Strange decks; which are the ones that tempt you?

[Le Fanu]

I'm always so tempted by the decks that nobody seems to love. Ugly decks, difficult decks, you name 'em, my curiosity will be aroused. I have my Power Animals Tarot - as proof of the depths that tarot art can sink to. I have just been blogging about the demonic Barbara Walker Tarot. Then this afternoon I dug out a recent purchase that intrigues me, the Lo Scarabeo Tarot of Reincarnation which nobody can seem to make head or tail of. I'm a sucker for the unreadable and impenetrable. But surely I'm not the only one?

I suppose I can add the Liber T to this one. I keep trying with the Liber T but whether I'll ever get there is anyone's guess. I'd love to know if anyway else feels that tempting tug for odd decks which they know they just won't read with but something urges them to buy it and try it anyway. And please don't all say "yes, the Thoth". There are others. Which ones are yours?

[vee]

The Etteillas! Difficult, confusing, but so enigmatic. I particularly like the LoS Book of Thoth Etteilla for its beautiful art.

Navigators of the Mystic SEA is another one for me. I don't quite "get" it, but I still LIKE it.

[Alamaris]

The Silicon Dawn. Don't give me that look -- it may be vaguely RWS, but it is deeply weird. And although I adore it with ungodly passion, it's language lies somewhere between a cajun mash-up of Klingon and C++, splattered liberally with backstage drag show lingo. Night classes are required.

Morgan's Tarot. It's not a real tarot, it's more like an oracle that took the wrong tab of ecstacy three miles back and hasn't quite recovered, but I'm steadfastly determined to find a serious divinatory core to it, despite how silly it appears. This is probably fruitless. I persevere regardless.

The New Orleans Voodoo is my "bought it once and sold it and have meant to rebuy it for years" deck. It's a strange, difficult deck, which is why I want it..and also why I've been putting it off.

And ditto on the Liber T. The deeper I go, the deeper it gets, and the less I'm sure I understand it.

[Le Fanu]

Originally Posted by Alamaris

And ditto on the Liber T. The deeper I go, the deeper it gets, and the less I'm sure I understand it.

So true. Infuriating. It's the only deck where the more you learn, the more confused you get. But those sinuous lines appeal to me and I keep going back to it. It is OK, (I'm asuming that it's Ok) to have decks that we study for years and are too paralysed ever to read with them?

Oh and how funny; I see that all the ones mentioned so far (except the Morgan's Tarot) are decks I love!

[tarot heart]

I would have to say the Wormweird. You can't really read with it, but I am so drawn to images. Each card is like a little dark room that you walk into and there you see it, a small scene to ponder and think to yourself "what just happened here?"

I don't know this deck just has a pull about it.

[Narwhallove]

Originally Posted by Alamaris

Morgan's Tarot. It's not a real tarot, it's more like an oracle that took the wrong tab of ecstacy three miles back and hasn't quite recovered, but I'm steadfastly determined to find a serious divinatory core to it, despite how silly it appears. This is probably fruitless. I persevere regardless.

I love, love Morgan's Tarot and was thrilled when it was back in print. I treat it as an oracle deck, tho, not really tarot. The drawings make me squeal.

Gonna check out the Etteila deck now!

[Penthasilia]

Originally Posted by vee

The Etteillas! Difficult, confusing, but so enigmatic.

Sigh- they have stolen my heart as well. I love my Etteilla decks, each and every one. And as weirdly set as they are, it perhaps reveals way to much about my character to say that I am starting to understand them!

ETA: <in a small voice> Oh- and am I the only one that loves and uses the Discordian deck?

[Miss_Ophelia]

Originally Posted by tarot heart

I would have to say the Wormweird. You can't really read with it, but I am so drawn to images. Each card is like a little dark room that you walk into and there you see it, a small scene to ponder and think to yourself "what just happened here?"

I don't know this deck just has a pull about it.

Seconding the Wormweird, although I'll admit I have somewhat mixed feelings about it. I find the artwork absolutely fascinating, yet some of the images are a tad too disturbing for my taste. I would still probably get it if I had the chance though.

[Alamaris]

Originally Posted by Penthasilia

ETA: <in a small voice> Oh- and am I the only one that loves and uses the Discordian deck?

I adore it but haven't gotten around to printing out a useable copy yet! Thank you for reminding me about it. That deck definitely fits into this thread.

[magpie9]

Morgans for me, and LoS Medieval Tarot...I adore it for no good reason. I have to admit that th Mary El is a complete mystery to me,but I'm completely fascinated by it...I can't be the only only one can I?
And then there's that really weird deck with a small Marseille card on each card and gorgeous line drawings of a quasi-medieval scene that sort of goes together to make a big picture, but only sort of. Does anybody remember the name? Every now and then I haul it out and try to make any sense at all out of it.