A Tribute Deck...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Oct 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Logiatrix	29 Oct 2003
This core of this topic was actually mentioned in another thread, by Majecot. Thank you, Majecot! :D There are no accidents, and to happen upon this idea when I did was Divine Guidance. All week, I've been thinking about my friend Nicholas, who killed himself four years ago on November 1st. He was 18 years old. I want to do something to memorialize him, like I've done before. Last year, I entered (and eventually won!) a poetry contest. He'd always bugged me about letting my writing be seen. The year before, I donated money to the Red Cross in his name, to fund aid for 9/11. On the first-year anniversary, I offered nothing. I just sat around and felt vaguely sad, mostly numb. I guess it was natural, but that's not a good way to cherish someone. That won't happen again. But this year, I want it to be just between me and him, and I want it to involve my love of tarot. I believe Nicholas gave me the gift of tarot. When he died, I was thrown into confusion. I thought I understood death. I had a grip I my own death, no problem. I knew people died. Sure...no problem. If I had been told, "Someone you love is going to kill himself," Nicholas would not have entered my mind as the one. I did not understand. When I don't understand, I turn to books. In almost every book I looked at on the subject of death, the Death card of the tarot showed up. In one book, the entire major arcana was shown to illustrate the tarot's version of the cycles in one's life, the Fool's Journey. I was incredibly fascinated with these images of the tarot. It was at Barnes & Noble, in search of a book, that I came across the tarot deck and book set by Sasha Fenton. I bought that tarot set, and that's how it all started... ***************************************************************************** I am going to buy a new tarot deck, in honor of Nicholas. If I was the avid and avarice collector I used to be, this would be just another excuse to buy a tarot deck! :D However, I don't collect anymore, and I intend for this deck to be very special. Now, I just have to choose the deck... If you wanted to honor someone or something with a tarot deck, what deck would you choose? Be it a happy tribute, or one more bittersweet, what would determine your choice of deck? Theme, mood, color? Please share this journey with me. Nicholas loved these kind of "what if" questions... ;) Peace, Tauni

Mimers	29 Oct 2003
Osho Zen deck is the first one that popped into my head, Tauni. Don't know why. The card numbered one called Existance, shows how grand the universe is, and all the stars remind me how we are all connected no matter where we are. Mimi

Kiama	29 Oct 2003
Maybe you could get a deck based on Nicholas' hobbies? For instance, if he was a Shakespeare fan, you could go for a Shakespearian deck. Kiama

truthsayer	30 Oct 2003
2 decks that i recently bought and consider special are the artists inner vision and the illuminated tarot by carole herzer. the AIV is by a group of artists who collaborated. you can get it at tarot garden. it comes in a set with a book that give a unique insight into tarot--it names movies that are like certain cards. the illuminated can be made to order to a point. you can get extra highlights added, a homemade bag of your choice, card backs of your choice and a card for the front of the bag of your choice. the cards are a recolored version of the rws and laminated. they shuffle nicely.

Logiatrix	02 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama ...For instance, if he was a Shakespeare fan, you could go for a Shakespearian deck... How very cool...when I read this, Kiama, it really clicked for me. My friend loved drama in high school; it really took him "out of his shell," so to speak. So now, I must thank you, Kiama! I am now the humble owner of a "Shakespeare Oracle," in honor of Nicholas. It is already very special to me, though I have only given it a cursory perusal thus far. I already know it's a keeper, though, with an enthusiastic thumbs up from Nick! ;) Thank you, all, for your guidance in this endeavor... Peace, Tauni :)

Majecot	05 Nov 2003
Tauni Thank you. My brother Gary was a mere 40 years old when he died of cancer, and I miss him everyday! It has been 12 years now, October 16th, the most difficult day of the year for me, every year. I tend to shop when I am sad or depressed, and every year, on that day, without quite realizing it I make purchase that connects me to him in some way. I go home and take my new prize out of the bag, and then it hits me. Gary would have loved this... then I cry a little bit, and I put it away for the next time I need to be close to him. This year was no different, I was not thinking of what day it was, and I had been looking at Haindl Tarot on line, thought they were interesting, but not my usual style. On my way home from work the shopping urge struck, and off to the book store I go. When I came home with my new prize, I was excited "Guess what I got today?", I open the deck and of course the first card I see is the Fool, and I think what possesed me to buy a deck with such a meloncholy Fool. I looked at the cards and thought Gary would have loved these, then I realized what day it was, and cried a bit.. then I put them away... I don't think I can ever read these cards. They will be put away with the other things that Gary would have liked. Buy something your friend Nichloas would have liked.

Logiatrix	05 Nov 2003
...for sharing. {{{{{{{Majecot}}}}}}} :)

The A Tribute Deck... thread was originally posted on 29 Oct 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.