Quest Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Shapeshifter	30 Nov 2003
I was told that the Quest Tarot is drawn from Thoth Tarot, but still I dun quite believe that. can someone tell me if it is?

Star Spirit	01 Dec 2003
All I know is they're both beee-utyful :D

Scorpion	01 Dec 2003
Hi, Shapeshifer! I've got this deck and I'd agree that it is Thoth-based. The Minors are pips and very similar to the Thoth and if you compare something like the Strenth card I think you'll see the similarity. Have you got this deck or are you thinking about it?

Shapeshifter	01 Dec 2003
Hi thanks for replying my friend got it, Quest is SO HARD in my place, people who play Tarot thinks that there are 5 Levels of difficulty, 0-4, in Tarot, and they put Quest under 4! the hardest so many symbols and stuff, at first I looked at the Fool and thought that it was Rider Waite series, so stupid of me.....

Scorpion	01 Dec 2003
Shapeshifter - if you're used to the RWS then the Quest will definitely appear different but I find it much much easier than the Thoth. In fact, it's become my main reading deck because of the depth of information I can get out of it. So far, all my readings with it have been deemed to be perfectly accurate. Yes, there are a lot of symbols, but it helps if you take your time to look around the card and see which ones speak to you at the time - those will be the meanings that you should glean from it in that particular context. Don't worry about trying to take the whole card in - it's not necessary. You can build up to that if you want. Another time, something else will jump out at you and it will be appropriate for that reading. For instance, if I look at the 7 Wands (I think I'm right - haven't got the deck with me) the first thing I see is that the wand at the front is blackened and in danger of burning out: since I see Wands as energy, this tells me something important about the situation. Sometimes the remaining wands will appear supportive, as if they're giving their energy and strength to the seventh, at other times they very definitely form a barrier against it. One thing I think isn't very clear and that is that I believe the 7 Stones should be renamed "fear of failure" (as I believe it is in the Cosmic Tribe deck) rather than straight "failure" - note the nightmarish faces in the background. It's not failure per se - it's the fear that's the pertinent element of this card. Hope this helps!

Dee	01 Dec 2003
It is interestiong for me to read that the Quest has a high difficulty level - I actually find that the symbols make it easier instead of memorizing info as you go along. i am glad that this post was put up sinceI had not noticed that is Thoth based I have to look harder!!! :)

Majecot	02 Dec 2003
I find that it is an easy deck to read.. I too did not realize it was Thoth based. But then I really have only seen Thoth once and that was about two weeks ago. I did not find that deck easy at all.

Moonbow*	02 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Scorpion Don't worry about trying to take the whole card in - it's not necessary. You can build up to that if you want. I have also been very successful with my Quest readings and I dont see alot of Thoth similarity other than some of the keywords. As Scorpion said... You can use as much or as little of the other systems on the cards as you like. The deck is fairly new to me so at the moment I'm concentrating mainly on the card pictures, but I'm starting to look at the runes, I-ching etc..a little as well. Its all there if you want it but you dont have to use it all at once..... Moonbow* :)

Lee	02 Dec 2003
I think the deck is only indirectly related to Thoth. I believe the author actually based much of the symbolism and card titles on the Haindl deck, which itself borrowed much from the Thoth. So that's why you can see Thoth influences in the Quest. -- Lee

Majecot	02 Dec 2003
I also do not use the other symbols in the deck, I know nothing about Runes or I-Ching.. Shapeshifter I think you will find this deck easy to read if you concentrate on the pictures and not the other symbols so much. I figure someday I may learn, but I bought the deck because it is visually apealing for me and I was ready for a change. I think I could live with out the key words, I prefer a deck with out them because it challeges my memory more. But this IS one of my favorite reading decks.

JosephMartin	20 Feb 2004
Before starting the designs for the Quest Tarot I researched, literally, hundreds of decks. The two strongest influences in my deck are both the Haindl and Thoth decks. Though there are some very strong differnces also. Also I reviewed books by other authors and read quite a bit of Tarot history. When I read from the deck I use my intuition as my main tool for getting information. The others systems incorporated into the cards are there for those people who may already have a love of astrology, etc. The symbols are there as a reminder of how to use the cards so that you don't have to memorize everything. Some people simply don't use the other features, while others may focus on the iChing.... (not created on an iMac) or another of the specific features of the cards. Author Leah Samul has had great success with the Yes/No feature while others perfer not to use it. My advice would be to start with only the face-up and reverse meanings and use a reading sheet in coordination with the book (you can photocopy the reading sheet from the book). Then once you feel comfortable with that, you can add other features. And possibly the most important feature to using the deck is to have fun with it. Good Luck with the cards, Joseph

Majecot	20 Feb 2004
Yay! Joseph thank you, I knew sooner or later you would pop in and settle the debate ;)

JosephMartin	06 Apr 2004
OK... If you really like certain features but don't want to use others... that's OK. I've just finished the last two reference guides for the Quest Tarot. They are Chakras and the Lovers Weave spread (first introduced at PantheaCon just last month). You can see the newest reference guides at: http://www.questtarot.com ...and then enter the site and you'll see where to click. These guides are designed to help people get up and running faster. Also there are some FREE reference guides that you can print out on your home printer and use. Good Luck! yours in the cards, Joseph

Khatruman	07 Apr 2004
Note also that, in addition to being Thoth-based, it is highly influenced by the Haindl tarot, from whence it derives its rune significations as well as its i-Ching symbology. It also takes many of its keywords from that deck. Haindl to me is a deeper deck. I don't think this is a very complex deck to understand, it is simply busy with so many systems working through it.

JosephMartin	25 May 2004
Hello Friends: Just got back and wanted to mention that I've posted over 140 new photos from the various fairs I've been traveling to over the past 6 months or so. It's a work in progress so I will have some corrections etc but I'm giving this new area a try to see what kind of response I get. If positive I plan to make a regular part of the website. Take a look... the link is on the main page once you enter the site... look for the picture of me with Lon DuQuette. yours in the cards, Joseph

prk001	30 May 2004
Hi All, We are discussing the meanings or thoughts and feelings that pop up when you look at the individual cards in this deck. This discussion is going on at the General forum under the study groups. Everyone are welcome to post their views and the meanings that resonates with them for each of the cards in this deck. This will help us all in learning more about tarot and this deck in particular. RK

The Quest Tarot thread was originally posted on 30 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.