Tarot of Prague - news and views

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

baba-prague	18 Sep 2003
I just wanted to give people the "heads up" that we will be reducing the discount on the set from around October 1st - not drastically though :-) Everyone seems to sell it at around 25 pound sterling (or dollar equivalent) and we did say we would only discount to 22.75 until around September. So - I suppose the time has come for us to also sell around 25.00 sterling. Anyway, I just wanted to give some warning on that. It won't be for another ten days or so (and maybe a bit later than that, depending on our web person). Hope this is okay with people - any feedback welcome. We think it's still very good value for the book and deck - we have always tried to keep the price down so that it's accessible. We will probably - here's the good news - think of some sort of Christmas offer to compensate in some way. Not really sure what yet Other good news is the new review by Diane Wilkes - http://www.tarotpassages.com/prague.htm We are also getting a full article in Prague Post (English language paper here). To be honest, I don't think that's as exciting news as Diane's review (and other tarotists reviews), but the journalist who interviewed us turned out to be knowledgable about tarot and it will be great to have an intelligent, considered article that people here in Prague can read. and... we really are going to get round to updating the website. There is some nice material waiting to go on there (among them some really good pieces of writing people have sent), but as ever it's hard finding the time. Warm wishes from a coolish Prague!

Astraea	18 Sep 2003
This wonderful deck is worth every bit of whatever you charge for it, and I'm so glad to hear that it's receiving attention in many quarters. I encourage anyone who hasn't seen the Tarot of Prague to go to the website and have a look -- it's even more beautiful in-person than it looks in the photos (which is the reverse of many of my experiences with scans v. decks).

Mimers	18 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Astraea This wonderful deck is worth every bit of whatever you charge for it, and I'm so glad to hear that it's receiving attention in many quarters. I encourage anyone who hasn't seen the Tarot of Prague to go to the website and have a look -- it's even more beautiful in-person than it looks in the photos (which is the reverse of many of my experiences with scans v. decks). I agree whole heartedly! I just ordered another to have when this one wears out. Can I add one small bit of info? Perhaps you could start sending it in sturdier packaging? When I received my first set, the envolope was almost entirely ripped open. If it weren't for the bubble rap, I would have surely lost it. Not ripped open like someone checked the package, just plain old beat up. Thanks! Mimers

baba-prague	19 Sep 2003
Hi, Many thanks for this information. I think (and hope) that yours is the first parcel that's had this happen, but we will think about putting more packaging on. It's useful feedback, and thanks for it - we need to know these things. Thanks too for the order for the second deck. It is turning out to be a real reader's deck, which is what we wanted. I think there is a lot in the cards that we are still discovering. I have told one or two people this week that someone very knowledgeable we were talking to in Prague said that he was pleased we depicted the mother of Libuse (the Celtic magician queen who founded Prague) in The Chariot. I was surprised and asked what he meant, and he said that people believe that she rides her chariot through the sky from the Castle to just in front of the Loreta (in other words, in almost exactly the place shown on this card) and there plunges it into a fiery opening in the ground. She is believed to do this in protest at Prague abandoning the pagan religion in favour of Christianity. I was stunned. Alex and I really do feel that somehow or other the city itself managed to take some part in the design of the cards. I think we have a lot to learn :-) Meantime, well, I hope that whether or not you know the historical and symbolic background, there are enough layers to support really in-depth and enlightening readings. Astraea - thanks too for your kind feedback. I hope the deck continues to be useful, and give pleasure.

Aerin	20 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by baba-prague I have told one or two people this week that someone very knowledgeable we were talking to in Prague said that he was pleased we depicted the mother of Libuse (the Celtic magician queen who founded Prague) in The Chariot. I was surprised and asked what he meant, and he said that people believe that she rides her chariot through the sky from the Castle to just in front of the Loreta (in other words, in almost exactly the place shown on this card) and there plunges it into a fiery opening in the ground. She is believed to do this in protest at Prague abandoning the pagan religion in favour of Christianity. Wow! That's synchronicity for you. Will you be putting some of these extra insights on the website at some point? I'm sure a lot of us who read with the deck will be adding tidbits like this to the book and it would be nice to have a kind of 'updates and insights' newsletter in one place. Aerin x, still loving the deck

