2004 Favourite deck Aeclectic votes

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 21 Nov 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

jmd	21 Nov 2004
...just wondering who hasn't voted yet??? [center]http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/vote.shtml[/center] This year, I am going to keep absolutely and totally silent as to which deck I voted for, and that it happens to be also the name of a French maritime city.

Gerbear	21 Nov 2004
I wasn't aware that a deck that happens to be the name of a French maritime city was issued in 2004. But then, there were so many decks that appeared this year. Perhaps, I'm just misunderstanding the vote. Is it for new decks of the current year, or just any deck that appeals?

MeeWah	21 Nov 2004
Gerbear: I understand it is to vote for any deck that appeals.

Rusty Neon	21 Nov 2004
jmd wrote: This year, I am going to keep absolutely and totally silent as to which deck I voted for, and that it happens to be also the name of a French maritime city. You mean Nice, France? :) I have quite a few nice decks.

Gerbear	21 Nov 2004
Maybe there could be a "New" deck of the year contest for the decks created in the current year. Otherwise, the votes will pile up from various factions, that can't( or don't want to) ( or don't see the need to ) see beyond their own idea of 'the' deck. This has been a prolific year for new decks. Imagine a competition, just between them!

Rusty Neon	21 Nov 2004
Gerbear wrote: I wasn't aware that a deck that happens to be the name of a French maritime city was issued in 2004. Now that you mention it, there's the 78-card version of the Rodes-Sanchez deck that was issued recently [brought to our attention by kenji], but I don't know whether it was issued in 2004 itself. www.tarotmarsella.com People whose computers are frustrated by Flash-software sites will be especially frustrated by this site. :)

Rusty Neon	21 Nov 2004
Gerbear wrote: Maybe there could be a "New" deck of the year contest for the decks created in the current year. It would be a good idea to have two contests: Favourite new deck. Favourite deck of all time. As for picking favourite new deck, people would need to have their attention drawn to a list of new decks, as it's often difficult to know what year a particular deck was published in. Often, the existence of a deck doesn't become sufficiently known until several years after first publication.

firemaiden	21 Nov 2004
I voted -- for nothing??? The ballot asked me for my name and email address, but not for my vote. There was no place to say what my favorite deck was. I don't get it. How does this work?

firemaiden	21 Nov 2004
NEVER MIND... I see it now! (fm bonks head) my computer filled in my email address twice without asking me if I wanted it to, so I didn't notice the blank for favorite deck... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Major Tom	21 Nov 2004
For the past couple of years, I've started a thread to blatently campaign for the deck I thought should be within the top 10. I recall with pride that those I did vote and campaign for did achieve that goal. This year, I'm not going to name a specific deck. Instead, I will only go as far as to specify that any of the decks that appear in the Tarot Lovers' Calendar 2005 are the most likely candidates. ;) All 12 artists appearing in the calendar are members of Aeclectic - many of them are subscribers. They are certainly some of the most talented people creating tarot decks and writing spreads anywhere on this planet. :D Many of you own these decks. ;) Do vote. And use your vote wisely. :laugh: What have you bought this year?

firemaiden	21 Nov 2004
I don't know who the $%^&* to vote for !! I haven't any favorites. I don't play favorites with my decks. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANH

Emily	21 Nov 2004
Just voted - I want to see my favourite deck in the Top Ten again this year. :D

WolfyJames	21 Nov 2004
I voted for the underdog... The Gothic Tarot (Vargo)!

Umbrae	21 Nov 2004
International Icon Tarot (And sorry, Vargo's Gothic was copyright 2002, and first appeared in the domestic market 2003).

Alta	21 Nov 2004
I already voted (and won't tell) but I think it is quite a nice idea to have a separate vote for decks released this year. But then, somone would have to compile the list of course. I was going back over the lists and noted that while other decks bobbed around, the Thoth seems to remain fairly consistently in second or third place (hit first one year). ps Major Tom, I have your calendar and it is most excellent.

