Osho Zen

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Emily	16 Nov 2003
Well my self imposed tarot deck buying ban didn't last too long :D I somehow found myself on a site last night that was illustrated with the Osho Zen, I have noticed this deck before but because its so different I've never really looked at it - until last night. I think I was struck by the beauty of the cards first, the colours, the keywords (usually I don't like keywords) and also the re-naming of the cards. I was fascinated with this deck, then I found a site where you could do readings and look at the cards - I was on there for just over 1 1/2 hours lol. Anyway I came off there and ordered it, I also cancelled the Radiant Rider Waite I had on order, I'm getting along so well with my Morgan Greer, I don't need another Rider Waite. I think the Osho Zen might fill a void I feel, I need something different just for me, not for doing other readings with - just to get in touch with myself. I had hoped the Haindl would be the one but it isn't. I feel more of a pull towards the Osho than I did for the Haindl. I have read some of the older threads on the Osho Zen, didn't know it was based on a person, but I don't want to read too many threads until I have the deck in my hands and I can get a reaction without knowing too much of its history. Who else uses this deck, does it read well? I can't wait for it to come. I also ordered a seperate new book, I think a workbook, that hasn't been out long. :)

Tallarico	16 Nov 2003
I have this deck. A book also came with it. I don't have a workbook. It reads really well for me. Too well almost because when I read for myself it makes me look at "me". Sometimes I actually get mad at the deck because it is so accurate with things I don't want to face. The artwork is beautiful! For the most part, the cards are very uplifting,also!

ros	16 Nov 2003
Would you tell me the name of the workbook please? I had the deck & cards then gave them away. Then someone else gave me the deck. I know some of the meanings but never knew there was a workbook,( never looked too hard either)lol I think the deck is beautiful, but I keep going back to Rider!

Jewel-ry	16 Nov 2003
Emily, I also have this deck and I can honestly say that when I have done serious readings for myself it has been spot on. I have had some major health issues and I can remember doing a reading with the Osho which pin-pointed my feelings exactly. It was totally uncanny. Similar accuracy has been observed on much more minor issues (shopping trips, family relationships etc). The artwork is very clever I feel. My only grumble really, is that the black borders on the cards mean that the edges do show wear and tear quite quickly. Otherwise it is a 'Wow!' deck. Have fun. Jewel-ry I have just got the Morgan Greer and hope that I will find it as enlightening as you!

Emily	16 Nov 2003
Hi Ros, The book is called 'Tarot in the Spirit of Zen' ISBN 0717136388, published 31 Oct 03. In the review it says that gives in-depth insights to the 79 cards which expand on the information that is in the existing handbook. It also draws on the Rider Waite and Thoth for comparison. I'm hoping that its not just a redoing of the original book but it does say that it's a workbook and a handbook. Hi Jewel-ry, I love my Morgan Greer, it was a deck I tried to get 15 months ago then forgot all about it - I've had it now for around 2 or 3 weeks I think, it seems like alot longer. It has turned into my comfort, reading and study deck. Now I can't understand why I left it so long before trying to get it again. Its a lovely deck to use and although some of the cards are not typical Rider Waite, its very easy to read, the cards are full of symbolism - some of it is hidden so you have to really look at the cards. The only real fault with this deck is the Devil card, not to sure what they were thinking when they decided to use that kind of image when it doesn't portray the aspects of the Devil card at all. But other than that its a beautiful deck. :)

Jen	16 Nov 2003
This is a great deck. Very trance-like and meditative for me. I haven't used it in a while, but I used it daily for about six months. LOL, I too got mad at the deck for being so accurate. This is the only deck I've ever used for tarot meditation. You know when you put yourself in the card and talk to the charecters. I started doing this with the majors and the results were pretty amazing. The characters were very easy for me to talk to. The Osho is definelty a great mirror. The edges of my deck are turning white-ish, but I like the used look. I like the book as well, I've scribled and highlighted all over it.

MoreMagic	16 Nov 2003
It's interesting to me, Emily, that you would post this thread just at the time I was thinking myself about buying this deck! I've been looking at both of Ma Padma Deva's decks on line in the past few days. The artwork in both really is wonderful. It's good to hear that Osho Zen is very readable. *Sigh* Barnes and Noble, here I come.....

Khatruman	16 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Emily Hi Ros, The book is called 'Tarot in the Spirit of Zen' ISBN 0717136388, published 31 Oct 03. I always highly reccomend the Osho deck highly, plus I did get this book, and I must say that it doesn't repeat material found in the companion book. In fact, it really becomes more insightful in itself. It isn't a workbook, but it is a worthy book nonetheless. Some don't like the Osho. Mainly it is because of notorious misadventures within the Osho commune, or because it is non-traditional in many ways. It has been one of my earlier decks and I still love it. I always come back to it because it has been spot-on in readings. Good luck and happy reading with it!!!

