Decks that defied your expectations

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

Scion	12 Nov 2004
We all have decks we love or loathe, but recently I've had a couple of decks that totally surprised me after I'd gotten my mitts on them. A couple of examples: Until recently, I imagined the Fey would be too precious and goopy for me, but after receiving a copy as a bday gift, wound up finding a strange ferocity in the cards and a very distinct reading tone that's great for certain kinds of questions. By the same token, I had expected to love the Arthurian/Hallowquest deck, but found that the nonTarot elements overshadow its usefulness as a reading deck as opposed to a pathwork deck. Has anyone else had similar experiences? Dying for a deck only to discover a dud? Or avoiding a deck only to have it bloom once it's in your hands?

Flavio	12 Nov 2004
I've mixed feelings for the Robin Wood, whenever I saw it online before owning it I liked it a lot but when I bought it and started checking the cards print quality was not as good as they looked (and look) online, some days I love it and others it doesn't tell me anything. Anyway, I've faith we'll get along very well sooner or later, I do my best to connect with it.

SongDeva	12 Nov 2004
Fairy Ring oracle: I've got mixed feelings about the Sacred Circle tarot (same author) and based on pics didn't think this one would have anything to say to me, or that I'd like it at all. However, I found it online cheap, and snapped up a copy, figuring I'd probably trade it on. Well, I took it away for the weekend and some friends and I spent the weekend doing readings with it...and it's fabulous. The inhabitants have a lot to say! I just got the Victoria Regina and so far I'm not impressed...and find the cards hard to see! They strain my eyes a bit. I'm giving it a last chance.

Alta	12 Nov 2004
I also found the Victoria Regina a very disappointing deck. I expected a lot when I ordered it, and the gang here really seemed to love it. It is interesting and I'll keep it, but..... How about a deck where you have one brilliant reading and it never seems to click again. Tarot of Oz. Now there's a strange deck. I can read with it because I devoured the Oz books as a child, but I never seem to want to do so anymore. The reading I used it for that went so well was for someone who inhabited their own little world, divorced from conventional reality. Celtic Dragon. Bought it on a whim, didn't expect much. Now that is one fine deck. Very chatty, and a very useful, helpful viewpoint on things.

April	12 Nov 2004
I toyed with the idea of buying the Templar Tarot for a couple of years but put it off because I thought I might think it was too gaudy. I finally gave in a bought it a couple weeks ago, and I'm happy to report that I was totally wrong. I love everything about this deck; the colors, the symolism, the lack of borders (why doesn't every deck do this? sigh). It became my new favorite right away. I didn't think I'd be so impressed with the Ukiyoe Tarot either. I had heard it described as having plain pips. I don't think they're so much plain as they are very subtle. SongDeva wrote: I just got the Victoria Regina and so far I'm not impressed...and find the cards hard to see! They strain my eyes a bit. I'm giving it a last chance. Oh no! I just ordered it not 2 hrs ago. But it was 70% so I won't cry if I don't like it. But I'm pretty sure I'll like it better than the Tarot of Oz I ordered with it (I really only got the Oz to show my mom). Peace, April

IDN	12 Nov 2004
Cosmic Tarot: I looked at this deck a couple of weeks ago in a shop. They had one open so I was able to have a look through all the cards. It just didn't do anything for me. Then today, I suddenly thought about the Cosmic again. Had a look on line at the card images.Straight after work tonight I went to my local "tarot shop" and bought the deck. I actually REALLY like it already. It just has a nice "feel" about it. The subtle colouring, the very evocative portraits. There looks enough detail in the images to study for a very long time. I think it's one of those decks that will look really good when it old and worn (through much use!).

