I tend to buy decks impulsively. Here in Virginia Beach The Heritage Store used to have a big New Age section and they had a display deck for every design. They'd just sacrifice a pack and punch holes in the corner, then hang them on a bead chain next to the display. Even then, I'd be enthralled by many attractive cards, buy the deck, and after I got it home and worked with it for a while, there'd be enough bad or so-so cards that I'd just put it aside.
I remember the Mythic Tarot was like that. In the store, I liked the cream-colored backgrounds and the concept of using Greek myths to tell the story. But then (after they had my money) I saw that a lot of the cards were really stretching the analogy, or the book or LWB presented meanings that I just didn't associate with the cards, even if you could construe their meaning from their artwork.
I never liked the interpretation of Swords as negative, just Intellect, which like any other gift can be used or abused. Maybe I'm simply used to it, but the RWS 3 of Swords is perfect. Not just heartbreak - a sword through the heart - but THREE of them. To me that is serious; separates the everyday disappointments from the real world-shattering revelations.
Not long ago I got an insight into the 7 of Swords. Most books interpret it as being sneaky or stealing, but that never resonated for me. Someone even saw significance in the number of swords the guy carries in his right and left hands.
This particular day, the tents on the right of the card reminded me of some of the movies about Henry VIII when he meets the French king on the Field of Cloth of Gold. Yes, this was an important gathering. And the two kings were feeling each other out, not just to treat for peace, but to learn about their opponent/prospective ally.
From that, I remembered a Defense Department trade show where government contractors display their new toys and try to create a demand. That's part of the 7 of Swords too, seeing what's out there and how you can use it.
Lastly, I thought of industry trade shows where folks come together to see how everyone handles problems or setbacks, and what innovations they've created or improved. Yes! the five swords is new knowledge that we gain from meeting with others, that we can take back and put to use. The two swords in the ground are what we bring to the gathering and contribute to others' success.
Is it just me, or does the Hanson-Roberts deck turn anyone off? I bought the deck, along with the Connolly because they are both "popular." But to me the ham-handed use of heavy black lines in the HR images pulls my focus away from the overall scene. It's as though a church bought cheap stained glass windows, where there is very little lead separating large pieces, and instead of colors making a mosaic, each piece has pictures painted on it to "simulate" mosaic.
I just looked at these cards again, and I can't even tell you if I like the art style or the overall images because I can't see them. All I see are those annoying black lines.
Guess what! The Connolly deck does that too, although it's less distracting because it doesn't use pastels like the HR. The Connolly's jewel tones are strong enough to compete with the heavy lead lines, although they don't seem to win out over them.
I'd liketo see a picture of your collage, if you have one handy, maybe on another thread, or PM me or something.