Enchanted Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

wolfen045	02 May 2004
I just recently dug this deck out of my collection. I find the artwork to be truly beautiful. However because of the extra heavy card stock used, I find this deck very difficult to shuffle. I would like to use it for readings, but since it is so hard to handle, I never have done so. Does anyone else find this deck too "clunky" to use? Blessings and Blessed Be, wolfen

Cerulean	02 May 2004
I think Wolfy James had used this large deck for many years...others have suggested the mini deck version who found the large size overwhelming. I have an odd affection for oversize decks on light paper such as the ones in Del Vecchio editions with the matte and thin lightweight papers...it would have been great to see the old fashioned images of the Enchanted on such lightweight stock. I don't use this deck often. Maybe it's the size, although I enjoy the large size of the reproductions in the book. Best wishes--looks like I'm agreeing with you. Cerulean Mari

dolphingirl	03 May 2004
This is a deck that never appealed to me before. I really like bright cheery colors and this one just seemed to pastel but the more I look at it I think I will have to take another look at it. Large decks are nice for seeing all the details but I love the smaller decks for shuffeling. Does anyone ever read with this deck for others?

cheekyminx	03 May 2004
I'm not a fan of the enchanted tarot, but I do agree one has to have extra large hands to be able to shuffle the cards. Everyone I gave a reading to with this deck would always complain about the size of the cards. I never connected with them. I prefer the average size card, and so do my friends! So its the Celtic Dragon or Celtic tarot. Some how I don't think that helped. lol

WolfyJames	03 May 2004
I do have this deck and I love it. Even though I have tiny hands, and arthritis, I prefer large decks because I can see the art better, with the details. I think personaly that the shuffling part is not important when you read tarot, it's when you pick up the cards that it's important (I use the fan and pick up method). I don't really shuffle the deck, three or four times, that's all, like I do with all my other decks. As for the thickness, I like it, it makes me feel that the deck will last long. It's been ten years now that I have, and use, the Enchanted, the minors are all illustrated in the same manner, and the same care, than the majors. The deck has quite a victorian style, with the embroidery and lace, still there are some cards that are quite vibrant, the Ace of Wands being an excellent exemple with it's vibrant fushia.

Shalott	03 May 2004
Recently, I decided to get a Zerner-Farber instead, partially because of the size of Enchanted, and the titles are more artistic, to me. Other than that, it's the same thing. The ZF is a little bit smaller than Enchanted, and I think it's a little smaller than standard...it's on its way! Looks gorgeous!

Jewel-ry	03 May 2004
I have the Enchanted and did use it a lot at one time. It is worth having just for the book imo. I almost bought the ZF too at one time because even though its the same deck, it looks so totally different! J :)

wolfen045	03 May 2004
I agree that this deck is worth owning for the book. I love the artwork, I just wish it was easier to handle. Like WolfyJames, I have arthritis and I keep dropping cards when handling oversize decks. Blessings and Blessed be, wolfen

Ruby7	03 May 2004
Having small hands also I usually prefer the smaller decks. But comparing the Zerner Faber (smaller version of Enchanted) to the Enchanted, I definitely prefer the Enchanted. I had the Zerner Faber and I gave it to a friend. I find the designs are too busy for a small card and they really need a nice white soothing border to let the eye escape. The newer edition of the Enchanted being printed is actually being printed on more flimsy card stock with the colours being not as vibrant. I know because I bought a deck from Chapters and returned it. I got an older Enchanted deck from an E-bay auction and have been quite happy with it. The card stock is thick and the cards are difficult to shuffle but I like the quality. Ruby7

Shalott	04 May 2004
Argh - that so bugs me when they start doing that - printing a great deck in poorer quality - on Amazon.com, there is a review of the Universal Waite that said it used to be clearer and more vibrant (can't verify?) and somebody here said they recently got a brand new Fournier and the Bateluer looked blurry...I just got my Hadar and even that looks a bit blurry (could be my contacts, LOL). Why o why! I was pretty well sold on Enchanted, of course you can only tell so much from online samples, until I read that they were FIVE INCHES in length!!! Although I'd go along with artwork appearing better that way, I really don't think I could do much..."Um, Dad, can you come here and shuffle these for me?" You know how they make card shufflers for playing cards? I kinda wish they'd do that for Tarot!