Emily	12 Nov 2004
I liked the Robin Wood online and thought it would be a good one to move onto from the Rider Waite but once I had it in my hands, I didn't like it. I think its a well-drawn expressive deck but it just doesn't do it for me. Another I have a love/hate/love relationship with is the Tarot of the Spirit. I bought this deck when I was struggling with the Thoth and thought it looked like a pretty version of the Thoth. I didn't really bother looking at the Courts and Majors. Its the first time I've ever looked through a deck and hated it on sight. The swirling colours and the images, nightmarish figures with no eyes lol - I got this deck packed up and ready to go back within 5 mins of opening it, it gave me the creeps. Next day I decided to look through it again, not so much of a shock to the system this time - It did have a certain something so I kept it. I still don't think its a pretty deck but some of the readings I've had from it have been outstanding. I still look through the cards with a sort of fascination and its one of the decks that I would never be able to let go of. :)

FantasyWorld	12 Nov 2004
I was a bit disappointed when my Tarot of Timeless Truth arrived, I really liked the pics on the website but no quite as much in person so I've never really worked with the deck. I really liked working with my Halloween and Phantasmorgic tarot, they are better than expected. The MerryDay I just traded was a disappoint to me mainly because of the thin cardstock,love the pics though. Tarot of the Old Path was a pleasant surprise but it's a bit light for me. Old English and Nigel Jackson were disappointments. NJ;too light OE-Pips Ancestral Path was a pleasant surprise,great deck. Had high hopes for the Artists Inner Vision but it didn't take to me or I to it. Paid too much for my Vertigo so I've never taken the shrinkwrap off...pathetic! Most of my decks I haven't worked with enough to give a fair answer.

WolfyJames	12 Nov 2004
I have a few decks that enter in that category: The first times I saw the Light And Shadow Tarot (Goepferd & Williams) scans's online, I found it ugly. But more I saw it, more I saw details on the cards and more I found it interesting. I was a bit worried, when I got it, that I wouldn't like it. On the contrary, I ended up loving the Light and Shadow Tarot. The book that comes with it is really good ands talks about all the details on the cards. Another deck I didn't like when I saw it was the Fey Tarot (Mara Aghem and Riccardo Minetti). I didn't understand why people like it so much. More I saw it, more I liked the vibrant colors, and I ended up getting it. The deck is so much better in person and the colors are awesome. Each time I think of the deck, the word 'candy' comes to my mind. It feels like candy. The readings I did with it were great. A deck though I liked very much was the Tarot Of The Old Path (Gainsford and Rodway). I've been waiting for so long to get that deck (months), my curiosity was finally satisfied a few weeks ago. There are bad reviews about the minors of this deck. Many find the people on the minors angry and constipated. I was worried of course, when I got the deck, that I would be disapointed along with them. I noticed too on the scans of the deck that the persons on the minors looked angry and constipated. This deck too is way better in person. The people in it are tenderly smiling and joyous, not constipated. I really love this deck and I have no disapointment. :)

Tarot Sparrow	12 Nov 2004
The Quest Tarot just didn't do it for me. I thought I'd love it but when I got it I just knew I would never be able to read with it. The artwork just didn't speak to me at all. One that really surprised me though was the New Palladini, it kind of came out of nowhere for me. Although I know I must have looked at it many times in my deck searches with no second glance, I was surprised to find it just recently and it clicked with me like no other, I love every inch of it.

VGimlet	12 Nov 2004
I hadn't planned to order the Gilded. Unlike a lot of you, I hadn't been following the creation, and I ignored the buzz as I was still in search of those last few decks on my original "want" list. After I happend to look at some scans here I added it to the bottom of my list, and then a few days later stumbled across a copy, and decided to buy it because it (blush) gave me enough for free shipping added to the books I was ordering. What an amazing deck this has been. I have *never* had such clear readings, it's almost scary. In spite of the ethereal quality of the art, this is a very straightforward deck, at least for me. It has quickly become one of my regular reading decks, and a favorite, too.

