What deck should I get?
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Deus Ex Machina |
12 Nov 2004 |
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The idea of using tarot as a storytelling tool has become a recent obsession of mine. The cards obviously have a story to tell - many of the majors and the court cards easily represent archetypical characters, other cards represent situations, problems, emotions - all important elements of good fiction. I want to use the tarot as a creative writing tool - something to help me better develope my writing. Does anyone know of a deck that's suited to this purpose? I'm looking for a deck (most likely a non-traditional rder waite style one) that has cards that are just as effective for storytelling as they are for divination. Inspiring artwork, interesting themes, something like that. If anyone has any suggestions I'd be extremely grateful. Thanks.
-Deus Ex Machina
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| Flavio |
12 Nov 2004 |
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As many deck are available currently, I don't think only one deck can solve all your storytelling tool needs, IMO your deck selection depends very much of what kind of tales you want to write, an erotic deck wouldn't be very helpful if you want to write childrens books (maybe the example was a little bit extreme, sorry...) may I suggest you give us a clue of the type of story you have in mind?
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| HudsonGray |
12 Nov 2004 |
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I've heard of people using the Mary Hanson Roberts tarot for storytelling. It's RW based, but the 'friendly' people in it seem to make a connection with plot lines & such.
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| Lurea |
12 Nov 2004 |
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One deck you might find interesting for something like that is the Celtic Tarot by De Burgh--there's more than one Celtic Tarot, but I have the De Burgh one. The cards are like small watercolor paintings, and each one has a basis in celtic legend. The included book gives divinatory meanings and an overview of the specific legend. This deck has a lot more people- and story-oriented imagery than any other deck I've personally seen.
For example, the three of swords even in Rider-Waite decks is a heart pierced by swords. In the Celtic deck, the picture is that of a man standing over a body pierced by three swords. His hands cover his face, and his posture is evocative of grief and horror, as if his is the hand that struck the other down. As if..he didn't realize until too late, what he'd done?
The imagery is not traditional RW...but that's why I like it! :)
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| Cerulean |
12 Nov 2004 |
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Moody and fine for me is Lo Scarabeo Secrets and it has a storyline of sorts, but it may be an odd duck for others.
Softly spoken old and some 20th century decks fit into period stories. Could you picture the Salvador Dali Universal or Jubilee deck in a surrealistic short story?
Delicate anime or fiery anime appeals to those who do graphic novels, but the titles might be Japanese or sci-fi such as the Vertigo, loosley based on Neil Gaiman's Sandman series.
If you are a romantic or into something fun or interested in a specific theme, maybe it would help narrow the suggestions down. Do you want spooky, spiritual, sweet, any particular city or style? Mostly I know of American and some European titles.
Regards,
Cerulean
Best wishes
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| Red Emma |
12 Nov 2004 |
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There was a discussion a while back, maybe even a year or two on this subject. As I remember, people in the discussion were kind of oriented toward drawing one or more cards to help them solve difficult plot situations.
One person was using tarot cards to help break a writer's block. When her imagination refused to come up with necessary scenes, transitions, etc., she'd just draw one or more cards.
You could choose a deck to fit the theme of your story, or even the genre. Maybe Motherpeace for a romance, Shapeshifter for mysteries -- or perhaps science fiction or even an occult story. One of my favorite decks is Moon Garden which I think might do very well for help with historicals.
I don't have any of the Ryder Wait-based decks (Rider Wait?) so I'm not sure what kind of a story they'd best fit.
Best wishes and lots of good luck.
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| Deus Ex Machina |
12 Nov 2004 |
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Specifically, I'd like a deck that would be good for fantasy stories. Not traditional elves and dragons fantasy, (although these are not ruled out,) more like Neil Gaiman type fantasy. Stories about dreams, gods, magic, mythology ancient cities, other worlds, demons, love, insanity, fate, strange people and unusual things. I guess that's still kind of broad, but hopefully it will give you a better sense of what I'm looking for.
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| Cerulean |
12 Nov 2004 |
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http://tarotpassages.com/Pages2/atlantis-po.htm
Because Atlantis is a mythical and imagined point from Plato's writings and yet others have found it to be a source of mysterious joy or speculation, here's something odd and varied to start with--I like the write-up in the booklet as well.
An old style of story might check on ancient sources closer to the Greco-Roman world and use the allegorical myths of the Olympians. This tarot is loosely based on an older time period and some of the group scenes from the chalices suit can look like scenes of orgies--but the booklet notes that they are basing the scenes from Greek vases. Since the illustration style is modern, that might throw one off.
Another idea might be the Olympus Tarot.
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/olympus/index.shtml
Best wishes and hope something like these suggestions help.
Cerulean
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| yupkigirl |
12 Nov 2004 |
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I am not sure if this will be helpful, but I have stumbled upon the works of this talented artist, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. She is working on a tarot deck and so far she already has 9 cards posted on her site. You might want to check them out: http://www.shadowscapes.com/gal_TAROT.shtml
Her works, which are not limited to her tarot deck, are definitely very dream-like and definitely tell great stories.
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| WolfyJames |
12 Nov 2004 |
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I am not sure if this will be helpful, but I have stumbled upon the works of this talented artist, Stephanie Pui-Mun Law. She is working on a tarot deck and so far she already has 9 cards posted on her site. You might want to check them out: http://www.shadowscapes.com/gal_TAROT.shtml
Her works, which are not limited to her tarot deck, are definitely very dream-like and definitely tell great stories.
Wow! Her art is lovely, and the cards are beautiful! I put her website in my bookmark.
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| HudsonGray |
13 Nov 2004 |
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I've read Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere novel, it's similar to Charles deLint's work. I think the Archeon deck (as WolfyJames listed) that's coming out next year would fit the bill.
