Deck Suggestions.... not for me though..

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Sep 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Moonbow*	01 Sep 2004
noooo.... I already have too many. Someone I know has astounded me by telling me she has just come back from a 10 day Vision Quest. At the moment she has a pendulum but no other interest in divination. I was pretty amazed at what she did on this quest, one of these was to go in to the woods alone, and spend a night there. (Her camp was just outside the woods and the whole area completely secure). She said she felt completely safe or would not have participated (it was voluntary). Every hour another member would come through the woods ringing a bell just to check that things were ok. And she could have left at any time. The idea of this exercise was to stay awake and to get in touch with nature and to use her sixth sense, to see what happens. Now, this person has never shown any interest in this type of thing before but it seems that she is starting to investigate her own spirituality. I would like to buy her a tarot deck but choosing the right one (and I am sure she will only want one) is proving difficult for me. She has shown an interest in Shamanism and I was wondering if the Shapeshifter deck would be apt. I don't have it myself but I have seen a few pictures. Does anyone have any experience of this type of quest? Also any deck suggestions together with opinions of the Shapeshifter Tarot would be welcome. Edited to add - Meewah and Sulis please move if you think this would be better in another forum

WolfSpirit	01 Sep 2004
The Shapeshifter is a beautiful deck. I find it difficult to read with because it is not really standard tarot, but then, since your friend has no tarot knowledge that would not be a problem for her. The animal deck that works best for me though is the Animal Wise Tarot, mainly because the book by Ted Andrews is also very good. Ted Andrews has written a lot of book about animals and animal spirits. IMO this would be the best choice for someone interested in shamanism, although it is not the prettiest deck around. You could also have a look at oracle decks like the Druid Animal Oracle and the Wolf Song cards.

Moonbow*	01 Sep 2004
Thanks WolfSpirit I did think of an Oracle but couldn't think of an Animal one!!!! Duh! My daughter has the Druid Animal Oracle too! I will look into the others you mention. Thanks

MeeWah	01 Sep 2004
Moonbow*: Perhaps show her some of your decks first to get an idea of what type of images may appeal. Is this intended as a surprise gift? If not & the purchase is local, consider taking her to see actual decks both Tarot & non-Tarot.

Moonbow*	01 Sep 2004
Thanks MeeWah I was thinking of a surprise for her birthday, I love giving surprises, but I will let her see some of mine and take it from there. She is not at all religious but I have a feeling that she is not yet ready for being bombarded with a choice. I hope to go on one of these quests with her next February (just for a weekend though) which is also when her birthday is so I have plenty of time to mull this over. I know how much the word 'TAROT' gives some people the jitters though. Sometimes Oracles are a softer way in :) Having said that.... give me a tarot deck anyday over staying alone in the forrest at night! :eek: - I mean that.... hehehe

mooncat2	01 Sep 2004
The Vision Quest Tarot ? Its a gentle and beautiful deck . The LWB is far superior to most and has considerably more explanation than just a few keywords.

CreativeFire	01 Sep 2004
Moonbow*, I have the Shapeshifter and the artwork is beautiful in this deck, however I must agree with WolfSpirit that it I have also found it not an easy deck to read with and I do have some interest in shamanism myself. A thought you might like to consider if you want to check out an oracle is 'The Medicine Cards' by Sams & Carson (The discovery of power through the ways of animals) - I have this deck (my one and only Oracle) and have found it very easy to relate to over the years, even though I don't use it much anymore. You might also like to figure out from which culture her interest in shamanism comes from eg. Native American, Celtic, etc - as this may help you choose an appropriate tarot deck for her. As if it is Native American you might look at some of those decks, I also have the Native American Tarot by Gonzalez but if her shamanism interest comes more from the Celtic side you may like check something else out. Good luck in your search and hope you find one that is just right :) CreativeFire

WolfSpirit	01 Sep 2004
You may also want to have a look at the Tarot of Timeless Truth, it has a lot of nature elements in it. Also the Tarot of Transformation has a lot of animals and other nature elements in the cards, the meanings are more geared towards a psychological approach. And you may also want to check out the upcoming Druid Craft Tarot. My hopes are this will have a very natural feel to it :D

Moonbow*	01 Sep 2004
Mooncat Funny you should say that! The day before she told me this, I bought the Vision Quest! I agree it is a lovely deck and the art work is very pleasing and soft. It is a thought. CreativeFire She lives in Cornwall although this is not where she went on her quest. It could well be that it's the Celtic Shamanism that she is interested in. I will do some more investigative work first. I would love to get the Greenwood for her but....... I need to win the lottery first..... ah well... Some great ideas here though! Any one else been on one of these quests?

TygrEyes	01 Sep 2004
I thought you might find these articles/reviews helpful. http://www.tarotpassages.com/shaman1vsb.htm http://www.tarotpassages.com/animaloracles.htm http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/celtic-wisdom/review.shtml

Majecot	01 Sep 2004
I agree with MeeWah, let her browse through your personal library of decks and see if any spark an interest. I really like the idea of this Vison Quest she was on, I have never heard of anything like that around here before.

