My first TdM, Hadar's Le Véritable Tarot de Marseille

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

Aure	23 Apr 2004
I got my new deck today! :* :) Oh, I've been ignoring the TdM decks unaware of their beauty! I feel like turning towards that system for a while, maybe I'll return to the RWS later. I printed some info from Kris Hadar's website and I'm going to start studying now! What do you think of this deck? I think the colors are nice, not too loud and 'modern' and the backs are very pretty!! It looks like the kind of deck that will age nicely. :)

Diana	23 Apr 2004
I love Kris Hadar's deck. Not only do I love the deck, but I love the man too. But I discovered his deck before the man. I have got to know him better since then and the more I learn from him, the more I realise the depths he went into his restoration of the Marseille. And it has made me respect the deck even more. He recognised the Greatness of the Tarot of Marseille and has done his utmost to do it Justice. There are probably details now he would change because he too is ever-learning and discovering new things all the time. But this does not remove the fact that it is one of the finest Tarot of Marseille that we can find today. The backs are particularly appealing, aren't they? And Aure: If ever you have a particular question on this deck, like why there is some detail on it which you don't understand... let me know. Kris Hadar is willing to share his insights with us. He is not a member, but I can relay the questions and the answers. Right now, he is recovering from an operation but slowly will be regaining his former incredible energy and punch and will be available again for questions soon.

Astraea	23 Apr 2004
Aure, Diana turned me on to this deck, too, and I'm so glad! It is very beautiful and rich. (Diana, the card backs are gorgeous!) I don't know much about the TdM, but have developed a strong interest in its history and lore. The very knowledgeable people who regularly contribute to the History and Iconography forum have strong feelings about their favorite TdM decks, and I can certainly understand why.

Jewel-ry	23 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Aure Oh, I've been ignoring the TdM decks unaware of their beauty! I feel like turning towards that system for a while, maybe I'll return to the RWS later. Maybe you will ... and maybe you wont :D Seriously, I love this deck. The more I learn about the TdM the more I prefer it to RWS. Enjoy! J :)

crystal cove	23 Apr 2004
I've been working mostly with my new Heron, but the Hadar is still my favorite of the TdMs.

punchinella	24 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel-ry Maybe you will ... and maybe you wont :D Seriously, I love this deck. The more I learn about the TdM the more I prefer it to RWS. Yeah, all those beautifully 'illustrated' minors in all those decks I used to love so much . . . well, lately they seem to have turned a bit 'flat' somehow . . . This deck is so beautiful isn't it. Aure, I'm so glad you've discovered it as well. I too love the subtle coloring, & the backs--aaah, such backs (backs are important, arent they!) Have you found a 'home' yet for your new deck, a box or special bag? --This is one that deserves the very best you can provide :D

Aure	24 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella Have you found a 'home' yet for your new deck, a box or special bag? --This is one that deserves the very best you can provide :D Well, I do have some idea where I will place it... I have for now kept it in its box but I have this nice handmade bag I made from some left over fabric of my wedding gown (it is white silk brocade with golden designs, crowns and crosses) that has a zipper. I also have a black drawstring bag (I have several drawstring bags I keep switching) made of chinese silk with black dragon embroideries. The problem is that I don't want the cards to slide around and even if I wrap the deck in a purple silk scarf I have (which I simply love) they still move a little inside the bag. Well, I guess the white/golden bag is the tightest one, I can barely slide them inside so I guess it is good... Hmm... what do you think?

Astraea	24 Apr 2004
One of the members (I forget who, I'm sorry) mentioned some time ago that she keeps her cards together with a fabric-covered elastic hair band -- that would keep them from sliding around in a pretty bag.

Diana	24 Apr 2004
I have never understood the importance people attach to where they put their cards. But just because I don't understand it, doesn't mean that I think it's silly. (Well..... okay, I admit it, I do think it's a bit silly. :D :D :D. ) But I have thought long and hard about your dilemma, and have decided you should do your very first reading on this. It's a fun opportunity to practice reading your cards... and why not grab every opportunity???? "Which bag would provide a safer environment for Aure's cards, so that they stay in a ship-shape condition for as long as possible?" Card no. 1: White bag Card no. 2: Black bag Card no. 3: A completely different alternative. (By the way, if you really want to do things the Continental way, and the way the French people mostly draw their cards.... it is by fanning out your cards and not flipping them over as if you're playing bridge!) Your second reading could be: What would be the best way to use these cards? 1) Shuffling, 2) Flipping, 3) Either way is good. It's just a way to practice without asking your cards about serious matters so you get to know them. Although everything is serious when it comes to Tarot, I suppose.