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| Red Emma |
13 Nov 2004 |
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Yupkigirl,
Pui-Man Law's work is exquisite. Thanks very much for the link. I just may add another deck to my stash when it's published.
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| Red Emma |
13 Nov 2004 |
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Stories about dreams, gods, magic, mythology ancient cities, other worlds, demons, love, insanity, fate, strange people and unusual things. I guess that's still kind of broad, but hopefully it will give you a better sense of what I'm looking for.
What a great idea. With that kind of imagination, you'll do very well at it.
Blessings on you and your project.
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| Deus Ex Machina |
13 Nov 2004 |
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Thanks Emma, and thanks to everyone for your suggestions. I have my eye on a few decks now, and I'm confident I'll find the right one eventually. I agree - Pui-Man's tarot looks absolutely amazing. Too bad its so far off.
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| Cerulean |
13 Nov 2004 |
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that your brain is sending to your writing imagination and eyes and fingers that says,
"yes, it's time."
Don't forget while a 78 card deck is a nice helpmate, it may be only a beginning to whatever you develop. For instance, if you have one Vertigo-style image source--say a Sandman comic with the known Y. Amano as illustrator, and either his tarot or illustrations doesn't have a storyline or full 78 images. Some people generate fan-fiction first from a known story as an exercise than jump deeper into the translated sources.
I made a very bad poem out of the majors of the Etruscan Tarot and then used it as a mental outline..then I read Hesoid and took a few classes, saw movies based on Egyptian-Greco-Roman themes and looked again at some books. By the time I made my own minors, the storyline that emerged is loosely from a similar theme as the old poem...but it's only similarity is there is a strong family connection between a brother and sister.
I hope you have a delightful journey of discovery!
Cerulean
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| Scion |
15 Nov 2004 |
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I'm a writer myself, so I hear you talking; it's a tricky thing to choose a deck for the generation and guiding of ideas... Heavily symbolic decks or theme decks may suit a certain project, but be completely unsuitable for long term use.
That said, I HIGHLY recommend the International Icon Tarot. It's a Rider-Waite analogue, in the simplest sense of the word, using those featureless humanoid forms from signage to populate the deck.
The result is spectacular. Fantastic use of color and the iconic images really leave themselves open to interpretation without losing the meaty root of the Tarot. This is far and away my favorite deck. Great for readings, but equally great as a creative spur because it's so evocative but so open to interpretation/projection of your imagination.
The entire thing can be seen online at the artists website:
http://www.glowinthedarkpictures.com/iitarot/
or on Aeclectic at http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/international-icon/
And there are many glowing reviews of the deck (with images):
http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/international-icon/review.shtml
http://www.tarotpassages.com/IIcon-mm.htm
http://www.tarotpassages.com/iicon-dp.htm
But if you are specifically wanting "dreams, gods, magic, mythology ancient cities, other worlds, demons, love, insanity, fate, strange people and unusual things" take a look at the Archeon, which is due out very soon. That might be a terrific match for your current project and the author's website has the entire deck posted at http://www.archeontarot.com/
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| tinkerbell |
15 Nov 2004 |
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i just thought i'd post to say how blown away i was by the tarot cards i saw on this site. i've e-mailed the artist and told her about us here at aeclectic. i do hope she lets us know how the project's coming along, i think it will be a very popular deck indeed!
thanks yupkigirl, for the link!!!
love tink xx
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| Chubby Mummy |
15 Nov 2004 |
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Hey there...I havent got this deck but its on my wishlist...its called the Symbolon deck...its not a traditional tarot deck its an oracle deck meant to bring back memories of past lives, but each card tells a whole story of its own...
xx CM
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| seaofclouds |
15 Nov 2004 |
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I don't personally own the deck, it's on my wishlist, but I bet the Mary-L tarot would be perfect for such a project. My computer crashed and I don't have the link for the deck though.
And WOW on the Stephanie Pui-Mun Law cards... WOW
I like the Roots of Asia (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/roots-of-asia/)deck for meditation and I find that I make up little stories about the elephants and tigers especially in the cards :)
The way the Scapini deck (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/medieval-scapini/) is illustrated seems to work as a story-telling deck to me. I don't think I could read with this one, but I have a friend who uses this as his main deck. The pips have little pictures wrapped around the number and the suit symbols that tell the "story" of the card.
I don't have the William Blake Tarot either (lust lust lust!!), but I bet that would be a good one for writing as well. It's so BEAU-TI-FUL, and Blake was my favorite Romantic poet!
Good luck! It's a strange combination, being a tarot reader and a writer!
Let us all know how it goes!
~Sea
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| RiccardoLS |
15 Nov 2004 |
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Have a look at this link.
http://www.tarotpassages.com/oct2001spread.htm
It was about a Storyteller Spread going with the Children Tarot.
The deck, itself, is not the one You are seeking.
I may give suggestion within the boundary of LS decks (the only decks that I know well, and of course the suggestion just follow my perosnal taste)
Secret Tarot
Viking Tarot
Avalon Tarot
Fey Tarot
Gothic Tarot of Vampires
Secret Tarot may be the more broad... except it is not definitely Fantasy, as it has a few non-fantasy touches. It is the more Neil Gaiman, though.
Viking Tarot has a different flavor, but it very norse like.
The Avalon Tarot may be the more strictly fantasy of all. It depends if You like the art wich is very colorful.
The Fey Tarot is Fantasy, but the overall look is more Fairy Tale (not sweet, however, believe me)
Gothic Tarot of Vampires is not Fantasy, but it has been builted definitely toward a storytelling key.
Best,
Ric
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The What deck should I get? 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.
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