Gerbear	21 Nov 2004
A quick trip through my database produced just SOME of the 2004 decks; International Icon Golden/Kat Black Millennium/D. Krause Sakki-Sakki Liber T: Stars Eternal Gaian Odyssey Guardian Alchemical Wedding Ancient Mysteries Black Flamingo Intuitive/C. Conway Dragons/Lo Scarebeo Gilded Book of Kaos Chat du Marseilles Tarot Manouche Blue Moon/2nd edition Egyptian Gods/Gillabel Marita Liulia Buddha Tarot Circus and Sideshow One in Ten/Silver edition Journey to Home Tarot Toscano A Fool and Her Friends Tarot Baroque Bohemian Cats Tarot

tmgrl2	21 Nov 2004
Thanks for reminder, jmd. Just voted! terri

Alta	21 Nov 2004
Thanks Gerbear. That is quite an impressive list, and likely there are even more.

Lurea	22 Nov 2004
Re: Thoth, the Marseilles, and the Rider-Waite. How about we give them Special Grand Master Lifetime Achievement Awards, and make room for some other decks? ;) Firemaiden, I don't who to vote for either.... :( The dearly beloved old faithful, or the tempting newcomer who just moved in. Rorrww. (Hey, and I haven't even *read* with it yet!)

Shalott	22 Nov 2004
Perhaps perusing through past Top 10 Lists (not associated with David Letterman) would help: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/topten.shtml Thoth, Rider-Waite weren't issued in 1999 thru 2003 yet were consistently on the lists, so I am going with "of all time" on this. Otherwise, my vote for a French maritime city deck will be like a hanging chad.

TemperanceAngel	22 Nov 2004
I went to vote and then couldn't, I don't have a fave deck *shrugs*

Moonbow*	22 Nov 2004
Me to TA, I'm not finding this easy. My favourite deck is the one that I am using at the moment. Today it's the Druidcraft and the Grimaud... next week I may be on something else. I need to put a bit of thought into this though, it's favourite deck of the whole year, so I just need to think back a bit before answering.

Moongold	22 Nov 2004
I voted for the Ancient Egyptian (Barrett) because it is the one I use most at the moment and am studying. I know it does not have a hope in Hades of winning but it is still the most beautiful deck. My next favourite is the Tarot of the Old Path, with Tarot of the Sephiroth coming a close third. None of these are fashionable. Quite old in fact (except for the Sephiroth) but who cares for fashion and popularity? :)

jlbvt	22 Nov 2004
I voted for a deck that came out this year, which I bought and loved. Joan

ihcoyc	22 Nov 2004
Shalott wrote: Otherwise, my vote for a French maritime city deck will be like a hanging chad. You mean the Tarot de Bordeaux is finally out? I voted for the Rodes-Sanchez Tarot de Marsella, which actually did appear this year.

latinmoon	22 Nov 2004
Hey Tom, would'nt this be more interesting to limit the vote to decks published during this year (like the oscars). Otherwise its pretty much the same decks each time, as some will never budge from voting for the obvious classics, no matter what new ones come along. Or possibly have two categories. One for favorite of the current year, and one for all time favorite.

annik	22 Nov 2004
I voted for one recent. I must admit that my favorites can fluctuate as my collection grow. The new decks are always like a new discovery. After that, anything can happen...

jmd	22 Nov 2004
I believe the Tarot de Bordeaux has been out for quite some time... though referred to by another name }) latinmoon, when you say that 'some will never budge from voting for the obvious classics', that has indeed been true for myself - but I vote using a generic form, rather than the specific, and it is not a matter of 'budging', but of ongoing recognition and deepening of interest as to my passion for Tarot in especially one of its expression. If someone's taste for ice-cream has not changed for six - or indeed 40 - years, we presumably recognise that for what it is. My taste for Tarot has certainly altered over the many years I have been involved with it, and am now probably more careful in my own specific preference than I was, for example, twenty years ago. The name of the generic deck has not, however, altered.

