DruidCraft Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Apr 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

kerri28	15 Apr 2005
OMG, how beautiful are these cards!!! I just got them today and I've already done 3 readings with them. They are just so easy to read and have such depth in their pictures, even the pips are exquisite. Sorry to ramble but they are just so beautiful. L&L Kerrie

Sulis	15 Apr 2005
Hi Kerri, The DruidCraft really is a gorgeous deck isn't it? There have been a few discussions about it here lately. You may want to look at these discussions: http://www.tarotforum.net/search.php?searchid=175059 Then there's the study group: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=34043&highlight=druidcraft Enjoy your new deck :) Love Sulis xx

Fudugazi	15 Apr 2005
I've been trying to find an exact word to describe the DruidCraft since I received the deck. I think it is grace. They have grace, they give grace. And by their grace I feel happier more joyous, more aligned with - something divine. I think they are healing cards too. Grace is not perfect and these cards aren't perfect. They have little faults here and there, like you might find in natural fibres; they are beautiful but some of the pictures are a little gauche; they don't always keep on the right side of sentimentality; the Magician really makes me giggle; but throughout them the gift of grace runs like a clear stream.

kerri28	15 Apr 2005
Grace is definately another word that I would use to describe this deck! Thanks for the links. Will definately have to join in on the study group seeing as I have a feeling that this deck my end up one of my all time favourites.lol

Emeraldgirl	17 Apr 2005
Grace is the perfect word for this deck I think.

Scarletred	18 Apr 2005
The deck is my first tarot deck that I have ever owned and I am very satisfied with them. They are beautiful, the details, everything.... I have done 2 readings so far and they are very easy to understand.

Pipistrelle	19 Apr 2005
I've had the Druidcraft for two weeks now or thereabouts. At the moment, I can't imagine using anything else. Anyone who read my "Daily Draw for Dummies" thread will know that I was struggling to make sense of daily readings, however, since I've been using the Druidcraft my daily cards have been making absolute sense. It's so strange that there should be such a change in my understanding but I feel as though my relationship with Tarot is on a new level. Through these cards I feel comfort, that whatever force is out there knows how I feel and is there with me. Not only are the images beautiful but they speak to me. I've heard words as I've turned cards over - in my own head - but still phrases that express the meanings, phrases that I wouldn't normally associate with those cards. And for the first time, I know that the cards CAN see into the future - I've started drawing all my daily cards for the week on the previous Sunday and yet they're all still so remarkably accurate and clear. There have been maybe 2 or 3 days over the past 2 weeks when I haven't worked out what the card meant - the other days have offered me insight, comfort, guidance and learning. Today was the 6 of Swords and as the sun sets on our project, we are sad but moving on. Anyway, who's gushing now? :) Love this deck and everything it stands for! Pip

Rhiannon SW	21 Apr 2005
I just ordered this deck about 3 days ago from Overstock.com ( 15.95 quite reasonable ) After what everyone has said I can't wait to get them.

wellspring	22 Apr 2005
Just got my deck today, and found the same as Pipistrelle ....... that on new level with tarot, words come to mind straight away and really clearly, plus drew a card for today and it was spot on. And also feel that these cards are really comforting, that there's a positive force out there. Really beautiful cards. Also, as soon as laid out first spread, felt the whole atmosphere change .... really calm and magical. Napped with them under pillow and dreams were all about working with the cards, how to journey with them. Incredible. And when lay cards out and shut eyes to pick one, can feel the energy (didn't feel this when used tarot previously). Can't recommend them highly enough. Definitely healing cards, as Helvetica said, and 'grace' is a really good choice of word. Cat

firemaiden	23 Apr 2005
Ooh NO! you guys! stop stop stop.... I've been resisting them. What are you doing to me ... stoooooooooooooooooooooooooooop!

Pipistrelle	23 Apr 2005
Resistance is futile, Ms Firemaiden...sooner or later you will succumb and then Druidcraft will rule the world! (I was going to finish this off with some supervillain evil laughter, but I don't know how to spell it... :()

Fudugazi	23 Apr 2005
The Long Awaited Druid Comeback.... (I have a French Celtic rap song about that!)

