Questions about Golden and Fay

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

jeseryn	14 Mar 2005
Hi! This is my first post here. I'll briefly introduce myself and go on to the questions. I'm in my mid-thirties and live in New England. Would love to get together with others if anyone live in the area.. I'm in southern MA specifically. I've been reading the tarot for about 20 years.. my grandmother taught me when I was very young so I read in a fairly non traditional manner. I've had various tarot decks through the years. The one I used to read for others on often was the Robin Wood. A few years back I packed all my cards and spirituality away and have been called back recently. My daughter *ahem* appropriated my Robin Wood deck which was well loved and wrapped like an archeological treasure. In the process she lost 7 cards. So I'm seeking a new deck since right now, replacing that deck with so much of my energy is heartbreaking to me. On to my questions! I ordered 2 decks off amazon after browsing here for a bit. I ordered the Golden and the Fay. I really dislike collage decks. To me, they're like velvet elvis paintings. (Please noone take offense!.. Purely my opinion :P) I'm drawn to the images of the Golden tarot though. I'm a redhead and love rich golden tones and medieval imagery. They don't look to me like the collage where you can tell each image is seperate. Question: How does the Golden look/feel in person? Does it have enough imagery to be a working deck? Do any of you use it as your primary deck? Does it look pasted together with obvious gaps? Any feedback is appreciated! The Fey I chose simply because I'm drawn to fairy tale type imagery. However I'm not looking for a collector deck (at the moment) I'm trying to find myself a new working deck. I tend to only bond with one deck even though I love collecting them. Question: Is the Fey deck somethign you could use as your primary deck? To read for yourself and others? Is the imagery rich or is it miminal? Is the artist who created it actually into the mysticism of the tarot and spiritual? How do they feel? I've noticed that alot of the Lo Scarabeo decks are *gorgeous* artistically but there's no magic infused in them really. No depth. Not like a deck of works of art that the artist poured their research and energy and such into to create the *one* perfect artwork for each card. Like the Mary-El deck (My dream deck!) I call these decks "popcorn decks". Rich, beautiful, collectable and not really something I'd want to work with. BUT! Given the huge forum here on these boards devoted to the Fey deck I'm hoping that there's something there.. some spark.. essence or however you like to put it that infuses these cards and draws your spirit in to read them, love them and get accurate readings. Thanks for your time and I love reading all the posts you have made! I'm so happy to have found this community. As soon as I can afford it Im definitely subscribing! Peace, Jes

Simone	14 Mar 2005
Hi and welcome, Jes :) I do not know the Golden, but I know the Fey deck, and I love it :) About the "magic" infused, I think it is us readers who put the magic in a deck when we connect to it :) Have fun with your new decks, and enjoy the forums! There is much to explore, and maybe you could also post in the New Members section to allow more persons to greet you :) Love Simone

Keslynn	14 Mar 2005
Hi Jes, and welcome to Aeclectic! :) I have both the Golden and the Fey. Here are my comments about them: Golden: This deck definitely does not look pasted together. The collage is so well done that I couldn't have told that they were originally pieces of different paintings. Kat did an amazing quality job. Even the packaging for this deck is nice. I am sure that this deck could be used as someone's primary reading deck. Personally, I don't really use it that often, but it's only because I have too many decks and not enough time! I would use it for clients, but I wouldn't want to mess it up. Those gilded edges are so yummy. Fey: I LOVE this deck. It's one of my favorites of all time. The pictures are non-traditional, but I've found tons of symbolism packed into them. This deck is playful but also profound. It will definitely expand your tarot mind. I used this one as a primary reading deck for a long time and still get it out fairly often. I just don't use it very much for clients because some complained that it looked scary! Crazy people! I highly recommend this one. I think you'll love it. :) Kes PS - I'm from Rhode Island.

leapylees	14 Mar 2005
I received the Golden Tarot as a birthday gift after making it very obvious that it was at the top of my wishlist. It looks fantastic, and I must admit that the box was part of its appeal - beautiful and sturdy. I certainly couldn't tell that the cards were 'made' from bits of different paintings. At the moment I'm finding it quite difficult to read with, but I'm also a beginner so that might have a lot to do with it.

genna	16 Mar 2005
Welcome Jes! I have loved the Fey Tarot ever since I got it,and it is the only deck,except The Faeries´ Oracle,with which I´ve been able to read intuitively. The Golden Tarot is wonderful.I know no more beautiful deck,and I´m sure you will get very interesting readings with it.It´s a rather new deck,so I haven´t read alot with it as yet. Gratulation on your excellent choices!

