Tarot decks that you just do not like

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 05 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Phantom Goddess	05 Aug 2004
I'm a very picky person when it comes to tarot decks. There are very few decks out there that I actually like and many many more that I just can't get along with. I've picked up decks in the bookstore and had to set them right back down again because the cards hated me. Some of the decks I really don't care for are the ones that use photoshop, the computer imaging software. Some of the decks I actually do like is the Stygian Darkness Tarot but there are others that are just too light for me. Does anyone else have decks that they just don't like?

laura_borealis	05 Aug 2004
I just don't like the Motherpeace deck. I tried to like it. I like the concept of round cards. But I don't like the artwork and some of the symbolism rubs me the wrong way. It's not the primitive quality of the art -- I like a lot of outsider art. It's that it has no charm. (for me.)

Calliope	05 Aug 2004
The H.R. Giger Tarot. I haven't bought it (nor will I ever most likely), but I saw pictures on the Aeclectic site and I got this feeling of utter revulsion. That deck is definately not for me. My type of deck is something beautiful, and/or just interesting. I'm really loving my Gendron right now, and I would love to get the World Spirit. I just bought the Drogi from Tarot Garden off of eBay, so as soon as I pay for it, I'll be anxiously awaiting for it to arrive! Those kinds of decks are more of my taste.

WolfSpirit	05 Aug 2004
I am glad to say there are lots of decks I don't care for. There is still plenty enough left that I do want, hehe. I don't like the anime decks, they does not appeal to me at all. Most Lo Scarabeo decks just look like pretty pictures to me, don't know why but I just can't get into them. There are some that I first think are beautiful, and then on a second glance...most leave me cold, nice for the artwork maybe but no more. They always seem to end up at the back of my wishlist because there is always another deck I want more. And I don't like erotic decks - I first liked the idea but it somehow is just not tarot to me, how can you make an erotic version of the High Priestess or the Hermit without turning the meaning into a parody ?

Logiatrix	05 Aug 2004
The Bosch Tarot comes to mind; it gave me the creeps. But I still can't call my reaction dislike, necessarily. Every deck I've ever seen, whether I was attracted to it or not, has at least taught me something--doesn't that make even an "ugly" deck kind of likeable? The Giger Tarot, for example, was gifted to me for Christmas several years ago; it shocked and repulsed me, but it also made me realize that I was a bit of a prude. ;) Being a gift, I felt I had to hang on to it for a while, so I forced myself to look it over and get past my initial reaction. I passed the set on (because it was a majors-only deck, and I got a trade offer I couldn't refuse, LOL), but it went with a fond farewell, because it truly helped me break down some personal barriers. :)

Rhiannon	05 Aug 2004
I really think it is only fair that I judge decks I dislike if I've actually owned them, so there are 2 that I've had that I don't care for and will not purchase again (I traded them or sold them): The Spiral Tarot and the Witches Tarot (Ellen Cannon Reed). Neither of those did anything for me. R :)

tao51	05 Aug 2004
But...I really do not care for the anime decks. I just have trouble relating to them. I find the Tarot of the Animal Lords not very appealing. I do feel it is an attractive deck. --Tao

lunakasha	05 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Calliope The H.R. Giger Tarot. I haven't bought it (nor will I ever most likely), but I saw pictures on the Aeclectic site and I got this feeling of utter revulsion. That deck is definately not for me. Same here....this deck just bothers me on so many levels....definitely NOT my taste, but some people like it, which is fine..... I have had some pretty decks that I just do not connect with: The Celtic Dragon and Enchanted/Zerner-Farber decks would fall under that category. Don't hate them, but they are just not for me I guess.... I had another deck that was very disappointing: The Faery Wicca. I had seen a few scans and liked what I saw....but when I bought the deck and looked at all of the cards, it seemed very bland....not to mention that the LWB was very strange....felt like I needed a PhD in European History to follow any of what she was saying (not to mention all of the strange names she gave to the cards!!!). Again, fine for some people, but not for me. :) Luna

sassygirl3124	05 Aug 2004
I purchased the Legend of the Arthurian tarot. I think the cards are pretty and they have some very good images on them but for some reason they just do not speak to me. It is one of those thing that I am wondering if I should trade or sell the deck or not and just keep it for the artwork because I will never do another reading with it. Oh well. Julie

dolphinprincess	05 Aug 2004
There are so many decks I do not like.. I am amazingly picky with tarot decks. If it doesn't really click - I can't use it. However, if I am only speaking to decks I have owned that I haven't liked, the Spiral Tarot sticks out the most... I was so disappointed in the Minors.

Aun	05 Aug 2004
I dont like many decks around, but i really can't stand 'Cat related' decks... sorry, just my thing.

BlueLotus	05 Aug 2004
The Shining Tribe sticks its primitive head immediately. Next, Dante from LS, which I could never connect with, probably because of the strange art ( at least strange to me ). Another one is Tarot of the Druids which I find to be more cartoonish than serious deck. I am unable to connect with many other decks, but these 3 decks come readily to mind now.

Ace	05 Aug 2004
The one deck I can't deal with? the Thoth deck. I am not sure if it is too strong, too magic, too Crowley but I can't even look at it long without being nervous.

Centaur	05 Aug 2004
Anything with cats, especially the Hello Kitty tarot. Allergic Reaction Tarots. Puke.

VGimlet	05 Aug 2004
Either of the two dragon decks (I have hopes for the LS dragon deck) the Unicorn deck, and the Tarot of the Cat People. All are on my list of "maybe think about trading them or selling them someday" list. I am not a big fan of most photography decks, with some noteable exceptions.

WooMonkey	05 Aug 2004
I find that I dislike photographic decks if there are people in them. Other animals, plants and minerals seem OK to me. I had an intense dislike for the Lord of the Rings deck. I was so crushingly disappointed with the art! :(

littlehermit	05 Aug 2004
I'm not hot on obviously photocollaged stuff like Crow's Magick (though I like WorldTree, so I'm not against digital art). I really don't like art that looks like it was dashed off or doodled - the sketches in Motherpeace, for example. I have to confess I'm a sucker for color and interest, but if every single card is so packed with the same eye-popping spectrum it can get tiresome. (Not thinking of a particular deck here - though the Temperance card on the box of my Spiral deck seemed such over the top, bubblegummy happy color, that I almost didn't buy it.) Also not hot on anything to do with fairies (however you want to spell it), hidden folk, shape-shifters, unicorns, or cats. (Though I tolerate dragons fairly well.) Themes based on existing fiction, like "The Lord of the Rings", don't do it for me either. Anyway, I'll stop being negative! There are plenty of decks I do like (and am just biding my time until I can afford to buy them all... ;) )

ambermoon	05 Aug 2004
I don't like the overly twee decks, because I'm not a twee person. No dragons, no anime, no elves or fairies, please. Nothing overly dark or perverted. Also nothing that fails to stand on its own as a piece of fine art or fine craft. Picky, eh? Despite that, I own 6 decks and probably will buy 2 or 3 more. I'm not totally thrilled on the Thoth, though I respect its position as one of the significant decks. I just need to stay focused on the tradition that I am studying. So, no Marseilles for the same reason. Cats are ever so fine with me. Hello Kitty is not a proper cat, she's twee beyond belief.

tmgrl2	05 Aug 2004
The Answer Deck Definitely the USGames Tarot de Marseille....ugh... terri

Tarot Sparrow	05 Aug 2004
I've never liked the Rider-Waite. I feel like I have to get one for a study deck and if I do I'll probably get the Radiant, but I don't know if it's going to work out. The original artwork just sickens me. I tend to be aversed to computer generated decks (except the Gilded, which I just got and LOVE). I loved the way the Quest looked online but when I got it I felt nothing, and I still don't. There are maybe 6 cards in the whole deck that I actually like, and I could never read with it. I never liked the Sacred Circle. I usually don't like photo collages with the exception of a few, and I don't seem to like overly-complicated artwork which to me includes decks like the Haindl and the Spiral. What can I say, I'm picky. You'd be amazed how long my wishlist is though.

Rusty Neon	05 Aug 2004
Believe it or not, I like the US Games/Carta Mundi Tarot of Marseilles deck. The line drawing of the images rather closely follows the artwork of the 1701 Dodal Tarot de Marseille deck. The only thing I wish was that they used the Dodal's colour scheme rather than the reduced palette of primary colours that lacks variety. The Marseilles deck I have trouble liking is the over-hyped Hadar. Personally, I like a modern redrawn Marseille deck to basically follow one of the historical patterns (be it 1760 Conver, 1701 Dodal or 17th century Noblet) as it gives the deck focus and meaning. From such a basis, I have no problems with selected additional details from two of the other Marseilles patterns or cousin decks or linework of their own fancy -- this is what the Jodo-Camoin does: it starts with the 1760 Conver (Heron) lines and colours, then adds selected details from Dodal and from Marseilles cousins and some details of their own fancy. Unfortunately, the Hadar is an unfocussed hybrid deck: even in terms of basic linework on a single given card, it follows some basic linework of the Conver, some basic linework of the Dodal and some basic linework of his own fancy.

musclegirl	05 Aug 2004
Tarot of Prague

Riversea	05 Aug 2004
Ahhh!.... Tarot of Prague is my favorite deck out of all my sizable collection!!! :) I don't like Tarot of a Moongarden. The colors actually make me feel a little ill. I want to like this deck, but it is a bit 12 year-old girlish for me. Probably would have loved it when I was that age! Also, the Cosmic Tribe... beautiful but has too many bad personal associations for me.

Pagan X	05 Aug 2004
Tarot of the Origins. Caveman porno. Thoth. I respect its historical significance, but it's too creepy. Geiger. Creepy squared.

mrowcat	05 Aug 2004
I find it hard to like the Rider-Waite, I think it's mostly the colors. I wound up getting the Robin Wood to study on. Most of what I've seen and not liked have been cutesy/whimsical decks a la Hello Kitty, Disney, Wizard of Oz, etc. I'm not big on the Rohrig or decks with similar styles of artwork. I guess I'm another picky person.

