New deck - Tarot of the Cat People

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Jul 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Trogon	24 Jul 2003
Well... I've suffered yet another minor bout of tarotholism. ;) On my way home from work yesterday I got the urge to stop by the local used-book store. Went to the New Age section and found a Tarot of the Cat People! Woo hoo!!! :D I guess I was meant to get this deck... this is the second time I've seen it at this store - the first time, I had looked through the cards and decided to think it over. The deck was gone when I went back. This time, when I saw the deck I didn't wait - can't deny that tarotholic urge... Anyway, the reason I had hesitated the first time was because much of the imagery seemed so very different from what I was used to. I wasn't sure how well I'd be able to "connect" with the imagery used and how well I'd be able to use the deck (for readings for example). However, having really looked at these cards, I really think that they will work for me. The paintings by Karen Kuykendall are, in many instances, very different from the RWS based images I'm most used to. However, she has put a great deal of feeling and meaning into the pictures. Some of them are very different, such as The Sun, while still carying the same meaning. Others are almost identical, such as The Tower. Most of the Minor Arcana also have illustrations which differ quite a bit from the RWS Minors. But, I think that having expanded my exposure to several different decks now, has helped me get along with these cards very quickly. Anyway... all of that aside, how the heck could I pass up a Tarot deck, with cards in excellent condition, and only some wear on the box? Especially at only $7.50 (U.S.)! ;)

Astraea	25 Jul 2003
Trogon, how exciting! What a rush it is you to find yourself face-to-face with a deck you don't have (or even one that you do!) -- and at $7.50, it would have been criminal not to give those kitties a good home! Enjoy your deck.

Lee	26 Jul 2003
I agree about this deck! It's one of my favorites. It really has its own mood and casts its own spell. I also recommend the book, it's fascinating. -- Lee

truthsayer	26 Jul 2003
okay, you guys have convinced me that i've got to get my deck out of storage and spend some time with it. i just posted the other day how this deck would be a fascinating tarot world to visit. karen kukendall?(sp) had to be a fascinating person. recently when i went to arizona to see the grand canyon, i remember reading about how she lived alone in the desert painting. it made it easier how she imagined the worlds of the cat people. time to get it out again for a study. i haven't read the book yet either so now that i've finished reading the latest harry potter i feel free to indulge in another book.

Lee	26 Jul 2003
Thanks to Trogon for reminding me of this deck, you inspired me also to get it out of the closet. Truth, you're in for quite an adventure! Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure the book is really necessary if you want to read with the deck. I like science fiction anyway, so I enjoyed it, and it does help if you want the figures to be set in a specific world. For instance, for many of the Majors, the cards refer to very specific legends and cultural practices of the Cat People, and it's fun to know what they are. But, on the other hand, the cards are so atmospheric that you can create your own world with them. And the LWB is an unusually good one, it does contain a lot of what's in the book sections which deal with the cards themselves, and basically lacks most of the background stuff. My main beef with this deck is that the book has lots of wonderful details which aren't pictured on the cards. Maybe this time around I'll forego the book and just play with the cards and make up my own stories. Despite the whimsy of the way the cats are drawn, I think this is a very serious deck, a rather somber, quiet, and private deck, an effect which is perhaps helped by all the black on the cards. It's a great deck for when you really want some privacy to go into your own head. -- Lee

divinerguy	26 Jul 2003
Despite the fact that my Tarot illness will compel me to buy this deck, I groan whenever I see it. I'm reminded of a Jack In The Box TV commercial last year, in which they featured a fictitious TV show called, "Cat Chat." The faux hostess dressed up her cats in costume (tuxedos and cocktail dresses) and had a tea party with them. If the viewer failed to purchase Jack In The Box hamburgers, the narrator threatened to broadcast Cat Chat 24 hours per day.

Macavity	26 Jul 2003
Yes, it's nice to look at this deck again. The book (with much longer!) descriptions and introductory matter is indeed MOST useful. The author changes and even "improves" (imo) on some RWS imagery. Rarely is there no "hope" in these cards. (Even the Ten of Swords!) Some meanings are quite fun: Three Pentacles (aka "work") as a cat juggling... Reflecting the amount of work needed to achieve such a spectacle? :D Some are quite evocative - I don't look for too long at the Five of Pentacles :( ... Unless I imagine the poor old mog as "on the mend" ;) Macavity

Trogon	27 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer recently when i went to arizona to see the grand canyon, i remember reading about how she lived alone in the desert painting. Whaaat???? You came to northern Arizona and didn't look me up or let me know you were coming??? I'm hurt! ;) Heck, if you'd only driven a few miles... (okay... a hundred or so) out of your way, I would've bought you a cup of coffee. I have been pleasantly surprised by this deck. It definitely does put a few new twists to the usual RWS imageries and is giving me some new points of view. As for the book... this is funny... I've been seeing the book at this same bookstore for a couple of months now... naturally, when the deck showed up, the book was gone! :rolleyes:

truthsayer	27 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Trogon Whaaat???? You came to northern Arizona and didn't look me up or let me know you were coming??? I'm hurt! ;) Heck, if you'd only driven a few miles... (okay... a hundred or so) out of your way, I would've bought you a cup of coffee. we actually were on a trip to las vegas but i insisted to my husband that we take a break from gambling and take this bus trip to the grand canyon. we didn't rent a car but if we had driven to arizona there are a few aeclectians i'd like to check in with including you.

Trogon	28 Jul 2003
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer we actually were on a trip to las vegas but i insisted to my husband that we take a break from gambling and take this bus trip to the grand canyon. we didn't rent a car but if we had driven to arizona there are a few aeclectians i'd like to check in with including you. Well, you're welcome anytime. So is anyone else from Aeclectic for that matter... :D Hope you had a lot of fun on your trip. Did you get to see any of the condors at the Grand Canyon when you were there? Magnificent birds...

The New deck - Tarot of the Cat People thread was originally posted on 24 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.