Preferences in Minor Arcana artwork
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Esther |
15 Feb 2005 |
|
Shortly after I began studying Tarot, I read about it being easier to interpret cards that have detailed artwork on the Minor Arcana cards, decks such as the Rider Waite. But even though I notice that it's easier for me to understand the Minor Arcana cards in the one deck I have that has great detail, I find that I also like the ones that have very little detail to them. In a way, the detailed artwork detracts from the Major Arcana for me to a certain degree.
What are your thoughts on this?
|
| fyreflye |
15 Feb 2005 |
|
You are a prime candidate for conversion to the religion of Marseilleism ;)
Check out the postings on the Tarot of Marseille down in the Historical Section and in the Marseille Reading Exchange threads. Post an ISO for a Marseille in Tarot Trading. Even if you decide eventually that the Marseille is not your deck you'll learn a tremendous amount about reading unillustrated pip cards. I have.
Shortly after I began studying Tarot, I read about it being easier to interpret cards that have detailed artwork on the Minor Arcana cards, decks such as the Rider Waite. But even though I notice that it's easier for me to understand the Minor Arcana cards in the one deck I have that has great detail, I find that I also like the ones that have very little detail to them. In a way, the detailed artwork detracts from the Major Arcana for me to a certain degree.
What are your thoughts on this?
|
| souljourney |
15 Feb 2005 |
|
I also assume there are Marseille style decks in mass production from LS or Llewelyn if cost is an issue.
|
| fyreflye |
15 Feb 2005 |
|
I also assume there are Marseille style decks in mass production from LS or Llewelyn if cost is an issue.
U S Games has one, Llewellyn doesn't. Lo Scarabeo's is called "The Ancient Tarots of Marseille." But the gorgeous "Veritable Tarot de Marseille" by Kris Hadar only cost me $24.55 USD including shipping from Amazon.ca.
|
| Fulgour |
15 Feb 2005 |
|
Hundreds of decks have "unillustrated" pips, usually just
a certain number of each symbol, often quite beautiful.
|
| Fudugazi |
15 Feb 2005 |
|
Ah yes, non-scenic pips (not unillustrated -they are not blank), I am a convert, for all sorts of reasons, mainly because it concentrates my mind and allows my imagination to flow unimpeded by what people might be doing on a card.
Marseille, of course, but I have fallen in love with the Tarocchi di Vetro (Crystal Tarot) which is a GORGEOUS deck, so lush and beautiful and so deep. It jsut keeps getting deeper and deeper. The pips are non-scenic (with some little shadowy detail here and there) and arranged in geometrical shapes that have their own magic. And the Majors are wonderful.
|
| Little Baron |
15 Feb 2005 |
|
As Fulgour says, there are many beautiful decks with non-pictorial/scenic minors out there. I find that when reading in a spread, it is nice to see the difference between the majors and minors. For example, if only a few majors pop up they stand out amongst the lesser cards.
I have some Marseille decks but I appreciate that they are not to everyone's taste. An alternative is some of the Ancient Italian decks. They have similar styled minor cards but the floral patterns are more delicately eteched. Like the 'Ancient Tarot of Marseilles' by LoS, there is also 'The Ancient Italian Tarot' - very similar to the refined 'Soprafino' decks. There is also the 1JJ Swiss.
Of course, there are many modern decks without illustrated minor cards; the 'Adrian' comes to mind, as does, some of the Tavaglione decks - 'Stairs of Gold', I think one is called.
If you read cards with intuition, using numerology and suit method does not constrain you as much as having one set picture. If you are interesting in reading up and learning in that way, there are many good books out there on numerology; I am sure that many can advise you here - as with everything, you just have to ask and someone will know the answer.
Good Luck with your search.
LB
|
| silvertears |
16 Feb 2005 |
|
My first (and so far only) is the Marseilles. While it seems that it is a love it or hate it deck for many we work well together; my grandfather came from france so i have a history/ancestry connection that has always held my interest captive. Because i've never gotten to work with images in my minors i really can't compare but thus far we seem to connect just fine. Someday i really would like to journey into using a deck with scenic minors, at least then i will know. However i can say that even never having worked with one i wouldn't want it to be overdone: ne quid nimis - nothing in excess.
|
| Keslynn |
16 Feb 2005 |
|
Marseilles is not the only family of decks with "unillustrated" pips. Thoth and many Thoth-based decks have minors that show the number of suit objects instead of a scene. Of course, Thoth minors are a little more moody than Marseilles style, but it's something to consider.
Also, the Gill Tarot has a fairly unique approach. Instead of showing the number of suit objects, it has decorated Arabic numbers (1,2, etc). It's pretty neat.
The Old English Tarot has very small scenes on the cards to indicate meaning (sometimes not all that well), but for the most part, all you see is the suit objects. From reading reviews, I gather that the Medieval Cat Tarot is similar. I'll be able to tell you more about that one once I get it into my hot little hands.
And of course, there are Marseille decks. I would recommend, but I haven't yet explored them in the depth that I'd like to. I do own a Hadar Marseilles. I like it, but I haven't been able to study with it yet.
:) Kes
|
| Little Baron |
16 Feb 2005 |
|
Thanks Kes. I couldn't think of many modern decks with non-scenic pips off the top of my head.
LB
|
| Emily |
16 Feb 2005 |
|
The Haindl and the Rohrig are Thoth based with non-scenic Minors - very pretty but not the 'traditional' pip cards like a Marseille. The Quest is another but this deck sort of goes off and does its own thing lol :D
|
| Esther |
17 Feb 2005 |
|
Wow, some of the decks you've mentioned are very nice. Right now, I have two decks with un-illustrated pips--the Art of Tarot deck (the deck I use the most often) and the Tarot of the Witches deck (which is the one I use the most after that). The Art of Tarot deck especially has very beautiful Major Arcana cards that I love.
|
The Preferences in Minor Arcana artwork thread was originally posted on 15 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.
|
