The most human deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

paradoxx	06 May 2004
That would be the Cosmic Tarot by Norbert Losche. Losche used Celebrities and well-known individuals for reference and creative impulse. This not only sets the modern tone, but Losche continued went so far as to add modern day details such as Planes, Tanks, Automobiles, wardrobe selections ranging from business suits to tee-shirt & Jeans. To add a final touch, since the cerative fire that is crystalized in thsi deck is inspired from the pantheon of the media, the cards happen to bear strking resembelences to people we encounter on a daily basis. All humans must share some similar feature, so for some of the real-life inspired to have a feeling of familarity is not unusual, but it also makes the deck easier to connect with. The reindition of the facial features is not exact to their ispiration, and that only makes the possibility of a closer-to-home tarot reading. In a nutshell: the people portrayed in the Cosmic Tarot may end up looking like your family member or friend thus making the readings intensely personal. Its a paradox don't you think?

Aoife	06 May 2004
Errr... my family members bear no resemblance to celebrities! Some of them may try to model themselves upon... but they usually grow out of it, lol. I think my loved-ones are much too interesting and sophisticated to want to identify with someone just cos they're in the media. Seriously... how does this link with the idea that this deck is in some way more human? I'm bemused.

Sulis	06 May 2004
I agree with Aoife. I like the court cards in the Cosmic but I think I could identify with them more if they were just realistically drawn without being celebrities. Celebrities to me seem somehow unreal, plasticy :) If anything it's the celebrities in this deck which have stopped me from using it so much. I think the Cosmic Tribe is a much more 'human' deck: Fat folks, thin folks, folks of every colour. Now they look like real people. Love Sulis xx

firemaiden	06 May 2004
Agreed with Aoife and Sulis re: family facial features. Nor does "modernity" have any pull with me, in terms of adding to the humanity of a deck. Airplanes, Tanks, automobiles etc, are machines. Machines are inhuman. Still I like the deck for its dreamy quality.

Astraea	06 May 2004
Paradoxx, I think I know what you're getting at and can see how the deck would strike you in that way -- the well-known people imaged in some of the cards act as portals of consciousness for you. I guess that is the hallmark of a deck that really speaks to one. The Cosmic is one of my favorites, primarily because of its dreamy and mysterious quality (as Firemaiden points out), its style and its original, inventive takes on so many of the cards. For me, the Cosmic seems cool, remote and iconic, and these are the very qualities that draw me in (rather than the human element). I think it is one of the most beautiful and compelling decks ever created.

Macavity	06 May 2004
Well, it still rates as my second favourite deck. :) I don't have problems with the Court Cards as Film STARS (Least it's not Posh 'n' Bex!) I guess the question centres around whether they represent archetype? Or whether they distort some traditional "meaning" perhaps? They don't have to be "human" for my purposes - nor are they particularly, in this instance... but rather above that perhaps? Sometimes THESE cards provide a break from a (somewhat!) Hogarthian nightmare of my environment? O.K. - Perhaps a bad idea to go "down the pub" last night! :laugh: All that said, I do try to read off the traditional Thoth keyword association as a trigger, rather than the deck-specific image... which I use to embellish and as it STANDS. But overall his is perhaps the only deck with modern characters and props DON'T irritate me! Heck, I even adapted to the "punk" devil too! ;) The deck still contains the notable "highs" such as the Three of Swords and "Death". I cannot help feel even some (claimed) "neutral" characters of other decks DO look quite like... well, frankly the artists preference for a date? Wickedly I suggest that IS true of the Cosmic Tribe! Not too many "tonsillory" or "midriff challenged" guys around? :P The only thing that confuses me in Losches work is the "cones of light" here and there and some "fiddling" with the (Thoth?) astrological associations of the aforesaid courts. Macavity

