What is your favorite Dramatic Halloween deck?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Oct 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Chronata	24 Oct 2003
I am just curious what people like to use as a Samhain/Halloween deck...either for public readings of for yourself? Many years ago, when I first started doing readings at Halloween events, I wanted something really spooky and eerie and dramatic to go with the long black dress, and black mourning veil that I wore to parties (all this before Goth became a term...) But back in the day, there just were not very many decks available to me. I remember using my Sacred Rose as my first dramatic deck...because, even though the colors are so nice , it kinda freaked some people out , seeing all those figures without eyeballs! In the last few years, I have used the Vampire, the Halloween (great for kid's readings!) and the Glow in the Dark(very cool when working under a blacklight!) This year, I hope to use the Gothic..which is one of the best dramatic decks I have ever seen! Of course Magickal energy work for Samhain calls for a different kind of deck...and I usually am drawn to something more personal, but still somewhat dark...like the New Orleans Voodoo, or the Vertigo... So which deck do you use for creeping out the average trick or treater? And which do you use for the energy of the New Year/Cycle? Are they the same...or different?

Galiana	24 Oct 2003
That's something I hadn't really thought about until very recently. I didn't single out a specific deck for Samhain use; I just picked a deck and used it. Then a few weeks ago I purchased the Golden Dawn Magical Tarot, and I feel so drawn to it that I will probably be using it every year from now on.

Asher	24 Oct 2003
For many years, the Halloween deck was the _only_ deck I used during October. It's absolutely "dead on"! (pun intended!) Another tongue in cheek deck is the Tarocco dell'Orror (Tarot of Horrors), an Italian deck published by Il Meneghello (I think available from Tarot Garden, I got mine from Alida). Cartoony artwork, but fun! (tho some of the images could be disturbing...the High Priestess is a huge nurse with an evil grin approaching the viewer with a huge hypodermic needle & the Hierophant is a mad doctor holding a severed leg, and he's blood-spattered) _Not_ for reading for kids! The Gothic Tarot (by Vargo) is just delicious, and I will most likely take it to my Tarot Circle tomorrow and when I lead a Samhain reading next weekend. Some folks have liked the other Gothic Tarot, with photographs of cemetary art. I live in a community with a strong Hispanic cultural influence, and I have used the Tarot of the Dead successfully. And then some folks might say that the Thoth Tarot is perfect for this time of year! For magickal work, I have used the Sacred Circle with good results.

WolfyJames	24 Oct 2003
Well, I don't have it yet, but it's on my wishlist, it is The Gothic Tarot by Vargo. It is a very dark and dramatic deck, and personaly, I would use it all year around, not just for Halloween.

Cerulean	25 Oct 2003
My sis took me to a Psychic Eye around Redondo Beach a month ago and I think they had the Lo Scarabeo Tarocchi of the Robots. Then I saw a graphic novel called Robota and I was thinking, open a page of the book, grab a deck and then tell the querent you'll ask a question related to both the illustration and something about their alien karma... Or I was thinking of Holmes' Alien Abduction Readings. In a way, they are like karma readings done in a fun way. I have a ski jacket with the hood reminding me of a spacesuit, as well. But to be honest, I'm playing with the Gitani, as the outdoor medieval fair and decorative borders remind me of autumn days, beautiful woodland picnics, a younger world where animals and people and seasonal plants and flowers might be imagined to co-exist...so the seasonal celebration is more my style. I watch the more dramatic decks and costuming with a delighted eye, but... I like to watch! Mari H. P.S. The decorative pip borders of birds and plants in the Gitani remind me of greeting and recipe cards...and I don't remember seeing any other deck do this pretty framing in that way.

dolphingirl	25 Oct 2003
Wow the robots one is one that my sig other would absolutely love was it as cool as it looks online? Personally, you just can't beat the Halloween Tarot for fun during this season. I just love decks with a sense of humor and those are few and far between. This deck takes me back to those happy times where halloween was fun and exciting. The gothic and the Vampre decks are cool but the halloween is my fav

WolfSpirit	25 Oct 2003
If I had the Gothic by Vargo, that would be my favourite dramatic deck for halloween - ah, hopefully next year ;) But I own and love the halloween deck to use this time of year, not as dramatic but fun to use and easy to read, too !

wolfen045	30 Oct 2003
I am gonna use the Vampire tarot to do my midnight reading for myself. Any readings for anyone else I'll use the Halloween tarot. I think both of those decks are fun and appropriate for this time of year! Blessings, wolfen

Wildchild	30 Oct 2003
I was thinking of just using my Thoth deck. As I've only acquired it this year, I've never used it for Halloween before. Looking forward to the results, though.

WolfyJames	31 Oct 2003
I'm going to buy The Gothic Tarot next week, when I'm going to get the money for the deck I sold. I'm so happy! I won't be able to use it for Halloween but I'll have it for Christmas, maybe I'll caress it while I'll watch The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Shade	04 Nov 2003
like some of the others the Halloween Tarot is my October deck but I waas just thinking that whenever anyone discusses the Phantasmagoric Theater deck they usually compare it to Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas. It might be an appropriate choice. If you liked the Vampire tarot than maybe the Fantastical Tarot would be a good choice; same artist same dark feel.

The What is your favorite Dramatic Halloween deck? thread was originally posted on 24 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.