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Tarot Cards: Themes, Sets & Decks

My favourite tarot that I have is the Sacred Circle deck. I love the CGI and some of the real settings that they are done in. To me, there is much symbolism that can be drawn on when using them.

I have a few mini decks - fairies and gnomes, I think.
 
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Cochise said:
Just to add - most modern manuals on the cards use the Colman illustrations on the minor arcana to give interpretation. But the pack I had in the 70's had no illustrations for the minor arcana apart from King, Queen, Knight, Page - just symbols like a conventional card deck. I've lost them somewhere along the way - wish i could find another deck like it - I think it was French.
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Marseilles?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot_of_Marseilles
 
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I'm wondering what are people's favourite Tarot packs.

My No. 1 is the Ancien Tarot de Marseilles as distributed by Grimaud - it was the first pack I used and I have recently replaced it with an original so it's been reinstated at the top. It is however not a friendly pack to handle - cards too thick, although no doubt more-or-less indestructible. .

No. 2 - the original Pamela Colman Rider Waite. The colors are sad, no doubt because the original cards had faded before being copied, but I prefer them to the recoloured imitations. Also nice cards to handle. This is the pack I had been using since my 70's copy of the Grimaud pack went astray. It's now looking quite aged in its own right.

No. 3 the original Mythic Tarot - bought them when new, now out of print and quite collectable. Again, nice cards to handle, and a link between the Tarot and Greek Mythology - I happen to believe the Major Arcana goes back much further in history than is acknowledged. Had this one for quite a time as well, it's now apparently quite rare.

No. 4 - the Thoth Tarot. Haven't used this - not really a fan of Aleister Crowley, but intriguing illustrations and again nice cards to handle. Could become increasingly fond of these.

No. 5 - the Steampunk Tarot by Barbara Moore I've recently mentioned - purely for the artwork. I only have the mini set - would like a full size one.

Bonus Ball - Game of Thrones Tarot by Liz Dean. Very nicely presented, and I've just bought a box with a dragon on top to house them.

I do have several others that don't make the list.
 
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Oh good list! In no particular order (apart from No 1 which is my favourite)...

1. Greenwood Tarot, Mark Ryan/Chesca Potter
2. Wildwood Tarot, Mark Ryan/Will Worthington
3. Romani Tarot, Ray Buckland/Lisanne Lake
4. Forest of Enchantment Tarot, Lunaea Weatherstone/Meraylah Allwood
5. Celtic Tree Oracle, Liz and Colin Murray

I have many others which don't make the list! Some were favourites at the time, others bought them but never really gelled, for readings. And others I own and love but never read with.

Romani I have a first edition which was worth a lot of money (I'd never part with mine so can see why) and it was OOP for years but was reprinted several years back, so now I guess the originals have dropped in value?

I use some of the classics like Smith Rider Waite, Visconti (and recently added Sola Busca) just for reference/study and do love them all.
 
The Romani Tarot still seems to be rare and commanding a price accordingly.

There's a shop in Liverpool that sells Tarot cards and other interesting stuff. I keep meaning to go in there but for one reason or another I've not made it - must go and have a browse next time i'm in.
 
Cochise said:
The Romani Tarot still seems to be rare and commanding a price accordingly.

There's a shop in Liverpool that sells Tarot cards and other interesting stuff. I keep meaning to go in there but for one reason or another I've not made it - must go and have a browse next time i'm in.
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Be interested to hear if you see owt interesting. My kids are in Liverpool tomorrow but have other fish to fry.
 
Ghost In The Machine said:
Be interested to hear if you see owt interesting. My kids are in Liverpool tomorrow but have other fish to fry.
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Did visit - nice friendly shop, lots of new age stuff, but not much in the way of Tarot cards - apparently there's no demand :) . Actually I shouldn't be snarky, the shop lady was really pleasant and I daresay they have to watch their stock levels very carefully given the current financial climate.
 
One of the charity shops in Chelmsford had four tarot books for sale including the book of toth, another book about Crowley’s tarot, something to do with witches and one I can’t remember
 
HAWKWIND 'GALACTIC' TAROT DECK, 1971

Wish I had brought one at the time... !

https://dangerousminds.net/comments/hawkwinds_galactic_tarot_deck_1971

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Available November 1 from Amazon, The Universal Monsters Tarot Deck

monsterstarot.jpg


Let Count Dracula, Frankenstein, the Mummy, and other creepy creatures guide your tarot practice with this hair-raising tarot deck and guidebook inspired by the iconic Universal Pictures Monsters!

