what deck should I get for my friend?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Nov 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

violinlily	06 Nov 2002
'lo all you aeclectictarotians! I'm an early christmas shopper, what can I say?? My friend, Bob, and I have decided that we are going to get each other a deck that the other person would like. I have NO idea what to get for him. HELP ME, PLEASE!!!! He's: a happy-go-lucky teenager, loves dragons, and anything to do w/ magick. He has the LOTR deck. I know a deck should be picked out by the person, so that they can be assured that the deck is right for them. Would you please write down some of ur favs, or which deck(s) you think I could get for him?? Please??=) Oh, the reason I'm asking now is, it matters which deck, some decks have to be ordered, and it would be nice if I gave him his christmas present on/before Christmas. thanks again, violinlly

Liliana	06 Nov 2002
Maybe he'd like the Celtic Dragon deck? ::THP

Demonesse	06 Nov 2002
Maybe you'd like to try the Dragon deck?

Pollux	06 Nov 2002
Why don't you exchange short wish-lists? With 5 or 6 decks? So both you happy and both sure you getting something other friend likes! ;) *LOL* No seriously, I think this would be a quick solution to your problem. Otherwise... if you want suggestions you MUST tell us more! }) *LOL* Like, is he a beginner or an intermediate/advanced? a Pagan? Can he stand nudity or is prudish? Is he for dark goth things or prefer bright light coloured decks? And lastly, has he got the LEGEND THE ARTHURIAN or the NIGEL JACKSON or the SPIRAL deck yet? ;) *LOL*

dangerdork	06 Nov 2002
I've always found that the Hanson-Roberts seems to appeal to teenagers, esp. those who are into fantasy-type stuff (tell me her 7 of cups isn't Gandalf!) It's a well-known deck, uses RWS imagery and is cute and non-threatening. But I don't KNOWWWW him. The dragon seems obvious, but if he's actually learning tarot then HR might be more mainstream in its imagery...

Pollux	06 Nov 2002
I just changed my mind... GET HIM WORLD SPIRIT. It's the one I'll get for Xmas for myself! :D *LOL*

Mystica	06 Nov 2002
I agree with Dangerdork, the Hanson-Roberts might be a good choice, and good if he is just learning. Pollux makes a good point about the wish list too. I know for me it has been great to exchange wish lists with people for gift-giving, everyone is happy that way!! Sometimes they will list something you never would have guessed!

Maan	06 Nov 2002
Second the celtic dragon tarot...its great for dragon fans and its a gorgeouse deck. If not maybe the phantasmagoric would appeal? ;)

RingTheory	06 Nov 2002
The Celtic Dragon sounds good, but have you considered the Thoth? I've met very few men that didn't like this deck...I guess because it's powerful, dramatic, and intense. It's my 18-year-old son's favorite....

Phoenix	06 Nov 2002
Celtic Dragon(by Lisa Hunt, and DJ Conway) fits both his passion for dragons and magick. If you do get him this deck, tell him that he should pick up Dancing with Dragons(also by DJ Conway) to get the full effect of this deck. By the way, the Celtic Dragon is a Deck and Book set, with some tarot card spells in the back.

truthsayer	06 Nov 2002
what about tarot of a moon garden? it's fun, uses magical creatures and bright colors. i can't remember if it has dragons in it but i'm pretty certain of fairies and unicorns.

violinlily	06 Nov 2002
'lo all!! thanks for all of your suggestions, and I hope that they keep coming. I am new at this, so that is why I am asking. My first (and only at the moment) deck is the Hanson Roberts, and we both LOVE them. his fav cards are the ace of cups and the 7 of cups, if that helps at all..... Well, in response: bob is NOT my boyfriend..... 20-something peeps @ school have asked, so please don't. he's a real beginner (like me), who got the LOTR deck partially because he had to do a book-report on LOTR the Hobbit. But, he is a beginner, and sorta immature, so, is in between prudish and can stand nudity. He's 14. Tell me if you need to find anything else out. everybody has such cool and interesting names(dangerdork, meewah, etc....)!!!!!! mine's just boring old violinlily..... Thanks again!! violinlily =)

Phoenix	06 Nov 2002
The Robin Wood Tarot is good for beginners, as is the Renaissance(now published as the Secret Tarots) by Jane Lyle. Any of the Rider-Waite-Smith decks are good as well.

truthsayer	07 Nov 2002
the hanson roberts! now that is an excellent deck. nice art. gentle and compassionate. reads well for those it chooses to honor. you show most discriminating and excellent taste in tarot decks! :) it's my personal fav reading deck. :)

Kiama	07 Nov 2002
If he's a beginner, I would be wary of getting him the Celtic Dragon... Ye, it's gorgeous, yes, it's got really cool dragons, yes, he'll like the LOOK of it, but it's damn hard to learn Tarot with! I spent a year trying to read with this dekc, and it just didn't work... I found that each card had lots of meaning incorporated ino tiny, hardly visible deatils, which I never saw in the readings... It'd be something like 'If you look real cloe, you will see tiny diamond studs in her ears... These are symbolic and very important in thos card, cuz they symbolise...' This is so difficult to read with basically. If he's only 14, then I agree, get a more traditional deck like Robin Wood or Hanson Roberts... Robin Wood more if he is sliding towards Wiccan magick. I went through trying to find decks for me when I was 14, and wish I had found teh Robin Wood then, cuz it woud have made everything so much easier! Kiama