Satori	05 Aug 2004
I can't believe I'm gonna say this...but, Voyager. It was my first deck. It was the deck that started me on my Tarot journey, but now, I never touch it, I never even think of using it. And the bottom line is that I just don't get the crystal cards. I hate them. And this is so not what I've heard happens. Most people love that first deck forever, and keep it forever. Well, I'm keeping the Voyager, but I don't love it. I too don't usually like cat decks. But I admit to thinking the Baroque deck is very nice, very lush. It is charming. And finally, I just don't like the whole Vampire Tarot thing. Amazingly I love Anne Rice and the vampire books, but the Tarot decks I've seen just don't do it for me... Now, the curse of Claudia will rise up and in a few years you'll see me toting around vampire decks. Whatever I deny I end up with. So look for me in a few years after having printed a photo-collage vampire-cat-crystal Tarot deck! (Tarot of the Crystal Vampire Cats)

BlueLotus	05 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by elf I can't believe I'm gonna say this...but, Voyager Same here. I guess this deck is a bit too aggressive and masculine for this sensitive soul. But I know many people who swear by it. Well, I respect that people have different tastes.

lunakasha	06 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by elf Whatever I deny I end up with. So look for me in a few years after having printed a photo-collage vampire-cat-crystal Tarot deck! (Tarot of the Crystal Vampire Cats) LMAO elf!!!! :laugh: I have to say....this REALLY gave me the giggles!!!! :D As an avowed cat/Voyager Crystals/vampire lover, I am very much looking forward to seeing this deck!!!! :D :) Luna

skh	06 Aug 2004
All collage decks, basically. I'm old-fashioned, I want drawings or paintings. Also, "funny" decks like the gummy bear or Hello Kitty tarot. Sonja

Alrisha	06 Aug 2004
Tarot of Prague Golden Tarot

Sulis	06 Aug 2004
Osho Zen - just can't make the connection between rainbows and the Earth element. The Witches Tarot - Elen Cannon-Reed - speedo's ewwwwwwww! , fire / swords, air / wands and the ugliest drag queen of a magician I've ever seen :) Robin Wood - blonde, blue eyed, smiling, happy, shiny people :( Gendron - just don't think the art is very well done on the minors - I don't like the way she used the same image but cropped in many different cards. Love Sulis xx

baba-prague	06 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by elf INow, the curse of Claudia will rise up and in a few years you'll see me toting around vampire decks. Whatever I deny I end up with. So look for me in a few years after having printed a photo-collage vampire-cat-crystal Tarot deck! (Tarot of the Crystal Vampire Cats) Sign me up too - sounds bizarre enough to be wonderful - we look forward to seeing the first pictures over at the Creation Forum :-)

spoonbender	06 Aug 2004
No offence, but I don’t like the Gilded Tarot. I can see why some would like it, and a few cards really do look nice, but overall, I think the cards look kitschy and superficial. Some of the people’s anatomy just doesn’t seem right, and the court cards look uninspiring to me. I think asking 385 $ for a limited edition is simply crazy. Spoonbender

diane drizzy	06 Aug 2004
Toth Tarot of the Moongarden Zerner-Farber

dolphingirl	06 Aug 2004
Motherpeace - The artwork is just to rustic for me and I prefer a deck with a more ballanced male/ female ratio. The Quest tarot - (this one I don't hate but just didn't like the vibes from it) I loved the photos online and was just going crazy for the deck and when it finally came in and I brought it home someting just didn't click with me. I am hoping some time away from it will change my feelings for it. I think part of it was all the different things that were implimented to it like the Oujai function. Turned it into more of a game to me. I also tend to go towards decks that are drawn or painted although there are a few computer decks outthere that I like alot. I like fun quirky decks with a sense of humor.

Satori	06 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Sulis The Witches Tarot - Elen Cannon-Reed - speedo's ewwwwwwww! , fire / swords, air / wands and the ugliest drag queen of a magician I've ever seen :) Sulis I laughed and laughed when I read this about the Witches Tarot magician. I have never seen the card, but it sounds so funny... :D

Satori	06 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by baba-prague Sign me up too - sounds bizarre enough to be wonderful - we look forward to seeing the first pictures over at the Creation Forum :-) LOL, well, if I say "Never, never gonna see it" I invoke the gods that follow me waiting to mess with me....so....anything is possible, right? ....why am I now seeing black caped Dickinsonian type cats wearing ornate crystal pendant type collars swooping down on unsuspecting street orphans whenever my mind is somewhat unoccupied? (cue organ music)

tabbycat	07 Aug 2004
Don't like the Motherpeace at all, really hate the Karma and the Solleone was far too blood-splattered for my taste. The Ancestral Path - lovely cards and I've done some good readings with it, but I just don't like it The Quest - I really coveted this one and couldn't wait to get it, but when I had it in my hands it left me cold. The Enchanted - this should be gorgeous but isn't. The cards are too washed out. I tried a Zerner-Farber, but it's too small and the card-stock is so thin and flimsy it might just as well have been printed on paper! Jilly

Fulgour	07 Aug 2004
Not only do these guys not know Tarot, they're clueless about Baseball!

M-Press	07 Aug 2004
I love the question (incredibly enlightening to hear opinions...), although I'm really trying hard to focus on the positive! The one deck, (which I really admire the art) but there is no way i'll ever use it, is the Thoth. It really freaks me out, and it's one of the reasons i did my own deck... the Rider-I also don't like at all, although highly respect. Digital-kitchey art, usually not my pick... And I do love the Motherpeace, but I agree that the art is just not reproduced right, it really needs a redo. (btw, I felt cheated when I bought the large version-had to exchange it to the small, it just looked better.)

Kiama	07 Aug 2004
Hmmm, there are quite a few decks I don't like! One of my all time favourites for ranting about has to be the Lord of the Rings Tarot. I also dislike the Tarot of the Witches by Ellen Cannon-Reed: it's just too 80's, and the Court Cards are the most unexpressive and unimaginative I've ever seen. Renaissance Tarot, by Jane Lyle. It's just boring. Love is in the Earth Crystal Tarot. I'm not even going to start a rant about this deck. I have better things to do with my time. Rider Waite. *Ducks rotton tomatoes* Don't get me wrong, I *respect* this deck, and can see its appeal. I also know that nearly all the decks I love best are based on it. But... The artwork just makes me cringe. Universal Waite I can cope with, but not the Rider Waite. Tarot of the Cat People. Nuff said. Dragon Tarot- too boring and unimaginative. It's just a Rider Waite with some dragons stuck in, just as the Unicorn Tarot is a Rider Waite with some Unicorns stuck in. Bosch Tarot. Just too weird for my tastes. Adrian Tarot. Boring, difficult to read, but the jigsaw is fun! Okay, I'm stopping here before I insult everybody by saying how much I dislike their favourite decks! ;) Kiama

CreativeFire	07 Aug 2004
As the old saying goes: 'One man's junk, maybe another man's treasure'. This no doubt relates to everyone's taste in tarot decks as well. ;) I am definitely not a big fan of dark, gothic / fantasy decks or vampire ones either - like the Black Tarot and the Vampire Tarot. I also don't like the original RWS but the Universal Waite is one of my favourites to read with - it is just a colour and line thing ;) Well I actually like photographic / computer decks (being into photography) so have the Gilded on my wish list - but some I just don't get into, like the Voyager Tarot. If I had to pick just one deck that I really disliked - it would have to be the Witchy Tarot (apologies to any fans out there :) ), but it is the bright cutesy, trendy young witchy bit that turns me right off!! (guess it might come under the *fantasy* type then). to end on a positive ;) ~ I greatly admire the artwork itself in the Thoth, Shapeshifter and Waking the Wild Spirit decks (even if the last 2 are not high on my reading deck list) :D

contrascarpe	07 Aug 2004
I will only comment on decks I own: Witches Tarot - Reed - Although not repulsive, I have not connected with this deck. And as Kiama says, the Courts are uninspiring. Spiral Tarot - Not my least favorite, but something about it annoys me. Black Tarot - Minors are boring. Pagan Tarot - yuck. And my least favorite deck: Mythic Tarot - I really, really, really regret buying this one. I even bought the workbook thinking it would enhance the experience. I don't even keep this one anywhere near my others. Dan

lunakasha	07 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by elf ....why am I now seeing black caped Dickinsonian type cats wearing ornate crystal pendant type collars swooping down on unsuspecting street orphans whenever my mind is somewhat unoccupied? (cue organ music) HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!!! :laugh::laugh::laugh: elf......you are TOOOO funny!!! :D I can picture the whole scene...... Are you sure you're not secretly intrigued with the idea??? ;) heee heee!!!! :) Luna

Ruby7	07 Aug 2004
I have to agree with comments made about The Witches Tarot, I really don't like the artwork. Moongarden is far too busy and unreadable for me. Kiama, I would love to know just one thing that you hated about the Love is in the Earth deck. I haven't seen this deck but I understand it hasn't received much positive response. As a crystal lover I was excited when this deck came out but didn't get it due to the negative responses. Ruby7

BlueLotus	07 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ruby7 I have to agree with comments made about The Witches Tarot, I really don't like the artwork Actually I like the Wiches Tarot but wonder if anyone knows why the 6 of swords seems to be from a different deck altogether. My 'overactive mind's' guess is that the artist forgot to paint this particular card and then added it in a hurry to the deck later on. ;). Anyone else's take on this ??

Nycelle	07 Aug 2004
The LOTR Tarot is really not for me. I suspect a trade will be sought for it at some stage. I don't much like the Destiny Tarot either, but I think it cost me about three quid so I can live with it. Mostly I wouldn't trade it because I don't think it would be fair to give it to anyone :) De Burgh's Celtic Tarot is too dependent on RWS imagery, and I detest the card stock, but I feel like owning a deck that uses familiar stories as a basis for symbolism. And the 1JJ Swiss doesn't do it for me either. Incidentally, anyone who loves any of these. . . just ask and we can do business

Chronata	07 Aug 2004
ahhh...another list of the decks that we dislike! It's funny because many of the decks listed here are ones that in some ways I admire. Even for the decks that , as a whole , I really didn't find appealing...I could always find one thing about it...or one card that I really really liked. I think in the process of creating my own deck I have discovered a new respect and appreciation for all tarots. If for nothing else then simply an appreciation for the time it takes to actually FINISH a whole deck...and get it published! That said...I do admit that I have currently an aversion to re-colored RWS decks. Not my favorite tarots.

galadrielsphial	07 Aug 2004
I'm very picky about the tarot decks I like (and my bank account is extremely grateful) ;), but I try to appreciate each deck as a statement of someone's creativity. That said, can't stand the RWS. At all. :)

blackroseivy	07 Aug 2004
I have so many, I have to alphebetize them! - Here are the A's: Alchemist Tarot - freaky people from Mars. Alchohol Tarot - someone thought this was a good idea?? Ator Tarot - too much of a joke! Apple Tarot - WAY too abstract. I have a love-hate relationship with both RWS & Thoth. Let me just add that if I find a deck repulsive, there's *definitely* NO WAY I'm ever gonna own it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ferrous	07 Aug 2004
It's interesting to see all the different tastes in the forum (& in this thread). The last person doesn't like the Ator, but I actually think it's one of the cutest decks around. Then again, I'm into the cartoony/cute/bright/non-scary ones. Decks that I find I simply can't connect with are usually photographic ones, although I've recently seen two cards created by a forum member here which I thought were just gorgeous. So maybe it's not photographic decks as such, but rather the style of the photography or the contents of each card. Cards which contain images of supposedly real looking people or actual real looking people, do not appeal at all. I'm not sure why. Maybe I find them too posed or something .. but again, images of people which aren't posed but are very natural, I still don't enjoy on a deck. So to sum up on a positive note, some decks which do appeal to me are the African, the Ator & my new (& I suspect will always be) favourite, the Sakki-Sakki. Of course, there are many others which I also love (my wish list runs to about forty decks .. lol! :D) which are nothing at all like the ones I've mentioned, but this is about the ones we don't like. On a side note, I'm impressed at the number of people who have been able to be quite civil & constructive with their comments & not gone off the handle with absusive words on what is essentially a negative topic, relatively speaking. Well done, people. :)

blackroseivy	07 Aug 2004
1 in 10 - tentacled Sun like a giant daddy-long-legs - SHUDDER... Teddy's Tarot - Teddy fingewpaints. Linol Tarot - *hideous*! (Sorry, I just can't think of anything good to say about the artwork!) The New Tarot for the Aquarian Age - ..."way-shower"?? Morgan's Tarot - scribbles in a high-school notebook. If this got more down 'n' dirty than it shoulda, let me please apologize - actually, the aforementioned mostly just made me laugh, & that's all I'm trying to do here!

