What would you say is the scariest/creepiest Tarot deck?

[Ocean Bliss]

The Dark Grimoire Tarot creeped me out the first time I got it. All those tentacles and the less said about the Hanged Man of that deck, the better.

Usually though it is individual cards in certain decks that I find unsettling...

Cosmic's 10 of Swords has got to be the creepiest face I have ever seen. I dread it coming up when I use that deck.

Barbara Walker's 6 of Cups with that mother looming over her child. It just reminds me of a notoriously puke inducing scene from my favorite JRPG. (Said scene gives a very good reason why mixing the Oedipus Complex and the Devouring Mother is not a very good idea. Especially when the latter is taken literally)

Arthurian 9 of Swords is another one with the heads on pikes.

I truly detest the 10 of Swords in Pagan Cats- the implications to me are just horrific. (Especially when one of your cats was rescued from a tied up plastic carrier by your dog.)

 

[rachelpaul]

Who's got clown issues? This deck is not for you:

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/dark-carnival/

 

[Richard]

Legacy of the Divine. When I first got it, I looked through about half of the deck and got so weirded out that I put it away in disgust. I haven't touched it since.

 

[Annabelle]

Scary and creepy . . . hmm.

The Barbara Walker tarot . . . and the Dark Carnival tarot.

The Barbara Walker is creepy in a way that puts me off using it, whereas the Dark Carnival kind of pulls me into its warped universe and makes me want to read with it.

I can think of plenty of other decks that kind of "ick" me with their art -- the Tapestry is one, for sure -- but most don't quite make it to the point of "scary" for me.

 

[Chronata]

You know, I never really gave the Barbara Walker tarot a true hard look before (though I am familiar with a few of the cards, and the illustration style)

So I just looked at the AT link, and said "that's not so bad"

and then I scrolled down the page and went "GAH!"

What the hell is going in those minors?
I feel like I need to call the authorities or something!

 

[rachelpaul]

Scary and creepy . . . hmm.

The Dark Carnival kind of pulls me into its warped universe and makes me want to read with it.

Muhahahaha!

 

[gregory]

You know, I never really gave the Barbara Walker tarot a true hard look before (though I am familiar with a few of the cards, and the illustration style)

So I just looked at the AT link, and said "that's not so bad"

and then I scrolled down the page and went "GAH!"

What the hell is going in those minors?
I feel like I need to call the authorities or something!

The Princess of Wands is...

um...

CREEPY ? yes that's the word - VERY creepy !

 

[Barleywine]

Who's got clown issues? This deck is not for you:

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/dark-carnival/

Dark Carnival . . . haven't seen that one before. It manages to be both vulgar and creepy at the same time. Unbeatable combination! It looks like what Deviant Moon wants to be when it grows up . . . and discovers bath salts. There's bloody axes everywhere . . .

 

[tarotbear]

Most decks don't creep me out...especially if they are meant to be unsettling.

But this one does. I can't quite put my finger on it...it's just...icky.

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/elves/

It looks like it was done with window mannekins?

 

[Barleywine]

Legacy of the Divine. When I first got it, I looked through about half of the deck and got so weirded out that I put it away in disgust. I haven't touched it since.

Interesting reaction. At first blush I didn't find it so much creepy as . . . well, clammy, like something you'd want to handle with latex gloves. Kind of chilly and antiseptic (primarily the court cards), which I guess is disturbing in its own way when portraying human qualities is the objective. I've used it a bit since, but the first impression lingers.