Whats all the fuss with the Greenwood?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 25 May 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

closrapexa	25 May 2005
Granting that I've only seen scans of this deck, still, I fail to see what all the fuss is about. It doesn't look that great, and I wouldn't pay the exhorbitant sums that people are asking for it. There are many other decks that look far better than this one, and while I would thing twice about paying hundreds of dollars for them as well, at least I can see why they would go for those prices. So, to all those Greenwood lovers out there. Tell us. Is it worth it?

Little Baron	25 May 2005
It's funny you should say that, Closrapexa, because I have always wondered the same thing. It looks nice enough, but from the scans I have seen, the artwork has never done that much for me. Like you, would be interested in responses from those who own in, to find out why it is so special. LB

rosyelf	25 May 2005
Yes, it does seem a hell of a lot to pay for a deck-any deck. But I did, and here's why. I feel the artwork in the Greenwood is deeply rooted in the Celtic tradition, which I feel very at home with :), and I love the use of totem animals, and the way Chesca Potter uses colour and evokes landscape.:) Of course it's not to everyone's taste-what is ? But it was born out of the deep Pagan spirituality of its co-creators, and I will always prefer genuineness over gimmicks. Also, on a more banal note, because it is out of print, it was highly unlikely I would manage to get a copy unless I paid a high price. I have seen it online for as much as £600 ($1200) and I think that's obscene-no deck could ever be worth that. I set myself what I considered a reasonable upper limit-reasonable for this deck, given that it's OOP, etc.-and finally I was fortunate enough to acquire a deck well within that price range. I personally didn't buy it in order to sell it for a vastly inflated price several years down the line, but I suspect that is a motivation with at least some buyers.

WolfSpirit	25 May 2005
I think some of the cards in the majors and the cards express a deep and gentle love for nature that is not found in that way in other decks. Of course, this also makes it a deck that is not for everyone - not everyone has that connection. I think the Greenwoods Temperance and Hermit have to be my all-time my favourites. Unfortunately, that same artwork is not consistent in the minors, although there are some original nature-inspired cards there too. Still, it was well worth the 37 dollars I spent on it :D and I am holding on to it.

rosyelf	25 May 2005
WolfSpirit, I agree with you about the Hermit-a magnificent card. I often meditate with it. Other favourites in this deck are the Court Cards, esp. King of Cups (the reindeer) , Queen of Cups (the heron) and Queen of Wands (the hare).

Annabelle	25 May 2005
Well, something to keep in mind is that many people who own the Greenwood tarot didn't pay all that much for it. Sometimes you run into hard-to-find decks in forgotten corners of used book stores and the like, at very low prices. And of course when the Greenwood was first released, it didn't cost all that much. The people who bought a copy then and kept it are very lucky indeed! I count myself among the crowd of people who are willing to pay a lot of money for the Greenwood . . . for the simple reason that I think the art is beautiful. By a lot of money I don't mean over $200, though. One of these days I'll catch one on eBay or elsewhere that falls within my price range :).

WolfSpirit	25 May 2005
rosyelf wrote: WolfSpirit, I agree with you about the Hermit-a magnificent card. I often meditate with it. Other favourites in this deck are the Court Cards, esp. King of Cups (the reindeer) , Queen of Cups (the heron) and Queen of Wands (the hare). I love all the courts but my favourites are possibly the pages: the stoat, kingfisher, wren and woodpecker. I think all the courts are beautifully drawn and obviously with much love for the animals, there is just something so respectful and calm about them.

SherryZoned	25 May 2005
I do not understand the Greenwood either. I did have one. I thought it was very unappealing and did not keep it.

SphinYote	25 May 2005
I got a copy while it was still in print. While it's not one I read with, I don't think I'd be likely to sell it either (it's the collector bug in me), all the same, if there's one lesson that deck has taught me, it is to save all packaging for decks, in case I do decide to eventually part with some (doubtful ;)). Early on in my collecting career I used to throw away the boxes and put the decks in nice sewn bags. Now I put them in their sewn bags boxes and all. That said, although I don't use the deck, I find myself holding it in high respect because of the thought put into it's symbolism and structure, and I do personally find the art beautiful, just not something that speaks to me on that special level...

northsea	25 May 2005
I read on the internet somewhere that the publishing rights to the Greenwood reverted back to Cheska Potter from the company that went bankrupt, and Potter has no plans to reprint it. edited to add: what a shame.

Webwitch	25 May 2005
Annabelle4 wrote: I count myself among the crowd of people who are willing to pay a lot of money for the Greenwood . . . for the simple reason that I think the art is beautiful. By a lot of money I don't mean over $200, though. One of these days I'll catch one on eBay or elsewhere that falls within my price range :). Well, its on ebay at the moment; in the UK. I just won one copy and the other is still up for grabs. Why did I buy it? Well, I'm a pagan who is yet to find a deck specific to my path. So far, the Druidcraft has come closest, but not quite. Having seen the pictures of the Greenwood on the site, I feel that it would be the closest thing I can have to what I have always hoped had been created. Cheers, Webwitch :)

tabbycat	25 May 2005
I love the Greenwood - it has a uniquely English flavour and the animal Court cards are delightful. I also like its use of chalk hill-figures - the Uffington White Horse, the Cerne Abbas Giant and the Long Man of Wilmington. Some people have criticised the artwork on the Minors, saying it lacks the detail of the Majors but I've never found that a problem. I was lucky enough to find the deck in a batch of five and paid £70 for the lot. Think I got a bargain as one of the others was the Fantasy Showcase deck!

Webwitch	25 May 2005
Wow Tabby! You did well with that batch. I, too, like all the cards. At least from what I can see on the website and I'm not sure I would say the minors are particularly lacking in detail. Cheers, Webwitch :)

WolfSpirit	26 May 2005
I don't think the minors lack details - they're full of them. But almost looks as if they were done by a different artist, the style is so different. The lines are crisper whereas in the majors they are softer and more flowing. I think some of the minors look great too, but I still think the majors and the courts are the best.

The Whats all the fuss with the Greenwood? thread was originally posted on 25 May 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.