Satori	07 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Chronata ahhh...another list of the decks that we dislike! It's funny because many of the decks listed here are ones that in some ways I admire. Even for the decks that , as a whole , I really didn't find appealing...I could always find one thing about it...or one card that I really really liked. I think in the process of creating my own deck I have discovered a new respect and appreciation for all tarots. If for nothing else then simply an appreciation for the time it takes to actually FINISH a whole deck...and get it published! That said...I do admit that I have currently an aversion to re-colored RWS decks. Not my favorite tarots. Hi Chronata! I'm glad you brought this up, because I almost didn't post because of this very thing. I do not have a tarot deck that I have created and tried to publish, despite some nice folks here on AT encouraging me to create one! I really respect the people out there creating decks, it is a real labor of love, and then to have people telling you they hate your baby! As a Mom, I know how I would feel if folks told me they hated one of my babes! Look out! I think I spoke too strongly when I said I hated the Voyager crystal cards. I just don't get the crystal cards. I loved that deck when I first got it, I would pour over the book I bought to help me decipher who was who or what on the cards. It brought me enormous joy. But now I just never use it! Hey Lunakasha, maybe you can help me to renew my Voyager love and explain those crystal cards to me.... :cool:

Chronata	07 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by elf Hi Chronata! I'm glad you brought this up, because I almost didn't post because of this very thing. I do not have a tarot deck that I have created and tried to publish, despite some nice folks here on AT encouraging me to create one! I really respect the people out there creating decks, it is a real labor of love, and then to have people telling you they hate your baby! As a Mom, I know how I would feel if folks told me they hated one of my babes! Look out! yeah...there's always gonna be decks that appeal to some people and not others...(although I am really seriously considering creating that photographic crystal vampire cat tarot that you spoke of, Elf!...right after I finish the happy fluffy bunny tarot! ;)) The thing I am finding to be so interesting for me right now...is that I am finding beauty in decks that... in the past...I considered down right dreadful! As an example...the award for ugliest deck in my collection belongs...hands down...to a deck called the Astral Tarot. Might, in fact be...the ugliest deck ever created. (Look it up in Tarotgarden's database, if you don't believe me!) The reason I keep this deck is because one...it's rare...and two it was published the year I was born, and is in mint condition. But this deck is really really unattractive. There was a game I played a lot as a child, called the "scribble game" where someone would scribble on a piece of paper, and then you would have to make a drawing out of it. That is the basis of this deck. Great child's game...incredibly bizarre idea for a tarot deck! But here's the thing...last week I entered into a cool little project to give fellow Aeclectican, kittaine a deck for her birthday. The limit on creating the card...was 15 minutes MAXIMUM per card (I cheated and actually spent 15 min. total for TWO cards!) But the idea behind the "minute tarot" was enormously appealing...creating an entire deck in a single day...with no thought other than to put something down on paper...that came quickly to mind. I ended up doing a very sketchy, but exhilerating, Major Arcana...and suddenly I found a new appreciation ...and understanding of the methods and thought behind the Astral Tarot! Yes...it still remains the ugliest deck in my collection...but now, I am not sure I would ever want to part with it!

Satori	08 Aug 2004
Wow! That is a very cool idea! I've done similar things with journaling, speed writing. But it sounds like Kittaine is going to get a very fun deck! Pretty, and ugly, all lie in the eye of the beholder, right? The thing is what it is. And the same is true with our poor unloved decks. They are what they are whether we love them or not. Perhaps the greater more difficult (and usefull) task is telling something we do like about the decks we don't like! Just like what you did Chronata!

Jewel-ry	08 Aug 2004
Celtic Dragon, just too much for me. I took an instant dislike to it the moment I opened it and its been sat in the box ever since. I can't even say why I don't like it because I don't know but it has to go. Anyone interested, let me know. Others include the Haindl which I have a real love/hate relationship with. There have been times when I have loved this deck but at the moment, I just don't like it. I am also not that fond of the Ancient Minchiate Etruria and I don't like the RWS decks anymore either. What I find interesting is the number of decks that I think I like and then I don't and then I do and I yo-yo between like and dislike. How can my feelings be so extreme? :)

Diana	08 Aug 2004
I love ALL the Tarot decks in the whole wide world. :cool: }) :joke: :P :rolleyes:

baba-prague	08 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Diana I love ALL the Tarot decks in the whole wide world. Oh no Diana, not you too, not The Invasion of the Tarot Bodysnatchers all over again... (they get you while you sleep... )

Emily	08 Aug 2004
I still don't like the Radiant Rider Waite - I've had it for a few months and only used it a few times. I love the colours of the deck but its the expressions that turn me right off, sullen, bored, sulky, glaring - they are all there on the faces of most of the figures. Even the horse in the Sun looks like it would rather take a bite out of the child than let him ride. I have compared them to the faces in the Universal Rider Waite and they are harsher. It really does spoil the deck for me.

Diana	08 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by baba-prague Oh no Diana, not you too, not The Invasion of the Tarot Bodysnatchers all over again... (they get you while you sleep... ) baba-prague: For two nights now, I have been unable to sleep properly. Do you think this has something to do with it? Is this whole thing irreversible? Am I doomed for ever and ever?

Little Baron	08 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Emily Even the horse in the Sun looks like it would rather take a bite out of the child than let him ride. Recently, I have read some of the funniest posts and quotes on this forum. And this is definitely one of them, lol. Thanks Emily. Havn't seen that card but will definitely take a look now. Yaboot

baba-prague	08 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Diana baba-prague: For two nights now, I have been unable to sleep properly. Do you think this has something to do with it? Is this whole thing irreversible? Am I doomed for ever and ever? Yes, I'm afraid so. It starts innocently enough but soon you will find yourself drawn inexorably to the Gummibear Tarot (with apologies to anyone here who has it - actually it's sort of sweet - whooops, I didn't say that, really I didn't) Next thing you will be attempting to read with promotional cards given away in crisp packets - and speaking in a strange robotic voice and wearing frilly aprons and doing a lot of dusting (oh, sorry, wrong film reference there). Sorry, there is no hope. Abandon Marseilles, all ye who enter ironic posts in this thread...

Diana	08 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by baba-prague Next thing you will be attempting to read with promotional cards given away in crisp packets - and speaking in a strange robotic voice and wearing frilly aprons and doing a lot of dusting (oh, sorry, wrong film reference there). Sorry, there is no hope. Abandon Marseilles, all ye who enter ironic posts in this thread... I ALREADY HAVE AN APRON!!!!! OMG... there must be a spell I can do. Zorya!!! Is there a spell against Tarot Bodysnatchers????

Satori	08 Aug 2004
Careful folks, all this talk of aliens may raise international eyebrows and be labeled a security risk....

blackroseivy	08 Aug 2004
Like I said about the Alchemist Tarot: Freaky people from Mars...

Little Baron	09 Aug 2004
The one I looked at for ages and still cannot connect to is the 'Adrian'. Have spoken to people on here who love it but it has never done much for me. Don't like the club hands and the general 'lack' of feeling in it. An artist as talented that IMO could have come up with something so much more intereresting and useful; always seems such a shame. Yaboot

Emily	09 Aug 2004
Another deck I just can't seem to connect with is the Liber T - tarot of stars eternal. A deck I had so admired from the online scans. Its such a dark feeling deck - the images are so powerful - well to be honest I think the deck just overloads me. I've struggled long and hard with the Thoth and hoped that the Liber T would be a good alternative having illustrated pips - What it has done is driven me (gratefully) straight back into the Thoth. I'll keep the deck but the images don't do anything for me at all, except make me wonder why some of them were used and why the deck creaters decided to show the darker aspects of some of the cards when in other decks and even the Thoth they are shown positively. Its a confusing deck and not one I would take out in front of my 7 year old son who usually likes looking through my decks with me.

Phantom Goddess	09 Aug 2004
Even though this deck is not mass published, and the author is really nice, I just cannot like the Butler Tarot. I've really tried to like it, even went to the website and looked at the images. I just cannot enjoy it. Other people like this deck... I just can't get into it. Another deck I'm not too fond of anymore is the Sacred Circle Tarot. Some bad memories tied to that deck.

darwinia	10 Aug 2004
[quote]Originally posted by Phantom Goddess [another deck i'm not too fond of anymore is the sacred circle tarot. some bad memories tied to that deck.[/quote] I had a similar feeling about my Tarot of the III Millennium deck. I liked the deck, but the man that recommended it to me was a dark character and unpleasantly nasty, really malicious toward me in word and action, and I didn't want the deck anymore. The other deck I didn't like was the Symbolon. I waited ages to buy that and I tried working with it, but the brown and gold colours on the cards nauseated me--an association with a childhood illness. For similar reasons of colouring, I have never liked the Psycards.

Phantom Goddess	10 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Phantom Goddess Another deck I'm not too fond of anymore is the Sacred Circle Tarot. Some bad memories tied to that deck. [/b] The reason this deck has bad memories for me is that I used to do readings with this deck with my ex bestfriend. She ended up stabbing me in the back and we are not friends anymore. She had used this deck quite a bit and her energy is on it. so now the deck holds bad memories for me. :(

darwinia	10 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Phantom Goddess The reason this deck has bad memories for me is that I used to do readings with this deck with my ex bestfriend. She ended up stabbing me in the back and we are not friends anymore. She had used this deck quite a bit and her energy is on it. so now the deck holds bad memories for me. :( That's a shame. I think friendship is more complicated than we realize. We tend to emphasize love and friendship with a marital partner, but other friendships are even more complex it seems to me. Not to be too bold, but the sexual healing that you find in a marriage is not part of regular friendship. We have to find other ways to heal rifts with friends, or at least forget them. Tarot cards are so visual, it is perhaps not her energy but the visual association in your mind? Let's say you had a fresh deck, she'd never touched it or worked with it, and think about how you'd feel then. Would all those pictures still remind you of her? If so, I am thinking that leaving it rest for a bit and using other decks, might help this. Let the memory fade of the pictures; let the memory of her betrayal fade too. When you go back to it, you might find the older, more delightful memories of the deck surfacing. Give yourself some time to change the association in your mind, particularly if you really love the deck. Cut yourself some slack, you know. It takes time to get over something like that. Best wishes, keep going!

truelighth	10 Aug 2004
I have bought quite some tarots that I thought I would like and absolutely didn't like by now. And I always trade them away. I don't care how collectible a deck is, if I don't like it.. I won't buy it or it goes. The most memorable though is the Tarocco della Vetrate by Luigi Scapini. I bought that deck, because I liked the online scans. But when I got it, I found it ugly and the colors were just screaming to me! Then the Death card freeked me out and next that deck found its way to Ebay. I also really dislike the El Teddy Tarot, the Destiny Tarot, Winged Spirit Tarot, and aaaahhh.. the One World Tarot!!! All of these I thought I would like and wanted them so badly. And once I got them, I had no idea how fast I could get rid of them. I am also not very fond of the Giger Tarot, Star that never walks around tarot, Kibaro Tarot and the New Century Tarot. I traded them away also.

felismala	10 Aug 2004
A deck I really have a problem with is the Voyager. It doesn't surprise me to see I am not the only person to have mixed feelings about this deck.

