Runic Tarot: Smith & Astrop (Woof!)
Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.
| Fulgour |
10 Feb 2005 |
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Runic Tarot: Smith & Astrop (Woof!)
76 cards: not 78, not 80. Why?
24 Runes (replacing 22 Major Arcana) plus 56 Minor Arcana
would be 80 cards. Something we all know is exactly how
printers run a Tarot deck: 10 up, 8 across, with 2 "blanks."
80 was then an easy possibility: Why didn't it happen here?
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24 Rune Majors. That much is simple enough and it was done.
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52 runic minors. Not Tarot, but 12 x 4= 48+4= 52 runic minors.
48 cards, for 4 x 12= 12 weeks, for each of the 4 Seasons (48).
There are, as we know, 52 weeks, but the Runic Tarot is 4 weeks
short of a year. 4 weeks are missing, so are 4 cards. Why, why?
4 more, dubbed "green man cards" make 52. Each is titled as a
solstice or equinox. They're not explained other than as energy.
Nothing is really explained. The book could have been phoned in.
48 cards. 48 weeks, not 52. 4 green man cards that all look alike.
52 runic minors, not 56, and in the end not making any sense...
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Caroline Smith has done her usual brilliant best, but it is getting old.
John Astrop is probably tired of writing books for his wife's artwork.
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My recommendation: wait for the $5 dollar clearance sale special.
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| snowy25 |
10 Feb 2005 |
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I try to clear things out for you about the four missing weeks.
In the time that rune mythology was started to rise among the people, it was arround 3.500 b.c.
In what was then called Gotland, modern Iceland.
As you propebble know high northern times are much different than western time it means that altough a year now is the same as a year then, but days where shorter in summer and longer in authumn. So then they thought a year was shorter becauase of solarshiftingings of time of day and night.
and that all beside the point, because runes of the German or old futhark where the first runes and for every month one symbol so the tarot divolleper had to make some comprommises to make because runes are no tarot and don't follow the same rules as tarot, so no particular reasson just ajustment because the days don't fit modern times.
I've consulted this with my boyfriend.
Hope this helps a bit.
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| Fulgour |
10 Feb 2005 |
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Now that you have posted semi-unflattering opinions,
they will probably show up here . Good point, Dark Inquisitor, and now we can all compare
your research and contributions together with our own.;)
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| Fulgour |
10 Feb 2005 |
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I try to clear things out for you about the four missing weeks.
In the time that rune mythology was started to rise among the
people, it was arround 3.500 b.c. I wish I could see it this way, as a traditional Nordic system,
but the months are from the Roman calendar and there is
no correlation made on the cards, or in the book, to explain.
BUT:
You may have provided the true key, all on your own!
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| Dark Inquisitor |
10 Feb 2005 |
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Good point, Dark Inquisitor, and now we can all compare
your research and contributions together with our own.;)
If only I knew what you were talking about..:SL :joke: :SL
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| Cerulean |
10 Feb 2005 |
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Fulgour's conclusions...
Caroline Smith has done her usual brilliant best, but it is getting old.
John Astrop is probably tired of writing books for his wife's artwork.
Cerulean's take.
Sometimes my mood shrugs in agreement, I don't work with the odd systems...
But there is something interesting about the odd art style of Caroline Smith--I may not like it as a first choice when my mood favors 'traditional art'. But her work falls somewhere between modernized art deco and surrealism to me. So the art twistiness can be refreshing. Sometimes I send the most beautiful tarot art tumbling into a 'holding basket' and reach for something different oracle-wise.
You are right, this is a definitely different kind of deck! Here's a woofing back at you...
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| Fulgour |
11 Feb 2005 |
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If only I knew what you were talking about..:SL :joke: :SL I posted this as a separate thread because my opinion
of this deck was negative, to have my woof! be alone.
On the thread to which you graciously provided a link,
it may be seen that I was full of anticipation, awaiting
this very intriguing new creation from a true favourite
of mine, Caroline Smith. I openly shared my thoughts.
When my 'Runic Tarot' came, I laid out the whole deck,
for about 2 weeks I went back and forth from the book
to the cards, gradually getting to know them, to so see
what it truly was, how it wanted to reveal itself to me.
