Tarot de Paris

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 14 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

FaerieStorm	14 Feb 2005
This has always been my favorite deck: it's beautiful, it's functional, and yet it's unique. However, for a while I strayed away from it, but now I'm back to it again. I love the artwork and the text J. Philip Thomas wrote to accompany it. It's amazing to think he's firstly a photographer--he seems to be as much a writer as a photographer. What do you all think of the deck? Is it one you use often? Any thoughts...

Moonbow*	14 Feb 2005
Your post was a surprise to me! I picked up this deck yesterday for the first time in months and thought that I really need to spend more time with it. I have 'always' liked the cards, I spent a little time with them months ago but got sidetracked (story of my life!) Although I've had the deck for a while, I have still not spent nearly enough time with it so I've been having a little dabble. :) I also read contrascarpe's 'circle of stones' readings, as he uses this deck for the month of May. Lovely deck in my opinion, under used by most people who have it (including myself). Great for meditation too.

contrascarpe	14 Feb 2005
There have been a few other threads discussing this deck. In fact, JPT is a member of the boards and sticks his head in here from time to time. I bought this deck over a year ago. I am a big-time lover of the city of Paris (and unfortunately it is not in vogue to be a Francophile in the U.S. these days ..... my brother has a France sticker on his car and someone tried ripping it off the other day). Anyway, I have a love/hate relationship with this deck. I love the images and have spent much time trying to identify them. The card size is wonderful, but my problem is the card stock. I know JPT rectified that with his second printing but I still am not sure where that stands (whenever I see the deck in a store, I always assume it is the first printing). *Moonbow - yes, I did use this deck for May in my Circle of Stones 2005 readings (Paris in the Spring!) and it is funny because I believe it is the first time I ever used the deck in a reading. I found it deeper than I even imagined it would be. I will probably try to do a proper reading with it sometime soon. Dan

Cerulean	15 Feb 2005
http://www.tarotdeparis.com/contact.htm And I do periodically enjoy using this deck. It's a deck I rotate with using an older proto-Marseilles (Vieville) for fun. I think the "Devil" card was impressive to me...I first met the deck right after a lovely Dante summer seminar.... Regards Cerulean

NightWing	16 Feb 2005
The Tarot de Paris: this was one deck that I was particularly glad to obtain. In my part of the world, it was rare for some reason. It is even more so now. Mine resides peacefully now with my other "city genre" tarot decks, the Prague and the old B & W New York T. But I've often wondered about, but never come across, other city-based decks. There is a proposed "London Tarot" underway, but surely the cultural and artistic richness of many other cities would lend themselves to being "tarot-fied"? I guess I can dream anyway of a "Vienna Tarot", or "La Taro di Roma", or "Tarot Venezia", or even a "Krakow Tarot" and a "Taro de Granada"! And that's just a few in Europe. One could imagine a "Maharajahs' Tarot" from one or more old Indian cities, "The Tarot of Shanghai", or a "Kyoto Tarot". I'm less sure about a "San Francisco Tarot" or a "Tarot of Chicago". But there are a lot of possibilities. Lacking artistic or photographic talents, I can't do much to make any of these a reality. I only hope that decks like the Paris or the Prague inspire people who ARE so talented to delve deeper into the sights & symbols that enrich some of our great human habitations, and see them with the eyes of Tarot. Its a start.

FaerieStorm	16 Feb 2005
I noticed some of you have mentioned the re-printing of the deck; I ordered it directly from J. Philip Thomas. The cardstock is much thicker and it has a much glossier and slicker finish. The color quality is much better, as well. The great think is that he signed it for me! So, if anyone is shying away from the deck because of the card quality, the re-print is very inexpensive--just e-mail him.

Skydancer	16 Feb 2005
oh THANK YOU for posting this - I, too, have read about the second printing being better than the first, but everywhere I found the deck I figured it was a first print ... eBay, half.com, etc. Thanks! We were there for Christmas '03 with 3 of our grown kids (2 sons and one's new wife!) and it was lovely. Laura got us through all the subways and tokens in great style (comes from living in New York for a year I suspect!) Anyway, I am going to email him also and see about getting a set of this second edition. Maybe I'll get two - one for us and one for Laura!! *S*

contrascarpe	16 Feb 2005
I have been corresponding with JPT (and I hope I am not letting any cats out of the bag). Apparently the first printing of the second edition was limited and most of them were distributed in Japan (the Japanese are going ga-ga over this deck it seems). A larger printing is in the works and will be available later this year. Also, if you go to his website (tarotdeparis.com I believe) he has a link to new keywords/definitions for the cards. He wasn't totally happy with the ones in his book (not sure why, I love his book) and just uploaded these. The more I look at this deck, the more I love it (and the more I miss Paris!!!!!). Dan

Ruby7	16 Feb 2005
Could someone who has the second edition please list the ISBN number? Amazon has two different sets listed but who knows which is which. Thanks, Ruby7

JPT	20 Feb 2005
Just thought I'd drop in to say I'm currently in Ise, Japan...........going to the temple of the Sun Goddess Amaterasu today. Thanks to you folks that sent BDay messages but I'm at that point where I like to let the numbers slip by! An interesting point I've noticed here is the numerous connections to the numbers 11-21-22! These numbers had already nudged their way into my conscious attention since the publication of the deck but are now tending towards the excessive! The list includes things like credit card numbers, receipts, plane seats, license plates of cars in front of me, and especially digital clocks! The numerical contagion has even spread to my wife and teenage kids! I have learned to accept them not as individually symbolic but more as road signs or signals of being in SYNCH and heading the right way at the right time.I wonder if any of you have has similar instances? Aloha, *jpt

The Tarot de Paris thread was originally posted on 14 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.