Legend:The Arthurian Deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 02 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Wardi	02 Nov 2004
I was wondering if anyone else uses the Legend:The Arthurian Tarot Deck by Anna-Marie Ferguson. I never hear about anyone using it. If there are any fans of it out there...send a reply. This is an under rated and amazing deck!!!!

lunalafey	03 Nov 2004
A load of fans of this deck are here- Have a look

RedMaple	03 Nov 2004
I'm expecting it in the mail and since I love the Legends, have high hopes. Do you have Hallowquest, as well?

Wardi	03 Nov 2004
Nope,but I do have the Robin Wood Deck. Thourgh I rarely use it.

Flavio	03 Nov 2004
I like the art of this deck but is so "romantic" that somehow I can not read with it (by now) as I'm not very fond on the Arthurian Tales (although the companion book explains them) so most of the cards don't tell me much at this stage. I think lovers of the Arthurian Legend must not have trouble reading with it.

Majecot	03 Nov 2004
One of my very firsts :) and favorites.

Alta	07 Nov 2004
I like the deck a lot and am reasonably familiar with the Arthurian tales. But apparently not familiar enough. The cards don't speak to me very clearly. I wouldn't part with the deck though, it is a jewel.

RedMaple	07 Nov 2004
I received the Legend this week, and I'm so disappointed! The artwork doesn't speak to me, and some of her choices of stories for particular cards seem off to me. I don't think I'll be able to read with it. I also found that the artwork was not good on details, so there were things mentioned in the book that I couldn't find on the cards as described. It could just be failing eyesight on my part :) I have put it up for trade, but I'm interested in what people like so much, why do you think it is a jewel? I'm pretty familiar with Arthurian legends, as I used to tell stories professionally and did tell some of the stories like the Green Knight and Dame Ragnelle. What do people think of the Hallowquest? (I have read Lee's reviews of the two decks, and chose this one because he said how much she loved the stories...) Does anyone else find the deck really grey? RedMaple

Wardi	07 Nov 2004
I love the deck because it was my "first". I have always love Arthurian myths, ever since reading Marion Zimmer Bradely's THE MISTS OF AVALON. I just find the cards very soft because they were done with watercolor paints. I also like it becasue there are only three crads with nudity, which is unlike my RW based decks. I do admit I do notlike some of the cards, and my deck is also old so some of the images are failing, but generally I have gotten some of my most helpful, and acurate readings from this deck. Also, I was just drawn to this deck and it feels right for me personally.

WalesWoman	07 Nov 2004
I think it was love at first sight...I saw some samples when I was shopping for my first deck, but wanted something more RWS- more standard to learn with and got Morgan-Greer. Decided I was missing too much of the RWS symbolism to really "get" it and bought the Radiant RWS. A pal of mine exchanges readings with me and uses this deck, actually two of my Tarot friends use this deck almost extensively and the descriptions, their interpretations were so intriguing...I kept going back and looking at the deck. Went to reading sites that had Legend options for free readings and just began to have to have this deck...until I found it on E-bay and it took twice before I actually won a bid. I've never been disappointed. I have to think a lot for meanings, but I've always had to really think a lot to come up with them, no matter what. Sometimes it simply flows and couldn't be clearer. The Knight of Cups is perfect in what makes him what he's all about, halfway committed to crossing from one side to another, pausing to get his bearings, not able to see the forest for the trees, surrounded by swirling emoton, unsure of his footing, unsure of where he's going. Maybe a deeper knowledge of Authurian stories would be good, mine is fairly decent, probably more from Mary Stuart and Morgan Le Fay( excuse me, Marion Zimmer-Bradley), than tomes. But I feel the images can convey a lot, with or without the book and stories that underscore the meanings.

RedMaple	08 Nov 2004
WalesWoman wrote: The Knight of Cups is perfect in what makes him what he's all about, halfway committed to crossing from one side to another, pausing to get his bearings, not able to see the forest for the trees, surrounded by swirling emoton, unsure of his footing, unsure of where he's going. Maybe a deeper knowledge of Authurian stories would be good, mine is fairly decent, probably more from Mary Stuart and Morgan Le Fay( excuse me, Marion Zimmer-Bradley), than tomes. But I feel the images can convey a lot, with or without the book and stories that underscore the meanings. Thanks Wales Woman and Wardi, I have read both Mary Stuart and Marion Zimmer-Bradley, as well as some of the older versions, pieces of Morte d'Arthur and the Mabinogion. I guess it's mostly the artwork. I'll give it another try. I've been deep into the Golden Tarot lately, and maybe the transition was a bit too abrupt. RedMaple

shadowdancer	08 Nov 2004
I too have the deck, having purchased it for just £2.50 through e bay. Sometimes I like the deck, other times it does nothing for me. I have 18 decks I can call on, yet this one has never yet been chosen for a reading. However, I would be reluctant to sell it. I know it sounds a bit daft but it feels it should be part of my collection (for now anyway) even if it is not being used. Davina

WalesWoman	09 Nov 2004
I recieved a PM asking for the site that uses this deck for online readings...I'm so glad that my long term memory is still working, since my short term is shot...and thought it might be at Llewellyn's site. First guess was correct! http://www.llewellyn.com/free/tarot.php P.S. Sometimes I feel like I could use a magnifying glass with these cards, don't know if it's failing eyesight or if the deck came in ...oh, say 8 x 10 so I could really, really see everything that is going on. There are tons of little details.

RedMaple	09 Nov 2004
I went to the site you suggested, Wales Woman, and the reading with the Legend was not satisfying. Why is Ragnelle the 9 of Cups, I wonder, when she is so important, the land itself, Sovereignty? But oh, the Gilded and Celtic Dragon! Wow! And the readings both had the same card covering me, and the second reading expanded on the first. Very easy for me to read. I've avoided both these decks as being kind of flashy, and I've never been that much into dragons, but these go on my list. RedMaple

Oni	09 Nov 2004
first off this relates to the one by Anna-Marie Ferguson wich i do have i have never been into the arthurian tales what so ever, i wont go into that cause i dont want to offend anyone, and i m not that fond of the deck- but i love the book that comes with this deck! (it is really thick and an enjoyable read by itself)i really do, it gives tales and uncencered views of things of the legand that i never know of and i love reading about. after reading the book i then go to the cards and i makes alot of since to me and draws me to the deck and i find it most interestings. it is suprisingly one of my favs for that reason

WalesWoman	13 Nov 2004
Would there be enough intrest in starting a study section on this deck? I know there are a lot of people who have this deck, loving it or leaving it, but I think that we could help each other a lot with each individuals perceptions and understandings, the meanings they get with this deck.

Wardi	13 Nov 2004
love to start a study group. But I have no idea how to go about doing so. Do you? It does sound like an excellent idea.

WalesWoman	14 Nov 2004
I'm not sure either, perhaps I could post a poll and if there are enough interested people to qualify (???) we might be able to get a thread going in the study groups? This is the info needed to start a study group. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=32949

WalesWoman	14 Nov 2004
Ok, so why wait for someone else? Here is the #1 thread to start a Legends study group, if we get 10 threads going and/or 100 replies, we can have our own study group. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?p=390469#post390469 I'm the instigator, but it's going to take everyone who wants this to make it happen.

watchman291273	17 Nov 2004
count me in

The Legend:The Arthurian Deck thread was originally posted on 02 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.