tarot decks for Goths

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 23 Feb 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

musclegirl	23 Feb 2004
Hi guys, i'm back! i was wondering what themes and names of 78-card tarot decks you would recommend for reading for Goths. i guess there's the cemetary/vampire themes, the Egyptian theme. What other themes? cemetary/vampire: Gothic Tarot (Vargo) Egyptian: Tarot of the Sphynx by lo scarabeo? thanks.

Dark_angel	23 Feb 2004
Firstly, it's important to remember that Goths are people too, and we all have our individual likes and dislikes. For example, I love Greek mythology, so the Mythic Tarot is good for me, but one of my friends prefers Norse mythology, so anything based on that would be great for him. A few of the stereotypical choices would be: Vargo Gothic Vertigo Vampire Gothic Tarot of the Vampires Halloween (for Goths with a GSOH) So if you're reading at a Goth club, one of those would probably be your best bet for a catch-all deck. Or just use the Thoth and tell them about Crowley. ;) Actually, most times I read for my Goth friends, I use the Fey! Go figure. :D

musclegirl	23 Feb 2004
hey dark angel. Thanks. by the way, what does GSOH stand for? (good sense of humor?) that's a good idea about the Thoth. forgot all about it. What about renaissance/gothic era decks like the tarot of marseilles?

musclegirl	23 Feb 2004
p.s. dark angel. have you ever read at a goth club? sounds too cool. i guess they wouldnt let me in, i don't dress goth.

dolphingirl	23 Feb 2004
GSOH = good sense of humor :)

dolphingirl	23 Feb 2004
How about the Bosch or the Templar if you want something alittle different ?

musclegirl	23 Feb 2004
thx dolphingirl the templar looks nice and dark

HudsonGray	23 Feb 2004
If you want something dark & really weird, the Terrestrial Tarot. Or the Giger one (Baphomet?).

Imagemaker	23 Feb 2004
I know a goth reader who loves the Londa deck. www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/londa

Cerulean	23 Feb 2004
What about renaissance/gothic era decks like the tarot of marseilles? If you want a dark deck with all pictures, medieval Gothic Era imagery, Kat Black's reproduction and art deck, the Golden Tarot...someday in 2004...might give a feeling of the Dark Ages. This is when depictions of the Last Judgement was literally under all the surviving cathedrals, a detail I've heard from at least three European Art History teachers. But much of the art was about Madonnas and religious saints, as well. I'm not certain that is what you want. Most of the tarots that I know of the 1400s seem to be from the Milan and Ferarra region of Italy, but did you want depictions of cupids, courtly love and heavenly estates for "Goth" nightclub fans? Perhaps the odder French Tarot de Paris of the 1600s might suit? Lots of crude printing...am not sure this is what you also had in mind. Take care, Mari H.

Dark_angel	23 Feb 2004
Musclegirl, we may look scary, but we're just normal people really. :) Some clubs have a dress code, just like any type of club, but casual ones would let you in no problem. (it's just like some RnB clubs have a no denim policy; some Goth clubs have similar rules). I've never read at a Goth club, usually because I'd be too busy dancing, but it would be pretty much like reading anywhere else, although people would probably be more accepting of it. You're best checking with the management though. If you want to 'look the part' but not go for the makeup and PVC, you could just wear a black top with jeans and black boots. Luv, Fi. xxx

musclegirl	23 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Dark_angel Musclegirl, we may look scary, but we're just normal people really. :) Hi dark angel: I know that. Sorry about that. I'm very open and accepting, really. I've re-read my posts, and i now realise that those posts of mine sounded odd. I've had a very conservative background, and I'm free, and trying now to break from it.

dolphingirl	23 Feb 2004
Phantasmagoric Theater Tarot

Umbrae	24 Feb 2004
Non-standard Goth, with a Greek flavour – The Etruscan.

Dark_angel	24 Feb 2004
Musclegirl, I didn't mean anything bad by what I said, honestly. Sorry if it came out that way. Goths do look scary. Especially when I've just woken up in the morning, lol.

inanna_tarot	24 Feb 2004
Im not goth but i'm slightly "dark" and i love Barbara Walker Tarot and today my Fantastical tarot came in. Ms Hertz who did the fantastical also has done a vampire tarot (which i love too). Sezo x

EarthAngel2911	24 Feb 2004
I just have to ask.... and forgive my ignorance here, but what exactly defines someone as "goth"? I mean, I'm aware of the stereotypical image of dark clothes and makeup, etc. But there must be more to it than that. Are there certain specific interests, like the dark "gothic" art, for example? But what else? Certain spiritual or political opinions that are common to goths? Sorry, I just had to ask! :) I hear this phrase around a lot, but being the relic of 35 years that I am, I guess I'm totally out of the modern loop! :P Thanks! Blessings, Karen

