Finding the deck for Me. A soon ending quest. (I hope)

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

TaranRavenfrost	19 Jul 2004
Its horrible. Its a gaping hole. I cant stand it. What is the hole not filled with? A Tarot deck. I have tried the Thoth. I found the Pips to be uninspiring, and well, blah. I have tried the Robin Wood. I have found them to be beautiful, and extremly accurate, but I cannot read them from the pictures, I keep referring to the LWB (ive only been studying the RWS imagery for like 3 days). I have tried the RWS, it is so bland and badly drawn that it has no hope for me. I have tried the Tarot Nova. Still, No. I want the deck that makes my heart swell, that brings me ectasy from the very sight of it. What I am asking of you, my fellow Tarotholics, is to help my find MY true deck. I dont care how you come up with your suggestions, just make sure the deck fits me. You have read my post (I hope) you know my personality (kinda), so, you tell me. What deck reminds you of me? I am a Gemini, a true one. I love Egyptian Symbology, Kabballah, Pagan and Wiccan Symbolism. I kinda like dark but not scary decks. I LOVE the Mary-El and the Stygian Darkness (the SD had too much nudity though). I would also like a deck that can be read intuitivly. Thanks You in advance. I know someone can help me find MY deck.

Little Baron	19 Jul 2004
It's a shame that you don't like the Thoth pips as I would have thought that would have suited the criteria ... dark but not too scary, the Eqyptian and Kaballah references etc. I use the Rohrig often because of the wonderful imagery, the darkness and quality of the art ... but if nudity is a problem, you probably wouldn't like that one. I am not offended by nudity but originally, even though I don't feel like that anymore, it seemed a little tasteless and dated in that deck - a bit like those posters of semi-dressed women, airbrushed in the 1980's. I love the deck now, however. There is so much praise for the Vargo Gothic here. Would that be an option??? The Pagan 2000 has beautiful majors and the pips are not bad but I wonder if they may be too uninspiring for you as well. Will have to think about this some more; the perfect deck is probably right under all of our noses. I hope someone comes up with it soon, as I understandm from past experience how demotivating it is to continue with your studies when you just can't nail that perfect deck to aid you with the enthusiasm of your adventure. Keep us posted Yaboot

TaranRavenfrost	19 Jul 2004
Thank You Yaboot! The Gothic Tarot is not my style. The Pagan 2000 looks like it was drawn with crayons. I LOVE the art from the Faeries Oracle. I kinda like the Via. I am checking more into it. I do like the Rhorig! BUT, I hate the Chariot card! With the car? I hate it! Any new thoughts?

Little Baron	19 Jul 2004
Yeah, alot of people don't like the Chariot from the Rohrig. My stomach fell when I first saw it as well (after purchase). Someone said it looked like those dated 1980s birthday cards and I have to agree, even though it doesn't bother me so much now. I am totally stumped about which deck, but I will keep it in mind, and let you know if I come up with any more suggestions. Yaboot

LadyMedusa	19 Jul 2004
Have you had a look at the Haindl? It's got alot going on in the majors and courts, it's not a really dark deck, but it flirts with it. The pips are alot quieter than the majors. It's not that they don't have as much to say, they just have a lower volume. Oh and you said you are a true Gem, you may find that you need a deck for each of you...lol LADYMedusa and LadyMEDUSA (another true Gemini)

Little Baron	19 Jul 2004
There is always the Fantastical. I have this one and love most of the cards. Wouldn't fir with the Kabbalah and Egyptian interests though ... still thinking.

TaranRavenfrost	19 Jul 2004
I think the Haindl is OK, but the Pip cards are again, boring. I really do LOVE the Thoth and my Robin Wood. Everytime (and I mean EVERY time) I ask my Robin Wood if it is my true deck, I get the 2 of cups. If I ask my Thoth deck it gives me smart ass awnsers like "The Moon". Grrr! THIS IS A PRAYER TO THE DECK FOR ME: I wish I may, I wish I might For a deck to hold in day and night A deck to love, and love me back To forwarn me of a brutal attack I know your out there, somewhere near Please send out a call for me to hear. (Yes, that was made up on spot, so dont make fun of it too much). Please keep me in mind! Let me know if you think of one!

TaranRavenfrost	19 Jul 2004
I like the Fantastical. But Ive heard that the cards images dont show the real meanings. I love being able to read something just by looking. I can do this with my Thoth Majors, but the minors confuse me with their keywords. Hmm, how are the Minors on the Via Tarot?

lunakasha	19 Jul 2004
Hey TaranRavenfrost!!! My, you are not making this easy for us are you??? ;) I had a couple of thoughts.... The Hanson Roberts is a really nice deck that closely follows the RWS imagery and is very easy to read with....also not quite as "fluffy" as it may appear initially....it has an edge! Another deck that "flirts" with darkness is the Secret Tarot..... again, the pips are fully illustrated and very intuitive to read with IMO. I was not sure if you had considered either of these.... Hope you find your dream deck soon!!! :) Luna

morandia	19 Jul 2004
tarot of the old path?

