My Happy Deck

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Phoenix Rising	29 Mar 2005
Well I thought this would be a good thread to start, as we've had "Mad" decks and "Sick" decks, so to get away from all the gloom, I want to talk about my "Happy deck".:laugh: Because when I'm happy, my deck is all so very happy too!Although "Robin Wood" deck might not be so, as she's in her box at the moment! But my good old "Playing cards" are chatty as ever. Letting me know what's in store for me today and next week, but she's got a good way of making a bad situation look good, with her simple good advice. She just warns me, not to go here or there or do this or that! Oh I forgot to introduce her, her name is "Cartell" Cartell has been a good mate to me. No matter how many times I shuffle her about, she never complains, always there to listen and give her advice. "It's all in the cards" you know when to "Play your cards right" Oh and I know when to pull that "Ace up my sleeve" But you have to be extra aware when that bloody "Joker" is about, little sneaky one that one, pops in from out of the blue sometimes. I may not excell at everything I'm a bit of a "Jack of all trades" but master of none, but I give it a try, and "Cartell" knows this and she just observes and doesn't judge me. But if I try and keep that "Poker face" trying to fool her, it all comes to light when "I lay all cards on the table" and she wins "Hands down" But it's all good because she only wants me to "come up trumps"! So I think my "Happy deck" is a real "Ace"! And even though "Cartell" is only cardboard, we're still pretty good mates! Oh and I forgot to mention, that she's really popular..She mixes with all people of life even "Royalties" she's not a snob, because her most loyal friends are all the "minor" peasants! But not to be fooled by those minors, because when they're in their little numerical groups they become a major!

similia	29 Mar 2005
My happy deck is the Romani. It has such cheery faces on the children on the deck. I get a little smile each time the sun turn up with the little boy and his cheeky grin. I guess its a little bit of the joy people feel when using a fairy deck. Childlike and fun! :)

Michelle	29 Mar 2005
My happy deck is my Hanson-Roberts. Especially the Sun and the 6 of Cups. The children look so happy. The Devil creeps me out a bit and the Magician resembles Fabio - but all in all this is the deck I grab when I feel kind of yucky. Great thread !

lark	29 Mar 2005
Oh good a happy deck thread! I have many happy decks but my hap hap happiest deck is my Robin Wood. Once I spilled coffee all over her and I had to give her a bath...that wasn't such a happy day, but she washed up well and layed in the sun on her beach towel and all was happiness again. Once when I was doing a reading for a friend's mother she thought the Lovers card was very funny...well just one feature of the Lovers card. Everytime I would point to it in her spread and try and talk about it she would say "OH MY" and we'd be off in gales of laughter. Well enough was enough time to get serious.... I spied a bunch of bananas on the cupboard so I pulled the banana sticker off of one of them and put it on the Lover's little banana. Nope we never did get serious after that, but we sure did laugh a lot that day. Robin lives in a place of honor on my tarot desk in her happy little green bumblebee box. With her happy little jade worry stone snuggled in next to her. That I rub sometimes when I am concentrating on the cards because..... well.... because it makes me happy!

rabidwolfie	29 Mar 2005
My happy deck is the one I keep in a beautifully scented wooden box, wrapped in a silk cloth, with a unicorn on the front. They are very special to me because of what they are. My Animal Oracle. No one else is allowed to touch these cards, & when I'm not feeling too good myself, I tend to like bringing them out & just looking at the beautiful pictures. :)

bassetized	29 Mar 2005
I have two happy decks. My old, still faithful happy deck is the Halloween, which is excellent at pointing out both my foibles and my strengths in a way that makes me laugh. My new happy deck is the Ferret Tarot. I have never owned a ferret and likely never will, but those busy, sock-stealing ferrets always make me smile. And again, a great reading deck on top of it all. Thanks for the thread. :) Things have been too serious my way lately. --bassetized

MercyMe	29 Mar 2005
My Housewives Tarot is my "happy deck." Boy do those 50's housewives know how to deliver a punch with kid gloves on. It's always uplifting, even though you might draw some of the not-so-happy cards. That's because the message is always that you are in control, you can handle this, you can figure this out. If I need a kick in the pants, this deck is the one to give it to me with encouragement. It's also just plain funny to see the Page of Swords running with scissors and the Knight of Swords as James Dean-like. ~Mercy

Cielo	30 Mar 2005
hehehehe...good thread Phoenix Rising!!! :) My ultimate happy deck is the Druid Craft!!! In fact, it's is so happy that even if I wake up in a gloomy mood, just looking at it makes me feel better in an instant! I love this deck because it will tell things in an honest way but also in a gentle way that will still leave me happy even if the message is difficult! Happy, happy deck!!! Wonderful vibe!!!!!!!!! :)

Phoenix Rising	30 Mar 2005
Quote: I spied a bunch of bananas on the cupboard so I pulled the banana sticker off of one of them and put it on the Lover's little banana. LOL:laugh: Now Lark, where have you been hiding! You been a bit quiet. Now everytime I look at Robin Wood lover I'll see his banana...luckily there's no Monkeys around! Or maybe Eve might want a "Banana split" for desert!