Starlily	23 Apr 2005
I succumbed to the lure of the Druidcraft. I received my deck on Thursday and I agree--it is a very positive, graceful, and beautiful deck. Like the Empress used on the cover art, there is something particularly warm and nurturing about this deck--without being overly cloying or sentimental. I love it and cannot wait to explore it more fully.

Little Baron	23 May 2005
I just bought this deck. I was having such a lovely time with my Marseille and thought I would never need another (never say never), but while in a local book shop, an un-shrinkwrapped Druidcraft say on the bottom shelf ... so, I opened it and looked through the book. The images started to work for me, even through the small black-and-white versions within the book. I took a little look at the wrapped deck, seeing only the 'Ace of Wands' and it appealed. I hate borders and I hate big titles, but here, it didn't bother me. Did I put it back and go home to my cards with no scenic add-on's. No. I gave it to man behind the counter and carried it home, happily. Was I disappointed when I got home and pulled the cards from the wrapper? Not at all. I was even more pleasantly surprised than I thought I would be. I love my Marseille decks but lately, I felt a need for a change. I was considering oracle decks. Wanted something with a different kind of artwork. And I think (or should I say, I know) I have found it. I think this deck is going to be a useful tool for me. So far, I have done one reading. As others have said here, I also was surprised how the cards starting speaking instantly. It was not difficult to fill four A5 pages of my note book. As one thought came to mind, another was close at it's heels. The book looks good. I read about half of it on that first day, but quickly realised that even though it would be good for research into details on the cards, it wasn't a necessity for working with this deck. One book I would recommend is 'Dancing with the Juggler' by Carolynn Clare Townsend. I re-read this last night and it feels like an extra good resourse to the Druidcraft - talking you through the thirteen moons and natural magic alongside the tarot. She has a very witty style and it feels as if she is talking to you personally. I would not consider this a good book to learn a great depth about the tarot in general but it is good for a little extra reading. So ... yes, I am happy. I have a free evening so I hope to read (and possibly comment) in the study threads here, if you guys don't mind my joining in. I am still enjoying the Marseille ... I just feel a need to take a break from it and work with something else ... I feel that it is going to be longer than just a break, however, as I am very pleasantly surprised with my new purchase. LB

Sulis	23 May 2005
Hi Little Buddha, I'm so glad you like your new deck. I haven't worked with mine for a while although I do get it out when I want to contribute to the study group. The RWS is my deck of choice at the moment but the DruidCraft is only on the back burner for a little while. The colours in this deck are wonderful and I like the way cards like the 7 of Swords and all of the 5s which normally have such a negative slant in RWS style decks are have both negative and positive meanings immediately apparant. Have you notice the 'chase' through the 5s between Cerridwen and Taliesin? Do come over to the study group - we'd love to have you. The King of Cups has just been started. http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=34043&highlight=druidcraft Love Sulis xx

Little Baron	23 May 2005
Hi Sulis I did see the chase through the 5's. I am looking forward to working with this deck. I feel like I am just falling into it - art immitating life and life immitating art - it seems to be reminding me of experiences in my life and helping me develop new ones as I am beginning with it. I am off to cook dinner but will be back in the study groups as soon as! LB

Emeraldgirl	23 May 2005
firemaiden wrote: Ooh NO! you guys! stop stop stop.... I've been resisting them. What are you doing to me ... stoooooooooooooooooooooooooooop! Sorry but some you just can't say no to :( :)

Emily	24 May 2005
I saw the DruidCraft being used on a Psychic channel they show on satellite - even from a distance you could tell which deck it was, the images seemed to shine straight off the screen. If it wasn't a deck I already have, I would be ordering it from just seeing those few cards on the TV. :)