Shalott	22 Nov 2004
ihcoyc wrote: You mean the Tarot de Bordeaux is finally out? I voted for the Rodes-Sanchez Tarot de Marsella, which actually did appear this year. It has a good nose...fruity finish... The one I voted for is copyrighted 1996...I've got this weird feeling it's gonna appear on the list, too :D

WolfSpirit	23 Nov 2004
I voted for the Druid Craft. And it was very easy to choose :D This one has replaced all others ~ I do like my other decks, but the Druid Craft is my love.

tinkerbell	23 Nov 2004
wolfspirit- i agree! my understanding when i voted was that it was the 2004 decks we were choosing from. if we have to vote for our alltime favourite, my choice may (or may not!) be the same! anyway, i await the results with great anticipation,(not sure how accurate they will be though if people are voting for decks other than those brought out in 2004- perhaps we should vote again?.................) love tink xx

noby	23 Nov 2004
Yeah, I find it kind of odd to do the vote for decks from any year... doing a vote just for decks that came out this year would make more sense to me, as it would give someone looking at the list a sense of what's come out and what's causing a buzz in the "tarot world" this year, as opposed to just what people's favorite decks are in general... A list restricted to decks released in that specific year would to me give someone more a sense of the pulse of the tarot world right now, IMO. So even though my all-time favorite may be Navigators of the Mystic Sea, I voted for International Icon, because it's a deck that came out this year that represents an important new perspective on the tarot, and new way to read.

mercenary30	23 Nov 2004
I do not believe that the deck you vote for has to have been published in 2004, unless the rules changed from the previous years.........

noby	23 Nov 2004
mercenary30 wrote: I do not believe that the deck you vote for has to have been published in 2004, unless the rules changed from the previous years......... It doesn't, but I'm saying in my opinion that I think there should be a separate vote just for 2004 decks.

Flavio	23 Nov 2004
Gerbear wrote: A quick trip through my database produced just SOME of the 2004 decks; International Icon... ...Baroque Bohemian Cats Tarot Let's remember the Gay Tarot also debuted this year :)

latinmoon	23 Nov 2004
jmd wrote: latinmoon, when you say that 'some will never budge from voting for the obvious classics', that has indeed been true for myself - but I vote using a generic form, rather than the specific, and it is not a matter of 'budging', but of ongoing recognition and deepening of interest as to my passion for Tarot in especially one of its expression. If someone's taste for ice-cream has not changed for six - or indeed 40 - years, we presumably recognise that for what it is. The name of the generic deck has not, however, altered. I did'nt intend to be negative when using the term budging. Its just that I suspect that many, including myself up to a point, are simply bias, either by familiarity, comfort level or ingrained repect for tradition into giving the classic decks a "pass" if you will to what we might be more critical of with newer decks. Notwithstanding that the classic are that for a reason, and have contibuited to the tarot in ways that later ones may never achieve. If one were truly to judge each on a level playing field, then the classics would be questionable, at least in their aesthetic qualitly. The artwork on numerous modern decks is far superior, and while our own personal take on their symbolism is a basic part of the reading process, this is still esentially a visually directed excercise. Hypothetically if the RWS was compared directly to say the Tarot of Prague (just to pick one at random) judged just on its merits deck to deck with no awarness, preconceptions etc of their respective histories. The RWS would surely slide down the list of popularity compared to being in the top few that it will no doubt achieve "again" this time. I'm all for honoring tradition and respecting the past, but I also feel that on occasions that clouds the reality in a over romantic haze. The same effect applies to the movies, music literature etc. That why I suggested earlier, to vote in two categories. On for favorite deck of the current year, and one for all time favorite. Come on Moderators, theres some confusion here on what exactly the voting should be based on. No more hanging chads, I'm from Florida :-)

jema	23 Nov 2004
I voted for the only deck to which I made the tiniest contribution. Is that cheating? And it is a deck made and published this year:-) I think it would be neat with a specific vote for the best deck of the year actually.

