Tarot of the imagination : still undecided

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Jun 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

samantha	03 Jun 2003
I posted something here about a month ago on this deck ...... and I'm still undecided about buying it .....and the deck is still in the shop ! It hasn't shifted , which is unusual.....unless I'm halucinating it . I really feel that this deck requires "free-fall" interpretation , and I'm just not sure if I could handle it ok. I'm worried that I will go off on some flight of fancy and never return . On the one hand it could be just what I need , but then again.... I'd like to hear from anyone who made the transition from systematic/analytical/intuitive readings to something which requires you to tap into the sub-conscious more .

truthsayer	03 Jun 2003
i'm not sure i understand what you mean in your post. in my honest opinion, i think the deck is too high on reality. some of the cards depict some scenes of war that bother me. it's a far cry from the hello kitty! tarot or tarot of transformation. i think you can give it a try without floating off into never neverland. i know it's one of riccardo of lo scarebeo's favorite decks. i really think you should give it a try if you feel drawn to it. look at some scans of the cards themselves to see if you still feel attracted. for me it's impossible to know if i'll like a deck by looking at it. i have to hold it in my hands.

Rusty Neon	03 Jun 2003
hi samantha ... I don't have the LS Tarot of the Imagination but had it on my wish list for a while. I'd say that even an RWS or RWS-inspired deck could be read in a manner to tap into the subconscious as well as be read in a systematic/analytical/intuitive manner. You wouldn't necessarily need the LS Tarot of the Imagination to do that. Even with RWS or RWS-inspired decks you can do this, but you have to be willing to let go of traditional or book-learned divinatory meanings in the process. However, having said this, it could possibly be easier to do so with the Imagination deck (because its pips don't have RWS meanings) or a tarot deck with non-picture pip cards such as the Tarot de Marseille, LS Ancient Italian Tarots, etc. However, the main concern (besides the art in some of the cards!) which I have about the Imagination deck is precisely that its pips don't have meanings referable to the RWS meanings. Although its cardmeanings are completely different from RWS, nevertheless there still are artist-intended meanings in the Imagination deck -- so the Imagination deck isn't completely free of third party influence. Thus, if you are looking for pip cards with no-one's predetermined meanings, the way to go may be a tarot deck with non-picture pip cards. Good luck in your choices.

Khatruman	03 Jun 2003
Quote: Originally posted by samantha I really feel that this deck requires "free-fall" interpretation , and I'm just not sure if I could handle it ok. I'm worried that I will go off on some flight of fancy and never return . On the one hand it could be just what I need , but then again.... Starts singing Tom Petty..."Free Fallin'" I think your inner debate says it all. Going off on some flight of fancy and never returning.... to what? I get the impression that you have determined meanings from your studies that have now been set in granite. The fact that this deck draws you, and that you begin to wonder, seems to be a subconscious urge to break free. The very name, Tarot of the Imagination, says it. I have this deck and yes, it is quite a departure from tarot traditions, whatever they may be. I don't use this as a reading deck, but it works well as a deck to stimulate my imagination and creativity in writing. If you come to it as a reading deck, you may feel frustrated. It may, however, be a good deck to break yourself free of your rigid structure. In my experience as a writer, you can fly great flights of fancy, but you do reach back to the ground. Be Icarus, and dare the sun... your wings won't melt...}) Why don't you let your favorite deck help you understand what to do? I wouldn't be surprised if you get a jarringly radical reading...:D

samantha	04 Jun 2003
Khatruman: " I get the impression that you have determined meanings from your studies. " The problem is that I am looking for "patterns" too often ( rather like the "golden triangle" theory in art.... where you can actually find a great many more than the artist intended !!) Sometimes being systematic can help .....notice the links , what is in excess, what deficient , what compliments , what opposes etc etc ....... I do allow myself to be guided by gut feelings and go with what is not shown , but rather felt......however, once I "feel" something to be true , I seek confirmation by posing a question and pulling another card !! (The security blanket !) Which is why I have a "(sub)-conscious urge to break free " !

The Tarot of the imagination : still undecided thread was originally posted on 03 Jun 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.