Little Baron	24 May 2005
It's nice to see a new deck like this on the television Emily. I have only had mine since the weekend but am amazed by how much is pouring from it. I am getting aquainted with it slowly and quickly at the same time. The threads here have really helped, but I havn't read too much from the book - just the bits about the courts and minors. Working with the deck itself has helped the most; getting a feel for it and generally playing around with it. A lot of my other decks have not been very good with that but this one is bulky, lively and full of stories. Without being over the top, I think I am going to love this one. Emily, I know you love the Morgan Greer. That always seemed such a sturdy deck and one that many value. It has been a long time since another deck like that one came out - so rich and easy to read straight from the box. This one seems to have similar qualities. LB

Emily	24 May 2005
Hi LB, It did remind me a little of the Morgan Greer - especially when I noticed that many of the figures have eye colour. I love to see a deck that has really good facial expressions, like the Morgan Greer and the DruidCraft, and eye colours. Another thing that drew me to the DruidCraft was the overall beauty of the cards - this deck has the most intensive Ace cards I've ever seen - the Cup Ace is gorgeous. I did connect with it straight out of the box, it has its little flaws like multi-coloured browns for the backs, so many variations but looks so pretty and very large cards that take a bit of shuffling. I must admit when I first took it from the box for the first few minutes all I could do was stare at them, even now I could get lost in the artwork. I'm not working with this deck as much as I want to mainly because I've started to really study with the Morgan Greer properly again and I got side-tracked by the Spiral and a few other new decks but the DruidCraft is only on the back burner for a while then I'll be using it properly. :)

Webwitch	24 May 2005
I loved the Druidcraft from the moment I got it. So far, it is the deck most relevant to my path and so it is easy to connect with. I can't wait to start reading with it, but I have to finish my tarot course first. Cheers, Webwitch :)

Lady Maria	25 May 2005
I'm new to Tarot and have been using the Universal Waite, and occasionally Morgan Greer. But I'm keeping an eye out for a more personal deck once I'm comfortable with the RWS. Druidcraft seems like it would work for me. I'm not exactly Wiccan (I have more of a custom made belief system- gather a little from here, a little from there...), so I'm wondering how much that matters as to the effectiveness of the deck. My first deck ever was the Faerry Wiccan, but I found my knowledge of that system was too limited to make full use of the deck. Just wondering if that would be an issue with the Druidcraft? Blessings, Lady Maria

Little Baron	25 May 2005
The nice thing about this deck, I have found, is that it pretty much just reads straight out of the box, Lady Maria ... it is useful to have a little knowledge of the RWS and it's images, but I would say, not completely necessary. I would also say that a little knowledge of druidry and wicca would be helpful, but also, not a necessity. The book that comes with the deck can help fill you in. I have been working with the images alone and only turning to that for extra reference. If you have been using a deck such as the Morgan Greer, I think you would have no problems with the Druidcraft. The images have so much depth and the courts are very expressive so even if you have no knowledge of the tarot initially, I would recommend this deck as a starter one, as I would also recommend it to a more advanced reader. LB

Lady Maria	26 May 2005
Sounds good! I think it'll be my next deck... I really want to find a deck that speaks to me easily and that I can use for life, just for myself. I do have some knowledge of Wicca and Druidry, and have always felt very drawn to those ways. They make sense to me. From the very few scans I've seen, it looks like the images/ scenes would also make sense. Thanks for your imput, LittleBuddah! Maria

persephone1	26 May 2005
I REALLY love this deck! From the moment I held it to the first reading, just sensational. Now I DO love my Thoth, but this deck really does work so well.

HearthCricket	26 May 2005
I've been wanting to get this deck and the reviews sound wonderful. Two questions. Are there any sites that show the entire deck? And what size are the cards? I heard they are big-how big? I have small hands and have trouble shuffling larger decks, but I am really craving this one! Thanks!

