Majors only deck recommendations

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 Oct 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Woof	25 Oct 2003
Need your help. I want to treat myself to a neat majors only deck that's readable, different and decent card stock. Any recommendations out there? Anyone have either Niki de Saint Phalle Tarot Cards or Gli Arcani del Porco? What are your favorite majors only decks? Thanks all! Woof

Diana	25 Oct 2003
Woof: A French tarologue, Joëlle Balle, who is also a dear friend, designed a deck called Le Tarot d'Or. You can see it and order it from the Tarot Garden website. There are two decks there - the first one is out-of-print - she had designed it mainly with children in mind (her daughter wanted to learn about Tarot, and Joëlle thought the Marseille deck was not really suitable for little children). She has now redesigned it for adults. It is a very very special deck. It is healing, magical and if you use it, it will bring much joy into your life. And Joëlle is a magical person herself and her spirit is embedded in the deck. (There is another deck on the Tarot Garden website called the Tarot d'Or designed by J.R.C., but it is an Oracle deck.) The Little White Book is only in French, but I translated it into English for Joëlle and Marion re-read my translation and suggested improvements, and the translation can be downloaded directly from Tarot Garden. I could also send it in a Word document to you if you wanted to, as I have kept it on my hard disk. A nice addition to this LBW is that Joëlle recommends gemstones for each card. I highly highly recommend it. Kaz, wavebreaker and Marion have a copy of it so they could tell you what they think of it. Edited to add: the card stock is wonderful, and the printing is of a very high quality. The cards seem to "shine".

Gerbear	25 Oct 2003
Diana said it all. Le Tarot d'Or is a wonderful deck and I'm sure you would be satisfied.

Diana	25 Oct 2003
Gerbear: do you actually have this deck????

Gerbear	25 Oct 2003
Yes, of course, on Jeannette's recommendation.

wavebreaker	25 Oct 2003
Ah yes, the Tarot d'Or is an absolutely wonderful deck: beautiful artwork and high-quality card stock (much better than that of some of the mass-produced decks I have).

Kaz	25 Oct 2003
i got this deck as a present from diana, and i must second all she said about it. its not my main reading deck, but i do use it sometimes for myself. its very talkative, quite easy to read, and its a special deck, its just different. you wont regret getting it for a second, i am sure about that. i only have the lwb in french, but you dont need it to work with the cards.

catlin	27 Oct 2003
Ansata Tarot if you like strong symbolic cards.

truthsayer	27 Oct 2003
tarot for cats is majors only and has good card stock imho. the eternal dream tarot is a nice majors only but as a self-pub the card stock isn't the best. i haven't received my copy yet but the mari-el is a majors only. i don't know much about the card stock as it is self-pub but it's so gorgeous the only thing i'm worried about is salivation dripping on it! LOL

baba-prague	27 Oct 2003
It's only a thought - and actually, I don't have this deck, but Paul Afong is auctioning some copies of the 723 tarot on ebay right now. It's had some good reviews - the one in tarot passages mentions that the card stock is very good quality. It's an interesting deck - must say I'm tempted, though I am trying to limit my expanding collection (I suppose most of us say that here LOL). One little majors-only deck that I have and love is the "I Gatti". To my taste it is a subtler and funnier little deck than the Tarot of Cats (not that I don't like the latter, I do). It has rather thick little cards - very sweet if you like cats and nice artwork. I wouldn't exactly call it profound mind-you, so perhaps not a great reading deck. I'm not sure if this helps - I can try to have another think. Personally I don't often buy majors-only decks so I don't have much of a collection to refer to.

lark	27 Oct 2003
Jane Lyles Lovers Tarot is a beautiful deck. Very large cards 5" x 9" Done from old masters paintings. Majors only. Comes with a nice hardcover book.

fairyhedgehog	28 Oct 2003
Are there any more? The only one of these that really calls to me is Tarot for Cats, and I think it's out of print. And I would really like a deck of majors only without cats!

Riversea	28 Oct 2003
There's the Amazing Fortune Telling deck. It's another charming deck from Kipling West, featuring all sorts of animals. It was designed for children. Unfortunately, again out of print. Also, the cards are uncoated, not sure how they would stand up to lots of handling. Also, since you punch them out, you end up with little nubs around the edges. But they are really charming. I even got new insight on the Tower card from this deck.

Molly	28 Oct 2003
Have you checked out the Portal tarot? It's not a typical deck... but I just love it. It feels so smooth and soft and the images are just amazing. It is a real treat.

fairyhedgehog	28 Oct 2003
Does anyone have the Globalight deck? I believe that is a majors only.

Woof	28 Oct 2003
Keep coming with recommendations for decks that are in print and not too expensive! You've mentioned lots of great decks but lots are out of print or I can't find images or they're out of my financial league. The Tarot d'Or just doesn't click with me but with all your praise I may end up with it anyway! Woof

truthsayer	28 Oct 2003
i almost forgot the portal deck. dajax of the forum and her partner did it. it's like $65 but really unique and beautiful.