lawguy51	10 Aug 2004
Oh, my kind of thread, catty, negative, fun! All time least favourite: Robin Wood, I mean, can anyone seriously read with that deck (just trying to goad you RW faithful ;) ). Jungian...yuk. Quest...I'm surprised it doesn't come with blinking lights. Haindl - I mean I love it but I hate it too. I guess that one should go under 'which deck are you ambivalent about?'. Any round deck. If I want some coasters I'll buy some coasters. The II Aeclectic Community deck...I mean, come on, they let me create three of the cards...what were they thinking.... Lawguy51 :cool:

Phantom Goddess	11 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by darwinia That's a shame. I think friendship is more complicated than we realize. We tend to emphasize love and friendship with a marital partner, but other friendships are even more complex it seems to me. Not to be too bold, but the sexual healing that you find in a marriage is not part of regular friendship. We have to find other ways to heal rifts with friends, or at least forget them. Tarot cards are so visual, it is perhaps not her energy but the visual association in your mind? Let's say you had a fresh deck, she'd never touched it or worked with it, and think about how you'd feel then. Would all those pictures still remind you of her? If so, I am thinking that leaving it rest for a bit and using other decks, might help this. Let the memory fade of the pictures; let the memory of her betrayal fade too. When you go back to it, you might find the older, more delightful memories of the deck surfacing. Give yourself some time to change the association in your mind, particularly if you really love the deck. Cut yourself some slack, you know. It takes time to get over something like that. Best wishes, keep going! It has been since the end of April since the last time I spoke to her. I recently tried to do a reading with Sacred Circle and the cards were jibberish. I tossed out that reading and did one with my Gothic Tarot and I was 9/10 accurate. :) Your right though, it does just take time.

ferrous	11 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lawguy51 Any round deck. If I want some coasters I'll buy some coasters. rotfl!! :D I'm actually keen to try a round deck. I was thinking of getting the Motherpeace, but I already have a Goddess-centic deck so one day when I feel like paying more than I'd really like to pay for a deck, I might get Songs for the Journey Home. .. & if I don't like it, then at least I'll have some interesting coasters. ;)

Kiama	11 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ruby7 Kiama, I would love to know just one thing that you hated about the Love is in the Earth deck. I haven't seen this deck but I understand it hasn't received much positive response. As a crystal lover I was excited when this deck came out but didn't get it due to the negative responses. Ruby7 It claims to be THE Tarot for the new millennium, and the Tarot as Aleister Crowley really wanted it to be. Nuff said I think. I like Crowley. He was a magical genius. And the THOTH TAROT was the Tarot as he really wanted it to be! The L.I.I.T.E Tarot (cool acronym actually!) is far too new-agey and airy-fairy for Crowley's tastes. The cards also don't feature crystals that bear any meaning to the cards themselves... They're just there. Diane Wilkes at Tarot Passages wrote a review of it that I agree with entirely: http://www.tarotpassages.com/melody.htm Somebody also mentioned the One World Tarot, and I agree- I very much dislike this deck. You can read how much here, at my review of it: http://www.tarotpassages.com/oneworld-kh.htm Kiama

lawguy51	11 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama Diane Wilkes at Tarot Passages wrote a review of it that I agree with entirely: http://www.tarotpassages.com/melody.htm Kiama Ouchh...what an understated scathing review! Yuk, given that Thoth is my main deck, this deck is now on my 'must not have' list! Lawguy51

juju	11 Aug 2004
Wow that review is pretty harsh... I have never connected with the Rider-Waite. It's unnerving because everyone uses this deck. I love Legends (as I mentioned this is my primary deck) and Rennaissance. My LEAST favorite deck is the Tarot of the Cat people (is that right?). I don't know what it is but it annoys me.

lark	11 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lawguy51 Oh, my kind of thread, catty, negative, fun! All time least favourite: Robin Wood, I mean, can anyone seriously read with that deck (just trying to goad you RW faithful ;) ). Oh Mr lawguy51 someone needs to wash your mouth out with Lava soap for dishing my sweet Robin Wood...... :D I do not like the Elemental tarot by Carol Smith Maybe I just haven't spent enough time with it and looking it over now I can see some redeeming features soooo..... Anyway the decks I have truly disliked have left my loving care and gone to new homes Arthurian- don't read King Aurther and don't want too..sorry Goddess- don't like goddess as the Majors, minors boring Fronteras- ok but the colors were pucky Mythic- not into Greek myths Cosmic- someone loved it better than me...so it went home with her. Witches/Reed-what more can be said about this hideovideo. Art Nouveau-all the men seemed so menacing toward the women in the deck...gave me a bad feeling. But the colors and art were beautiful. Crows Magic-so metalic I just couldn't find a warm vib in the whole deck Art Nouveau /Myers - can't hardly remember this one. Holmes has it now. Gendron -never ever liked this deck. The pictures seemed so distorted and the minors were awful. Connolly-Didn't like the religious bend of this one. Quick N' Easy-gave it too my friends kids to play with. The interpertations were bad and harsh. New Palladini- kept this for a long time but ultimately it was the EYES that did it in. All their eyes seemed to be drawn wrong and distorted. Renaissance/ LoScarabeo-nothing really wrong with it I just didn't connect, and the art seemed kind of washed out to me. Oh I also do not like Waking the Wild Spirit. But I still have it. It's just waiting for the right home. Well thats enough of my bad attitude...but boy it sure felt good to vent. :)

Cerulean	12 Aug 2004
Two LS decks I like in the Italian version best, not the mass market version: Renaissance by Giorgio Trevisan: in the 22 art editions or the 78-card smaller Italian edition, it's deeper, innovative and evocative to me. A little too soft and pale in the mass market edition--perhaps too pink and purple. Hidden Folk by G. Gaudenzi: in the 22 art editions or 78 card smaller Italian edition, the undecorated pips (except for the Aces and fours) and beautiful Chariot make it a favorite with me. In the 78 card mass market edition, even if the illustrations are well-done, I find the images less appealing than the alternative. I've had to put away many of my photographic decks and managed to give away quite a few. Some other titles just got old for me really fast--I wasn't taken with them after a few years or tries: Voyager - Too jumbled Mythic - Too simple Universal Waite (Hanson Roberts) - So close, but not like the 1971 edition of the 1909 version Vertigo - beautiful colors, but not into the Sandman Nigel Jackson - colors are beautiful--just don't click with the illustrations Sacred Circle - I don't like the pip cards very much Most Pink and Purple--Gendron, Legend, Guardians of Wisdom, Transformation (Arleanea/Cori). They always seem better and prettier with someone else... -------------------------------------------------------------- Two I just do not like: LITE (the aforementioned Melody tarot) gave me the creeps because I decided the digitized images flattened what was evocative and interesting to me in the Thoth deck. I think the deck designers took the designs too seriously. Dion Fortune cards. It's probably because there's digitizing and manipulation of what might be Italian Milanese and French Marseilles designs combined with Monty Python humor. When I see tarot images that become cartoony in a strange way but the humor isn't apparant in the writing or attitude of art...it is probably just me. Oddly, the Elemental by Caroline Smith should fall in this category...but the 1988 version is a little prettier than the mass market version and even in the mass market version, some of the designs really added something new to my looks at the majors and minors. Very ood-the use of keywords, titles of mythic entities, quotes on the sides of the majors and use of brighter colors and pointy lines in strategic places should add up to dislike--but it all adds up to mostly, "hey, that's really creative..." However, because of my oddness, I seem to enjoy or like the Visconti versions, a few Rider-Waite Smith recolorings and design variations (LS Secrets). Thothlike decks and many Italian titles. Thanks for the thread. Cerulean

Niomi	12 Aug 2004
I have a love/hate relationship with Robin Wood. On the one hand, the cards are very painstakingly thought out, and obviously loved. The book is lovely, approachable, and I love her dorktastic* sense of humor. I absolutely love the court cards. I love the death and judgment cards. I really like the magician, but only as artwork. The magician in this deck just doesn't fit my image of him. But there's too many cards that I just don't like-- the devil, judgment, temperance, justice, the hanged man, and ESPECHALLY the heirophant. The bad treatment of the heirophant really makes me deeply unhappy. The heirophant is not a bad card, but the constipated appearance lets me know that the artist doesn't really like this card. The book's description of the card was mostly a rant about conformity, and that made me sad too-- conformity isn't all bad, everyone needs a group of friends or family that they conform or harmonize with. The only time conformity is bad is when you're forced into conforming to something you don't feel comfortable with. I don't mean to say this is a bad deck. I do own it for study, especially study of the court cards. But I don't think I could ever read or connect with it. (please don't pelt me with rotten fruits!) * I say this with affection. You can't really say that the puns she makes in the book is anything short of dorky-- she limited her forward to four words! ^_^ (get it?) But it's satisfying to see a beautiful deck made by a dork. It makes dorks like me all over the world very happy.

Lee	12 Aug 2004
I have to agree about the Robin Wood. I really appreciate the effort she took to get the cards just the way she wanted them, and to put a lot of thought and care into them. I absolutely love the Minors, but I find myself disagreeing with almost all the Majors. As an example, she drew the High Priestess as welcoming and approachable, but to me, the whole point of the High Priestess is that she's not welcoming and approachable. It's a shame because I would love to work with those Minors. -- Lee

Satori	12 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lawguy51 Quest...I'm surprised it doesn't come with blinking lights. LOL...hey c'mon, I haven't read with mine yet...stop it! And I just got a couple of round decks to try...you're killing me... ROFLMAO at your post...

baba-prague	12 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Emily Another deck I just can't seem to connect with is the Liber T - tarot of stars eternal. A Yes, I can't make up my mind about this one either. My first reaction was that the illustrations were really good technically - and in an interesting, distinctive style - but when I look in more detail, I'm not so convinced that it adds up to anything useful. Like I say though, still not really sure. Edited to add - it's not fair perhaps to pick it out though, as it's at least interesting and well done in many ways. The decks I really can't stand are the ones that seem to be churned out to catch a market. Fortunately there aren't too many perhaps, but oh, that LoTR (okay, we have all expressed disappointment before so maybe it's dull to bring it up again).

WolfSpirit	12 Aug 2004
I thought I would love the Liber T, it looked so beautiful. Ican't make much of the symbolism used though, although I think I can safely say the artist does not choose the positive side of the meanings. I particularly dislike the 7 of cups in this deck, with those horrible monks *shivers*.

Phantom Goddess	14 Aug 2004
I am having trouble liking the Thoth Tarot. I just don't like Crowley. He kinda scares me.

northsea	14 Aug 2004
Celtic (Gaudenzi) - the Empress is plain scary, and it gets worse from there, Fairy (Lo Scarabeo) - another LS, Legend Arthurian and Hallowquest - I like Arthurian legend but not quite tarot for me (like the HQ Hanged Man - man bleeding to death), Navigators Mystic Sea - might be a good study, but unusable for me because of the keywords, Nigel Jackson - nice booklet, intelligent author, but some of the art seems misproportioned, and I use Swords-Air, Wands-Fire, Vikings (Lo Scarabeo) - LS seems to always give an Italianized version of various cultural themes, the art doesn't seem really nordic, Timeless Truth - not a bad RWS-based deck, but I don't use the same rune/crystal assignments, ...and many others (because they seem to be created more for art than reading). Sorry if I mentioned anybody's favorite.

