What attracts me to pagan-themed decks?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Aug 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Luminessence	12 Aug 2004
I'm not a pagan. I considered following that path at one point, but I decided that it just wasn't for me. So why am I so attracted to pagan-themed tarot decks? Two of my favorite decks are the Sacred Circle and the Robin Wood, and I just ordered the Pagan Tarot. I just can't figure out what makes these decks so appealing. But then, do we ever really know what attracts us to a particular deck? With me, it's usually hard to tell. Take the Ancestral Path deck, for instance. I saw the card images on Aeclectic, and I knew I had to have it. It wasn't the multicultural theme that attracted me. It wasn't even really the artwork. It was just that I suddenly wanted it. I'm still mystified as to why I keep finding myself drawn to pagan-themed decks, though.

rabble	12 Aug 2004
What are you, Luminessence? Maybe answering what you are, rather than what you are not, might help find the answer.

Cerulean	12 Aug 2004
There's a friendliness to a natural world in those decks that you mention...and the creative alternatives they show you are probably interesting. When I first saw the Robin Wood and Sacred Circle and the Ancestral, I felt that a nice honoring of old-fashioned history and culture, a kind of friendliness toward family themes as well. But for me, I began to see more and more decks with Celtic, ancestry and related themes and began to get more choosy. For instance, I think I would enjoy Julia Cuccia Watts new Maat Tarot and will keep the LS Pagan for awhile...but I've explored the older decks that you mentioned and they aren't for me at this stage... I'm glad you have identified a neat theme for yourself to explore. Regards, Cerulean

fyreflye	12 Aug 2004
Ask the decks.

Luminessence	12 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by rabble What are you, Luminessence? Maybe answering what you are, rather than what you are not, might help find the answer. I guess I could best be described as a spiritual seeker, although I have definite beliefs - it's just hard to find a place to put them. I'm currently exploring the Western Mystery Tradition.

rabble	12 Aug 2004
have you ever done one of these?

Eco74	13 Aug 2004
Well, Paganism is very based in reality. You just don't get much more real than a tree, the ground and other things that grow and make perfect sense. Even if there is nothing "special" about them persay it's easy to identify with the thought of the joining of mankind and nature since they are two solid and unquestionable realities. Easier I'd say than angels, oracles, various faiths and gods/godesses. Granted Paganism does have its gods and godesses aswell, but when just looking at it and not necessarily going deeper than just the surface, it's very solid and functional, which for me atleast makes the artwork flow easily. (I have and love working with the Robin Wood deck so there's my connection. Also looked into the whole wiccan/paganism thing but stopped at loving nature and giving respect to all living things. Those rituals, names and rules just got a little overwhelming for me and I prefer to make my own rituals.)

Dark Inquisitor	13 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Luminessence I'm not a pagan. I'm still mystified as to why I keep finding myself drawn to pagan-themed decks, though. It may not be where you are at the moment, but it might be where you are headed in the future. Sometimes the unconscious leads. Or perhaps it's somewhere you've been before?

rabble	13 Aug 2004
I do classify myself as pagan but in the same vein that Eco talks about. It's a deep love of the earth, and of all things living, and not so living either, actually, from a tree, to a tiny bug, to a huge granite monolith. I'm not into rituals, but will light a candle for certain things, and I do do things my own way, whether in prayer, or whatever. Just whatever feels right.

Luminessence	13 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by rabble have you ever done one of these ? I remember that test :) Last time I took it, it said I should be a Sikh. :confused:

Luminessence	13 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Eco74 Well, Paganism is very based in reality. You just don't get much more real than a tree, the ground and other things that grow and make perfect sense. Even if there is nothing "special" about them persay it's easy to identify with the thought of the joining of mankind and nature since they are two solid and unquestionable realities. Easier I'd say than angels, oracles, various faiths and gods/godesses. Granted Paganism does have its gods and godesses aswell, but when just looking at it and not necessarily going deeper than just the surface, it's very solid and functional, which for me atleast makes the artwork flow easily. This may very well be it... the Pagan-themed decks do seem to be more based in the real world, which makes them easier to relate to. Also, they also tend to be a lot more grounded, and grounding is something I badly need :) Maybe I'm subconsciously seeking it out.

rabble	14 Aug 2004
ROFL!! but aren't sikhs generally peaceful and into equality and good things like that?

Nycelle	14 Aug 2004
I took that test. I have a 100% match with Unitarian Universalists, which I had never heard of until right now. . . There are a few Pagan decks I like - just because you don't practice a religion, doesn't mean you can't appreciate some of its ideas. I was raised Catholic, consider myself Christian, think Luther was right about a lot of things, revere the Earth, and am open to concept of reincarnation. . . There are wonderful ideas in every religion. No reason why yo should only be open to your own :)

SongDeva	14 Aug 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Nycelle I took that test. I have a 100% match with Unitarian Universalists, which I had never heard of until right now. . . There are a few Pagan decks I like - just because you don't practice a religion, doesn't mean you can't appreciate some of its ideas. I was raised Catholic, consider myself Christian, think Luther was right about a lot of things, revere the Earth, and am open to concept of reincarnation. . . There are wonderful ideas in every religion. No reason why yo should only be open to your own :) Good points. I was raised Unitarian incidentally. It's not really a religion per se...it's like about moving away from religions and finding your own personal meaning of spirit and life. And being of service to the world. However, I responded to the question because, not being from a trinity-based religion, (unity - get it?) I very much enjoy the Master Tarot, and was playing with it this morning (it's Jesus based if you're not familliar with it), and like most of you own and enjoy decks based on many faiths and views. I should add that I was pleased to see the question that started this thread, as while I was waiting for my Pagan Tarot to arrive I had a reading with it here. My question was, Why am I so drawn to all things pagan!? It was a great reading, and part of the answer was the community aspect. The sharing of spirit, ideas, and commonality with others (I'd been fairly spiritually solitary up until then. Had been branching out, but wanted a real influx of new energies.) It was a great reading and if I can find it I'll put a link here. It was just after I'd been to a fabulous pagan weekend called Akasha Con where I met and hung out with the fabulous Mimers. Sd

MeeWah	14 Aug 2004
Perhaps within the deck images can be seen past influences or coming sensibilities, much as suggested by Dark Inquisitor. I find the general nature-based theme of the Robin Wood to cross boundaries & to be user-friendly to a broad perspective (though I am aware of opinions to the contrary). Non-Pagans also find it an effective deck. At the time I acquired the Robin Wood, I based it on a few online scans of its card images. I forget which cards I had seen, but not until I actually had the deck that I saw its Pagan-oriented theme, which suits wonderfully! That it reads extremely well is something I had hoped for & thrilled to experience. It also serves as *the deck* for ritualistic purposes.

The What attracts me to pagan-themed decks? thread was originally posted on 12 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.