Variations on the RWS - advice

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 22 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Foxyangel	22 Mar 2005
Hi.. wondering if I can have some help... I am looking for a version of the RWS... that isn't the RWS... the Herbal deck was one I have seen that has the general RWS theme, but is slightly different... Are there any that people would recommend? Thanks

Sulis	22 Mar 2005
It sounds like you're after a RWS clone deck. My favorite is by far the Morgan Greer. It has very strong colours and no borders - http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/morgan-greer/ I have the Herbal but don't use it much. Here are some images -http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/herbal/ If you want a deck which is based on the RWS but then there are loads out there: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/robin-wood/ - Robin Wood - Pagan http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/hudes/ - Hudes There are loads more. There are also lots of decks which use the artwork of the Rider Waite but they have been recoloured: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/universal-waite/ - Universal Waite http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/radiant-rider-waite/ - Radiant Rider Waite Have you tried looking through the list of decks here on AT? http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/list.shtml Love Sulis xx

gollog	22 Mar 2005
My favourite is the Russian Tarot of St Petersburg. Beautiful art, black background, very interesting book in the deck book set, it works really well for me, but I guess you either like it very much or it doesn't do anything for you. There are some pictures of it on aeclectic in the 'decks' section.

Emily	22 Mar 2005
My favourite is the Morgan Greer too - nice bright colours and reads as well, if not better than the RWS. The Hanson Roberts is another good one if you like the style of artwork.

Logiatrix	22 Mar 2005
Ditto on the Morgan-Greer; it's one of my regular decks, being so easy to read attractive to look at. I liked and used the Herbal Tarot for a while, especially for health readings. I really enjoyed all that green, and I found the cards very healing as a meditation tool, as well. My favorite RWS re-coloring is the Diamond Tarot, but the classic symbols may be too small for a beginner to learn from or to read. Even long-time tarotists have noted that it is difficult to use as a serious reading deck, but I still love all the psychedelic colors. ;) EDITED to add: Images of the Diamond Tarot... http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/diamond/

Solty Dog	22 Mar 2005
If you are looking for a RWS that isn't an RWS, my suggeswtion would be the International Icon tarot shown here: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/international-icon/ I like to call this my zen deck. IMO its one of the best clones out threre. B.S. Dog

Requiella	22 Mar 2005
I don't know how far astray you're willing to go from RW, but if you don't mind going a little further, I strongly recommend taking a look at the Spiral Tarot. It's what you might call a RW-inspired deck ("Art Twist"). http://www.tarot.com/about-tarot/decks/browsedecks.php?newdeck=29 I got a copy this weekend, and it's definitely the deck I've been looking for!

Adjustment	23 Mar 2005
Sulis wrote: It sounds like you're after a RWS clone deck. My favorite is by far the Morgan Greer. It has very strong colours and no borders - http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/morgan-greer/ I have the Herbal but don't use it much. Here are some images -http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/herbal/ If you want a deck which is based on the RWS but then there are loads out there: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/robin-wood/ - Robin Wood - Pagan http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/hudes/ - Hudes There are loads more. There are also lots of decks which use the artwork of the Rider Waite but they have been recoloured: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/universal-waite/ - Universal Waite http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/radiant-rider-waite/ - Radiant Rider Waite Have you tried looking through the list of decks here on AT? http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/list.shtml Love Sulis xx I agree with Sulis about the Morgan Greer Tarot deck, by the way thank you Sulis for the other link to different tarot decks

Scion	23 Mar 2005
Solty Dog wrote: If you are looking for a RWS that isn't an RWS, my suggeswtion would be the International Icon tarot shown here: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/international-icon/ I like to call this my zen deck. IMO its one of the best clones out threre. B.S. Dog I second this emotion about the International Icon... I LOVE this deck and it never fails to surprise even nonTarot folks when I read for them with it. In fact, in the vein of choosing clones if you click this link to Joan Cole's website she employs what she has termed a "closeness metric" which tabulates the number of original RWS details preserved by the different clones/recolorings/homages, etc. and (n.b.) the International Icon is listed as one of the closest redrawings. If nothing else, check out the site for a superb overview of your options and what each sacrifices in the translation. A superb overview of the RWS tarotscape. But for my money, Robin Ator's International Icon is the way to go, hands down. Scion

fyreflye	23 Mar 2005
Yes, the Morgan-Greer among redesigned RWS decks; but for a recolored RWS the Albano-Waite, with colors sweet enough to eat :)

sunflowr	23 Mar 2005
Logiatrix wrote: Ditto on the Morgan-Greer ; it's one of my regular decks, being so easy to read attractive to look at. I liked and used the Herbal Tarot for a while, especially for health readings. I really enjoyed all that green, and I found the cards very healing as a meditation tool, as well. My favorite RWS re-coloring is the Diamond Tarot , but the classic symbols may be too small for a beginner to learn from or to read. Even long-time tarotists have noted that it is difficult to use as a serious reading deck, but I still love all the psychedelic colors. ;) EDITED to add: Images of the Diamond Tarot ... http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/diamond/ I love that deck too! :) I call it my "Peter Max Tarot". ;)

The Variations on the RWS - advice thread was originally posted on 22 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.