Decks with multiple influences

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 03 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Chronata	03 Aug 2004
Some tarot decks are obviously influenced by what has come before. It is very clear when I see a deck that is inspired by the RWS system, just as it is clear to see a TdM inspired deck. (I know there are Thoth inspired decks too...but those are not as clear to me! :D ) But what I have found to be really interesting lately, is that there are decks out there that combine two systems...as is evidenced by thier majors and minors. The first one I noticed was in the Tarot Kit...also known as the Barnes and Noble tarot. Shirley Barker made a very Waite-Smith symbolic Major arcana...but then made the minors unillustrated in the style of a Marsilles. The reverse of this is the Nigel Jackson Tarot (which I absolutely adore...thanks Elf!) in which the Majors are very TdM symbolic...while the minors are fully illustrated...and in the style of the RWS. I was just wondering how many other decks out there combine systems or styles? How many have very RWS type Majors...with unillustrated pips? Or how many decks include symbolism from many different systems?

WolfyJames	03 Aug 2004
The only one that comes to my mind right now is the Enchanted Tarot (Zerner-Farber). It combines RWS meanings with Thoth and TdM. The Lovers, per exemple, is TdM, with the man struggling between two different women (one virtious and one luscious). A few minors have Thoth meanings and sometimes meaning and design: Two of Pentacles and Seven of Pentacles. I don't know the Thoth well enough to come up with more cards in the Enchanted.

WolfSpirit	03 Aug 2004
It looks like the Stone Tarot also has different influences - but I don't have the deck myself (yet) so I only saw part of the cards. I think the majors are RWS and TdM and the minors are without scenes, but different from TdM. You can see cards of it here: http://hometown.aol.com/newtarotdeck/myhomepage/business.html

Goldenhair	03 Aug 2004
The Cosmic Tribe combines Thoth and RWS. Some of the cards are heavily Thoth symbolism, such as The Emperor and most of the wand's pips. Some are more RWS influenced, such as the 10 of Wands - 10 of Swords. Death is TdM infliuenced. Many cards combine various types of symbolism.

ferrous	04 Aug 2004
Excuse my ignorance, but TdM? Tarot de Marsailles?

spoonbender	04 Aug 2004
The LS Secret Tarots combines RWS and TdM in the Majors (but the Minors are fully illustrated). From what I remember, the Marseille-influence is very obvious on cards as the Lovers and the Wheel of Fortune. I think you can find some very subtle influence of the TdM in the Tarot Nova too (the Hanged Man, the Wheel of Fortune), although it's pretty much based on the RWS. Spoonbender PS: Yep, ferrous, you guessed correctly: the TdM is the Tarot de Marseille :).

ferrous	04 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by spoonbender PS: Yep, ferrous, you guessed correctly: the TdM is the Tarot de Marseille :). Thanks, Spoonbender. I also stand corrected on what I assume is the *correct* spelling of Tarot de Marseille. heh. :D

Sybilant	13 Aug 2004
The Victoria Regina Tarot, like the Cosmic Tribe, combines Thoth and RWS influences. I like to imagine that a hidden theme of these decks is, "How can we make sense of these different perspectives and traditions?" This is a question that I often mull over myself. One point about the CT and the VRT -- both of which I really like -- is that they often simplify what is represented in a more complex way in previous decks. For instance, the High Priestess in VRT is basically a woman barely visible between parted curtains. Somehow - magically - the artist has managed to capture a lot about the High Priestess in the way this is done. But a lot of the actual symbolism has been removed. In other words, I feel that these decks allude to and reference other decks and images, and often open up fresh perspectives, sometimes with simpler imagery. Which is an interesting and complex thing to do. But I think an understanding of them is much enriched by familiarity with the decks that inspired them. best to all, s.

lionette	13 Aug 2004
One that has a subtle melding of influence, to me at least, is the Light & Shadow deck. I see some Thoth and some RWS influence in it, even though it is a unique artistic style. Court cards are titled Princess, Knight, Queen, Prince after Thoth. Wands courts clearly Thothish with tigers and lions. Tower has giant eye atop as in Thoth. Devil is also reminiscent of Thoth. Minors are obviously RWS influenced, especially Swords -- almost identical symbolism, with some unique extras of course. Great deck. Possibly even a little TdM, although it's too late for me to check into it now ;)

Emily	13 Aug 2004
I saw one the other day on Amazon, think it was called Chachet - its been mentioned on here. The Majors are stunning, I was halfway to ordering it when I realised that the Minors are pip cards. It seems a shame that they went to so much effort to make the Majors so beautiful then gave them pip cards. I love the TdM and the Soprafino decks I have but I can't read with them all that well - I need my illustrated minors to focus on but saying that it would be a nice deck for someone who like the pip cards. :) The Quest is a mix of Rider Waite and Thoth but also its very untraditional.

WolfSpirit	13 Aug 2004
The Tarot of the Spirit: majors are inspired on the Thoth minors are pips but follow the sacred geometry (every suit follows the same path from one to ten), which is more like Tarot de Marseilles. 10 of wind (swords) for example is not "ruin" but "death of an old way of thinking, new perspectives". The deck on the whole has an original feel to it.

The Decks with multiple influences thread was originally posted on 03 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.