Your most UNREADABLE deck

[Carla]

Crystal Tarot - Trevathan

There have been many tarot decks that have come and gone in my collection because I didn't get on with them as reading decks, but one that I've kept because I think it's nothing short of beautiful is Crystal Tarot by Trevathan. However, I can't read with it at all. Shame. Sure is purdy though.

 

[Beanfeasa]

Wow, I'm surprised to see someone else with the same experience of Soul Cards! I had the second one, and I loved the art and all, but for readings, I felt they remained silent and did not give me anything.

Me too, I felt cold and flat with the soul cards.
I couldn't read with Forest Folklore Tarot, Olympus Tarot, Revelations Tarot, Witchy Tarot, amongst others. Too many to list really.
I'm currently looking for good homes for 10 or so decks for the same reason including soul cards 1&2

 

[Sigrdrifa]

Black Lily

Can you tell why you find this deck hard to read? (I just put on my wish list )

ETA: nvm, I just read your entry in the topic on the deck.

 

[lunetta]

Rider Waite original

I'll add Rider Waite for a sometimes difficult read, I haven't used it much, but it and other decks with pseudo medieval scenery or artwork sometimes rub me up the wrong way.

 

[rylla]

Can you tell why you find this deck hard to read? (I just put on my wish list )

ETA: nvm, I just read your entry in the topic on the deck.

Black Lily isn't a conventional deck, but it does have the elements on the minors and I don't find particularly hard to read with. The images are expressive and they can mostly be related to the traditional tarot meanings. I cherish this deck but I have to add that I have the first edition (bigger size cards, hand enhanced).

 

[Achlys]

Dreams of Gaia. Even trying to work with it as an Oracle was impossible. I didn't have anyone to give it to, so it ended up off to a thrift shop.

I've absolutely hated any of Liz Dean's decks. They never worked with me and they were just flat. The art was lacking. The card stock was terrible and ripped, so I ended up having to toss these.

I'm also not a fan of Doreen Virtue's decks. They were all fluff and not much substance, imo. I gifted these away almost immediately.

Luis Royo's decks fall flat for me as well. Some of them are pretty to look at but not to use as a tarot system. I ended up gifting these away as well, although I did try to like them.

 

[Seldes Katne]

I started Tarot with a four-evening class at our local community college, and of course we used the RWS deck. I swear that deck hated me, as I couldn't get anything from it, and even my instructor looked at the three-card spread I did and commented he couldn't get any connection between the cards either. I went shopping at a bookstore to pick up a couple of other decks and had better luck, at least when I read for other people.

Currently, the most unreadable decks I have are the Sherlock Holmes, the Universal Goddess, and the Wildwood Tarot. The art on all three are lovely, but the first two require in-depth knowledge of the subject matter, and the third is just different enough from the RWS meanings that I have a tough time with it.

I agree with the difficulty people have with Doreen Virtue's decks. I keep the Fairy Tarot become I love the art, but the cards are too large to shuffle comfortably and the meanings seem a bit light-weight.

 

[Michellehihi]

I started Tarot with a four-evening class at our local community college, and of course we used the RWS deck. I swear that deck hated me, as I couldn't get anything from it, and even my instructor looked at the three-card spread I did and commented he couldn't get any connection between the cards either.

My God! A teacher who was not able to make sense of a simple 3 cards spread? Change teacher!

 

[Carla]

I want to do a poll: do you read RWS style decks (Pictures on the minor arcana) or do you prefer Marseilles (Pips on the minors) decks?

For me: I can't read Marseilles decks. I NEED the picture to read the meaning. An abstract deck like Handl or Voyager? Forget it!

barb

I prefer TdM. After that, any deck with pips-only minors is preferred to 'illustrated' ones. I wasn't always of this opinion, but I've found that readings flow better and feel less restricted with TdM. My favourites are Dodal and Noblet. When I read with TdM, I never use a spread, but read in lines.

 

[Carla]

My God! A teacher who was not able to make sense of a simple 3 cards spread? Change teacher!

I despair.