The Black Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Frequency	14 Aug 2003
This deck has interested me since I saw it... I was wondering what forum users thought of it. Espescialy those of you that own it. How accurate is it? How do you like the card interpretations? Thanks.

catlin	15 Aug 2003
MM, I have to admit that I still haven't used it as I was reluctant to do so (it was oop in Germany and I prefer using decks which I can replace after some years when the cards look too worn). Now it is again available here so I might give it a try. It should be designed to answer sexual related questions LOL

Kiama	15 Aug 2003
I think this deck is more for collecting purposes than reading purposes... The Majors are beautiful, esp. if you are into that kind of art, but they don't really relate to the card meanings that much. Minors are very disappointing, as they are not illustrated and very difficult to read. I love this deck as a collector's deck, but I found it almost impossible to read with, because the images just don't have anything to say. Pretty deck though. :D Kiama PS: Catlin, glad to see you're back! :*:*:*

Sullanciri2002	20 Aug 2003
I bought the Black Tarot because - next to other more spiritual reasons and my own nature - it brought me into the whole idea of tarot. I love the artwork, but the deck is next to impossible to work with: it takes a lot of work to find a connection between the meaning of the cards, and the image in the card. If you manage to find some special twist in the art, and can link that to your way of looking at (or understandig) the major arcana, of course that'll help to build an extra feeling for the deck ... but I haven't gotten further than half of the majors in that regard I fear the deck was made without too much real knowledge of the tarot - and that a much better deck could've been constructed if Royo had designed artwork specifically for each major arcana. Still, it's a great deck to look at, and for collectors. Or for those who really, really want a challenge at "working through" a deck.

mercenary30	20 Aug 2003
I have seen his artwork in the magazine Heavy Metal as well as on collectors cards. I actually have a complete set of one of the editions. It almost seems to me that some of the works on the tarot cards are the same as the collectors cards.....I will have to find my collection and check it out. If we want a tarot deck dedicated to sexually related querying, maybe we should get in contact with Olivia and she if we can get her to put one together... ;)

Osher	23 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I think this deck is more for collecting purposes than reading purposes... The Majors are beautiful, esp. if you are into that kind of art, but they don't really relate to the card meanings that much. Minors are very disappointing, as they are not illustrated and very difficult to read. I love this deck as a collector's deck, but I found it almost impossible to read with, because the images just don't have anything to say. I quite agree with this, very difficult to read with. However, what interested me was that it is Alida's top seller (a few days ago). Interesting.

contrascarpe	23 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Happiness I quite agree with this, very difficult to read with. However, what interested me was that it is Alida's top seller (a few days ago). Interesting. It has been Alida's top seller for quite awhile ..... Glad to see your take on this Hap as it has been on my wishlist. What makes it so difficult to read? Every day I find a deck I initially thought was hard to read (well, not EVERY day) but find myself reading well with it. Would love to know your opinion less I make a mistake and order it and have it sit with my "untouchable" decks. Thanks, Dan

Osher	23 Apr 2004
I would have to say Dan, that given what I know now, I would not buy this deck. Except that it is rather nice from an artistic POV, with some interesting sexual imagery.

contrascarpe	23 Apr 2004
Hap, thanks for that. I just ordered my first "erotic" deck, the Casanova (interestingly, my fiancee was interested in it ..... lucky me), so that was not my interest in this one. I was looking for another "dark" deck to go with my Vargo Gothic, and this seemed close. I appreciate that you saved me some money ...... now I am looking at the Soul Mandala, which won't save me that money, lol. Dan

Osher	23 Apr 2004
Good choice! The Casanova is IMHO the best of the erotics for reading with.

scorpio	24 Apr 2004
I just got this deck and despite the pips it has quickly become one of my favorite decks but i think this deck would be even more evocative if it were larger so i'm curious about mercenary30's collector cards, are they larger than the tarot cards? I saw them on ebay but no sizes were given, so if you see this M30 i would love to know more about the collector cards.

contrascarpe	05 May 2004
Well my fickle nature precedes me. Despite what I said earlier, I ordered this deck from Tarot Garden (see, I can justify it - I want to support my friend Jeannette!). It still appeals to me somehow - anxious to see it.

September Pixie	05 May 2004
The cards that are illustrated are breath taking.. there is nearly nothing on the pips.. just repetitive symbols for all the cards of each suit.. its VERY sad. Because of this, I find you cant really read it without the book unless you have prior knowledge of tarot and have the meanings down for each card.. its sad.. beautiful but sad. :( I have it and almost never use it.

13thFaeChylde	05 May 2004
I also have it and never use it.....and was so excited to get it. It was a big letdown.

contrascarpe	07 May 2004
OK, I have received it. And I agree - it is very disappointing. I can live with the pips for minors - that doesn't bother me so much. But what really bothers me is this: The deck itself is smaller than usual. No problem, only recently have I been drawn to larger decks. But in addition to them being so small, the border is TOO BIG. At my advanced age, when you have to squint to look at a card, then you know something is wrong. They ARE beautifully drawn. Even the pips are quite impressive. But the size disappoints me. Oh well, its not like I don't have another deck (or 50) to play with. I think it will be a good study deck however.

13thFaeChylde	11 May 2004
If there are any interested parties, I have this deck listed in the Trading forum.

tao51	08 Jul 2004
Indeed it may be used for sexually orientated questions (Cassanove may be better suited though) but I find it exceptionally useful for probing darker emotions. The illustrations are heart thumping! The pip cards are a let down but not a catastrophe! I also like to read decks that have these kind of cards. They keep the skills sharp! Posh! That was all we ancients had to read back when the decks were made from stone tablets! LOL--Tao

tao51	15 Jul 2004
Last evening, I used this deck to help someone understand her situation. This deck expressed her difficulties with her diet, someone at work, and a current relationship. The backs of the cards a mystical appearance as well.--Tao

The The Black Tarot thread was originally posted on 14 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.