Certain themed decks...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Vita-morte	17 Aug 2003
Am I the only one here who has formed an aversion to certain themed decks? I'm not talking about ALL themed decks, just the ones that seem to focus too much on one element. I'm looking around for a second deck for myself and one for a friend and I've just noticed how common a problem this seems to be. What do you think?

Elle	18 Aug 2003
I saw the Baseball Tarot Deck and I thought it was comical yet obscene. I am sure everyone has their favorites. I am drawn to Medieval decks, yet I love my Victoria Regina (and she love me, I think). Some decks stray too far from the Rider-Waite, which just serves to confuse me, but that is not uncommon! I love the Parrott deck for the colors (I love the Fool in this deck), but I think I am not good enough to read with it. I would just look at the pictures. Sorry if I rambled. Hope I answered at least part of your question. Warmest, Elle

truthsayer	18 Aug 2003
an aversion to certain deck themes--interesting question. for me i don't think it is certain deck themes as much as it is decks that feel "empty-headed" to me. the art could be bad or good. i don't mean decks that are air-headed but compensate by being lovely like the transformational. i mean decks that feel created purely b/c there is a market for tarot decks or the creator is testing out interests in graphic design.(not that that isn't a noble pursuit--i'm studying graphic design }) ) but tarot isn't studied to give the deck card by card sincerity. for example, the adrian or the olympus decks. the adrian is a great graphic design but i pick up nothing from it like it has a great body but no brains. does that make any sense? i'll give more thought to aversion to certain kinds of decks. i think right now i would have to say i avoid decks that look too gothic but then i have such decks in my collection and love them. \o/

HudsonGray	19 Aug 2003
They can be ok (I'm thinking of an Egyptian one I like), or they can be blah, depends on the deck. The unicorn deck didn't do much for me at all, and the Cat People tarot was unreadable (gave it away after a few years, just couldn't get it to work for me). It's all subjective I think.

Aun	19 Aug 2003
Try the Robin wood deck, if you dont have it already. It's a beautiful deck, with easy symbolism, yet faithful to the Waite style.... just a suggestion :-) Peace, Aun

WolfSpirit	19 Aug 2003
I don't have an aversion against themed decks, but there are some that I would never buy or only buy because they were fun to have in my collection, as they are unsuitable for reading. I often find it fun to look at these decks but some I more consider a joke than actual tarot. Although I do take tarot very seriously, I can still appreciate someone making a deck on a silly theme, it can still be funny imo, it does not make me think less of the "real" decks. I think some people actually use the baseball tarot for reading...I myself like the Vision Quest (native american) and the halloween tarot - I can get really good readings with the halloween ! Themed decks I don't like...I used to have the art nouveau deck, I loved the way it looked but I could never read with it and traded it away. Many decks by lo Scarabeo are themed and look nice, but when I try to use them I just don't get anything from them. But I know some people just love these decks.

truthsayer	19 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by WolfSpirit I think some people actually use the baseball tarot for reading.... that would be my husband the baseball freak. i bought both of the baseball decks for him. he's clueless about tarot but he can define individual baseball tarot cards just on baseball knowledge. i can't read them but i'd bet he could do a reading w/o a tad of tarot knowledge with them. as a theme deck, imho, it's one of the better ones.

VGimlet	20 Aug 2003
Yep, there are certain themed decks that have left me cold, that I thought I would love. The Unicorn deck. Both dragon decks. Others love them, but for me, they were....bleh. I agree with how you put it Truthsayer, for me they are empty-headed. On the other hand, although I don't read with it often (because I save it for special things) I love my Rock & Roll deck. I knew I had to have it the moment I saw the pictures of it here. And it was one of the few decks that I "got" right away. I didn't have to spend a lot of time with them to feel comfortable reading with them. And I like the baseball tarots too. My husbands friends, who are sports crazy, totally "got" them,

mercenary30	20 Aug 2003
As much of a fan as I am of J.R.R. Tolkien, I really could not relate the the LOTR deck that I bought. It was my first deck. I gave it to my daughter after I replaced it with my Visconti Tarot.

The Certain themed decks... thread was originally posted on 17 Aug 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.