Fudugazi	26 May 2005
Lady Maria wrote: I'm not exactly Wiccan (I have more of a custom made belief system- gather a little from here, a little from there...), so I'm wondering how much that matters as to the effectiveness of the deck. My first deck ever was the Faerry Wiccan, but I found my knowledge of that system was too limited to make full use of the deck. Just wondering if that would be an issue with the Druidcraft I'm not a Wiccan. I'm not a Druid either, though I have great respect for animism and nature religions and their divinities. This deck works whatever your faith - and even if you are an atheist - unless you are a fundamentalist non-pagan! For me it works because I love nature, I love good quality art, I love mythology and I love stories - and all these are amply represented in the DruidCraft. It's more Druid than Wiccan, though it pays its dues to Wicca, but whatever your spirituality, if you click with it, it will work. As LittleBuddha wrote - it works out of the box - the cards are clear and detailed; it works especially well if you are the kind who reads the image and not memorised meanings, though its main debt is to the Colman-Smith deck; but I'll add, it also repays careful study and research into the mythology (well, for me it does ;)), the botanics, the lore, etc. I've had it several motnhs now and the joy of discovery is deepening.

Nina*	26 May 2005
Helvetica wrote: the botanics Hi Sophie I've noticed that you (and others) are 'reading' the botanics... could you please tell me where to find something about this subject; I have looked in my symbology dictionary but can't find anything in it about this... xxx Nina

Fudugazi	26 May 2005
Ninamagic wrote: I've noticed that you (and others) are 'reading' the botanics... could you please tell me where to find something about this subject; I have looked in my symbology dictonary but can't find anything in that... Ok , where to start? I am blessed with a mother and a late grandmother who love gardens and both parents who like untended (or semi-tended!) nature. They told me a lot about the formal and informal properties of many plants. But there are also some books - general botanical books that also have folklore in them (there will be some in Denmark I'm sure); I have also acquired the Green Man Tree Oracle, which was made by the same artist that drew the DruidCraft, and has a book with some mythology and folklore - it is mainly trees and a few shrubs. Otherwise there are various medicinal and magic plant books, like Cunningham's; and an expensive Belgian book (in two volumes) which is the reference in terms of plant lore. When my ship comes in I plan to get it! The symbols dictionary I own (the Chevalier and Gheebrandt) has a few plants in it - but mainly those that are very "big" symbolically, like palms, laurels and olives. Otherwise - you can spend some time in forests and botanical gardens and fields at different times of year - and speak to people who work there. I learnt a lot just chatting with a botanist friend of mine. There are also a number of sites - I know some medieval garden sites, which are helpful. These were suggested by Sylvia (smleite) on another thread: http://www.udayton.edu/mary/gallery.../barrish01.html http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/cross.htm http://www.kensmen.com/catholic/marygardens.html http://www.lehigh.edu/~jahb/herbs/medievalgardens.htm http://www.cottagegardener.com/newpage11.htm http://www.godecookery.com/mtales/mtales16.htm http://www.florilegium.org/files/PL...-Garden-art.rtf http://www.mgardens.org/JS-FOOLGATC-MG.html http://histm.free.fr/jardin.htm http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/exh...ort/herbals.htm http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/medny/herbgdn1.html http://www.luc.edu/publications/med...6/schaeffe.html All sorts of things here. Her search was done for the TdM but works with the DruidCraft by and large (well, except for the Mary Garden ;) - and even so, the plants existed already!) Happy exploration! It's the perfect time of year to find out about plants...

Nina*	26 May 2005
Thank you Sophie I will look into it right away. Very appreciated :* xxx Nina

Lady Maria	27 May 2005
Just wondering if this deck has more masculine energy, or if it feels balanced to you. I have only seen a few scans on the images, but noticed the 3 of cups were men, and realized that most scans I've seen were of men (except the High Priestess). I'd like to hear from those who have the deck, if this is an issue.(?) Thanks so much! Maria

Fudugazi	27 May 2005
To me, completely balanced. The women are wonderful.

Kissa	27 May 2005
i second helvetica's opinion. strong, beautiful, passionate women. no claudia schiffer as a goddess type of women. the darker ppl of the pentacle suits especially appeal to me he he... kissa

Lady Maria	27 May 2005
Oh that's so good to hear. I was hoping I wouldn't have to reconsider ordering it! Thanks! Maria

The DruidCraft Tarot thread was originally posted on 15 Apr 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.