The Shape of (Tarot) Things...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 Aug 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Logiatrix	09 Aug 2003
Greetings! I recently purchased a rather nifty little deck of playing cards to use for readings. You might've seen them, as they are a readily available U. S. Games product called "Mummy Playing Cards," usually sold in a set of two decks for $20. They are a standard deck of 54 cards with an Egyptian motif, and they are die-cut in the shape of a sarcophagus. I found a single deck on a clearance table for $5. The Extreme Shopper in me is pausing to gloat a little. :D BUT, that's not what this is about. I just wanted you to know from where in the silken folds of my jumbled brain did this idea take form. Now I'll get to the point... My little deck is cool, but what I especially like about it is that the die-cut shape of the cards makes for an easier deck to hang onto (longish, narrow and coffin-shaped). This has become increasingly important to me with severely arthritic hands. So how about tarot decks with shapes? I have a nice sized round deck, The Star That Never Walks Around, and it is also quite "grip" friendly. As a matter of fact, all the decks I now read with are on the smallish side anyway, but still only rectangular or square. My theory is that more unusual shapes, depending on what they are, would be ideal even for handling a larger deck (maybe just a handle cut out? :) ). So, how about other shapes? Not just round, but hexagonal or pyramid or dolpin-shaped. I think it would make for interesting decks, probably freak-out the traditionalists among us, and maybe even bring up some interesting angles in readings. ;) BTW, I do recall an unusual deck on the newer version of "Dune;" the deck looked like it was hexagonal or octagonal. This tells me that someone has already at least thunk of it. Further thoughts are eagerly anticipated... :) T.

jmd	09 Aug 2003
Hexagonal Tarots do hold a special charm... One earlier published Hexagonal deck is the Mystical Tarot (1978 by Sara McDowell Izod - Cf Kaplan's Encyclopedia of Tarot, vol 1:173 & vol 3:381). Also of interest is the developing deck I hope Ravenswing is still working on: the Tarot of the Four Worlds. Personally, I do like the rectangular shape... but maybe I'm just a tad too traditional when it comes to Tarot :)

Ravenswing	09 Aug 2003
Tauni-- As jmd mentioned, I'm still working on a hexagonal deck-- the same shape as the Dune deck. The cards'll tile together for readings, so instead of a layout of isolated cards, you get a patterning. I'm hoping to finish up by the end of 2004..... fly well Ravenswing

M-Press	09 Aug 2003
what a coincidence! just yesterday (!), i was given as a gift a single card of the mummy one.... It is relly neat and unusual... Because of the small space though, i htink that a tarot deck would have limited space for the art... I'm also working on a deck right now, very regular shape, mainly because of production reasons, unfortunately, but also becasue the "good ol' tried' formats never bothered me. It's just a template... Anyway, the hexagonal, sounds really nifty, because it has something additional-the patterning, other than just a different shape... May I ask Ravenswing: do you have a publisher for it already? how do they respond to the "odd" shape? In anycase, good luck with it! what a task1 :-)

Baby Owl	09 Aug 2003
My Sagittarius sun capers about with glee at the thought of all the shapes tarot cards could take! I have square, round, and rectangular. The rectangular are the easiest to shuffle and handle, so if I were doing a reading in public I think I would always use that shape (to avoid looking clutzy!) But in private...mwahahahahah!!! Bring on those card shaped like ...well...whatever!! Baby Owl

purplelady	09 Aug 2003
I love round decks and wish there were more of them. How about crescent -shaped , like the moon? Or octagon? That would be cool ;) !

Logiatrix	10 Aug 2003
Quote: Originally posted by purplelady How about crescent -shaped , like the moon? That would be cool ;) ! Ooooh, that would be VERY cool...waxing for upright, and then waning would be reversed...yep, I think it would work... ;)

The The Shape of (Tarot) Things... thread was originally posted on 09 Aug 2003 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.