Tarot Decks You Can do Without

[mandrina]

I once tried a celtic tarot deck in which they used pictures of actual people to represent the archetypes (the various members of the court, The Fool, The Hierophant, etc.).  I liked the symbolic balance of the deck, and I liked the artwork surrounding the figures.  But I couldn't read with the darn thing.  The photos just bugged me.  And trying to cast spells with them was even worse and never actually came off.  I just kept thinking, "If I'm using this person's image, isn't it going to startle or distract them when I evoke energy using it?  What if they're driving when I evoke the energy and they get distracted at a critical moment?  What if I evoke a bountiful, fruit-bedecked card when the person photographed there has the flu and is puking five times a day?  Or what if I evoke a card with fertility god themes the day the person portrayed there has a vasectomy?  It really sounds silly when I talk about it, but - damn it - the idea just bothered me.  I enchanted the cards, bundled them up with directions for renewing the spell, and sent them to a fellow-diviner who didn't have a problem with the imagery.

Also, although I wasn't present, I've heard a horrific story about some violent and disturbed things that happened after a bare-bones amateur conducted a reading using an H.R. Giger deck.  Now, don't get me wrong - Giger is a talented artist; I grew up watching the Alien movies and playing the first Darkseed game on DOS.  But I do not, under any circumstances, recommend using one of those decks to read; collect it for the art, but don't use it for divination.

On the other side of things, I agree with the folks who avoid the fluffy decks.  I don't say they should be banned, but I'm not a fluffy sort of pagan - loving and spiky, perhaps, but not fluffy.

 
I found the Giger deck and aquired it (the major arcana is all it is, I think).  I love to look at it, and compare it with other decks, but it would feel wierd to read with it,  Too close to the movies.

[Riothamus12]

I thought this might be a fun thread for those tarot users who collect decks, especially for their artwork or overall theme. So far I only have about 25 decks, but I look forward to collecting many more.

Are there any themes or deck-styles you think could use a bit of a break, or need to be put on hold for the next 100 years?

I want to hear other people's opinions before I share my own, but I'll kick off with at least one;

Gothic decks.

Too many of them, too much recycled symbolism, too many forlorn waifs with runny mascara holding pentacles while staring off into...I don't know the fucking moonrise or something. Seriously, I think the tarot market could do without a new gothic tarot deck for awhile.

 
I have a certain dislike for the various gimmick decks out there. I can deal with Celtic tarot, Hellenic tarot, or even animal tarot depending on the sort, but when you start getting to Gothic tarot, vampire tarot, and things of that nature I start to cringe.

[Emma Eldritch]

I found the Giger deck and aquired it (the major arcana is all it is, I think).  I love to look at it, and compare it with other decks, but it would feel wierd to read with it,  Too close to the movies.

 
I totally want that deck. XD

I'm still looking for a good Lovecraft deck. The H.P. Lovecraft deck looks awesome but as it appears to be out of print I've only found used copies that are extremely expensive. I looooathe the Necronomicon deck, and the Dark Grimoire is a bit uneven. (My mom owned it, heh. I gave it to a friend.)

[RandallS]

Are there any themes or deck-styles you think could use a bit of a break, or need to be put on hold for the next 100 years?

Not really a deck style or theme, but I think most of the "improved" tarot decks with extra cards, really different suits, etc. need to go away -- as in not be marketed as tarot decks. I have no problem with the decks themselves being sold, just when they are being sold as tarot decks.

[Thorn]

Also, although I wasn't present, I've heard a horrific story about some violent and disturbed things that happened after a bare-bones amateur conducted a reading using an H.R. Giger deck.  Now, don't get me wrong - Giger is a talented artist; I grew up watching the Alien movies and playing the first Darkseed game on DOS.  But I do not, under any circumstances, recommend using one of those decks to read; collect it for the art, but don't use it for divination.

My first though on this (OK, after my initial "There's a Giger Tarot?!  WANT!!!) is that I've heard horrific stories about violent and disturbed things happening when bare-bones amateurs attempted to use a OuiJa board too.

In other words, I'm not sure that's the deck's fault.

Granted, the imagery is going to be incredibly disturbing: it's Giger.  If you're going to use the deck, you've got to be someone who's prepared to deal with that particular style of image.

He's one of my favorite artists, but I'm not sure I could read that deck - knowing how my particular kind of madness works.  

Still desperately want it though.

[RandallS]

Granted, the imagery is going to be incredibly disturbing: it's Giger.  If you're going to use the deck, you've got to be someone who's prepared to deal with that particular style of image.

