moongarden

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ambrosia	23 Jul 2003
OK, so i use the tarot of a moon garden and i really love it. But when i have looked it up here i found a lot of negative feedback from people. So come on guys, surely you can think of some good things about this deck? positive feedback is welcome as i think it would be great to have some kindred spirits to talk to about this beautiful, inspirational and magical deck. Thanks.

Baby Owl	24 Jul 2003
I use this deck and enjoy it. The images are very imaginative, playful, and colorful and sometimes that is just what I'm looking for. It is easy for me to picture the cards as telling a fairytale in a reading. Do you have a favorite card? Baby Owl

Ambrosia	24 Jul 2003
thanks for your reply . i love this pack (even with the staves called staffs) LOL although i must admit i obsessed about that alot at first. my favourite cards would have to be the star, the moon, highpriestess, hanged man, hermit, temperance, empress, the lov...... oh geez i like pretty much the whole deck although i do have slight aversions to wheel of fortune, the chariot and most of the swords LOL what about you?

Maan	24 Jul 2003
I have this decks too. I don't use it much... but it reads good. It does not avoid negativity like some people seem to think of sweetly drawn tarot decks. And it has hidden depth's O and its a perfect deck to read with if your 'client' is a child. Good luck reading with it Love Maan

fairyhedgehog	24 Jul 2003
I like this deck, although I don't usually use it. I love the pictures and it reads fine. I got mine in a trade, and it has a lovely little bag made just for it. So for me I suppose it is mainly for collecting, but I do like it.

truthsayer	24 Jul 2003
ambrosia, please overlook any negative comments about the moongarden. i assure you that it has plenty of fans. people are always saying negative things about my beloved hanson roberts but words cannot detract from it's specialness to me. just remember, different strokes for different folks. you may dislike decks that enthrall them. i love the colors and images on the moongarden. there is a hint about rws about it but not too much. i find this deck works best as an intuitive deck. i like using it with children, teens or adults who are timid towards more realistic decks.

Baby Owl	24 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Ambrosia oh geez i like pretty much the whole deck although i do have slight aversions to wheel of fortune, the chariot and most of the swords LOL what about you? I like the cups and pentacles best in general. I love the way the pentacles seem to be drawn on bubbles. When I was little, I used to blow bubbles (with soap and a wand) and pretend there were separate little worlds inside the larger bubbles. Of the trumps I like The Moon and Wheel of Fortune a lot. Baby Owl

Logiatrix	25 Jul 2003
...there are plenty of us who appreciate the Moongarden! It is one of my favorite "regulars" and it definitely fits a certain mood for me that no other deck can fulfill (I like to call it my Purple Mood). My favorite card is the Moon, of course! Overall, this deck accomplishes what I believe the artist fully intended: it creates a whole Other-World of moonlit fantasy and beauty. I see a great deal of depth hidden behind all those bubbles and butterflies! Never in a million years would I have thought I'd actually favor a deck with unicorns and fairies in it, but here I am, gushing over the Moongarden! ;)

truthsayer	25 Jul 2003
i think the moon garden deck would be an interesting world to visit. just think about all those vivid colors and mythical/mystical creatures and people to visit with. eeeeeewwwwwwww! i think i want to take a tarot vacation there!

Ambrosia	25 Jul 2003
i quite agree it certainly looks very relaxing. and i also love the "purple mood" comment. purple is my favourite colour and when i bought the deck about three years ago there were no sample cards to look at so i had to go by the box. i was pleasantly surprised to find the deck was dominated by this very magical colour for me. someone else in this forum had another lovely description of this deck, it was "purple-icious" i like that.

Baby Owl	25 Jul 2003
Another "purple person" here. That was certainly an attraction for me when I bought the deck. Baby Owl

Red Emma	25 Jul 2003
It was the first deck I bought. In all innocense I thought, a deck is a deck is a deck. At the time I knew nothing about tarot. AT ALL! I didn't know where to look for authentic books, so it got lost in a drawer. I met a woman who got me started on Motherpeace, which I fell in love with. Eventually, the Moon Garden surfaced, and as I read with the two of them, I was put off by what I perceived as the harshness of the Moon Garden, and put it aside. Again. Then came several other decks: Goddess, Daughters of the Moon, Herbal, Southwest Sacred Tribes, Sacred Circle, Shapeshifter. As I gained experience and understanding, I finally was put off by the Motherpeace's "mealy-mouth-ness." Just now the Moon Garden is my favorite, my bread-and-butter-use-it-every-day for accuracy and insight. For myself, I've come to understand that specific decks meet my needs at a certain point in my life, and as I grow and change, so do my Tarot Deck preferences. Goddess Bless, Red Emma

genna	25 Jul 2003
I love the Moon Garden.It´s easy to read with and so beautiful,and I love it´s depth(for example;that the High Priestess is so traditional even if the picture is so special(my favourite High Priestess)).I alternate between it and the Fey Tarot at the moment(I find them very different).

