Decks, Decks & More Decks...Refelctions of the last Ottawa Tarot Club Meeting...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

amyel	01 Aug 2004
Since we have 5 Ottawa Aeclectic members (well, down to 4 now that Gardner has returned Stateside), we met last week to reflect on the topic of the month (Images of the Queen). We each brought personal decks that we felt showed different aspects of the Queen. Between the 5 of us, we must have brought over 50 decks! Well, it seemed like 50, at any rate. I was really struck by the similarities and diversity of not only our individual collections but by the way the images were portrayed. However, since this thread is in "Tarot Decks", I'll focus on that aspect. Let's see, I collect decks with a more indigenious flavour, both in artwork & mythology, like the Shining Tribe and the completely unreadable Australian Dreamtime Tarot & the Rock Art tarot. Gardner collects decks that are "montages" in flavour, like the Blue Rose. Marion collects *everything* and has a vast collection - I'm sure we only saw a small portion of her collection. Rusty Neon likes the Marsielles' and has a wide variety from various eras, which was fun to see. Ruby7 is a bit like me, and likes brightly colored decks witha slightly naive feel, like the Parrott (which I love!). As a result of this cornucopia of decks, I "inherited" the Haindl from Gardner, which I am starting to review.... Has anyone else had the opportunity to meet with other tarot enthusiasts and compare decks? What were your observations?

Rusty Neon	01 Aug 2004
Hi amyel ... Thanks for posting. It's fun to see our names in print, eh? It was interesting to see all those decks assembled. It's not the same thing when it's your own decks; the fact it's the decks of others in the blend lends an element of surprise and randomness. I was fascinated by the differences in tarot deck purchase preferences. Besides Marseilles decks, I enjoy having decks that are Golden Dawn inspired: RWS, Thoth, Gill, Gareth Knight, Liber T, Mountain Dream. (The Parrott is on the wish-list.) The Tarot of the Spirit and the used copy that I have of the Servants of the Light aren't taken out too often.

Asher	01 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by amyel Has anyone else had the opportunity to meet with other tarot enthusiasts and compare decks? What were your observations? I am lucky enough to do this weekly! I co-lead a Tarot Circle at a local bookshop (I attended this gathering for several years, and was gifted with it when the shop owner moved out of state). I am one of the "collect everything" types...grin! So I make a point of showing different decks to our members (it's a drop-in type gathering, never know who will show up and at what experience level). My co-leader is becoming a collector, also, and as member get new decks, we spend the first few minutes oohing and aahing over new decks. Some of our members favor RWS and its variants, others like collage decks, stil other have chosen theme decks as their preference. It's a very eclectic group. Great fun!! (BTW, the only deck I have _not_ taken to the gathering is my limited edition Gilded, though I have been asked. Thanks goodness I'll have the mass market edition for next week's meeting). Asher

Cerulean	01 Aug 2004
But expect to meet more in the coming years.... Aeclectic.net seems more populated over time! Cerulean

Ruby7	01 Aug 2004
Hi Amyel, It's so interesting to see everyone's decks and the types that we collect. I had never actually thought about it until last Sunday! You are definitely right about me, I do like brightly coloured decks with a slightly naive feel (I have the Phantasmagoric Theatre, The Enchanted, Alice in wonderland). I also like traditional decks (Marseilles) and my two current favourites are The Victoria Regina and The Tarot of Prague. I think that The Tarot of Prague and the Marseilles are actually my two main reading decks right now, although I always fall back on my Hanson-Roberts. I have also been taking another look at the Mythic (I have the old blue box version) I'm trying to forget the decks I saw that are trying to push their way onto my wishlist ( Gill, Templar, more authentic Marseilles than I have thanks to Rusty). I know that I'm forgetting something, there were so many!!! All the best Ruby7

Rusty Neon	01 Aug 2004
Hi ruby Quote: Originally posted by Ruby7 I'm trying to forget the decks I saw that are trying to push their way onto my wishlist Heehee :). You're trying to forget them rather than remember them! Good strategy! Yes, we are definitely co-enablers, all of us.

Cerulean	01 Aug 2004
If you ever find a tarot shop that also does online sales that sells the art nouveau style Oswald Wirth Tarot majors, I'd be delighted to check them out. Thanks much! Cerulean Mari

Rusty Neon	01 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Cerulean If you ever find a tarot shop that also does online sales that sells the art nouveau style Oswald Wirth Tarot majors, I'd be delighted to check them out. Thanks much! Cerulean Mari Cerulean, I bought the Wirth majors deck by Éditions de l'Aigle locally shopping in person, but here's a site where I've seen it listed. Hopefully, it's actually in stock. It's a Canadian site, so all prices are quoted in [cheaper-for-americans] Canadian dollars. It's a chain store. http://www.archambault.ca/store/product.asp?sku=001519509&type=5 You can change the language to English at the top right hand corner of that webpage.

Ruby7	21 Aug 2004
oops! I'm moving this post to chat, I forgot this thread was in tarot decks, Ruby7

The Decks, Decks & More Decks...Refelctions of the last Ottawa Tarot Club Meeting... thread was originally posted on 01 Aug 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.