Jewel	07 Nov 2002
I personally liked Pollux's idea of exchanging wish-lists. A friend of mine and I did that and it was great!!!! There was the excitment of not knowing which deck we would get with the guarantee that we would like it. If you go with a dragon deck ... hmmmm ... I have both the Dragon and the Celtic Dragon. The Dragon Tarot has a really neat Death card. For some reason I think it is more masculine as well. Don't get me wrong the CD is great (as is the book Dancing with Dragons in my opinion), but for a guy I think I would be inclined to get the Dragon deck and book set (FYI you can buy the Dragon as a set or as a deck alone). It is Raider Waite based.

faunabay	07 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel I personally liked Pollux's idea of exchanging wish-lists. A friend of mine and I did that and it was great!!!! There was the excitment of not knowing which deck we would get with the guarantee that we would like it. hehehehehe I agree. It was alot of fun!! :D I'd suggest the Robin Wood as well. It's the one I was able to finally "get" the meanings of the cards. IMO both of the Dragon decks would be kind of hard to learn with. They're both wonderful decks (I have both :D ) But the symbolism would be harder to learn with.

Jewel	07 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by faunabay hehehehehe I agree. It was alot of fun!! :D Perhaps we should do that again this Yule ... Truthsayer, want to play with us? ~evil grin~

MeeWah	07 Nov 2002
Violinlily: Keep in mind that whilst a deck's artwork can appeal, it may not readily lend itself to readings. It also depends on the individual. It would be a good idea for your friend to check out various decks in person or at least online, such as on the Aeclectic Tarot deck directory & then provide you with a list of possibilities to choose. That way, he will not actually know what deck he will be getting. If your friend is new to Tarot, the Hanson-Roberts is a good choice as it is based on the traditional deck of Rider-Waite (with artwork executed by Pamela Colman Smith--which is why you will see references on the forums to it as a RWS). There are more books available based on the traditional symbolisms & meanings that would be helpful with learning the "basics"; also there are many deck & book sets. The Robin Wood is a Pagan-oriented deck but would also be a good choice for the same reasons as the Hanson-Roberts. I also recommend highly the RWS as a beginner's deck (though not all would agree); or one of its clones like the Universal Waite which was re-colored by Mary Hanson-Roberts. Some find the Univeral version preferable to the original.

dangerdork	07 Nov 2002
I would have to second MeeWah's recommendation of the RWS - for everyone interested in tarot, this should be one of their first decks. I also agree that I prefer Mary Hanson-Robert's colors in the Universal version of the RWS. Another RWS variant you might look at that has gentler imagery might be the Connolly. I highly recommend the Robin Wood as well, especially in conjunction with the book "Tarot Plain and Simple." A little more nudity and scariness in Robin's deck though... I love the whole "wish list" thing. count me in!!!

violinlily	07 Nov 2002
lo all, I have sent Bob the link to the site, and have asked him to look at the decks and read the reviews. Hopefully, he'll join the forum. I've also asked him to make up a list of the one's he's liked. I have another question: Where should I buy the deck? Off of Amazon, or at a local bookstore or like Spencer's or something? thanx again everybody!! I'll take a look at the recommended dex on this site, and I'll tell you which one (s) (if any) that you haven't listed that he likes, asking your opinion on them, if anybody has them. carpe diem, violinlily

MeeWah	07 Nov 2002
Violinlily: Aeclectic Tarot benefits a wee bit if you purchase a deck via the Aeclectic link that is included on each deck description. Most of the links are to Amazon. Some of the harder to find decks are linked with Tarot Garden. Happy shopping!

violinlily	07 Nov 2002
thanks meewah!

Pollux	08 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by violinlily I have another question: Where should I buy the deck? Off of Amazon, or at a local bookstore or like Spencer's or something? The answer I can give is... Where you find them cheapest! *LOL* :D I am not from US, but I hear lots of chain bookstores (B&N, Borders...) hold sales on certain decks or at certain times. If you got some close-by it might be work to take a stroll on a sunny day and look up if one he wants is on sale or on offer, or anythng like that. Otherwise, if you just have to buy them online, whether you do through Amazon or Tarot Garden or whatever, as Meewah mentioned make sure that if possible a wee bit of your money will be given as a contribution to Aeclectic. ;)

Jewel	08 Nov 2002
Quote: Originally posted by MeeWah Violinlily: Aeclectic Tarot benefits a wee bit if you purchase a deck via the Aeclectic link that is included on each deck description. Most of the links are to Amazon. Some of the harder to find decks are linked with Tarot Garden. Happy shopping! If you end up buying anything from Tarot Garden make sure and tell them you were referred to them via the Aeclectic Forums, that way Aeclectic will also get a small percentage. My experience purchasing from Tarot Garden has always been wonderful!

violinlily	08 Nov 2002
thanx everybody!!

Shadow Wolf	29 Nov 2002
Celtic Dragon would get my vote. I LOVE working it, (not as much as with my Witch's Tarot), but I really do enjoy this deck. Explanation in the book are also pretty good.

violinlily	29 Nov 2002
cool everybody!! how long does it take to order and get a deck? we have the lists, and I wanna order offa Aeclectic, but need my mom's credit card ~evil grin~ to buy it. thanks again for all of ur advice!!

The what deck should I get for my friend? thread was originally posted on 06 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.