Cerulean	16 Nov 2003
I liked the book. It gives you 22 punchout cards that really is a mini-22 deck set. I think this book is actually different than the set's descriptive little book. Thanks for reminding me that I have this....I want it to be a companion for a Buddhist flavored tarot deck that I've really wanted more...Osho as a 78 card deck just did have the fresh flavor for me anymore. To me, the small book gives me just the right touch of Osho and allows me to use a different deck that I wanted. I didn't need my Osho Zen anymore, someone else is hopefully enjoying it. Osho Zen reminds me of how different cultures adopt certain traditions...American Buddhism's writings and such seem to differ from Japanese translations, for instance. The Osho Zen is very fresh, zesty, energetic...I keep thinking of Americanized or Westernized influences with zesty accents. By the way, not to highjack your discussion, but I actually wanted to use my Roots of Asia, as it seems both Rider Waite and Thothlike to me...Rider Waite structure and similar descriptive meanings, but the colors are deeper and there is a Thai Buddhist element...or Balinese, where the colors and bright forests have a more island vividness and energy. (but Julia Turk of the Navigators of the Mystic Sea helped the author out).

firestorm	16 Nov 2003
I love my Osho Zen deck! I only use it for myself because it seems more like a personal meditative deck to me. It's always given me clear readings and I've even been shocked at how accurate it is. It always seems to let me know when theres something that needs my attention but isn't getting it.

ros	16 Nov 2003
After all these comments I was thinking about why I still have cards? I kept them because I liked the colouring & what I had learned from them. I think I should have just read for myself with these cards. Some times when I would explain the meanings people would look at me like they didn't understand me, so I think that's why I went back to Rider.I go right to the keywords & then just somethings of the Osho that stuck with me from them. Got to get ANOTHER book, lol thanks for the info.

Emily	17 Nov 2003
My Osho Zen came this morning lol - Amazon must have rushed it out because I wasn't expecting it until the end of the week. The second book also came in the package. When I first opened the cardboard I thought I'd been sent the wrong things. The deck and book set is in a plastic fold box that looks like a video box, about the same size but a little bit thicker. It's very portable and compact and is ideal for traveling. The cards fit in a plastic slot and the book on top. I wish some of my other deck sets had been packaged this way lol. I looked through the books first, the one that comes with the set is very nice, gives full meanings and words of wisdom too. I plan to read the book before using the cards. The second book I ordered, the one mentioned in my other post, is a book in its own right, no information from the first book is mentioned in here, its a completely new mine of information. Both books are good companions for this deck. The deck itself is amazingly beautiful, some of the images on the cards are so simple yet they convey the meaning of the card, the keywords are also very good. You can tell what the suits are just by looking at the card - Water - Cups, Clouds - Swords - these are the only ones I can remember off the top of my head :) Its also a very nice size, I can shuffle without feeling the stretch in my fingers lol. The only thing was when I first opened the plastic wrap on the cards, they weren't in order - so I had to go through them, make sure they were all there and put them in order. It took me around 45 mins and by the time I finished I felt like I knew the deck :D I'm glad I ordered it now because I do think its going to be useful, I don't think I would be able to use it for other people but it is what I was after for myself. :)

Mystic Zyl	17 Nov 2003
It might make you happy to know this seems to be the deck of choice for most of the readers at a popular metaphysical store my friends reads at. I purchased this deck about 4 years ago, on my friend's recomendation. I have tried to learn the cards, but just when I have half of them memorized something distracts me and I put them away. I love the pictures and feel that they give good insight in solving problems. I feel my Universal Waite can identify the problems, but Osho Zens offers answers. I also do many reading for my clients using Morgan Greer, it is a friendly deck!

Emily	18 Nov 2003
Hi Mystic Zyl, I surprised myself with the Osho Zen, its not my usual type of deck, I have to agree with some of the other posters on here who say it doesn't feel like a tarot because it doesn't to me, it does feel like an oracle deck. Most decks that stray away from traditional meanings usually confuse me and I don't have much luck with them - I think thats why the Morgan Greer has made such an impact on me, I could read with it straight out of the box :) , but saying that I was struck by the simplicity and beauty of the Osho and it feels like a deck that I can use. I have been reading the book today and I like the style of writing used and I'm not sure now whether I will start using the cards before I've read the book, I don't think I'm going to be able to wait that long :)

Mystic Zyl	18 Nov 2003
Yes, Emily you are right it seems like an Oracle deck. I could not wait to read the book I started doing readings with it right away for myself. It will take awhile for me to learn them well enough to use for client readings. Thanks to this site I have a renewed interest in Osho Zen and Thoth.

The Osho Zen thread was originally posted on 16 Nov 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.