coming out of the closet poll . . .

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 28 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

punchinella	28 Mar 2004
JUST FOR THE HECK OF IT . . . Another decks poll (well, not a poll exactly, but you know what I mean . . . ) We've had threads lately on love/hate, as well as gems that no one but you seems to appreciate ('most underrated,' I think it was called) Let's do deck(s) that you absolutely love to use . . . IN THE CLOSET. You know--that deck that just makes you so so happy, but you're embarassed to let anyone else here know how much you love it (or even that you own/have ever owned it . . . ) ??? Okay, I'll start by saying that I looove Lo Scarabeo's Tarot of Durer, in spite of the fact that . . . well, it is an LS art-themed knock-off (actually, explaining just why a deck embarasses you may be the most difficult part of posting on this thread . . . so let's not bother unless we want to. Okay??? --Okay.) Soooo, post away!!!

contrascarpe	28 Mar 2004
As I grow older and hopefully wiser, I find that not as much bothers me as it used to. I generally freely admit when I like something even though (and probably despite) the concensus thinks differently. That being said, I cannot think of one deck in my collection embarrasses me. There are a couple of decks I own that I DON'T like that embarrass me, but that's not the same thing, lol. As I stated in another thread, I have and like the Durer as well. It is beautifully drawn. I think the only real oddball deck in my collection is the Phantasmagoric Theater. I have not spent a ton of time with it, but it is cute. That is probably the deck that would raise the most eyebrows amongst serious Tarot students. Dan

punchinella	28 Mar 2004
Dan that was very dignified. I wish I too could be so . . . cool . . . when it comes to the opinions (or anticipated opinions) of other people :D

kerri28	28 Mar 2004
Hmmm, the deck that I'd be most embarressed to pull out to do a reading for someone esle would have to be my trusted Louis Canasta! It ain't real pretty and it didn't cost me a bundle but I "luvvvvvvvvvvv" it! It just feels right and has never given me a yuck feeling. Not as pretty as my other deck, Arthurian Tarot, but it is still my fav. Love and Light Kerrie

punchinella	28 Mar 2004
*off Punchinella runs to check out this Louis Canasta* &, I have another confession: Gothic Tarot of Vampires, I want it! I'm not sure why this embarasses me, but it does :D :D :D (& if I hadn't just started this thread, you never would've heard such an admission cross my lips)

kerri28	28 Mar 2004
Well, i've just checked out a new deck that i want to get my hands on and it's really pretty. Probably too pretty! It's called the Gendron and I'm gonna go and get me one. Love and Light Kerrie

miss_apples	29 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by kerri28 Well, i've just checked out a new deck that i want to get my hands on and it's really pretty. Probably too pretty! It's called the Gendron and I'm gonna go and get me one. Love and Light Kerrie I do almost all of my readings with my Gendron Deck. It is great for serious-toned readings in my opinion. Im awaiting the Quest deck in the mail. Im not embarassed of admiring the deck itself. The embarassing part however is the only reason that I absolutly have to have it is for the letters on the cards that can be used like the ouija bored :) edited to add: I meant board not bored...a little fruedian slip there.

Darla	29 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella *off Punchinella runs to check out this Louis Canasta* &, I have another confession: Gothic Tarot of Vampires, I want it! I'm not sure why this embarasses me, but it does :D :D :D (& if I hadn't just started this thread, you never would've heard such an admission cross my lips) Punchinella, don't be embarassed of the Gothic Vampires! They will never forgive you! ;) No serious, it's my absolute favourite deck but from what I heard from other people it doesn't seem to be very popular. It's not a deck for everyone but if the images you saw appeal to you, you will probably enjoy it! Let me know if you get it. Finally someone I could talk to about it!

crystal cove	29 Mar 2004
After taking "embarassment" out of the equation because I'm not the type who cares what anyone thinks about anything I do, I've concluded that my Fantastical deck would probably be the one I enjoy that would raise a few eyebrows.....or loosen a few tongues. ;) I like the artwork and believe it or not, some of the scenes in it are actually humorous despite the sharpness of the art and the somewhat darkness of the deck. I love it. :)