Moonbow*	24 Apr 2004
You already have some great posts here so I will just say that this is my favourite Marseilles too, so far I haven't felt inclined to add another Marseilles deck to my list because I love this so much. (maybe later a Grimaud or Camoin!! :D) but at the moment I feel that every time I use this deck I notice something new about it. Great choice

Aure	24 Apr 2004
I have to ask, is it better to use just the majors first as Kris Hadar suggests on his pages? I have read a little about TdM now but I have to have more info!!! It is very interesting, the whole system, history, colors, symbology.. I don't take the bag issue too seriously. I like the bag I made myself but the box is also good.

Diana	24 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Aure I have to ask, is it better to use just the majors first as Kris Hadar suggests on his pages? I don't think that is necessary. :) But of course, all Tarot readings can be done successfully with the 22 Majors only.

Rusty Neon	24 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Aure I have to ask, is it better to use just the majors first as Kris Hadar suggests on his pages? In most of Hadar's published tarot-instruction books, he teaches divination with the major arcana only. The one or two books of his that include the minor arcana, there are only brief divinatory meanings on the minor arcana, and not much of looking at the non-scenic pictorial details of the pip cards and court cards.

punchinella	24 Apr 2004
To persist with the triviality, I just have to ask: Aure, why don't you want your cards to slip around? All my decks slip! Oh gees--another thing to start worrying about :eek: Oh & regarding limiting yourself to majors-only . . . but the pips are a large part of what make this deck so wonderful, I love these pips!!! The happy thought of looking at them draws me out of bed in the morning! (But suit yourself . . . no pun intended . . . )

Aure	24 Apr 2004
I have learned a way now to wrap my cards in a scarf so that they remain clean and then I slip them in the white bag (okay, white/golden yellow bag). I just love the cards, can't stop shuffling them and I woke up this morning feeling eager to see them again... I even dreamed of the deck, I think I'm in love... :*

Le_Corsair	24 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Diana But of course, all Tarot readings can be done successfully with the 22 Majors only. I've noticed that Marseilles readers tend to do a lot of majors-only readings. Curious..... :laugh: Bob :THERM

Shalott	24 Apr 2004
:o That's amazing when just dozing off I'll dream about this deck too and I don't even have it yet!!! WEIRD!!! When I was first learning in Jr Hi, I had only drawn for myself Majors, and now to this day minors, ALL minors, feel a bit awkward to me. Just because of that I'd learn em as soon as I can...but again 'sup to U!!!

Rusty Neon	24 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Le_Corsair I've noticed that Marseilles readers tend to do a lot of majors-only readings. Curious..... :laugh: Bob :THERM A good number of Francophone psychics when using the TdM use only the major arcana. It seems that they will only use the full deck if it's a RWS or RWS-inspired deck or if it's a Grand Etteilla deck.

Diana	25 Apr 2004
I'm glad you brought that up again, Bob. Tarotphelia said in Rusty Neon's poll on whether the RWS is a Tarot deck or not, that the 22 Major Arcana are probably sufficicient to call a deck "Tarot". I am looking forward to us discussing that one day in Talking Tarot. I think she brought up a very interesting concept there.

punchinella	25 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Rusty Neon A good number of Francophone psychics when using the TdM use only the major arcana. It seems that they will only use the full deck if it's a RWS or RWS-inspired deck or if it's a Grand Etteilla deck. But Grand Etteilla is pipped, no? So what's the difference? (Astrological etc. correspondences???)

Rusty Neon	25 Apr 2004
Quote: Originally posted by punchinella But Grand Etteilla is pipped, no? So what's the difference? (Astrological etc. correspondences???) The Grand Etteilla deck has keywords printed on the court cards and (non-scenic) pip cards. The presence of those keywords ends up encouraging the use of the full deck for readings. [by the way, because of the various innovations that etteilla made to his deck, opinion is divided as to whether the grand etteilla is or is not a true tarot deck. i say that is.]

Melissa`	16 Jun 2004
I hope you are still enjoying your Hadar deck, Aure. I haven't truely ever owned a Marseille deck before myself. I fell in love with pictures on the main AT site and hearing everyone else talk about it. Yesterday I caught an ad that Umbrae left in the Ad forum. So I carried myself right on over to the Tarot Garden website and bought one for myself. (shameless plug for them hehe) At this moment I'm really excited and have been reading in the History forums for .. well.. the first time actually that I have been here at AT. Just wanted to share my happiness briefly here. :D Melissa

The My first TdM, Hadar's Le Véritable Tarot de Marseille thread was originally posted on 23 Apr 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.