NightWing	17 Mar 2005
I'm probably just echoing what others here have said...with a minor difference or two. The Fey tarot appealed to me first as a kind of whimsical tarot for collecting, and less so for reading. My first impression was of cartoonish art and I assumed the deck had little depth. Some reflection on cards like "Death" began to change my opinion. As a tarot deck, it has surprising depth, and can really "grow" on a person. Still, as a primary reading deck, I not so sure, especially reading for others. Certain clients might see it as not very serious, and judge the Reader and the reading accordingly. The Golden Tarot is visually very beautiful, and a definite collector's piece, but for myself, I've had doubts about it as a primary deck. This is mostly because I find cards that are really lovely to be rather distracting sometimes. Both in their own way are very nice decks. Either can be read profitably I'm sure. But neither would serve me well as a primary deck. For that, I go the direction of the Universal Waite, the World Spirit, or the Egorov. But what really matters is what appeals to, and works for YOU. And an unappealing deck, according to your personal tastes, will always be at best a distraction, and at worst, unworkable. Tarot is more about you the reader and less about the deck, but the deck must be one you can in some sense connect with.

Emily	17 Mar 2005
I have the Golden too and I was very pleased with it. You can't tell that it is collage, Kat Black did an amazing job. I always have to remind myself that its not actual full paintings I'm looking at. It reads well too, with lots of extras. The book that comes with the set is nicely packaged in the sturdy box with the deck and its full of information - not your average LWB but a full companion book just scaled down. :)

Skydancer	17 Mar 2005
I truly enjoy the Fey - mostly just getting to know them! (I don't have the Golden ... yet!) Often I just sit with them, while watching TV or a movie, and pick a card at whim - amazing how it will reflect something happening just that moment in the show! (I'm finding that this is a good way to see if you and any deck are talking to each other.) Enjoy! *S*

RedMaple	17 Mar 2005
The Golden is my everyday reading deck at present, and I've really bonded with it. I felt as you do about collage decks before getting the Golden, but it is superbly crafted, and rich with details and colors that speak to me. I have found the images on so many of the cards really expand my understanding of Tarot. I spent a lot of time getting to know this deck, looking at each card one by one and writing in my journal about them. When I first looked at the deck, I was drawn to the colors and art, but thought there was so much going on I didn't know how I'd be able to read from it. In fact, my ability to read intuitively has increased because of the images that speak so clearly. There are a few cards where the Christian imagery bothers me a bit, but that's from the time period of the artwork, so I accept it as one more mythology to draw upon. I think some of that imagery might not sit well with some people, so I use other decks as well. The Fey -- I am still working at getting to know this deck. I have to say the artwork is not my usual cup of tea. But the images are so interesting, and I think really expand the Tarot in an interesting way. I guess I'm just the opposite of a lot of readers, who connected immediately with the Fey and read with it all the time. For me, it's the Golden that's become the loved everyday companion deck.

Nevada	17 Mar 2005
jeseryn wrote: I'm drawn to the images of the Golden tarot though. I'm a redhead and love rich golden tones and medieval imagery. They don't look to me like the collage where you can tell each image is seperate. Question: How does the Golden look/feel in person? Does it have enough imagery to be a working deck? Do any of you use it as your primary deck? Does it look pasted together with obvious gaps? Any feedback is appreciated! Welcome, jeseryn! I'm also a redhead and love those colors in the Golden. No, it doesn't look at all pasted together, and in fact I sometimes have to remind myself the images are collages. It's not my primary deck, but is one of the five Tarot decks I keep out on a table ready for use at any moment. I've found it a comfortable deck to read with. The images inspire interpretation in a way that's unique and refreshing, while somehow familiar. The Tarot and Oracle decks I keep out all the time: Crystal Golden Marseilles (Hadar) Morgan Greer Thoth (my primary reading deck) Faeries Oracle That gives you a taste of the kinds of decks I like. The Golden fits in beautifully. Nevada

Milfoil	18 Mar 2005
I can only comment on the Golden tarot - wonderful. Personally, I bonded with it before it was even published and now its my main deck. The artwork is superbly done, I don't think you will be dissapointed. I'm sorry to hear about your original deck, I hope you enjoy your new ones.

retrokat	20 Mar 2005
Golden was *made* by a redhead, BTW. Well OK, it's henna - but it's been dyed red since I was 15 so I think I've earned redhead status by now ;) At least my green eyes are real. My personal significator is the Queen of Wands, based on a French redheaded Madonna that I absolutely love. Hope you enjoy the deck IRL (in real life) when it arrives. If not, looks like there may be a few takers for trades :)

The Questions about Golden and Fay thread was originally posted on 14 Mar 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.