Cerulean	06 May 2004
I'm interested in those who commented or have the Cosmic Tribe or have seen it...I did have it at one point, but it wasn't for me. It became a delightful gift to a very good friend. But how someone starts from a 'known' or 'familiar' aspect to connect with the face/figure of the person depicted sounds right and wonderful--what a powerful meditative draw this would be. More my style, I've seen the Ananda. The morphing/dreamy aspect of 'famous' faces from, I think, mostly an European standpoint, seemed to be interesting...although at the time, I preferred to give up the German one...may be obtaining the English one, soon... I am also wondering if the black-and-white photography mix of famous and period faces from the New York Tarot for would be appealing for meditative or storytelling, as well, but didn't want to pay the Ebay price at the time. Thanks for starting my ideas about photographic tarots to begin to awaken... Cerulean

paradoxx	08 May 2004
The Sacred Circle and the Faeires Ring are both done with enhanced photography. Both available by Llewlen Since the Prince of Cups and the Prince of Pentacles both bear a striking resemblence to me it lends to a more personal human perspective (they even match the shades of my drivers licence and identification :) ). The prince of wands and the king of cups look like a couple of friends, the my sister, who has had her hair dyed many times, looks like the princess of pentacles and the woman in the 9 of pentacles. Adding Technology to the reading makes the symbolisim that much more direct(being a technopagan it seems natural) the phone and black car in the four of pentacles for example could relate to waiting for a phone call about the progress of auto repairs. The 9 of swords shows the plane and tank in combat, thus igniting the Thoth keyword "Cruelty" and keeping in tune with the Marsilles/RW nightmare motif. War is hell, plain and simple. I think the man in the 5 of cups is supposed to be John Travolta. Its the fact that the people in the ar can, and probably, will bear resemblences to someone whom you know. The mystical tone to the deck only adds to teh depth of the reading, if you know what to look for (hence the symbolism of the crown, the cars, telephone, and other small bits and pieces.). And i have yet to see another deck that shows people dressed in t-shirts and jeans (2 of pent, 6 of pent) I agree, what i have seen with the Cosmic Tribe deck is that it is a deck of humanity, but it feels like it has even a deeper iconic presentation than Loshes deck. but thats just my opinion. As far as The Cosmic Tarot being an fantasy, iconic, and "dreamy" deck: Merrily Merrily merrily, Life is but a dream.

Suriel	08 May 2004
Wow, paradoxx, this is too 'real'! Somehow, i think, these human like tarot decks are usually not very intuitive, because of their images -- too limited to what it ahs to say, because you would easily just take the meanings of the images, which you know very well in reality, and ignore those hidden meanings.... I just want to ask you, paradoxx, does you tarot deck intuitive? i mean, at least, you feel more than what is shown on the cards, when you first see the cards.... Thanks. Lswern

Jewel	10 May 2004
Personally I do not encounter celebrity types in my everyday life, and do not equate humanism to modernism so I do not find the Cosmic as the most human deck. I would have to agree with Sulis on the Cosmic tribe, as it incorporates varied body types, etc. The Cosmic Tribe has been my primary deck for about 3 years, and I find that it also captures other aspects of our society (in a psychodelic way) such as emotions, and the masks we wear. With its 3 lovers cards it also addresses love between heterosexulas, and those who prefer same sex relationships. Another human deck is the Healing Tarot, which also uses photography and every individual in the deck is a human. This deck is most definetly Raider Waite based, but uses real people to bring to life the cards.

paradoxx	10 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Lswern Wow, paradoxx, this is too 'real'! Somehow, i think, these human like tarot decks are usually not very intuitive, because of their images -- too limited to what it ahs to say, because you would easily just take the meanings of the images, which you know very well in reality, and ignore those hidden meanings.... I just want to ask you, paradoxx, does you tarot deck intuitive? i mean, at least, you feel more than what is shown on the cards, when you first see the cards.... Thanks. Lswern I do intuit hidden and unconcious meanings in the Cosmic Tarot. The shadow of the figure of Death shattering the sword on the ground before for example. Or the snake coiling up the jungle reed on the 9 of wands. The court cards are set up like a family structure and the physical similarties with me and other people i Know with some of the images is a strong psychic point. I am by nature, abstract, so to me the Cosmic Tribe Tarot feels more iconic than the Cosmic Tarot does. finally, the phrase "the most human deck" may not have been correct, but there is a very honest and human feeling with Loshes Cosmic Deck, as it seems to trancend its meanings with a passionate imagination infused in the very color scheme.

The The most human deck thread was originally posted on 06 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.