Ambrosia	26 Jul 2003
wow you guys have made me feel so much better. Diana, i especially like your take on the swords which after reading your posts seems very similar to the way I see them. I say to hell with (lol) Waites take on the suit, use the meanings that have an affinity with you.

Lee	27 Jul 2003
I like this deck too, but my problem is, being a man, I'm embarrased to be seen with it! Now, isn't that silly of me? Just goes to show how deeply ingrained our cultural prejudices are. Sometimes when I'm alone in my room, I'll take it out and look at it, when I know no one is looking.. :P -- Lee

Maan	27 Jul 2003
LOL poor Lee Terrible thing this is. But aren't you being incedible manly by admitting it prooving that you are enormously barve? Love Maan

genna	27 Jul 2003
I agree with Maan.Only a man who is sure of himself would dare to use a "feminine"deck.Example;the toughest boy in school had a pink backpack,and pink bicycle gloves.

Lee	27 Jul 2003
Thank you, genna and Maan, you have restored my faith in my own manliness. The next time I do a reading for someone, I'm going to pull out my Moon Garden deck! -- Lee :)

Ruby Red Slippers	27 Jul 2003
Ambrosia: I love these cards. I acquired themthrough atrade here and used them to connect with my good friend that died. I know there are other threads here about this type of connection. After meditating and calling her to me I wrote the following story, using the story spread from Tarot passages. It was a profound experience for me, and I have not used the cards for another reading yet. Perhaps I will just keep them as my "special connection" deck. I just found out a very good friend of mine died of cancer 3 weeks ago. She died quietly, and not too many people knew she was sick. We lived very far from one another, but kept in touch over the holidays. I wanted a way to connect with her so I used this spread....relaxed and felt connected as she told me her "story" I loved my friend.....hug them all..they are precious and too soon gone! June 5, 2003 This is a story reading since my friend Kay has been keeping me up at night with thoughts of her...... Moon Garden deck The heroine of our story is Justice. She’s not blind, she sees with her inner eyes and “knows” her truth. Her name is Kathleen and she is not shy. Not only does she know her inner truth she speaks it. In this deck her sword is pointing down into the earth. So while she knows and speaks her truth, she never really means harm to anyone. She knows that it is not her job to execute Justice, people will do that for themselves, by the way they live their life. The moon surrounds her head like a halo, she’s not yet fully aware of how helpful she was to others during her earthly sojourn. But some earthlings will always remember her kindness, her encouragement as a mentor and a friend who understood that giving an opinion was what real friends do. Sugar coating was not what she is about. The direct approach is best, the consequences will take care of themselves. The story begins in the Garden of Souls, for she has passed over and is new to this Garden. She has picked the age and look she wants to be for this time. She tells us that this is an advantage of the Garden, you can choose your physical appearance. She is young, and exudes a lightness and confidence at the same time. She’s “weighing” her options at this time. It is hard to be a newbie in the Garden. She still can’t believe that she is dead. She “sees” her family and friends; perhaps better than she did before, but this perspective is new too, for she was so vocal before, never shy about speaking her opinion. Now no one can hear her. Well some will feel her presence, but that’s not really the same now is it? My, oh my, the Fool has come along again to visit. This is the fool of the Garden. Anything goes here and lo and behold, I have 3 legs. Now how is one supposed to walk with three legs? Instead of a “pack” for the journey, I have been given a net. How impractical, since whatever I catch cannot be kept. Who would want to capture butterflies anyway? Perhpa the challenge here is learn that baggage is light to non-existent. In my hand I hold a paint brush, can I paint my own picture? The golden moon is poised at the tip of the brush. Perhaps I am to learn to paint with moonbeams. Painting with moonbeams seems impermanent, and that is the way is it. Nothing really lasts forever. I never thought my life would be over so soon, or that my retirement would be spent in eternity. Well, perhaps I can paint a evening at the Jersey shore, and relax in the beauty of the moon over the ocean. The vastness looks different from this position. The feeling of the peacefulness of it all is even better from here. I am alone with my thoughts and am at peace with what was and is my life. So far there doesn’t seem to be any people here that will cause me aggravation, but this little dog trying to catch the tennis ball, may give me some grief and ruin my reverie. I’m coming across the eight cups. All of them seem to be overturned and empty. They are blocking the path. I wonder what is on the other side? It looks very dark and foreboding. The moon is but a sliver of it’s former self. I can see the face in the moon, by as a guide, he is not shinning too brightly. The darkness beckons me, and I know that I must go this route. No wine for the trip, just me and my gumption. It appears to be a gateway to something else, a path. It is so dark, and the moon is not giving me much light. I know I must step on this path and walk with faith that when the sun comes up I will be where I am supposed to be. Perhaps this is the part of the Garden called “Listen to your Heart”, and the path is known as “The Path with Heart”, because I really cannot hear anything else now. All I know for sure is, that there is no turning back, I know the path to this point and I am compelled to move forward. I’m on this dark path now, putting one foot in front of the other, not really sure where I’m going yet. The