Imagemaker	24 Feb 2004
Quote: what exactly defines someone as "goth"? The statement below was posted on a goth newsgroup, and when my daughter was a goth (still is inwardly, and still wears mostly black), she would have made a statement like this: Quote: "Personally I believe a goth is a person who accepts his darkside and explores it in a attempt to learn more about himself. Many would disagree, but this is my belief. Black velvet doesn't make a goth, neither does pale makeup. The true goth is on the inside. The goth can see things that the normals refuse to see. The beauty hidden in the sweet caverns of darkness. The darkness of the subconscious. So what makes a goth a goth? A true goth is one who see the darkness all around but is not afraid." There are goths and goth wannabes, and her group used to say "a true goth can wear pink"--reflecting the above statement. I loved and valued all her goth friends; they were dramatic and introspective and theatrically creative in their dress. But how conservative people reacted to them could be scary or funny. Like tarot, some people react to goths with fear and accusations of devil-worship. But all the goths I knew were kind, thoughtful, and interested in exploring all sides of their Selves.

baba-prague	24 Feb 2004
I've just scanned this quickly but did anyone mention the Vertigo? I know it isn't Goth, but it's quite dark and very stylish. Might be a good choice for some people? edited to say - I will NOT recommend the Baroque Bohemian Cats. It's probably about as far from Goth as you can get (without falling into full-on fluffy that is)!

lunakasha	24 Feb 2004
Thanks Imagemaker for the definition of "goth"....I have often wondered myself what it is all about. Since I dress conservatively (though not in pink), but have always had a fondness for the "darker" side of life, I would have to consider myself a "closet Goth"..... :DLuna

Inannadescends	25 Feb 2004
Another deck I would recommend would be the Victoria Regina. It's not a "goth" deck but since my gothiness tends toward vintage goth I checked it out. It's not an easy deck to use (at least not for me), but I love looking at it even if I can't always understand it (does that make sense?). http://www.thefool.com/ The above mentioned Vertigo tarot is on my lust list, it was based on Neil Gaiman's graphic novels (a gothy favorite), and the artwork was done by Dave McKean, who illustrated many of Gaiman novels. I think both editions are OOP though... http://www.elsewhere.org/tarot/vertigo/ Think about what interests you, goth doesn't have to be vampires or creepy. You may want to look at medieval or renaissance decks. When I first joined aeclectic I found this thread very helpful in my search, it's about "dark" decks. http://tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15797 Happy Hunting! :)

Dark_angel	25 Feb 2004
Imagemaker's quotation is a wonderful definition. Couldn't have put it better myself. Although pink is definitely not my colour. ;)

Imagemaker	25 Feb 2004
My daughter wouldn't EVER wear pink, either. And she chose a gorgeous dark wine-red for her wedding dress, groom in a black tux :) (Wedding this summer)

EarthAngel2911	25 Feb 2004
Imagemaker, Thank you so much for that beautiful quote! It seems to describe the essence of shadow work, which I believe is very valuable and necessary to become whole. Reading what you wrote, I feel I must be a "goth" and just never knew it?? I'm currently using the Gothic Vampire Tarot for my own shadow work, and I am striving to get to the point where I love myself, warts and all! This aspect of getting to know myself is very important to me. The one thing I didn't quite understand was when you mentioned that "some people react to goths with fear and accusations of devil-worship. " Devil-worship?? Could that be because they choose to dress in black? Of course, how naive of me! I've also heard people react like that to tarot too.... Thanks so much for the enlightenment!! Blessings, Karen

Imagemaker	25 Feb 2004
Quote: "some people react to goths with fear and accusations of devil-worship. " Devil-worship?? Could that be because they choose to dress in black? Of course Indeed, which always seemed so stupid to me--I mean, nuns and priests wore it for centuries. My daughter was one of the first goths in her high school, wearing all black, black eye makeup, black fingernails and then she was naturally very pale--hated the sun. This was long before the "fad" of Goth took hold--mid-90s. Sometimes we'd be in public places and people would look at her and mutter "Satanist!" In high school when she and the few others were sitting outside, she had jocks throw soda cans at her head as they passed by--just stupidity and arrogance from them. It was a learning process for me, for sure! Made me a radical Unconventional! I was scared for her and proud of her at the same time. Thankfully we're all past that intensity, and mostly through the goth mania. Lots of parents have 10-12 year-olds going through the black make up stage--a very different form of "goth wannabe" stuff. And now that we have Hot Topics in the mall selling black goth clothes--well, it's just too mainstream to scare people like it used to.

Centaur	25 Feb 2004
I am thinking perhaps the Secret Tarot... that is very goth and dark. Oooo. C

Emily	25 Feb 2004
The Tarot of the Spirit might be a good Goth deck, it has minors much like the Thoth. Also the Rohrig, again another Thoth clone like deck. :)

CompassRose	25 Feb 2004
Mage: The Ascension is a good one. I know, I know, it looks cartoony and it's based on a roleplaying game... but in fact, I have used it as a reading deck (in rather gothy situations) and it is surprisingly good. The art is also interesting; each "set" (the Majors and each Minor suit) was created by a different artist, so though they are thematically linked, they're also varied. The Giger tarot is superficially impressive and grim, but not, IMHO, a very good Tarot deck. The Vertigo is lovely. I don't read with ours, though. Too delicate, too pretty -- too dang expensive, these days. The cards are, as well, very large. Another interesting one is The Tarots of the Origins (or as I call it, "the Ancient Tarot of Death and Destruction") which is now available as a full deck. Lots of grueful dramatic images of skewered Paleolithic people, and blood.