Alta	14 Aug 2004
Tarot of the Cat People: I hate this deck. It almost seems deliberately obtuse. Fairy Tarot (LS: mini): makes almost no sense to me. Some of the majors are interesting but many of the minors seem to have illustrations chosen almost at random. Hanson-Roberts Tarot: cannot use this one, can hardly look at it. yuck. Kazanlar Tarot: too wierd looking Legend: The Arthurian Tarot: don't know enough details on the Authur stories to use it. Liber T: Tarot of the Stars Eternal LS: haven't made up mu mind on this one either. It has so many details on the minors, many of which seem pointless. Londa Tarot: I dislike this deck. Just the faintest nod to actual tarot. Tarot of Oz: Like many theme decks, doesn't hold up over time. Robin Wood Tarot: hehe, sorry, I still feel a strong affection for this deck, even though I rarely read with it any more. Rohrig; Shapeshifter; Spiral Tarot; Universal Tarot (Roberto de Angelis: LS); Vice Versa Tarot (also called Tarot of the New Vision) all fall into my 'don't like' pile but I'll try to not rant.

spoonbender	14 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Marion Universal Tarot (Roberto de Angelis: LS) I really don't like that deck. So many people complain about the art in the RWS, but I'd choose the RWS over that one any day!! I mean, look at what he did to the Page of Cups :mad:!

dolphingirl	14 Aug 2004
You know I never really gave that card a second thought until you posted about it, so I showed it to my boyfriend and the comments that ensued were.... Missuer Poofy pants my pants have a big fish in them guess how much water my depends will hold. I seem to be retaining little water here so now when I see this card I am just going to start laughing my but off :)

Phantom Goddess	14 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by spoonbender I really don't like that deck. So many people complain about the art in the RWS, but I'd choose the RWS over that one any day!! I mean, look at what he did to the Page of Cups :mad:! I totally agree about that card. It looks horrible. :(

lawguy51	16 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lark Oh Mr lawguy51 someone needs to wash your mouth out with Lava soap for dishing my sweet Robin Wood...... :D It's been tried (by my mother)....didn't work ;) . Lawguy51

Candra	16 Aug 2004
I'm going to get hit by over ripe fruit for saying this, but... I LIKE THE HELLO KITTY TAROT. *Wipes over ripe fruit from face* I don't want to read with it, but I find it very interesting. It's overly cute, but someone put time and effort into making it, and I think that it's great...just not to actually read from. Decks I don't seem to like are the ones with the old pictures on them like the Renassaince deck and such. I like the idea of Cat people (I am an anime lover after all), but realisitic cat people decks just don't appeal to me. As well, I don't really like the one's with no clear pictures, just lines(like the unfinished math one in the web pages unfinished deck area.). I don't really like photoshop decks, they simply don't appeal to me. That said, although the original Rider-Waite is not my favourite deck (I'm not really fond of the art) it was the deck I learned on, it was the first deck given to me, and I still use it to read...I assume that one day, I'll put it down, and give it as a gift to someone I know so that they can learn to read Tarot. I like this deck, even if I don't really like the pictures and would like to get a new deck. *My apologies to anyone that I may have insulted with my comments.*

Woof	16 Aug 2004
I'm just going to post about decks I've had: Thoth: Maybe it's because I had the green deck but I don't like the feel of the deck: something unhealthy about it. And I don't give a fig about Crowley one way or the other so I don't think it's that. Hanson Roberts: c'mon, even Farah doesn't have that hair anymore! Victoria Regina: gave me sarcastic readings. Wise Woman's Tarot: to male hostile, didn't like the "artwork". Fairys of any kind. They don't move me. Too mischevious for me. Major complaint: no good dog decks. Woof

ferrous	16 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Woof Victoria Regina : gave me sarcastic readings. rotfl!!! :D .. maybe it's the evil devil/clown I've heard about ..

le pendu	17 Aug 2004
I've spoiled myself and it's only getting worse... I've been totally self-indulgent lately, and keep getting disappointed in decks that I thought I would like, three recent disappointments: Golden Tarot of the Renaissance Liber T: Tarot of Stars Eternal The Gilded Tarot It's hard to describe what is wrong.. they SHOULD be perfectly wonderful decks, I have good reasons to like them all... but somehow they just feel "hollow". Maybe the good news is that I've truely narrowed down my favorite decks to a handful (Cosmic Tribe, Prague, Thoth, William Blake, Flornoy's TdM) and it is simply time to stop buying. robert

Nycelle	17 Aug 2004
My first thought on seeing the Universal Waite Page of Cups was to dance in my office chair and sing "I Like Big Butts" by Sir Mixalot. I'm going to Tarot-hell for that comment. But I'm still dancing.

Alta	17 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Candra *My apologies to anyone that I may have insulted with my comments.* Don't worry, :D , someone is certain to insult *your* favourite decks. Quote: Originally posted by Woof Victoria Regina : gave me sarcastic readings. Wise Woman's Tarot : to male hostile, didn't like the "artwork". Fairys of any kind. They don't move me. Too mischevious for me. Agree, agree, agree. geez that VR is an amazing deck in some ways, but sarcastic, argh. Quote: Originally posted by le pendu I've spoiled myself and it's only getting worse... I've been totally self-indulgent lately, and keep getting disappointed in decks that I thought I would like, three recent disappointments: Golden Tarot of the Renaissance Liber T: Tarot of Stars Eternal The Gilded Tarot Same here except I have not yet gotten my copy of the Gilded. I kind of like the look of the screen shots, but we'll see. Quote: Originally posted by le pendu It's hard to describe what is wrong.. they SHOULD be perfectly wonderful decks, I have good reasons to like them all... but somehow they just feel "hollow". Yes, that's the trouble that I am having. Like you, all this deck buying is causing me to assess what I have in a more critical way. But, I have one other comment. We ran a thread similar to this a while ago (quite a while ago) and I posted to it three decks that at the time I thought were useless, etc. Someone revived the thread and I re-read it (again quite a while ago) and to my astonishment I was now actively using at least one of the decks that I had sworn I never could! The Thoth was one of them. That being said, 'hollow' decks will never really stand up to time.

ladymermaid	18 Aug 2004
i don't like round tarot card decks. i don't like tarot card decks that have no color to them. i don't like decks that look like a 3 year old made them.

Oshenar	18 Aug 2004
I can't say I hate any particular decks but I find it difficult to do a reading with decks that try to take me into their own fictitious world thing. It makes me feel like roleplaying when I'd rather be myself when doing a reading. I can't concentrate and get serious when the meaning / description on the deck tells me to be some 'character' in a mystic world of blah blah. I keep on feeling that I'm faking through the whole thing.

rosyelf	20 Aug 2004
Hello everyone, I'm just newly signed on today.! I'll perhaps introduce myself on the newcomers' page. Decks I don't like. Anything twee or overly whimsical. I was drawn to the Shapeshifter because I love the IDEA of shapeshifting, but the whole thing was too soft-focus for me. Tied in with this is a dislike of decks that avoid or try and soften the dark side-my major beef with a lot of New Age stuff, by the way. Suffering DOES exist. People do get sick, die tragically, abuse each other, experience loss of various kinds. Better to look at these things in the face and deal with them, instead of creating some never-never land of endless bliss and beautiful colours. I couldn't get the hang of the Fairy Wicca, though it sounded good in theory, and I found the crystal deck-can't recall its exact name right now-very unsatisfying. Generally, I look for superb artwork that speaks to me at various levels and that is good for meditation as well as divination. What I have noticed is that some decks I loved eight or nine years ago do little for me now. The Mythic Deck is one of these, though I do hang onto it for sentimental reasons. My very first deck was a miniature Rider Waite. I felt I OUGHT to buy a Rider Waite as my first, I suppose, though I just couldn't connect to the cartoony pictures and garish colours. Having said that, the iconography of Rider Waite has served me well for approaching other more satisfying decks. I loved reading this thread !

astril	21 Aug 2004
For me, and don't get me wrong, it would be the Albano Waite. I really like the Waite style, as all my decks reflect this train of thought. But, the colors are a little too, well MUCH for me to concentrate my readings with. They give me the biggest headache.....

The 78th Fool	21 Aug 2004
As a matter of personal taste I really don't go for heavily themed decks - particularly where it involves changing the names and imagery of the Major Arcana. The Arthurian Tarot would fall into this category for me. The artwork is really stunning but I just don't relate to the concept. Likewise, I don't really go for the Mythic and Ancient Egyptian (barrett) decks, although here traditional titles are retained. What I don't mind are decks that are themed on a perticular artistic style, for example Matt Myer's Art Nouveau Tarot which happens to be one of my favourites. Apart from this there are a couple of other reasons why a deck should hold no appeal to me: If the artwork is just plain disturbing (such as the Giger) If the artwork's poor (You can make your own judgements here!!) If the artwork's too erotic to the point where it stops being a tarot deck and becomes more like a porn magazine! Chris. xx

Little Baron	21 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by The 78th Fool If the artwork's too erotic to the point where it stops being a tarot deck and becomes more like a porn magazine! There seemed, at one point, to be a lot of people that favoured the erotic decks, but I have never founf them that interesting. To be honest, I have never really paid much attention to them - maybe I should look at them before posting my opinions. However, I can imagine that the imagery would be quite distracting. I remember a thread a long while ago about 'gay decks'. Before Lee's tarot deck, we were discussing the fact that there wasn't any gay decks that anyone was aware of. Jeanette posted some links to two decks - I think that the card samples were on her site. She said that it was very hard to find samples that were tame enough to show. The ones shown, for me, were quite extreme as it was and I wondered, aside from novelty value, what use these would have for any kind of reading or study. Don't get me wrong, I like erotism in decks (I find the Rohrig to be 'erotic'; I suppose that the same could be said for the Adrian and the Cosmic Tribe), but in those decks there is a more suggestive than blatant. Yaboot

Thea Lynx	22 Aug 2004
I went through quite a bit of rigaramole to get my Connolly deck - and found when I first worked it that I couldn't stand the thing!! I had seen others with the deck at Tarot class and the colors appealed to me so I ordered it - the first one I got (from BArnes and Noble) had double pentacles and 1/2 the Majors missing. So, back it went with a request for a replacement & when the replacement came it turned out to be the vey same deck I had returned!!! Back it went & having learned my lesson, I then purchased it from my local metaphysical bookstore. All was fine until I actually used it & the Devil (I think Transformation in Connolly) came up and I was appalled. I am a catholic in recovery and the image on this card was definitely what I had spent years in catholic school looking at as the ascension of christ!! It completely (in my mind) did way with the lessons of the Devil and I had such a negative reaction to the deck from that point that I wouldn't even keep it with the rest of my decks until I found it a good home with someone who really wanted it. It felt very strange giving up a deck - especially one I had spent so much energy on just to get in the first place, but I will not hesitate to do the same in the future. Thea

Thordia	23 Aug 2004
Waking the Wild Spirit- I like the artwork, but I just don't like it has a tarot deck :(

maria42airam	23 Aug 2004
Overall, I'm very new to Tarot and my Thoth deck and I just met, so I don't want to judge on first impressions, but... After having the deck for a few weeks, putting aside the uncomfortable feelings I get when holding it, I attempted a mutual introduction by doing the "new deck" spread that was posted on another group. I don't think it feels any more comfortable with me! What do you want to teach me? Adjustment What do I need to do? Chariot What will our relationship be like? 5 of cups (disappointment) ouch. Well, I've decided to forge ahead anyway with the deck which is how I found this forum, so that in itself is a big plus! Maria

Hummingbird	24 Aug 2004
Motherpeace, Crowley, Giger.

mercenary30	14 Sep 2004
Decks that I just couldn't get into. Lord of the Rings - The art and symbolism were just not right.....didn't represent Tolkien's work to me. Voyager - I got this because my ex liked it......I couldn't read with it. She has it now. Connolly - PG13, what good is a tarot deck without Death and the Devil?? The Gill - The funny poses on the cards reminded me of Seseme Street. I did like some of the art though..... (One of these cards is not like the others. One of these cards is not quite the same........ :joke: )

Ace	14 Sep 2004
I am glad to see others don't like the MotherPeace deck. I thought it was me! I don't like the art work at all, and one weird thing: several man-hating friends of mine have gotten that deck. I am not saying these are Lesbians (one is very hetero) they just hate men. The very hetero one told me she helped a friend pick out (the MotherPeace deck) when she got into tarot after being raped. It has always rubbed me wrong, but has anyone noticed that treand?