Sometimes I even lay awake at night... just wondering.
I searched the book for answers. I looked at the cards.
Well my opinion is only of value as my personal view,
and I am willing to state openly, that I truly do care.
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| Cerulean |
11 Feb 2005 |
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wafts gently through your disappointed heart-mind...
And perhaps, as me, when I received this last autumn, you were ready for something fresh and different, but also resonating with what you've seen before.
I do sympathize! I bought two decks recently that I've seen that you have: the Convos and the Lovers Tarot. Both have such rich texture in finish and the established publishers in back of them have produced results in color and feel that give one a taste of rich beauty. They also have the strength of traditional models in back of them, as well, so we can feel resonation.
The woodcuts and oil paintings translated into card art have wonderful back-stories to them, as well. It doesn't matter what the season, a taste for something wonderful is always welcome! And the readings with a tarot system can address bigger picture issues...I enjoy that about the tarot.
Now we have in the Astrop-Smith Runic oracle partnership something that isn't quite this or that. Also, some of the designs have a feel similar to the Element Tarot, which was wonderfully symbolically FRESH on first looks...and I finally aquired the first edition of the Element, which hints at the rich texture and look and feel that the original paintings would have.
But the Runic Tarot, as produced, might not feel as rich or as lovely a deck at first take...I have put this in a drawer after the first few weeks, because the enjoyment of the new system, like a false spring rush of warmth, didn't last.
I promised myself to keep and look at it in warmer weather; the clear and soft
style seemed more for this time of year.
It turns out the Runic Tarot fills a gap for me, as I find that decks that adhere to a seasonal calendar evokes a tanka-style response. But I also made the deck my own, such as cutting the hardcover case from the paper book; did some amateur book-binding on the papercover book, found a bag for the cards. So maybe it might be a seasonal compadre for you, given time. Or you might just pass it on at a used bookstore/trade...
I also want to like most of the Astrop-Smith works, but some of the oracles don't work for me, just the way I am sometimes. The Runic Tarot works best for me right now as the Element Tarot does--if I'm reading about something rather concrete. The Runic Tarot also suggests to me what a 'normal' seasonal expectation might be for a certain time of the year and seems common-sensical to me. It doesn't set the details in stone, but seems good on small "aha" notes. I also like this deck expresses a seasonal orientation that I can reflect on. Because poetry in season, as tanka is, captures the moment in little bites and resonates the mind with playful expectations of seasons.
Hope this touches a little on what you have expressed. I'll keep quiet now, but hope my suggestions came across as hope-this-helps...
Regards,
Cerulean
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| Dark Inquisitor |
11 Feb 2005 |
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I posted this as a separate thread because my opinion
of this deck was negative, to have my woof! be alone.
On the thread to which you graciously provided a link,
it may be seen that I was full of anticipation, awaiting
this very intriguing new creation from a true favourite
of mine, Caroline Smith. I openly shared my thoughts.
Yes, I noticed that towards the end of the thread , but I thought maybe other people would like the link just in case they were in search of other threads on the same deck.
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| Fulgour |
11 Feb 2005 |
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http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=30335
Now that you have posted semi-unflattering opinions, they will probably show up here . I now understand (thanks DI for the clarification) that when you
said "they might show up here" you meant John and Caroline...
the way I had read this was that my unflattering opinions would
show up on the other 'Runic Tarot' thread (the link you posted).
The old stories talk about 3 blind mice, but it was really just one:
me. Rather than stammer on further, I'm a'going up the clock...
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| Dark Inquisitor |
11 Feb 2005 |
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Oh- I should have made it all much more clear . I didn't give a thought to how it might be perceived differently. Once again , proving we are two people separated by a common language.
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| Lillie |
12 Feb 2005 |
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I think Caroline smith has done a set of rune cards before.
If I'm right they were given away free with a 'mystic Meg' type magazine.
I don't have the mag anymore, but I do have the cards. 24 of them, one for each of the Futhark runes.
They are quite pretty and very much in her style.
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The Runic Tarot: Smith & Astrop (Woof!) thread was originally posted on 10 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.
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