Russian tarot of ST Petersburg

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Moonbow*	19 Dec 2003
What a lovely deck. I just got this in a trade. I've been reading the threads that I can find on it. Does anyone use this a a main reading deck or is it one of those collectables. The detail is minute but colourful and I just love it. I know Umbrae likes this one (or did) anyone want to 'talk' about it? Moonbow*

Moonbow*	19 Dec 2003
Guess not - but I'll bump it anyway as America has just woken up! Moonbow*

Lee	19 Dec 2003
Hi Moonbow, I like this deck a lot. I like the way a lot of the Majors are more traditionally-oriented. The bright colors against the black backgrounds are very effective. I don't use the deck to read with, though, because I find the Death card a little extreme, and I dislike the spikes on the ends of the Wands, which seems to lend a rather war-like atmosphere to the suit. -- Lee

Moonbow*	19 Dec 2003
Hi Lee, thanks for replying, I see what you mean about the death card. I only got this deck yesterday and I'm skim-reading through the book at the moment. The art and the idea (being taken from russian icon art) does appeal to me and I love the colours. I'm also surprised that so much research went into the costumes, landscapes and history of Russia, I really thought (before getting it) that it was just a RWS clone but with the 'colours on gold' effect to make it look Russian. Its always good to hear other peoples views in case I miss something (especially with this deck) Off the subject for the moment. I'm interested in how - with all the reviews you must do - you manage to remember what you thought of each deck, or did you run and get it just to remind yourself? Or maybe you keep your own notes. Just curious. Moonbow*

LadyMedusa	19 Dec 2003
Hi Moonbow, I do use it as a reading deck. I find it to be very umm... blunt almost to blunt at times. It gets right to the point. For me I think it's because of the lack of all the extras in the background. Speaking of background one thing that always jumps out at me is what I refer to as the rock folks. The very stern looking men and women's faces in the stones who appear to be watching the fool as he journeys thru the majors. LadyMedusa

Moonbow*	19 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by LadyMedusa Speaking of background one thing that always jumps out at me is what I refer to as the rock folks. The very stern looking men and women's faces in the stones who appear to be watching the fool as he journeys thru the majors. Oh yes, I really must study the pictures a bit more. I didn't realise it, but they do sort of have faces dont they? Moonbow*

Lee	19 Dec 2003
The book is really wonderful, by the way, I'd call it one of the two very best deck-accompanying books out there, the other one being the Tarot of Prague book by Karen Mahony. Quote: Originally posted by Moonbow* I'm interested in how - with all the reviews you must do - you manage to remember what you thought of each deck, or did you run and get it just to remind yourself? Or maybe you keep your own notes. Just curious. LOL! Details of specific decks do indeed float around constantly in my brain, and I have around 170 decks, so now you now why in my posts I often appear to be not playing with a full deck, so to speak. :D I didn't have to go look at it when I wrote that post, because the deck made a strong impression on me and I spent quite some time with it when I first bought it. I must say LadyMedusa made a great observation about faces in the rocks. I never noticed that, and I'm going to go look at the deck right now to see if I see it! -- Lee

The Russian tarot of ST Petersburg thread was originally posted on 19 Dec 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.