Moongold	29 Mar 2004
Hi Punchinella, The first deck I ever bought was the Witches deck by Ellen Cannon Reid. The Esoteric Bookshop didn't have a Rider Waite and it was a choice between that and the Thoth. My expertise in Tarot at this time was having read a library book the previous week end, becoming compulsively curious. So I bought the Witches and then had to come back to get the RWS because I just couldn't understand Witches :) Now, nobody but nobody uses the Witches. It has images that range from exquisite to excruciating. Some of the guys look like body builders and it's almost embarrassing when those cards fall out, and there is an odd sameness about the Courts. But I love to use it and it gives me fresh and sharp readings. Moongold

Imagemaker	29 Mar 2004
On AT the judgmentalism of "superior minds" is relatively congenial and minor compared to what I've experienced in other arenas, so I boldly come out and say that I've had great experiences with the Londa deck. It's minimalist, strange, and a bit coy in some of its depictions (and the Hanged Man is just wrong!), but I saw it used as a powerful conduit for wisdom by an amazing psychic in London and the memory of that experience forever endears the Londa to me. And it recalls the fun of my daughter's Goth-dressing days.

contrascarpe	29 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella Dan that was very dignified. I wish I too could be so . . . cool . . . when it comes to the opinions (or anticipated opinions) of other people :D Oh my God! I hope my post didn't sound too snobby and apathetic. I just guess I got to the point in my life (aided by my newfound spirituality) where I don't worry about having to make a good general impression (except to my loved ones and in situations where I need to impress, like for my job). I spent the early part of my life as an overweight and extremely introverted child. As I stated in another thread, it has taken me awhile, but I have learned to love who I am for the most part so I don't regret those days at all. In fact, I see them as shaping me to be who I am. And part of that is celebrate who I am and what I like to do. In fact, I cannot wait to have my first encounter with someone who will tell me I will go to Hell because of my involvement with Tarot. The sinister side of me relishes such encounters, hehe. Dan

galadrial	29 Mar 2004
None of my decks embarass me, but I don't mention my liking of the Lord of the Rings deck much because it seems so generally ill favored. I can't really even argue with anyone's points against it; they're all pretty accurate. There's just no accounting for taste, and I like this deck anyway:-)

inanna_tarot	29 Mar 2004
hmm it would have to be my Universal Rider Waite. Its abit silly i know, but the fact that i'm using the "standard" deck just seems completely unoriginal, because every book on tarot has it mentioned, every beginner uses it for a bit before branching out. Lately i have clicked with it abit, but its still embaressing to use. Other than that, the only other embaressing deck people could own would be one of those 'erotic' tarot decks. If i had one id hide it away and never use it for readings. Maybe i'm a prude? Sezo x

Silverlotus	29 Mar 2004
I'm in the same boat as Moongold, sort of. I used the Witches Tarot for a long time, and did a lot of readings for school friends way back when. Some of the cards were embarassing, but, looking back, the imagary probably made it easier for my friends to accept Tarot. *shrug* I've been weeding out my collection, and other then the Witches Tarot, I don't think I have a deck that embarasses me. When I had the Decameron, well, that made me blush. :)

Ilithiya	29 Mar 2004
Hmm... working through what I have in my collection now, I'm tossing in my 1st print Mage: The Ascension. *ducks, grinning* I don't mind mentioning I own it; I hate admitting that I read with it. It's like admitting that after all these years, I really am a geek gamer girl still. Ah, a little embarassment is good for the soul, neh? Illy

Dragons_Wing	29 Mar 2004
both gothic vampire and fantasmal is on my wish list :) the art just really really apeals to me altho i doubt id do any readings for other people w/ the gothic vampire. the images may seem to dark for the most people "In fact, I cannot wait to have my first encounter with someone who will tell me I will go to Hell because of my involvement with Tarot. The sinister side of me relishes such encounters, hehe. Dan" i just told my mom i did tarot and she got the 'oh no my daughter is going to hell sound in her voice' :)

punchinella	29 Mar 2004
Dragons Wing, my mother made that sound too awhile back. Now she owns 8 decks & is a member of the forum :smoker: (& Darla, yeah, I'll be sure & let you know when I get the Gothic Vampires. I think I feel about them pretty much the way galadrial says she feels about LOTR :| )

contrascarpe	29 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Dragons_Wing both gothic vampire and fantasmal is on my wish list :) If you mean the Vargo Gothic, I think you will like what you see. It is a beautifully done deck. I know there is another Gothic Vampire deck out there as well but I am not quite as familiar with it.

