Wildwood Tarot

[Essjay]

Originally Posted by Hemera

I have had this deck for just about a week now but I have never yet come across a tarot deck that would work so well for me.

I agree with OctoberGwen and Hemera - this is the most important thing about a deck. I understand that people will get quite worked up about the whole, "Is it/isn't it a greenwood pretender?" issue but at the end of the day it's whether you actually like this deck isn't it?

Easy for me to say perhaps as I've never owned the Greenwood nor am I particularly enamoured of it. I like this because of who the illustrator is - it's a beautiful deck and works for me.

Possibly the biggest mistake was to ever mention the Greenwood and Wildwood in the same sentence. This should just be The Wildwood - a new deck for 2011 by Will Worthington shouldn't it?

[gregory]

Essjay

[PathWalker]

I'm looking at scans of the new deck with the "do I like the look of it?" view.
I have all the other decks with Will Worthingtons artwork, and I've liked them all. The scans of this artwork seem differnt to me, less light-filled, more busy in detail terms, less likeable.
I have yet to see the deck in person - I'm hoping to spend a sunny summer day with someone I know who has it - to make a better judgement, but I think (at this stage) that it won't be for me, because the artwork doesn't grab me.

Whilst I understand the feelings of folks here created by linking the two decks, it's the actual illustrations of this pack now which call me or not. If I don't like it (and don't like the marketing or linking to a previous pack) I surely won't be giving these folks any of my money

[Essjay]

Originally Posted by gregory

Essjay

back atcha

[magpie9]

Mine came today, much quicker than I expected it. I haven't spent much time with it yet, but so far I like it, and think it will work out just fine on it's own merits.

Will's art is "sketchier" than in his other decks, but still his, and very good. It doesn't come across LoS to me. Not comic booky at all, or overly sexualized. It is certainly more testosterone laden than the GW, but, much as I love that deck, it's not a very human deck and this is. That may be the biggest difference, other than the change in artists.

The book is hugely improved. Marks original stuff (which I never found very usefull with the GW) is there, but followed by much better stuff that actually sheds good strong light on the cards...I think it must be Matthews' contribution. Personally, I'm grateful for it.
They have changed the order of the Majors back to RWS, which is a great relief to me. It is so much easier to deal with, and I never really understood the order in the GW, let alone be able to benefit in any way from it. They have kept the GW system in the minors.

I was concerned that the Courts would be ultra sketchy in this book, as in the first, but they do give more information about each of the animals. John Matthew's again, I believe, since it is essentially the same as in his Celtic Totem Animals kit. I'm glad to have that book handy with this deck because it goes into a lot more detail about the animals and their stories in Celtic myth and legend. To my surprise, eel actually makes sense as knight of vessels.

I think learning this deck is going to be a lot easier than the GW due to the new book and the humanization of the deck. Does that make it GW lite? I dunno. But I like it a lot.

ETA: If you can get hold of a copy of J. Matthews' book for the Celtic Totem Animals it will help hugely with the courts. Even with the expanded info in the new book, more is needed. Chesca's on line book for the GW. has tons more information on tis and is well worth the printout.

[Lewen]

....still waiting patiently for mine to arrive in the mail from Amazon. *sighs*
I enjoyed catching up with this thread and thanks to those who posted scans (and the trimmed ones too!) Methinks I'll trim my deck once I geat acquainted with it.

Hard to believe I have not bought another Tarot deck since 2009!!! I must remedy that, eh?

[karen0205]

Originally Posted by Cerulean

Aside from a chalk outline on the five of bows, theres not too much to cause .nervousness for reading in public.

Could someone please explain this card to me???? LOL

[Hemera]

Originally Posted by magpie9

They have changed the order of the Majors back to RWS, which is a great relief to me.

But I think Justice and Strength are reversed. Strength (Woodward) is 11. Stag is Justice and 8.

[Carla]

Originally Posted by magpie9

I was concerned that the Courts would be ultra sketchy in this book, as in the first, but they do give more information about each of the animals. John Matthew's again, I believe, since it is essentially the same as in his Celtic Totem Animals kit. I'm glad to have that book handy with this deck because it goes into a lot more detail about the animals and their stories in Celtic myth and legend. To my surprise, eel actually makes sense as knight of vessels.

I think learning this deck is going to be a lot easier than the GW due to the new book and the humanization of the deck. Does that make it GW lite? I dunno. But I like it a lot.

ETA: If you can get hold of a copy of J. Matthews' book for the Celtic Totem Animals it will help hugely with the courts. Even with the expanded info in the new book, more is needed. Chesca's on line book for the GW. has tons more information on tis and is well worth the printout.

It would be ever so helpful if you could post some of your insights and info from J Matthews' book to the Wildwood Tarot Study Group. I don't understand the court cards at all really, particularly eel!

[Aerin]

John Matthews is going to be at the TABI confernce this year and do some Stuff with the deck... I am so excited about that (as well as meeting Will Worthington...).

I have had confirmation that my deck will be sent out towards the end of the month so I shall see for myself.