Linelei	14 Sep 2004
I don't like the Lord of the Rings deck. It doesn't match Tolkien's vision. And, come on, the hobbits wear SHOES. ;) It was very strange reading this thread, because several people said they loved the Quest Tarot online, but didn't like it when they got it. That's exactly what happened to me. I thought I would adore, but something about the deck feels impersonal and unapproachable. I'm trying to let it grow on me, but that's hard to do when I just don't even want to pick it up, really. It's not a bad feeling, just not for me. I also have never been very fond of RWS, especially Hanson-Roberts. The people are drawn all out of proportion, which makes is unpleasant to look at for me. On the brighter side, I adore Legend Tarot. But even though I have a pretty good base of Arthur knowledge, I admit it's a bit obscure.

BlueLotus	14 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ace I am glad to see others don't like the MotherPeace deck. I thought it was me! I don't like the art work at all, and one weird thing: several man-hating friends of mine have gotten that deck. I am not saying these are Lesbians (one is very hetero) they just hate men. The very hetero one told me she helped a friend pick out (the MotherPeace deck) when she got into tarot after being raped. It has always rubbed me wrong, but has anyone noticed that treand? The size of this mini MotherPeace I have was why I thought it was not easy to connect with it. But trying hard as I did, I was still unable to see it as a user-friendly deck. However, to give this deck some credit, I may go for the larger size sometime in the future when I may be able to afford to add yet another deck to my collection. For the time being I find myself reading less and less with it. Besides, I find the interpretations in the LWB not all that readily understood. I know there is a book that accompanies this deck, but I haven't yet come around to buying it.

Leleii	15 Sep 2004
I was very disappointed with the Gendron Deck. I bought that deck because I loved her version of the 10 of Swords and she had part of the Charge of the Goddess in her LWB. The cards disappointed me, the minors were a mess. I thought I would love the Goddess Tarot. I loved the majors, but I disliked the minors. The Voyager was too confusing to me., to much symbolism on each card, but I liked the Voyager Oracle Book it help me to look at the cards in a different way. I thought that with the Tarot of the Saints, I would learn about the Saints yet when I received the cards, they didn't like me so I banished them in the back of my closet with the Gendron and the Goddess Tarot. I got the Motherpiece when it first came out and I was single. I can't deal with round cards and I didn't like the art. I could draw better. Yet I gotten very good readings with them. Go figure. Leleii

xviiirkna	15 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Feebie The size of this mini MotherPeace I have was why I thought it was not easy to connect with it. I have both sizes and I like the way that the mini deck presents the imagery better ;) ...but seriously, the larger format just gives a bigger canvas to the awkward style of the artwork. I do like primitive and/or naive styles, but I'm not overly fond of whatever this deck was trying to be. Regardless, I don't count the Motherpeace deck on my "ick" list, I'm just responding to your comment about the mini deck. As far as decks I just don't like...I try very hard to research and investigate decks prior to purchasing to know there is some sort of value to me either through the art or the structure of the system - and of course if I consider both aspects to be excellent, then I'm a real happy camper! Out of nearly 250 decks on my shelves, I've only released one without feeling any regret: Tarot of a Moongarden. And I do like whimsical, so it's not that I didn't try to like it. It's just a little tooooooooooo sweet for my taste. And those borders just add to the cotton candy atmosphere. However, without naming names, I definitely have a few other decks that don't really do much for me one way or the other...but I should gather those up and post them on the trade board so that someone else can get some enjoyment from them. That's a great thing about Tarot art...there's something out there for everyone! Blessings, Sally Anne

RedMaple	15 Sep 2004
The Thoth is high on my don't like list. I found it intellectual and seductive, but not honest. The Shining Tribe -- I tried hard to like it, tried to read the book, found it boring and pedantic. I didn't realize how much I disliked it til I put it down and picked up my Morgan Greer, and instantly felt connected... The Fairy Wicca -- Someone talked me into this one. What, am I crazy, letting my hormones sway my judgment like that? :) The Wheel of Change - I'd read so many good things about this, and I just hated it. The Enchanted Tarot - I quilt and do other textile arts, and thought I'd love this, but the cards did not match up to the images on line -- which are bigger and much brighter and livelier. The deck just left me cold. As for the Motherpeace -- after learning on the RWS, I was happy to find the Motherpeace when it first came out. I didn't love the images, but I was happy that there was a woman-centered deck. At that point in my life, it made sense to me, and I got many good readings from it. Now, I never use it, and would never choose it as a deck. But I do think there are decks that appeal to us at certain times in our lives, just as certain books or movies do. We learn from them and move on.

Oni	15 Sep 2004
The Witches bye Reed, totally hated it! the cards were awful and the book was trying too hard. The Cat People hmm not me at all! The Lovecraft Tarot- he scares me way too much, i feel like the monstors will get me! he hee Sakki Sakki or whatever that is called, my freind brought that, and sorry it made me want to run. course i dont like any anima decks at all! The Giled- a freind of mine got that, and sorry i do not see what is the big deal, it looks lame to me, u could not give me that deck! The Fairy Ring, i brought that thinking i would love it cause i love the Sacred Circle but i found the fr really tired. Frounds Fairy Oracle, once again i brought this thought i would love it actully saw it before i brought it, and i hated it too, well like half the cards were really good, have the cards were just awful! hmm that is all i can recall that strongly hit me as bad

Oni	26 Sep 2004
add the Buckland Romani i truly do not like that!

Morningstar	27 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Sulis Robin Wood - blonde, blue eyed, smiling, happy, shiny people :( I second that. Can't relate as I'm never gonna be naturally blonde or blue-eyed in this lifetime. :D Thoth, Giger, Bosch, Tarot of the III Millennium -- potential inducers of nightmares Celtic Tarot -- This was my first deck and now I don't even know why I bought it. Can't relate to it at all now. The art is gorgeous, though. Tarot cards that are a combination of one or two themes that are not originally related. Like Celtic Dragon, Fairy Wiccan, etc. Also most photographic decks. If there clearly are faces of other people on the cards, I'm not going to like it. Might change my mind if it's my face, though. :laugh: That's all. I've not seen that many decks. Also most decks I've seen, I liked, if only for the art. :)

Morningstar	27 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Oni add the Buckland Romani i truly do not like that! Hmm, it's on my wishlist. :D Why don't you like it? Just curious...

rosyelf	27 Sep 2004
Love Is In The Earth Tarot I bought on a whim and got rid of within a week-the art did nothing for me, nor did the interpretations. . .and I didn't learn much about crystals, either. Giger I find disturbing and misogynistic. Original Rider Waite. Colours, style of drawing. It's not the images per se, because now I have the Universal Waite and like it a lot. Generally speaking, I don't like anything too cutesy or fluffy-bunny-which is why I haven't wanted the Hanson-Roberts-and I don't warm to anything cartoony.

Jewel	27 Sep 2004
There have been a couple of decks that had to leave my home the moment I opened them so I will focus on them for my strong dislikes: The Victoria Regina - the guns were just a major turn-off for me, and I could not even appreciate the rest of the deck. The Quest - I had drooled over this deck for months waiting for Llewellyn to publish it, and when I got it I was soooooooooo dissapointed. The Chariot just put the nail in its coffin for me. It had to go ... quickly. Bosch - the only saving grace this deck had for me were the beautiful colors ... as for everything else in it, I just found it gross. The 10 of pentacles was just one among many cards I would have hated to have come out on me.

Ryan	27 Sep 2004
I was expecting to see the Naos Deck mentioned here ~s~, rather disappointed its not actually. Ryzer.

WolfyJames	29 Sep 2004
Once here, on a similar thread, someone said she didn't like decks that could have been drawn by her three years old. I agree with her. The Motherpeace Tarot, The POMO Tarot and the Shining Tribe Tarot do enter in this category (and others I won't name). Strangely, I don't like most of Los Scarabeo decks, except for the historical tarot decks, The Bosh Tarot and the Fey Tarot. And even there, I didn't like the Fey Tarot when I first saw it, and it took me months and months to find it pretty. As for the others, they look like they were drawned by people who draw european comic books. The decks look unfinished. The Fairy Tarot scenes on the Minors are lovely, but they were drawned by another artist not hired by Los Scarabeo, and the drawing by the artist hired by Los Scarabeo are not as good and as fairy as the artist not hired. I can barely bare the sight of deck with pictures of real people in it. The Cosmic Tribe Tarot is a deck I will never never have, people are even naked in it. Yikes! :eek: Photocollage decks enter in this category I think (pictures of real people are usually in such decks), and The Crow's Magic Tarot is quite a disapointing deck, it is so badly made. I had other images in mind when I was imagining the deck The Lord of the Rings Tarot is a failure as a tarot and as a Tolkien product, I prefer the oracle personally. I also don't like the Robin Wood Tarot, the people in it are just plain weird and freaky. The Original Rider-Waite Smith Tarot is terribly ugly and the colors are just bad. There was also a Tarot de marseille that I hated, but I burned it so its case is over. The decks mentionned here I have no issue with: I find The Thoth Tarot quite colorful, in a dark way, but still colorful. I love both The Gothic Tarot and The Bosch Tarot. I don't have much trouble with The Giger. And the purple coming from the Legend Tarot doesn't sicken me. ;)

jema	29 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ryan A I was expecting to see the Naos Deck mentioned here ~s~, rather disappointed its not actually. Ryzer. Perhaps it would be here if people could actually afford to buy it. So far I have resisted this thread, I tend to focus more on decks I like than those I don't like. But list on decks I dislike is reather short too. Royal tarot - but that one is more for the game of tarot then anything else I also once got the templar deck from someone here and was all excited but it turned out to be not for me at all. I have a lot of decks with flaws, like the Gendron, but I still like it more than I dislike it. Perhaps I just repressed the memories of all horrible decks.

baba-prague	29 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by jema So far I have resisted this thread, I tend to focus more on decks I like than those I don't like. Yes, I feel much the same. I actually gazed at this thread and thought about what I'd like to put here and couldn't come up with much. That's probably because the decks I don't like just tend to end up pushed to the back of a drawer or traded on, and I hardly ever even think about them again. I think you call it "selective memory" LOL.