nine of Pentacles has come to mind to entertain me on my journey. I reminisce about the good times. I think about the wonder of the life I just left. Yes, it had its aggravations, but I also remember the wonderful feelings of material things. I loved beautiful clothes and jewelry, I loved getting dressed up as much as I loved cuddling in my chair in soft nightclothes to read a book. I loved warm blankets in the winter and the freedom of warming myself in the sun. I loved having pretty things around me including flowers to cheer my spirit. I loved the City and the church where I married and where my family came to say goodbye. I loved all the good things that money could buy and make my life comfortable. I had great hair. I could wear it long or short and it always looked good. I loved to cook and bake and the act of preparation, buying the food, warming the kitchen, smelling hot soup on the stove and pie in the oven, I can smell the divinity of it. It nurtured the senses as well as the body. Nothing better than a warm cozy kitchen on a dreary day to lift the spirits. I was comfortable. I may have wished for a bigger house but I was comfortable in my space. I wonder if these things will be at the end of this path? Uh oh, who is that sitting on his throne? Emperor of what? Man, you’re holding a crystal ball, but looking straight ahead. He looks foreboding at first, but I see a wise, kindly side also. He’s approachable. As I move closer, this part of the Garden seems to be alive behind him. He says to come closer. He calls me “His child”. I approach. We look in th crystal ball together. I am amazed. I see myself as a child playing on swings. The world is wonderful and I am happy. The scenes change very fast; I see my teenage years and the time I spent at the seashore with my brother. We had a grand time and life was full of promise. After collage, the world is rocked as I learn that I have uterine cancer at 29. How can this be? I am way too young. I realize through treatment that I will never have children. There’s Paul, the love of my life. It was okay with him that I could never have children. Our life together was good. We loved and shared so many things. We loved to cook and bake. Beautiful Saturdays spent in the kitchen, filed with our creations that nourished our bodies and our souls. My nieces loved Aunty Kay’s, sweets and outings. Paul gave me love and gave me room. He always respected my independence and I loved him for that. His love was freeing and enveloping at the same time. Not too unlike this wise man who sits before me now. I was the princess of Swords. I spoke my truth as I saw it. Yes, I was intolerant of the injustices I saw among my white-collar colleagues in the business world. But, needed to speak my truth. I see in the ball that by doing so, I helped others to speak their truth. Even the ones who disagreed with me, thought about what I said or what happened as a consequence. And I did have my “children” so to speak. Because I offered an opportunity to others when I was in positions that allowed me to do so. I offered a hand up to people who needed someone to believe in them. I can see how grateful most of them are and it makes me smile to see that I contributed to their development. My friend, Elizabeth, has just learned that I have died. She is happy and thinks of me often. I can see that she is so grateful for the friendship we shared. Through the ball, her soul lets me know how much she loved me as a friend. How I gave her confidence boosts, when hers was waning. Arielle Consultants was because I believed in her ability to do it. “No matter what, you know more than they do and your knowledge is valuable, don’t ever forget it, or let them make you feel it’s not.” “You have something special, whether others acknowledge it or not, always remember that.” I see now that we are part of the same community of souls that incarnated together. Our time on the earth plane was beneficial to us both. A part of me will live on in her heart forever. What will life be like here in the Garden of Souls? I guess I’ll find out as time goes on. For now I’m tired and refreshed all at the same time. So glad to be out of my body! The cancer that came back at the end through me for a loop. I’m glad I lived in a place where the drugs allowed me time between the worlds and the pain of the physical was numbed. I’m also grateful that few of my friends saw me like that. I want them to remember me in their minds eye. I can see that my friend, Elizabeth, thinks of me as beautiful. She loved my clothes and accessories. She loved the freedom with which I discussed everything. And she admired my independence. She is grateful for our souls meeting as it placed her in the position to allow the next step in her career and to meeting her husband. We shall share happiness through our souls connection. I’ll have to make sure, I go shopping with her sometime, and point out the pretty things to buy. Hum, I’ll have to get some advice on how to influence my earthly friends from this plane.

purplelady	27 Jul 2003
Well , for what it's worth, I like this deck! Though I haven't used it a lot for readings-yet. I don't recall thinking of it as "purple" , but I love the colors. I think of the colors as.......graduated pastels, or, "rainbow". I love how each card has all the colors , or many colors. R R Slippers- That sounds like a very special reading.

Ruby Red Slippers	27 Jul 2003
(((Purplelady))) It was Very Special. I'd love to work with this deck in this way some more, but am still in a reverie about the reading. I do like the deck and have it out on my table and just look at the cards sometimes. They are magical! Ruby Red Slippers

Ambrosia	28 Jul 2003
That was a beautiful story. I am sad for your loss. I am glad the moon garden helped you feel close to your friend. I am sure she is as happy and confident as she ever was. PEACE.

The moongarden thread was originally posted on 23 Jul 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.