Emily	04 May 2004
I have the Enchanted too with the book. I bought it from a bargain bookshop so although I'd never seen any of the cards I couldn't just walk away. It is a nice deck but I don't think I've every really connected with it. The cards are big and thick and because of this I can't shuffle it in the style that I shuffle my other large decks. This thread is making me want to take another look at it though. :)

raeanne	05 May 2004
Hi all, I have both the Enchanted and ZF decks. The Enchanted is, as everyone has said, very difficult to shuffle! I have small hands and it is just impossible for me to get these cards shuffled in any way other than just putting them on the table, stirring them up, and then having to collect them all together again and get them straightened up. The ZF deck is so much easier to shuffle. The problem I have with the ZF deck is that it appears to me that the images were improperly resized to fit the smaller cards. Some of the images seem to be scrunched or distorted. The details are also very difficult to see in the ZF deck. The book that comes with the Enchanted deck is very nice. I'm happy having both decks!

13thFaeChylde	05 May 2004
(looks at hands and wonders if they're supersized) I just got this deck from SongDeva and am enchanted with it. I used to love to make collages and would spend hours on them, so I guess that makes a connection for me. As to the size issue, I have another deck that is even larger and harder to shuffle, so this one doesn't really faze me so much. That, and the fact that I have long spider fingers!

brennamor	05 May 2004
I really like the Enchanted (in fact sometimes I forget how much I like it). But I have to agree that it's pretty difficult to shuffle. A few solutions to this have already been suggested. What I do is use it as a comparative deck. So I shuffle the main deck (right now it's the Mythic) and then pull the matching cards from Enchanted. Makes things much easier :D

dolphingirl	05 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by brennamor I really like the Enchanted (in fact sometimes I forget how much I like it). But I have to agree that it's pretty difficult to shuffle. A few solutions to this have already been suggested. What I do is use it as a comparative deck. So I shuffle the main deck (right now it's the Mythic) and then pull the matching cards from Enchanted. Makes things much easier :D I shuffle alot of my decks that way :) My favorite deck to use for the shuffling is the Miniature Albana Waite, it is just the perfect size for my small hands. I use this method with large decks or decks that i just want to keep absolutely pristine. :) You're the first person I have heard of that shuffles like that! :)

Oxala	06 May 2004
I really love this Deck, It is my first deck that I really got aquainted with so I never noticed how the cards are so much bigger. I did have a real hard time shuffling, but eventually I figured out how to make it work.

Majecot	06 May 2004
This was my first deck, I ended up giving it to my sister in law afer eight years and she loves it. Plays with it every day! I love big cards ( I have small hands too) I have Enchanted in my hands again :D and am very happy to have the set again. I also have Rohrig too that I use frequently, they are not quite as stiff but they are bigger. I hold them side to side and shuffle them that way. I am careful not to bend too much. It is a deck that will last you a long time. Like I said my first deck is now eight, and even though they are somewhat worn they are in great shape.

Shalott	13 May 2004
Now that my ZF has arrived - and it IS tiny but I do like it - I'm wondering if the meanings are based on Thoth - from what very little I know of Thoth the minors seem to correspond to those meanings.

WolfyJames	13 May 2004
To my surprise as well, the Enchanted has many similar Thoth cards, the Two of Pentacles being a perfect exemple.

Shalott	17 May 2004
Argh I have been wading through so much here I finally got around to coming back to this question...thanks, Wolfy James, like your example in our Old English discussion, I found that card in ZF to more similar to what you said than anything I'd known before, a couple others I've noticed. Got Enchanted now too. Gorgeous decks...apparently "medium" isn't in their vocabulary tho! :)

SpiritWalker	18 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by wolfen045 I just recently dug this deck out of my collection. I find the artwork to be truly beautiful. However because of the extra heavy card stock used, I find this deck very difficult to shuffle. I would like to use it for readings, but since it is so hard to handle, I never have done so. Does anyone else find this deck too "clunky" to use? Blessings and Blessed Be, wolfen I know what you mean. I bought it when it was first published but didn't care for the bulkiness of the cards after I got it. It is a pretty deck but I can't bring myself to read with it.

Logiatrix	22 May 2004
After years of an on-again-off-again relationship with the Z/F--which I do still love, I have finally invested in the Enchanted Tarot...and I think it's a keeper. On the larger deck, the whole tapestry image is visible, and the colors really are more vibrant; I also like the backs. I didn't think I'd like the border, but since I've worked with it, I think the border enhances the display of the artwork quite nicely. The larger size of the Enchanted is not an issue since I don't "riffle" shuffle my decks (I lay them on the cloth and "swish" them around). The card thickness is a welcome change from the flimsy-ness of the Z/F, a deck which I replaced twice in four years (that's with constant use); however, I don't foresee having to replace the Enchanted. Overall, it's a nice change with all positives. :D

The Enchanted Tarot thread was originally posted on 02 May 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.