Dylan	30 Mar 2005
Well at least im not the only one that thinks banana when they see the Robin Wood Lovers card :) I love that card! My happy deck must be my Druid Craft, it is working very well for me at the moment, she is just so damn big!

Fudugazi	30 Mar 2005
I think all my decks are happy - one is a happy scholarly type with a quiet everyman humour (Dodal), one happy but reserved and gentle (Heron Conver), one is jolly hockysticks with a schoolgirl's kind of humour (Housewives), one is glowing like it was at a dinner party (Rodes-Sanchez), one very warmly happy (DruidCraft), with the smell of good wood and fresh rain about it; and one is happy like an experimenting teenager (Robin Wood). One is like a trip to Greece (the Mythic) and one like a masqued ball (Tarot de la Réa). One is a glass of blueberry wine and an earnest discussion among friends (Hadar), one is like a street performer, full of happy tricks and winks, suddenly becoming serious, and back again (Jodo-Camoin), one is an eternally blissful walk through a garden, into an ancient chapel, wearing a beautiful gown made of trailing silk rags (Crystal tarot), one is a river cruise past impossible beauties with a violin playing gipsy tunes, and a huge cast of characters on the boat, all laughing, dreaming, singing or sobbing over a pilsner (the Tarot of Prague).

Phoenix Rising	30 Mar 2005
Wow...what a happy bunch alright...you might have to send them over to "Dragon Tarot" they won't have to send him to his box, he'll go quite happily! he'll be outnumbered! He'll realise how stupid he is!:smoker:

Cielo	30 Mar 2005
Dylan wrote: My happy deck must be my Druid Craft, it is working very well for me at the moment, she is just so damn big! Ahhh.....remember! Big is Beautiful!!! :D:D

Fudugazi	30 Mar 2005
Cielo wrote: Ahhh.....remember! Big is Beautiful!!! :D:D As Robin Wood obviously realised...;)

sunflowr	30 Mar 2005
I like this thread! :) My 2 happy decks are "Housewives", and "Diamond Tarot". Housewives always has such a wonderful sense of humor, and it's the deck I seem to turn to alot lately. Diamond is my "Peter Max" tarot, with all the psychedelic colors. :)

Dylan	30 Mar 2005
Helvetica wrote: As Robin Wood obviously realised...;) lol, excellent helvetica :)

Clau	30 Mar 2005
It got me thinking.....Which one is my happy deck? But I got one question: I was very surprised to read many of you guys refer to your decks as "she", I never thought tarot as a feminine thing or entity or whatever. In Spanish we refer to tarot in masculine no matter what the theme is about. Is called El Tarot, not La tarot, and I thought in English the article would be neutral (it?)... Funny how you really learn new things everyday... Anyhow, thankyou for this warm and funny thread... Blessings, Clau

Moongold	30 Mar 2005
I really like my Fournier Marseille. I always feel good using it. There is real wit in it too. My second favourite is the Buddha Tarot by Robert Place. I love the bright colours and the general feeling of lightness. Moongold

WolfSpirit	31 Mar 2005
Clau wrote: I was very surprised to read many of you guys refer to your decks as "she", I never thought tarot as a feminine thing or entity or whatever. In Dutch we don't make a grammatical difference between masculine and feminine words. My DruidCraft is my happiest deck: yes he is big which gives me more to hold on to :* The people in the deck look so real and tell me great stories. Then there are the warm colours...the ancient trees...nature's abundance...etc. Mine is definitely masculine although there is also an influence of strong women in it. On the other hand, the Tarot of Transformation is feminine. Also a happy deck, but different: more pink and purple, more swirling, more dreamy. The DruidCraft feels very earthy :)

Fudugazi	31 Mar 2005
In French, Tarot and Tarot decks are masculine. My DruidCraft is lovely and big too, Wolfspirit ;) And his earthiness is the best thing about him....

Phoenix Rising	31 Mar 2005
I call my decks "she" because well it's better than calling them "It" and well I'm trying to bring back the feminine aspect too, we've heard "The father" and "Amen" and well everything has been too male dominated:joke: And guys there's no need to get into a debate about gender and all that...this is the "Happy deck" thread remember.