Chronata	29 Mar 2004
I don't think anyone who has posted so far has any reason to be embarassed. Those all seem like nice reasonable decks to me. :) Decks you could take home to meet your Mom. I am a bit embarrased to admit I once had a very serious and passionate fling with the Tarot of the Witches. Yes.That One. The 007 James Bond Live and Let Die and All That deck. It lasted for quite a while. We had fun together. Got great readings from it. When that initial spark of passion died down...and I realized just what a strange deck it was, our relationship was over. It just couldn't last. I dumped the deck. I do hope that it forgave me. In time. I occasionally think back fondly of the good times we had... I still, for some reason...have kept the LWB. It's strange how you can have what seems like such a deep lasting love affair with a deck...and in time you realize that it was merely a crush. *Sigh* some people and some decks were just never meant to be together forever....

punchinella	29 Mar 2004
Yes Chronata, well, erm . . . I see that our own page here on Aeclectic has this to say about the deck: James Bond 007 Tarot This deck was featured in a James Bond film, Live and Let Die. It's rather ugly.. and not to be confused with the Witches Tarot, which is far different and much better. --I too hope the deck forgave you, when it came time to say goodbye . . . for one thing, I'd really hate to see what it would look like on a vendetta :joke: (If the deck is offended, I do apologize. OH NO, IT'S . . . IT'S . . . OH NO, I THINK IT MIGHT BE COMING FOR ME NOW . . . !!!)

Chronata	29 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella (If the deck is offended, I do apologize. OH NO, IT'S . . . IT'S . . . OH NO, I THINK IT MIGHT BE COMING FOR ME NOW . . . !!!) Nah...I'm sure that's just the Thoth. It likes to sneak up on people! :) (catch' em unawares...hit 'em over the head with its eeeevil brilliance...then run away cackling furiously!) Hmmm...or maybe that's just MY Thoth deck...

Bean Feasa	30 Mar 2004
I have a more-than-sneaking affection for Tarot of a Moon Garden, but I might well have trouble admitting this in front of a gaggle of Tarot intellectuals! Interesting thread, punchinella!

Dark_angel	30 Mar 2004
I own, and read with the Moon Garden and the Whimsical. They're sweet, and the perfect decks for using with children or when I'm feeling miserable. Another deck I have that I'm not so much embarrassed about but confused because I seem to be the only person who likes it - the Adrian. Virtually everyone I've shown it to really dislikes it, yet I love it to bits.

spoonbender	30 Mar 2004
Hey everyone, I don't own any decks that I'm afraid to admit I own/like, but two did seem to pop into my mind: The Robin Wood Tarot was my first deck and I have to admit I loved it tremendously. Though I've seen a lot of people on the Forum who have this deck, it doesn't seem to be taken very seriously by others. I was really suprised even to hear that some dislike how many people are blond in the deck or that the people are too pretty - I had never noticed that (and it still doesn't bother me, though my taste in decks has changed). Maybe some people also roll their eyes when they hear I have to Tarot Nova - but I love that deck! I never really took the time to check it out before, but then suddenly (a few weeks ago) it just spoke to me and I knew I wanted it. It's cute, sure, but it's very down-to-earth, and though the images are simple, they are very evocative and clear to me (well, most of them anyway). I'm not ashamed to admit I own the Rider-Waite - I think that's a superb deck and have the utmost respect for Pamela Colman Smith. Quote: Another deck I have that I'm not so much embarrassed about but confused because I seem to be the only person who likes it - the Adrian. Virtually everyone I've shown it to really dislikes it, yet I love it to bits. Because I had heard you mention this, Dark_angel, I checked the deck out a while back and find that I'm strangely drawn to it lately. I have read some of your interpretations before and it also made me see that this deck goes deeper than you think. So, who knows, I might buy it in the future... (And yet I keep telling myself after every deck I get that I don't need another!) Warm regards, Spoonbender

