Decks as your own past, present or future?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Cerulean	12 Feb 2005
I haven't seen this addressed specifically among forumites so far...but I've run across interesting study or collecting points for some people in my own tarot travels...these are considerations that I'm using to 'keep' or 'pass on' Do you have tarots that symbolize (the bullet points are just suggestions from my own categories now--you are welcome to come up with your own) 1.For the past: -a nostalgic aspect of your past (my Ukiyoe) -seems almost a photo album of yourself or ideas (Ananda) -appeals in a way it is a study point of what you have learned (Italian Cartomanzia, Dotti Tarocco, Di Gumppenberg) -reminds you of a romantic area you were in once. 2.For the present: -a study point (intellectual) -just gives you that emotional resonance -don't know why, but you'd love to talk about it because it's curious/passionate/cool to you...or its fun. -great as reading decks for some reason 3. For the future: -it is leading you to some aspect you would like to explore (Visconti/Ferrara style) -it is so versatile, it does everything named above (Secrets, Druidcraft) -has that futuristic edge Hope I explained the listing if this seems fun for you! I'm cleaning and sorting according to my own collection themes, and am very interested in how people collect or categorize what they have...maybe one, maybe one hundred...although if I were to list here, I'm narrowing down to ten. Anyone want to list what comes to mind or share a bit of their history and tarot preferences? Regards Cerulean Mari

all78degrees	12 Feb 2005
Thanks for posting this. I thought I’d share some decks that have some meaning for me: Past Decks I’ve left behind and passed on: Cosmic Tribe Sacred Rose Ancestral Path Wheel of Change I had all these decks within months of first starting tarot in 1998. I had a period just before I started university in 2003 of cleaning out my decks, and freed a few of my decks. I thought that I would love the cosmic tribe it had a lot of meaning for me. It included a wide range of society. The photo imagery was intriguing. I loved the Queen of Coins very earthy. But as the minors were based on THOTH a system I’m yet to master after all these years. So the two copies I owned went. Sacred Rose was the first deck I used with any kind of skill. It’s a dark deck. I guess I fell out of love with it in the end. Ancestral Path is an interesting deck. I loved the suit of drums(?) with all the native American imagery more than other parts of the deck. But I didn’t like the Japanese Swords or the Arthurian Cups. It’s kinda been replaced by the Vision Quest. Wheel of Change. I really wanted to love this deck but it was so far away from the tarot system I was used to, and still is. The art is dense but in a some sense amateurish, not that I mind this style I have and love the Shinning Tribe but it was a factor. Present Decks that are out of the box Sakki-Sakki Universal Waite Dante Shinning Tribe Vision Quest Minchaite by Brian Williams That covers the ones I can think of without being able to look at my desk. The Sakki Sakki is a wonderful, bright, energetic deck. It’s like the Waite but fresh by that I mean that the Waite deck is easy to read, and accurate but I’m getting tired of it after having it so long. The Dante is a harsh deck but it is straight to the point. I’d love to have a book for this deck. The Shinning Tribe is a more spiritual tarot. It’s value is enhanced by reading Forest for the Souls and the articles she writes where she uses it to illustrate. Future Golden Renaissance Revelations Ship of Fools I have a love of historical decks. The Golden Renaissance has really captured me and when I do my next tarot buy it’s going on the order. I’m slipping back into buying decks for arts sake but the Revelations tarot is amazing like a detailed stain glass window. I’m not sure that it will be a good readings deck. Ship of Fools is the last deck that Brian Williams completed before his death. I will buy this deck when I have a bit more money if only to see the fool making a fool of himself. Some of the upcoming releases from LoSacrebo I’m going to keep my eye on. I haven’t included as much I wanted to but this is a good start. Gav.

temperlyne	13 Feb 2005
In the past I went from my first love the haindl to the sacred rose who's minors I just loved as they helped me a lot with understanding their meanings. I never felt this was a dark deck at all. After That I met the roots of asia and thought I'd never needed an other deck. The images were just so lovely and warm, just like a new love. Untill I changed and sort of finally grew up and the deck just stopped speaking to me. At the present I relate best to the toth. It's images just seem so clear and obvious to me. And maybe it's also because I recognise something of the haindl in it. For the future I have no idea which deck will suit me best as i don't know how I will change. My previous decks all just picked me by making sense to me. I'm not sure how to relate them to my states of being. there is one deck in my future that I do see, and that is the one I'm currently painting. My own deck, with my symbology and my artwork, my feelings. It probably signifies a completed circle and culmination of my learning at this point.