Kissa	23 Nov 2004
Gerbear wrote: A quick trip through my database produced just SOME of the 2004 decks; Journey to Home Tarot are you refering to the new smaller version of the Songs for the Journey Home? kissa edited to add: i too think it would be great to have a vote for favourite deck published in 2004 and we could keep the traditional "best deck ever" for every year like it's been done till now. my two cents.

Gerbear	23 Nov 2004
Kissa wrote: are you refering to the new smaller version of the Songs for the Journey Home? kissa The "Journey to Home Tarot" is a deck by the Canadian artist, Shandra MacNeill. She also created the Apple, One in Ten, Everlasting Breath, and Skins, decks.

Moonbow*	23 Nov 2004
This was hard, I managed to narrow it down to three, then I looked at which deck I had used the most, and which deck had given me alot of inspiration, and......................... then I voted :) (not telling though!)

raeanne	24 Nov 2004
Hi all, I gave a great deal of thought before I voted this year. There were several possibilities. Some of my old favorites are still my favorites; Spiral, Legend, Cosmic, Victoria Regina, Universal Waite, etc. There are some new decks that I don’t have yet that I think are outstanding; Bohemian Cats, Tarot of Prague, etc. I just didn’t feel I could vote for something that I haven’t really had a chance to look at up close and personal. I finally decided to vote for the deck that I am learning the most from this year; The Gay Tarot. This is a wonderful and insightful deck. I love the “masculine without being macho” energy. I am really enjoying the time I am spending with this deck and I hope to have a long and joyful relationship with it. This is definitely the “deck of the year” for me.

VGimlet	24 Nov 2004
I made sure to vote this year, since I missed it last year. :rolleyes: In the past I have voted for the tried and true, test of time, blah blah, but this year I voted for the newly published deck that became one of my usual reading decks. But I'm not telling which one either. However, I have to admit, there were some hard choices for me to make. There were several decks I like, and a few I covet released this year. But I had to go for the bird in the hand, the one I've seen and riffled.

Shade	24 Nov 2004
Hmm the Golden was 2004 wasn't it? I agree that a separate tally for 04 decks would be nice... bt then I'm not responsible fro trying to count two of the things and would find the task very daunting. Didn't the Thoth win last year?

Alta	24 Nov 2004
latinmoon wrote: Come on Moderators, theres some confusion here on what exactly the voting should be based on. No more hanging chads, I'm from Florida :-) I don't think the Moderators can tell you for certain, Solandia runs it. But I have never seen an indication that it has to be a deck published this year. I am sure it can be any deck. As it happens, I voted for one published this year.

Diana	25 Nov 2004
There are about two or three lines on the web-page where people vote. One of the sentences says: "Votes may be cast for decks published in any year." Where is the confusion????? It's written in very plain English. Even a non-English speaker should be able to understand what "any year" means. I voted for a Marseilles deck. The one that is the easiest to read with, in my opinion. And a very inspiring deck as well. Kris Hadar's Véritable Tarot de Marseille. One day, a Marseilles deck will get onto that list. It may be in a year, it may be in ten years. But I'm pretty certain of that.

smokey	25 Nov 2004
[quote=Major Tom]. They are certainly some of the most talented people creating tarot decks and writing spreads anywhere on this planet. Verrry Well said,Major Tom!!!

cirom	25 Nov 2004
Diana wrote: Where is the confusion????? It's written in very plain English. Even a non-English speaker should be able to understand what "any year" means. I voted for a Marseilles deck. Why thank you Diana, where would we be without your guidance. And so sypathetic in its tone as well. I do happen to speak English, I personally wasn't confused, nevertheless it was apparent that some were, hence I recommended a clarification. But you've managed to provide that albeit less tactfully than I would have hoped. I was principally suggesting the idea of a vote for two categories, mainly to introduce a fresh reference point and by passing (quoting an earlier post) those who won't budge from their established views, an approach that were it taken by the majority, would render this annual voting event somewhat redundant. By the way I see you're voting for the Marsailles.....again?

