Humorous decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Moongold	30 Oct 2004
I know the Tarot can show humour in many ways. BUT are there decks with a specifically humorous aspect? I love the Saaki Saaki Deck because it is lighthearted and colorful. That the sort of thing I am thinking about - or something even more specifically "humorous" or satirical? Many thanks in anticipation :)

RedMaple	30 Oct 2004
I know it will sound strange, but I've found a couple of decks to give very humorous messages, from almost opposite sides of the spectrum of decks. Here's what I mean. Both the Whimsical and Inner child decks poke gentle fun by using well-known figures from fairy tales. It is often a way of looking at things we'd rather not admit about ourselves, yet recognize in the cards. (If I'm oversensitive, and get the Princess and the Pea, for example.) On the other extreme, there is the Bosch deck, which is a great satirical deck. Bosch's work was very revolutionary and satirical when he painted it, and it works exceedingly well for political readings especially, where it tells harsh truths with biting sarcasm. I don't use the Bosch for everyday readings - the images are so grotesque, but it really makes me laugh when I ask a political question. When I first got the deck, I did the same reading I do for all new decks (what do you have to tell me?) -- and it gave me a reading about the two presidential candidates. :) Looking forward to hearing some other "humorous" decks. RedMaple

Cerulean	30 Oct 2004
Kind of pretty coloring, nice plastic box, had humor...didn't gel with me though. Scapini's tarots seem to have delightful chuckles...sometimes I get the joke, sometimes I do not. His Romeo and Juliet is funny. Sometimes the Di Gumppenberg Neoclassical 1810 is satirical in Napoleon attitudes, sometimes silly in a frolicky May joy...the Soprafino has attitudes that might have been heroic in the 19th century, sometimes just like a statue that is striking a pose. Once in awhile I catch a touch of "Mona Lisa" smiles in the statues of the Tarot de Paris (JPT) Does anyone find the Fey Tarot full of giggles? I want to say the Tarot of Prague sometimes has chuckles, but I would not be able to show you a single card that says exactly what I see... Regards, Cerulean

WolfSpirit	30 Oct 2004
Halloween Tarot Ferret Tarot Tarot for Cats I have used the Halloween and the Ferret for readings, and although they are humorous they don't give fluffy readings ! Tarot for Cats is majors only, I don't use it for readings. The book that comes with the deck is just so great ! O, and I would also add the Swedish Witch, there are so many funny elements in the pictures. But once again, it is also a very honest deck as readings are concerned.

RedMaple	30 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Cerulean ...I would not be able to show you a single card that says exactly what I see... Regards, Cerulean Hi Cerulean, Could you explain what you mean about the Tarot of Prague. Did you mean the humor, or the card in general? I at first was put off by all the Prussian-soldier looking statues, but some of the cards are gorgeous, and I've been considering getting it. And if it has a sense of humor, then that's all the better. Best, RedMaple

ihcoyc	30 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Cerulean the Soprafino has attitudes that might have been heroic in the 19th century, sometimes just like a statue that is striking a pose. Don't forget the platter under the lobster in The Moon in the Della Rocca Soprafino. That always brings a chuckle, especially since the dogs are ignoring the lobster to howl at the moon. The Devil in that deck strikes me as rather comical as well. The late nineteenth century Tarot of the Master --- a pre RWS deck of illustrated pips --- often has whimsical touches. The Queen of Cups is cooking in the kitchen, and the King of Cups is a drunken Gambrinus.

rota	30 Oct 2004
you might be interested in tarots that have a more offhanded approach or even a more childlike approach like the Hello Kitty or Stick Figure tarots. (I'd say 'whimsical', but that's been taken... :) ) take a quick look here: http://www.lelandra.com/comptarot/tarotchildren.htm

Cerulean	30 Oct 2004
http://www.tarotofprague.com/home.html Go to the right and choose Major Archana I and then minors: the write-up for the Emporer and the Five of Swords have humor in them. But as I said, I cannot really point to one card to say what feather actively tickles my funnybones; but they do. Hope there's a glimmer of a smile there for you! Regards, Cerulean

RedMaple	31 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Cerulean http://www.tarotofprague.com/home.html Go to the right and choose Major Archana I and then minors: the write-up for the Emporer and the Five of Swords have humor in them. But as I said, I cannot really point to one card to say what feather actively tickles my funnybones; but they do. Hope there's a glimmer of a smile there for you! Regards, Cerulean Thanks Cerulean, I especially like the dragon on the 5 of Swords, and after reading the write-up, it is very funny. Thanks. I'll have to get this deck. RedMaple

tao51	31 Oct 2004
Many of the decks that I own and use on the regular basis can be humourous at times. The Tarot of the Dead have humorous pictures. The Bosch deck can be humorous but frequently I find it digging into other motives or views. This is one of my regular decks. The three of cups is one of my favorite cards. The Tarot of the Imagination can be humorous. I do like the Hanged Man card!--Tao

Moongold	31 Oct 2004
Quote: Originally posted by RedMaple Hi Cerulean, Could you explain what you mean about the Tarot of Prague. Did you mean the humor, or the card in general? I at first was put off by all the Prussian-soldier looking statues, but some of the cards are gorgeous, and I've been considering getting it. And if it has a sense of humor, then that's all the better. Best, RedMaple Pardon me for chipping in Cerulean but I agree with you wholeheartedly. The Tarot of Prague simply chatters in readings. The images are so rich and engaging you just can't help but have a dialogue with them. That is a whole deck impression. But there are some hilarious cards: Chariot; 10 Wands; 3 Swords; 4 Pentacles; the World card. When I use the Tarot of Prague I feel as if I am in a European version of the Canterbury Tales or at a wonderful, wonderful party where everyone throws out all their perceptions of self and other and has a great time discovering everything anew. A great Cosmic Party in fact.

Fulgour	31 Oct 2004
Tarot as a political weapon, with all the implied lambasting of corruption and pettiness, violence and pretentiousness, is highly evident in one of my favourite decks, reissued not too long ago. The Ancient Tarot of Lombardy by Ferdinando Gumppenberg was first published around 1810, at a time when Napoleon Bonaparte was wreaking havoc throughout Europe. Maybe it's just me, but I love the way the spirit of independence, the continued struggles and fierce resistance toward liberation from oppression shine through the images. And a careful study of the pips reveals a Master's clever hand. It's almost impossible to tell if some of the cards are reversed! La Antichi Tarocchi Lombardi review by Pietro Coweniano :laugh:

Chronata	01 Nov 2004
I was hoping and expecting my Sakki-Sakki to give me more lighthearted readings...but I have discovered that this deck actually has a witty dry and sarcastic type of humor to it. And lately it has just been dead serious about everything.(sigh) So, for lighthearted and humorous...nothing beats the Ferret Tarot! Makes me smile everytime...and sometimes laugh out loud. And for cosmic humor in a different vein...I use the oracle cards known as the Morgan's tarot...(which also has it's fair share of sarcasm.)

The Humorous decks thread was originally posted on 30 Oct 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.