Bring the spooky spirit of classic movie monsters to your tarot readings with this cinematic spin on the traditional tarot deck!

Featuring stunning original artwork inspired by classic tarot iconography, this 78-card deck depicts spine-chilling characters, imagery, and themes from the legendary Universal Pictures monster films, from Boris Karloff’s Frankenstein and Bela Lugosi’s Count Dracula to the Wolf Man, the Creature from the Black Lagoon, and more!

Comprising both major and minor arcana, the deck also comes with a helpful guidebook explaining the meaning of each card as well as a few simple spreads for easy readings. Packaged in a deluxe collectible box, it’s a gift that will wow horror film fans and tarot enthusiasts alike!
 
Well, I was looking for something else but came across this and had to share:

Il Meneghello Edizioni ​

We are the last artisans of tarot in the world and we made them with passion.
Handmade in Italy with love
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https://www.ilmeneghello.it/
Multiple reproductions of historic tarot decks, hand painted in water color. Just scrolling through the examples (even though the images are teeny and clicking on them won't get you to a larger view) will remind you of how beautiful graphic art can be!
 
I'm in the market for a tarot deck, anyone have any recommendations/lusts/tips/tricks?

Errm, should probably quantify. I'm looking to learn the tarot, so must be at least somewhat symbolically close to the Rider-Waite, which I have a passing familiarity with. I'd love it to be mystical. colorful and maybe just a bit off beat but ultimately a great deck for a beginner
 
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IbisNibs said:
Well, I was looking for something else but came across this and had to share:

https://www.ilmeneghello.it/
Multiple reproductions of historic tarot decks, hand painted in water color. Just scrolling through the examples (even though the images are teeny and clicking on them won't get you to a larger view) will remind you of how beautiful graphic art can be!
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God that's gorgeous, well worth the 100 euros...wish I could afford it :(
 
Aydee_Aitchdee said:
I'm in the market for a tarot deck, anyone have any recommendations/lusts/tips/tricks?

Errm, should probably quantify. I'm looking to learn the tarot, so must be at least somewhat symbolically close to the Rider-Waite, which I have a passing familiarity with. I'd love it to be mystical. colorful and maybe just a bit off beat but ultimately a great deck for a
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The Lightseers Tarot is popular. I have a copy and think it’s very user friendly to read with, though not my favourite. https://lightseerstarot.com/
I learned to read with the Deviant Moon deck which is very off beat, and not to everyone’s taste. This one is my go to deck. I’m told it’s not easy to learn with, but I guess it’s all about what works for you. I found the standard Rider Waite difficult. https://www.tarot.com/tarot/decks/deviant-moon
The deck I think is most beautiful is the TrueBlack tarot - it’s stunning, the cards feel like velvet and I sometimes just get it out to play with, but for some reason I struggle to read it. One day maybe it’ll just click! https://trueblacktarot.com/
As for books I found “WTF is Tarot and how do I do it” by Bakara Wintner great - easy to read and fun.
Good luck! Let us know what deck you pick - there’s one for every taste
 
Mrs Migs said:
The Lightseers Tarot is popular. I have a copy and think it’s very user friendly to read with, though not my favourite. https://lightseerstarot.com/
I learned to read with the Deviant Moon deck which is very off beat, and not to everyone’s taste. This one is my go to deck. I’m told it’s not easy to learn with, but I guess it’s all about what works for you. I found the standard Rider Waite difficult. https://www.tarot.com/tarot/decks/deviant-moon
The deck I think is most beautiful is the TrueBlack tarot - it’s stunning, the cards feel like velvet and I sometimes just get it out to play with, but for some reason I struggle to read it. One day maybe it’ll just click! https://trueblacktarot.com/
As for books I found “WTF is Tarot and how do I do it” by Bakara Wintner great - easy to read and fun.
Good luck! Let us know what deck you pick - there’s one for every taste
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Those are all gorgeous! I like the Deviant Moon the best, especially this one - completely sums it up, I found it very easy and intuitive to read.

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Aydee_Aitchdee said:
Those are all gorgeous! I like the Deviant Moon the best, especially this one - completely sums it up, I found it very easy and intuitive to read.

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Deviant Moon is absolutely my favourite. The guy who made it, Patrick Valenza, also wrote a book about it, how he designed it and deeper meanings for the cards. It’s not cheap - about £30 in addition to the cards. You can use the deck comfortably without it, but I found it really useful.
 
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