SongDeva	12 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by EarthAngel2911 Imagemaker, Thank you so much for that beautiful quote! It seems to describe the essence of shadow work, which I believe is very valuable and necessary to become whole. Reading what you wrote, I feel I must be a "goth" and just never knew it?? I'm currently using the Gothic Vampire Tarot for my own shadow work, and I am striving to get to the point where I love myself, warts and all! This aspect of getting to know myself is very important to me. The one thing I didn't quite understand was when you mentioned that "some people react to goths with fear and accusations of devil-worship. " Devil-worship?? Could that be because they choose to dress in black? Of course, how naive of me! I've also heard people react like that to tarot too.... Basically, some minds will call anything that is different Satanic. After all, this is what the (catholic in particular) church has worked very hard to drill into them. I had the same reaction you did, since I'm beginning shadow work: that I'm a goth now. LOL I got the Templar recently because it really appealed to me at this point in my life, and it did not disappoint. Also, I just ordered, Vargo's Gothic after falling in love with contrascarpe96's copy. The Templar is gorgeous, has no borders (very fitting, symbolically) and should not be overlooked.

contrascarpe	12 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by SongDeva Basically, some minds will call anything that is different Satanic. After all, this is what the (catholic in particular) church has worked very hard to drill into them. Boy, if this isn't the truth. Spending the early part of my life in a parochial school, we learned that anything good is a sin. While I appreciate the wonderful education I received (sans the religion part), I certainly do not appreciate all the guilt and self-loathing baggage I always received. As I get older I drift further and further away from the church. When I was in high school, I did a paper in my psychology class on the psychological aspects of the occult. Among the books I read were the Satanic Bible as well as both the Egyptian and Tibetan Books of the Dead. I found that the Satanic Bible was not this evil "kill thy neighbor" type of tome ..... but that is fodder for another thread.

Rusty Neon	19 Mar 2005
Archeon Tarot (upcoming from U.S. Games) http://www.archeontarot.com/ http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/archeon/

Rusty Neon	19 Mar 2005
Basic Tarot (AG Müller) http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/basic/

Lillie	19 Mar 2005
Way back in the darkest depths of history I was a 80's punk goth. Black moheican, black clothes. tattoos and piercings. and the make up! Oh, it was an art in itself. And all this pushing a pushchair! Wot a laff! I am still 'weird', or so I have been told. Not that I try. I think it must be something that is just engrained in me. But then I don't want to look like 'them', or be like 'them'. (come on, you know who 'them' are! They are the ones who look at me funny in supermarkets and whisper.) Any how, There are many decks trying to be 'goth', or 'dark'. But there will only ever be one. It's the one by the black magician, the wickedest man in the world. Come on, you know you want it.... Get yourself a nice green Thoth. Yeah! The green one. That's the spooky one, don't ya know!!!

WolfyJames	20 Mar 2005
I have the Thoth Tarot and I don't find it dark, but rather colorful and modern. ;) I guess it depends of people. I know some faint at the mention of Crowley's name. :D

Lillie	20 Mar 2005
No, I don't find it dark. If people want the stereotypical 'dark', to match the clothes from the 'goth clothes catalogue' they can get one of the many cartoony gothic/vampire decks. Then they can go worship Anne Rice on their 'out of the wicca catalogue' alter. Or if they really want to try to shock their parents they can get the NAOS deck. Which is trying so hard it's got tears in it's eyes and still only succeds in being stightly amusing. If they want something that is trully occult, that has layers and layers of meaning, that has a very jolly dancing death, And that was designed by a man whoes mere name still sends shiver down some people spines... Get the Thoth. It's really the best deck there is.:D

annik	20 Mar 2005
I must agree with WolfyJames here. The thoth deck is pretty much modern and colorful. For reading, I don't know if it is dark. I never try it. But the colors on that deck seems to be more cheery to me. On the other hand, the man behind the deck seems to impress, possitively or negatively depending on the person. I don't think he mind the publicity, even if he is dead (and not able to speak for himself)

Lillie	20 Mar 2005
He speaks to me. He visits in my dreams and whispers in my ear.

Logiatrix	21 Mar 2005
I was a Punk/Goth in the 80's, too. Pale make-up, a mohawk, and black clothes; kind of a "Flock of Seagulls" meets Edward Scissorhands. Being a teenager, I liked pushing buttons with what I wore, what I pierced, or what I did to my hair. I don't recall searching my soul so much; I was more into skipping classes and going out on the weekends. ;) Now, I work at a college, and I know younger people there who are Goths. The styles are similar to what me and my friends wore, but the kids are way more serious than I remember being; very intense and world-aware. I read for a couple of the young ladies, and sometimes the rest of their entourage will want readings, too. One of the girls loves my Inner Child Cards, but none of them particularly cares what deck I use. I think they're just really into the readings. The answers they seek through the cards amaze me, being so much more mature than I was at that same age. :)

The tarot decks for Goths thread was originally posted on 23 Feb 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.