what decks for what purpose?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 24 Feb 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Cagedflame	24 Feb 2005
Although my Secret Tarot isn't yet here in the mail-- correction, just got here in record time :D I can already tell that there will be certain types of readings I will prefer to do with this deck... figuring out where to look to find information I need, sorting out the facets of mundane-life problems that're a bit complicated, reading for a friend who's worried about _____, etc... almost a sort of problem solving deck. I'm eyeing the Prague Tarot as my next deck, as for a sort of a general reading-for-others deck. I'm considering whether or not this would fill another role I have in mind for a tarot deck... sharpening intuition and sorting through spiritual matters. I know these two decks have a few things in common -- they're a miz of modern and historical/old style, they're not to fantastical (hard time connecting pretty fantasy to real world stuff for me), not overly "earthy" (ey, I might be pagan but that doesn't mean earthy is my thing). Things I look for in a Tarot deck. Those who own those decks-- what do you use them for, how do they speak to you? What decks do you use for what purpose?

Stregaverde	24 Feb 2005
It's interesting--I have over 20 decks, but you've hit on two of them that I have set aside for further study before I use them much. I've worked with the Secret a bit, and it's dark and edgy, and doesn't seem to speak plainly to me--I feel like I'm grasping at shadows with it--I feel like I need more insight into the deck. It's not my 'usual' type of deck, though, so you may very well have a totally different relationship with it. I do use different decks when different voices are needed. I find that I am using the New Vision a lot to get the 'inside scoop' on things. In my opinion, you can't have too many decks. :D One other thing to keep in mind--the Secret has a great deal of nudity in it, which can freak out some North Americans. Might be good to have a more restrained deck, as well.

Cagedflame	24 Feb 2005
I intend the Secret Tarot to be only for me and for a couple close friends, so I'm not so worried about the nakies. I'm only worried about being asked why there's lots of naked ladies but (IIRC) the only naked males are the twins on the Sun card (for which I have no good answer). To me the Secret Tarot isn't really that dark, possibly because some of the outfits and colorations don't give me pause because my hobby slash occupation is designing and making goth-influenced clothes. Though I have noticed a fair amount of little "not quite what it may seem" bits in the card images already. The tail-like dress protrusion on the woman in the two of cups comes to mind. I plan to have 2-3 decks for reading with regularly, and a couple others just for the art (Victoria Regina comes to mind for this category). Course, I bet a lot of people on here originally only planned to have a couple decks... my wallet is pre-emptively sobbing.

Cerulean	24 Feb 2005
But I've noticed that I've made my own story reflections with it, which looks at the images as if they were a fictional dream. My latest amusement with it was retelling the Phantom of the Opera movie themes with it as an allegorical storyboard. My imaginery realm ignores lack of costume if the pose and picture has the right feel--since my mental filters in telling stories will suitably cloth the person when they interact with other characters. I've only done online readings for a few here with it for friendly people and they were also experienced readers who didn't seem to mind the deck images. Regards, Cerulean

Satori	25 Feb 2005
Nothing like the LS Gothic Tarot of the Vampires for all questions related to abuse or sex. I did a reading for someone questioning her father's part in the abuse of her half sister! It seems sis is unreliable and makes up stories. From what I could see, both parties were being very naughty....btw, not his child, and not adopted, not that it makes a difference... I can thank Cerulean for my fave to bring to Health Expos-Dance of Life Tarot. Yoga teachers love it. And the Reiki people love it. I like it because I read it like an oracle. As a Tarot it confuses the hell out of me. So I just toss meanings to the wind and fly on the wings of intuition and imagination, and the hits I get with it are uncanny!!! And as for the who's cheating on who deck, why that turns out to be World Spirit. When the Knight of Wands shows up from that deck I could bet money on the dogs that someone is being unfaithful somewhere and win a bundle. In fact if it comes up in a reading and I'm using say, Vision Quest, I will go and get World Spirit out of my bag and toss a few cards just to see if that Knight pops up. No kidding. Osho Zen is my favorite for general reads, and Vision Quest is my most used deck lately. In fact, these two are my two constant companions, and I use them together a lot. It's more a snapshot of the person's inner life and what kind of person they are that comes thru.