Scion	31 Mar 2005
Helvetica wrote: I think all my decks are happy - one is a happy scholarly type with a quiet everyman humour (Dodal), one happy but reserved and gentle (Heron Conver), one is jolly hockysticks with a schoolgirl's kind of humour (Housewives), one is glowing like it was at a dinner party (Rodes-Sanchez), one very warmly happy (DruidCraft), with the smell of good wood and fresh rain about it; and one is happy like an experimenting teenager (Robin Wood). One is like a trip to Greece (the Mythic) and one like a masqued ball (Tarot de la Réa). One is a glass of blueberry wine and an earnest discussion among friends (Hadar), one is like a street performer, full of happy tricks and winks, suddenly becoming serious, and back again (Jodo-Camoin), one is an eternally blissful walk through a garden, into an ancient chapel, wearing a beautiful gown made of trailing silk rags (Crystal tarot), one is a river cruise past impossible beauties with a violin playing gipsy tunes, and a huge cast of characters on the boat, all laughing, dreaming, singing or sobbing over a pilsner (the Tarot of Prague). Love! Love love love. I concur one million percent. (100% for each of my decks :)) I'm always comparing it to talking with different friends... O Sophie, that was so eloquently and charmingly put. (n.b.) You'd better start writing more or the talent gremlins who swarmed you at birth are gonna come and give you quills like a porcupine. This thread is a fantastic idea. Now I have to think about which are my happies which is, of course, putting a smile on my face. Thanks guys, Scion

Fudugazi	31 Mar 2005
hehe, Scion, thanks for the vote of confidence: you know which one is my happiest deck, but if I start describing just HOW happy it is, I shall be banished for obscenity ;) (for all my other AT pals - it's Lori Walls' Erotica - I can tell you it's never sick, in a bad mood, or off colour! :))

Fudugazi	31 Mar 2005
Phoenix Rising wrote: And guys there's no need to get into a debate about gender and all that...this is the "Happy deck" thread remember. Who's debating? Their masculinity is one reason I rather love my wonderful decks :) But yes, I agree with Phonenix Rising, it's very important to bring back the feminine. So let's say I let my masculine decks serve me, their Lady ;) - so far I've had no complaints, they are happy to do so. They even sing to me. My decks are Troubadours, you see.

WolfSpirit	31 Mar 2005
I would like to put a masculine and a feminine deck together in one bag and see if they would make little tarot decks (so I don't have to buy any more). But maybe they would start a fight who is hogging the spread cloth ;)

Fudugazi	31 Mar 2005
Here is what would happen if you put the Lovers' Path deck together with the Erotica: [censored] and then they lived happy ever after having lots of mini tarot decks and lots of [censored] They'd better have understanding neighbours, that's all I can say. :)

Clau	31 Mar 2005
Phoenix Rising wrote: .....well I'm trying to bring back the feminine aspect too, we've heard "The father" and "Amen" and well everything has been too male dominated:joke: I totally agree with you PR, I think many women all over the world are bringing back the feminine aspect in everything we love! Phoenix Rising wrote: And guys there's no need to get into a debate about gender and all that... Of course there is no need to argue about it, 'cos women RULE!!! I'm just so happy because down here there are presidential elections this year and we have three candidates: two women and one man! Good sign for the start of the 21st century! *go girls go* Love, Clau

WalesWoman	04 Apr 2005
All my decks are happy and have a good sense of humor... Legends can get a bit emotional with all that water, but soggy or not, is usually on the whole a well adjusted deck. Sacred Rose has a sharp wit and can be a bit thorny & prickly... I use it when I want to get to the point. The Fairy Tarot is probably the happiest of all my decks, lot of tongue in cheek but tells it like it is. Morgan Greer is probably my most serious deck of them all, and it sometimes very ironic. Druidcraft... I'm just becoming acquainted with it, so we are being very nice to each other at this point, but it is quite amazing and thought provoking. But I'd say it's pretty happy too. LOL I'm quite glad to have happy decks and not angry or sick ones, I'd have to give the angry ones, time out and put the sick ones to bed.

lunascorpio	04 Apr 2005
Though I love my Osho Zen Tarot (which has been wonderful for self-discovery work), I must say that my happy deck is my Robin Wood. It makes me feel light and puts a smile in my face. My favorite cards are the Fool and the Death. Hugs. Luna.

ros	04 Apr 2005
All new decks I buy are Happy Decks, UNTIL I get working with them. When they show their personalities, then they are all not Happy ones!

Moonbow*	04 Apr 2005
If I'm happy..... then my decks are happy. If I'm not happy, then I have no idea what they are like, because I don't read them. But in their own right, I would say the Glastonbury. More a positive than happy deck, but definately a 'good feel' deck. :)

Cerulean	12 Apr 2005
the one that speaks of depths...but it tells stories...it begs softness... I use the Secrets and other study decks quite a bit but sometimes want something...just pretty as thine eyes, tender as a spun cotton fluff ball... 1001 Nights with Leon Carre paintings. There's the kiddy-lit Andrew Lang version with various illustrations...sometimes not the used-but-not-best text translation (Richard Burton), with pictures by Carre...I realize the tales became Europeanized, so am enjoying the search through different collections with better translators, and pictures. There's about 400 years from the first French translation in the 1700s from Abbé Antoine Galland. Regards, Cerulean

The My Happy Deck thread was originally posted on 29 Mar 2005 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.