Myrrha	13 Feb 2005
Mari, you ask some very good questions. I realize, looking at this list, that It seems to be decks that are emotional, a bit ambiguous, and slightly darker that I keep. The recent past (since finding the forum): Minchiate, Mantegna, Alchemical-- All of these seemed a bit dry and intellectual. They have beautiful artwork and profound symbolism but I just didn't feel much looking at the cards. Marseilles--This is another that felt too objective and intellectual for me. I felt like the numerological concepts were taking over and it was all too rational. Vertigo-- I love the Minor Arcana, the mysterious and emotionally intense artwork, but never really got beyond one card draws with this deck. The Majors don't really speak to me, in spite of having read many Vertigo graphic novels. This is the only deck I am keeping just for the artwork. Present: Secret Tarot, Faeries Oracle, Vargo Gothic, Buckland Romani Emotionally based decks. The Romani deck is put away for a while to make space for other decks. The Gothic is the newest and has come to have a lot of personal meaning. Faeries oracle has become one of my most-used decks although I didn't like it at first and traded my first copy away. IJJ Swiss-- I still love this deck although it doesn't really fit with the others. The little details on the pip cards amaze me each time. I also love that there is no Pope and Popess as I have trouble relating to those archetypes. Most people probably wouldn't call it an emotional deck but it seems that way to me, at least partly. The backs are truly hideous though. Future: Lo Scarabeo Secret Forest deck-- The loose art style is attractive and the few examples I saw seemed to have emotional intensity. I do most of my Faeries Oracle readings and some Gothic Tarot readings with the cards face up so I don't think the cards not having backs will bother me. Baroque Bohemian Cats Tarot-- my next tarot purchase is going to be a forum membership, but then I'm thinking of the BBC set. I have mixed feelings about the super bright colors but the cats and their facial expressions are irresistible. I am hoping it will be a good RWS based reading deck that provokes feeling and is fun, but stays a bit closer to the standard than the Secret Tarot or Vargo Gothic. --Myrrha

Kiama	13 Feb 2005
I haven't thought much about the 'Future' aspect of this, but I have thought about the other two. One of the joys of my deck collection, for me, is that I remember when, where, and how I found each deck. Some decks remind me of people here on these forums. Some remind me of a tooth-and-nail Ebay battle. Some remind me of places. Some reminds me of people who bought them for me. Some remind me of days out. My Legend: Arthurian Tarot reminds me of my first visit to Glastonbury. I bought the deck in a shop there, and opened it up on top of the Tor... :D My Sugar Mystic Tarot was my first deck, and reminds me of Summer camps and readings in school corridors. I'm not going to go any deeper into this, because I'll be rambling for ages, but will just add that the decks I have from my past show where I came from with the Tarot. :D As for the present, I'm very into the Alchemical Tarot, because alchemy is something very important to me at the moment. I'm also loving the Mary-el, Tarot of the Saints, Crowley Thoth, Gay Tarot, the Tarot Re-Visioned, and others, simply because they coincide with other things I'm studying. Anyway, great thread Mari! Kiama

WolfSpirit	13 Feb 2005
Decks from the past: Lovers Tarot (majors only) - Jane Lyle My very first deck and first aquaintance with tarot :) I don't feel inclined to use these huge cards anymore, but I sometimes look at it and remember how I tried my first readings. RWS, Robin Wood: my study decks. I learnt with the RWS, but did not like the artwork much. I switched to Robin Wood, from which I learnt new things, and I liked the pagan aspects. Celtic Tarot (De Burgh): Loved the theme of the deck and the stories behind the cards, but it is more an emotional deck for me than a reading deck. Decks that remind me of a romantic area where I once was: That will be the Tarot of Prague and the Baroque Bohemian Cats :D but they are more than just memories, ToP is also reading deck and both are study decks for the present as well. Present decks So many, but I will name the most important: DruidCraft: deck that resonates best with me of all the decks I have, on all levels. Tarot of Prague Animal Wise: one of my oldest decks that I still love very much Forest Folklore Ancestral Path Future decks Decks I already have but want to study more: Tarot of the Spirit Tarot du Chat