Mimers	20 Sep 2003
I have to say again, what a wonderful deck this is. It is gorgeous and reads very easily. The symbolism is there which is important to me. I haven't felt this strongly about a deck since I received the Ancestral Path deck and these are the only two decks out of the 30 I own that I feel this conected and comfortable with. Those are the personal reasons I am so glad I bought this deck. Now let me say that the quality of this deck is outstanding. The cards are sturdy, yet not stiff and slippery. I think the matt finish you chose is great. It keeps the cards from sliding all over. The 'cover' that the cards come in is not just a cardboard cover. It is like a book cover for your deck. It will not wear out in months, and I have been carrying it around in my purse and there has been no wear and tear. I was concerned about cards sliding out of the cover, but this has not been an issue. The book also is of very good quality. The cover is almost plastic like. It will not tear easily or show creases. It was made to last. And Karen, the book you wrote is outstanding. The book contains very well explained meanings. Karen does not stop there. She goes into the history of all the pictures used in each card. This is not only extreamly interesting, but adds so much to the meaning of the cards. I knew nothing of this little city just a few months ago and now I find myself longing to go there. For those of you who do not care for photocollage decks, fear not. This deck does not look like a bunch of pictues thrown together (this can be beautiful too), but the pictures Karen and Alex use are put together in such a way that they all look like one scene. It is beautifully done. Karen, I am curious, most of the cards don't look like actual pictures. If you look closely, you can tell, but it is almost as if they are colored over. For example, on the Page of Cups, the city in the backround looks more like a painting then a photograph. The water also. How did you create this effect? It is a big part of what makes this deck so beautiful. Last but not least, the price is a steal! This is a very reasonable price for a deck of this quality. I definitely got my money's worth. Thanks Karen and Alex for your hard work and for concidering all the important aspects of creating a good deck. Mimers

Moongold	20 Sep 2003
The deck that I received had been opened and resealed by Australian quarantine officers LOL. I agree with everyone here. This is a very beautiful deck. It chats to you during readings.

truthsayer	20 Sep 2003
baba-prague, did you ever get my email about getting a copy of your deck while still at the lower price in september? i wanted to know if i can write a check-usd or use paypal with your system with the world bank. thanks.

baba-prague	20 Sep 2003
No, I don't think I did get the mail. Should I PM you? I'm usually good about answering all mail, but I may have missed yours - or it hasn't arrived. I'll PM :-)

Ruby Red Slippers	20 Sep 2003
baba-prague Am waiting for the post man to deliver my Jewel....... But since so many here have this deck now and you have more to add all the time.....Perhaps we could entertain the idea of a study group for this deck. What do you think??? Ruby Red Slippers

Mimers	20 Sep 2003
Ruby Red, when you suggested a study group, the first thing rolling through my mind was what things we could discuss about this deck. This may sound dramatic, but I thought, 'I can't discuss this deck, but I feel like I could write poetry on it'. I'm not a poet and I don't think I will start writing Tarot poems, but that is a clue as to how this deck works when you read with it. I would love to share more with others with this deck. Drop me a line when yours comes in! Mimi

baba-prague	21 Sep 2003
Mimers, I do know what you mean. I have to say again that Alex and I feel that we did this deck in collaboration with Prague. We realise more and more that Prague added things that we were not consciously aware of. Maybe we just tuned in well, or perhaps the place organised things its own way (there were some interesting coincidences when we found the right places/artwork at just the right moment, after ages of looking). The belief about Libuse's mother and the flying chariot is perhaps the most dramatic instance of there being things in the deck that we are unaware of (whoops - I almost typed "dreamatic" - maybe that's really what I mean) but there are others. I think we need to study this deck ourselves - okay that sounds funny, but I really do mean it. If you do start a study group, I would like to join in, but not in any "authoritative" way. I can, though, add what we find out (symbolism) as we find it out, but I think as far as reading with the deck is concerned, I have as much to learn as anyone. I may also be able to persuade Alex to take part. He has very much an artist's view of the deck, which is very intuitive and often very insightful - but he is rather aware of his poorish written English (his spoken English is pretty good) so he may not want to do anything directly. I can ask though.

zagone	24 Sep 2003
I just purchased this deck -- awaiting arrival eagerly! Yup -- study group! Let's do it. I suspect it might be a slow group given the relatively small number of people with this deck so far. But so what -- we can start one, and if it gets a post or two per week, over time we would still learn lots! -- Zagone

mercenary30	25 Sep 2003
I have a copy of ToP, it is my favorite deck. I would certainly join this group.

The Tarot of Prague - news and views thread was originally posted on 18 Sep 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.