TaranRavenfrost	19 Jul 2004
I did consider the Hanson-Roberts, but I like the Robin Wood more, so I bought it. I have new revelations! Now, this is not for those who dont believe in decks finding them, but, here it goes: When I first begun my searche for Tarot, I wanted the Thoth, but someone told me not to get it because it was created by a Satanist (Aleister Crowley, What a lie)So, I thought I would buy the most traditional deck, the RWS to learn with. Well, the cards didnt appeal to me, so I didnt continue. Well, recently I started Tarot again, and I bought the Thoth after doing alot of research. The deck would NOT come in the mail! It just got here the 18th, and I ordered it the 1st of July! Anyway, while I was waiting on the Thoth deck (we will call the deck in the mail deck 1) I went, out of impatients, to the bookstore and bought Thoth deck 2. Well, I reallyliked it, but the minors confused me. So, I decided to learn on a RWS deck. I looked at alot, and decided that I would buy one the day Deck 1 came in, and exchange it for the new RWS based deck. Now, you have to understand. EVERYTHING lined up perfectley in order for me to get my Robin Wood deck. The deck came in early that day, my Mom had already planned to go to the mall on that day, and that night I had a dream about the Robin Wood. So, I went and bought the Robin Wood. Since then (I got the Robin Wood Sunday) I have asked Seven (count them, SEVEN) times if the Robin Wood deck was my deck. And all seven of the times I have gotten the Two of Cups. Every Single TIME! I wouldnt lie to myself and make this up or stack the deck, I am serious. Tell me your thoughts! BTW, the more I shuffle the RW, the more I like it. The more ectasy I get from it. Although, I get MORE ectasy from my Thoth deck. Whats the deal? Have I found MY deck?

lunakasha	19 Jul 2004
LOL.....I enjoyed reading your post Taran!!! I think that only you can answer the question of whether or not you have found YOUR deck in the Robin Wood....it sounds to me like maybe you have already come to that conclusion, which is wonderful!!! I guess that maybe time will tell....the important thing is that you have made a connection with this deck (and with the Thoth) so maybe the next thing to do is just spend some time getting to know these two, and you can always add more to your collection in time.... :) Luna

Dark Inquisitor	19 Jul 2004
Try the Spiral . It is dark, emotional, but also quite inspiring and beautiful . It mixes a lot of stuff together with good effect. Fully illustrated, no pips .

Logiatrix	20 Jul 2004
To add, soon or eventually: Ancient Egyptian Tarot, by Clive Barret. :)

TaranRavenfrost	20 Jul 2004
Hmmm. I like the Ancient Egyptian, its just not what I am looking for. Like I said, I like the Mary-El Tarot. I guess I want a deck I can trust. I constantly find my self second guessing the Robin Wood because I think she might have put things in there without knowing it, or something. I look at the Thoth and trust it because of its creator. He knew about magic, and symbology. therefore, i trust it. I just want a deck I can trust and love. I want one that IS me.

Logiatrix	20 Jul 2004
Sooooo... Are you going to get the Mary-El? I mean...well??? :rolleyes: :D

TaranRavenfrost	20 Jul 2004
The Mary-El isnt availible yet, or I would. I emailed her, and she hasnt responed. But, when it does come out, I am buying it! I love that deck SO much. It reminds me of the Thoth. By the way, I have narrowed my search down to two differnt decks that I already happen to have, the Robin Wood or the Thoth. Mind you I am a beginner, so its hard to decide which path to take, the RWS or the Thoth. I have studied the Thoth way more then i have studied RWS imagery. So, I know what the Thoth Majors mean, and have a small idea about the minors. But, I did a reading with the thoth, and I got the Tower, the Magus, um, The moon, and some other stuff that lead me to believe that i am obsessing about Tarot when I should be thinking of school (orientation tomarrow). My Robin Wood keeps giving me the 9 of cups. WTF? I cant read RWS yet. I am leading toward the Thoth unless you can persuade me elsewise. O, and i am a very magickal person (belief wise) so I think the Thoth draws me there too. Its just kinda hard. As soon as I pick up the thoth i want the Robin Wood, and vice versa. DANG its hard!