Ulfdis	27 Apr 2005
Past: The Witches' Tarot (Ellen Cannon Reed): This was my first deck, and the more I worked with it, the less comfortable I became with it. It helped me form some of my opinions on Tarot decks, including the ability to reject some as a bad fit for me. The Robin Wood Tarot: My second deck, and it was a very comfortable fit. I still have a fond spot for this deck, even though I gave my copy to a friend's daughter for her woman-making. I may someday pick up another copy, although it's not at the top of my wishlist. Osho Zen Tarot: I used this deck (as well as the Robin Wood and the Buckland Romani) when I was reading semi-pro at my wife's store. We were just friends at the time, and some of the readings we did together and separately are a small part of our courtship. Present: Osho Zen: I still have this one, even though I did trim off the keywords fairly recently. I still really like this deck. Buckland Romani: This one and the Osho Zen are very comfortable for me. I know that when I have questions, I will find answers with either one of these. (Well, sometimes I come up with more questions... but that's what Tarot does, and it's a whole 'nother thread.) Hadar Tarot de Marseilles: Right now, my Tarot studies are focused on this deck, which pushes it into the "Future" category for me as well.

rosyelf	27 Apr 2005
What a brilliant thread ! :) :) I agree with you very much, Kiama, when you say each deck has an association, whether it's a place, a person, a special time in your life. I feel this too, and it's why certain decks will never be given away, even if I don't use them much for readings or meditation. THE PAST : How I first learnt about Tarot (Original Rider-Waite) How I fell in love with Tarot (Mythic) Something that helped me in a very painful time (not a Tarot, but the Druid Animal Oracle.) THE PRESENT : Association with a particular person (Nefertari) Special deck made by someone I'm proud to call a friend (Garden Path Tarot) Decks that have inspired me to make a journey (Tarot of Prague and Baroque Bohemian Cats-I'm going to Prague in June and am looking forward to it LOTS) THE FUTURE : Decks leading me deeper into the iconography (Soprafino and Ancient Minchiate Etruria) A deck (on order !) with which I hope to explore my physicality and sexuality on a deeper level (Abyssal Tarot) I'm going to put this lovely list into my diary !

Chronata	27 Apr 2005
This is a very cool thread. I had thought about this subject recently because of readings done with Gardener's and Contrascarpes's wonderful reflecting pools spread...which deals with time. Here's the spread for anyone interested. I highly recommend it!) http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=26767&highlight=Reflecting+Pools After the first time I had done this spread, I subconciously chose decks that related to parts of my life, and now I look at these decks very much in a way that reflects my own life and experiences. Past decks (that reflect very specific thought patterns in my growth) The Mythic Tarot (child-like and memories) RWS (back to the beginning) The Enchanted (romantic nostalgia) Sacred Rose(a specific time and place in my past) Present decks (that reflect the continual need to study) Hanson Roberts (my soul deck!) Ferret (new interpretations!) Buckland Romani(a connection to the past, but present sensibilities) Spiral (a new take on things) Fournier (a different system) Future Decks (decks I want to learn more about when it's the right time!) Baroque Bohenmian Cats Thoth Revelations Victoria Regina World Spirit Some of these decks I let go of (like the Enchanted), others I don't yet own...like the World Spirit. And Others...(like the Thoth,) I keep comming back to, and then give up when things get hairy.

Kissa	27 Apr 2005
excellent question. excellent thread. my past is reflected by: Robin Wood Tarot: without this one, i wouldn't be here because minors were so tricky before i discovered Robin's deck Ancestral Path: yes, if it is ancestral, it has to be in my past, right? i haven't been using lately but i know we still have lots to talk about together. For giving me the best readings on ym daughter and my grandfather. Tarot of Prague: i never thought i would like a photographic deck, i discovered baba prague (Karen) before i bought the deck. this one is a keeper. i walk in the streets of Pargue whenever i watch the cards, physically, i feel the sun, the snow etc. on my skin. my present: Druidcraft: once i trimmed that one, we got friends. i want to study this one very deeply. Old Path: thanks to my dear Kim, i now have the gorgeous version where majors have the silver effects. Precious deck to me for this reason and because lots of animals. my future: Tarot de Marsella by Rodes and Sanchez: the best Marseille imho, but not my inspiration right now. Tarot of the Secret Forest ? the rest of the collection is full of good memories and cherished presents i don't want to get rid of, but those decks have had a bigger influence on me than any other. thanks for giving me (us) the opportunity to share, Cerulean! Kissa

The Decks as your own past, present or future? thread was originally posted on 12 Feb 2005 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.