styles of decks, and the need for variety
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 11 Jul 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| deranged_walrus |
11 Jul 2004 |
|
Oi, imagine my headache right now. Or rather don't, and count yourself lucky that you don't have one. And then help me, please? I've searched the forum for the answers I want, and nothing satisfies me.
I'm the kind of reader who likes the querent to chose the deck. Granted, I've only read with my RWS until I got my St. Petersburg in May. That's besides the point, which is that I'd like to "go public" and read for people I don't know. Since I also shuffle the deck myself and have the querent only cut it, I'd like to have Q more involved by reading with a deck that appeals to Q. I feel the deck is more responsive to Q, and vice versa.
I have/will soon acquire/will hunt ruthlessly until I possess: Universal Waite, St. Petersburg, Dragon, Vargo's Gothic, Cloisters, Vetrate (Stained Glass), Atlantis.
Most of the above are appealing to me and, I hope, a very wide variety of people. However, when I look at these decks side-by-side, I feel myself thinking, "You're missing a few things." From what I've observed in my life before and with tarot, I gather that the average professional living where I do (in two East Coast cities) would like a stark, literally black and white deck, something that won't draw much attention were we to lay them on a coffeehouse table. Most [hopeful] professionals I've come across have a no nonsense mentality, and dislike the bright, colorful stuff. I don't want to start an argument over that, so I let you know that it's also me who *needs* it.
Like I said, I've searched the forum for mention of black and white decks and found nothing that satisfies me. What I mean is that the decks recommended are too cluttered or not to my liking in general or OOP. The BOTA is too similar to RWS. Light and Shadow and Victoria Regina are too cluttered. I like simple, clean drawings with few shadows. Problem: do any exist?
Not only am I missing that, I'm missing other cultures. I'm half-caucasian, half-Korean, so I am all too aware of the fixation on "whiteness." So far, my decks have a distinct "white" tone (skin color, or culture). I've looked at the multicultural decks (Ancestral Path, etc) and don't like any. Oi, I am picky beyond frustration, I know; I've been known to yell at myself to quit it. But the fact remains that the decks with five different cultures strike me as...well...forced. I don't know how to explain it. I find myself nitpicking over the Far Eastern-themed decks and the inaccuracies. But I'd like "non-white" decks for Qs who ask. Any help? At all?
|
| Imagemaker |
11 Jul 2004 |
|
It's not black and white, but the International Icon has very simple forms and no attempt to be any particular culture, race or ethnic group.
It's the simplest one I know of that's also easily available.
I found one link to images here International Icon
Except that page says it's unpublished, but it is available now.
|
| Cerulean |
11 Jul 2004 |
|
David' Tarot at The Tarot Garden is black and white and the brushstrokes are evocative. It is very clean. May cost a bit, but that's a good deck to see 'impressions'.
If you want a Rider-Waite-Smith style, the Bota deck is uncolored--black and white outlines. It's about seven to ten dollars.
I went to The Tarot Garden and put in the advanced search engine 'black and white' or monochromatic. Many pages came up and these were the first two that seemed similar to your suggestions.
My best wishes in your search.
Cerulean Mari
|
| deranged_walrus |
11 Jul 2004 |
|
Cerulean. Hi.
I should've said this before, but I didn't, but I'm saying it now.
I love you like nobody's business. Wow, you always have an answer to anything I ask, and it's always right along what I'm looking for. Starting with the Visconti vs scapini thing and now this. THIS! Oi, darling, I completely forgot about David's Tarot. I'd looked it up once and dismissed it as it was OOP and over on wicce.com she said that the uncoated cards made them unsuited for heavy use. But then you mentioned them and whoa. With the love. And thanks for directing me to tarotgarden.com. I didn't think to look there.
Thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou! Over enthusiastic like the Energizer Bunny on speed, but warranted ;)
Though, David's Tarot being OOP, I must keep looking. Hmm...
|
| Astra |
12 Jul 2004 |
|
Black and white decks... Have you taken a look at the Ferret Tarot (www.falconsmew.com)? It's a chance for a querent to at least have a chuckle and relax, even if they don't choose it to be read with.
For ethnically-blind, I'm gonna tout my own WorldTree Tarot - I didn't specifically intend it that way, it simply happened. Or the Baroque Bohemian Cats Tarot, now coming into print at www.bohemian-cats.com (hard to ascribe human ethnicity to cats!)
|
| Jeannette |
12 Jul 2004 |
|
deranged_walrus: do you require a 78-card deck with fully-illustrated minors? Or are Marseille-style minors okay as long as the deck meets your "clean, black-and-white" criteria?
-- Jeannette
The Tarot Garden
|
| baba-prague |
12 Jul 2004 |
|
Originally posted by Astra
For ethnically-blind, I'm gonna tout my own WorldTree Tarot - I didn't specifically intend it that way, it simply happened. Or the Baroque Bohemian Cats Tarot, now coming into print at www.bohemian-cats.com (hard to ascribe human ethnicity to cats!)
I appreciate the mention, but in all honesty, I think the BBCats deck will be far too decorative for you - it's really all about lushness and "hyper-reality" - lots of detail, so probably at the other end of the spectrum from a simple black and white deck.
However, I would support the idea of the WorldTree. It's colourful, but also very non-ethnically based (you can't tell the ethnicity of the figures) and it's very clean and modern looking.
edited to add - and of course the International Icon, already suggested, would be good, as would the Simple Tarot.
|
| Alrisha |
12 Jul 2004 |
|
chk out the world spirit tarot and c if u like it.
|
| Hedera |
12 Jul 2004 |
|
Not quite black-and-white, but rather sparse in colour:
Royal Fez Moroccan and Leonardo da Vinci tarot.
Those aren't very ethnically diverse, I'm afraid.
You might want to take a look at the Stone tarot; it's colourful, but in a dark, serious way.
|
| deranged_walrus |
12 Jul 2004 |
|
Originally posted by Jeannette
deranged_walrus: do you require a 78-card deck with fully-illustrated minors? Or are Marseille-style minors okay as long as the deck meets your "clean, black-and-white" criteria?
-- Jeannette
The Tarot Garden
I knew I forgot to mention something. I can read with unillustrated minor..."pips" if you will. I figure I'm picky enough, so let's not rule out a good deck with Marseille-style minors.
|
| Chronata |
12 Jul 2004 |
|
Hi there!
may I add one more to the list?
My very very VERY favorite black and white deck...
(as of last week when I first discovered it!)
I really love this deck...blown away in fact!
it might meet some of the qualities that you are searching for!
http://www.themysticeye.com/pics/theas.htm
Thea's Tarot.
Blessings!
Chronata
|
| deranged_walrus |
13 Jul 2004 |
|
wow
all very, very, very beautiful decks. thanks all!
I've looked at them and checked availability. The ones that I liked the most were David's, 20th century (OOP, damn, but the hanged man from this deck made me squeak and tip the chair over when I jerked away. it's that kind of reaction that makes me go "I want now!"), and Ship of Fools. This last one isn't exactly the kind I was looking for, but damn if I didn't see it and yell "hell yeah!" and decide to add it to the collection.
thanks for the help, all. Keep the suggestions coming :D
|
| blue_fusion |
29 Nov 2004 |
|
i've noticed tarot garden also has some korean titles in stock, so maybe that will appeal to your korean side? :)
|
The styles of decks, and the need for variety thread was originally posted on 11 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.
|
