Instant Ideas Deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Jun 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Lee	11 Jun 2004
Mark McElroy has created this deck. It exists as images which you can download at his website for free. Even though it's not called a tarot, it has 78 cards and clearly takes its structure and meanings from standard tarot decks. I think it's fascinating, and a great way to work with tarot concepts and at the same time get away from the same old pictures. http://www.tarottools.com/instant-ideas.html You can use the deck with Orphalese Tarot software, or just download the images and look at them. -- Lee

Kiama	11 Jun 2004
My housemate and I have just looked through all the cards, with the subsequent 'ooohs' and 'ahhhs' and 'Oh yeahs!" We both really like this deck, and think it's very straightforward and simple. Fresh and original, and still very close to Tarot. I can easily see it being used by business men and women as an alternative to the occultized decks. Kiama

Imagemaker	11 Jun 2004
I think these images are great! I've looked through the "majors" and look forward to exploring the rest when I have time. Worth the download!

rota	11 Jun 2004
I enjoyed these very much! I loaded these into iPhoto and had myself a little slideshow. They're not exactly tarot, but are clearly derived from tarot roots, and follow along with the thesis of his book 'Putting the Tarot to Work'. (which I can highly recommend, by the way!) It's all about arranging your mindset to make the work of creativity easier.

dolphingirl	12 Jun 2004
Wow those were really neat! I have the book by the same person but havn't had a chance to read it yet. Looks like some interresting ideas on his deck and in the book.

seneris	13 Jun 2004
Thanks for the link. I found the whole website interesting. Mark McElroy has written some interesting articles!

Cerulean	13 Jun 2004
on another forum and have checked his website. He truly is a friendly, approachable author and kindly in his emails. He has an wonderful background as well, which makes him more understanding of what questions people might have in working with tarot. It is delightful to get a thoughtful, open answer when one wants to get a take from someone who might have been trained in more restrictive atmospheres in the past. I've seen him doing supportive things for tarot communities and it is great to see his work in my local bookstores and on the net. Thank you, Lee for linking us to his latest work! Best, Cerulean Mari

baba-prague	14 Jun 2004
Just to second what's been said about Mark. He's great - kind and good fun - and his website and newsletter are worth following for general writing advice as much as for tarot (and humour too.) I've also been looking at these cards. They are an interesting concept and well done. I think I'll spend a bit more time with them once we are less snowed under!

SongDeva	14 Jun 2004
If I'm not mistaken, Mark is a member of AT, and has actually posted a very moving reading he did for himself on spirit communication, in which he communicated with his dad.

MarkMcElroy	14 Jun 2004
Wow! After reading this thread, I need a smiley-face that both smiles & blushes! :) Please accept my thanks for your kind comments -- about the cards, about the book, and about me. I really enjoyed creating the Instant Ideas deck ... and I'm genuinely delighted that other people are downloading the images and putting them to work. My clients who don't care much for Tarot (because it scares them, or because the RWS images just don't provoke a "story response") really like this deck. Everyone from my youngest nephew to my oldest friend seems to enjoy brainstorming and storytelling with these images. The fourteen-card expansion set, also available at TarotTools.com, makes a good "positional deck." I enjoy using these cards to deal out a random spread with random positional meanings, then using the standard 78-card deck to deal cards onto the positions I've created. Insights galore -- and perfect when clients just don't know what they want to ask. If you have any questions about the deck, or want some ideas for putting these images to work in your own creative or mystical endeavors, please let me know. I always welcome your comments and suggestions. Oh -- out of curiosity ... how do you feel about the landscape orientation of these cards (as opposed to the portrait orientation of most Tarot cards)? Mark http://www.tarottools.com

Lee	14 Jun 2004
For these cards, I actually prefer the landscape orientation. I like these cards because they get me out of my "tarot box" (that is, the structures and boundaries my mind has built up around standard tarot), and the landscape orientation helps in that box-busting process. -- Lee

The Instant Ideas Deck thread was originally posted on 11 Jun 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.