TygrEyes	29 Oct 2003
I know you said majors only, BUT I thought you might want to consider this Majors & Aces deck. The below review does mention the advantage of being able to incorporate the elements into a reading. I'm proud to say I have it and it has powerful imagery. I can't wait until it's finished & I expect the publishing companies to be all over it. :o) http://www.tarotpassages.com/Mary-el.htm

fairyhedgehog	14 Oct 2004
It's a year since this thread was started, looking for majors only deck recommendations. I'm wondering if Wolf found a majors only deck and what it was like, and if there are any others around that got missed. I'd like a majors only deck for my counselling practice but I haven't found one I like yet.

baba-prague	14 Oct 2004
A quick one - but did anyone mention the Mary-el? I know it's expensive, but it's worth it. edited to add - whoops - sorry I should have read the post before. Anyway, I'd second the recommendation.

magpie9	14 Oct 2004
Many many years ago someone, knowing I read Tarot, gave me a scarf-wrapped deck found in an attic. It was Majors only, and felt like a river, deep and strong, that had smoothed many rocks in its' passage. It was just the majors of a Marsaille, but I didn't know that, never heard of Marsaille, etc. For years, I only used it for the most important, the most deep-seeking readings. I called it my "River Deck". I write this here to point out that one can make one's own majors-only, or majors+ deck anytime. I've done a majors +court with the fairy wicca, since the minors in that deck (to me) are really ugly and preachy. It would be completely unused, otherwise.

fyreflye	14 Oct 2004
A second to Magpie9's recommendation. Every serious Tarot deck is designed to be read as a Majors-only deck, the most important being the Marseille. Adding the Aces to the Majors allows you to determine the primary energy focus of the spread if it's indicated. This is an excellent way for beginners to learn divination.

yve	14 Oct 2004
Lo Scarebo has Tarot of the Gnomes and Romantic Tarot amongst others that are available in majors only....

Woof	14 Oct 2004
fairyhedgehog: I ended up with Gli Arcani del Porco (see Tarot Garden for pictures) which I like for the art but as far as tarot goes its only so-so. I also like the majors of il Tarocco Bizzarro (also available for your vieing and purchasing pleasure from Tarot Garden). The minors are pips and I can't read pips alone. Woof

Gardener	19 Oct 2004
I have three decks of majors only that I find just beautiful: Elisabetta Trevisan's di Vetro Sergio Toppi's Universali Giorgio Trevisan's Romantici The two Trevisan decks are from Lo Scarabeo's Arte editions, so they are much bigger and not really designed for shuffling. They're more like postcards, but very pretty laid out on a nice carpet. The di Vetro was published before her 78 card Crystal tarot, and it's the same majors, just bigger. I haven't really figured out how to read just majors, but they are pretty to look at. I painted my own version of the Tower while looking at Trevisan's (somehow mine turned out to be a nuclear power plant, but oh well, can't blame the inspiration!) Have you picked one yet, Fairyhedgehog?

ferrous	20 Oct 2004
I recently purchased a majors only deck from Alidastore, the Delle Fiabe. The full name is i Tarocchi delle Fiabe. You can see images of it here at Tarot Garden. It's not a traditional tarot deck of course, but I think it's quite lovely. The card stock is quite nice. The picture side is laminated, but the back is not. I haven't used it for a reading yet, so I can't comment on that. The LWB is in Italian, as are the titles, but there are only 22 cards so it's not like you won't remember which is which once you've been through it once or twice.

Astara	25 Oct 2004
Just last week I purchased "The Spiritual Tarot", a Majors only deck by Marie-Claire Wilson. It has a good "feel" to it. I like the book that comes with it very much, but my copy has several blank pages, I'm waiting for a reply from the distributing company as to whether they will replace my book with one that is printed right, otherwise I'll have to return it to the place of purchase and get my money back.

Asher	27 Oct 2004
I have quite a few Majors only decks, but my favorite one, hands down, is Joanna Powell Colbert's newly released Gaian Tarot (See thread on the Gaian here in the Tarot Decks section). Second place would go to Marie White's Mary-El Tarot (which also includes the 4 Aces). Asher

fairyhedgehog	27 Oct 2004
Woof - I'm glad you found a couple of decks that you like. Gardener - No, I haven't found a majors only yet, I'm still looking :) I've looked at all the decks suggested on this thread and I don't feel an affinity with any of them, except the Gaian one suggested by Asher. But limited edition decks cost a lot more than I'm willing to pay! Maybe I just need to do what magpie suggested, and make one of my other decks into a Majors only. I wonder which one I should use ... Thanks for all your suggestions folks, I may not have bought anything but I've had fun looking :)

Astara	27 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Astara Just last week I purchased "The Spiritual Tarot", a Majors only deck by Marie-Claire Wilson. It has a good "feel" to it. I like the book that comes with it very much, but my copy has several blank pages, I'm waiting for a reply from the distributing company as to whether they will replace my book with one that is printed right, otherwise I'll have to return it to the place of purchase and get my money back. I just recieved a call from the place I purchased the deck and book, they have sent a new book. :)

Waterlily	27 Oct 2004
I've never used a majors-only deck, and only heard about them since discovering this website. May I ask how/why/when you use majors only?