mercenary30	30 Mar 2004
That I would say I was embarrassed to own. Now if I had and liked Witchy tarot, that statement wouldn’t be true……. ;)

miss_apples	30 Mar 2004
The tarot of a moon garden was the first tarot that I used religiously. Now Ive outgrown it a bit but I still have a deep affection for it.

tmgrl2	30 Mar 2004
I'm with Merc...but I'm new to Tarot...I own a bunch now...but looks like Universal RWS will be my main one..like the Radiant version...also think I may get into Tarot de Marseilles...wish I hadn't bought the US Games one, though!! terri

Darla	30 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mercenary30 That I would say I was embarrassed to own. Now if I had and liked Witchy tarot, that statement wouldn’t be true……. ;) Is the Witchy Tarot really so bad? I don't think I heard one good thing about it. I saw a few pictures and think it's kind of cute... *ducks in case things are coming flying towards me* ;)

mercenary30	30 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Darla Is the Witchy Tarot really so bad? I don't think I heard one good thing about it. I saw a few pictures and think it's kind of cute... *ducks in case things are coming flying towards me* ;) The problem is not the deck in and of itself, but to me using that deck would be the equivalent of playing with Barbie dolls. There are a number of decks that are obviously for women that I would not wish to own, and that one to me, screams “teenage girl deck”. I am a 35 year old male.........

Darla	30 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mercenary30 The problem is not the deck in and of itself, but to me using that deck would be the equivalent of playing with Barbie dolls. There are a number of decks that are obviously for women that I would not wish to own, and that one to me, screams “teenage girl deck”. I am a 35 year old male......... Alright, I'm getting your point. :D I'm not a teenager anymore but I think as a 20 year old female I would be excused to possess this deck ;) I'm sure it would be fun :)

Mimers	30 Mar 2004
I can't think of one deck that I am embarassed to use. I have the Hansen Roberts deck and love it. Moon Garden is beautiful, but not for me. I never really did care what others thought. I actually drove a purple car for years. My kids were totally embarrased by it, but I didn't care! Mimi

punchinella	31 Mar 2004
Okay Mimers. I too drove a purple car. Mine was a Pontiac Grandville (lavendar, actually) dating from the late seventies. Lunalefey has heard about it :eek: Tell me yours was at least a respectable bug or microbus :D Actually, I'm attracted to Moon Garden/Whimsical/Hanson Roberts etc. as well. Even Witchy Tarot--Darla, yes, it is cute . . . mercenary you're right, I know a 15-year-old who would just absolutely love it (& her name is Samantha too--ooh, is that scary or what!?!) P.

Mimers	31 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella Okay Mimers. I too drove a purple car. Mine was a Pontiac Grandville (lavendar, actually) dating from the late seventies. Lunalefey has heard about it :eek: Tell me yours was at least a respectable bug or microbus :D It was a purple Nissan Sentra. I miss that car. Was in a car accident 3 yrs ago and it was totaled (along with my back). It was a dark, grape colored purple. My son dubbed it the Purple People Eater. He didn't like to be seen in it and would duck sometimes so his friend wouldn't see him. Hehehe })

punchinella	31 Mar 2004
Mimers, it's sad to loose a loved & trusted motorized friend that way. I lost my 'lavendar ogre' when the drive-shaft fell out in the middle of a road trip through the Mohave desert, so I wasn't exactly sorry to see it go :( However, I have also totalled perfectly good cars--ouch! Hopefully you're still babying your back (massage? yoga? chiropractor etc. etc. etc.???)

The coming out of the closet poll . . . thread was originally posted on 28 Mar 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.