Cosmic Tribe. Is it hard to be negative when your naked?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Jun 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

NeuroticNovice	13 Jun 2005
I recieved the cosmic tribe tarot a few weeks ago. Visually, it exceeds my expectations. The artwork is awsome! Colorfull, intense and well... trippy. I love the book that comes with it. Its a deck worth having, if just for that. The problem I have is that every reading I do with it seems way too upbeat. No matter the question, the answer always seems to be "You can do it!". Its nice to hear, but it makes me wonder if the deck is too positive to be accurate. Has anyone else had a similar experience with the tribe?

Scout987a	13 Jun 2005
Hello, I don't have this particular deck (though I've seen it and thought it was really interesting looking), but I've also bought decks that were (maybe) too positive to be useful as a general deck for readings. I have found these kinds of decks to be most helpful when I need a lift or feeling boggled down or I am in need of cheering up. In these moments (for me), a "happy" deck really helps! Sincerely, Scout987a

Kiama	14 Jun 2005
I used the Cosmic Tribe often a few years ago, and it's still a fond favourite of mine. From what I remember, I didn't find it overtly positive - in fact, I distinctly remember the 10 of Swords and 5 of Discs being quite visually disturbing, amongst others. I think it's just that there is a tendency in this day and age to face the bad events that happen to us with a certain attitude: the attitude of "I get knocked down, I get back up again" and to see every bad thing as a challenge. I have found many deck's companion books to reflect this, often caveating interpretations of cards such as the 10 of Swords with something like "the only way from here is up" or "learn from this painful experience and move on". But I think this is a very different attitude to that of unrealistic optimism, where nothin bad ever happens. So, to me, the Cosmic Tribe does accept that bad things often happen, but also comes with the "get back up again" philosophy. Blessings, Kiama

bladeraven	14 Jun 2005
lol...love the title for the topic.....I think it's easy to be negative when your trying on bathing suits....lol I'm not familiar with the Cosmic Tarot but I think it's half the attitude you have and what the deck pulls out......it's sort of like wearing pink on a day when you feel like acting like Godzilla

FaerieStorm	14 Jun 2005
NeuroticNovice- I couldn't agree with you more on the high-energy aspect of this deck. I've had it for a few months now--and I have yet to really use it! It's not that I don't like it, it's just too up-beat for me (right now, I guess). But I agree that it is worth having: it's different, fun, interesting, and much more energetic than a lot of other decks out there! Keep us posted on your progress with it.

Sanriet	14 Jun 2005
Hello to you all, I'm still waiting for this deck to come by mail. I've looked at if often at the computer and have been wondering if I wouldn't mind the nakedness when it comes into a spread. So now I can be embarrased AND upbeat? Wow, this must really be an exceptional deck. Ciao, Sanriet

NeuroticNovice	14 Jun 2005
The nakedness isn't at all strange once you get past the initial shock. With the exception of the lovers card, its not an erotic deck. Actually, I think thats why I might be having problems with this deck. Its hard to see anything bad about the people in the court cards/trumps when they are presented in such an honest manner.

Kiama	15 Jun 2005
NeuroticNovice wrote: Actually, I think thats why I might be having problems with this deck. Its hard to see anything bad about the people in the court cards/trumps when they are presented in such an honest manner. Though if you look carefully... The Moon card has the only clothed person in the deck. Because she has something to hide... The Death card isn't all doom and gloom, true. But it's damn scary. The Hanged Man card to me portrays the hangee as though he is reaching out for help or completely out of control, out of his depth, and full of fear... The Devil shows us Pan. Now, Pan isn't a 'nice' deity. He's not evil or malicious, but he's certainly not 'nice'. He induces irrational fear and panic, he drives people insane with lust and passion, he brings out the animal nature within each person... And check out that Prince of Wands (ignore his Wand for the moment... ;) ) If you look at in from one perspective, he's radiating heat, he's on fire - his courage and charisma, his enthusiasm for life is visibly showing. But if you look at if from another perspective, he's going to burn out fairly quickly if he carries on this way. The Hermit (one of my favourite cards in the deck) is standing at the gateway to the Underworld, shining a lantern out to you so you can enter... And there is Cerebus the three-headed guardian of Hades just behind him. And if Cerebus and the Underworld is 'nice', I'm a monkey's aunt. I think that, on the surface this deck may look 'nice' because it is so colourful, but if you look carefully at the symbolism you'll find it is a very neutral deck- portraying cards that could be either 'nice' or 'scary'. Which is what Tarot, in my opinion, should be doing. I beg you not to dismiss this deck just yet - it's an undervalued, beautiful, deep deck well-worth a bit of time, study, and use. Blessings, Kiama

MeeWah	15 Jun 2005
NeuroticNovice: Intriguing question. I find the nudity to lend a neutral tone to the Cosmic Tribe. In fact, not actually noticed the lack of clothing because all the figures are adorned with accessories & in some, body paint so they are not really naked to me. Until it was mentioned in earlier threads where some folks mentioned they uncomfortable with that feature. Offhand, The Moon is the only card I can recall that is clothed. Perhaps a reference to the hidden & not readily apparent. As to the apparently upbeat readings with the deck--it may just be "coincidence". The readings I have done with Cosmic Tribe have revealed it can be an edgy deck, not all sunshine & prose. More like "the naked truth".