I think the Giger deck is one of those that is more suited to tarot art collectors than to the average tarot reader. I have nothing against such decks , but people do need to use common sense about using them for actual readings. They are often really only useful for certain types of readings and/or certain personality types of readers.

[Aranel]

I thought this might be a fun thread for those tarot users who collect decks, especially for their artwork or overall theme. So far I only have about 25 decks, but I look forward to collecting many more.

Are there any themes or deck-styles you think could use a bit of a break, or need to be put on hold for the next 100 years?

I want to hear other people's opinions before I share my own, but I'll kick off with at least one;

Gothic decks.

Too many of them, too much recycled symbolism, too many forlorn waifs with runny mascara holding pentacles while staring off into...I don't know the fucking moonrise or something. Seriously, I think the tarot market could do without a new gothic tarot deck for awhile.

 
The awful, awful CGI ones. Like the gilded tarot or whatever it is called. That one annoys me the most as I've now had two people buy it for me as a present because they know I like tarot decks and they've seen that it's one of the best selling ones (why is it? It's awful! ).

[stephyjh]

The awful, awful CGI ones. Like the gilded tarot or whatever it is called. That one annoys me the most as I've now had two people buy it for me as a present because they know I like tarot decks and they've seen that it's one of the best selling ones (why is it? It's awful! ).

The Gilded deck didn't click with me the first time, but now it's one of the ones I use most often. But then, having friends who are digital artists, I don't look down on the medium.

[dionysiandame]

Aside from the obvious Doreen Virtue stuff, I don't like the Hello Kitty one.  I've only seen the deck once, but it was enough.  Too cutesy for me.  And I *love* cats!  It belongs with the barfing unicorns and fairies, I think.

 
I'm really curious about how Ms. Virtue comes out with so many decks. Like seriously. I know some people are talented as all hell but even Robert Place takes a bit to put out a new deck.

I'd actually LIKE an Angel deck that was a bit more realistic. You know...wheels of fire covered in eyes...

[Riothamus12]

I'm really curious about how Ms. Virtue comes out with so many decks. Like seriously. I know some people are talented as all hell but even Robert Place takes a bit to put out a new deck.

I'd actually LIKE an Angel deck that was a bit more realistic. You know...wheels of fire covered in eyes...

 
Now that one sounds like it would be worth ones time.A deck with images of the angelic hosts as they are actually described.

[Emma Eldritch]

My first though on this (OK, after my initial "There's a Giger Tarot?!  WANT!!!) is that I've heard horrific stories about violent and disturbed things happening when bare-bones amateurs attempted to use a OuiJa board too.

In other words, I'm not sure that's the deck's fault.

Granted, the imagery is going to be incredibly disturbing: it's Giger.  If you're going to use the deck, you've got to be someone who's prepared to deal with that particular style of image.

He's one of my favorite artists, but I'm not sure I could read that deck - knowing how my particular kind of madness works.  

Still desperately want it though.

 
Slightly off topic, but... I had surgery last week, and while recuperating I wound up watching a looooot of bad cable TV. There's this new ghost show on A&E that is basically mini versions of Paranormal Activity claiming to be real - it is the WORST show ever.

In one episode, there's these teenagers in the house. One of them is like... oh god. The most stereotypical angst ridden dark Wiccan-esque teenager EVER. Pudgy, glasses, monotone voice, GIANT pentacle necklace... total "I am cursing the bullies at my school in the name of the goddess" kinda thing. LOVED him. I saw him and was like, "this is the kind of kid the Cauldron gets posting all of a sudden, usually around October..." Good lord. Aaaaanyway. Of course they drag out a Ouija board and make the situation worse and blah blah blah demons blah blahhhhh.

Point being: yeah, don't blame the tool. 90% of the time it's the user.

[Morag]

The Gilded deck didn't click with me the first time, but now it's one of the ones I use most often. But then, having friends who are digital artists, I don't look down on the medium.

 
I love the Gilded Tarot. I think the art is beautiful and it's the tarot I can count on to consistently tell me the truth without sugar-coating it. It's snarky and blunt and to the point. Exactly the sort of deck I prefer.

[Thorn]

Jane's Georgian.  Edwardian c

(It's a couple pages back but I just noticed this.  Don't know what happened there.  I meant to say "Edwardian came after Victoria, I think." )

[yennork]

Now that one sounds like it would be worth ones time.A deck with images of the angelic hosts as they are actually described.

That certainly would be interesting!

OTOH, how many Rider-Waite clones does the world need? Not to mention different Rider-Waite editions?

[Riothamus12]

That certainly would be interesting!

OTOH, how many Rider-Waite clones does the world need? Not to mention different Rider-Waite editions?

 
I never really saw a problem with the Rider Waite deck. :/