Eco74	20 Jul 2004
Albeit somewhat unwilling... ;o) Personally I use the Robin Wood for readings and the Fantastical as a more personal deck since it speaks to me directly and just pierces my inner chore. I get nothing but straight answers from the Robin Wood and I love it because it leaves no room for doubt. (There is room for me to improve my phrasing but that is another story altogether...) I also canīt believe the images in the Fantastical donīt sit right with you... For me the eyes say it all even with the occational "posed" character. But, my point is.. Even though you have found 'Your' deck that does NOT mean you are not allowed to have another 'Your' deck meant for personal readings and/or personal development. Why not get the faeries oracle deck since you already appreciate the art? You have the tarot, now go yonder and get thee an oracle! *sheesh* ;oþ

TaranRavenfrost	20 Jul 2004
I NEVER said I didnt like the Fantastical. Infact that was on my list, right below the Dragon Tarot. I am just a little limited on money (being an unemployed 15 year old). I think I will learn the Thoth first, then go onto the Robin Wood. But who knows, I will probaly change my mind tomarrow. Any whose-it, I will eventually learn both. Its just that coming from the little Thoth background i have, reading a RWS deck just feels strange, like I cant pick up the meanings without reading the LWB. Anyway, thanks for everyones help! I will still be on the lookout for MY deck, and until then I will use the Thoth and Robin-Wood.

jema	20 Jul 2004
Mary-El is a stunning deck, it does have nudity though, especially the Aces. So if nudity is an issue it is perhaps not the best deck for you. I will chime in with the others here and recommend Spiral tarot. Although I think you already have the best deck - thoth:-) Have you seen Gill tarot? It is a bit different. But I love it and it does have a lot of Kaballah in it and some Egyptian themes as well.

Major Tom	20 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by TaranRavenfrost I just want a deck I can trust and love. I want one that IS me. There is one sure fire way to get what you want. Create your own tarot deck. ;)

Little Baron	20 Jul 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Major Tom There is one sure fire way to get what you want. Create your own tarot deck. ;) Major Tom, you just took the words right out of my mouth!!! lol. And if you are a beginner, it might be a good exercise to draw up cards, learning about the imagery from each of the decks you have and using the symbols that you consider important in your own deck. They don't have to be the most sophisticated images in the world, but could aid you why you are still on the look out for a published deck. Would help with the finances as well. The more decks you buy, under this confusion, possibly, the more confused you might get. If creating a deck does not appeal, then I am with Lunakasha, and think maybe just stick with the ones you have until the right one comes along. As people often say on there, the magic is within you and not the cards, so in that sense, you can't go wrong. Hope that helps. Yaboot

tao51	20 Jul 2004
To have the perfect one is a quest, that drives all the rest. Then to find the first one got, was the only one you should have bought! I have found it true, the best one will always find you!--Tao

Little Baron	20 Jul 2004
Good point Tao. I must have chosen the Rohrig (or it chose me - you 'handsome devil' - to quote The Smiths and also draw attention to the dashing fifteenth trump, lol) for a good reason; probably why I consistantly come back to it. I don't mean it to sound blunt in any way, but maybe it would be best to just get into learning with the RW and Thoth gently and not look for a new one as yet; maybe, when you have built more knowledge aronf those decks, you will be in a good position to know what it really is that you want from a pack and the search might be easier. Just a thought. Good luck. Best wishes Yaboot

TaranRavenfrost	20 Jul 2004
Thank you all, SO much! I am going to look into the Spiral Tarot. The Mary-El doesnt have REAL nudity. Thats what bothers me. I want to read Tarot, not a playboy centerfold. Anyway, I will learn with the Thoth, and if RWS symbology starts to dig a hole for me to jump in, then I will study it. *Sits waiting patiently for the Mary-El Tarot* *Types: Spiral Tarot into search box*

Little Baron	20 Jul 2004
Glad you have come to some conclusions. Let us know hoe you get on, and all the best of luck with which you settle on. Yaboot

Hedera	20 Jul 2004
Quote: I guess I want a deck I can trust. I constantly find my self second guessing the Robin Wood because I think she might have put things in there without knowing it, or something. I think you don't need to worry about that with the Robin Wood. She wrote a book herself, explaining all the symbolism in the deck (one of the best books-for-a-deck I've ever read) and EVERY teeny-tiny detail has meaning; every colour, every leaf. There are hundreds of things I wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't read the book. If you like the Robin Wood (and I think it's a great deck) it is definately worth getting the book!

Satori	20 Jul 2004
Don't be surprised if after you think your search is over and the Tarot is just humming to you and your readings are ecstasy, that slowly over time you feel the need to try another deck and another and another...until you have a collection and a feeling like none of them is really right for you. And then creating your own deck doesn't look like a gargantuan, unrealistic task..... For now, enjoy your Robin Wood. I love mine. It is an old friend and the accompanying book really is wonderful too. Good luck!

The Finding the deck for Me. A soon ending quest. (I hope) thread was originally posted on 19 Jul 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.