Melvis	15 Jun 2005
I can see the tremendous energy I get from this deck coming across as too positive. It's almost like you have to be physically ready to dive into everything that's going on in each card in order not to be overwhelmed by it. Back in one of the old "Cosmic Tribe Nekkid" threads I mentioned that I finally settled on the rightness of the nudity when I tried to picture the cards' characters fully clothed. It suddenly seemed so wrong to put clothes on them! After that it was easier to see the forest for the tree, er, trees. ;) Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Shade	15 Jun 2005
I did have the same issue with the deck originally mainly because the meanings given in the companion book are all very positive. Positive isn't really the word... this deck, like the Shining Tribe goes to a very primordial place, a little new age perhaps but it really takes a look at the world in a very primal but connected way. From that vantage point yes all things do seem possible and we see pain and strife as lessons. The challenge with the uber-mystic worldview is that humans do not like it when they are told their pain is necessary/inconsequential/part of a cycle/a manifestation of inner conflict or something like that. We just lost our job and we don't want to hear that it isn't so bad. Reading with the deck you have to adopt a slightly different approach than reading with a deck that has less surreal imagery. For that reason I reserve this deck for the big stuff and wisdom readings (see The Forest of Souls).

le pendu	15 Jun 2005
Cosmic Tribe is still one of my favorite decks. This is just my personal opinion.. but I feel pretty strongly that it is a deck that really deserves discarding your previous "language" for the cards and learning the new language of the deck. Yes, it's Thoth based, but they took the Thoth meanings another step, and the symbolism and meanings in the deck are very much intertwined and integral. Is it overtly positive, yes. But it is not fluffy positive. It is about personal responsibility and forging an attitude of universal interconnectedness. It is not a passive deck, it is an empowering one. It may be positive, but the messages usually require a lot of work and responsibility, and this becomes even more apparent once you stop applying other deck interpretations to it and invest the time to read and study the book and learn the language of the deck. best, robert

tarotbear	16 Jun 2005
"trippy' - I like that! I have had this deck for 2-3 years, and although I have done readings with it, IMHO, the book reads like the two authors scored some good weed just before they sat down to write it. :smoker:

magpie9	16 Jun 2005
*Ahem* I don't think it's hard to be negitive when you're naked---but I know it's hard to be dishonest when you're naked :D

NeuroticNovice	16 Jun 2005
After reading the comments I gave CT another study and did a few practice readings. The positive vibe is still there, but after really looking into the cards the message was suprisingly detailed and honest. This deck (so far) does well with relationships and emotions. Seems most of the messages I'm getting are visual. I'm convinced, this one is a keeper worth deeper study. Kiama wrote: The Hermit (one of my favourite cards in the deck) is standing at the gateway to the Underworld, shining a lantern out to you so you can enter... And there is Cerebus the three-headed guardian of Hades just behind him. Cerebrus doesn't look like a mean dog and the underworld is full of stars. :D That's my favorite card as well.

Marina	16 Jun 2005
tarotbear wrote: "trippy' - I like that! I have had this deck for 2-3 years, and although I have done readings with it, IMHO, the book reads like the two authors scored some good weed just before they sat down to write it. :smoker: Hahahaha...i don't have this deck, but now i'm damn curious about the book! Weed-induced thing? That sounds nice! Good for party readings, where everyone is drunk and all... This deck is beautiful, by the way. If i have the chance of buying it, i surely will. I love crazy/clorful decks, and the nakedness doesn't bother me at all. I think the human body is a kind of art, and this decks is sincere for showing it in it's many shapes...have you seen that are no super-thin models and guys that look like porn actors? It shows *real* human bodies...what makes it even more beautiful for me! Yuko EDIT: Oh, i just checked the price...tis deck is so expensive and they don't sel it in Brazil :|. I mean, 30 dollar...it's 90 reals! I'd have to seel my soul! And with the shipping price...aw, i hate to be poor :mad:

Kiama	16 Jun 2005
NeuroticNovice wrote: Cerebrus doesn't look like a mean dog and the underworld is full of stars. :D That's my favorite card as well. For me, the opint of focus is not that Cerebus doesn't/does look 'mean', but that it is the guard-dog of Hades... And Hades isn't 'nice'. And the Underworld may be full of stars, but this also doesn't necessarily hint at 'niceness' - lie down one night and look up at the stars... The more you look, the more there are, and the more there are, the tiner you become until you don't really matter anymore. It reminds me of that machine in the Hitch-hiker's Guide trilogy, where they put people in it and it sends them mad because it shows them how small and unimportant they are... (Except it doesn't work for Zaphod Beeblebrox! :D ) It seems 'nice' until you experience it. Then it is overwhelming, un-nerving, and challenging. Kiama

Sanriet	21 Jun 2005
After waiting quite some time for Amazon, Ik got the Cosmic Tribe deck yesterday. I never knew the back of the deck was that beautiful! I love the eye in the middle and all the suits with the prominent eyes. Alas, I wish the fronts of the cards also had a black corner. I lay my cards on a black silk cloth and the pictures seem to loose all their energy when they lie there. :eek: Trimming the cards just doesn't feel fine for me. }) I think I'll make myself a nice whitisch cloth to lay them on. Have any of you experienced the same? How have you solved it? Regards, San.

The Cosmic Tribe. Is it hard to be negative when your naked? thread was originally posted on 13 Jun 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.