April	29 Sep 2004
There aren't any decks I actually own that I dislike. But there are some that other people have that can stay away from me. I haven't found any goth or dragon deck that does it for me. Tarot of the Cat People kind of creeps me out. I love erotic decks but Tarocco dei Giardini di Priapo is too much, and the artwork isn't even good. There's a line between erotic and pornographic and this deck crossed it about ten miles back. I am of the firm and unwavering opinion that Pamela Coleman Smith's artwork does NOT need to be recolored (redrawn, possibly), especially not in pastels or flourecents. Thanks for letting me vent. Peace, April

annik	29 Sep 2004
I don't really have deck that I hate. But there is some decks that I dislike strongly. The tarot of the spirit, for example. I find the artwork like an bad impresionist painting. And the color are a bit dizzying. And there is the shapeshifter tarot. There is some cards that have some good points. But there is a lot of cards that I found weird looking at. Maybe the blending humans / animals wasn't easy to make. Or I don't find that particuliar blending esthetic with all animals. It's the two decks that comes in my mind right now...

Ryan	02 Oct 2004
It's really not that expensive is it? I've just made two more sales, meaning I've only 7 left out of 18. If its shifting, its probably just a little more exclusive. besides, I have offered the deck for $300 to anyone who approached me with interest but without all the cash - it just doesnt come with the limited edition aces or the 80+ page manual. not that thats needed to use a tarot deck, the manuals generally for adherents of the ONA who take the tarot seriously as a tool / really the sinister tarot is no harder to use than any other tarot - all it requires is good old intuition. You sit down, and meditate on each Major, letting the connections sew and knit of themselves - theres no LWB (little white booklet) that tells you what each card means, which is probably the most significant difference between sinister and other tarot. oh, well that and its technically an Oracle masquerading as a Tarot. the idea is that you find your own associations from the archetypal journey into your Own subconscious, not that of anothers... I believe the archetypes depicted arise from taking general tarot archetypes, and "twisting" them to the left to represent Sinister attributes. Christos Beest of ONA produced the first Sinister Tarot, its very beautiful, and very different to my own artistically - its around on the internet if you look. He gave his arcana meanings - meanings, which I find startling and almost too accurate. But the point of presenting a Sinister Tarot to the Public was diversification. But Im rambling... Ryzer. Ryzer.

Macavity	02 Oct 2004
The Russian Tarot of St.Pete's. But I suspect I'm in a minority over that one? ;) Then there's the new(ish) "Golden Tarot of the Renaissance" with it's shuffled Decan images - Why, Oh Why? But Hey, after amply threatening my "Sola Busca" by sale on Ebay, I decided to (11th hour) reprieve it - Hmmm... Or rather, it didn't SELL! }) Macavity

baba-prague	02 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Macavity The Russian Tarot of St.Pete's. But I suspect I'm in a minority over that one? ;) Well, I certainly don't hate it - but I do know that every Russian I've shown it to (not in person, but as the Kaplan pictures, as I don't have the deck) falls around laughing hysterically at the idea that it is Russian. I think it's been done to a style that is a rather non-Russian view of Russian art. So you are not in a total minority :-)

Alta	02 Oct 2004
That sounds sort of like the reactions of certain folks to deck that purport to represent the culture of Amerindian tribes. I guess if are truly familiar with something you can spot an 'as-if' representation. Personally, I like the deck but rarely read with it. I don't like any TdM decks. None, zero, zippo.

Macavity	02 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by baba-prague Well, I certainly don't hate it... Heheh. Well, I guess that's the case for most of us. But you raise an interesting point - as to what might be seen as somehow... "Russian". And, in that, you probably have more first hand knowledge - if not advisors? }) With (outsider) knowledge of Eastern Orthodoxy and a liking for Iconic art, I do like the LoS "Golden Tarot of the Tsar". It (or rather my copy) has slightly variable quality in the gold leaf application, but it's attractive and (even) readable. Plus I DO like the "pip + vignette" style, which I think could be used more often to advantage. Then there's the "Egorov Tarot" which predates(?) but looks like(?) the St.P? Perhaps we should have a new thread sometime? ;) Macavity

Alta	02 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Ryan A I was expecting to see the Naos Deck mentioned here ~s~, rather disappointed its not actually. Ryzer. I don't have it, but think that it is a pretty cool deck. Being the theme it is, I can see while you would have a few people to have strong adverse reactions though. :)

Alta	02 Oct 2004
I have been re-reading back over the posts (lost track of this thread for a while). This makes truly entertaining reading and really an ever better de-enabling thread that the one Rusty Neon started. :) (sorry Rusty, enjoyed yours too). It is sort of nice to have a place to say that you don't care for decks that most threads drool over: the Quest, Gilded, Golden, St Petersburg etc. :) I have a hard time answering this, because my ideas have tended to change so radically over time. I have found old threads where I mentioned decks that I swore I would never touch (Thoth, e.g.) and decks I loved (Shapeshifter e.g.) that i have now flipped 180 degrees on. I have gotten to the point where I am afraid to trade away evenly thoroughly despised decks in case that happens again. :D

darwinia	02 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Marion I don't like any TdM decks. None, zero, zippo. Ditto zippoł

Frank Hall	03 Oct 2004
I like the Voyager's tie together of Majors and Minors, 5 with 5s,etc., but it can seem too much meshed into one card. I follow the designer's advice --- focus in on one main sub-image per card. That saves the deck for me. Liber T takes out the geometry from the Harris originals, for instance, the High Priestess. This is a losing simplification, like taking Shakespeare's language and putting it into common contemporary prose. Out goes the Magic. An improvement that takes the art out of the art. So many decks have dud and disaster cards, but are saved by general redeeming qualities, like the purple-pink Transformation, with many magnificent successes, and the Monty Python-esque Dion Fortune, with its beautiful Death card, etc. Art has to take some risks to come to life. I don't like decks that are only pretty, without any darkness or wildness or symbolic confusion. Golden and Gilded and Thoth(original) and Ancient Egyptian and Buddha and Medieval Scapini and Via are superlative Tarots, artistically accomplished, with outstanding unity of style and symbolic treatment, but breaking new ground, alive.

Oni	03 Oct 2004
the st petersburg deck is not very russian but it is a nice deck.

Diana	03 Oct 2004
I don't like decks with illustrated minors. I find them very limiting.

baba-prague	03 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Oni the st petersburg deck is not very russian but it is a nice deck. Yes, I quite like it too. I wasn't meaning to imply I don't, just that I seem to know people who react to it very negatively. I think Marion is right - you often react when you see your own culture used in some way that doesn't seem authentic, but to many other people it's a perfectly nice deck. It's probably similar to the way that I often don't like Celtic decks - I can see that they are fine and well done in a way, but to me they aren't "real" Celtic and that disturbs me.

Oni	03 Oct 2004
yes exactly. i have much family in russia and i m half Lithuanian, they think the deck is very funny but like whatever. i had the same reaction to the buckland deck it was like a english version of a central/eastern eurpean thing, totally not to my likeing at all.

Rusty Neon	03 Oct 2004
Coming from an Eastern Slavic background, the deck that strikes me most as being Eastern Slavic is the Egorov, with its fairy tale art reminiscent of the art in Eastern Slavic fairy tale books in Russian for children. The deck has been on my wish-list for a while, but what's holding me back is, firstly, the oversimplicity of the artwork and, secondly, some of the eclectic revisions that the creator has done away from RWS. Ironically, another deck on my wish-list that has attracted me for its Eastern Slavic feel from a folk art point of view is the 'Finnish' Kalevala Tarot. Terminology: 'Eastern Slavic' is a collective term to describe Russian, Belarusan and Ukrainian. Being Eastern Orthodox Christian, I'm not fully comfortable with a deck such as the Golden Tarot of the Tsars for depicting religious icons (or art in the style thereof) on tarot cards. But on the other hand, I have seen art in the style of religious icons on Russian 'matrioshka' nesting dolls.

Mesara	03 Oct 2004
In defense of Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg, although it is a RW clone, it was designed and painted by a Russian artist, Yury Shakov, who is famous for his laquer russian miniature paintings of Russian folk/fairy tales. This is my favorite deck, I think it's beautiful. Everyone has different tastes; but I just don't understand how someone can't like it because it isn't "Russian?"

Logiatrix	03 Oct 2004
My own "cultural" disappointment: Osho Zen is a deck that I initially balked at on first examination. Being raised Zen Buddhist, I found there to be a lot of "Osho" and not that much "Zen" in this deck set. I find that it is a mish-mash of several Easern belief systems and New Age concepts, unified well, and depicted attractively in the artwork. It is not purely Zen, it is Osho's Zen; I hope people will also be curious enough to look further into the true philosophies of Zen, and Buddhism in general. I recently dug out my copy from storage, because I had been gifted the book "Tarot In The Spirit Of Zen" (which I still enjoy); this revisit was much better than my last assessment. Ironically, I had to remember to approach the deck and/or the books with a Zen perspective, and release any expectations of the "Zen-ness" I was taught. Not a dislike, but a disappointment at first; however, since I gave up taking it personally, I can appreciate why so many people like this deck...I even played with it a while. :)

baba-prague	04 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Mesara This is my favorite deck, I think it's beautiful. Everyone has different tastes; but I just don't understand how someone can't like it because it isn't "Russian?" Well, I'm passing on the comments I've had from Russian artists here - several times. But I don't want to offend anyone. I think it IS a cultural thing. To many Russians, this looks like someone's idea of "Russian". I know that the artist is a Russian, and the deck is in a style that many people think is classic Russian, but in fact it is a style (that we see a lot in Prague) that tends to be produced and sold as a tourist item. Ouch, this sounds awful and as though I am being critical, I'm not, I LIKE this style sometimes, but I can understand why many Russians find it inauthentic. Alex has also taught Russian miniature painting, and maybe he could explain this better than me. But there is the "true" Russian traditional style, and then there is the miniature painting that sells well. They are not always the same thing. It doesn't mean that one is necessarily better or more beautiful than the other, but historically, the more "popular" style is not very accurate. Please don't take this as some sort of criticism. The deck isn't one that I dislike personally, although I don't particularly like it either. But you will find if you talk to many Russian artists that they don't react well to it. Or at least, that's what I've repeatedly found, although at first it surprised me. But well, that's life. I don't think everything has to be authentic, but I also think that the original post about this deck was not all that unusual, in that it's one deck that I've found really quite often provokes a negative reaction in our Russian friends here. Horses for courses though!

Mesara	04 Oct 2004
Don't worry; Im not one to get all offended just because someone doesn't like my deck! I just couldn't understand how anyone could say it isn't russian, being painted by a russian artist etc... But, then again, I don't know any russians personally so I have no one to consult on the matter! It would be interesting to find out what your russian friends thought a russian deck should be! Another note- I didn't buy this deck because it was *Russian*, so even if you are right when you say it doesn't accurately reflect russian art then it still won't ruin the deck for me.

baba-prague	04 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Mesara It would be interesting to find out what your russian friends thought a russian deck should be! LOL! So would I! I will ask that question one day soon I think :-)

MuffinTops	05 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by darwinia Ditto zippoł quadruple ditto Oooops, forgot to say...Marseille, as did Marion and Darwinia.

