"The Old English Tarot" by Maggie Kneen

momentarylight

This is a beautiful tarot, and one of the first that I owned. I loved the art work and bought it purely for that. I had no idea how to read it or any other deck at the time.

Later I heard, with delight, that Maggie Kneen had based this tarot deck on the Bayeux Tapestry and this knowledge enriched the deck for me.

Just for delight, I found an animated version of the Bayeux Tapestry on a wonderful new open learning site supported by the British Museum, I believe.

http://www.openculture.com/2012/03/the_bayeux_tapestry_animatio.html

Some of you may really enjoy this and, perhaps, other aspects of the site.

NB: Moderators, I was not sure where to place this post. Please feel free to remove or relocate it if it is not appropriate.

Thank you :)
 

GryffinSong

That's awesome!

I love my Old English Tarot, and its one of my top choices when going to a medieval re-creation event.
 

Rhinemaiden

Thank you so much for the info on the deck - one I own but don't use often enough,will remedy that PDQ - and the link to the delightful animation!
 

momentarylight

Thanks Rhinemaiden and GriffinsSong.

I did some readings with the Old English yesterday and it was delightful to use it again. It is a classic and has unexpected depths. :)
 

Morwenna

Thank you all for the links! I haven't used the deck as much as I'd like (well, it was MIA for several years), and I'm a medieval re-creationist too, so these will come in very handy!
 

momentarylight

Maggie Kneen

Aerin said:
Have you checked out this site?

http://home.earthlink.net/~e.ishmael/oldenglishtarot/

There are some old threads on the OET around the forum and it may be worth a look (but they may be in the archive as I think it is a while back :S).

Some of the illustrations were adapted from here http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/sacredtexts/luttrellpsalter.html I believe.

I hadn't hear about the Bayeux Tapestry link before.

It's good to see this deck being discussed again :)
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You are correct Aerin :). I was so carried away when I saw the animated version of the Bayeux that I immediately associated it with the Old English Tarot, uncouth Australian that I am :D.

There are a few centuries between the Bayeux and the Luttrell but perhaps the commonality is heraldry and the styles of illustration.

I found this page belonging to Maggie Kneen where she quite clearly mentions her sources.

http://www.maggie-kneen.com/Maggie-Kneen-Old-English-Tarot.aspx

She is still apparently in historical research and illustration and has a current page on Linked In. I also found web references to her at various academic conferences in the UK.

A look through her entire site is worthwhile. She speaks about her interest in archeological illustrations.

He list of published children's literateure is also fascinating.

It would be great to hear her speak about the creative inspiration and work behind the Old English Tarot. How wonderful it would be for TABI or some other other tarot group to ask her to speak at a specific tarot conference.

Is Maggie Kneen still interested in tarot?
 

momentarylight

Value of links re Old English Tarot

Aerin, thank you for the links you posted. I have just checked them out in some detail.

The interpretations by "Elizabeth" are very interesting. A huge amount of work went into these.

And the link on the Luttrell also. I will be visiting the UK next year and hope to include some of these things on my itinerary. :heart:
 
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