Is there a celtic tarot...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Cerulean	17 Nov 2002
...or any other tarot that has illustrations such as Ian Daniels' illustrations for John Matthews (Arthurian/Celtic Wisdom) book called Classic Celtic Fairy Tales or Celtic Underworld? http://iandaniels.freewebspace.com/photo3.html If there's one with illustrations a bit lighter in tone---Legend or Glastonbury, maybe--but have rich colors and fine illustrations, please post. I really am taken by the art. If the Ando tarot (Japanese anime) had less squiggly lines, it might have been the perfect illustrations for me..

Dark Inquisitor	17 Nov 2002
I have recently been looking into celtic tarots myself. The pictures on that link you posted remind me a little bit of the Greenwood Tarot, which is out of print & selling for about 46.00 when you can find it. Most of the other celtic tarots are disappointing. I especially didn't like the Lo Scarabeo one. Some of the cards reminded me of derogatory cartoon stereotypes of Irish people from the 1800's. I have the Sacred Circle, which I like a lot. Another one I liked was the older Celtic Tarot illustrated by Courtney Davis. It had a lot of elements from the Book of Kells. But , alas, it has pip cards. However, there is a new release by Courtney Davis coming out in December, also entitled the Celtic Tarot, but with a different ISBN number- I am hoping this will be a fully illustrated deck & not just a re-issue of the other one. Tarotphelia

truthsayer	18 Nov 2002
there's the celtic tarot by julian de burgh, celtic animal oracle, and the celtic book of the dead by matthews. could you be thinking of celtic book of the dead for the celtic underworld? i think john matthews also did the celtic shaman oracle.

Violet Gargoyle	19 Nov 2002
There is a new Celtic one coming out in January (maybe its a reprint?) by Courtney Davis. Its currently on my amazon wish list.

Teranar	19 Nov 2002
A friend of mine has a really powerful celtic deck... the next time I see him I'll get the version and illustraitor. Warning though: It has lots of boob shots... appropriate to the cards, though.

Shadow Wolf	25 Nov 2002
I have two celtic decks: Celtic Tarot and Celtic Dragon Tarot, being of Celtic descent I was most definately drawn to these decks, I have used them with great success. I had a weird experience with the Celtic Tarot deck. The 8 of pentacles kept reoccuring, I saw it in my dreams, I heard it whispered in my head, I was a little slow, it took about a week of of this for me to finally decide to check the card out. It coincided exactly what was going on in my life at the time. I needed a reminder to use my creativity. The picture on the card was a female blacksmith. My family were blacksmiths in Ireland for three generations. Talk about a wake up call !!!!!

DeLani	26 Nov 2002
My hubby has a "Celtic Tarots" published by Lo Scarabeo. The artists are Giancinto Gaudenzi and Saverio Tenuta. The majors (by Gaudenzi) deptict charecters from Celtic mythology. If you aren't totally familiar with Celtic mythology, you'll be lost. The minors (by Tenuta) are similar to Waite-Smith, with each suit showing people of the four different races of Ireland - the Fomori, the Tuatha De Danann, the Ulaid, and the Fianna. I keep trying to convince my hubby to trade them on forum because he never uses them. :)

Mystica	26 Nov 2002
The Sacred Circle, already mentioned, came to mind right away for me. I love this deck, but it's not my best for readings. I keep hoping that would change. The book that comes with the deck is really good, lot's of great information.

raeanne	26 Nov 2002
Hi all, If you can find it, the Greenwood Tarot is, I believe, one of the best and most under-rated decks there is. The book lists the Majors in a different order but the Major cards themselves aren't numbered so that shouldn't be a problem. The boxed set refers to the deck as "Pre-Celtic Shamanisn of the Mythic Forest". Keep an eye out for it. I know the local Borders bookstore had a copy of this deck about a year ago. I should have bought a second copy. If anyone sees this deck, grab it! If you don't like it, someone on this board will! I don't know why no one talks about this deck much. There have been a couple of short threads about it here but for the most part, it really gets overlooked. Good deck!

Dark Inquisitor	27 Nov 2002
Here is a link to the Greenwood Tarot Web Oracle: http://bluejay.mind.net/gt/ I also found a 40 card deck called The Celtic Shaman's Pack :Exploring the Inner Worlds by the same illustrator that did the Greenwood. ( Chesca Potter) It might be out of print, but seems to be available - not a tarot deck, however. Tarotphelia

Cerulean	27 Nov 2002
Thanks for tips on the Greenwood tarot...I actually put it right next to my Merlin tarot, because they both have a naturalness..now the Merlin has open-air and the Chelsea Potter Greenwood Tarot has a beautiful foresty feel in some of the majors and amazing woodcut styles in the minors. I realize what I liked a lot is the idea of the seashore pictures in the Merlin, Ian Daniel's sea and divinatory scenes...perhaps what I am looking for is more a seashore seafarer's tarot with mythic themes as well in the majors. Thanks for the ideas of the other Celtic Tarots, as well. The odd thing is the Mermaid Tarot's scans suddenly seems more like what I am envisioning...I had just picked up the Northern Shadows tarot, but the histories are a bit too wild for the softer mood of meditation that I was hoping for...I'm checking out some Fey style tarots, as well. Thank you for all your suggestions so far---if other celtic or nature-themed ones come up, I'm following those threads as well as this one. Mari H.

The Is there a celtic tarot... thread was originally posted on 17 Nov 2002 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.