cirom	25 Nov 2004
My apologies Diana. The above post is not mine but that of my sister in law who is visiting for Thanksgiving. A fiery Latin who is one of the reasons I got involved with tarot in the first place. Nevertheless she was using my computer to access e-mail, and apparently aeclectic as well. I do not share her views......and I'm keeping out of it too :-)

Gerbear	25 Nov 2004
The idea of having a seperate poll for decks of the current year is obviously too much to handle at this time. Once full fossilization has taken place, a seperate poll for decks of the current year only, can be proposed again.

Diana	25 Nov 2004
cirom wrote: My apologies Diana. The above post is not mine but that of my sister in law who is visiting for Thanksgiving. A fiery Latin who is one of the reasons I got involved with tarot in the first place. Nevertheless she was using my computer to access e-mail, and apparently aeclectic as well. I do not share her views......and I'm keeping out of it too :-) LOL cirom!! I love your sister-in-law's sense of humour. (Serious!! Not being sarcastic here.) Huh... I saw this thread whilst taking a break from proof-reading some papers from people who EVIDENTLY have never ever heard that Word has a spell-check, and have never tried to press F7 out of curiosity to see what it does. So I kind of sighed and thought: "Can't people READ?".... my biting mood was influenced by my frustration at having to to add an "a" to "nd", and an "e" to "btween". Give your sister-in-law my regards. ;) (P.S. Yup.... I'm voting for a Marseilles once again. Some things NEVER change... just like the sun will always rise in the east (well, until some cataclysmic event occurs to change the earth's orbit.)

smokey	26 Nov 2004
If only Ciro's Tarot of Dreams were out, this would be a breeze for me... (with what I've seen so far that is)...Now I must wrestle amongst 4 or 5 Most Delightful decks: the Gilded and the Golden,the Blue Moon and the Spiral I'm currently awaiting the arrival of the Artists' Inner Vision Tarot and out of the the 13 cards I saw, I fell in love with 6 of them. If the rest of this deck stands up to my six faves, I no doubt will have yet another to choose from,arrggh!

BlueLotus	26 Nov 2004
Gerbear wrote: A quick trip through my database produced just SOME of the 2004 decks; International Icon Golden/Kat Black Millennium/D. Krause Sakki-Sakki Liber T: Stars Eternal Gaian Odyssey Guardian Alchemical Wedding Ancient Mysteries Black Flamingo Intuitive/C. Conway Dragons/Lo Scarebeo Gilded Book of Kaos Chat du Marseilles Tarot Manouche Blue Moon/2nd edition Egyptian Gods/Gillabel Marita Liulia Buddha Tarot Circus and Sideshow One in Ten/Silver edition Journey to Home Tarot Toscano A Fool and Her Friends Tarot Baroque Bohemian Cats Tarot Quite an impressive list. I am undecided yet which deck I will go for this year.

Ace	28 Nov 2004
jmd wrote: ...just wondering who hasn't voted yet??? [center] http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/vote.shtml [/center] This year, I am going to keep absolutely and totally silent as to which deck I voted for, and that it happens to be also the name of a French maritime city. WOW! I didn't see this! thanks JMD, for reminding me about it!

tatsi	02 Dec 2004
This was sooooooooo hard to just pick one. Currently I'm into Spiral Tarot, so I voted for that one. I've recently purchased decks (Tarot of Timeless Truth and Golden Tarot) that I might have preferred to vote for, but haven't had a chance to really work with it in-depth. I wanted to choose a deck that I have used and relied on the most in the 2004 calendar year, thus Spiral Tarot got my vote. tatsi

The 2004 Favourite deck Aeclectic votes thread was originally posted on 21 Nov 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.