The Celtic Tarot by Courtney Davis

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Jan 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Logiatrix	16 Jan 2004
I recently uncovered this used set in excellent condition--so it was my duty to bring it home, of course! My readings have been suprisingly clear...honestly, I didn't think I'd actually read very well with it, as the art style was initially unfamilliar and obscure to me. However, I'm thoroughly enjoying it. Reviews on this deck generally refer to it as a nice art deck, but not much is said about its readability. My search here did not pull up much discussion about this deck either, so I'm wondering if anyone else actually reads with the Celtic Tarot. :)

Lee	16 Jan 2004
I read with it sometimes. I find the artwork extremely pleasant, and thus reading with it is a pleasant experience. -- Lee

Astraea	16 Jan 2004
I like this deck, too. Its artwork has such a nice symmetry ("pleasant" is a perfect word for it, Lee). You did the right thing in giving this poor abandoned deck a home, Tauni! :)

Thea Lynx	16 Jan 2004
I have been working with my Celtic Tarot this week and it has been a wonderful teacher. Unillustrated pip cards used to make me edgy, but with this deck they come through very clearly. Some of the differences in descriptions, and in the arrangement of the pips (five of cups is four overtuned, one remaining rather than the usual 3/2 split in Rider style decks) have brought new levels of understanding to me. Best of all I finally understand dignified and ill-dignified cards! The intricacies of the designs and relation to various characters had made this deck a very rich experience. Thea

tabbycat	17 Jan 2004
It's my main reading deck. It was the second deck I ever got (after the 1JJ, but everyone had one of those back then, they were so common!) and I go back to it again and again. I love CDs artwork and find that the Celtic is a frighteningly accurate deck, very good at unearthing people's secrets. I've thumbed through the book so much that many of its pages are falling out (especially the 10 of Swords - I wonder why that is?) so be careful with your copy! Jilly

Mystic Zyl	21 Jan 2004
I do not read with this deck;,but I plan to add it to my collection. I love the illustrations and colors.

Kiama	22 Jan 2004
I guess I'm the odd one out here... :D I dislike this deck. I think it is quite charlatan-like in fact. Why is it a 'Celtic deck?' I see nothing in it to make it Celtic. Now, if it had been called the Courney Davis Tarot, great! I love his artwork. But it is called the Celtic Tarot, and I was expecting something deep, some deep exploration of the Celtic myths, legends, and themes through the Tarot... But no. Instead all we get is Courtney Davis' artwork. And even that artwork is not 'Celtic'. So, I was disappointed by this deck quite radically. And the book! I got the new edition of it, where it comes packaged with a book written by Helen Paterson (I think?). I was reading the description for the Lovers card, and found this: Quote: It brings together the best aspects of a partnership in both men and women. It can also inspire love in both sexes, but not homosexual love, because the lovers are symbolic of a dual or polarity of energies. ~ p.45-46 Now, that offends me deeply. I'm not homosexual, but I am very close with many people who are (I live with a homosexual man and a bisexual man for starters.) I have a few problems with what was said, mainly how on earth did she get away with saying that??!!! On a more serious note, I think it is completely wrong. I think that within each man and woman, is both kinds of 'dual energies and polarities'. All contain yin and yang, masculine and feminine, dark and light. One person doesn't simply contain only half of this and the other person the other half! So, if all people contain within themselves all polarities and dualities, surely two people of the same sex can be included in the Lovers card? Who's to say that gender has anything to do with polarities of energy?! Anyway, rant over and done with, all I can say is that I am still searching for a 'perfect' Celtic deck... I have found none as yet, to convince me that such a thing exists. (Though the Celtic Wisdom has come preeeetty close...) Kiama

Logiatrix	22 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama ....Instead all we get is Courtney Davis' artwork. And even that artwork is not 'Celtic'.... Kiama Then what is it? I haven't a clue...never thunk much about it, I just see knot-work and swirls, and think, "Ah, Celtic art." Who knew?!! :(

felicityk	22 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I guess I'm the odd one out here... :D I dislike this deck. I think it is quite charlatan-like in fact. Why is it a 'Celtic deck?' I see nothing in it to make it Celtic. Now, if it had been called the Courney Davis Tarot, great! I love his artwork. But it is called the Celtic Tarot, and I was expecting something deep, some deep exploration of the Celtic myths, legends, and themes through the Tarot... I guess I have the opposite expectation. I grow ever more tired of "theme" decks that try to impose the structure of Tarot on a certain mythology or culture. I like Tarot for Tarot's sake, so a deck that has a certain style of artwork with a traditional Tarot structure is preferable to me than one that tries to bend and shape Tarot to a certain theme. If I want to study Celtic mythology, I'll buy a book, not a Tarot deck. Quote: But no. Instead all we get is Courtney Davis' artwork. And even that artwork is not 'Celtic'. Like others, I guess I have been misinformed as to what constitutes Celtic artwork. Maybe you can point us to some authentic examples? Felicity

Kiama	24 Jan 2004
Quote: Originally posted by felicityk Like others, I guess I have been misinformed as to what constitutes Celtic artwork. Maybe you can point us to some authentic examples? Felicity Examples of authentic Celtic artwork? I can't say I know of any... In fact, we have very very little Celtic artwork indeed. Which is why I say Courtney Davis' artwork is not Celtic. The knotwork you see, which is said to be Celtic, the figures, the animals, and the way they are drawn, are actually based on a mixture of Anglo-Saxon and Norse artwork, and depending on the artist, some medieval monastic style is also included. It isn't Celtic in the least, since it was not done by the people we know as the 'Celts'... But it is very pretty however, and pleasing to the eye. :D Kiama

The The Celtic Tarot by Courtney Davis thread was originally posted on 16 Jan 2004 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.