Kissa	24 Nov 2004
is joelle balle, the creator of the tarot d'or, philippe camoin's wife? trying to understand connections between decks thru connections between ppl... kissa

ferrous	24 Nov 2004
I can recommend another major's only limited edition deck which is now available. I don't have my copy yet (I'll be getting it this weekend, yay! :D) but I've seen it 'live' & it's really lovely. It's rabble's Garden Path deck.

Diana	25 Nov 2004
Kissa wrote: is joelle balle, the creator of the tarot d'or, philippe camoin's wife? trying to understand connections between decks thru connections between ppl... Kissa: Joelle Balle is NOT Camoin's wife. Definitely not. (Her 56 Minors are completed. I send her good wishes for them to be published soon.)

Kissa	25 Nov 2004
just asking... because of what i found when doing a research on "Joelle Balle" with google: http://www.themysticeye.com/congress/merch.htm Scrowl down a bit, there's a picture with Camoin brothers and Joelle Balle... ?? Was actively thinking of you yesterday, Diana, as I watched scans of the Tarot d'Or (i too have young daughters, Joelle's prime motivation couldn't but interest me...), Tarot du Chat, du Chien etc. And again, I got the feeling: what is the point????? I just collect decks that seem wonderful for a while then i turn my backs to them. So, of course, le Tarot de Marseille (or any other franch maritime city) popped in my mind as clear as crystal. I apologize if i hurt your feelings when i said i cannot imagine someone can preditc the future. It is true: i cannot imagine it, i don't say it doesn't happen, i just mean, with my rationalist background, in the present state of my knowledge of the world, i cannot imagine it. Off to change diapers now, much more my level of thinking, it seems... kissa

Diana	25 Nov 2004
Kissa wrote: just asking... because of what i found when doing a research on "Joelle Balle" with google: http://www.themysticeye.com/congress/merch.htm Scrowl down a bit, there's a picture with Camoin brothers and Joelle Balle... ?? Kissa: That is a very old photo. (And they were never married, as far as I know. That seems to be a mistake). Quote: I apologize if i hurt your feelings when i said i cannot imagine someone can preditc the future. When did you hurt my feelings???? Kissa! Why would that hurt my feelings???? (I remember that post). That's the kind of tough talk that I like on Aeclectic. Sheesh... if we can't challenge each other's ideas then what's the bloody point of hanging around here???? Just to pat each other on the back and tell each other how WONDERFUL we all are? And that everyone's ideas are MARVELLOUS???? Shucks.... I know that Tarot predicts the future, because I have proved it. One must never believe ANYTHING if one cannot prove it. Especially not in the realm of so-called "esoterism" (although I believe Tarot is far more rational and scientific than most people think.) The Tarot d'Or is a lovely deck for young ones. And it has a beautiful feel to it, and its all SHINY!!! And 22 cards are quite sufficient for a young child. (I prefer her older version of her Tarot d'Or though. I wish she would get someone to re-publish it.)

arcanalefait	25 Nov 2004
Guess this is an old post, but I thought I'd list a few majors-only that I really like... Blue Moon by Julie Cuccia-Watts (my deck-in-the-mail of the moment!) Eternal Dream by John Glock. Black and white, beautiful artwork. Much as I love 'em, I have to admit I rarely use majors-only decks. Just a matter of preference, I guess. I like playing with a full deck! ;) Peace, Arcana

fairyhedgehog	26 Nov 2004
ferrous wrote: I can recommend another major's only limited edition deck which is now available. I don't have my copy yet (I'll be getting it this weekend, yay! :D) but I've seen it 'live' & it's really lovely. It's rabble's Garden Path deck. That looks like an interesting deck - although I'm not sure it is right for me. It's a good price though for a self-published deck. Thank you for the link.

ferrous	27 Nov 2004
ferrous wrote: I can recommend another major's only limited edition deck which is now available. I don't have my copy yet (I'll be getting it this weekend, yay! :D) but I've seen it 'live' & it's really lovely. It's rabble's Garden Path deck. I have my very own deck, now! It's every bit as gorgeous as I knew it would be. I've looked through it a couple of times already, but I have yet to spend some real quality time with it. That'll have to wait until my baby boy is fast asleep & I'm wide awake. I'm so looking forward to using it properly. :)

Asher	28 Nov 2004
I just got word that my copy of this lovely and unusual deck is ready to be posted tomorrow! Hope it doesn't take _too_ long to get to the US from Australia. Asher

smokey	28 Nov 2004
My fave Majors only at the moment is also Julie's Blue Moon. Totally awesome, oh,yeah!

The Majors only deck recommendations thread was originally posted on 25 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.