)

truthsayer	15 May 2003
i really like the tarot of transformation. i do think it tends to be geared more towards women. there are lots of pretty purples. nice study deck. sort of airy fairy-ish. lee traded it to me b/c it was too feminine for him. it's not openly male hostile like the motherpeace or daughter's of the moon or wild woman.

Hedera	16 May 2003
Yes, I like it a lot, too, and I think it would be excellent for introspection, storytelling, etc. I don;t find it too feminine; a lot of the figures are faily ambiguous. In some ways, it reminds me of the Tarot of the Spirit, I think because of all the geometrical shapes. There is a more to see in this deck, though; animals, pixies, etc. A very unusual and interesting blend of eastern and western symbology, that I think works remarkably well. One caveat though: the cardstock of the deck I have is really weird, very thin and flexible, sort of floppy. Because the cards are rather large, this makes shuffling them quite hard. I'm constantly worried one of the cards might get bent. A couple of them already have a sort of crease in them, even though I have been very careful with them. Edited to add: The deck which the Tarot of Transformation really reminds me of, is the Margarete Peterson tarot. That one is a lot more tradional (in a Thoth-kind of way), and has more 'negative' (at first sight) cards, though.

Namaste	31 Mar 2004
I just bought the Tarot of Transformation over the week-end. Although the cards were very expensive up here in Canada (I mean very expensive), when I picked them up, I just couldn't put them down again. I was not disappointed when I looked through them, and the accompanying book, at home. I truly believ they will be very good for self-discovery and difficult questions, although I confess that I love my Osho Zen with a passion, and turn to it every day for spiritual guidance.

13thFaeChylde	30 Apr 2004
I LOVE THIS DECK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I received it as a surprise!! Sent a friend a check for $8 for her Hanson-Roberts deck and book, and got the Transormation as well :) I love her, what a great friend! Needless to say, I haven't been able to spend any time with the HR ;) I don't find it overly feminist, but will probably use it only for myself. It just seems like it wants to be my personal deck.

Dark Inquisitor	30 Apr 2004
I recently got the Tarot of Transformation as well. The artwork is beautiful , and does center more on the feminine. I think it is going to be very different from working with regular tarot though, and may require seeing things in a new way. So far I have done a bit of skimming of the book, and I thought the idea of the suit of wands correlating with chakras was very interesting. I do agree about the floppy cards though - they seem sturdy enough, but strangely scary to shuffle. Tarotphelia

Star Spirit	04 May 2004
I adore this deck. It's wonderful. Nothing could change my mind. Nothing!! :D

Dark Inquisitor	04 May 2004
I have done 2 readings with this deck now, and I am highly impressed !! The strict adherents to traditional tarot will probably want to put this deck more in the oracle category , since so many of the cards have diverged from the standard meanings and depictions . However, looking at it another way, this deck is putting a whole new light on things too. I think it really gives some sharp psychological insights and excellent advice. Tarotphelia

13thFaeChylde	07 May 2004
I took this deck into the garden with me yesterday afternoon, and had a wonderful time. I did a 4 card reading about whether I should attempt to go to Spain next month ~ the very next calendar month, June ~ to see my lovely girlfriend. OR...should I stick to our original plan and go see her in Bali in September. I was quite conflicted, b/c I miss her dreadfully, and June is nearer to us than September....but the cards told me to get out of this conflict, to incubate, and let our trip and time together not be so rushed, but planned and savored. The last card I pulled was Kosmos (Universe or World card) which I like to think of as a "travel" card!! Also, Kosmos confirms that our trip will happen, it will be bringing 2 people from different parts of the world together. I felt so relieved afterwards, emailed my g/f and and she said she prefers Bali and will help get me there (plane fare). I really really love my new deck :)

starsongs	08 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Dead Star I adore this deck. It's wonderful. Nothing could change my mind. Nothing!! :D LOL..I agree, Dead Star :D

Star Spirit	09 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by starsongs LOL..I agree, Dead Star :D Yay! Go us.

FaerieStorm	09 May 2004
The colors and flowing shapes are gorgeous. The court cards are rather hard to interprete at times, and, like many people have mentioned, it does sometimes stray from the more traditional meanings. But it is a terrific deck for spiritual development. Frankly, I do not see why people find it to be overly feminine. To me, the femininity lies in the intuitive nature of the deck, rather than the artwork.

13thFaeChylde	10 May 2004
I've never been able to "step into" the cards with a deck before I got this one. The scenery is very evocative of dreamscapes, or at least to me they are. And the fact that the people have no faces allow me to see who they are in relation to me....I can put my own faces on them and know who is in my reading. That's why I don't think I could read for others with this deck, it's too personally attuned to me. Ever since I received it two weeks ago, I've carried it with me everywhere.

Jewel	17 May 2004
I just received this deck from a very dear friend, and although I have not worked with it yet I have looked through it very very carefully. If I had to sum the deck up in one word it would be "GORGEOUS", that it has a faerie from Brian Froud's Faeries Oracle in the Justice card just makes me love the deck even more *LOL*. I did not perceive the deck as masculine of feminine when looking through it, however after reading this thread the only thing I can think of that might make people perceive as feminine are the pinks and purples ... other than that I would have to say the deck has more dream and subconcious qualities than anything else. Khat, if you have not made up your mind on this one yet, I think you might really like it. I bet you could really get your students going with cards from this deck.

Frank Hall	28 May 2004
I got this one recently with a discount at Borders books.I too asked myself if it were too swirly feminine but the excellent book makes it clear that it's a healing artform intended,more like yin or tao than biassed .I've worked with it meditatively,with the book,and I'm convinced that it truly is a healing guide--another Tarot success story,though the cards are a little thin.

Nevada	28 May 2004
Sorry for shouting, but I do adore it. Very introspective and, as someone else here said, dreamlike. Not feminine, necessarily, though it may appeal more to women simply due to the colors and the style of artwork. It's a great tool for self-work, meditation and creativity. I've read for others with it, but my favorite use is simply to draw a single card and mull over it for days. The images are rich in meaning. Nevada

The Tarot of Transformation: Advice thread was originally posted on 15 May 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.