Moonbow*	01 Sep 2004
Well, I have far too many to choose from now! Thank you TygrEyes How did you manage to find out all this information? I have bookmarked them all for reading. I really didn't realise there were so many to choose from under this theme. When I get it I will let you all know what I choose.

TygrEyes	01 Sep 2004
You're Welcome! I was reading the review for the Greenwood at Tarot Passages one time & it said it was part of an article on Tarot and the Shaman w/ a link. They have an article page & I scanned through that & found the animal oracle article. When you mentioned Celtic Shamanism I just searched the decks here for Celtic. I'm wondering if the Celtic Wisdom tarot would be a good substitute for the Greenwood for those who can't get their hands on a Greenwood. Does anyone have both & any thoughts on the comparability?

TygrEyes	01 Sep 2004
Hmm, be sure to read Lee's review here: http://www.tarotpassages.com/bursten27.htm And another's view here: http://www.tarotpassages.com/celtwis.htm

magpie9	02 Sep 2004
I have both decks, and I don't think they are at all interchangable. Celtic Wisdom is really connected to the Celtic Myths (as noted in review #2) IMHO, it has nothing to do with shaminism at all. This deck is very useful as an aid to learning the story-cycles. If you know the stories, you end up reading the card sort of as the story, with all that implies.(Whatever else, you have to be a lover of Mythology.) Even read just intuitivly, it becomes a very deep-reading deck. The RWS/Thoth numerology thing on the minors didn't seem to apply much to the cards, though I find some connection between the given divinetory meanings and the stories. this deck makes you work for it, but it's great when you get there. the Greenwood is very shaministic, and has no connection to "normal decks". No kabbalah, no numerology no astrology, no golden dawn no nada. Which is how the maker ment it to be. it stands alone, and it is a shame it has become so rare and costly. Have you looked at John Matthews deck, "the Celtic Shamans Oracle"? It's illustrated by Cesca Potter, who did Greenwood, and it's georgious. It has animal totems and guides and all manner of things directly realated to celtic shamatic journyings. It's an excellent tool, and while not easy to find, a lot less expensive than Greenwood. there are scans of it either on Cesca Potters site, or the Matthews site..sorry that I'm not sure witch. I hope this is some help, and Ihope you find just exactly the right thing for your friend :)

Cerulean	02 Sep 2004
I just received my order from Amazon.UK for the Runic Tarot--76 cards and if you like the idea of Norse Runes, Celtic art, a deck based on seasonal orientations with a Celtic flavor. It may be too pretty and abstract, as it is Caroline Smith's work. (Elemental; Oracle of the Radiant Sun; Mystic). Here's the thread: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30335 And to keep this tarot related, a few interesting new decks for those who love the Green woods: Druidcraft Tarot http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30190&highlight=druidcraft Forest Folklore (based on New Forest, in England?) -- Beverly Kessia-Smith http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21746&highlight=forest+folklore

Sulis	02 Sep 2004
I second the vote for the Vision Quest Tarot - very unthreatening for someone new to tarot yet easy to read and lovely to look at. Love Sulis xx

lunalafey	02 Sep 2004
I have not done a true vision quest but I have done a few sweats. Vision Quests way back when, involved more than just one day in the 'wild'. It was a rites of passage so to speak in the Native American traditions, as well as used for seeking answers from the Great Mystery. There is a card in the Native American deck called vision quest; 7 of vessels {cups, and a shaman card too} - now the art is not 'pretty' but the deck is very powerful and informative of the ways of the native peoples.

SongDeva	02 Sep 2004
Quote: Originally posted by mooncat2 The Vision Quest Tarot ? Its a gentle and beautiful deck . The LWB is far superior to most and has considerably more explanation than just a few keywords. This is just what I would have suggested. I love this one. It's very important to me, and I just bought a back up copy even, because it's out of print (but still easy to find).

Moonbow*	02 Sep 2004
Thanks everyone There is so much to choose from here now. What I think I may do is email her with links to the cards and just suggest she look at them on-line. Then I can surprise her later. I think I need to find out her feelings about Tarot and Oracles and then whether she is leaning more towards Celtic Shamanism or American Indian Shamanism, and go from there. There are certainly more decks out there than I first realised. She is not the sort of person to collect things so I want to get it right if I can. I will let you all know what happens. Still no one else been on ones of these? I was so looking forward to hearing other peoples experiences, before I try my mini one. I'm not sure it's what I am into but I want to go for the experience and it gives me a great opportunity to stay out on Bodmin Moor at night. :eek:

Little Baron	02 Sep 2004
Look forward to seeing how it goes. When my friend, Francine, showed an interest in the tarot, we arranged a birthday afternoon out in London; a little lunch and then a trip to a good tarot shop to choose one that I would buy for her. She chose the Faeries Oracle. It was a lovely afternoon. Yabs

The Deck Suggestions.... not for me though.. thread was originally posted on 01 Sep 2004 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.