Ryan	05 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Marion I don't have it, but think that it is a pretty cool deck. Being the theme it is, I can see while you would have a few people to have strong adverse reactions though. :) You're right there... The Nazism (Does anybody know any other decks with Aryan suggestion?), the overt Sexuality + the mistaken assumption of most potential customers for what Satanism is, who are oft sadly disappointed by the lack of antichrists, pentacles, animal sacrifice and church burnings - means the deck will probably remain adversive to most people. As it was, the deck was intended for a very small clientele, namely genuine satanists. and seems to be achieving that purpose. And I'm appreciative you like the deck marion :) Regards, Ryan.

Alta	05 Oct 2004
'Like' would be too strong a term. I appreciate what you put into its creation.

Ryan	07 Oct 2004
I apologise for putting words in your mouth.

Ryan	09 Oct 2004
one might be sane to conjecture that a comment such as "its very cool" could stretch to reflect an actual "liking" for what you think is very cool. Perhaps I clumsily worded the last reply such that it looked as though You were appreciative of the nazism, satanism et al as well as the deck- which would explain your withdrawn enthusiasm? Ra.

Ryan	09 Oct 2004
"pretty cool"

Alta	09 Oct 2004
:D :D

tarobones	03 Dec 2004
I know that many people will disagree with me, but I think the THOTH deck is the ugliest deck every created. The "artwork" is awful, in my opinion, and I hate "keywords" printed right on the deck.Or all those TdM decks with unillustrated pips, another reason for me to hate THOTH. A pet peeve. I have several that I like, but always seem to return to my trusty Universal Rider Waite. Peace and blessings to all. Michael

Nycelle	04 Dec 2004
baba-prague wrote: Yes, I quite like it too. I wasn't meaning to imply I don't, just that I seem to know people who react to it very negatively. I think Marion is right - you often react when you see your own culture used in some way that doesn't seem authentic, but to many other people it's a perfectly nice deck. It's probably similar to the way that I often don't like Celtic decks - I can see that they are fine and well done in a way, but to me they aren't "real" Celtic and that disturbs me. I know what you mean, there are some lovely Celtic decks out there, but when was the last time you slew Culainn's hound with a sliotar? I know we only do that on special occasions in my family :)

Bean Feasa	08 Mar 2005
baba-prague wrote: It's probably similar to the way that I often don't like Celtic decks - I can see that they are fine and well done in a way, but to me they aren't "real" Celtic and that disturbs me. I'm with you on that one, Karen. I haven't bought the Faery Wicca Deck, because of that strange mix of English and badly spelled Irish. I don't find the artwork appealing either, so although I've never actually held it in my hand I think I could safely say it's a deck I just do not like. On the other hand, there are some decks that don't claim to be 'Celtic' (a dubious concept at the best of times anyway!) at all, but feel a lot more authentic to me. The Green Man Tree Oracle is a case in point beautiful artwork, and well-researched, accurate information. Nycelle wrote: ...but when was the last time you slew Culainn's hound with a sliotar? I know we only do that on special occasions in my family :) Lol! good one Nycelle! Lock up your dogs, everyone! Finally another deck I've only seen scans of but I can't stand the sight of is the Tapestry Tarot.

Elektra	08 Mar 2005
The short answer is "most of them." I'm insanely picky. But the one that stands out to me is the Rider Waite. I have an intense dislike of the Rider Waite in all versions. It's not the symbolism or imagery that I object to, since I love the Gilded (RWS clone) - it's the artwork. I find it ugly. The cards don't resonate with me at all. This deck is actually what put me off studying tarot for years and years, because I didn't realize that a) you didn't have to start on a RWS deck and b) what an incredible variety of other decks were available.

Rusty Neon	08 Mar 2005
Elektra wrote: The short answer is "most of them." I'm insanely picky. But the one that stands out to me is the Rider Waite. I have an intense dislike of the Rider Waite in all versions. It's not the symbolism or imagery that I object to, since I love the Gilded (RWS clone) - it's the artwork. I find it ugly. The cards don't resonate with me at all. This deck is actually what put me off studying tarot for years and years, because I didn't realize that a) you didn't have to start on a RWS deck and b) what an incredible variety of other decks were available. It also goes to show how everyone's tastes differ. In the end, it's subjective what a person likes or doesn't like. Personally, I find the art of the Gilded deck horrid: like an amateur's first attempt with a computer drawing program gone bad.

Rachel Nguyen	08 Mar 2005
Hi Rusty, I agree about the Gilded, LOL. I really really can't stand computer generated decks at all. I gave away my copy of the Quest. I sold my copy of Cosmic Tribe, which at least had real photos. Give me a beat up Tarot de Marseille or a Rider Waite any day! And, while I am on the subject: Choke me with Faeries, dragons, computer collage.... Can't stand the stuff. Different strokes, which explains why there are over 700 decks out there! Love, Rachel

Little Baron	08 Mar 2005
I have the Cosmic Tribe but don't use it. I think it is interesting but not my cup of tea. I have said in other threads that the Gilded is not my kind of thing; even though I do feel that the art work is of a very high standard. The prospect of a 'beat up Marseille' is right up my street, however. I'd love to find a nice old Marseille knocking about in a junk shop somewhere; just the idea of it gets me excited, lol. LB

Elektra	08 Mar 2005
Rusty Neon wrote: It also goes to show how everyone's tastes differ. In the end, it's subjective what a person likes or doesn't like. Personally, I find the art of the Gilded deck horrid Exactly :). I know that the Gilded inspires both love and hate reactions on AT, as do most decks. When I said I was picky, I certainly wasn't holding myself up as an art critic of any sort - I'm just very picky about my own preferences (which obviously don't match up with yours!) and finding decks that resonate with me.

Emeraldgirl	09 Mar 2005
The RWS just strikes me as being ugly. I have it but I'm not really sure why. I am really attracted to cards with lots of diffrent colours and I think the plainess of the deck turned me off. I also am really not a fan of the cartoony type decks. I do love the decks based on art or done by artists such as the Dali Deck

Annabelle	09 Mar 2005
Decks that I own or have owned, and simply don't like, include: the Connolly, the Legend: Arthurian, and the Celtic Dragon. I've already traded the Legend and the Celtic Dragon (in fact, I had the Legend deck in my possession for less than 24 hours before passing it on), but for now I've still got the Connolly. Each of these decks has a following, and rightfully so...it's not that the art in any of them is bad. They just didn't turn out to be a style of deck that I liked. I have to say, though, about the Celtic Dragon...it looked and felt as if it was really high quality. The cards were perfectly straight and smooth. The coating was flawless. The colors were great. (Hey, why did I trade it, anyway? ...oh, right, I couldn't stand those dragons!!) And then there's the Tapestry tarot...sigh. This one is so ugly, just so awful, that I don't even list it as a deck that I own. I'm embarrassed to say that I bought it, it's just that hideous. At least I didn't pay much for it. But now I'm sort of stuck with it until I donate it to Goodwill or something--I'd feel guilty trying to trade it and yet I can't quite bring myself to throw a deck in the trash.

Michelle	09 Mar 2005
Tarot of the Old Path ~ I received this deck as a gift and try as I might - I just don't seem to connect with it. I haven't figured out exactly what it is I dislike. I take it out occasionally and look at it and shuffle awhile ; someday things just might click.

Nethilia	09 Mar 2005
Of the ones I've owned (and that's not many, I just got my fifth today) I did not like the Titiana Star Deck. I used it for a while before I got another general deck to read others, but the suits being nothing more than the number of each on the card turned me off. I also didn't like the silhouettes. Finally, the random switching of the pentacles and swords (swords as earth signs, pentacles as air) turned me off completely. I wasn't really dissapointed when the deck got soaked, started sticking together, and became mostly useless. (In contrast my Dragon Deck got wet and all I lost was the box around them.) Of the ones I have not personally owned: I don't like the Motherpiece; I saw it at a bookstore the other day and the roundness of the cards threw me. The art wasn't my cup of tea either. I'm not a fan of the Thoth deck as it seems harsh to me and I don't get anything from it. The Tarot de Marseilles Is both too bland in color and too sharp in angle. And I've never ever owned a Rider Waite, and I don't think I ever will.

Raven Reed	10 Mar 2005
I think I must be the pickiest person in the world... I keep finding decks I think I will get all excited about, look online for more images, and wilt. Almost every deck I have researched will have some cards that totally rub me the wrong way. It's as if I wish I could take the Death card from this deck and the High Priestess from that one, and make my own collaged deck of images that feel right to me. And this is without actually seeing the decks in real life. I don't ever get that far. Or holding them and getting a feel for them. I have one I own, one I work with.

Chara	10 Mar 2005
There's lots of decks that don't appeal to me as far as artwork goes, but I don't buy them, so it's not too bothersome... I don't really like anime decks, despite the fact that I was pretty much raised on anime/manga. They just stick random images on the cards and sell them, and there's not really any symbolism. The only deck I own that I don't like is the Goddess Tarot. I don't mind the artwork, although it's not really my "style", but whenever I use them, it's like they're not saying anything. The cards all blend together and it seems like...I can't really phrase it quite right, but it's almost like the intent of the deck overrides the tarot aspect of the deck, but I don't know if that makes sense...

tarotbear	10 Mar 2005
The Motherpeace Tarot - biggest turn-off I ever dealt with. I could not get into a deck that is openly anti-male. I also have the 'Tarot for the Journey Home' and could not get into it, either. Perhaps I just don't like round cards?

iseekserendipity	22 Jun 2005
there are some decks out there that are so focused on just portraying a theme that the only thing that makes them tarot is the name. kind of like a recuperation. those drive me nuts.

autumn star	22 Jun 2005
I also dislike decks that move too far away from tarot - But I also don't really like decks with stark imagery (ok to some people it may not be boring) - but like Rider Waite - I just don't really like that deck - it just doesn't appeal to me.

iseekserendipity	23 Jun 2005
autumn star wrote: But I also don't really like decks with stark imagery (ok to some people it may not be boring) - but like Rider Waite - I just don't really like that deck - it just doesn't appeal to me. i agree. and as you say that, i realized that i got the Aquarian deck as one of my first decks, and i've never really managed to work with it for that reason! whatever attracted me at first absolutely dissapeared! like a second date gone wrong!

anjocoxo	23 Jun 2005
Anything with photographs of real people makes me wanna throw up: that's the reason why I have the Sacred Circle, but can't read with (probably gonne sell it one day to someone). Didn't like the Thoth - couldn't read with it - and don't apreciate very much the Moongarden (another one to be sold one day...). And probably many more, but my only problem is really cards with photos and real people and stuff - can't stand them. anjo I loooove the Bosch, though. It is interesting to see our different our tastes can be.

breathlessmahoney	23 Jun 2005
Let's see. I don't dislike any of the decks I own. I try to only buy the ones I love but the Celtic Dragon just doesn't talk to me and the Crow's Magic talks (incessantly) but I don't necessarily understand it. Of the decks that I will probably never own they include: The RWS-probably should have it for reference or something, but I just can't get into it. Vargo's Gothic Tarot-it's pretty, absolutely beautiful, but it doesn't nothing for me The Vampire Tarot and the Dragon Tarot-Don't really like the style of either Tarot of the Witches-Just plain yucky I don't really hate any deck, just not really inspired by some.

The Tarot decks that you just do not like thread was originally posted on 05 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.