gypsy_morrigan	25 Feb 2005
elf wrote: And as for the who's cheating on who deck, why that turns out to be World Spirit. When the Knight of Wands shows up from that deck I could bet money on the dogs that someone is being unfaithful somewhere and win a bundle. In fact if it comes up in a reading and I'm using say, Vision Quest, I will go and get World Spirit out of my bag and toss a few cards just to see if that Knight pops up. No kidding. Wow, Elf--I have the World Spirit, and the Knight of Wands looks exactly like a footloose, philandering former friend of mine! You interpretation rings true to me because just last year he had a girlfriend Stateside while still keeping ties with a girlfriend in Vietnam. It's funny that we both have those associations. I try to use different decks for different things, but usually the readings with the WS turn out the best. I tried doing a relationship reading with the Golden and it just didn't work, but the Goddess tarot (and now hopefully my Lover's Path!) does great with love readings. I'm hoping to get to know the Golden better and perhaps use it on more mainstream or Christian sitters, since the imagery is pretty familiar and non-controversial.

souljourney	25 Feb 2005
I do have a question on this very thing. I've been trying to work with Jeanette Roth's Rosetta Stone Method for relationship readings. Heres a link: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=37919 I've figued out what personailties are for what decks pretty much. But if you had to pick a deck for a "type A, logical, driven" person what would it be? Now to the question at hand... I have found my Gilded, Fey, and Housewives will handle pretty much anything. Although I've had limited experience with certain types of questions. I find Goddess for more spiritual or relationship stuff. I haven't worked with the others enough to say... Thanks for the ideas on some of the decks so far... SJ

Satori	25 Feb 2005
Well, I've just had a look at your deck list, and I think of all of them one in particular comes to mind...but first.... If this is a Type A personality driven as you say, then what deck do you think you should use??? Hah! Bet you thought I'd say that didn't you! Think about it this way. What matters is the connections you are making in Your mind between decks and people. I have ideas about it, and looking at your deck list one deck just popped out at me, but that is me. So the deck that popped out was the LS Gothic Vampires. My thinking: Vampires need to feed. They are driven by their Hunger(s). They are all about the moment and the experience has to be exquisitely exciting, kind of an all or nothing sort of life. They love power, passion, blood, the hunt. Type A's are also a kind of Vampire. They too are driven by hunger-for wealth, power, luxury, organization, excitement, the thrill of winning, the chase. Tell me what is the difference here? One group is immortal, the other isn't. right? Obviously there are other differences, but I'm just making a point. Good luck with that spread. Looks very complex and deep. Let me know how it goes. hugs, elf

Logiatrix	25 Feb 2005
souljourney wrote: ...I've figued out what personailties are for what decks pretty much. But if you had to pick a deck for a "type A, logical, driven" person what would it be? The "Type A" person seems to expect the tarot of the pre-1900's, in my experience. Sometimes they might look for the standard (not colorized) Rider-Waite. But overall, they seem to have very little attraction to the more modern tarots...perhaps relating the historical tarot to greater authenticity, or even wisdom? I had one querent who was thoroughly repelled by my Voyager. I thought since he was a business man, that it would work; but he didn't even want to look through the deck. However, he adores my Visconti Gold and still likes looking through the cards, though he's already seen them numerous times. A couple of his work mates selected the VG, too, despite the other decks I made available for their respective readings. It might also have to do with the numerological application of the pip-only minors in the older decks. I find that numerology is very intriguing to "Type A" people. A good test of that theory would be to offer cartomantic readings, but I've only used my playing cards with close friends so far. There is no pre-determining such a thing, though. I have a client/friend who is (well, seems) ready to pounce anything and everything in his path. He has a high-pressure job and a very aggressive personality to take it on. He has a logical way of seeing things, and easily grasps my readings as long as they are linear and not esoteric. He was quite happy with the bold colors and moody vibe of my Sacred Rose, but then he went absolutely ecstatic when he saw my Light and Shadow Tarot last year. I finally gave it to him, and he still enjoys it for meditation, which made me laugh out loud. But sure enough, I saw a single card propped up next to one of his computers in his office! :laugh: It's a hard call, because once you think you've got someone pegged, they'll go and surprise you. :) EDITED To Add: I read elf's post and took a peek at your list of decks, too...the Vargo Gothic might appeal. Also, have you considered the Rune deck? Runes seem to make sense to me, because they are such a clear and structured system.

The what decks for what purpose? thread was originally posted on 24 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.