Bean Feasa	12 Nov 2004
I bought the Hanson-Roberts thinking it a little bit cutesey but that it would be a handy, totable, handbag-size deck. It is indeed cutesey, but it also doesn't hesitate to give you a good smack over the head if it thinks you need it. Bit like my old mother really. :)

Cerulean	12 Nov 2004
Ananda...as a reading deck for others or to map out sci-fi/fantasy movie themes. Salvador Dali...funny and friendly. Druidcraft...most human and companionable. Biggest surprise is how much I get on with the Jane Lyle Anniversary edition of the Lovers Tarot---even if its not as pretty as some other decks, there's a half-way point between old and new I like--probably because of sentimental sisterly associations as well. I enjoy my Visconti and di Gumppenbergs and historic theme decks as well. Recent favorite of mine was to revisit was JPT's 2002 Tarot de Paris. Sometimes I only want to use the deck just for me. I find the Thoth and workalikes very creative and interesting, sometimes quite involving! Cerulean

Chronata	12 Nov 2004
For me there's three... First, the Fradella Adventure deck came into my hands, and was supposed to be set for a trade...but I took one look at the cards, and knew I was going to keep it. Something about the comic book type heroes and villians really clicked with me. It gives damn fine readings too. The Ferret tarot was originally going to just be a cute novelty deck in my collection...but wow, what a great deck this really is!! I mean it...everyone should have one of these! I have discovered that , not only is this a great deck for general readings...but also an amazing teaching deck for young beginner tarot students. The humor is contagious, and the way the images perfectly describe the meanings make this an underated gem. Finally, I got the Spiral as a gift...and never really had any reason to want this deck based on the images I saw on the internet. This is a very intense deck, and has very quickly become one of my favorites to use for clients. I love the Majors, and I really think the minor images are great as well, as they don't necessarily follow any other system of images, which at this stage is really great for me. I am currently housesitting, and the Spiral is here by my side...of all the decks I could have grabbed to keep me company this week away from home...this is the one I chose.

Scion	13 Nov 2004
WolfyJames wrote: Another deck I didn't like when I saw it was the Fey Tarot (Mara Aghem and Riccardo Minetti). I didn't understand why people like it so much. More I saw it, more I liked the vibrant colors, and I ended up getting it. The deck is so much better in person and the colors are awesome. Each time I think of the deck, the word 'candy' comes to my mind. It feels like candy. The readings I did with it were great. :) EXACTLY! Very well said. I thought it would be candy floss and it turned out to be candy with bite. Appealing and strange and toothsome.

Pebbles	13 Nov 2004
When I first saw "The Gay tarot," I had no interest in it. I'm a woman and I didn't think I could connect with it at all. Plus, it's modern. I'm use to nature oriented decks. For some reason I ordered it anyway. I wasn't expecting much, but since I ordered another deck at the same time(Vision Quest), I knew I would like atleast one of them...It came today & I love it! I like that the same people appear through out the deck in different stages. The images speak to me. I will be having so much fun with it.

Jewel-ry	13 Nov 2004
The Celtic Dragon was my biggest disappointment. I really thought I would like it but when I opened it up and flicked through the cards, I knew it was not for me. Its been packed up ready to move on ever since (I just need to find it a new home!). ~

WolfSpirit	13 Nov 2004
Tarot de Marseille. I got one because I felt I needed to have at least one historical deck in my collection. Now I find I actually like it. The images are growing on me, it is not beautiful like my other decks but it feels very "real" if that means anything. Apart from the death card, I still think that's an ugly thing, LOL. Sacred Circle. I thought this would be a deck I would connect with immediately. I did like most of the majors at first sight, but I still found it difficult to connect with. Pretty but distant, it is not what I expected from a pagan deck. I do love it but I don't get an intuitive bond with it - maybe because there is so much symbolism in the cards and it is a collage, it never really became a whole for me. When I got the Druid Craft I knew it fulfilled the expectations I had for the Sacred Circle.

The Decks that defied your expectations thread was originally posted on 12 Nov 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.